An Analysis and Band Transcription of Eric Whitacre\u27s The River Cam

Orchestral transcriptions for wind band have been historically vital to the expansion and success of the medium. As original compositions have increased in number, string solos accompanied by wind band continue to represent an under-utilized area of the literature. The “Wind Repertory Project” has documented twenty-three compositions that fall within this area of wind band music. A transcription of Eric Whitacre’s The River Cam for solo cello and string orchestra expands the contemporary area of the repertoire by contributing to the list of works written for solo string instruments and band. Comparative and harmonic analyses provide correlative evidence as to why Whitacre’s compositional fragments sound pastoral, linking Whitacre’s use of modes to the documented style of Ralph Vaughn Williams

Electrocardiograph and photoplethysmograph superimposition as an investigative tool for circulatory function

This paper set out to examine the usefulness of the electrocardiograph (ECG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG) superimposition as an investigative tool for circulatory function. Further, a system was constructed and an experimental protocol established to examine this proposition. The three main components of circulatory function are pulse rate, arterial compliance and blood pressure. These components are each interrelated, and these relationships are the subject of much research. It was decided, focusing on blood pressure, to examine the superimposition information with regard to systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure. Data was collected, conclusions were drawn and interesting possibilities for further work emerged

Electrocardiograph and photoplethysmograph superimposition as an investigative tool for circulatory function

This paper set out to examine the usefulness of the electrocardiograph (ECG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG) superimposition as an investigative tool for circulatory function. Further, a system was constructed and an experimental protocol established to examine this proposition. The three main components of circulatory function are pulse rate, arterial compliance and blood pressure. These components are each interrelated, and these relationships are the subject of much research. It was decided, focusing on blood pressure, to examine the superimposition information with regard to systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure. Data was collected, conclusions were drawn and interesting possibilities for further work emerged

Development of an autonomous algal toxin analytical platform for aquatic monitoring

Cyclic peptide cyanobacterial toxins, in particular Microcystis aeruginosa, pose a serious health risk to humans and animals alike [1], [2]. Occurring mostly in fresh and brackish water, they have been identified to cause cancer promotion and liver damage [3]. Herein, we describe a portable, microfluidic-based system for in-situ detection of algal toxins in fresh water. The technology development presented here is a fully integrated and portable sample-to-answer centrifugal microfluidics-based system for the detection of toxic cyanobacteria – Microcystin-LR in fresh water. Our unique system employs highly-specific recombinant chicken anti-microcystin antibodies, prepared in-house, with a 3D-printed ‘LASER-photo¬diode’ fluorescent detection technique, also developed in-house. The system has high analytical specificity and sensitivity for detection of toxins below the regulatory limit with intra/inter day coefficient of variation of less than 20%. Dissolvable-film based valving technique was used for flow actuation and integration of multiple assays on the centrifugal cartridge. This new approach forms the basis of a cost efficient, USB-controlled water quality monitoring system. Technically, this integrated system consists of two components; a microfluidic disc (figure 1.A), the disc-holder fabricated and assembled from a 3D-printed casing, with electronic components housed in device. The 5-layered microfluidic disc consists of five reservoirs (figure 1.B), each with a separate venti-lation, aligned radially with inter-connected microchannels. A competitive immunoassay format is utilised to detect free toxin (figure 1.C). Sensitivity, reproducibility and ease-of-use are key features of this monitoring device. The ‘top-down’ optical detection system has been modified for improved detection sensitivity, as well as the elimination of external noise

Intercellular Interactions in PC12 Cells Overexpressing Beta/A4 Amyloid

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an integral membrane component of eukaryotic cells. A variety of research approaches have addressed the contribution of the β amyloid peptide region of the APP to neuritic plaque structure and formation in the Alzheimer disease brain as well as the relationship between β amyloid accumulation and the occurrence of dementia. However, there is limited information available concerning the cellular consequences of amyloid deposition. The present studies were undertaken to investigate the relationship between β amyloid and intercellular junctions. Transfected PC12 cell lines, that overexpress the β amyloid peptide, exhibit structural and functional alterations at the cell surface and tend to form aggregates more readily than normal control cells. Intermediate junctions were the most common intercellular interactions of both normal and transfected cells. However, the control and transfected cells differed since areas of continuous and extensive junctions were readily seen in transfected cells and infrequently seen in control cells. The data suggest that excess accumulation of β amyloid is associated with the junctional apparatus and may be related to increased intercellular adhesion