Spectral impairment of enclosed higher order ambisonics

Ambisonics is spatial audio technique that attempts to recreate a physical sound field over as large an area as possible. Higher Order Ambisonic systems modelled with near field loudspeakers in free field as well as in a simulated room are investigated. The influence of reflections on the image quality is analysed objectively for both a studio-sized and large reproduction environment using the relative intensity of the reproduced sound field. The results of a simulated enclosed HOA system in the studio-sized room are compared to sound field measurements in the reproduced area.

Higher order model for analysis of magneto-electro-elastic plates

In this paper is presented an higher-order model for static and free vibration analyses of magneto-electro-elastic plates, wich allows the analysis of thin and thick plates, which allows the analysis of thin and thick plates. The finite element model is a single layer triangular plate/shell element with 24 degrees of fredom for the generalized mechanical displacements. Two degrees on freedom are introduced per each element layer, one corresponding to the electrical potential and the other for magnetic potential. Solutions are obtained for different laminations of the magneto-electro-elastic plate, as well as for the purely elastic plate as a special case.

Optimal dynamic control of laminated adaptive structures using a higher order model and a genetic algorithm

This paper deals with a finite element formulation based on the classical laminated plate theory, for active control of thin plate laminated structures with integrated piezoelectric layers, acting as sensors and actuators. The control is initialized through a previous optimization of the core of the laminated structure, in order to minimize the vibration amplitude. Also the optimization of the patches position is performed to maximize the piezoelectric actuator efficiency. The genetic algorithm is used for these purposes. The finite element model is a single layer triangular plate/shell element with 24 degrees of freedom for the generalized displacements, and one electrical potential degree of freedom for each piezoelectric element layer, which can be surface bonded or embedded on the laminate. To achieve a mechanism of active control of the structure dynamic response, a feedback control algorithm is used, coupling the sensor and active piezoelectric layers. To calculate the dynamic response of the laminated structures the Newmark method is considered. The model is applied in the solution of an illustrative case and the results are presented and discussed.

Higher order derivatives and norms of certain matrix functions

Tese de doutoramento, Matemática (Álgebra Lógica e Fundamentos), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Higher-order moments in the theory of diversifying and portfolio composition

This paper examines the role of higher-order moments in portfolio choice within an expected-utility framework. We consider two-, three-, four- and five-parameter density functions for portfolio returns and derive exact conditions under which investors would all be optimally plungers rather than diversifiers. Through comparative statics we show the importance of higher-order risk preference properties, such as riskiness, prudence and temperance, in determining plunging behaviour. Empirical estimates for the S&P500 provide evidence for the optimality of diversification.

Fractional generalization of memristor and higher order elements

Fractional calculus generalizes integer order derivatives and integrals. Memristor systems generalize the notion of electrical elements. Both concepts were shown to model important classes of phenomena. This paper goes a step further by embedding both tools in a generalization considering complex-order objects. Two complex operators leading to real-valued results are proposed. The proposed class of models generate a broad universe of elements. Several combinations of values are tested and the corresponding dynamical behavior is analyzed.

A treatment of atomic mean square displacement in higher order perturbation theory

A general derivation of the anharmonic coefficients for a periodic lattice invoking the special case of the central force interaction is presented. All of the contributions to mean square displacement (MSD) to order 14 perturbation theory are enumerated. A direct correspondance is found between the high temperature limit MSD and high temperature limit free energy contributions up to and including 0(14). This correspondance follows from the detailed derivation of some of the contributions to MSD. Numerical results are obtained for all the MSD contributions to 0(14) using the Lennard-Jones potential for the lattice constants and temperatures for which the Monte Carlo results were calculated by Heiser, Shukla and Cowley. The Peierls approximation is also employed in order to simplify the numerical evaluation of the MSD contributions. The numerical results indicate the convergence of the perturbation expansion up to 75% of the melting temperature of the solid (TM) for the exact calculation; however, a better agreement with the Monte Carlo results is not obtained when the total of all 14 contributions is added to the 12 perturbation theory results. Using Peierls approximation the expansion converges up to 45% of TM• The MSD contributions arising in the Green's function method of Shukla and Hubschle are derived and enumerated up to and including 0(18). The total MSD from these selected contributions is in excellent agreement with their results at all temperatures. Theoretical values of the recoilless fraction for krypton are calculated from the MSD contributions for both the Lennard-Jones and Aziz potentials. The agreement with experimental values is quite good.

Generalized Higher-Order Voronoi Diagrams on Polyhedral Surfaces

We present an algorithm for computing exact shortest paths, and consequently distances, from a generalized source (point, segment, polygonal chain or polygonal region) on a possibly non-convex polyhedral surface in which polygonal chain or polygon obstacles are allowed. We also present algorithms for computing discrete Voronoi diagrams of a set of generalized sites (points, segments, polygonal chains or polygons) on a polyhedral surface with obstacles. To obtain the discrete Voronoi diagrams our algorithms, exploiting hardware graphics capabilities, compute shortest path distances defined by the sites

Blind equalization of nonminimum phase channels: higher order cumulant based algorithm

Higher order cumulant analysis is applied to the blind equalization of linear time-invariant (LTI) nonminimum-phase channels. The channel model is moving-average based. To identify the moving average parameters of channels, a higher-order cumulant fitting approach is adopted in which a novel relay algorithm is proposed to obtain the global solution. In addition, the technique incorporates model order determination. The transmitted data are considered as independently identically distributed random variables over some discrete finite set (e.g., set {±1, ±3}). A transformation scheme is suggested so that third-order cumulant analysis can be applied to this type of data. Simulation examples verify the feasibility and potential of the algorithm. Performance is compared with that of the noncumulant-based Sato scheme in terms of the steady state MSE and convergence rate.

Structural characterisation of bisintercalation in higher-order DNA at a junction-like quadruplex

We report the single-crystal X-ray structure for the complex of the bisacridine bis-(9-aminooctyl(2-(dimethylaminoethyl)acridine-4-carboxamide)) with the oligonucleotide d(CGTACG)2 to a resolution of 2.4 Å. Solution studies with closed circular DNA show this compound to be a bisintercalating threading agent, but so far we have no crystallographic or NMR structural data conforming to the model of contiguous intercalation within the same duplex. Here, with the hexameric duplex d(CGTACG), the DNA is observed to undergo a terminal cytosine base exchange to yield an unusual guanine quadruplex intercalation site through which the bisacridine threads its octamethylene linker to fuse two DNA duplexes. The 4-carboxamide side-chains form anchoring hydrogen-bonding interactions with guanine O6 atoms on each side of the quadruplex. This higher-order DNA structure provides insight into an unexpected property of bisintercalating threading agents, and suggests the idea of targeting such compounds specifically at four-way DNA junctions.