Melodia : A Comprehensive Course in Sight-Singing (Solfeggio)

Melodia is a 1904 book designed to teach sight-singing. The educational plan is by Samuel W. Cole; the exercises were written and selected by Leo R. Lewis. Melodia is presented here as a complete edition and has also been divided into its four separate books.https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/oer/1000/thumbnail.jp

A kiloparsec-scale nuclear stellar disk in the milky way as a possible explanation of the high velocity peaks in the galactic bulge

The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment has measured the stellar velocities of red giant stars in the inner Milky Way. We confirm that the line of sight velocity distributions (LOSVDs) in the mid-plane exhibit a second peak at high velocities, whereas those at | b| =2^\circ do not. We use a high resolution simulation of a barred galaxy, which crucially includes gas and star formation, to guide our interpretation of the LOSVDs. We show that the data are fully consistent with the presence of a thin, rapidly rotating, nuclear disk extending to ∼1 kpc. This nuclear disk is orientated perpendicular to the bar and is likely to be composed of stars on x2 orbits. The gas in the simulation is able to fall onto such orbits, leading to stars populating an orthogonal disk

The formation of stellar nuclear discs in bar-induced gas inflows

The role of gas in the mass assembly at the nuclei of galaxies is still subject to some uncertainty. Stellar nuclear discs bridge the gap between the large-scale galaxy and the central massive objects that reside there. Using a high-resolution simulation of a galaxy forming out of gas cooling and settling into a disc, we study the formation and properties of nuclear discs. Gas, driven to the centre by a bar, settles into a rotating star-forming nuclear disc (ND). This ND is thinner, younger, kinematically cooler and more metal rich than the surrounding bar. The ND is elliptical and orthogonal to the bar. The complex kinematics in the region of the ND are a result of the superposition of older stars streaming along the bar and younger stars circulating within the ND. The signature of the ND is therefore subtle in the kinematics. Instead the ND stands out clearly in metallicity and age maps. We compare the model to the density and kinematics of real galaxies with NDs finding qualitative similarities. Our results suggest that gas dissipation is very important for forming nuclear structure

Fast and Credible Likelihood-Free Cosmology with Truncated Marginal Neural Ratio Estimation

Sampling-based inference techniques are central to modern cosmological data analysis; these methods, however, scale poorly with dimensionality and typically require approximate or intractable likelihoods. In this paper we describe how Truncated Marginal Neural Ratio Estimation (TMNRE) (a new approach in so-called simulation-based inference) naturally evades these issues, improving the $(i)$ efficiency, $(ii)$ scalability, and $(iii)$ trustworthiness of the inferred posteriors. Using measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), we show that TMNRE can achieve converged posteriors using orders of magnitude fewer simulator calls than conventional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Remarkably, the required number of samples is effectively independent of the number of nuisance parameters. In addition, a property called \emph{local amortization} allows the performance of rigorous statistical consistency checks that are not accessible to sampling-based methods. TMNRE promises to become a powerful tool for cosmological data analysis, particularly in the context of extended cosmologies, where the timescale required for conventional sampling-based inference methods to converge can greatly exceed that of simple cosmological models such as $\Lambda$CDM. To perform these computations, we use an implementation of TMNRE via the open-source code \texttt{swyft}.Comment: v2: accepted journal version. v1: 37 pages, 13 figures. \texttt{swyft} is available at https://github.com/undark-lab/swyft, and demonstration code for cosmological examples is available at https://github.com/acole1221/swyft-CM

The quantum mechanical geometric phase of a particle in a resonant vibrating cavity

We study the general-setting quantum geometric phase acquired by a particle in a vibrating cavity. Solving the two-level theory with the rotating-wave approximation and the SU(2) method, we obtain analytic formulae that give excellent descriptions of the geometric phase, energy, and wavefunction of the resonating system. In particular, we observe a sudden $\pi$-jump in the geometric phase when the system is in resonance. We found similar behaviors in the geometric phase of a spin-1/2 particle in a rotating magnetic field, for which we developed a geometrical model to help visualize its evolution.Comment: 15pages,6figure

Scanning For Dark Matter Subhalos in Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of 54 Strong Lenses

The cold dark matter (DM) model predicts that every galaxy contains thousands of DM subhalos; almost all other DM models include a physical process that smooths away the subhalos. The subhalos are invisible, but could be detected via strong gravitational lensing, if they lie on the line of sight to a multiply-imaged background source, and perturb its apparent shape. We present a predominantly automated strong lens analysis framework, and scan for DM subhalos in Hubble Space Telescope imaging of 54 strong lenses. We identify two compelling DM subhalo candidates (including one previously found in SLACS0946+1006), where a subhalo is favoured after every systematic test we perform. We find that the detectability of subhalos depends upon the assumed parametric form for the lens galaxy's mass distribution. Comparing fits which assume several more complex mass models reveals $8$ additional (generally lower mass) DM subhalo candidates worthy of further study, and the removal of 7 false positives. We identify 38 non-detections, which are vital to building up enough statistical power to test DM models. Future work will apply even more flexible models to the results of this study, to constrain different DM models. Our full analysis results are available at https://github.com/Jammy2211/autolens_subhalo.Comment: 25 Pages, 15 Figure

Beyond the bulge–halo conspiracy? Density profiles of early-type galaxies from extended-source strong lensing

Observations suggest that the dark matter and stars in early-type galaxies ‘conspire’ to produce a surprisingly simple distribution of total mass, ρ(r) ∝ ρ−γ, with γ ≈ 2. We measure the distribution of mass in 48 early-type galaxies that gravitationally lens a resolved background source. By fitting the source light in every pixel of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, we find a mean ⟨γ⟩=2.075+0.023−0.024 with an intrinsic scatter between galaxies of σγ=0.172+0.022−0.032 for the overall sample. This is consistent with and has similar precision to traditional techniques that employ spectroscopic observations to supplement lensing with mass estimates from stellar dynamics. Comparing measurements of γ for individual lenses using both techniques, we find a statistically insignificant correlation of −0.150+0.223−0.217 between the two, indicating a lack of statistical power or deviations from a power-law density in certain lenses. At fixed surface mass density, we measure a redshift dependence, ∂⟨γ⟩/z=0.345+0.322−0.296⁠, that is consistent with traditional techniques for the same sample of Sloan Lens ACS and GALaxy-Lyα EmitteR sYstems (GALLERY) lenses. Interestingly, the consistency breaks down when we measure the dependence of γ on the surface mass density of a lens galaxy. We argue that this is tentative evidence for an inflection point in the total mass-density profile at a few times the galaxy effective radius – breaking the conspiracy

Standing Tall: Exploration and play in a novel modified ride-on car

Self-directed mobility is a fundamental human right. Typically developing children engage in mobility for a majority of their day, but children with disabilities do not have the same opportunities. Children with disabilities are at a disadvantage and have a greater risk for developmental delays in physical and cognitive skills, along with decreases in social interactions with peers and adults (Feldner, Logan, & Galloway, 2015). Powered mobility devices, such as motorized wheelchairs, can promote self-directed mobility experiences for children with disabilities. Lynch, Agrawal, and Galloway (2009) validated that powered mobility devices can help children with disabilities as young as six months improve communication, cognitive abilities, as well as motor skills. Unfortunately, there are no commercially available powered mobility devices for children under the age of three (Logan et al., 2014). Yet, research over the past thirty years has shown direct benefits of use of powered mobility devices (Butler, 1983; Feldner et al,, 2015). Ride-on toy cars (ROC) were mentioned as a potential powered mobility device as early as 1988. However, only recently have modified ROCs emerged as an alternative to standard powered mobility devices. Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of use of modified ROCs for children with disabilities to increase independent exploration as well as physical and cognitive development (Logan et al., 2014). An innovative sit-to-stand version was developed and requires a child to stand up in order to activate the switch to encourage the physical skills of pulling from sit-to-stand, weight bearing, and balance (Feldner et al., 2015). The purpose of this case study is to examine modified ROC use by an infant with Down syndrome (DS) to encourage sitting and standing. One infant with DS participated in this study. During baseline, Child A was provide bi-weekly driving sessions that lasted 10 minutes and were video recorded. During the intervention, Child A was provided 20 minutes of driving at least five days per week and a researcher recorded bi-weekly 10 minute driving sessions. Child A initially drove the car in the seated mode, but transitioned over time to the standing mode. From baseline to intervention, the frequency of positive and negative facial expressions increased and decreased respectively. Modified ROCs are an affordable and fun option for children with DS. They provide opportunities in social and physical growth and may help close the developmental gap between children with DS and typically developing children

SNCA genetic lowering reveals differential cognitive function of alpha-synuclein dependent on sex

Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy for neurological disease has been successful in clinical settings and its potential has generated hope for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously described that ablating SNCA encoding for alpha-synuclein (alpha Syn) in a mouse model of AD was beneficial. Here, we sought to demonstrate whether transient reduction of alpha Syn expression using ASO(SNCA) could be therapeutic in a mouse model of AD. The efficacy of the ASO(SNCA) was measured via immunocytochemistry, RT-qPCR and western blotting. To assess spatial learning and memory, ASO(SNCA) or PBS-injected APP and non-transgenic (NTG) mice, and separate groups of SNCA-null mice, were tested on the Barnes circular maze. Hippocampal slice electrophysiology and transcriptomic profiling were used to explore synaptic function and differential gene expression between groups. Reduction of SNCA transcripts alleviated cognitive deficits in male transgenic animals, but surprisingly, not in females. To determine the functional cause of this differential effect, we assessed memory function in SNCA-null mice. Learning and memory were intact in male mice but impaired in female animals, revealing that the role of alpha Syn on cognitive function is sex-specific. Transcriptional analyses identified a differentially expressed gene network centered around EGR1, a central modulator of learning and memory, in the hippocampi of SNCA-null mice. Thus, these novel results demonstrate that the function of alpha Syn on memory differs between male and female brains.This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to SEL (RF1-AG044342, RF1-AG070296, R21-AG065693, R01-AG077743, R01-NS092918, R01-AG062135 and R56-NS113549), to MKL (AG062135, NS108686, NS086074, NS092093). Training grant support for graduate students (T32-NS105604). This study was supported by a grant from the Winston and Maxine Wallin Neuroscience Discovery Fund. Additional support included start-up funds from the University of Minnesota Foundation and bridge funds from the Institute of Translational Neuroscience to SEL