Big data optical music recognition with multi images and multi recognisers

In this paper we describe work in progress towards Multi-OMR, an approach to Optical Music Recognition (OMR) which aims to significantly improve the accuracy of musical score digitisation. There are a large number of scores available in public databases, as well as a range of different commercial and open source OMR tools. Using these resources, we are exploring a Big Data approach to harnessing datasets by aligning and combining the results of multiple versions of the same score, processed with multiple technologies. It is anticipated that this approach will yield high quality results, opening up large datasets to researchers in the field of digital musicology

Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate

Hawkridge, D., Ng, K., & Verjans, S. (Eds.) (2011). Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate. The 18th annual conference of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT-C 2011). September, 6-8, 2011, University of Leeds, England, UK. URI:http://repository.alt.ac.uk/2159Here are the proceedings of the 2011 ALT Conference ‘‘Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate’’. Proceedings papers report on a piece of research, possibly in its early stages, or they can be ‘‘thoughtpieces’’ which state a point of view or summarise an area of work, perhaps giving new insights. The conference has six themes: . Research and rigour: creating, marshalling and making effective use of evidence . Making things happen: systematic design, planning and implementation . Broad tents and strange bedfellows: collaborating, scavenging and sharing to increase value . At the sharp end: enabling organisations and their managers to solve business, pedagogic and technical challenges . Teachers of the future: understanding and influencing the future role and practices of teachers . Preparing for a thaw: looking ahead to a time beyond the disruptive discontinuities of the next few years. Interestingly, there were very few proposals for the conference as a whole against the sixth theme: and no proceedings papers. Perhaps the thaw is still perceived as being too far away to warrant any preparation yet!Association for learning technolog

Regional valuation of infrastructure improvements. The case of Swedish road freight

Is it possible to identify regional differences among shippers in their valuation of infrastructure improvements? The question is analysed within a random utility approach where parameters are estimated by a logit model. Data consists of a Swedish stated preference study from 1992. The results indicate that regional differences may exist but a considerable heterogeneity in the empirical material prohibit robust results in some cases. However, regional differences seem to exist when industrial mix, shipping distance and goods values are held constant. Independent of the limitations, the results should render implications to any infrastructure benefit analysis where parameters from spatial averages are used. The results are based on short term decisions and one should recognise that parameters may vary under mid- and long- term.Regional preferences; road transportation; freight demand; stated preference analysis; random utility models; logit model

Visible and Ultraviolet Laser Spectroscopy of ThF

The molecular ion ThF$^+$ is the species to be used in the next generation of search for the electron's Electric Dipole Moment (eEDM) at JILA. The measurement requires creating molecular ions in the eEDM sensitive state, the rovibronic ground state $^3\Delta_1$, $v^+=0$, $J^+=1$. Survey spectroscopy of neutral ThF is required to identify an appropriate intermediate state for a Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization (REMPI) scheme that will create ions in the required state. We perform broadband survey spectroscopy (from 13000 to 44000~cm$^{-1}$) of ThF using both Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and $1+1'$ REMPI spectroscopy. We observe and assign 345 previously unreported vibronic bands of ThF. We demonstrate 30\% efficiency in the production of ThF$^+$ ions in the eEDM sensitive state using the $\Omega = 3/2$ [32.85] intermediate state. In addition, we propose a method to increase the aforementioned efficiency to $\sim$100\% by using vibrational autoionization via core-nonpenetrating Rydberg states, and discuss theoretical and experimental challenges. Finally, we also report 83 vibronic bands of an impurity species, ThO.Comment: 49 pages, 7 figure

Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Live Coding

Open Access peer reviewed papers on live coding published at the 1st International Conference on Live Coding (ICLC) in Leeds

Improving optical music recognition by combining outputs from multiple sources

Current software for Optical Music Recognition (OMR) produces outputs with too many errors that render it an unrealistic option for the production of a large corpus of symbolic music files. In this paper, we propose a system which applies image pre-processing techniques to scans of scores and combines the outputs of different commercial OMR programs when applied to images of different scores of the same piece of music. As a result of this procedure, the combined output has around 50% fewer errors when compared to the output of any one OMR program. Image pre-processing splits scores into separate movements and sections and removes ossia staves which confuse OMR software. Post-processing aligns the outputs from different OMR programs and from different sources, rejecting outputs with the most errors and using majority voting to determine the likely correct details. Our software produces output in MusicXML, concentrating on accurate pitch and rhythm and ignoring grace notes. Results of tests on the six string quartets by Mozart dedicated to Joseph Haydn and the first six piano sonatas by Mozart are presented, showing an average recognition rate of around 95%

Minimax mean estimator for the trine

We explore the question of state estimation for a qubit restricted to the $x$-$z$ plane of the Bloch sphere, with the trine measurement. In our earlier work [H. K. Ng and B.-G. Englert, eprint arXiv:1202.5136[quant-ph] (2012)], similarities between quantum tomography and the tomography of a classical die motivated us to apply a simple modification of the classical estimator for use in the quantum problem. This worked very well. In this article, we adapt a different aspect of the classical estimator to the quantum problem. In particular, we investigate the mean estimator, where the mean is taken with a weight function identical to that in the classical estimator but now with quantum constraints imposed. Among such mean estimators, we choose an optimal one with the smallest worst-case error-the minimax mean estimator-and compare its performance with that of other estimators. Despite the natural generalization of the classical approach, this minimax mean estimator does not work as well as one might expect from the analogous performance in the classical problem. While it outperforms the often-used maximum-likelihood estimator in having a smaller worst-case error, the advantage is not significant enough to justify the more complicated procedure required to construct it. The much simpler adapted estimator introduced in our earlier work is still more effective. Our previous work emphasized the similarities between classical and quantum state estimation; in contrast, this paper highlights how intuition gained from classical problems can sometimes fail in the quantum arena.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Systematic and statistical uncertainty evaluation of the HfF+^+ electron electric dipole moment experiment

We have completed a new precision measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using trapped HfF$^+$ in rotating bias fields. We report on the accuracy evaluation of this measurement, describing the mechanisms behind our systematic shifts. Our systematic uncertainty is reduced by a factor of 30 compared to the first generation of this measurement. Our combined statistical and systematic accuracy is improved by a factor of 2 relative to any previous measurement