This paper presents an objective speech quality measure which is based on loudness patterns using the equivalent rectangular bandwidth (ERB) scale. The proposed measure, called the loudness pattern distortion (LPD), is computed from the differences between the loudness patterns of the original and processed speech. The LPD measure takes into account the transmission through the outer and middle...

We present a brief historical overview of the classical theory of a radiating point charge, described by the Lorentz-Dirac equation. A recent development is the discovery of tunnelling of a charge through a potential barrier, in a completely classical context. Also, a concrete example is discussed of the existence of several physically acceptable solutions for a range of initial data. We end by...

A theory of field induced electron emission from electrolytic conductors is proposed in which an electron associated with an immobile anion at the surface is destabilised as a cation moves into the bulk. This electron may be thermally emitted over a field-lowered barrier. Equations are developed for the potential barrier that must be surmounted by the electron and the form of the current versus...

We show that the sphaleron energy which identifies with the (instanton) potential barrier for B-violation is reduced in the presence (background) of an electroweak Z-string. We also show that for large enough Higgs coupling, λ, the sphaleron energy can go negative. For such λ, electroweak Z-strings can reduce their energy by accumulating sphaleron bound states. This further endows them with bar...