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The Graph Composer is an app that allows the user to compose music through the design of a graph. You can create or modify an existing graph, listen and modify the composition in real time. Insert new nodes and connect them, change the corresponding note by clicking over the node and selecting a new one from the scale, define it’s duration over time and select a decoration to change the sound sequence.

This workshop will bring to the audience an introduction to the Chuck audio programming language, to the Unity game engine within a hands-on experience how one can use such technologies to achieve a new level of immersion through procedural generated sounds responding to game events and visual effects. The workshop is intended to a broad audience ranging from programmers to ones with little to no knowledge in the field.

We present an in-depth analysis of the fractal nature of 21 classical music pieces previously shown to have scale-free properties. The musical pieces are represented as networks where the nodes are musical notes and respective durations, and the edges are its chronological sequence. The node degree distribution of these networks is analyzed, looking for self-similarity. This analysis is done in the full network, in its fractal dimensions, and its skeletons. The assortativeness of the pieces is also studied as a fractal property. We show that two-thirds of these networks are scale-invariant, i.e. scale-free in some dimension or their skeleton. In particular, two pieces were given attention because of their exceptional tendency for fractality.

Classical music appreciation is non trivial. Visual representation can aid music teaching and learning processes. In this sense, we propose a set of visual representations based on musical notes features, such as: note type, octave, velocity and timbre. In our system, the visual elements appear along with their corresponding musical elements, in order to improve the perception of musical structures. The visual representations we use to enhance the comprehension of a composition could be extended to performing arts scenarios. It could be adopted as motion graphics during live musical performances. We have developed several videos to illustrate our method. We have also developed an ear training quiz and a research questionnaire. This material is available at http://www.impa.br/~vitorgr/VLMU/home.html.

This letter presents a new analytical model for the mechanism of message forwarding in a delay tolerant network with epidemic routing, namely, susceptible-infected-path-loss (SIPL). The model considers the effects of path loss and interference on the network performance. Simulation results are compared to the SIPL predictions. A good fit is provided when the network presents low node density.

Riassunto Obiettivi Scopo del lavoro e quello di proporre un metodo semplice per effettuare la sovrapposizione tridimensionale di tomografie Cone Beam su punti di repere anatomici stabili durante la crescita del paziente. Materiali e metodi Due pazienti di eta media 13,1 anni in II Classe molare sono stati sottoposti all’esame tomografico pre- e post-distalizzazione dei primi molari superiori attraverso due terapie differenti: il Pendulum di Hilgers e l’MGBM System. La terapia ha avuto la durata di circa 7 mesi. Il risultato ottenuto e stato confrontato con le sovrapposizioni bidimensionali eseguite con due diversi metodi: il “Best Fit” e il metodo strutturale di Bjork. L’esame consiste in una tomografia Cone Beam a bassa dose di radiazioni, eseguito attraverso il macchinario ILUMATM con dimensione voxel 0,3 mm 3 . La procedura di realizzazione e suddivisa in fasi. Il posizionamento delle slice secondo i piani di riferimento e il primo passaggio. Il secondo passaggio consiste nella segmentazione del volume, per dividere le componenti anatomiche da sovrapporre localmente. Infine le due tomografie sono pronte per essere sovrapposte per punti. Risultati Le sovrapposizioni ottenute con questo metodo possono considerarsi affidabili se paragonate ai cambiamenti dento-scheletrici rilevati dagli studi effettuati in precedenza e dalle sovrapposizioni bidimensionali. Tuttavia non puo considerarsi completo per la mancanza di un procedimento che quantifichi l’entita della variazione visibile tra le due tomografie. Il confronto tra sovrapposizione 2D e 3D ha messo in luce i limiti della prima tecnica e i vantaggi dell’altra. La teleradiografia presenta degli errori di base che non permettono una localizzazione univoca dei punti di repere, attraverso la CBCT e possibile invece valutare ogni componente del cranio presa singolarmente e in tutte le proiezioni, senza avere ingrandimenti. E possibile quindi valutare le variazioni in sagittalita e verticalita in entrambi i lati del paziente, esaminare la posizione condilare e della radice dei denti all’interno del processo alveolare in tre dimensioni. Conclusioni Sicuramente il progresso sta portando a convertire tutti i metodi diagnostici bidimensionali in tridimensionali e il metodo puo considerarsi una base su cui costruire un sistema piu semplice e completo, permettendone l’utilizzo a tutti i clinici.

This paper investigates user provided networks. Such networks have become important research in the field of informatics engineering due to the recent popularity of smart phones. User provided networks are independent from traditional Internet service providers. Communication and information exchange between users occurs opportunistically, i.e., when the smart phones are close enough to exchange information. Most user provided networks are based on the radio standard IEEE 802.11, popularly known as ‘wi-fi’. However, some networks are based on other low range radio standards, such as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.4. User provided networks are important to the society when the traditional Internet service providers become unavailable. For example, this may occur in terrorist attacks, earthquakes, or even cyber attacks. In these emergency situations, when users have a greater interest in common, an efficient system for non-presencial information exchange is necessary. Such networks are also interesting in a social context, when users must be incentivized to share their resources (storage capacity, wireless connectivity and battery) to enable the exchange of information. This paper addresses both situations: i) networks whose users have a common interest and ii) networks whose users need to be encouraged to share resources. Basically, the contributions of this paper can be summarized as the Delay Tolerant Reinforcement-Based routing solution and the Messages on oFfer incentive mechanism. The first is a routing solution for user provided networks when the users have a prior interest in common. The second is an incentive mechanism to encourage users to exchange information. Both solutions showed excellent results in the simulation environment.

Previous works suggest that musical networks often present the scale-free and the small-world properties. From a musician's perspective, the most important aspect missing in those studies was harmony. In addition to that, the previous works made use of outdated statistical methods. Traditionally, least-squares linear regression is utilised to fit a power law to a given data set. However, according to Clauset et al . such a traditional method can produce inaccurate estimates for the power law exponent. In this paper, we present an analysis of musical networks which considers the existence of chords (an essential element of harmony). Here we show that only 52.5% of music in our database presents the scale-free property, while 62.5% of those pieces present the small-world property. Previous works argue that music is highly scale-free; consequently, it sounds appealing and coherent. In contrast, our results show that not all pieces of music present the scale-free and the small-world properties. In summary, this research is focused on the relationship between musical notes (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si, and their sharps) and accompaniment in classical music compositions. More information about this research project is available at https://eden.dei.uc.pt/~vitorgr/MS.html.

Communication in mobile ad hoc networks and delay tolerant networks seeks to address the technical routing issues of heterogeneous networks that may lack continuous network connectivity. This work proposes the Time Message System (TMS), a delay tolerant routing solution for wireless networks. The protocol predicts the distance in function of time between nodes according to the time of last meetings. TMS was designed for high node density IEEE 802.11 networks. Simulation results in such networks show that TMS can deliver the same number of messages earlier than a traditional delay tolerant routing solution well-known by the research community.

Chronic cough is more frequent and severe in women than in men. Women often have decreased iron stores, because of menses and pregnancies. We investigated if iron deficiency has a role in chronic cough by increasing airway sensitivity to inhaled irritants.Twenty-two non-smoking women with chronic unexplained cough and iron deficiency (serum ferritin below 15 ng/ml) were examined in baseline, after 2 months empiric treatment with anti H1-histaminic drug and proton pump inhibitor, and after iron supplementation (330-660 mg iron sulphate tablets daily) for 2 months. Outcome measures were cough visual analogue scale (VAS), and histamine thresholds of the larynx (PC25MIF50, concentration causing 25% in MIF50), bronchi (PC20FEV1) and cough (PC5cough).Mean serum ferritin was 9.3 ng/ml (95% CI 7.7-10.9), 13 patients had mild anaemia. All the patients had laryngeal and cough hyperresponsiveness,12 had also bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Empiric treatment produced no significant effect, whereas iron supplementation improved cough VAS from 4.03 (3.6-4.47) to 2.6 (1.9-3.27), p0.0001, PC20FEV1 from 10.04 mg/ml (5.37-18.77) to 22.2 (11.7-41.8), p0.001, PC25MIF50 from 3.09 mg/ml (1.9-4.9) to 11.9 (7.3-19.4), p0.001 and PC5cough from 2.1 mg/ml (1.2-3.6) to 8.8 (5.2-15.1), p0.001.In women with unexplained chronic cough unresponsive to targeted treatment, airway and cough hyperresponsiveness may be sustained by iron deficiency. Healthy women with chronic cough should be checked for iron deficiency as iron repletion may resolve such disturbing symptom.

Allergen exposure may increase airway oxidative stress, which causes lipid membrane peroxidation and an increased formation of 8-isoprostane.The aim of the study was to investigate oxidative stress induced by allergen challenge in mild asthmatics, by measuring 8-isoprostane in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and to examine their relationship with mediators derived from arachidonic acid. Methods 8-isoprostane, cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2) ) concentrations in EBC were measured at baseline and after allergen challenge in 12 patients with mild allergic asthma sensitized to cat allergen.At 24 h after allergen challenge, compared with baseline values, EBC 8-isoprostane increased [48.64 pg/mL (44.14-53.61) vs. 21.56 pg/mL (19.92, 23.35), P0.001], cys-LTs increased [27.37 pg/mL (24.09-31.10) vs. 13.28 pg/mL (11.32, 15.57), P0.001] and PGE(2) decreased [18.69 pg/mL (12.26, 28.50) vs. 39.95 pg/mL (34.37, 46.43), P0.001]. The trend of increasing 8-isoprostane after allergen challenge was significantly correlated with the trend of increasing cys-LTs (R(2) =0.85, P0.001) whereas the trend of decreasing PGE(2) after allergen challenge was significantly correlated with the trend of increasing cys-LTs (R(2) =0.52, P=0.001).The increase in EBC 8-isoprostane observed after allergen challenge indicates that allergen exposure increases airway oxidative stress in allergic asthma. The strict correlation between cys-LTs and 8-isoprostane underlines the relationship between allergic inflammation and oxidative stress. A shift of arachidonic acid metabolism towards lipoxygenase pathway is induced by the allergen challenge. Airway oxidative stress occurs after allergen challenge even in patients with mild intermittent allergic asthma.

The role of genetic and environmental factors, as well as their interaction, in the natural history of asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is largely unknown. This is mainly due to the lack of large-scale analytical epidemiological/genetic studies aimed at investigating these 3 respiratory conditions simultaneously. The GEIRD project is a collaborative initiative designed to collect information on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, individual and ecological exposures, diet, early-life factors, smoking habits, genetic traits and medication use in large and accurately defined series of asthma, allergic rhinitis and COPD phenotypes. It is a population-based multicase-control design, where cases and controls are identified through a 2-stage screening process (postal questionnaire and clinical examination) in pre-existing cohorts or new samples of subjects. It is aimed at elucidating the role that modifiable and genetic factors play in the occurrence, persistence, severity and control of inflammatory airway diseases, by way of the establishment of a historical multicentre standardized databank of phenotypes, contributed by and openly available to international epidemiologists. Researchers conducting population-based surveys with standardized methods may contribute to the public-domain case-control database, and use the resulting increased power to answer their own scientific questions.

The knowledge plane KP paradigm proposes the evolution to a cognitive network, where the devices learn, decide, and act to achieve end-to-end goals. This emerging paradigm is clarifying a set of new cognitive-based protocols and algorithms that optimise wireless network's performance. This work presents a survey of the most relevant research about wireless network techniques that employ KP concepts. Open issues that should be addressed by an applicable cognitive wireless network are identified.

1. The morphological aspects of globules deposited in vitro when a NaF solution is applied to sound human enamel were studied by scanning electron microscopy. 2. Particles, presumably of calcium fluoride-like material, formed on the surfaces of an unerupted tooth and consisted of subunits showing a "cauliflower" appearance, indicating agglomeration of even smaller particles. The number and size of the crystals increased with time of exposure. 3. These particles represent highly resistant fluoride reservoirs and may be of clinical significance.

The effect of acute oral administration of 2 g vitamin C on bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine in 16 patients with allergic rhinitis was compared with placebo on two consecutive days in a double-blind, crossover design. The PC15FEV1 was significantly increased one hour after treatment with vitamin C but not after placebo.

In 95 patients with severe chronic airway obstruction (FEV1 33.2 +/- 12% of predicted; mean +/- SE), we investigated whether drug therapy had any influence on serum Mg levels. 11/95 patients had a serum Mg less than 1.45 mEq/l (lower normal limit). Multiple-regression analysis showed that the use of diuretics was associated with a significantly lower serum Mg level (1.59 +/- CI 0.06 mEq/l vs. an adjusted mean of 1.71 mEq/l; F = 11, 2, p less than 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between serum Mg and the length of oral steroid therapy (1.64 +/- CI 0.02 mEq/l for less than 24 months of therapy vs. 1.52 +/- CI 0.06 mEq/l for greater than 24 months of therapy; F = 7, 3, p less than 0.005). No effect of theophylline, inhaled steroids or beta 2-agonists on serum Mg was observed. Because of potential negative effects of hypomagnesemia on respiratory function, routine serum magnesium determination is recommended in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease taking diuretic drugs or corticosteroids.

Aims of our study were: to evaluate small airway function of subjects with past or present silica dust exposure and normal spirometric values; to investigate whether small airway disease is related to radiographic signs of silicosis, to cumulative dust exposure (ES) and to cigarette smoking. Maximal expiratory flow at 50% (MEF50) and 25% (MEF25) of forced expired vital capacity were measured in 112 subjects, 69 with radiographic signs of silicosis, group I, and the remaining 43 with normal chest X-rays. Even if age and ES were significantly higher in group I, no significant difference in respiratory function tests and in prevalence of small airway disease was found between the two groups. In both groups small airway function was significantly negatively related to smoking habits, while it was independent of the other variables considered. Multiple regression analysis with MEF50 and MEF25 as dependent variables did not show any significant relationship. We conclude that small airway disease due to encroachment of bronchiolar walls by SiO2 deposition is masqued by the damage produced by cigarette smoking, even in the presence of radiographic signs of silicosis.

Mucosal oedema and airway hyperreactivity are common features of asthma, in which they seem to share a common pathogenesis, i.e. airway inflammation. The relationship between oedema and hyperreactivity has not yet been properly investigated. Some speculations are advanced, based on the available experimental evidence. Mucosal oedema may amplify bronchial responsiveness by increasing epithelial permeability, by altering airway mechanics, or by stimulating neural pathways. On the other hand, bronchoconstriction may contribute to oedema by increasing hydrostatic pressure in postcapillary venules.

Two groups of 10 patients with systemic arterial hypertension were studied by respiratory function tests before and after acute administration of diazoxide or furosemide. Small airways obstruction was present in a high percentage of patients and was partially reversed after the acute administration either of diazoxide or of furosemide. Systemic arterial hypertension seems to influence small airways caliber, through pulmonary vascular distension and/or pulmonary interstitial edema.

The acute effects of the intravenous administration of 10 mg verapamil on pulmonary function changes induced by rapid saline infusion were studied in six normal subjects. Rapid intravenous fluid overloading caused on increase of closing volume (from 6.55 +/- 1.74 to 9.53 +/- 1.77%, p less than 0.05). After verapamil, the closing volume did not increase after infusion in three subjects and the mean increase was not significant (7.08 +/- 1.82 to 8.43 +/- 1.86%). These results suggest that the rapid administration of intravenous verapamil blunts respiratory function abnormalities caused by overhydration interstitial lung oedema.

The bronchodilating effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) was studied in ten asthmatic patients with moderate to severe airway obstruction. Two grams of MgSO4 or saline in double-blind crossover design was administered IV for 20 minutes (0.40 mmol/min) and forced expiratory capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were studied at intervals. Only at the end of MgSO4 infusion did FEV1 increase significantly (109% of initial values). The bronchodilating effect was short lasting and far less than that observed after salbutamol.

Chemical analysis of a sulphated macromolecule isolated from the rabbit submandibular gland showed that about 70 per cent of the dry weight could be accounted for in terms of amino acids of which the acidic amino acids, proline and alanine were the most abundant. Total carbohydrate was 11%. Galactose was the main neutral sugar but galactosamine, glucosamine, neuraminic acid, glucose and mannose could also be demonstrated. Sulphate accounted for 1,4%. No uronic acid was found. The data indicate that the sulphated macromolecule from the rabbit gland is in fact a sulphated glycoprotein.

Tight junctions (TJ) play a major role in maintaining the integrity of epithelia. Damage of conducting airway surface epithelium is commonly observed in asthma, and recent data suggest that epithelial cells modulate airway smooth muscle tone by the production of relaxant factor(s). To evaluate the ultrastructure of tight junctions (TJ) in human bronchial epithelium of normal and diseased lung, biopsy samples were obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in three normal healthy subjects, four asthmatic patients with bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine and one heavy smoker with chronic bronchitis. Specimens were examined by electron microscopy, using both thin sections and freeze-fracture techniques. In normal subjects two types of TJ were identified, based on 27 type I, 23 type II junctional areas. Epithelium from the patient with chronic bronchitis showed extensive mucous metaplasia and only junctions of the second type. Extensive epithelial damage was detected in asthmatic subjects, so that a few TJ could be found. Varying degrees of TJ abnormalities were observed and the possible role of such ultrastructural derangements was discussed.

A retrospective study of 561 patients with silicosis and 234 with asbestosis was performed to assess whether lung function decline in five years is related to the type (restrictive or obstructive) and/or to the degree of initial damage. Based on lung function tests, three groups of patients were identified: NC with normal lung function tests, CR with restrictive impairment and CO with airway obstruction. The degree of impairment was classified as mild, moderate and severe. Patients were considered worse if five years later they presented a higher degree of impairment. The prevalence of CR was significantly higher in asbestosis, that of NC and CO in silicosis (p less than 0.01). Among subjects with normal starting lung function, 9% only developed CR or CO 5 years later. The prevalence of subjects with worsened lung function in the CR groups was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in asbestotics (36%) than in silicotics (14%) and was closely related to starting functional impairment. In the CO group the prevalence of worsened subjects was significantly higher than in CR (p less than 0.001), similar in the two diseases and independent of starting lung impairment.

A method for the radiological examination of the uterus, used to study the behavior of the uterus in the presence of a foreign body, such as an IUD, is described. A total of 44 patients were studied, of which 26 wore IUDs. A much higher incidence of varicocele was found among patients with IUDs (13 out of 26 cases, as compared with 5 out of 13 cases in the control group). The report is followed by a discussion, of the question of whether the higher incidence of varicocele may be related to the use of IUDs. It is suggested that a new study should be conducted, using the same patients as controls and examining them for a long period of time to detect the development of changes in their pelvic vascular system.