Compositional technique and phenomenological categories of perception in the Passacaglia of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8

This article is an attempt to apply several fundamental phenomenological concepts regarding the perception of sound, and music in particular, to the analysis of a concrete musical composition, the Passacaglia of Dmitriy Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8. We aim at exploring the underlying compositional structures that determine how a musical composition presents itself to consciousness, and how it is perceived. An approach is used that combines the views of two of the most prominent researchers in the field of phenomenology of music, F. Joseph Smith and Don Ihde. Our main concern is the structure of primary perceptions and how the latter are intended as a unified phenomenon (akoumenon). A specifically descriptive method is used to analyze the way in which the music presents itself to us acoustically and how we perceive it as sounding in time. After that reference is made to techniques of composition used to mediate and achieve the described sounding. As a result our research has revealed a deliberately structured dialectical play of awakened retentions, of fulfilled and unfulfilled protentions, a play with intentionality, touching upon the most subtle mechanisms of perception. The current research has also shown that the categories of musical composition and dramaturgy reflect an underlying dramaturgy of phenomenological categories of perception related to the listener's intentionality. These categories include shifts in the focal-fringe ratio, as the focus of intentionality narrows or broadens in accordance with the auditory field of the music it is intending. They also include shifts between different focal cores as such that we have called regional shifts of focus. On a more fundamental level regional shifts of focus occur between various musical parameters, such as rhythm, tonalitymodality, orchestration, melody, timbre, playing technique. Also, the bidimensional character of sound makes it possible for the noetic act to shift its focus between the roundish and the directional dimensions of the auditory field-shape of the music intended. Finally, we have shown how musical time is thematized as a region of intentional focus by way of a desynchronization of various layers of the polyphonic textures within the framework of the fundamental repetitive structure of the Passacaglia. Shostakovich forms three processes of desynchronization within each of the work's three parts (exposition, development, and recapitulation), each of which starts with a synchronization of the musical material and its layers

Studies on certain yeasts associated with animals

The objectives of this study were to investigate the significance of yeasts as animal disease agents in the West of Scotland, to study the commensal association of yeasts with animals and, in particular, to assess the possibility of applying serological tests in the diagnosis of feline cryptococcosis. Examination of pathological specimens from various animal sources revealed that animal diseases attributable to yeasts were not common in this area. Apart from otitis externa in dogs, with which Pityrosporum pachydermatis was associated, other disease conditions were only sporadically encountered. Candida albicans was associated with 2 cases of oral thrush in adult guinea-pigs and with 3 cases of gastrointestinal ailments in puppies. Torulopsis pintolopesii was incriminated in causing a fatal gastrointestinal and systemic infection in a racing pigeon. No previous systematic studies have been done to investigate the commensal existence of yeasts on and in dogs and cats. In this study, cultural surveys were undertaken to investigate the prevalence of yeasts in those hosts. It was established that yeasts might occur as commensals on normal canine skin and in the nasal cavities of apparently normal dogs and cats. Besides its association with canine otitis externa, Pit, pachydermatis was found in association with skin infections in dogs. The association of C . albicans with oral infection in 2 guinea-pigs prompted a cultural study to see if this and other yeasts were prevalent in the oral cavity of healthy guinea-pigs. Candida albicans and Saccharomyces telluris were found to exist as normal inhabitants in this site . The value of serological methods in the diagnosis of animal cryptococcosis has not previously been determined. A serological survey owas undertaken to test sera from apparently normal cat and dog populations for the presence of antibody to Cryptococcus neoformans. Three tests, namely, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, immunodiffusion and agglutination tests were employed. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis proved more sensitive than the other tests. Using it, precipitating cryptococcal antibody was demonstrated in a proportion of cats and dogs. The antibody response was thought to have resulted from exposure to the yeast in the environment. The use of serology in the diagnosis of feline cryptococcosis was evaluated in experimentally infected cats. The 3 tests were used to examine sera and other body fluids from experimental cats for the presence of antibody and/or antigen. It was established that the presence of serum cryptococcal antigen was proof of active cryptococcosis in the cat. On the other hand, the presence of circulating cryptococcal antibody alone could not be regarded as evidence of such disease. Its presence, however, may suggest early or past infection, or simply exposure to the organism. The role of black yeasts as disease agents in domestic animals is not known and has not previously been investigated. In this study, 3 black yeast isolates from animal sources were identified and their pathogenicity for mice determined. One isolate, a Cladosporium species, was found to be non-pathogenic. Two isolates of Fonsecaea dermatitidis were highly virulent to mice and had a marked neurotropic affinity. Although not yet determined, the possibility that this species is pathogenic to domestic animals, could not be dismissed. The literature on diseases caused by yeasts in animals is reviewed

Monotonic and Cyclic Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete-Masonry Shear Wall Boundary Elements

As a seismic force-resisting system (SFRS), reinforced masonry shear walls with masonry boundary elements (RMSW+BEs) were found to achieve enhanced strength, stability, and ductility levels compared to rectangular RMSWs. The seismic design of RMSW+BEs necessitates reliable experimental and analytical investigations of their reinforced masonry boundary elements (RMBEs). The axial monotonic and cyclic stress-strain curves of RMBEs are essential to predict the lateral cyclic response of RMSW+BEs. This research aims to investigate, experimentally and analytically, the axial monotonic and cyclic behaviour of RMBEs built with C-shape masonry blocks. Moreover, this research proposes monotonic and cyclic stress-strain models for unconfined and confined RMBEs subjected to axial compression loading. Furthermore, a numerical study was performed to assess the sensitivity of the nonlinear seismic response of RMSW+BEs to various wall configurations and design parameters. This research’s experimental work involved investigating various parameters affecting the compressive strength of fully grouted concrete masonry prisms and the axial monotonic and cyclic behaviour of RMBEs. Forty-two masonry prisms and 69 RMBEs were tested. The studied parameters were the vertical reinforcement ratio, the confinement ratio, the cross-section geometry (i.e., square vs. rectangular RMBEs), the masonry bonding pattern, pre-wetting of dry RMBEs, various grout types, and the grout compressive strength. The results showed that RMBEs built with rectangular sections exhibited enhanced strain ductility and post-peak behaviour than square RMBEs. Besides, using low grout compressive strength significantly reduced the strain ductility and yielded sharp strength degradation of the RMBEs. The RMBEs′ experimental results revealed that the monotonic stress-strain curves form envelope curves to their cyclically tested counterparts. The proposed monotonic and cyclic stress-strain models showed good-to-excellent agreement with the experimental results, predicting the envelope and cyclic stress-strain curves′ major characteristics. The numerical study’s results showed that the seismic design of RMSW+BEs can be optimized through careful choice of their design parameters. Enhancing the RMSW+BEs lateral yield and ultimate capacities and the lateral effective stiffness can be achieved by increasing the vertical reinforcement ratio of the RMBEs and the masonry compressive strength. Contrarily, reducing the masonry strain at peak stress and/or the masonry modulus of elasticity greatly hinders the walls′ displacement ductility

Perilla frutescens由来メトキシフラバノンの抗癌作用に関する薬理学的研究およびそのチロシンキナーゼ阻害剤併用療法への応用

内容の要旨 , 審査の要旨広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(学術)Doctor of Philosophydoctora

Effectiveness of positive pressure evaporative cooling on broilers production

   The main concept of this research depends on the experimental work being performed on broiler houses, using positive pressure evaporative cooling systems. The experiments were conducted at the farms of the People's Development Company for Animal Production, Wad Medani, Sudan, during the period of May-July 1998. The objective was maintaining better environmental conditions during summer months, i.e., temperature and relative humidity, for housed birds, in order to obtain the maximum rate of birds growth, and reduce the rate of mortality, thus increasing economic returns. To evaluate the performance of broilers production, the parameters studied were temperature and relative humidity for bird's houses, live body weight, feed intake, water intake and mortality rate. The results of the experiments showed that evaporative cooling reduced the temperature by 18.9% and 16.6% in the houses with bird density of 10 birds/m2 and 13 birds/m2, respectively. The live body weight increased by 26.5% and 21.9% in the houses with bird density of 10 birds/m2 and 13 birds/m2, respect- tively. The mortality rate in the same houses was reduced by 79% and 75.7%, respectively. The results indicated that evaporative cooling effect was highly •siY1ificantly and positively correlated with most of the measured triats

Net-Shape Manufacturing using Hybrid Selective Laser Melting/Hot Isostatic Pressing

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a manufacturing technology using hybrid selective laser melting/hot isostatic pressing (SLM/HIP) process to produce full density net-shape components more rapidly and at lower cost than processing by SLM alone. Design/methodology/approach Ti-6Al-4V powder was encapsulated in situ by the production of as-SLMed shell prior to the HIP process. After HIPping, the SLM shell is an integral part of the final component. Finite element (FE) modelling based on pure plasticity theory of porous metal coupled with an iterative procedure has been adopted to simulate HIPping of the encapsulated Ti-6Al-4V powder and SLMed shell. Two demonstrator parts have been modelled, designed, produced and experimentally validated. Geometrical analysis and microstructural characterisation have been carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the process. Findings The FE model is in agreement with the measured data obtained and confirms that the design of the shell affects the resulting deformed parts. In addition, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Electron backscatter diffraction EBSD (EBSD) of the interior and exterior parts reveal a considerably different grain structure and crystallographic orientation with a good bonding between the SLMed shell and HIPped powder. Originality/value An approach to improve SLM productivity by combining it with HIP is developed to further innovate the advanced manufacturing field. The possibility of the hybrid SLS/HIP supported by FEA simulation as a net shape manufacturing process for fabrication of high performance parts has been demonstrated. </jats:sec

Totalna kordektomija u pacijenta s primarnim dorzolumbarnim multiformnim glioblastomom i paraplegijom – prikaz slučaja

In this paper, we report a case of a 57-year-old male patient with non-metastatic dorso-lumbar glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) who underwent total cordectomy followed by chemoradiotherapy. Primary dorso-lumbar GBM is a rare finding. Despite the total cordectomy and chemoradiotherapy treatment, recurrence occurs mostly within a short time with poor prognosis.Muškarac u dobi od 57 godina s nemetastatskim multiformnim dorzolumbalnim glioblastomom (GBM) podvrgnut je totalnoj kordektomiji i kemoradioterapiji. Primarni dorzolumbalni GBM se rijetko nalazi. Unatoč totalnoj kordektomiji i kemoradioterapiji bolest se vraća s lošom prognozom u kratkom vremenskom razdoblju