A Frequency Domain Algorithm for Wave Separation

We propose a frequency domain adaptive algorithm for
wave separation in wind instruments. Forward and backward travelling waves are obtained from the signals acquired by two microphones placed along the tube, while the
separation ?lter is adapted from the information given by a
third microphone. Working in the frequency domain has a
series of advantages, among which are the ease of design of
the propagation ?lter and its differentiation with respect to
its parameters.
Although the adaptive algorithm was developed as a ?rst
step for the estimation of playing parameters in wind instruments it can also be used, without any modi?cations, for
other applications such as in-air direction of arrival (DOA)
estimation. Preliminary results on these applications will
also be presented.

Mesoscale flux-closure domain formation in single-crystal BaTiO3

Over 60 years ago, Charles Kittel predicted that quadrant domains should spontaneously form in small ferromagnetic platelets. He expected that the direction of magnetization within each quadrant should lie parallel to the platelet surface, minimizing demagnetizing fields, and that magnetic moments should be configured into an overall closed loop, or flux-closure arrangement. Although now a ubiquitous observation in ferromagnets, obvious flux-closure patterns have been somewhat elusive in ferroelectric materials. This is despite the analogous behaviour between these two ferroic subgroups and the recent prediction of dipole closure states by atomistic simulations research. Here we show Piezoresponse Force Microscopy images of mesoscopic dipole closure patterns in free-standing, single-crystal lamellae of BaTiO3. Formation of these patterns is a dynamical process resulting from system relaxation after the BaTiO3 has been poled with a uniform electric field. The flux-closure states are composed of shape conserving 90° stripe domains which minimize disclination stresses.

Shape-induced phase transition of domain patterns in ferroelectric platelets

Using a combination of experimental and computational techniques, changes in the domain structures seen infreestanding single-crystal platelets of BaTiO3 have been described in terms of a second-order phase transition.The transition is driven by the change in the length-to-width ratio of the platelet sidewalls and results in a symmetrybreaking of a complex, quadrant domain pattern. The phenomenon can be described by a Landau formalism inwhich (1) the order parameter is not the polarization but rather is the degree to which the domain pattern becomesoff-centered, and (2) the shape anisotropy of the platelet substitutes for temperature in the conventional Landauexpansion as the controlling thermodynamic variable. Bistability, in terms of the direction in which the domainpattern moves off center, coupled with the spontaneous macroscopic polarization and toroidal moment that resultfrom this off-centering, prompt the possibility of a new form of memory storage.

Induction of endothelial PAS domain protein-1 by hypoxia: Characterization and comparison with hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha

Hypoxia results in adaptive changes in the transcription of a range of genes including erythropoietin. An important mediator is hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a DNA binding complex shown to contain at least two basic helix-loop-helix PAS-domain (bHLH-PAS) proteins, HIF-1 alpha and aryl hydrocarbon nuclear receptor translocator (ARNT), In response to hypoxia, HIF-1 alpha is activated and accumulates rapidly in the cell. Endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS-1) is a recently identified bHLH-PAS protein with 48% identity to HIF-1 alpha, raising the question of its role in responses to hypoxia. We developed specific antibodies and studied expression and regulation of EPAS-1 mRNA and protein across a range of human cell lines. EPAS-1 was widely expressed, and strongly induced by hypoxia at the level of protein but not mRNA. Comparison of the effect of a range of activating and inhibitory stimuli showed striking similarities in the EPAS-1 and HIF-1 alpha responses. Although major differences were observed in the abundance of EPAS-1 and HIF-1 alpha in different cell types, differences in the inducible response were subtle with EPAS-1 protein being slightly more evident in normoxic and mildly hypoxic cells. Functional studies in a mutant cell line (Ka13) expressing neither HIF-1 alpha nor EPAS-1 confirmed that both proteins interact with hypoxically responsive targets, but suggest target specificity with greater EPAS-1 transactivation (relative to HIF-1 alpha transactivation) of the VEGF promoter than the LDH-A promoter. (C) 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Timing movements to interval durations specified by discrete or continuous sounds

Understanding how the timing of motor output is coupled to sensory temporal information is largely based on synchronisation of movements through small motion gaps (finger taps) to mostly empty sensory intervals (discrete beats). This study investigated synchronisation of movements between target barriers over larger motion gaps when closing time gaps of intervals were presented as either continuous, dynamic sounds, or discrete beats. Results showed that although synchronisation errors were smaller for discrete sounds, the variability of errors was lower for continuous sounds. Furthermore, finger movement between targets was found to be more sinusoidal when continuous sensory information was presented during intervals compared to discrete. When movements were made over larger amplitudes, synchronisation errors tended to be more positive and movements between barriers more sinusoidal, than for movements over shorter amplitudes. These results show that the temporal control of movement is not independent from the form of the sensory information that specifies time gaps or the magnitude of the movement required for synchronisation.