A robust CELP coder with source-dependent channel coding

A CELP coder using Source Dependent Channel Encoding (SDCE) for optimal channel error protection is introduced. With SDCE, each of the CELP parameters are encoded by minimizing a perceptually meaningful error criterion under prevalent channel conditions. Unlike conventional channel coding schemes, SDCE allows for optimal balance between error detection and correction. The experimental results show that the CELP system is robust under various channel bit error rates and displays a graceful degradation in SSNR as the channel error rate increases. This is a desirable property to have in a coder since the exact channel conditions cannot usually be specified a priori

The Bayesian Analysis of Complex, High-Dimensional Models: Can It Be CODA?

We consider the Bayesian analysis of a few complex, high-dimensional models and show that intuitive priors, which are not tailored to the fine details of the model and the estimated parameters, produce estimators which perform poorly in situations in which good, simple frequentist estimators exist. The models we consider are: stratified sampling, the partial linear model, linear and quadratic functionals of white noise and estimation with stopping times. We present a strong version of Doob's consistency theorem which demonstrates that the existence of a uniformly $\sqrt{n}$-consistent estimator ensures that the Bayes posterior is $\sqrt{n}$-consistent for values of the parameter in subsets of prior probability 1. We also demonstrate that it is, at least, in principle, possible to construct Bayes priors giving both global and local minimax rates, using a suitable combination of loss functions. We argue that there is no contradiction in these apparently conflicting findings.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/14-STS483 the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

The Horseshoe Estimator: Posterior Concentration around Nearly Black Vectors

We consider the horseshoe estimator due to Carvalho, Polson and Scott (2010) for the multivariate normal mean model in the situation that the mean vector is sparse in the nearly black sense. We assume the frequentist framework where the data is generated according to a fixed mean vector. We show that if the number of nonzero parameters of the mean vector is known, the horseshoe estimator attains the minimax $\ell_2$ risk, possibly up to a multiplicative constant. We provide conditions under which the horseshoe estimator combined with an empirical Bayes estimate of the number of nonzero means still yields the minimax risk. We furthermore prove an upper bound on the rate of contraction of the posterior distribution around the horseshoe estimator, and a lower bound on the posterior variance. These bounds indicate that the posterior distribution of the horseshoe prior may be more informative than that of other one-component priors, including the Lasso.Comment: This version differs from the final published version in pagination and typographical detail; Available at http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ejs/141813426

Euclid Preparation:XIV. The Complete Calibration of the Color-Redshift Relation (C3R2) Survey: Data Release 3

The Complete Calibration of the Color-Redshift Relation (C3R2) survey is obtaining spectroscopic redshifts in order to map the relation between galaxy color and redshift to a depth of i ~ 24.5 (AB). The primary goal is to enable sufficiently accurate photometric redshifts for Stage IV dark energy projects, particularly Euclid and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman), which are designed to constrain cosmological parameters through weak lensing. We present 676 new high-confidence spectroscopic redshifts obtained by the C3R2 survey in the 2017B-2019B semesters using the DEIMOS, LRIS, and MOSFIRE multiobject spectrographs on the Keck telescopes. Combined with the 4454 redshifts previously published by this project, the C3R2 survey has now obtained and published 5130 high-quality galaxy spectra and redshifts. If we restrict consideration to only the 0.2 < zp < 2.6 range of interest for the Euclid cosmological goals, then with the current data release, C3R2 has increased the spectroscopic redshift coverage of the Euclid color space from 51% (as reported by Masters et al.) to the current 91%. Once completed and combined with extensive data collected by other spectroscopic surveys, C3R2 should provide the spectroscopic calibration set needed to enable photometric redshifts to meet the cosmology requirements for Euclid, and make significant headway toward solving the problem for Roman

Het Nederlandse agrocomplex 2009

Dit rapport geeft een overzicht van de economische ontwikkeling van het Nederlandse agrocomplex. Dit omvat de land- en tuinbouw en de daarmee samenhangende handel en industrie. Op basis van de Nationale Rekeningen is voor de periode 1995-2007 de betekenis van het agrocomplex gekwantificeerd in termen van toegevoegde waarde, werkgelegenheid en handelssaldo. Met behulp van de milieurekeningen is daarnaast gekeken naar het energieverbruik en de broeikasgasemissie van het agrocomplex voor 2003 en 2007. De analyse onderscheidt deelcomplexen voor glastuinbouw, opengrondstuinbouw, akkerbouw, grondgebonden veehouderij en intensieve veehouderij. This report presents an overview of the economic development of the Dutch agricultural complex. This complex comprises the primary sector as well as the related trade and industry sectors. The importance of the agricultural complex is calculated in terms of value added, employment and trade balance on the basis of the National Accounts and for the period 1995-2007. The energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the complex have also been considered on the basis of the emission statistics for 2003 and 2007. The analysis distinguishes sub complexes for greenhouse horticulture, open-field horticulture, arable farming, land-based livestock farming and intensive farming