University of California, Santa Barbara

About: University of California, Santa Barbara is a education organization based out in Santa Barbara, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Laser. The organization has 30281 authors who have published 80852 publications receiving 4626827 citations. The organization is also known as: UC Santa Barbara & UCSB.

Distance measures for speech processing

Abstract: The properties and interrelationships among four measures of distance in speech processing are theoretically and experimentally discussed. The root mean square (rms) log spectral distance, cepstral distance, likelihood ratio (minimum residual principle or delta coding (DELCO) algorithm), and a cosh measure (based upon two nonsymmetrical likelihood ratios) are considered. It is shown that the cepstral measure bounds the rms log spectral measure from below, while the cosh measure bounds it from above. A simple nonlinear transformation of the likelihood ratio is shown to be highly correlated with the rms log spectral measure over expected ranges. Relationships between distance measure values and perception are also considered. The likelihood ratio, cepstral measure, and cosh measure are easily evaluated recursively from linear prediction filter coefficients, and each has a meaningful and interrelated frequency domain interpretation. Fortran programs are presented for computing the recursively evaluated distance measures.

Planck 2015 results - XVII. Constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity

Abstract: The Planck full mission cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and E-mode polarization maps are analysed to obtain constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity (NG). Using three classes of optimal bispectrum estimators – separable template-fitting (KSW), binned, and modal – we obtain consistent values for the primordial local, equilateral, and orthogonal bispectrum amplitudes, quoting as our final result from temperature alone ƒlocalNL = 2.5 ± 5.7, ƒequilNL= -16 ± 70, , and ƒorthoNL = -34 ± 32 (68% CL, statistical). Combining temperature and polarization data we obtain ƒlocalNL = 0.8 ± 5.0, ƒequilNL= -4 ± 43, and ƒorthoNL = -26 ± 21 (68% CL, statistical). The results are based on comprehensive cross-validation of these estimators on Gaussian and non-Gaussian simulations, are stable across component separation techniques, pass an extensive suite of tests, and are consistent with estimators based on measuring the Minkowski functionals of the CMB. The effect of time-domain de-glitching systematics on the bispectrum is negligible. In spite of these test outcomes we conservatively label the results including polarization data as preliminary, owing to a known mismatch of the noise model in simulations and the data. Beyond estimates of individual shape amplitudes, we present model-independent, three-dimensional reconstructions of the Planck CMB bispectrum and derive constraints on early universe scenarios that generate primordial NG, including general single-field models of inflation, axion inflation, initial state modifications, models producing parity-violating tensor bispectra, and directionally dependent vector models. We present a wide survey of scale-dependent feature and resonance models, accounting for the “look elsewhere” effect in estimating the statistical significance of features. We also look for isocurvature NG, and find no signal, but we obtain constraints that improve significantly with the inclusion of polarization. The primordial trispectrum amplitude in the local model is constrained to be

Ferroelectric/ferroelastic interactions and a polarization switching model

Abstract: Ferroelectric and ferroelastic switching cause ferroelectric ceramics to depolarize and deform when subjected to excessive electric field or stress. Switching is the source of the classic butterfly shaped strain vs electric field curves and the corresponding electric displacement vs electric field loops [1]. It is also the source of a stress—strain curve with linear elastic behavior at low stress, non-linear switching strain at intermediate stress, and linear elastic behavior at high stress [2, 3]. In this work, ceramic lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) is polarized by loading with a strong electric field. The resulting strain and polarization hysteresis loops are recorded. The polarized sample is then loaded with compressive stress parallel to the polarization and the stress vs strain curve is recorded. The experimental results are modeled with a computer simulation of the ceramic microstructure. The polarization and strain for an individual grain are predicted from the imposed electric field and stress through a Preisach hysteresis model. The response of the bulk ceramic to applied loads is predicted by averaging the response of individual grains that are considered to be statistically random in orientation. The observed strain and electric displacement hysteresis loops and the nonlinear stress—strain curve for the polycrystalline ceramic are reproduced by the simulation.

The Arabidopsis Abscisic Acid Response Locus ABI4 Encodes an APETALA2 Domain Protein

Abstract: Arabidopsis abscisic acid (ABA)-insensitive abi4 mutants have pleiotropic defects in seed development, including decreased sensitivity to ABA inhibition of germination and altered seed-specific gene expression. This phenotype is consistent with a role for ABI4 in regulating seed responses to ABA and/or seed-specific signals. We isolated the ABI4 gene by positional cloning and confirmed its identity by complementation analysis. The predicted protein product shows homology to a plant-specific family of transcriptional regulators characterized by a conserved DNA binding domain, the APETALA 2 domain. The single mutant allele identified has a single base pair deletion, resulting in a frameshift that should disrupt the C-terminal half of the protein but leave the presumed DNA binding domain intact. Expression analyses showed that despite the seed-specific nature of the mutant phenotype, ABI4 expression is not seed specific.