scholarly journals Spectral Pitch Similarity is a Predictor of Perceived Change in Sound- as Well as Note-Based Music

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 205920431984735
Author(s):  
Roger T. Dean ◽  
Andrew J. Milne ◽  
Freya Bailes

Spectral pitch similarity (SPS) is a measure of the similarity between spectra of any pair of sounds. It has proved powerful in predicting perceived stability and fit of notes and chords in various tonal and microtonal instrumental contexts, that is, with discrete tones whose spectra are harmonic or close to harmonic. Here we assess the possible contribution of SPS to listeners’ continuous perceptions of change in music with fewer discrete events and with noisy or profoundly inharmonic sounds, such as electroacoustic music. Previous studies have shown that time series of perception of change in a range of music can be reasonably represented by time series models, whose predictors comprise autoregression together with series representing acoustic intensity and, usually, the timbral parameter spectral flatness. Here, we study possible roles for SPS in such models of continuous perceptions of change in a range of both instrumental (note-based) and sound-based music (generally containing more noise and fewer discrete events). In the first analysis, perceived change in three pieces of electroacoustic and one of piano music is modeled, to assess the possible contribution of (de-noised) SPS in cooperation with acoustic intensity and spectral flatness series. In the second analysis, a broad range of nine pieces is studied in relation to the wider range of distinctive spectral predictors useful in previous perceptual work, together with intensity and SPS. The second analysis uses cross-sectional (mixed-effects) time series analysis to take advantage of all the individual response series in the dataset, and to assess the possible generality of a predictive role for SPS. SPS proves to be a useful feature, making a predictive contribution distinct from other spectral parameters. Because SPS is a psychoacoustic “bottom up” feature, it may have wide applicability across both the familiar and the unfamiliar in the music to which we are exposed.

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1263-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Okui

An important reason for analyzing panel data is to observe the dynamic nature of an economic variable separately from its time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity. This paper examines how to estimate the autocovariances of a variable separately from its time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity. When both cross-sectional and time series sample sizes tend to infinity, we show that the within-group autocovariances are consistent, although they are severely biased when the time series length is short. The biases have the leading term that converges to the long-run variance of the individual dynamics. This paper develops methods to estimate the long-run variance in panel data settings and to alleviate the biases of the within-group autocovariances based on the proposed long-run variance estimators. Monte Carlo simulations reveal that the procedures developed in this paper effectively reduce the biases of the estimators for small samples.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Christmann ◽  
Mariano Torcal

Consensual-pluralistic institutional features of representative democracies have traditionally been associated with satisfaction with democracy (SWD). However, more recent studies report contradictory results on the effects of some of these institutional determinants on SWD. This article confirms these puzzling findings by showing that electoral proportionality increases SWD while other pluralistic factors such as government fractionalization produce the opposite effect. We illustrate this duality of counteracting effects by expanding the number of cases under study to different regions of the world in a comprehensive time-series cross-sectional sample of 58 democracies between 1990 and 2012. In the second part of the paper, we are able to reconfirm these findings at the individual level by employing survey data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-225
Author(s):  
Roger T. Dean ◽  
David Bulger ◽  
Andrew J. Milne

Production of relatively few rhythms with non-isochronous beats has been studied. So we assess reproduction of most well-formed looped rhythms comprising K=2-11 cues (a uniform piano tone, indicating where participants should tap) and N=3-13 isochronous pulses (a uniform cymbal). Each rhythm had two different cue interonset intervals. We expected that many of the rhythms would be difficult to tap, because of ambiguous non-isochronous beats and syncopations, and that complexity and asymmetry would predict performance. 111 participants tapped 91 rhythms each heard over 129 pulses, starting as soon as they could. Whereas tap-cue concordance in prior studies was generally >> 90%, here only 52.2% of cues received a temporally congruent tap, and only 63% of taps coincided with a cue. Only −2 ms mean tap asynchrony was observed (whereas for non-musicians this value is usually c. −50 ms). Performances improved as rhythms progressed and were repeated, but precision varied substantially between participants and rhythms. Performances were autoregressive and mixed effects cross-sectional time series analyses retaining the integrity of all the individual time series revealed that performance worsened as complexity features K, N, and cue inter-onset interval entropy increased. Performance worsened with increasing R, the Long: short (L: s) cue interval ratio of each rhythm (indexing both complexity and asymmetry). Rhythm evenness and balance, and whether N was divisible by 2 or 3, were not useful predictors. Tap velocities positively predicted cue fulfilment. Our data indicate that study of a greater diversity of rhythms can broaden our impression of rhythm cognition.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhou ◽  
Robert Faff

While linear time-series models, technical analysis, and momentum models all extract information from past market data, they each interpret data differently. We test the informative role of three representative models and examine the trading performance of a combined forecasting model at the individual stock level. Our results indicate that these models all contain marginal information and complement each other. The combined trading model captures higher upward trending returns and provides the same downward trending returns compared with the buy-and-hold strategy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Saeed Iqbal ◽  
Kanwal Latif

Purpose:  To assess the psychological, social and financial impacts of Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) on clinical practices and academic activities of ophthalmologists throughout Pakistan. Study Design:  Cross sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study:  Ophthalmology Department, Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Karachi. Methods:  A self-designed survey was conducted among eye care practitioners working in various regions of Pakistan by using the online survey application named www.surveymonkey.com. The survey consisted of a 10-item questionnaire conceptualized to assess the mental health of ophthalmologists and their social and financial concerns during current COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection included the demographics details, questions assessing the psychological, financial and social influences of COVID-19 and strategies to combat the current situation. Results:  Total of 360 valid responses were received. The individual response data was descriptively presented in frequencies and percentages without statistical analysis. Despite online facilities, 57.50% accepted that COVID has brought strain on academic activities. Eighty-eight percent ophthalmologists described decrease patient’s volume and surgeries as the main reasons of reduced income. Majority (72.50%) had closed the services due to fear of getting infected. To the solutions for reducing the viral spread, 60% favored to deal only with emergencies and vision-threatening diseases, 27.50% supported the continuity of all ophthalmic services and only 5% opted to ban the clinical work. Conclusion:  Majority of the ophthalmologists were psychologically and financially stressed during COVID-19 and had fearful concerns regarding their clinical practices and academic activities. Key Words:  COVID-19, Pakistan, Ophthalmologists, Clinical Practice.


2020 ◽  
pp. 81-85
Author(s):  
E. P. Popova ◽  
O. T. Bogova ◽  
S. N. Puzin ◽  
D. A. Sychyov ◽  
V. P. Fisenko

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability gives an idea of the role of the autonomic nervous system in the regulation of chronotropic heart function. This method can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy. Drug therapy should be carried out taking into account the individual clinical form of atrial fibrillation. Information about the vegetative status of the patient will undoubtedly increase the effectiveness of treatment. In this study, spectral parameters were studied in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. The effect of antiarrhythmic drug class III amiodarone on the spectral parameters of heart rate variability was studied.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Beniwal ◽  
Chandrakala Singh

Aging is a series of processes that begin with life and continue throughout the lifecycle. It represents the closing period in the lifespan, a time when the individual looks back on life, lives on past accomplishments and begins to finish off his life course. It represents the accumulation of changes in person over time. The study aims to investigate the health status of senior citizens. The present study was carried out in Hisar and Sirsa district of Haryana state. A total of 400 elderly equally representing both males and females of age group 65-70 years were selected randomly for the study. Modified inventory developed by Khan and Lal (2011) was used to assess health status of senior citizens. The results of the study elucidated that health status of senior citizens depicted that 54.25 per cent of the total respondents had average health status followed by good (25.25%) and poor health status (20.50%). The most common health problems reported by the senior citizens were joint pains, back pains, blood pressure, and chest pain etc. Gender wise comparison of total sample further pointed out that females were poor in their health against males.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Brigo ◽  
Simona Lattanzi ◽  
Giorgia Giussani ◽  
Laura Tassi ◽  
Nicola Pietrafusa ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The Internet has become one of the most important sources of health information, accessed daily by an ever-growing number of both patients and physicians, seeking medical advice and clinical guidance. A deeper insight into the current use of the Web as source of information on epilepsy would help in clarifying the individual attitude towards this medium by Internet users. OBJECTIVE We investigated views towards the Internet in a sample of Italian healthcare specialists involved in epilepsy field, to explore factors which explained the influence of information found on the internet. METHODS This study was a self-administered survey conducted in a group of members of the Italian Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in January 2018. RESULTS 184 questionnaires were analyzed. 97.8% of responders reported to seek online information on epilepsy. The Internet was most frequently searched to obtain new information (69.9%) or to confirm a diagnostic or therapeutic decision (37.3%). The influence of consulting the Internet on clinical practice was associated with registration to social network(s) (OR: 2.94; 95%CI: 1.28-6.76; p=0.011), higher frequency of Internet use (OR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.56-9.21; p=0.006) and higher confidence in reliability of online information (OR: 2.61; 95%CI: 1.09-6.26; p=0.031). No association was found with age, sex, years in epilepsy practice or easiness to find online information. CONCLUSIONS Internet is frequently used among healthcare professionals involved in the epilepsy to obtain information about this disease. The attitude of being influenced by the Internet for diagnostic and/or therapeutic decisions in epilepsy is independent on age and years of experience in epilepsy, and probably reflects an individual approach towards the Web.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Rahman Jazieh ◽  
Khadega A. Abuelgasim ◽  
Husam I. Ardah ◽  
Mohammad Alkaiyat ◽  
Omar B. Da’ar

Abstract Background The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among cancer patients and it may reflect the individual and societal beliefs on cancer therapy. Our study aimed to evaluate the trends of CAM use among patients with cancer between 2006 and 2018. Methods We included 2 Cohorts of patients with cancer who were recruited for Cohort 1 between 2006 and 2008 and for Cohort 2 between 2016 and 2018. The study is a cross-sectional study obtaining demographic and clinical information and inquiring about the types of CAM used, the reasons to use them and the perceived benefits. We compared the changes in the patterns of CAM use and other variables between the two cohorts. Results A total of 1416 patients were included in the study, with 464 patients in Cohort 1 and 952 patients in Cohort 2. Patients in Cohort 2 used less CAM (78.9%) than Cohort 1 (96.8%). Cohort 1 was more likely to use CAM to treat cancer compared to Cohort 2 (84.4% vs. 73%, respectively, p < 0.0001,); while Cohort 2 used CAM for symptom management such as pain control and improving appetite among others. Disclosure of CAM use did not change significantly over time and remains low (31.6% in Cohort 1 and 35.7% for Cohort 2). However, physicians were more likely to express an opposing opinion against CAM use in Cohort 2 compared to Cohort 1 (48.7% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion There is a significant change in CAM use among cancer patients over the decade, which reflects major societal and cultural changes in this population. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve the disclosure to physicians and to improve other aspects of care to these patients.


Author(s):  
Keerthana Dhandapani ◽  
Bhagyalakshmi Kodavanji ◽  
Vinodini Nithyananda Madom Anantharaya ◽  
Nayanatara Arun Kumar

Abstract Objectives Infertility has disastrous consequences, particularly for women. Causes of infertility in developed countries have been investigated but there is a significant lack of data among Indian female population. The aim of the present study was to analyze the causes and the proportion of the individual factors contributing to infertility, considering the age factor. Methods The data of 204 infertile women (18–45 years) were collected from the files in tertiary care hospitals. Causes and age of infertile women were grouped. The prevalence of each cause was evaluated. Data analysis was done using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17.0. Results Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was the most common (14.71%) cause of female infertility. Ovulatory dysfunctions (25.55%) were the foremost cause in primary infertility, whereas in secondary infertility, uterine factors (26.86%) were most common. The incidence of primary and secondary infertility was more evident in patients who were more than 30 years of age. Conclusions Causes of infertility vary according to the age. The causes of female infertility were unexplained infertility, ovulatory disorders and uterine factors most commonly affecting women at ≤30 years.


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