An introduction to interactive sonification

The research field of sonification, a subset of the topic of auditory display, has developed rapidly in recent decades. It brings together interests from the areas of data mining, exploratory data analysis, human–computer interfaces, and computer music. Sonification presents information by using sound (particularly nonspeech), so that the user of an auditory display obtains a deeper understanding of the data or processes under investigation by listening

Dental erosion: In vitro model of wine assessor's erosion

The document attached has been archived with permission from the Australian Dental Association. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Background: Wine makers and assessors frequently experience severe dental erosion. The objectives of this study were to develop an in vitro model of dental erosion caused by frequent wine contact with teeth, and to use this model to assess the effectiveness of a variety of methods which might protect against this form of erosion. Methods: An initial pilot study found that riesling style wine was more erosive than champagne style, and both more than claret. Wine tasting was simulated by subjecting exposed windows of enamel and root surfaces on 50 intact, extracted human teeth to 1400 one minute exposures to white wine (pH 3.2). A variety of dental materials were applied to the exposed windows on groups of teeth prior to erosive challenge, to assess their protective ability. Results: Protective resin coatings and fluoride varnishes protected both enamel and roots against wine induced erosion. A high degree of protection was provided by APF gel, with less by NaF gel. Conclusions: It was concluded that dentists may be able to help minimise erosion resulting from frequent wine-tasting in their patients by the clinical application of one or a combination of these agents at times prior to prolonged assessment periods.Tong Bee Mok, J McIntyre and D Hun

Theories of Technological Progress and the British Textile Industry from Kay to Cartwright

Editada en la Fundación Empresa PúblicaLa industria textil británica continúa en el centro del debate sobre la revolución industrial. Las innovaciones técnicas en el período produjeron una aceleración extraordinaria del crecimiento del output y una considerable reducción de los precios de los tejidos. En este trabajo presentamos un estudio de la comunidad de los inventores responsables de la transformación tecnológica, lo que nos permite alcanzar una serie de conclusiones nuevas sobre el ritmo y dirección de la actividad innovadora durante la revolución industrialThe cotton textile industry remains central to all accounts of the first industrial revolution. Innovations in this period precipitated an extraordinary acceleration in the growth of output and a steep decline in the cost of producing all varieties of cloth. In this paper we outline an explanation through an analysis of the community of inventors responsible for the technological transformation, which enables us to offer some generalizations of the pace and pattern of the inventive activity in this period.Publicad

(63)Cu NQR Evidence for Spatial Variation of Hole Concentration in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4)

We report experimental evidence for the spatial variation of hole concentration x_(hole) in the high Tc superconductor La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) (0.04 <= x <= 0.16) by using (63)Cu NQR for (63)Cu isotope enriched samples. We demonstrate that the extent of the spatial variation of the local hole concentration D(x)_(hole) is reflected on (63)1/T1 and deduce the temperature dependence. D(x)_(hole) increases below 500 - 600K, and reaches values as large as D(x)_(hole)/x ~ 0.5 below ~ 150K. We estimate the length scale of the spatial variation in x_(hole) to be R_(hole) >~ 3nm from analysis of the NQR spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Investigation of compounds essential for the origin of life

Nucleic acid sequencing as a technique to determine the chemical and biological evolution of certain prokaryotic metabolic pathways is discussed. Protein in data and a microbiological organization of the prokaryotes is included

Data-driven control design for neuroprotheses: a virtual reference feedback tuning (VRFT) approach

This paper deals with design of feedback controllers for knee joint movement of paraplegics using functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the paralyzed quadriceps muscle group. The controller design approach, virtual reference feedback tuning (VRFT), is directly based on open loop measured data and fits the controller in such a way that the closed-loop meets a model reference objective. The use of this strategy, avoiding the modeling step, significantly reduces the time required for controller design and considerably simplifies the rehabilitation protocols. Linear and nonlinear controllers have been designed and experimentally tested, preliminarily on a healthy subject and finally on a paraplegic patient. Linear controller is effective when applied on small range of knee joint angle. The design of a nonlinear controller allows better performances. It is also shown that the control design is effective in tracking assigned knee angle trajectories and rejecting disturbances

Review study and evaluation of possible flight experiments relating to cloud physics experiments in space

The general objectives of the Zero-Gravity Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory Program are to improve the level of knowledge in atmospheric cloud research by placing at the disposal of the terrestrial-bound atmospheric cloud physicist a laboratory that can be operated in the environment of zero-gravity or near zero-gravity. This laboratory will allow studies to be performed without mechanical, aerodynamic, electrical, or other techniques to support the object under study. The inhouse analysis of the Skylab 3 and 4 experiments in dynamics of oscillations, rotations, collisions and coalescence of water droplets under low gravity-environment is presented

Proceedings of an ESA-NASA Workshop on a Joint Solid Earth Program

The NASA geodynamics program; spaceborne magnetometry; spaceborne gravity gradiometry (characterizing the data type); terrestrial gravity data and comparisons with satellite data; GRADIO three-axis electrostatic accelerometers; gradiometer accommodation on board a drag-free satellite; gradiometer mission spectral analysis and simulation studies; and an opto-electronic accelerometer system were discussed

Control of posture with FES systems

One of the major obstacles in restoration of functional FES supported standing in paraplegia is the lack of knowledge of a suitable control strategy. The main issue is how to integrate the purposeful actions of the non-paralysed upper body when interacting with the environment while standing, and the actions of the artificial FES control system supporting the paralyzed lower extremities. In this paper we provide a review of our approach to solving this question, which focuses on three inter-related areas: investigations of the basic mechanisms of functional postural responses in neurologically intact subjects; re-training of the residual sensory-motor activities of the upper body in paralyzed individuals; and development of closed-loop FES control systems for support of the paralyzed joints