Coding overcomplete representations of audio using the MCLT

We propose a system for audio coding using the modulated complex lapped transform (MCLT). In general, it is difficult to encode signals using overcomplete representations without avoiding a penalty in rate-distortion performance. We show that the penalty can be significantly reduced for MCLT-based representations, without the need for iterative methods of sparsity reduction. We achieve that via a magnitude-phase polar quantization and the use of magnitude and phase prediction. Compared to systems based on quantization of orthogonal representations such as the modulated lapped transform (MLT), the new system allows for reduced warbling artifacts and more precise computation of frequency-domain auditory masking functions

A practical approach for the design of nonuniform lapped transforms

We propose a simple method for the design of lapped transforms with nonuniform frequency resolution and good time localization. The method is a generalization of an approach previously proposed by Princen, where the nonuniform filter bank is obtained by joining uniform cosine-modulated filter banks (CMFBs) using a transition filter. We use several transition filters to obtain a near perfect-reconstruction (PR) nonuniform lapped transform with significantly reduced overall distortion. The main advantage of the proposed method is in reducing the length of the transition filters, which leads to a reduction in processing delay that can be useful for applications such as real-time audio coding

Genetic variation and quantitative trait loci associated with developmental stability and the environmental correlation between traits in maize

There is limited experimental information about the genetic basis of micro-environmental variance (V-E) (developmental stability) and environmental correlations. This study, by using a population of maize recombinant inbred lines (RIL) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphic markers, aims at the following: firstly, to quantify the genetic component of the V-E or developmental stability for four traits in maize and the environmental correlation between these traits, and secondly, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that influence these quantities. We found that, when estimating variances and correlations and testing their homogeneity, estimates and tests are needed that are not highly dependent on normality assumptions. There was significant variation among the RILs in V-E and in the environmental correlation for some of the traits, implying genetic heterogeneity in the V-E and environmental correlations. The genetic coefficient of variation of the environmental variance (GCVV(E)) was estimated to be 20%, which is lower than estimates obtained for other species. A few genomic regions involved in the stability of one trait or two traits were detected, and these did not have an important influence on the mean of the trait. One region that could be associated with the environmental correlations between traits was also detected.</p

Type-IV DCT, DST, and MDCT algorithms with reduced numbers of arithmetic operations

We present algorithms for the type-IV discrete cosine transform (DCT-IV) and discrete sine transform (DST-IV), as well as for the modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) and its inverse, that achieve a lower count of real multiplications and additions than previously published algorithms, without sacrificing numerical accuracy. Asymptotically, the operation count is reduced from ~2NlogN to ~(17/9)NlogN for a power-of-two transform size N, and the exact count is strictly lowered for all N > 4. These results are derived by considering the DCT to be a special case of a DFT of length 8N, with certain symmetries, and then pruning redundant operations from a recent improved fast Fourier transform algorithm (based on a recursive rescaling of the conjugate-pair split radix algorithm). The improved algorithms for DST-IV and MDCT follow immediately from the improved count for the DCT-IV.Comment: 11 page

Bond behavior of fiber reinforced polymer bars under direct pullout conditions

This paper examines the behavior of Eurocrete fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars (glass, carbon, aramid, and hybrid) in concrete under direct pullout conditions. More than 130 cube specimens were tested in direct pullout where no splitting was allowed to develop. In normal concrete, the mode of bond failure of FRP bars was found to differ substantially from that of deformed steel bars because of damage to the resin rich surface of the bar when pullout takes place. Bond strengths developed by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars appear to be very similar and just below what is expected from deformed steel bars under similar experimental conditions. The load slip curves highlight some of the fundamental differences between steel and FRP materials. This paper reports in detail on the influence of various parameters that affect bond strength and development such as the embedment length, type, shape, surface characteristics, and diameter of the bar as well as concrete strength. The testing arrangement is also shown to influence bond strength because of the “wedging effect” of the bars

Word-level Symbolic Trajectory Evaluation

Symbolic trajectory evaluation (STE) is a model checking technique that has been successfully used to verify industrial designs. Existing implementations of STE, however, reason at the level of bits, allowing signals to take values in {0, 1, X}. This limits the amount of abstraction that can be achieved, and presents inherent limitations to scaling. The main contribution of this paper is to show how much more abstract lattices can be derived automatically from RTL descriptions, and how a model checker for the general theory of STE instantiated with such abstract lattices can be implemented in practice. This gives us the first practical word-level STE engine, called STEWord. Experiments on a set of designs similar to those used in industry show that STEWord scales better than word-level BMC and also bit-level STE.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, full version of paper in International Conference on Computer-Aided Verification (CAV) 201

Formación on-line para adultos con discapacidade intelectual: unha proposta de traballo baixo unha mirada didáctica

[Resumo] Un problema que, en certa medida, obstaculiza a inserción laboral das persoas discapacitadas ten que ver coa falta de formación para o desenvolvemento dunha actividade profesional. O feito de que, por exemplo, as propostas formativas (presenciais e/ou e-learning) se esquezan -na maioría dos casos- das persoas que presentan discapacidade intelectual dificulta enormemente que estas poidan acceder a un sistema de formación profesional. A concreción de pautas didácticas, sen dúbida, constitúe unha das súas maiores dificultades. Este traballo, particularmente, quere aportar o seu grao de area reflexionando sobre a teoría curricular na que debe asentarse calquera proposta de formación dirixida neste caso a persoas con discapacidade intelectual, así como nos plantexamentos metodolóxicos básicos.[Resumen] Un problema que, en cierta medida, obstaculiza la inserción laboral de las personas discapacitadas tiene que ver con la falta de formación para el desarrollo de una actividad profesional. El hecho de que, por ejemplo, las propuestas formativas (presenciales y/o elearning) se olviden -en la mayoría de los casos- de las personas que presentan discapacidad intelectual dificulta enormemente que éstas puedan acceder a un sistema de formación profesional. La concreción de pautas didácticas, sin duda, constituye una de sus mayores dificultades. Este trabajo, particularmente, quiere aportar su grano de arena reflexionando sobre la teoría curricular en la que debe inscribirse cualquier propuesta de formación dirigida en este caso a personas con discapacidad intelectual, así como en los planteamientos metodológicos básico

Defensive changes in maize leaves induced by feeding of Mediterranean corn borer larvae

Bioassays raw data. (XLSX 33 kb

Una escuela inclusiva para una sociedad plural : nuestro referente, nuestro futuro

La escuela del siglo XXI se torna cada día más compleja. El alumnado cada vez es más diverso, por lo que las situaciones de exclusión e inadaptación escolar se multiplican. Se hace necesario, más que nunca, promover desde la escuela la tolerancia, la solidariedad, la igualdad, la justicia y el respeto por la diversidad cultural, religiosa y lingüística, así como la integración escolar y social de las personas independientemente de sus particularidades. En una sociedad abierta, plural e inclusiva, la escuela tiene el compromiso con la ciudadanía de buscar claves de desarrollo comunitario que repercutan positivamente en la misma. Y, para ello, si es necesario desarrollará programas educativos específicos e innovadores para que los colectivos en situación de riesgo consigan cuotas mínimas de calidad de vida. A lo largo del trabajo se realizarán las precisiones conceptuales necesarias en torno al estado de la cuestión y se ofrecerán estrategias para una educación inclusiva. Desde luego, la exclusión es una realidad pero la inclusión también constituye una esperanza. Dejar constancia de ello es el objetivo de este trabajo._____________________________________________Schools from the 21st century are increasingly complex day after day. Students are steadily more diverse too, so situations of exclusion and non-adaptation multiply. It is necessary, more than ever, to promote tolerance in schools, solidarity, equality, justice and respect for the cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, as well as school and social integration of people, independently of their particularities. Within an open, plural and inclusive society, schools have the commitment with the citizens as to find the key points for the community development that implement it. For this purpose, if necessary, schools must develop specific and innovative educational programmes, in order to achieve, at least, minimum living standards, for groups at risk. Along this work, the necessary conceptual clarifications regarding this issue will be offered, along with strategies for an inclusive education. Indeed, exclusion is a reality, but inclusion is an achievable hope. It is an objective of this work to emphasize the hope for inclusion