Navigation-by-music for pedestrians: an initial prototype and evaluation

Digital mobile music devices are phenomenally popular. The devices are becoming increasingly powerful with sophisticated interaction controls, powerful processors, vast onboard storage and network connectivity. While there are ‘obvious’ ways to exploit these advanced capabilities (such as wireless music download), here we consider a rather different application—pedestrian navigation. We report on a system (ONTRACK) that aims to guide listeners to their destinations by continuously adapting the spatial qualities of the music they are enjoying. Our field-trials indicate that even with a low-fidelity realisation of the concept, users can quite effectively navigate complicated routes

A comparison of two-stage segmentation methods for choice-based conjoint data: a simulation study.

Due to the increasing interest in market segmentation in modern marketing research, several methods for dealing with consumer heterogeneity and for revealing market segments have been described in the literature. In this study, the authors compare eight two-stage segmentation methods that aim to uncover consumer segments by classifying subject-specific indicator values. Four different indicators are used as a segmentation basis. The forces, which are subject-aggregated gradient values of the likelihood function, and the dfbetas, an outlier detection measure, are two indicators that express a subject’s effect on the estimation of the aggregate partworths in the conditional logit model. Although the conditional logit model is generally estimated at the aggregate level, this research obtains individual-level partworth estimates for segmentation purposes. The respondents’ raw choices are the final indicator values. The authors classify the indicators by means of cluster analysis and latent class models. The goal of the study is to compare the segmentation performance of the methods with respect to their success rate, membership recovery and segment mean parameter recovery. With regard to the individual-level estimates, the authors obtain poor segmentation results both with cluster and latent class analysis. The cluster methods based on the forces, the dfbetas and the choices yield good and similar results. Classification of the forces and the dfbetas deteriorates with the use of latent class analysis, whereas latent class modeling of the choices outperforms its cluster counterpart.Two-stage segmentation methods; Choice-based conjoint analysis; Conditional logit model; Market segmentation; Latent class analysis;

Macroeconomic announcements, volatility and interrelationships: An examination of the UK bond and stock markets

This study covers considerable ground and touches on a range of issues in a rigorous investigation of the intraday and end-of-day behaviour of I JK stock index and interest rate futures contracts. Firstly, the paper uses S-minute data in an initial examination of the response of the Short Sterling, Long Gilt and FTSEI00 to the release of macroeconomic announcements (assisted with the application of GMM). Secondly, in an analysis of intraday patterns in returns and volatility a GARCII(I,I) framework is employed, so that further inferences are made robust to time-varying variance. Finally, the paper draws upon some of the latest innovations in time series econometric modeling in an attempt to identify the extent to which the Short Sterling, Long Gilt and FTSE I 00 exhibit co-movement. The study finds evidence suggesting investors and portfolio managers distinguish between the information content of different items of news. The results also suggest some consistency of response to news in the interest rate and stock markets. The GARCH estimation shows variance to be highly dependent on past variance and volatility. Although the three variables appear to be bound by two cointegrating relationships, the tests for lead/lag relationships and relative degrees of exogeneity produced mixed results. In sum, the results should prove intuitively appealing

Investigation of YAG:Ce Scintillating Fiber Properties Using Silicon Photomultipliers

The properties of thin, cerium activated, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce), scintillating fiber-shaped crystals were investigated for particle tracking and calorimetric applications such as Compton imaging of Special Nuclear Material from remote platforms at standoff ranges. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are relatively new, efficient, single photon sensitive, solid-state photodiode arrays which are well suited for the readout of scintillating fibers. Using SiPMs, the scintillation decay time profiles of six 400 micrometers YAG:Ce fiber crystals were measured under alpha and gamma irradiation. Interestingly, the observed decay times in the thin fibers were substantially slower than values for bulk single crystal YAG:Ce reported in open scientific literature; possible explanations are explored. Both laser induced photoluminescence and alpha scintillation measurements were conducted to estimate the effective attenuation length of the YAG:Ce fibers. Using the measured attenuation lengths, position-of-interaction measurements were conducted to determine the achievable position resolution in YAG:Ce fibers using dual fiber end SiPM readouts. The measured results are compared to theoretical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, improvements to the detector concept, including a formula to determine the best SiPM model based on device parameters and the Birks\u27 figure of merit of the scintillating material, are presented

Precluding Government Relitigation of Statutory Interpretations: \u3cem\u3eClark-Cowlitz Joint Operating Agency v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u3c/em\u3e

This Note explores the issue of the applicability of the preclusion doctrines against the government. Specific focus is placed upon the doctrines’ application in cases where the government has previously litigated a question of statutory interpretation. The exploration begins with the recent case of Clark-Cowlitz Joint Operating Agency v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Clark-Cowlitz), a classic factual setting for analyzing this issue. The Note then briefly examines the historical developments of the preclusion doctrines and the United States Supreme Court’s recent and continuing struggle with the application of the doctrines against the government. It is the position of this Note that the Court’s struggle stems from a failure to analyze the doctrines within the context of the conflicts between the policies served by the application of preclusion doctrines and the policies and purposes underlying government administration. From an analysis of these competing policies, this Note will then propose a functional standard for determining when the preclusion doctrines should be applied against the government to preclude relitigating questions of statutory interpretation. Applying this standard to the facts presented by Clark-Cowlitz demonstrates that the holding of the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, while ultimately correct, was flawed in its analysis

Minard Run Oil Company v. United States Forest Service

In response to oil and gas development on the Allegheny National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service issued a statement suspending administrative consideration of new permits to drill into privately held mineral rights on the national forest. Owners of mineral rights sued the Forest Service, petitioning for a preliminary injunction against the policy on the basis that they had been denied access to their holdings. The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service policy had the effect of causing severe economic hardship to the plaintiffs and, therefore, upheld a lower court’s grant of the injunction