Finding downbeats with a relaxation oscillator

Abstract.: A relaxation oscillator model of neural spiking dynamics is applied to the task of finding downbeats in rhythmical patterns. The importance of downbeat discovery or 'beat induction' is discussed, and the relaxation oscillator model is compared to other oscillator models. In a set of computer simulations the model is tested on 35 rhythmical patterns. The model performs well, making good predictions in 34 of 35 cases. In an analysis we identify some shortcomings of the model and relate model behavior to dynamical properties of relaxation oscillator

A National Survey of Enterprise Budget Development and Use by the Extension Service

This thesis investigates the development and use of viii agricultural enterprise budgets. An enterprise is a single crop or livestock commodity, and enterprise budgets are valuable management tools. They serve as the basic building blocks of complete farm planning. Two separate surveys gathered information from the Extension Service concerning the use and development of enterprise budgets. Analysis of the survey results identified the most common methods used to create enterprise budgets as well as factors that contribute to their use. A regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing the number of times county agents directly refer to published budget information in a year. The agent\u27s understanding of the use of budget information in management decisions, the geographic units that budgets are published for, and receiving the budgets in multiple forms (e.g., sheets, booklets, or software) have significant positive impacts on the use of budgets by the agents. Finally, based on the findings of this research, a number of recommendations are made to help increase the efficiency with which budgets are made and the use of these Pvaluable tools

AN EVALUATION OF COST OF PRODUCTION INFORMATION USAGE BY COUNTY AGENTS

County agents receive cost of production information primarily from state extension services and then disseminate it to agricultural producers. A survey gathered data on agent usage of this information. A Poisson regression analysis using count data was performed to determine the factors influencing the number of times county agents directly referred to published cost of production (enterprise budget) information in a year. The agent's understanding of budget information use in management decisions, the availability of budgets, and his/her receiving the budgets in multiple forms (e.g., sheets, booklets, or software) had significant positive impacts on the use of budgets by the agent.Production Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,