Using duration models to reduce fragmentation in audio segmentation

We investigate explicit segment duration models in addressing the problem of fragmentation in musical audio segmentation. The resulting probabilistic models are optimised using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods; in particular, we introduce a modification to Wolff’s algorithm to make it applicable to a segment classification model with an arbitrary duration prior. We apply this to a collection of pop songs, and show experimentally that the generated segmentations suffer much less from fragmentation than those produced by segmentation algorithms based on clustering, and are closer to an expert listener’s annotations, as evaluated by two different performance measures. Editor: Gerhard Widmer     

Deposition of AlN films by reactive sputtering: Effect of radiofrequency substrate bias

Piezoelectric AlN thin films were deposited on Silicon substrates by triode reactive sputtering. The variation of residual stress versus bias voltage on the substrate was investigated. A compressive stress was always observed with a maximum value for a negative substrate bias of 50 V. For higher negative bias voltage values, the compressive stress decreases. X-ray diffraction measurements showed two kinds of growth orientation. First, without bias voltage, films are well crystallized and (002) oriented. Second, with bias voltage, the (002) orientation disappears and a small peak appears (situated in the 2θ = 32°-33° range) which can be attributed to (100) orientation. Finally, the influence of compressive stress and ion bombardment on the change of orientation is discussed.     

Robust non-fragile LQ controllers: The static state feedback case

This paper describes the synthesis of non-fragile or resilient regulators for linear systems. A general framework for fragility is described using state-space methodologies, and the LQ/H₂ static state-feedback problem is examined in detail. We discuss the multiplicative structured uncertainties case, and propose remedies of the fragility problem using an optimization programming framework via matrix inequalities. A special case that leads to a convex optimization framework via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) will be considered. The benchmark problem is taken as an example to show how special controller gain variations can affect the performance of the closed-loop system.     

Performance of Primary Users in Spectrum Sharing Cognitive Radio Environment

This paper investigates the performance of the primary user in a multiuser cognitive radio environment. Using spectrum sharing method, multiple cognitive users compete to share a channel dedicated to the primary user in order to transmit their data to a common receiver unit. Only one cognitive user is scheduled to share the channel, and to do so, its transmit power should not increase the primary user’s outage probability above a certain limit. The average bit error rate and the average channel capacity of the primary user are derived in this setup for different cognitive scheduling schemes. The performance measures of the primary user are found to depend on the cognitive user’s scheduling criterion and on the parameters of the communication environment.     

Changes in Fatty Acid, Tocopherol and Xanthophyll Contents During the Development of Tunisian-Grown Pecan Nuts

Among oil compounds, fatty acids, tocopherols and xanthophylls (lutein and zeaxanthin) are of special interest due to their nutritional properties. The identification and quantification of these compounds in pecan nuts (Carya illinoinensis) could therefore be very useful to produce functional foods rich in compounds of this type. This paper reports studies on their accumulation and the effect of ripening on the content of these high value-added compounds. The total lipid content increased during the ripening. Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly, whereas, monounsaturated fatty acids increased during the ripening of pecan nut fruit. Maximum levels of total tocopherol (279.53 mg/kg oil) and xanthophyll (6.18 mg/kg oil) were detected at 20th weeks after the flowering date. These amounts decreased gradually as ripening advances. The early stages of pecan ripening seem to have nutritional and pharmaceutical interests. These results may be useful for evaluating the pecan nut quality and determining the optimal period when the pecans accumulated the maximum of these nutritional and healthy compounds.     

Electrical properties of oilshale rocks

The characterization of electric properties of oilshale deposit is reported. The scanning electron microscopy and the results of the dielectric constants show that the deposit is a heterogeneous composite material containing some conducting and insulating microstructural units. The components of the equivalent input impedance measured at microwave frequencies (8 to 12 GHz) and the impedance at low frequencies (0.5 Hz to 30 kHz) showed frequency dependence. The real and imaginary components of the permittivity determined from the impedance data obtained at low frequencies showed an exponential decrease with frequency. The observed frequency dependence of the rock permittivity is ascribed generally to a Maxwell-Wagner type of mechanism. Also it was observed that the conductivity is almost independent of the frequency below 1 kHz and increases with frequency above this range. The values obtained for the conductivity at low frequencies indicate that the rock has an intermediate electrical conduction due to some mineralized metallic complexes and carbon content.     

The effect of moisture on buckle delamination of thin inorganic layers on a polymer substrate

Moisture-induced buckle delamination of thin inorganic layers on a polymer substrate was studied. Moisture has been found to have a significant effect on the failure mode. Experimentally, an increase in the buckle width, height and the total buckle delamination length with time and humidity was observed. Moreover, a transition from straight to telephone-cord buckle pattern was taken place in a humid environment. Applying only a uniaxial compressive strain on the thin layers did not result in the transition from straight to telephone-cord. For a compliant substrate the transition from straight to telephone-cord buckle occurred at significantly higher ratio of residual strain over critical buckling strain than for a rigid substrate. A simple model for buckling was applied. Using the energy release rate, the interfacial toughness was investigated as a function of relative humidity.