Overlapping of sounds in piano passages

It is well known that, in piano passages, specifically, in those played legato, sounds may overlap in time. Our experiments show that this overlapping is much greater than one would expect proceeding from the undistorted pitch perception in a given phrase. Moreover, the sounds produced by piano and perceived by a listener as clearly distinguished in pitch, when subjected to an objective analysis, may prove to be a mixture of equally intense components of the preceding and next sounds. This phenomenon is related to the problem of piano quality, including the still unclarified role of the damper system, as well as to the mysterious manifestation of pianist’s personality that is called the art of touch.     

Classification and identification of recorded and synthesized impact sounds by practiced listeners, musicians, and nonmusicians

Three experiments were conducted to test the viability of a low-parameter modal model for synthesizing impact sounds to be used in commercial and psychoacoustic research. The model was constrained to have four physically based parameters dictating the amplitude, frequency, and decay of modes. The values of these parameters were selected by ear to roughly match the recordings of ten different resonant objects suspended by hand and struck with different mallets. In experiment 1, neither 35 professional musicians nor 187 college undergraduates could identify which of the two matched sounds was the real recording with better than chance accuracy, though significantly better than chance performance was obtained when modal parameters were selected without the previously imposed physical constraints. In experiment 2, the undergraduates identified the source corresponding to the recorded and synthesized sounds with the same level of accuracy and largely the same pattern of errors. Finally, experiment 3 showed highly practiced listeners to be largely insensitive to changes in the acoustic waveform resulting from an increase in the number of free parameters used in the modal model beyond 3. The results suggest that low-parameter, modal models might be exploited meaningfully in many commercial and research applications involving human perception of impact sounds.     

The simulation of piano string vibration: from physical models to finite difference schemes and digital waveguides

A model of transverse piano string vibration, second order in time, which models frequency-dependent loss and dispersion effects is presented here. This model has many desirable properties, in particular that it can be written as a well-posed initial-boundary value problem (permitting stable finite difference schemes) and that it may be directly related to a digital waveguide model, a digital filter-based algorithm which can be used for musical sound synthesis. Techniques for the extraction of model parameters from experimental data over the full range of the grand piano are discussed, as is the link between the model parameters and the filter responses in a digital waveguide. Simulations are performed. Finally, the waveguide model is extended to the case of several coupled strings.     

Discrete state space method and modal extension method based impact sound synthesis model

The efficient and accurate synthesis of physical parameter-controllable impact sounds is essential for sound source identification. In this study, an impact sound synthesis model of a cylinder is proposed based on discrete state space(DSS) method and modal extension method(MEM). This model is comprised of the whole three processes of the physical interaction, i.e., the Hertz contact process, the transient structural response process, and the sound radiation process. Firstly,the modal expanded DSS equations of the contact system are constructed and the transient structural response of the cylinder is obtained. Then the impact sound of the cylinder is acquired using improved discrete Raleigh integral. Finally, the proposed model is verified by comparing with existing models. The results show that the proposed impact sound synthesis model is more accurate and efficient than the existing methods and easy to be extended to the impact sound synthesis of other structures.     

Differential reduction of generalized hypergeometric functions from Feynman diagrams: One-variable case

The differential-reduction algorithm, which allows one to express generalized hypergeometric functions with parameters of arbitrary values in terms of the same functions with parameters whose values differ from the original ones by integers, is discussed in the context of evaluating Feynman diagrams. Where this is possible, we compare our results with those obtained using standard techniques. It is shown that the criterion of reducibility of multiloop Feynman integrals can be reformulated in terms of the criterion of reducibility of hypergeometric functions. The relation between the numbers of master integrals obtained by differential reduction and integration by parts is discussed.     

A Bayesian Approach to the Estimation of Parameters and Their Interdependencies in Environmental Modeling

We present a case study for Bayesian analysis and proper representation of distributions and dependence among parameters when calibrating process-oriented environmental models. A simple water quality model for the Elbe River (Germany) is referred to as an example, but the approach is applicable to a wide range of environmental models with time-series output. Model parameters are estimated by Bayesian inference via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. While the best-fit solution matches usual least-squares model calibration (with a penalty term for excessive parameter values), the Bayesian approach has the advantage of yielding a joint probability distribution for parameters. This posterior distribution encompasses all possible parameter combinations that produce a simulation output that fits observed data within measurement and modeling uncertainty. Bayesian inference further permits the introduction of prior knowledge, e.g., positivity of certain parameters. The estimated distribution shows to which extent model parameters are controlled by observations through the process of inference, highlighting issues that cannot be settled unless more information becomes available. An interactive interface enables tracking for how ranges of parameter values that are consistent with observations change during the process of a step-by-step assignment of fixed parameter values. Based on an initial analysis of the posterior via an undirected Gaussian graphical model, a directed Bayesian network (BN) is constructed. The BN transparently conveys information on the interdependence of parameters after calibration. Finally, a strategy to reduce the number of expensive model runs in MCMC sampling for the presented purpose is introduced based on a newly developed variant of delayed acceptance sampling with a Gaussian process surrogate and linear dimensionality reduction to support function-valued outputs.     

Real-time synthesis of clarinet-like instruments using digital impedance models

A real-time synthesis model of wind instruments sounds, based upon a classical physical model, is presented. The physical model describes the nonlinear coupling between the resonator and the excitor through the Bernoulli equation. While most synthesis methods use wave variables and their sampled equivalent in order to describe the resonator of the instrument, the synthesis model presented here uses sampled versions of the physical variables all along the synthesis process, and hence constitutes a straightforward digital transposition of each part of the physical model. Moreover, the resolution scheme of the problem (i.e., the synthesis algorithm) is explicit and all the parameters of the algorithm are expressed analytically as functions of the physical and the control parameters.     

一种基于小波和矩阵型扩散的图像放大

提出了一种基于小波多分辨分析和矩阵型扩散的图像放大方法.该方法把原图像作为放大图像的小波低频子带,初始高频置零小波重构,用矩阵型扩散方程处理后小波分解,得到估计的高频再与原图像重构.在扩散中取矩阵型扩散的扩散系数,选择其特征根,使扩散在垂直于边缘方向梯度较大时为逆扩散以锐化边缘,而沿边缘方向为正向扩散以增强边缘;同时提出了放大图像与原图像的一种相似性标准.该方法在放大图像的同时既去除了噪音又有效保持了边缘.数值实验结果证实,此方法为一个有效地图像放大方法.     

双原子分子内氛重组能的Ab Initio-Morse函数研究

基于重组织现象的自交换模型,提出一种内氛重组能精确的Morse函数标度方案,并对气相电子转移过程中双原子分子体系进行了计算,给出了反应物的结构重组织指标。在HFSCF水平上利用四种基组(6-31G^*、6-31GE、DZ和DZP(d))对标度中所含参数进行了计算,并与实验结果进行比较.结果表明,ab initio计算与实验标度值吻合较好,误差在±1.skcal/mol以内。该方法不仅改进了经典模型而且避免了获得有效的实验数据的困难,给出了一种精确地计算气相电子转移过程中双原子分子内氛重组能的ab initio算法。     

Multiband analysis and synthesis of spectro-temporal modulations of Fourier spectrogram

The two-dimensional spectro-temporal modulation filtering concept of the auditory model [T. Chi, P. Ru, and S. A. Shamma, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118(2), 887-906 (2005)] is implemented on the Fourier spectrogram. The Fourier magnitude spectrogram is analyzed in terms of its joint spectro-temporal modulations, which embed the temporal dynamics and spectral structures. Instead of iterative projection methods, the overlap-and-add method is adopted to invert modified Fourier spectrograms back to sounds. The proposed framework not only provides a similar spectro-temporal analytical process for sounds as the auditory model but also produces synthesized sounds with better quality in a timely manner, which makes proposed framework feasible to human speech recognition (HSR) applications as well.     

The effect of aging temperature on structure characteristics of ordered mesoporous silicas

A series of mesoporous silica materials were synthesized by applying Pluronic type polymers as pore creating agents. In order to differentiate the characteristics of porous structure of the obtained sorbents the temperature of aging process was changed in the synthesis. The parameters characterizing the pore structure were estimated from nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The changes of pore arrangement of the obtained materials being a result of different synthesis conditions were investigated by using a small angle X-ray scattering method. Correlations between the values of structure parameters and aging temperature were found.     

AlON-TiN复相材料合成工艺参数的支持向量回归分析

根据在不同热压烧结工艺参数（包括TiN的含量、烧结温度和保温时间）下合成的AlON-TiN复相材料的抗弯强度实测数据集,应用基于粒子群算法寻优的支持向量回归（SVR）方法,建立了AlON-TiN复相材料在不同热压烧结工艺参数下抗弯强度的SVR预测模型,并与基于人工神经网络（ANN）模型的预测结果进行了比较.利用SVR预测模型并结合粒子群算法对AlON-TiN合成工艺参数进行了寻优和多因素分析.结果显示:对于相同的训练样本和检验样本,AlON-TiN复相材料抗弯强度的SVR模型比ANN模型具有更小的预测误差,表明SVR模型比ANN模型具有更强的预测能力.工艺参数寻优结果表明,当TiN质量分数为13.5%、烧结温度为1863.5 ℃和保温时间为5.8 h时, 可获得抗弯强度为555.452 MPa的AlON-TiN复相材料. 研究结果表明,该方法对于研发理想抗弯强度的AlON-TiN复相材料具有重要的理论指导意义和实用价值. 关键词： AlON-TiN 抗弯强度 支持向量回归 回归分析     

A Novel Source-Filter Stochastic Model for Voice Production

The novel stochastic model to produce voiced sounds proposed in this paper uses the source-filter Fant theory to generate voice signals and, consequently, it does not consider the coupling between the vocal tract and the vocal folds. Two novelties are proposed in the paper. The first one is the new model obtained from the unification of two other deterministic one mass-spring-damper models obtained from the literature and the second one is to build a stochastic model which can generate and control the level of jitter resulting even in hoarse voice signals or with pathological characteristics but using a simpler model than those ones discussed in the literature. An inverse stochastic problem is then solved for two cases, considering a normal voice and other obtained from a case of paralysis on the vocal folds. The parameters of the model are identified in the two cases allowing the validation of the model.     

A method for detecting whistles, moans, and other frequency contour sounds

An algorithm is presented for the detection of frequency contour sounds-whistles of dolphins and many other odontocetes, moans of baleen whales, chirps of birds, and numerous other animal and non-animal sounds. The algorithm works by tracking spectral peaks over time, grouping together peaks in successive time slices in a spectrogram if the peaks are sufficiently near in frequency and form a smooth contour over time. The algorithm has nine parameters, including the ones needed for spectrogram calculation and normalization. Finding optimal values for all of these parameters simultaneously requires a search of parameter space, and a grid search technique is described. The frequency contour detection method and parameter optimization technique are applied to the problem of detecting "boing" sounds of minke whales from near Hawaii. The test data set contained many humpback whale sounds in the frequency range of interest. Detection performance is quantified, and the method is found to work well at detecting boings, with a false-detection rate of 3% for the target missed-call rate of 25%. It has also worked well anecdotally for other marine and some terrestrial species, and could be applied to any species that produces a frequency contour, or to non-animal sounds as well.     

In situ investigation on rapid microstructure evolution in extreme complex environment by developing a new AFBP-TVM sparse tomography algorithm from original CS-XPCMT

A new sparse tomography method for observing the rapid internal microstructure evolution of material, called the Algebraic Filtered-Back-Projection and Total Variation Minimization (AFBP-TVM) iteration sparse reconstruction algorithm, was proposed in this paper. The new algorithm was developed by combining the two techniques of the Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (ART) and the Filtered-Back-Projection (FBP) on the basis of analysis in linear space. A series of numerical reconstruction experiments were conducted to validate the new algorithm. The results indicated the new algorithm can obtain satisfactory reconstruction images from 1/6 of the projections that were used in traditional algorithms. So the time spent on projection acquisition process can be reduced to 1/6 of that in traditional tomography method. The quality of images reconstructed by new algorithm was better than other algorithms, which was evaluated by three quantitative parameters. The normalized average absolute distance criterion and the normalized mean square criterion, which were used to evaluate the relative error of the reconstruction results (smaller value means better quality of reconstruction), decreased from 0.3758 to 0.1272 and from 0.1832 to 0.0894 respectively. The standardized covariance criterion, which was used to evaluate the similarity level (greater value means higher accuracy of reconstruction), increased from 92.72% to 99.30%. Finally, the new algorithm was validated under actual experimental conditions. The results indicated that the AFBP-TVM algorithm obtained better reconstruction quality than other algorithms. It meant that the AFBP-TVM algorithm may be a suitable method for in situ investigation on material's rapid internal microstructure evolution in extreme complex environment.     

遥感相机中时间延时积分电荷耦合器件积分级数的最优选择

针对时间延时积分电荷耦合器件积分级数对成像质量的影响,提出了一种航天遥感相机中时间延时积分电荷耦合器件积分级数的最优选择方法.构造了典型成像系统的信噪比与积分级数关系模型和调制传递函数与卫星姿态角和积分级数的函数模型;以信噪比和调制传递函数的容许值为约束条件,推导出了任意条件下时间延时积分电荷耦合器件的可选积分级数区间并给出了最优的积分级数解,给出了对应的增益设置指导函数.运用仿真实验对该方法进行验证,并与传统方法进行比较,结果表明:该方法能够选取最优的积分级数,从而获得满足信噪比和调制传递函数指标的最佳成像质量;若该值不存在,依然能获取相对最佳的折中值和视觉效果;同时,本文成像效果优于传统方法.     

Physical modelling of the piano string scale

Several stages of physics-based mathematical modelling are described for the design of the piano string scale. Strings are assumed to be perfectly flexible, and piano hammers are described by a nonlinear hysteretic model. It is also assumed that the parameters of the hammers for the whole hammer set are determined experimentally beforehand. Simulation procedures are used to systematically adjust the structure of the piano scale to its optimal value. The efficiency of the piano scale is improved by the analysis of the numerically simulated string motion and spectra of the string vibrations excited by the impact of the hammer. The set of variables to be optimized includes the linear mass density and tension of the piano strings and the position of the striking point. In addition, the problem of choosing appropriate tensions for neighbouring strings terminated on separate bass and treble bridges is considered.     

遥感相机中时间延时积分电荷耦合器件 积分级数的最优选择

针对时间延时积分电荷耦合器件积分级数对成像质量的影响,提出了一种航天遥感相机中时间延时积分电荷耦合器件积分级数的最优选择方法.构造了典型成像系统的信噪比与积分级数关系模型和调制传递函数与卫星姿态角和积分级数的函数模型;以信噪比和调制传递函数的容许值为约束条件,推导出了任意条件下时间延时积分电荷耦合器件的可选积分级数区间并给出了最优的积分级数解,给出了对应的增益设置指导函数.运用仿真实验对该方法进行验证,并与传统方法进行比较,结果表明:该方法能够选取最优的积分级数,从而获得满足信噪比和调制传递函数指标的最佳成像质量;若该值不存在,依然能获取相对最佳的折中值和视觉效果;同时,本文成像效果优于传统方法.     

Perception of urban park soundscape

A number of studies have been initiated to explore how to improve the soundscape quality in urban parks. However, good soundscape quality in parks cannot be provided without a thorough understanding of the complex relationships among sound, environment, and individuals. As acoustic comfort is considered to be an important outcome of soundscape quality, this study investigates the relative impacts of the factors influencing acoustic comfort evaluation by formulating a multivariate ordered logit model. This study also explores the inter-relationships among acoustic comfort evaluation, acceptability of the environment, and preference to stay in a park using a path model. A total of 595 valid responses were obtained from interview surveys administered in four parks in Hong Kong while objective sound measurements were carried out at the survey spots concurrently. The findings unveil that acoustic comfort evaluation, besides visual comfort evaluation of landscape, also plays an important role on users' acceptability of the urban park environment. Compared with all the studied acoustic related factors, acoustic comfort evaluation serves as a better proxy for park users' preference to stay in urban parks. Hearing the breeze will significantly increase the likelihood of individuals in giving high acoustic comfort evaluation. Conversely, hearing the sounds from heavy vehicles or sounds from bikes will significantly reduce the likelihood in giving a high acoustic evaluation.     

Real-time increase in depth of field of an uncooled thermal camera using several phase-mask technologies

Imaging systems that combine a phase mask in the pupil and digital postprocessing may have better performance than conventional ones. We have built such a system to enhance the depth of field of an uncooled thermal camera. The phase masks are binary, their structures are optimized thanks to an image quality criterion, and they have been realized with three different technologies that give equivalent results. The deconvolution postprocessing is performed in real time with a graphics processing unit. A significant increase of the depth of field of a factor 3 has been obtained.