Rethinking Recurrent Latent Variable Model for Music Composition

We present a model for capturing musical features and creating novel sequences of music, called the Convolutional Variational Recurrent Neural Network. To generate sequential data, the model uses an encoder-decoder architecture with latent probabilistic connections to capture the hidden structure of music. Using the sequence-to-sequence model, our generative model can exploit samples from a prior distribution and generate a longer sequence of music. We compare the performance of our proposed model with other types of Neural Networks using the criteria of Information Rate that is implemented by Variable Markov Oracle, a method that allows statistical characterization of musical information dynamics and detection of motifs in a song. Our results suggest that the proposed model has a better statistical resemblance to the musical structure of the training data, which improves the creation of new sequences of music in the style of the originals.Comment: Published as a conference paper at IEEE MMSP 201

Effect of organic crop rotations on long-term development of the weed seedbank

Changes in the weed seedbank were monitored between 1991 and 1998 in two experiments that were established to compare organic crop rotations at two sites in NE Scotland. Two rotations, replicated twice at each site, were compared and all courses of both rotations were present every year. There were relatively minor changes in weed species diversity over time, but major changes in seedbank abundance. Weed seed numbers were relatively low in rotations with a high proportion of grass/clover ley. Differences in level of seedbank across the rotation were relatively predictable at Tulloch but much less so at Woodside where factors such as the effect of the grass/clover ley seemed to play a lesser role. Other factors, such as weather and its influence on the effectiveness of weed control operations, and higher populations of ground-living arthropods, may be affecting the Woodside seedbanks

Anomalous thermal expansion in 1D transition-metal cyanides: what makes the novel trimetallic cyanide Cu1/3Ag1/3Au1/3CN behave differently?

The structural dynamics of a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) mixed-metal cyanide, Cu1/3Ag1/3Au1/3CN, with intriguing thermal properties is explored. All the current known related compounds with straight-chain structures, such as group 11 cyanides CuCN, AgCN, AuCN and bimetallic cyanides MxM’1-xCN (M, M’ = Cu, Ag, Au), exhibit 1D negative thermal expansion (NTE) along the chains and positive thermal expansion (PTE) perpendicular to them. Cu1/3Ag1/3Au1/3CN exhibits similar PTE perpendicular to the chains, however PTE, rather than NTE, is also observed along the chains. In order to understand the origin of this unexpected behavior, inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements were carried out, underpinned by lattice-dynamical density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations. Synchrotron-based pair-distribution-function (PDF) analysis and 13C solid-state nuclear-magnetic-resonance (SSNMR) measurements were also performed to build an input structural model for the lattice dynamical study. The results indicate that transverse motions of the metal ions are responsible for the PTE perpendicular to the chains, as is the case for the related group 11 cyanides. However NTE along the chain due to the tension effect of these transverse motions is not observed. As there are different metal-to-cyanide bond lengths in Cu1/3Ag1/3Au1/3CN, the metals in neighboring chains cannot all be truly co-planar in a straight-chain model. For this system, DFT-based phonon calculations predict small PTE along the chain due to low-energy chain-slipping modes induced by a bond-rotation effect on the weak metallophilic bonds. However the observed PTE is greater than that predicted with the straight-chain model. Small bends in the chain to accommodate truly co-planar metals provide an alternative explanation for thermal behavior. These would mitigate the tension effect induced by the transverse motions of the metals and, as temperature increases and the chains move further apart, a straightening could occur resulting in the observed PTE. This hypothesis is further supported by unusual evolution in the phonon spectra, which suggest small changes in local symmetry with temperature

Revue narrative de la littérature sur la formation en soins ambulatoires en médecine interne au Canada

Background: The Canadian healthcare system faces increasing patient volumes and complexity amidst funding constraints. Ambulatory care offers a potential solution to some of these challenges. Despite growing emphasis on the provision of ambulatory care, there has been a relative paucity of ambulatory care training curricula within Canadian internal medicine residency programs. We conducted a narrative review to understand the current state of knowledge on postgraduate ambulatory care education (ACE), in order to frame a research agenda for Canadian Internal Medicine ACE. Methods: We searched OVID Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO for articles that included the concepts of ambulatory care and medical or health professions education from 2005-2015. After sorting for inclusion/exclusion, we analyzed 30 articles, looking for dominant claims about ACE in Internal Medicine literature. Results: We found three claims. First, ACE is considered to be a necessary component of medical training because of its distinction from inpatient learning environments. Second, current models of ambulatory care clinics do not meet residency education needs. Third, ACE presents opportunities to develop non-medical expert roles.  Conclusions: The findings of our narrative review highlight a need for additional research regarding ACE in Canada to inform optimal ambulatory internal medicine training structures and alignment of educational and societal needs. Contexte : Le système canadien des soins de santé fait face à des volumes croissants de patients et de cas complexes en même temps qu’à des contraintes budgétaires. Les soins ambulatoires offrent une solution pour relever certains de ces défis.  Malgré l’importance grandissante portée aux soins ambulatoires, on observe un manque relatif de cursus de formation en soins ambulatoires dans les programmes de résidence en médecine interne.  On a effectué une revue narrative en vue de comprendre l’état actuel des connaissances sur la formation en soins ambulatoires (FSA) postgraduée afin d’encadrer un programme de recherche portant sur la FSA à l’intention des étudiants en médecine interne canadiens. Méthodologie : On a consulté OVID Medline, Embase et PsycINFO pour trouver des articles publiés entre 2005 et 2015, portant sur les concepts de soins ambulatoires et d’éducation médicale ou des professionnels de la santé. Après la sélection d’articles selon des critères d’inclusion et d’exclusion, nous en avons examiné 30 en recherchant les affirmations dominantes sur la FSA dans la littérature en médecine interne. Résultats :  On a dégagé trois affirmations soit 1) la FSA est tenue pour une composante nécessaire de tout programme d’études de médecine parce qu’elle se distingue de l’environnement d’apprentissage hospitalier; 2) les modèles actuels de cliniques de soins ambulatoires ne répondent pas aux besoins de formation des résidents; 3) la FSA permet de développer des rôles autres que ceux de l’expert médical.  Conclusions : Les conclusions de notre analyse documentaire mettent en lumière la nécessité d’effectuer d’autres recherches sur la FSA au Canada pour connaître quelles seraient les structures optimales pour dispenser la formation en soins ambulatoires pour la médecine interne et établir une adéquation entre les besoins de formation et les besoins de la société. &nbsp

Structure, Deformations and Gravitational Wave Emission of Magnetars

Neutron stars can have, in some phases of their life, extremely strong magnetic fields, up to 10^15-10^16 G. These objects, named magnetars, could be powerful sources of gravitational waves, since their magnetic field could determine large deformations. We discuss the structure of the magnetic field of magnetars, and the deformation induced by this field. Finally, we discuss the perspective of detection of the gravitational waves emitted by these stars.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, prepared for 19th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (GR19), Mexico City, Mexico, July 5-9, 201

Perceived norms among university students about their peers and drug use in Bogota, Colombia

Com este trabalho objetivou-se estimar a diferença entre as normas percebidas sobre o uso de drogas pelos estudantes universitários e os seus pares, com idades entre 18 e 24 anos, das faculdades de educação e saúde. É um estudo transversal, baseado em censo e questionário autoadministrado, sem identificação do respondente. Participaram 365 estudantes. Quanto aos resultados, vê-se que a proporção do consumo de tabaco no último ano foi 43,6%; álcool 96,2%, maconha 8,2% e 2,2% cocaína. A norma percebida para a proporção do consumo de tabaco no último ano foi de 78,9%, álcool 88,3%, maconha 35,4% e 20,9% para a cocaína. A proporção do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e a norma percebida estiveram muito próximas, para o consumo de tabaco esteve sobreestimada. Para o acesso fácil ou muito fácil no campus universitário, foi encontrada subestimação para o cigarro e a cocaína, e superestimação para a maconha. Conclui-se que os estudantes universitários sobreestimam o consumo de tabaco, maconha e cocaína pelos seus pares e têm percepção exata do consumo de álcool. A sustância mais sobreestimada foi o tabaco.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo estimar la diferencia entre las normas percibidas sobre uso de drogas en universitarios y sus pares, entre 18 a 24 años, de las áreas de salud y educación. Se trata de un estudio transversal, por encuesta y cuestionario autoaplicado anónimo. Participaron 365 estudiantes. En el último año, la proporción de consumo real de tabaco fue 43,6%, de alcohol 96,2%, de marihuana 8,2%; y 2,2%, de cocaína. La norma percibida de la proporción de consumo de tabaco el último año fue 78,9%, alcohol 88,3%, marihuana 35,4% y 20,9% cocaína. La proporción de consumo real de alcohol entre los estudiantes y la norma percibida por ellos estuvieron muy próximas; para el tabaco, marihuana y cocaína la percepción estuvo sobreestimada. De las drogas de acceso fácil o muy fácil en el campus, se encontró una subestimación para cigarrillo y cocaína, y sobreestimación para marihuana. Se concluye que los universitarios sobrestiman el consumo de tabaco, marihuana y cocaína, parte de sus pares, y tienen una percepción exacta del consumo de alcohol. La sustancia de consumo más sobreestimada de los últimos doce meses fue el tabaco.The objective of this study was to estimate the difference between perceived norms for drug use among university students and their peers, with ages between 18 and 24 years, and attending education and health courses. This cross-sectional study was based on a survey and an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: in total, 365 students participated. The rates for drug use over the last year were as follows: 43.6% for tobacco; 96.2% for alcohol; 8.2% for marijuana; and 2.2% for cocaine. The perceived norm for drug use over the last year was 78.9% for tobacco, 88.3% for alcohol, 35.4% for marijuana and 20.9% for cocaine. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and the perceived norm were very close, but it was overestimated for tobacco use. Regarding access to drugs being easy or very easy on campus, access to cigarettes and cocaine was underestimated, while marijuana was overestimated. CONCLUSIONS: university students overestimate the use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine by their peers and have a correct perception of alcohol use. Tobacco is the substance with the most overestimated use

Golden gravitational lensing systems from the Sloan Lens ACS Survey. II. SDSS J1430+4105: A precise inner total mass profile from lensing alone

We study the SLACS strong lensing system SDSSJ1430+4105 at z=0.285. The lensed source (z=0.575) of this system has a complex morphology with several subcomponents. Its subcomponents span a radial range from 4 to 10kpc in the lens plane. Therefore we can constrain the slope of the total projected mass profile around the Einstein radius (R_E) from lensing alone. We measure a density profile that is slightly but not significantly shallower than isothermal at R_E. We decompose the mass of the lensing galaxy into a de Vaucouleurs (deV) component to trace the stars and an additional dark component. The spread of multiple image components over a large radial range also allows us to determine the amplitude of the deV and dark matter components separately. We get a mass to light ratio of M_deV/L_B~5.5\pm1.5M/L_sun,B and a dark matter fraction within R_E of ~20 to 40%. Modelling the star formation history assuming composite stellar populations at solar metallicity to the galaxy's photometry yields a mass to light ratio of M_star,salp/L_B~4.0_{-1.3}^{+0.6}M/L_sun,B and M_star,chab/L_B~2.3_{-0.8}^{+0.3}M/L_sun,B for Salpeter and Chabrier IMFs, respectively. Hence, the mass to light ratio derived from lensing is more Salpeter-like, in agreement with results for massive Coma galaxies and other nearby massive early type galaxies. We examine the consequences of the galaxy group in which the lensing galaxy is embedded, showing that it has little influence on the mass to light ratio obtained for the deV component of the lensing galaxy. Finally, we decompose the projected, azimuthally averaged 2D density distribution of the deV and dark matter component of the lensing signal into spherically averaged 3D density profiles. We can show that the 3D dark and luminous matter density within R_E~0.6R_eff of this SLACS galaxy is similar to the values of Coma galaxies with the same velocity dispersions.Comment: 24 pages, 21 figures, 11 tables, accepted for publication by MNRA

CARer-ADministration of as-needed subcutaneous medication for breakthrough symptoms in homebased dying patients (CARiAD):study protocol for a UK-based open randomised pilot trial

Legal framework. (DOCX 23 kb