MUSIC AND THE ACT OF SONG IN DANTE’S ‘PURGATORIO’ AND ‘PARADISO’

The present paper explores the relation between the vernacular words used to designate the Act of Song, and the inscribed texts of the Sung Music itself, by considering a set of key cases first in Purgatory and then in Paradise. It focuses on important moments of structural and literary transition, at the same time as showing how sung sacred texts relate to each other (and to other kinds of passages) in important functional ways. I examine how song works in five key moments of the protagonist’s journey: the exit from the final terrace of the Purgatorial mountain, and the opening of the vision of the Procession of the Books of the Bible, as well as Carlo Martello’s famous citation of the first ode of the Convivio, which I link to the sacred “Osanna” sung by the souls of the third heaven. Finally, I analyze the (sung) relationship between the angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary, both in their descent to the eighth heaven and then in their “eternal home” in the Empyrean

L’exemplum et l’histoire contemporaine

Dans cet article sont examinés deux passages importants du Livre de l’Espérance où Alain Chartier-auteur emploie d’abord Foi puis Espérance pour présenter l’histoire de France comme incluant celle de l’Italie. En plus, le lien entre la France et l’Italie dans le discours d’Espérance sert à situer la France dans un contexte historique plus largement européen. Dans tous ces cas sont considérées les stratégies intertextuelles d’Alain Chartier qui y emploie Dante ainsi que Christine de Pizan et Jean Froissart.This article examines how in two key passages of the Livre de l’Espérance Chartier-author uses first Foy and then Esperance in order to present contemporary French history as including Italy. In addition, the link between France and Italy in Esperance’s speech also functions to place France in a wider (more European) context. In these connections are studied Alain Chartier’s intertextual uses of Dante, as well as of Christine de Pizan, and Jean Froissart

GRAND CHALLENGE No. 5: COMMUNICATING ARCHAEOLOGY Outreach and Narratives in Professional Practice

Communicating archaeology to non-expert audiences can convey the role and value of the discipline, implant respect for heritage, and connect descendant communities to their past. A challenge facing archaeology communicators is to translate complex ideas while retaining their richness and maximizing audience engagement. This article discusses how archaeologists can effectively communicate with non-experts using narrative and visual tools. We provide a communication strategy and three case studies from North America. The examples include the packaging of archaeological theory in the shape of mystery novels for student consumption; the use of artwork to anchor archaeological narratives in public outreach; and, the use of historical fiction to reformat archaeological content for Indigenous communities. We conclude with a discussion of outreach capacities and some of the risks and rewards of professional interactions with non-archaeologists

Simplified model of local transit services

This paper discusses the development of a simplified model to efficiently represent local public transportation services in a large-scale travel demand model. The California Statewide Travel Demand Model (CSTDM) is a comprehensive model system designed and developed for use in transportation policy analysis and travel demand forecasting, including representation of both long and short distance transportation covering the entire state of California. A novel hybrid system is used to represent the full range of rail and bus transit services that are available. Rail services – including all long-distance rail, commuter rail and light rail services – are represented in the standard manner, using explicit node and link networks; the relevant in-vehicle and out-ofvehicle service characteristics for journeys are determined as standard skims of these networks. On-street bus services are not represented using explicit networks; rather, the relevant in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle service characteristics are determined using functions of other transportation network variables, land use descriptors and relevant policy indicators. These functions are simplified econometric models estimated using observations of transit service obtained from Google Transit Data Feeds. The network and simplified components are integrated in order to allow transit paths with both rail and on-street bus components to be considered by the various travel choice models included in the modelling framework. This hybrid system provides a suitable representation of transit for an area of such size. This facilitates consideration of transit service policies, while obviating the need for extensive transit coding, a daunting task for a large area

Perception and application of flywheel training by professional soccer practitioners

Growing evidence supports use of eccentric methods for strength development and injury prevention within elite soccer, yet uncertainty remains regarding practitioners’ application of flywheel (isoinertial) methods. The aims of this study were to investigate how the flywheel training literature is perceived and applied by elite soccer practitioners, highlight gaps in knowledge and develop industry-relevant research questions. Fifty-one practitioners completed an electronic questionnaire. Fourteen Likert scale statements were grouped into topics: strength and performance; post-activation performance enhancement and methodological considerations; chronic strength; chronic performance; injury prevention. Three general questions followed, allowing more detail about flywheel training application. A Majority of the participants reported ≥ 2 years’ experience of programming flywheel training. Nearly all participants agreed that familiarisation is needed. Practitioners agree that flywheel training can improve sport performance, strength and likelihood of non-contact injury outcomes. Most practitioners prescribe 2 weekly sessions during pre- and in-season periods. Flywheel sessions mostly consist of squats but a variety of exercises (lunge, hip hinge, and open kinetic chain) are also frequently included. Practitioners are mostly unsure about differences between flywheel and traditional resistance training equipment and outcomes, practicality of flywheel equipment, and evidence-based guidelines. The investigation provides valuable insight into the perspectives and application of flywheel training within elite soccer, highlighting its perceived efficacy for strength and injury prevention

Ocean acidification with (de)eutrophication will alter future phytoplankton growth and succession

Human activity causes ocean acidification (OA) though the dissolution of anthropogenically generated CO2 into seawater, and eutrophication through the addition of inorganic nutrients. Eutrophication increases the phytoplankton biomass that can be supported during a bloom, and the resultant uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon during photosynthesis increases water-column pH (bloom-induced basification). This increased pH can adversely affect plankton growth. With OA, basification commences at a lower pH. Using experimental analyses of the growth of three contrasting phytoplankton under different pH scenarios, coupled with mathematical models describing growth and death as functions of pH and nutrient status, we show how different conditions of pH modify the scope for competitive interactions between phytoplankton species. We then use the models previously configured against experimental data to explore how the commencement of bloom-induced basification at lower pH with OA, and operating against a background of changing patterns in nutrient loads, may modify phytoplankton growth and competition. We conclude that OA and changed nutrient supply into shelf seas with eutrophication or de-eutrophication (the latter owing to pollution control) has clear scope to alter phytoplankton succession, thus affecting future trophic dynamics and impacting both biogeochemical cycling and fisheries

Reliability and sensitivity to change of post-match physical performance measures in elite youth soccer players

IntroductionTo effectively monitor post-match changes in physical performance, valid, reliable and practical measures which are sensitive to change are required. This study aimed to quantify test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change of a range of physical performance measures recorded during an isometric posterior chain (IPC) lower-limb muscle test and a countermovement jump (CMJ) test.MethodsEighteen Italian Serie A academy soccer players performed three IPC repetitions per limb and five CMJ trials in 4 testing sessions. Test-retest reliability was evaluated between two testing sessions seven days apart using typical error of measurement, coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient. Sensitivity to change was assessed on two additional testing sessions performed before and immediately after a soccer match through Hedges' g effect size (g) and comparisons to typical error.ResultsAbsolute reliability (coefficient of variations) ranged from 1.5 to 8.8%. IPC and CMJ measures demonstrated moderate to excellent relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.98). A wide range of physical performance measures showed significant alterations post-match (p < 0.05; g: small to moderate). IPC peak force and torque, CMJ reactive strength index modified, CMJ eccentric forces (mean breaking force, mean deceleration force, peak force, force at zero velocity) and CMJ mean power measures had post-match changes greater than their typical variation, demonstrating acceptable sensitivity in detecting performance changes at post-match.DiscussionIPC peak force and torque, CMJ reactive strength index modified, CMJ eccentric phase forces and CMJ mean power were found to be both reliable and sensitive to change, and thus may be appropriate for monitoring post-match neuromuscular performance in youth soccer population