Comparisons of pharynx, source, formant, and pressure characteristics in operatic and musical theatre singing

Belting, a vocal technique typically cultivated in musical theatre singing, differs timbrally from operatic singing in many interesting respects. The underlying phonatory differences have not been previously investigated in detail. Yet, belting is frequently associated with disturbances of voice function. Articulatory and phonatory characteristics are investigated in a female subject who is a professional singer (co-author JL) trained in both the operatic and belting styles and in an intermediate vocal technique (“mixed”). This article presents data obtained from this subject by video-fiberoptic observation of the pharynx, inverse filtering of airflow, and measurement of subglottal pressure. The results reveal that belting was characterized by very high subglottal pressures and sound levels, and apparently also by a comparatively high degree of glottal adduction. Comparisons with other investigations of related aspects of belting and operatic singing support the assumption that the data obtained from our subject are representative for these vocal techniques.     

A New Modal Lindström Theorem

We prove new Lindstr?m theorems for the basic modal propositional language, and for some related fragments of first-order logic. We find difficulties with such results for modal languages without a finite-depth property, high-lighting the difference between abstract model theory for fragments and for extensions of first-order logic. In addition we discuss new connections with interpolation properties, and the modal invariance theorem. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 03B45; Secondary 03C95     

Solving stochastic programs with integer recourse by enumeration: A framework using Gröbner basis

In this paper we present a framework for solving stochastic programs with complete integer recourse and discretely distributed right-hand side vector, using Gröbner basis methods from computational algebra to solve the numerous second-stage integer programs. Using structural properties of the expected integer recourse function, we prove that under mild conditions an optimal solution is contained in a finite set. Furthermore, we present a basic scheme to enumerate this set and suggest improvements to reduce the number of function evaluations needed.     

Simple Constructions of Almost k-wise Independent Random Variables

We present three alternative simple constructions of small probability spaces on n bits for which any k bits are almost independent. The number of bits used to specify a point in the sample space is (2 + o(1)) (log log n + k/2 + log k + log 1/?), where ? is the statistical difference between the distribution induced on any k bit locations and the uniform distribution. This is asymptotically comparable to the construction recently presented by Naor and Naor (our size bound is better as long as ? < 1/(k log n)). An additional advantage of our constructions is their simplicity.     

Discussion of “Copulas: Tales and facts”, by Thomas Mikosch

As Prof. Mikosch correctly points out, there exists very little sound statistical theory on modelling dependence using copulas. In this contribution, an open problem is presented concerning the efficient estimation of the parameter of a copula when no parametric assumptions are made regarding the marginal distributions.     

A counterexample to the strong subadditivity of extremal plurisubharmonic functions

A simple example is given which shows that one way have $$h_E (z^0 ) + h_F (z^0 ) > h_{E \cup F} (z^0 ) + h_{E \cap F} (z^0 )$$ for some pointz ⁰∈ω, where $$h_E (z) = \sup \{ u(z):u \in PSH (\Omega ),u \leqslant 0 on E,u \leqslant 1 in \Omega \} ,z \in \Omega ,$$ is the extremal function often studied in complex analysis.     

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF PHTHALOCYANINES-X. SYNTHESES AND ANALYSES OF SULFONATED PHTHALOCYANINES

Abstract— Synthetic methods to obtain selectively sulfonated metallo phthalocyanines are compared. Both condensation and direct sulfonation procedures lead to mixtures of mono- to tetrasulfonated products which are resolved by reverse phase liquid chromatography in buffered aqueous-methanol. The proportion of sulfonated derivatives is examined as a function of the starting reagents in the case of the condensation method, and as a function of the temperature and reaction time in the case of the direct sulfonation procedure. The number of sulfonate groups per phthalocyanine molecule is determined by oxidative degradation of the phthalocyanine ring followed by quantitative chromatographic analysis of the sulfophthalamide and phthalamide fragments.     

Application of Horner–Emmons Olefination to the Crown-Ether Derivatives

An effective synthetic approach to the preparation of a new crown-ether vinylogs involving the Horner–Emmons olefination of carbonyl precursors with the use of C₂- and C₅-phosphonates was proposed. The effects of the conjugation chain length and the nature of the terminal polar functions in the phosphonate reagent on the yield and process stereoselectivity were discussed.