Artificial Intelligence Music Generators in Real Time Jazz Improvisation: a performer’s view

Μια αμφιλεγόμενη είσοδος γεννητριών μουσικής τεχνητής νοημοσύνης στον κόσμο της μουσικής σύνθεσης και ερμηνείας καλπάζει επί του παρόντος. Γόνιμη έρευνα που πηγάζει απο τομείς όπως η ανάκτηση πληροφοριών μουσικής, τα νευρονικά δίκτυα και η βαθιά μάθηση, μεταξύ άλλων, διαμορφώνει αυτό το μέλλον. Ενσωματωμένα και μη ενσωματωμένα συστήματα τεχνητής νοημοσύνης έχουν εισέλθει στον κόσμο της τζαζ προκειμένου να συνδημιουργήσουν ιδιωματικούς μουσικούς αυτοσχεδιασμούς. Αυτή η διπλωματική εξετάζει τους προκύπτοντες μελωδικούς αυτοσχεδιασμούς που παράγονται από τις γεννήτριες OMax, ImproteK και Djazz (OID) μέσω του φακού των στοιχείων της μουσικής και το κάνει από την άποψη ενός ερμηνευτή. Η ανάλυση βασίζεται κυρίως στην αξιολόγηση των ήδη δημοσιευμένων αποτελεσμάτων, καθώς και σε μια μελέτη περίπτωσης που πραγματοποίηθηκε κατά την ολοκλήρωση αυτής της εργασίας που περιλαμβάνει την απόδοση, την ακρόαση και την αξιολόγηση των παραγόμενων αυτοσχεδιασμών του OMax. Επίσης, η εργασία ασχολείται με φιλοσοφικά ζητήματα, με τα γνωστικά θεμέλια του συναισθήματος και του νοήματος και παρέχει μια ολοκληρωμένη ανάλυση της λειτουργικότητας του OID.A highly controversial entrance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) music generators in the world of music composition and performance is currently advancing. A fruitful research from Music Information Retrieval, Neural Networks and Deep Learning, among other areas, are shaping this future. Embodied and non-embodied AI systems have stepped into the world of jazz in order to co-create idiomatic music improvisations. But how musical these improvisations are? This dissertation looks at the resulted melodic improvisations produced by OMax, ImproteK and Djazz (OID) AI generators through the lens of the elements of music and it does so from a performer’s point of view. The analysis is based mainly on the evaluation of already published results as well as on a case study I carried out during the completion of this essay which includes performance, listening and evaluation of generated improvisations of OMax. The essay also reflects upon philosophical issues, cognitive foundations of emotion and meaning and provides a comprehensive analysis of the functionality of OID

Cecal epiploica appendix torsion in a female child mimicking acute appendicitis: a case report

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of the right lower quadrant acute abdominal pain in children. Some other conditions including cecal epiploica appendix torsion, can simulate acute abdomen. Epiploica appendix torsion usually occurs in the sigmoid colon and rarely in the cecum of adult males. In children, this entity is extremely rare and may represent a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We report a case of an 8-year-old Greek girl, presented with signs and symptoms mimicking acute abdomen. Our patient is the younger one among the other four with cecal epiploica appendix torsion that had been reported in the literature

Low Spigelian hernia in a 6-year-old boy presenting as an incarcerated inguinal hernia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Lower Spigelian hernia is a very rare entity. The clinical findings are similar to those of inguinal hernias and in many cases may be misdiagnosed. In the literature, only a few references to this entity have been reported in children. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a lower Spigelian hernia in a child who presented with an acute painful scrotum.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We discuss the case of a 6-year-old Greek boy who presented to our emergency department complaining of severe pain in the left inguinal area and scrotum. The acute painful swelling started suddenly, without any obvious cause. The initial diagnosis was incarcerated inguinal hernia which was reduced with difficulty. Five days later, the patient still experienced mild pain during palpation and he was operated on. During the operation, a large lower Spigelian hernia was revealed and reconstructed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although Spigelian hernias are rare in children and difficult to diagnose, physicians should be aware of them and include them in the differential diagnosis.</p

Hepatic abscess in a pre-existed simple hepatic cyst as a late complication of sigmoid colon ruptured diverticula: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Hepatic abscesses have been reported as a rare complication of diverticulitis of the bowel. This complication is recognized more commonly at the time of the diagnosis of diverticulitis, or ruptured diverticula, but also can be diagnosed prior to surgery, or postoperatively.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This report describes a man who developed an hepatic abscess within a simple hepatic cyst, two months after operation for ruptured diverticula of the sigmoid colon. The abscess was drained surgically and the patient made a complete recovery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The development of an hepatic abscess in a pre-existing hepatic cyst, secondary to diverticulitis, is a rare complication. A high degree of clinical suspicion is required for immediate diagnosis and treatment.</p