Evaluating musical software using conceptual metaphors

An open challenge for interaction designers is to find ways of designing software to enhance the ability of novices to perform tasks that normally require specialized domain expertise. This challenge is particularly demanding in areas such as music analysis, where complex, abstract, domain-specific concepts and notations occur. One promising theoretical foundation for this work involves the identification of conceptual metaphors and image schemas, found by analyzing discourse. This kind of analysis has already been applied, with some success, both to musical concepts and, separately, to user interface design. The present work appears to be the first to combine these hitherto distinct bodies of research, with the aim of devising a general method for improving user interfaces for music. Some areas where this may require extensions to existing method are noted. This paper presents the results of an exploratory evaluation of Harmony Space, a tool for playing, analysing and learning about harmony. The evaluation uses conceptual metaphors and image schemas elicited from the dialogues of experienced musicians discussing the harmonic progressions in a piece of music. Examples of where the user interface supports the conceptual metaphors, and where support could be improved, are discussed. The potential use of audio output to support conceptual metaphors and image schemas is considered

Analysis of conceptual metaphors to improve music software: the role of prior experience in inclusive music interaction

An open challenge for interaction designers is to find ways of designing software solutions capable of enhancing the ability of users with differing levels of knowledge and capabilities to perform tasks that normally require specialised domain expertise. This challenge is particularly demanding in areas such as music analysis, where complex, abstract, domain-specific concepts and notations occur. One promising theoretical foundation for this work involves the identification of what are assumed to be conceptual metaphors and image schemas. These constructs are grounded in prior sensory-motor experiences of space, force, orientation and interactions with other bodies and are identified through analysing discourse. These theories have already been applied with some success both to musical concepts and, separately, to user interface design with the intention of creating more intuitive designs through exploiting these prior sensory-motor experiences. However, the present work appears to be the first to combine these hitherto distinct bodies of research. We hypothesise that if we can identify the conceptual metaphors and image schemas used by musical experts to structure their understanding of music, we can utilise this information to develop a general theoretical framework to aid designers in systematically improving their designs, providing a foundation for inclusive music interaction design and thus opening up software normally restricted to domain experts to a wider and more varied user population. A possible methodology for the development of such a framework is discussed along with details of a study to apply the conceptual metaphors and image schemas used by a small group of experienced musicians to an evaluation of Harmony Space

Eliciting Domain Knowledge Using Conceptual Metaphors: A Case Study from Music Interaction

Interaction design for domains that involve complex abstractions can prove challenging. This problem is particularly acute in domains where the intricate nature of domain-specific knowledge can be difficult for even the most experienced expert to conceptualise or articulate. One promising solution to the problem of representing complex domain abstractions involves the use of conceptual metaphors. Previous applications of conceptual metaphors to abstract domains have yielded encouraging results. However, the design of appropriate methods for eliciting conceptual metaphors for the purposes of informing interaction design remains an open question. In this paper, we report on a series of studies carried out to elicit conceptual metaphors from domain experts, using music as a case study, reflecting on the benefits and drawbacks of each approach

Measurement of Peptoid Concentration Using UV Spectroscopy

The goal of this research is to establish a relationship between ultraviolet adsorption and peptiod concentration to be used to determine the concentration of an unknown peptoid sample. This will allow for the measurement of concentration differences of peptoid samples before and after incubation with membrane surfaces. Samples were prepared nine know concentrations and diluted 50 fold. The UV absorbances of each sample was measured using a UV spectrophotometer at wavelengths from 200 to 450 nanometers. This process was repeated, and the maximum absorbance of each replicate was averaged to yield an absorbance value for each concentration of peptoid. A linear calibration was obtained, allowing for the prediction of an unknown peptoid concentration. The calibration curve established a linear relationship between peptoid concentration of an original sample diluted 50 times and absorbance with an r-squared value of 0.9595. The application of this curve could replace inaccurate techniques such as weighing solutions

Asymmetries of Heavy Elements in the Young Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Supernova remnants (SNRs) offer the means to study supernovae (SNe) long after the original explosion and can provide a unique insight into the mechanism that governs these energetic events. In this work, we examine the morphologies of X-ray emission from different elements found in the youngest known core-collapse (CC) SNR in the Milky Way, Cassiopeia A. The heaviest elements exhibit the highest levels of asymmetry, which we relate to the burning process that created the elements and their proximity to the center of explosion. Our findings support recent model predictions that the material closest to the source of explosion will reflect the asymmetries inherent to the SN mechanism. Additionally, we find that the heaviest elements are moving more directly opposed to the neutron star (NS) than the lighter elements. This result is consistent with NS kicks arising from ejecta asymmetries.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables Updated to include an analysis of Emission Measure Maps (vs the, still-included, continuum-subtracted flux maps), used as another proxy for mass maps. The results have not changed; the emission measure maps also show increasing asymmetry with ejecta mass. (Now matches the version published in ApJ. Vol 889 Issue 2 (2020) 144

The Age Evolution of the Radio Morphology of Supernova Remnants

Recent hydrodynamical models of supernova remnants (SNRs) demonstrate that their evolution depends heavily on the inhomogeneities of the surrounding medium. As SNRs expand, their morphologies are influenced by the non-uniform and turbulent structure of their environments, as reflected in their radio continuum emission. In this paper, we measure the asymmetries of 96 SNRs in radio continuum images from three surveys of the Galactic plane and compare these results to the SNRs' radii, which we use as a proxy for their age. We find that larger (older) SNRs are more elliptical/elongated and more mirror asymmetric than smaller (younger) SNRs, though the latter vary in their degrees of asymmetry. This result suggests that SNR shells become more asymmetric as they sweep up the interstellar medium (ISM), as predicted in hydrodynamical models of SNRs expanding in a multi-phase or turbulent ISM.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, accepted by ApJ; sample expanded from 22 to 96 source

Towards a participatory approach for interaction design based on conceptual metaphor theory: a case study from music interaction

"Music Interaction" is the term for interaction design within the domain of music. In areas such as music, the ability to engage effectively in certain activities tends to be restricted to those who have acquired detailed knowledge of domain-specific theories, terminologies, concepts or processes. It can be challenging to design or enhance user interfaces for software able to support novices in these kinds of musical activities. One promising approach to this challenge involves translating musicians’ implicit domain knowledge into patterns known as conceptual metaphors, which are metaphorical ex-tensions of recurring patterns of embodied experience applied to abstract domains, and using this information to inform interaction designs for music. This approach has been applied experimentally with some success to designing user interfaces. However, to the best of our knowledge, this present work is the first to consider in detail the use of Conceptual Metaphor Theory as a key component of a partici-patory design process. In this chapter we present a participatory approach to Music Interaction design based on the principles of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. We posit that such an approach will facilitate the development of innovative and intuitive interaction designs for both novices and experts alike

Identifying the Causes of Cancer Readmissions: A Patient Centered Approach

While there are large efforts to decrease readmission rates in the United States, cancer patients represent a population that has been overlooked. Cancer patients are a vulnerable population who make up a large portion of hospital readmissions. Most of the current research on the causes of readmissions in cancer patients focuses on medical chart reviews and insurance claims. Many of these studies fail to incorporate patient input which could further the understanding of the complete burden associated with cancer readmissions. The goal of this study is to understand the personal reasons behind the decision of cancer patients to return to the hospital, resulting in a readmission. This qualitative study will use a semi-structured interview guide to interview readmitted patients that are under the care of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Medical Oncology Service at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. All interviews will be conducted by trained interviewers, and then transcribed verbatim. NVivo 12, a qualitative software program will be used to analyze themes and trends between interviews. Data displays (table, graphic, etc) will be used to look for interrelationships between interviews and to draw conclusions. Results from this project could highlight potential areas of improvement for cancer patient care. This inductive research project intends to generate a hypothesis from the results to be used for further deductive research on the topic of cancer patient readmissions

Adenovirus screening in Myotis velifer from Texas

Viruses in the family Adenoviridae are nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a variety of hosts, including reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals. Viruses in the genus Mastadenovirus may cause respiratory, ocular, and gastrointestinal disease in mammals, including humans. It is, therefore, important to understand the distribution and transmission of adenoviruses in infected organisms. Bats have been found to serve as reservoirs in the evolution of adenoviruses due to bats' atypical ability of harboring genetically diverse viruses within a single geographic location or host species. In the United States, adenovirus DNA has been detected in Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in Kentucky and in Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) in Oklahoma, but adenoviruses have not yet been screened in Texas bats. I screened intestinal (n=65) and fecal samples (n=102) of M. velifer collected in 2018-2021 from 13 Texas counties and found all samples to be negative for adenovirus DNA. The absence of detection supports the hypothesis of low presence of adenoviruses in Cave Myotis in Texas

A3_3 When Roasted Pigs Fly

This paper investigated the excess energy produced when propane is used to lift a hot air balloon by testing if you could roast a pig while the balloon is flying. We found that the balloon would be able to fly as the propane releases 24.0MW, which is more than enough to roast the pig and fly the balloon