A microtonal wind controller building on Yamaha’s technology to facilitate the performance of music based on the “19-EDO” scale

We describe a project in which several collaborators adapted an existing instrument to make it capable of playing expressively in music based on the microtonal scale characterised by equal divsion of the octave into 19 tones (“19-EDO”). Our objective was not just to build this instrument, however, but also to produce a well-formed piece of music which would exploit it idiomatically, in a performance which would provide listeners with a pleasurable and satisfying musical experience. Hence, consideration of the extent and limits of the playing-techniques of the resulting instrument (a “Wind-Controller”) and of appropriate approaches to the composition of music for it were an integral part of the project from the start. Moreover, the intention was also that the piece, though grounded in the musical characteristics of the 19-EDO scale, would nevertheless have a recognisable relationship with what Dimitri Tymoczko (2010) has called the “Extended Common Practice” of the last millennium. So the article goes on to consider these matters, and to present a score of the resulting new piece, annotated with comments documenting some of the performance issues which it raises. Thus, bringing the project to fruition involved elements of composition, performance, engineering and computing, and the article describes how such an inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration was co-ordinated in a unified manner to achieve the envisaged outcome. Finally, we consider why the building of microtonal instruments is such a problematic issue in a contemporary (“high-tech”) society like ours

Developing a National Design Scoreboard

Recognising the growing importance of design, this paper reports on the development of an approach to measuring design at a national level. A series of measures is proposed, that are based around a simplified model of design as a system at a national level. This model was developed though insights from literature and a workshop with government, industry and design sector representatives. Detailed data on design in the UK is presented to highlight the difficulties in collecting reliable and robust data. Evidence is compared with four countries (Spain, Canada, Korea and Sweden). This comparison highlights the inherent difficulties in comparing performance and a revised set of measures is proposed. Finally, an approach to capturing design spend at a firm level is proposed, based on insights from literature and case studies. Keywords: National Design System, Design Performance</p

Unresolved Tax Issues in Viatical and Life Settlements

Bruce Evans is a professor of management at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas 75062. Tim Fontenot is a manager at Thomson Tax and Accounting, Dallas, Texas, 75092. Barbara Scofield is a professor of accountancy at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, School of Business, Odessa, Texas, 79762. Bill Shoemaker is an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas, 75062. Robert Walsh is an associate professor at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas, 75062

Scaling Up a Multifaceted Violence Prevention Package: County-Level Impact of the North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center

OBJECTIVE: Multifaceted approaches to youth-violence prevention package evidence-based programs into initiatives that yield large-scale impact. This study assessed the impact of a package of evidence-based violence prevention programs, implemented as part of the North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center, on county-level violence indicators. METHOD: Using growth-curve modeling, the target county was compared to all other counties in North Carolina and a comparison county. RESULTS: Results reveal downward trends on several county-level indicators (i.e., undisciplined/delinquent complaints, total delinquent complaints, juvenile arrests–aggravated assaults, and short-term suspensions) throughout the intervention period. However, statistical tests were unable to confirm that intervention-period scores on youth-violence indicators were significantly different than expected scores given the relationship between pretest and intervention-period scores in other North Carolina counties. CONCLUSIONS: Although additional administrative data points are needed to support the hypotheses, this study provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center interventions

The Spitzer c2d Survey of Nearby Dense Cores: III: Low Mass Star Formation in a Small Group, L1251B

We present a comprehensive study of a low-mass star-forming region,L1251B, at wavelengths from the near-infrared to the millimeter. L1251B, where only one protostar, IRAS 22376+7455, was known previously, is confirmed to be a small group of protostars based on observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The most luminous source of L1251B is located 5" north of the IRAS position. A near-infrared bipolar nebula, which is not associated with the brightest object and is located at the southeast corner of L1251B, has been detected in the IRAC bands. OVRO and SMA interferometric observations indicate that the brightest source and the bipolar nebula source in the IRAC bands are deeply embedded disk sources.Submillimeter continuum observations with single-dish telescopes and the SMA interferometric observations suggest two possible prestellar objects with very high column densities. Outside of the small group, many young stellar object candidates have been detected over a larger region of 12' x 12'. Extended emission to the east of L1251B has been detected at 850 micron; this "east core" may be a site for future star formation since no point source has been detected with IRAC or MIPS. This region is therefore a possible example of low-mass cluster formation, where a small group of pre- and protostellar objects (L1251B) is currently forming, alongside a large starless core (the east core).Comment: 35 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, for the full resolution paper, visit "http://peggysue.as.utexas.edu/SIRTF/PAPERS/pap27.pub.pdf

Coping strategies used in residential hospice settings: Findings from a national study

The purpose of this study was to explore professional caregivers’ coping strategies for dealing with the deaths of patients in residential hospices in the United States. Using the Guide to the Nation’s Hospices, 1996- 97, purely residential hospices were identified and invited to participate in the study. Employees at each residential hospice were asked to complete the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results indicated that positive reappraisal coping was the most frequently used coping strategy. Employees dissatisfied with the coping experience reported greater use of confrontive coping, escape-avoidance coping, and accepting responsibility strategies. The findings suggest that in-service training related to coping strategies and environmental interventions may help in strengthening the coping responses of residential hospice staff

The ethics of research : Part 4 : Safeguarding the scientist, protecting the participants

Traditionally, medicine has been governed by the principle of Primum non nocere - “first do no harm”, which implies both doing good and avoiding doing harm. However, in medical research, this approach is far too simplistic. Today we need also to be attuned to the vast domain of related ethical issues. In ethics, as indeed in English, many terms and concepts are clearly confusing. They may seem similar, yet be different: is petrol flammable, or inflammable? Others question logic, dishonest and honest, so why not diseased and eased (instead of healthy)? Many terms are also highly debatable; if someone sets out to fail and actually succeeds, is that a success or a failure? This paper will explore some basic principles of medical ethics and then relate them to scientific research in terms of study design. These principles give guidance for the protection and safeguarding of researchers, participants (specifically dental patients), and the community.http://www.sada.co.zaam2016OdontologyProsthodontic