Desire, gratification and the moment: a music analytical and psychological enquiry into the role of repetition in the music of Howard Skempton, with a response by the composer

The music of English experimental composer Howard Skempton has been described as strangely simple in acknowledgment of its combination of apparent artlessness and subtlety. Drawing on foundational and more recent psychological research on music and emotion, Cavett explores representative examples from Skempton’s approximately 140 piano miniatures, written from his student days in the 1960s until this year. She proposes that Skempton’s music creates a sense of expectation and thus desire through the creation of pattern repetition that is disrupted, only to be later re-engaged with, creating gratification and a sense of being ‘in the moment’. Skempton then responds to Cavett’s interpretation of his music from his unique perspective as the creator of the repertoire under consideration looking back across the trajectory of his creative career

Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting: Behaviors, Attitudes and Beliefs Among Psychologists Regarding Current and Proposed Statutes

Child abuse is a serious societal problem that has occurred throughout history. However, only recently has society begun to formally confront child maltreatment by requiring professionals, including psychologists, to identify children who are being abused or neglected, through formal, mandated reporting. Child abuse reports are general addressed by social workers from Social Service Departments. However, this system is not always effective. Despite the mandates to report, psychologists have chosen to not report some cases, especially cases of mild physical abuse. Psychologists make decisions regarding whether or not to report. This study elaborates on and extends what is known about psychologists\u27 behaviors, attitudes and beliefs regarding a proposed statute allowing for greater discretion, as proposed by Finkelhor and Zellman (1991), are explored. Support for the proposed statutes was analyzed. The support was found to be bi-modal for the participants. This pattern was found for both “Consistent” and “Inconsistent” reporters. Participants\u27 perceptions of the effectiveness of the current and proposed statutes were explored. The effectiveness was explored across three levels of abuse severity. Participants tended to believe the current statutes were effective at identifying and protecting children who were more severely abused. Participants tended to believe that the proposed statutes would be more effective for milder forms of physical abuse. Psychologists\u27 beliefs regarding the effectiveness of the statutes across severity and disclosure levels were explored. Finally, participants\u27 beliefs about the likelihood of continued abuse to families receiving services (abuse-focused therapy and child protective services) were assessed. Participants believed that families involved in abuse-focused therapy or child protective services were more likely to discontinue being abusive. Furthermore, participants tended to believe that families that received neither service were likely to continue being abusive. Societal implications include the possible need to reassess the effectiveness of the current statutes. The results indicate that an alternative model, allowing for discretion in mild cases, would have support of many and may be more effective for mild abuse. Implications for training include a need for better understanding of child abuse identification as well as the decision-making process. Further training on ethical and legal implications is also necessary

Merck & Co., Inc. West Point, PA : Energy Conservation/Pollution Prevention

Describes pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects at Merck's West Point, PA facility.Ope

Teaching music theory in UK higher education today: contexts and commentaries

This multi-authored article offers accounts of how programmes for teaching music theory within the Western-notated tradition were created in two UK higher education institutions. These accounts are followed by two more discursive reflections on the nature and purpose of music education today, advocating the importance of listening skills and inclusive pedagogies. The article is framed by an introduction and conclusion contextualising the issues raised in relation to a selection of prior contributions to Music Education Research and comparing approaches to music literacy and theory teaching as represented in recent music theory conferences in the UK and the United States

‘Lowering the bar’ or widening access? Reflections on key findings from a music literacy project commissioned by the Society for Music Analysis

In 2019 the Society for Music Analysis commissioned a report to find out if stakeholders in music education agreed that knowledge and/or skills in music literacy had declined for those applying to study music at university in England. The ensuing mixed methods study collected data from a range of stakeholders through interviews (N = 33), questionnaires (N = 233), a Music Literacy Study Day and informal observation. The findings showed that many participants thought that music literacy, if defined more narrowly, had declined in recent years. In addition, views on priorities in music education differed considerably, aligning with different forms of social justice. Some participants considered the bar to have been lowered in general music education, leading universities to alter their practices to facilitate access. This article reflects on those findings. The authors conclude that there needs to be careful consideration of curricula to prevent taking knowledge and skills away unnecessarily while ensuring that updated curricula are coherent and relevant to contemporary concerns about music education

Fundamental studies of the adhesion of explosives to textile and non-textile surfaces

This paper describes the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the interactions between explosives crystals and different surfaces. Crystals of TNT, PETN and RDX were mounted onto tipless AFM cantilevers and repeatedly brought into contact with a range of surfaces (n = 15), including textile and non-textile surfaces. The adhesion force during each contact was measured, and the results are presented in this work. The results suggest that explosives crystals display a higher adhesion to smoother, non-textile surfaces, particularly glass. This finding may be of use for forensic explosives investigators when deciding the best types of debris to target for explosives recovery

Identification of Unique MicroRNA Signature Associated with Lupus Nephritis

MicroRNAs (miRNA) have emerged as an important new class of modulators of gene expression. In this study we investigated miRNA that are differentially expressed in lupus nephritis. Microarray technology was used to investigate differentially expressed miRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-transformed cell lines obtained from lupus nephritis affected patients and unaffected controls. TaqMan-based stem-loop real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for validation. Microarray analysis of miRNA expressed in both African American (AA) and European American (EA) derived lupus nephritis samples revealed 29 and 50 differentially expressed miRNA, respectively, of 850 tested. There were 18 miRNA that were differentially expressed in both racial groups. When samples from both racial groups and different specimen types were considered, there were 5 primary miRNA that were differentially expressed. We have identified 5 miRNA; hsa-miR-371-5P, hsa-miR-423-5P, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-1224-3P and hsa-miR-663 that were differentially expressed in lupus nephritis across different racial groups and all specimen types tested. Hsa-miR-371-5P, hsa-miR-1224-3P and hsa-miR-423-5P, are reported here for the first time to be associated with lupus nephritis. Our work establishes EBV-transformed B cell lines as a useful model for the discovery of miRNA as biomarkers for SLE. Based on these findings, we postulate that these differentially expressed miRNA may be potential novel biomarkers for SLE as well as help elucidate pathogenic mechanisms of lupus nephritis. The investigation of miRNA profiles in SLE may lead to the discovery and development of novel methods to diagnosis, treat and prevent SLE

Valuing the Surplus: Perspectives on Julian Horton's Article ‘On the Musicological Necessity of Music Analysis’, Musical Quarterly, 3/i–ii, pp. 62–104

This Critical Forum has been developed from a round table discussion of Julian Horton’s 2020 article. The original discussion was convened by Ian Pace to conclude the Music in the University conference held at City, University of London in 2022. Representing different perspectives and preoccupations, yet sharing some common concerns, the original participants are joined here by Kofi Agawu and Gurminder Bhogal. It has been my privilege to collate these materials, aiming to retain something of the informal yet considered character of the original event. Together, these reflective pieces offer a multi-faceted response to Horton’s seminal contribution, as is appropriate given that – just as in a Picasso cubist realisation, say The Girl with the Mandolin (1910) – there can be no single or simple view taken of the many issues he raises. This forum commences with a synopsis of the original article by Ian Pace(approved by Horton), followed by the seven commissioned responses. Horton then responds to those contributions, and Jonathan Dunsby, the chair of the conference round table and founding editor of this journal, has the last word. Music Analysis has a distinguished history of debate through Letters to the Editor. Readers are encouraged to add their views to those expressed here

V ariation as T hematic A ctualisation : the C ase of B rahms 's O p . 9

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93687/1/musa341.pd