Holistic influence on contemporary jazz vocal improvisation with reference to the works of Gloria Cooper and Kitty Margolis.

Through the analysis of aspects such as experience, vocal expression, improvisatory techniques and teaching approach of two jazz vocalists from different social, educational and musical backgrounds in the United States of America, the hope is to achieve a greater understanding of and confirm the factors which play important roles in the vocalist's improvement of effective, authentic jazz improvisation. The focus is on the effect which experience, mentors and musical training have on the two vocalists' approach to teaching and performing jazz styles. This study also investigates the possibility that emotional, educational and physiological factors holistically influence the contemporary jazz vocalist's experience of using the body as a medium of expression via production of sound from the vocal chords

Beam Energy Evolution of HBT Systematics at the AGS

We present preliminary results of the first pion interferometry (HBT) excitation function at intermediate AGS energies. The beam energy evolution of the correlations' dependence on mT, centrality, and emission angle with respect to the reaction plane are discussed. Comparisons with predictions of the RQMD cascade model are made.Comment: to appear in proceedings of Quark Matter '9

Evaluating the Impacts of ACP Management on the Energy Performance of Hydrothermal Liquefaction via Nutrient Recovery

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is of interest in producing liquid fuels from organic waste, but the process also creates appreciable quantities of aqueous co-product (ACP) containing high concentrations of regulated wastewater pollutants (e.g., organic carbon, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)). Previous literature has not emphasized characterization, management, or possible valorization of ACP wastewaters. This study aims to evaluate one possible approach to ACP management via recovery of valuable scarce materials. Equilibrium modeling was performed to estimate theoretical yields of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) from ACP samples arising from HTL processing of selected waste feedstocks. Experimental analyses were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of theoretical yield estimates. Adjusted yields were then incorporated into a life-cycle energy modeling framework to compute energy return on investment (EROI) for the struvite precipitation process as part of the overall HTL life-cycle. Observed struvite yields and residual P concentrations were consistent with theoretical modeling results; however, residual N concentrations were lower than model estimates because of the volatilization of ammonia gas. EROI calculations reveal that struvite recovery is a net-energy producing process, but that this benefit offers little to no improvement in EROI performance for the overall HTL life-cycle. In contrast, corresponding economic analysis suggests that struvite precipitation may be economically appealing

Evaluating the Impacts of ACP Management on the Energy Performance of Hydrothermal Liquefaction via Nutrient Recovery

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is of interest in producing liquid fuels from organic waste, but the process also creates appreciable quantities of aqueous co-product (ACP) containing high concentrations of regulated wastewater pollutants (e.g., organic carbon, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)). Previous literature has not emphasized characterization, management, or possible valorization of ACP wastewaters. This study aims to evaluate one possible approach to ACP management via recovery of valuable scarce materials. Equilibrium modeling was performed to estimate theoretical yields of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) from ACP samples arising from HTL processing of selected waste feedstocks. Experimental analyses were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of theoretical yield estimates. Adjusted yields were then incorporated into a life-cycle energy modeling framework to compute energy return on investment (EROI) for the struvite precipitation process as part of the overall HTL life-cycle. Observed struvite yields and residual P concentrations were consistent with theoretical modeling results; however, residual N concentrations were lower than model estimates because of the volatilization of ammonia gas. EROI calculations reveal that struvite recovery is a net-energy producing process, but that this benefit offers little to no improvement in EROI performance for the overall HTL life-cycle. In contrast, corresponding economic analysis suggests that struvite precipitation may be economically appealing

Tagungsbericht „Barocke Figuren. Zeit – Gestalt – Medien“

Typologisches Denken gerät im 17. Jahrhundert in Unordnung, wenn die Figuren des Barock, wie der Simplicissimus, nicht (länger) das erfüllen, was sie versprechen und zugleich andere Aspekte des Figurenbegriffs an Bedeutung gewinnen. An diesem Punkt setzte die Tagung „Barocke Figuren. Zeit – Gestalt – Medien“ (27.-29. Oktober 2010, Universität Konstanz) an. Sie untersuchte eben jene (atypischen) Figuren, die sich gegen eine strenge Typologisierung sperren, deren Umwege, Metamorphosen, Begegnungen und Konflikte es aber erlauben, die Frage, was im Barock eine Figur ausmacht, in begrifflich-analytischer Perspektive neu zu stellen

Molekulare Charakterisierung und Lokalisationsmuster zweier putativer Bakterien-permeabilisierender Proteine (BPI) eines marinen symbiotischen Nematoden

Der stilbonematide Nematode Laxus oneistus ist bedeckt mit Sulfid-oxidierenden Gammaproteobakterien. Diese gehören einem einzigen 16S rRNA-Gen Phylotyp an. Die Besiedlung der Kutikula des Nematoden durch diese Bakterien beschränkt sich auf die posteriore Region, während die anteriore Region nicht kolonisiert wird. Wir haben zwei L. oneistus Gene charakterisiert, welche für Mitglieder der Genfamilie Bakterien-permeabilisierender (BPI)/Lipopolysaccharid-bindender Proteine (LBP) kodieren. Basierend auf transkriptomalen Daten haben wir Primer designed um die vollständigen cDNA Sequenzen zu amplifizieren und zu klonieren, welche bestätigten dass sie für sekretierte Proteine kodieren. Lo-BPI1 und Lo-BPI2 zeigen 42.5-51.1% Sequenzähnlichkeit mit anderen Invertebraten-BPI Proteinen und 40.5% Ähnlichkeit mit humanem BPI. Außerdem weisen alle Proteine ähnliche strukturelle Eigenschaften auf. Phylogenetisch gruppieren sich die Lo-BPI Proteine mit Protostomia-Orthologen, nämlich mit anderen LBP/BPI Proteinen mariner Invertebraten und einer hypothetischen Proteinsequenz eines parasitischen Nematoden. Basierend auf Western Blot Analysen werden Lo-BPI1 and 2 von adulten L. oneistus Individuen exprimiert. Die Analyse des Lokalisationsmusters hat ergeben, dass die hypodermalen Drüsen BPI1 und 2 in beiden Regionen des Nematoden absondern und dass die Proteine und der Ektosymbiont kolokalisieren. Dies lässt vermuten, dass durch die erwartete antimikrobielle Wirkung von BPI1 and 2 eine Besiedlung der Kutikula durch nicht-symbiotische und potentiell schädliche Gram-negative Bakterien verhindert wird, während der Ektosymbiont unbeeinträcht bleibt. Die Spezifität der Symbiose könnte durch das Zusammenspiel eines zuvor identifizierten Symbionten-bindenden Lektins und den Lo-BPI Proteinen gewährleistet werden.The stilbonematid nematode Laxus oneistus is coated with sulphur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria. These belong to a single 16S rRNA-gene phylotype and are restricted to the posterior region of the nematode cuticle. The anterior part, instead, is left uncolonized. We characterized two L. oneistus genes encoding for members of the bactericidal/permeability increasing (BPI)/lipopolysaccharide-binding (LBP) protein superfamily. Based on transcriptomic data, we designed primers to amplify and clone the full-length cDNA sequences, which confirmed that they both encode for secreted proteins. Lo-BPI1 and Lo-BPI2 show 42.5-51.1% sequence similarity to other invertebrate BPIs and 40.5% similarity to human BPI, as well as structural similarities. The Lo-BPI proteins phylogenetically cluster with protostomian orthologs, represented by other LBP/BPI proteins from marine invertebrates and one hypothetical protein sequence from a parasitic nematode. Based on western blot analysis, Lo-BPI1 and 2 are expressed by adult L. oneistus individuals. Localization pattern analysis via immunostaining revealed that the hypodermal glands secrete BPI1 and 2 throughout the nematode, and that the proteins colocalize with the ectosymbiont. This suggests that, instead of affecting the ectosymbiont, the predicted antimicrobial action of BPI1 and 2 may prevent cuticle colonization by non-symbiotic and potentially deleterious Gram-negative bacteria. Together with a previously identified symbiont-binding lectin, the Lo-BPI proteins could mediate the specificity of the symbiosis

Using Learning Goals to Promote Self-Directedness: How Problems in Research led to Solutions in Teaching

In promoting self-directedness, our process at MCNY’s Learning Enhancement Center begins by having the student construct learning goals. A qualitative analysis of these student learning goals was conducted based on the premise that a student’s ability to articulate a goal in a clear, specific, complex, and measurable manner will improve over time. Although our findings did not support our hypothesis, the complex exercise of creating a customized rubric to measure the goals helped us arrive at a standardized evaluation method and build a transparent self-assessment tool to foster independent learning. This attempt to quantify student learning goals created successful iterative loops, which married research discussion with the refinement of pedagogical practices aimed at raising the quality of student learning goals

Using Wikis to Promote Reflective Teaching and Collaboration among Higher Education Institutions

The purpose of this article is to describe how teacher educators from different higher education institutions used Web 2.0 technology to facilitate collaboration in a small pedagogy group. Faculty from three different institutions participated in monthly face-to-face group meetings. They used technology to facilitate reflection on practice and scholarship. In addition, they were engaged in interactive journaling and collaborative writing activities. Wikis provided useful supports, and enhanced their learning. The group used a hybrid format that allowed increased opportunities to meet group and individual goals and extend benefits to students. Some themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of reflections in response to prompts regarding the impact of using Wikis. These included co-ownership, communication, organization, sharing resources, accessibility, and community. The authors offered some suggestions for facilitating the successful use of this technology in collaborative efforts. Each member of a Wiki must clearly understand the purpose of his or her involvement. Wiki communities participate in social negotiation. This means that each individual should have a clear role, and a sense of belonging. The group used Wikis as extensions and supports that assist group members to reach shared goals. Wiki selfefficacy, or how capable members feel while using wikis, depend on perceived ease of use and decreased sense of user anxiety