A systematic review of artificial intelligence-based music generation: Scope, applications, and future trends

Currently available reviews in the area of artificial intelligence-based music generation do not provide a wide range of publications and are usually centered around comparing very specific topics between a very limited range of solutions. Best surveys available in the field are bibliography sections of some papers and books which lack a systematic approach and limit their scope to only handpicked examples In this work, we analyze the scope and trends of the research on artificial intelligence-based music generation by performing a systematic review of the available publications in the field using the Prisma methodology. Furthermore, we discuss the possible implementations and accessibility of a set of currently available AI solutions, as aids to musical composition. Our research shows how publications are being distributed globally according to many characteristics, which provides a clear picture of the situation of this technology. Through our research it becomes clear that the interest of both musicians and computer scientists in AI-based automatic music generation has increased significantly in the last few years with an increasing participation of mayor companies in the field whose works we analyze. We discuss several generation architectures, both from a technical and a musical point of view and we highlight various areas were further research is needed

Test Infrastructure for Address-Event-Representation Communications

Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a communication protocol for transferring spikes between bio-inspired chips. Such systems may consist of a hierarchical structure with several chips that transmit spikes among them in real time, while performing some processing. To develop and test AER based systems it is convenient to have a set of instruments that would allow to: generate AER streams, monitor the output produced by neural chips and modify the spike stream produced by an emitting chip to adapt it to the requirements of the receiving elements. In this paper we present a set of tools that implement these functions developed in the CAVIAR EU project.Unión Europea IST-2001-34124 (CAVIAR)Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC-2003-08164-C03-0

A Study on the Suitability of Visual Languages for Non-Expert Robot Programmers

A visual programming language allows users and developers to create programs by manipulating program elements graphically. Several studies have shown the bene ts of visual languages for learning purposes and their applicability to robot programming. However, at present, there are not enough comparative studies on the suitability of textual and visual languages for this purpose. In this paper, we study if, as with a textual language, the use of a visual language could also be suitable in the context of robot programming and, if so, what the main advantages of using a visual language would be. For our experiments, we selected a sample of 60 individuals among students with adequate knowledge of procedural programming, that was divided into three groups. For the rst group of 20 students, a learning scenario based on a textual objectoriented language was used for programming a speci c commercial robotic ball with sensing, wireless communication, and output capabilities, whereas for the second and the third group, two learning scenarios based on visual languages were used for programming the robot. After taking a course for programming the robot in the corresponding learning scenario, each group was evaluated by completing three programming exercises related to the robot features (i.e. motion, lighting, and collision detection). Our results show that the students that worked with visual languages perceived a higher clarity level in their understanding of the course exposition, and a higher enjoyment level in the use of the programming environment. Moreover, they also achieved an overall better mark

FAIME: A Framework for AI-Assisted Musical Devices

In this paper, we present a novel framework for the study and design of AI-assisted musical devices (AIMEs). Initially, we present taxonomy of these devices and illustrate it with a set of scenarios and personas. Later, we propose a generic architecture for the implementation of AIMEs and present some examples from the scenarios. We show that the proposed framework and architecture are a valid tool for the study of intelligent musical devices

PCI-AER interface for Neuro-inspired Spiking Systems

Address event representation (AER) is a neuromorphic interchip communication protocol that allows for real-time connectivity between huge number neurons located on different chips. By exploiting high speed digital communication circuits (nano-seconds), synaptic neural connections can be time multiplexed (mili-seconds). When building multi-chip muti-layered AER systems it is absolutely necessary to have a computer interface that allows: (a) to read AER interchip traffic; and (b) inject a sequence of events to the AER structure. This paper presents a PCI to AER interface, that dispatches a sequence of events with timing information. It is able to recovery the possible delays introduced by AER bus. It has been implemented in real time hardware using VHDL and tested in a PCI-AER board, developed by authors, that currently capable to send and receive events at a peak rate of 16 Mev/sec, and a typical rate of 10 Mev/secEuropean Commission IST-2001-34124Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC-2003-08164-C03-0

UNEP-SETAC guideline on global land use impact assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services in LCA

Purpose As a consequence of the multi-functionality of land, the impact assessment of land use in Life Cycle Impact Assessment requires the modelling of several impact pathways covering biodiversity and ecosystem services. To provide consistency amongst these separate impact pathways, general principles for their modelling are provided in this paper. These are refinements to the principles that have already been proposed in publications by the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. In particular, this paper addresses the calculation of land use interventions and land use impacts, the issue of impact reversibility, the spatial and temporal distribution of such impacts and the assessment of absolute or relative ecosystem quality changes. Based on this, we propose a guideline to build methods for land use impact assessment in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Results Recommendations are given for the development of new characterization models and for which a series of key elements should explicitly be stated, such as the modelled land use impact pathways, the land use/cover typology covered, the level of biogeographical differentiation used for the characterization factors, the reference land use situation used and if relative or absolute quality changes are used to calculate land use impacts. Moreover, for an application of the characterisation factors (CFs) in an LCA study, data collection should be transparent with respect to the data input required from the land use inventory and the regeneration times. Indications on how generic CFs can be used for the background system as well as how spatial-based CFs can be calculated for the foreground system in a specific LCA study and how land use change is to be allocated should be detailed. Finally, it becomes necessary to justify the modelling period for which land use impacts of land transformation and occupation are calculated and how uncertainty is accounted for. Discussion The presented guideline is based on a number of assumptions: Discrete land use types are sufficient for an assessment of land use impacts; ecosystem quality remains constant over time of occupation; time and area of occupation are substitutable; transformation time is Negligible; regeneration is linear and independent from land use history and landscape configuration; biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services are independent; the ecological impact is linearly increasing with the intervention; and there is no interaction between land use and other drivers such as climate change. These assumptions might influence the results of land use Life Cycle Impact Assessment and need to be critically reflected. Conclusions and recommendations In this and the other papers of the special issue, we presented the principles and recommendations for the calculation of land use impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services on a global scale. In the framework of LCA, they are mainly used for the Assessment of land use impacts in the background system. The main areas for further development are the link to regional ecological models running in the foreground system, relative weighting of the ecosystem services midpoints and indirect land use.Fil: Koellner, Thomas . University of Bayreuth. Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: De Baan, Laura. Institute for Environmental Decisions. Natural and Social Science Interface; SuizaFil: Beck, Tabea. University of Stuttgar. Department Life Cycle Engineering; AlemaniaFil: Brandão, Miguel. Joint Research Centre. Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Sustainability. Assessment Unit, European Commission; ItaliaFil: Civit, Bárbara María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Margni, Manuele . École Polytechnique de Montréal. Département de génie chimique; CanadáFil: Milà i Canals, Llorenç. Unilever R&D. Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre; Reino UnidoFil: Saad, Rosie. École Polytechnique de Montréal. Département de génie chimique; CanadáFil: De Souza, Danielle Maia. Joint Research Centre. Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Sustainability. Assessment Unit, European Commission; ItaliaFil: Müller Wenk, Ruedi . University of St. Gallen. Institute for Economy and the Environment; Alemani

Using population-based data to evaluate the impact of adherence to endocrine therapy on survival in breast cancer through the web-application BreCanSurvPred

We show how the use and interpretation of population-based cancer survival indicators can help oncologists talk with breast cancer (BC) patients about the relationship between their prognosis and their adherence to endocrine therapy (ET). The study population comprised a population-based cohort of estrogen receptor positive BC patients (N = 1268) diagnosed in Girona and Tarragona (Northeastern Spain) and classified according to HER2 status (+ / -), stage at diagnosis (I/II/III) and five-year cumulative adherence rate (adherent > 80%; non-adherent <= 80%). Cox regression analysis was performed to identify significant prognostic factors for overall survival, whereas relative survival (RS) was used to estimate the crude probability of death due to BC (PBC). Stage and adherence to ET were the significant factors for predicting all-cause mortality. Compared to stage I, risk of death increased in stage II (hazard ratio [HR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-3.30) and stage III (HR 5.11, 95% CI 3.46-7.51), and it decreased with adherence to ET (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.59). PBC differences were higher in non-adherent patients compared to adherent ones and increased across stages: stage I: 6.61% (95% CI 0.05-13.20); stage II: 9.77% (95% CI 0.59-19.01), and stage III: 22.31% (95% CI 6.34-38.45). The age-adjusted survival curves derived from this modeling were implemented in the web application BreCanSurvPred (https://pdocomputation.snpstats.net/BreCanSurvPred). Web applications like BreCanSurvPred can help oncologists discuss the consequences of non-adherence to prescribed ET with patients

Poètiques de resistència/resiliència

La brutal realitat de la pandèmia i el que en deriva ens força –ens obliga– a replantejar els principis i fonaments de l’art en una societat que desapareix per moments: més que líquida, descobrim ara una societat volatilitzada, críptica, desesperada. La desigualtat que creix de manera desmesurada i el canvi climàtic, que ja es mesura en catàstrofes. Les violències, directes o estructurals, derivades de diferències mal enteses. Cada vegada més descosits, ens cal emparar-nos en valors positius i transformadors. Com a noves persones creadores, els i les artistes novells han de presentar percepcions del món que els hi ha tocat habitar –viure– amb llenguatges que adrecin aquestes problemàtiques. Amb propostes artístiques que deixin de banda prejudicis impostats, han de buscar el diàleg amb el públic per generar confluències i complicitats

Tesis y tesinas en inocuidad alimentaria: una vuelta a la comunidad

La inocuidad de alimentos es responsabilidad de todos los actores de la cadena agroalimentaria, desde el productor hasta el consumidor. Una de las estrategias primordiales de la educación para la salud es generar espacios planificados de enseñanza-aprendizaje que permitan abordar aspectos del conocimiento, estimular el desarrollo de habilidades personales y facilitar cambios voluntarios de comportamientos hacia prácticas saludables. En este contexto, en el marco del desarrollo de trabajos finales de la carrera de Licenciatura en Tecnología de los Alimentos (Tesis) y Medicina Veterinaria (Tesinas) de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (UNCPBA), se han abordado temáticas inherentes a los sistemas de gestión de la inocuidad, cuyos contenidos forman parte de la curricula de ambas carreras. Estos trabajos finales contribuyeron a implementar o mejorar las buenas prácticas de manipulación de alimentos en los lugares de residencia y/o sensibilizar a los destinatarios sobre la importancia del lavado de manos y superficies. Además, incluyeron una instancia de capacitación a cargo del tesista/tesinista con el propósito de promover la formación de los alumnos en prácticas extensionistas. Las prácticas se desarrollaron en cocinas y comedores institucionales, restaurant, sala de extracción de miel, empresa elaboradora de chacinados y hamburguesas, fábrica elaboradora de helados. En líneas generales, en una primera instancia se trabajó en brindar al alumno-tesista las herramientas pedagógicas conducentes a organizar las actividades que le permitieran una interacción adecuada con el ámbito social, acordes a las necesidades y recursos disponibles. Inicialmente, en cada caso se realizó un diagnóstico mediante entrevistas a encargados/responsables y/o visita al lugar. A partir de allí se definieron las estrategias de intervención; entre ellas: hisopados de manos y superficies, monitoreo ambiental, análisis del producto final, diseño y dictado de charlas de capacitación, examen escrito posterior a la capacitación, desarrollo de manuales de procedimientos. Las experiencias representaron una instancia curricular de mejora en la formación académica en extensión del alumno, en la cual se pusieron en juego la capacidad de adaptar el vocabulario disciplinar al público receptor, la selección de contenidos y organización de los mismos, la utilización de criterios para resolver una problemática acorde a la factibilidad de adopción de conductas higiénicas, el uso de herramientas informáticas, la utilización de metodologías microbiológicas, la exposición dialógica y un mayor compromiso social. Para los diferentes destinatarios, estas prácticas constituyeron una herramienta de mejora en la prevención de riesgos asociados a las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos.Fil: Agüeria, Daniela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Bruschi, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Civit, Diego. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: González, Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Libonatti, Claudia Carina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Pena, Miguel Angel. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Sanzano, Pablo Miguel. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Tabera, Anahi. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Tecnologia y Calidad de los Alimentos; Argentina1° Jornadas Institucionales de Extensión en la Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasTandilArgentinaUniversidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria