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As Constantin Brancuși (1876-1956) said „Simplicity is complexity itself", simplicity and regularity through the use of basic geometric forms has always played a central role in architectural design, during the 20th century. A diachronic perspective, shows as the use of geometry and mathematics to describe built form provided a common basis for communication between the processes of design, fabrication and stability. Classic ways of representing geometry, based on descriptive methods, favor precise language of bidimensionality easy to represent in a rectangular coordinate system. In recent years, the importance of geometry has been re-emphasized by significant advances in the digital age, where computers are increasingly used in design, fabrication and construction to explore the art of the possible. Contemporary architecture transcend the limitations of Euclidean geometry and create new forms that are emerging through the convergence of complex systems, computational design and robotic fabrication devices, but which can also achieve higher levels of performance. Freeform architectural shapes and structures play an increasingly important role in 21st century architectural design. Through a series of examples, the paper relates to contemporary architectural explorations of complex, curvilinear surfaces in the digital age and discusses how it has required rethinking the mode in which we traditionally operate as architects. The analysis creates the possibility of comparisons between original and current design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the use of continuous-time implementation in extended-range (ER) incremental sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters is analyzed in order to explore a possible solution to low-power multichannel applications. The operation principle, possible loop filter topologies, and critical issues are considered using a general approach. It is demonstrated that, in order to fully benefit from ER, careful attention has to be paid to the analog–digital transfer function mismatches. A third-order single-bit topology validates the theoretical analysis. Its performance is evaluated while the impact of key circuit nonidealities is quantified through behavioral-level simulations. It is shown that, by applying analog-digital mismatch compensation in the digital domain, it is possible to relax the amplifiers' finite gain–bandwidth product and finite dc gain requirements, thus allowing a power-conscious alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates implementation of new technologies in vocal assessment pertaining to university degree artistic education. One of our objectives represents the collection of information regarding changes occurring in singing voice as a result of professional training. This approach fully validates recent research in the field, proving that vocal training has a significant effect on human voice, and close follow-up of the subsequent development brings numerous benefits for both young singers and teachers. A relevant advantage of ICT use is represented by the precision in following-up of the vocal development process, creating also the possibility of organizing custom diagrams regarding the progress of vocal parameters. So, computerized means open up new perspectives and opportunities, becoming a way of objectifying musical and artistic performance. Another important factor is the possibility of early tracing of a possible wrong development of the voice and thus, preventing it in time. This study presents a comparative table based tracking of vocal evolution on some voice students from singing department of 'G. Dima' Music Academy from Cluj-Napoca. Data presented here was processed through ICT2 means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ICT in Muzical Field / Tehnologii Informatice si de Comunicatie in Domeniul Muzical is the property of Tehnologii Informatice si de Comunicatie in Domeniul Muzical / ICT in Musical Field and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the past few years, the mm-wave silicon, especially 60 GHz CMOS design has experienced a transition from an obscure topic to a research hot spot. This paper presents the design of a 60 GHz receiver front-end using 65 nm CMOS technology. Initially, a heterodyne receiver front-end architecture is presented to exploit its possible compatibility with legacy systems. In order to implement the front-end, an EM simulation based methodology and the corresponding design flow are proposed. A transistor EM model, using existing compact models as core, is developed to account for the parasitic elements due to wiring stacks. A spiral inductor lumped model, based on S-parameter data from EM simulation is also derived. After the device modeling efforts, a single-stage LNA and a single-gate mixer are designed using 65 nm CMOS technology. They are characterized by EM co-simulation, and compared with the state-of-the-art. After integration, the simulated front-end achieves a conversion gain of 11.9 dB and an overall SSB noise figure of 8.2 dB, with an input return loss of −13.7 dB. It consumes 6.1 mW DC power, and its layout occupies a die area of 0.33 mm × 0.44 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study of ΣΔ modulators for use in fractional-N phase-locked loops. It proposes favorable modulator architectures while taking into consideration not only the quantization noise of the modulator but also other loop nonidealities such as the charge pump current mismatch that contributes to the degradation in the synthesized tone's phase noise. The proper choice of the modulator architecture is found to be dependent upon the extent of the nonideality, reference frequency, and loop bandwidth. Three modulator architectures are then proposed for low, medium, and high levels of nonidealities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in the treatment of hemophilia have made the life expectancy of hemophiliacs similar to that of the general population. Physicians have begun to face age-related diseases not previously encountered in individuals with hemophilia. Treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is particularly challenging because the therapeutic strategies influence both the patient's thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk. As progress has been made in the treatment of AMI over the last decade, we performed an in-depth analysis of the available literature, highlighting the latest advances in the therapy of AMI in hemophiliacs. It is generally accepted that after the optimal substitution therapy has been provided, patients with hemophilia should be treated in the same way as those in the general population. New-generation stents that allow short dual antiplatelet therapy and potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitors have begun to be successfully used. At a time when specific recommendations and relevant data are scarce, our study provides up-to-date information to physicians involved in the treatment of AMI in hemophiliacs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless of the newly diagnostic and therapeutic advances, coronary artery disease (CAD) and more explicitly, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thus, early and prompt diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction is pivotal in STEMI patients for a better prognosis and outcome. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) gained attention as potential biomarkers in myocardial infarction (MI) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS), as they have key roles in heart development, various cardiac processes, and act as indicators of cardiac damage. In this review, we describe the current available knowledge about cardiac miRNAs and their functions, and focus mainly on their potential use as novel circulating diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A monolithic bipolar operational amplifier (opamp) fabricated in 4H-SiC technology is presented. The opamp has been used in an inverting negative feedback amplifier configuration. Wide temperature operation of the amplifier is demonstrated from 25 °C to 500 °C. The measured closed loop gain is around 40 dB for all temperatures whereas the 3 dB bandwidth increases from 270 kHz at 25 °C to 410 kHz at 500 °C. The opamp achieves 1.46 V/ \(\mu \) s slew rate and 0.25% total harmonic distortion. This is the first report on high temperature operation of a fully integrated SiC bipolar opamp which demonstrates the feasibility of this technology for high temperature analog integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Electrical impedance myography (EIM) measures bioimpedance over muscles. This paper proposes a circuit-based modelling methodology originated from finite element analysis (FEA), to emulate tissues and effects from anthropometric variations, and electrode placements, on EIM measurements. The proposed methodology is demonstrated on the upper arms and lower legs. Methods: FEA evaluates impedance spectra (Z-parameters), sensitivity, and volume impedance density for variations of subcutaneous fat thickness (t $_{f}$), muscle thickness (t $_{m}$), and inter-electrode distance (IED), on limb models over 1Hz-1 MHz frequency range. The limbs’ models are based on simplified anatomical data and dielectric properties from published sources. Contributions of tissues to the total impedance are computed from impedance sensitivity and density. FEA Z-parameters are imported into a circuit design environment, and used to develop a three Cole dispersion circuit-based model. FEA and circuit model simulation results are compared with measurements on ten human subjects. Results: Muscle contributions are maximized at 31.25 kHz and 62.5 kHz for the upper arm and lower leg, respectively, at 4 cm IED. The circuit model emulates variations in t $_{f}$ and t $_{m}$ , and simulates up to 89 times faster than FEA. The circuit model matches subjects measurements with RMS errors $\mathbf {< \;}36.43\boldsymbol{\Omega }$ and $\mathbf {< \;}17.28\mathbf {^{\circ }}$ , while FEA does with $\mathbf {< \;}36.59\boldsymbol{\Omega }$ and $\mathbf {< \;}4.36\mathbf {^{\circ }}$. Conclusions: We demonstrate that FEA is able to estimate the optimal frequencies and electrode placements, and circuit-based modelling can accurately emulate the limbs’ bioimpedance. Significance: The proposed methodology facilitates studying the impact of biophysical principles on EIM, enabling the development of future EIM acquisition systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correspondence highlights an error in the above-titled paper. The corrected material is presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]