Analysis of analysis: importance of different musical parameters for Schenkerian analysis

While criteria for Schenkerian analysis have been much discussed, such discussions have generally not been informed by data. Kirlin [Kirlin, Phillip B., 2014 “A Probabilistic Model of Hierarchical Music Analysis.” Ph.D. thesis, University of Massachusetts Amherst] has begun to fill this vacuum with a corpus of textbook Schenkerian analyses encoded using data structures suggested byYust [Yust, Jason, 2006 “Formal Models of Prolongation.” Ph.D. thesis, University of Washington] and a machine learning algorithm based on this dataset that can produce analyses with a reasonable degree of accuracy. In this work, we examine what musical features (scale degree, harmony, metrical weight) are most significant in the performance of Kirlin's algorithm.Accepted manuscrip

EFFECTS OF EBT CUSTOMER SERVICE WAIVERS ON FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Most State agencies are now using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) systems to issue food stamp benefits. To promote operational efficiency, some States have received waivers of certain rules governing EBT use. An exploratory study was conducted to ascertain the effects of these waivers on food stamp recipients. The results show that two of the waivers-those allowing recipients to select their own personal identification numbers and to receive EBT training by mail rather than in person-cause new food stamp recipients in waiver States to have more difficulties in using the electronic system than new recipients in nonwaiver States. Further, the difficulties are more apparent among the elderly or disabled. However, the problems tend to disappear as new users gain EBT experience. A third waiver, extending time for card replacement via mail, showed mixed benefits for recipients, most of whom prefer to pick up the card at a food stamp office. Perhaps the most important conclusion is that the customer service waivers do not affect recipient satisfaction with the EBT system; the high level of satisfaction that they expressed suggests that most problems with the waivers are either transitory or minor. The full report is available online. See Effects of EBT Customer Service Waivers on Food Stamp Recipients: Final Report, at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/efan02007EBT, new recipients, customer service, vulnerable subgroups, recipient satisfaction, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty,

Alien Registration- Kirlin, Katherine (Saint Agatha, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/33082/thumbnail.jp

ASSESSMENT OF WIC COST-CONTAINMENT PRACTICES; EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides both nutrition education and supplemental foods containing nutrients determined by nutritional research to be lacking in the diets of pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children. State WIC agencies have implemented practices designed to reduce the cost of food packages containing these prescribed foods. For instance, one of the WIC program's primary cost-saving practices is negotiating rebate contracts with manufacturers of infant formula. Additional practices include limiting authorized vendors to stores with lower food prices; limiting approved brands, package sizes, forms, or prices; and negotiating rebates with food manufacturers or suppliers. There is concern that these practices may inadvertently counter the program's goal of providing supplemental foods and nutrition education. Based on a review of cost-containment practices in six States, including interviews with the various stakeholders and analysis of WIC administrative files, the study draws three major conclusions: (1) costcontainment practices reduced average food package costs by 0.2 to 21.4 percent, depending on practices implemented and local conditions; (2) the cost-containment practices had few adverse outcomes for WIC participants; and (3) administrative costs of the practices were low, averaging about 1.5 percent of food package savings. The full report, Assessment of WIC Cost-Containment Practices: Final Report, is available online at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/efan03005.WIC Program, cost-containment, food-item restrictions, vendor restrictions, manufacturers' rebates, food package costs, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty,

Cross-coupled doa trackers

A new robust, low complexity algorithm for multiuser tracking is proposed, modifying the two-stage parallel architecture of the estimate-maximize (EM) algorithm. The algorithm copes with spatially colored noise, large differences in source powers, multipath, and crossing trajectories. Following a discussion on stability, the simulations demonstrate an asymptotic and tracking behavior that neither the EM nor a nonparallelized tracker can emulate.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version