A hybrid keyboard-guitar interface using capacitive touch sensing and physical modeling

This paper was presented at the 9th Sound and Music Computing Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.This paper presents a hybrid interface based on a touch- sensing keyboard which gives detailed expressive control over a physically-modeled guitar. Physical modeling al- lows realistic guitar synthesis incorporating many expres- sive dimensions commonly employed by guitarists, includ- ing pluck strength and location, plectrum type, hand damp- ing and string bending. Often, when a physical model is used in performance, most control dimensions go unused when the interface fails to provide a way to intuitively con- trol them. Techniques as foundational as strumming lack a natural analog on the MIDI keyboard, and few digital controllers provide the independent control of pitch, vol- ume and timbre that even novice guitarists achieve. Our interface combines gestural aspects of keyboard and guitar playing. Most dimensions of guitar technique are control- lable polyphonically, some of them continuously within each note. Mappings are evaluated in a user study of key- boardists and guitarists, and the results demonstrate its playa- bility by performers of both instruments

Artificial neural network prediction of weld distortion rectification using a travelling induction coil

An experimental investigation has been carried out to determine the applicability of an induction heating process with a travelling induction coil for the rectification of angular welding distortion. The results obtained from experimentation have been used to create artificial neural network models with the ability to predict the welding induced distortion and the distortion rectification achieved using a travelling induction coil. The experimental results have shown the ability to reduce the angular distortion for 8 mm and 10 mm thick DH36 steel plate and effectively eliminate the distortion on 6 mm thick plate. Results for 6 mm plate also show the existence of a critical induction coil travel speed at which maximum corrective bending occurs. Artificial neural networks have demonstrated the ability to predict the final distortion of the plate after both welding and induction heating. The models have also been used as a tool to determine the optimum speed to minimise the resulting distortion of steel plate after being subjected to both welding and induction heating processes

Approaches to nonlinear curve fitting in laboratory medicine

Nonlinear curve fitting is an important process in laboratory medicine, particularly with the increased use of highly sensitive antibody-based assays. Although the process is often automated in commercially available software, it is important that clinical scientists and physicians recognize the limitations of the various approaches used and are able to select the most appropriate model. This article summarizes the key nonlinear functions and demonstrates their application to common laboratory data. Following this, a basic overview of the statistical comparison of models is presented and then a discussion of important algorithms used in nonlinear curve fitting. An accompanying Microsoft Excel workbook is available that can be used to explore the content of this article

Evaluating theoretical rate constants for bimolecular antioxidant processes involving ionic species under physiological conditions

The rate constant for the reaction of CO 3 ∙- with anionic species could be influenced by Columbic forces and ionic strength of the cellular environment. We investigated the reaction of CO 3 ∙- with urate, ascorbate and caffeate at the M06-2X/6–311 + G(d,p) level in an aqueous environment. The thermal rate constant was adjusted using the Debye-Smoluchowski and Brønsted-Bjerrum equations. Electrostatic interactions moderately reduced the rate constant for single electron transfer from urate and caffeate to CO 3 ∙-, but were negligible for the reaction with ascorbate. However, when we took into account the primary kinetic salt effect, the Debye-Smoluchowski rate constants were increased to values close to those predicted without inclusion of the Debye factor. Columbic repulsion and ionic strength have a modest impact on the rate constant for reactions involving an ionic radical. However, if the reactions involved ions of opposite charge, the influence of the Debye function would become more significant.</p

Ultrahigh harmonics from laser-assisted ion-atom collisions

We present a theoretical analysis of high-order harmonic generation from ion-atom collisions in the presence of linearly polarized intense laser pulses. Photons with frequencies significantly higher than in standard atomic high-harmonic generation are emitted. These harmonics are due to two different mechanisms: (i) collisional electron capture and subsequent laser-driven transfer of an electron between projectile and target atom; (ii) reflection of a laser-driven electron from the projectile leading to recombination at the parent atom.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A climatological analysis of heatbursts in Oklahoma (1994–2009)

Heatbursts are characterized by a sudden and highly localized increase in air temperature, a simultaneous decrease in relative humidity and dewpoint temperature, and strong gusty winds, typically associated with decaying thunderstorms. The small spatial extent and short duration of most heatbursts makes detailed study of these events difficult using the standard federal observation network (e.g. hourly observations) established in most countries. Thus, many discussions of heatbursts note that they are ‘rare’ phenomena. However, observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet indicate that although heatbursts are meso-alpha scale phenomena, they are not rare. Using multi-criteria analysis, 207 heatburst events of various magnitudes, areal coverage and duration were identified between 1994 and 2009 across Oklahoma. Significantly more heatbursts were detected in the western two-thirds of the state as compared to the eastern third. Heatbursts were primarily nocturnal events, with 70% of heatburst events initiated between 0000 and 0800 UTC (i.e. between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Central Standard Time). With 62 of the 207 events, June was the most active month for heatbursts. At the other extreme, no heatbursts were detected during February and November, and only one was observed during January and December. Almost all of the heatbursts occurred underneath or adjacent to weak radar echoes at the time of the event. Four basic radar patterns were associated with the events: (1) radar echoes associated with rapidly weakening convection, (2) weak reflectivity not produced by or associated with deep moist convection, (3) weak radar echoes to the rear of a dissipating mesoscale convective system (MCS) and (4) weak reflectivity along the periphery of intense convection that did not appear to be weakening

Buttons, Handles, and Keys: Advances in Continuous-Control Keyboard Instruments

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Buttons, Handles, and Keys: Advances in Continuous-Control Keyboard Instruments, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/COMJ_a_00297. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with MIT Press Journal's Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. © 2015, MIT Press Journal

Ionization of clusters in strong X-ray laser pulses

The effect of intense X-ray laser interaction on argon clusters is studied theoretically with a mixed quantum/classical approach. In comparison to a single atom we find that ionization of the cluster is suppressed, which is in striking contrast to the observed behavior of rare-gas clusters in intense optical laser pulses. We have identified two effects responsible for this phenomenon: A high space charge of the cluster in combination with a small quiver amplitude and delocalization of electrons in the cluster. We elucidate their impact for different field strengths and cluster sizes.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure