Measuring the evolution of contemporary western popular music

Popular music is a key cultural expression that has captured listeners' attention for ages. Many of the structural regularities underlying musical discourse are yet to be discovered and, accordingly, their historical evolution remains formally unknown. Here we unveil a number of patterns and metrics characterizing the generic usage of primary musical facets such as pitch, timbre, and loudness in contemporary western popular music. Many of these patterns and metrics have been consistently stable for a period of more than fifty years, thus pointing towards a great degree of conventionalism. Nonetheless, we prove important changes or trends related to the restriction of pitch transitions, the homogenization of the timbral palette, and the growing loudness levels. This suggests that our perception of the new would be rooted on these changing characteristics. Hence, an old tune could perfectly sound novel and fashionable, provided that it consisted of common harmonic progressions, changed the instrumentation, and increased the average loudness.Comment: Supplementary materials not included. Please see the journal reference or contact the author

An Exploration Of Geographic Scope: The Cluster Of Grenoble

This article examines the high-tech cluster of Grenoble in the light of regional studies. In particular, we explore the geographic scope of organizations, knowledge flows and risk perceptions. Using a large quantitative dataset, we observe that trial-driven synthetic knowledge-flow dynamics are generally based on the engineering sciences and develop over large distances, posing a challenge to well-established clusters. Our results emphasize significant differences across organization types (firms, research centers, universities, and public bodies) and organization sizes (small, medium, and large). We find that large firms develop knowledge-flows dynamics over greater distances than small firms and that research centers, universities and medium-sized firms perceive greater knowledge anchoring than do small and large firms. In addition, we find that theory-driven analytical and branding-driven symbolic knowledge are more anchored than synthetic knowledge, which is the type of knowledge of greatest value in information and communication technologies (ICT). Finally, we argue that the increase of geographical distance between knowledge senders and receivers increases the perception of the risk of unintended knowledge spillovers

Perception Of Television Advertising From Chinas Young Generation

This paper aims to examine the elements employed in television advertising, which affect consumer attitudes toward advertised products and brands. 384 young Chinese responded to a survey questionnaire. This paper finds that celebrity endorsement positively affects creativity in television advertising. The credibility of television advertisement positively affects the recall of products and brands. Celebrities in television advertising or people who have professional knowledge as endorsers decrease the credibility of television advertisements contrary to the results of previous research. Creativity in television advertising has a negative effect on the recalls of products and brands. This paper offers insight about the young generations perception of television advertising in China. It provides a debated perspective that creativity in television advertising negatively affects product and brand recalls

Contributions Of Talented People To Knowledge Management

This study focuses on major issues of talent management (TM) with respect to knowledge management (KM). Under the effect of the economic paradigm shift toward a knowledge-based economy, multiple human changes occurred and new challenges related to human capital and talent management requires new research in the field. The purpose of the article is to identify what are the contributions of “People hold a Job that require a High Level of Talent” (PJHLT) to knowledge management in terms of contribution to the value chain, to the creation, to the collective effort, to long distance dynamics, to absorption, transfer and learning, to innovation, and to the relationship with customers.   This article develops a hypothetic-deductive study on individuals’ self-perception regarding talent requirements at their jobs. We used quantitative data collection in the cluster of Grenoble in France specialized in micro-nano technologies and software. 111 organizations and 566 people contributed to the study. We identified three main findings. First, PJHLT are also more likely to be involved in exploration rather than examination. Second, PJHLT are more likely to be able to absorb, transfer, and learn within long-distance and knowledge-rich dynamics. Third, PJHLT are more likely to be involved in the creation of knowledge rather than in the use of knowledge, which may lead to frustration due to a perception of an unfair distribution of wealth. We identified limitations in our study related to the measurement of subjective variables, the lack of generalization, and the focus on the contribution as one aspect of talent. Addressing an original topic related to both talent management and knowledge management; we finally identify paths for further studies

Radiation Induced Point and Cluster-Related Defects with Strong Impact to Damage Properties of Silicon Detectors

This work focuses on the investigation of radiation induced defects responsible for the degradation of silicon detectors. Comparative studies of the defects induced by irradiation with 60Co- rays, 6 and 15 MeV electrons, 23 GeV protons and 1 MeV equivalent reactor neutrons revealed the existence of point defects and cluster related centers having a strong impact on damage properties of Si diodes. The detailed relation between the microscopic reasons as based on defect analysis and their macroscopic consequences for detector performance are presented. In particular, it is shown that the changes in the Si device properties after exposure to high levels of 60Co- doses can be completely understood by the formation of two point defects, both depending strongly on the Oxygen concentration in the silicon bulk. Specific for hadron irradiation are the annealing effects which decrease resp. increase the originally observed damage effects as seen by the changes of the depletion voltage. A group of three cluster related defects, revealed as deep hole traps, proved to be responsible specifically for the reverse annealing. Their formation is not affected by the Oxygen content or Si growth procedure suggesting that they are complexes of multi-vacancies located inside extended disordered regions.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure

Music Genre Classification Revisited: An In-Depth Examination Guided by Music Experts

Despite their many identified shortcomings, music genres are still often used as ground truth and as a proxy for music similarity. In this work we therefore take another in-depth look at genre classification, this time with the help of music experts. In comparison to existing work, we aim at including the viewpoint of different stakeholders to investigate whether musicians and end-user music taxonomies agree on genre ground truth, through a user study among 20 professional and semi-professional music protagonists. We then compare the results of their genre judgments with different commercial taxonomies and with that of computational genre classification experiments, and discuss individual cases in detail. Our findings coincide with existing work and provide further evidence that a simple classification taxonomy is insufficient

“Ricerca e Validazione di Biomarcatori per la Identificazione Preventiva ed il Monitoraggio del Trattamento Farmacologico in soggetti ad alto rischio di Stroke Criptogenico”

“Ricerca e Validazione di Biomarcatori per la Identificazione Preventiva ed il Monitoraggio del Trattamento Farmacologico in soggetti ad alto rischio di Stroke Criptogenico” Background e Obiettivi: Il progetto di tesi pone l'ipotesi che dismetabolismi del ciclo dei folati, derivanti dalla mutazione MTHFR C6771, possano rappresentare un fattore ancora non identificato nella patogenesi dello stroke embolico da causa indeterminata (ESUS). Dalle indagini condotte è stato possibile evidenziare come tale mutazione si associ ad un aumentato grado di disfunzione endoteliale e fibrosi atriale, determinanti centrali della recentemente postulata "cardiomiopatia atriale". Quest'ultima entità anatomo-elettrofisiologica costituirebbe il substrato comune all'ESUS e ad alcune delle condizioni finora considerate possibili cause dello stesso, in primis la fibrillazione atriale (FA). Secondariamente, è stato evidenziato come il metotrexato (MTX), chemioterapico e immunosoppressore largamente impiegato nella pratica clinica, determini su linee stabilizzate di cellule endoteliali e su progenitori endoteliali circolanti (EPCs) di pazienti controllo le stesse alterazioni fenotipiche osservate nelle EPCs di pazienti portatori della mutazione MTHFR C677T. Metodi: Sono stati reclutati 59 pazienti con FA (Ospedale Generale F. Miulli) e 83 controlli ipertesi (Università di Bari) (Comitato Etico, n°6903). Sono stati misurati i genotipi MTHFR-C677T (qRT-PCR), fibrosi atriale (tensione picco-picco bipolare), i globuli rossi, l'RDW e l'omocisteinemia. Sono stati misurati i livelli di molecole di adesione e citochine proinfiammatorie sul plasma sanguigno periferico. Le EPC sono state isolate e funzionali in vitro (guarigione delle ferite) e sono stati eseguiti test in vivo (membrana corioallantoidea di Chick). Risultati: : Le caratteristiche basali erano simili in FA e controlli. La percentuale di FA differisce tra pazienti MTHFR-C677T omozigoti (n=15) vs MTHFR non-C677T omozigoti (n=44) (P<0,01). L'analisi multivariata mostra alterazione di RBC e RDW e aumento di omocisteina nei pazienti con omozigosi MTHFR-C677T (vs non omozigoti, P<0,005). Le citochine pro-infiammatorie così come i livelli di molecole di adesione hanno mostrato un aumento nei pazienti MTHFR-C677T omozigoti (vs MTHFR nonC677T omozigoti). La migrazione in vitro delle EPC e la capacità di angiogenesi in vivo sono state compromesse nei pazienti MTHFR-C677T omozigoti AF (vs non omozigoti, P<0,05). Il trattamento con MTX nei controlli suggerisce gli stessi risultati ottenuti nei pazienti omozigoti MTHFR-C677T in vitro e in vivo. Conclusioni: I risultati dello studio suggeriscono promettenti nuove prospettive nell’inquadramento patogenetico dell'ESUS, con importanti risvolti su possibili nuove strategie di stratificazione del rischio e prevenzione primaria.“Research and Validation of Biomarkers for the Preventive Identification and Monitoring of Pharmacological Treatment in subjects at high risk of Cryptogenic Stroke” Background and Aims: The thesis project hypothesizes that folate cycle dysmetabolism due to the MTHFR C677T mutation may represent an unidentified factor in the pathogenesis of embolic stroke of undetermined origin (ESUS). Investigations have revealed that this mutation is associated with higher levels of endothelial dysfunction and atrial fibrosis (AFib) , both central determinants of the recently proposed concept of “atrial cardiomyopathy.” This anatomical and electrophysiological entity could serve as a common substrate for ESUS and some conditions previously considered possible causes, particularly atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, methotrexate (MTX), a widely used chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive agent, was observed to induce the same phenotypic alterations in stable endothelial cell lines and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from control patients as those observed in EPCs from patients with the mutation MTHFR C677T. Methods: We recruited 59 Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients (General Hospital F.Miulli), and 83 hypertensive controls (Bari University) (Ethic Committee, n°6903). MTHFR-C677T genotypes (qRT-PCR), AFib (bipolar peak-to-peak voltage), RBC, RDW and homocysteinemia were measured. Adhesion molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured on peripheral blood plasma. EPCs were isolated and functional in vitro (wound healing), and in vivo (Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane) assays were performed. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in AF and controls. The percentage of AFib differs between MTHFR-C677T homozygous (n=15) vs MTHFR non-C677T homozygous (n=44) patients (P<0.01). The multivariate analysis shows RBC and RDW alteration and homocysteine increase in patients with MTHFR-C677T homozygosity (vs non-homozygous, P<0.005). Pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as adhesion molecules levels showed an increased in MTHFR-C677T homozygous patients (vs MTHFR non-C677T homozygous ones). The in vitro EPCs migration and the in vivo angiogenesis ability were impaired in MTHFR-C677T homozygous AF patients (vs non-homozygous, P< 0.05). The treatment with MTX in controls suggests the same results obtained in MTHFR-C677T homozygous patients in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: The study findings suggest promising new perspectives for understanding the pathogenesis of ESUS, with significant implications for potential new risk stratification and primary prevention strategies

Timbre and Rhythmic TRAP-TANDEM features for music information retrieval

The enormous growth of digital music databases has led to a comparable growth in the need for methods that help users organize and access such information. One area in particular that has seen much recent research activity is the use of automated techniques to describe audio content and to allow for its identification, browsing and retrieval. Conventional approaches to music content description rely on features characterizing the shape of the signal spectrum in relatively short-term frames. In the context of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Hermansky \cite{Hermansky_1} described an interesting alternative to short-term spectrum features, the TRAP-TANDEM approach which uses long-term band-limited features trained in a supervised fashion. We adapt this idea to the specific case of music signals and propose a generic system for the description of temporal patterns. The same system with different settings is able to extract features describing either timbre or rhythmic content. The quality of the generated features is demonstrated in a set of music retrieval experiments and compared to other state-of-the-art models