Excursus: Three Art Songs for Soprano and Flexible Media

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on July 28, 2015Thesis advisor: Paul RudyVitaThesis (M.M.)--Conservatory of Music and Dance. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2015Commissioned by coloratura soprano Mikaela Sullivan for performance in April 2014, Excursus explores the methods in which modern television broadcasting attempts to provide different facets of human desire, thus propagating the continued use of the medium. The composition consists of three songs, each of which focuses on comedic, physical, or philosophical fulfillment. Current television programming attempts to satisfy these desires with sitcoms, pharmaceutical ads, and political slander, respectively. Instead of communicating this message traditionally via voice and piano, prerecorded media serves as accompaniment to the soprano. I make the distinction in the title that the work is for “soprano and flexible media.” This word choice stems from the desire for media to truly act as an accompaniment, therefore the electronic track follows the singer instead of the singer following a click track embedded into a fixed media file. For a download link of the Max Runtime file and the electronic tracks, please inquire at: [email protected] notes -- Excursis -- Filmed in front of a live studio audience -- Please see your doctor -- and I approve this messag

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Public Health:How can GIS facilitate demand-based planning of healthcare and targeted prevention strategies?

Healthcare and prevention strategies are often planned based on the assumption that demand for healthcare and risk populations for diseases are the same everywhere. However, most health problems and associated risk factors vary widely across regions. The main question of this thesis was therefore: Can we plan healthcare and prevention strategies more effectively by acknowledging geographic aspects? Analysing four diseases with GIS answered this question. The results emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach is not very effective for both, planning and allocation of healthcare and prevention strategies. Future public health policies need to acknowledge that geographic aspects are important determinants of health and should aim future interventions more towards local needs

Risk assessment of lifting operations at the construction site

В статье проводится оценка риска при работе с грузоподъёмными механизмами на строительной площадке. Применение новой методики оценки риска, которая учитывает тяжесть вреда от воздействия опасности, вероятность возникновения, опыт компаний, длительность воздействия и вероятность невыполнения мероприятий позволил провести расчёт величины риска и выявить слабые стороны работы с грузоподъёмными механизмами на строительной площадке. Для выявленных опасностей были рекомендованы мероприятия по повышению безопасности при эксплуатации грузоподъемных механизмов.The article reviews the calculation of the risk during the operation of lifting mechanisms at the construction site. The use of a new risk assessment methodology, which takes into account the severity of harm from the impact of the hazard, the likelihood of occurrence, the experience of companies, the duration of exposure and the likelihood of non-compliance with measures, made it possible to calculate the magnitude of the risk and identify weaknesses in working with lifting mechanisms at the construction site. For the identified hazards, measures were recommended to improve safety during the operation of hoisting mechanisms

Towards Sustainable Public Health Surveillance in India: Using Routinely Collected Electronic Emergency Medical Service Data for Early Warning of Infectious Diseases

Infectious disease surveillance, timely detection and early warning of outbreaks present a complex challenge to health authorities in India. Approaches based on the use of unexplored data sources, like emergency medical services (EMS) data, can contribute to the further advancement of public health surveillance capacities in India and support and strengthen the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) strategy. This research followed a mixed method approach including a series of semi-structured interviews and fever data analysis of the EMS operating dispatch system in Andra Pradesh, India. In this paper, we explore whether routinely collected EMS health data can improve sustainable infectious disease surveillance and early warning capacity. The result highlights the need for improved surveillance systems for early warning of infectious diseases in India. The data availability at the EMS dispatch centre includes patient data and spatial information and can be used for near real-time analysis. Routine data relevant for health surveillance can be extracted to provide timely health information that supplements and enhances more traditional surveillance mechanisms and thus provides a cost-efficient, near real-time early warning system for the operating states. The designed intervention is sustainable and can improve infectious disease surveillance to potentially help the government officials to appropriately prioritize timely interventions to prevent infectious disease spread

Totalsynthese und Strukturaufklärung des (–)-Hymenosetins und verwandter 3-Decalinoyltetramsäuren : Strukturaufklärung biologisch aktiver Naturstoffe

Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Strukturaufklärung des aus einem Pilz der Gattung Phoma isolierten Naturstoffs (–)-Hymenosetin und der Nachweis seiner Stereochemie mittels einer Totalsynthese. Die Verbindung gehört der Klasse der 3-Decalinoyltetramsäuren an, deren Vertreter interessante antibakterielle und fungizide Wirkungen aufweisen. Eine direkte Acylierung des Tetramsäurebausteins mit dem Decalinsystem, welches durch eine intramolekulare Diels-Alder-Reaktion als Schlüsselschritt aufgebaut worden war, erwies sich als unmöglich. Auch die Synthese der Verbindung durch eine Lacey-Dieckmann-Cyclisierung des entsprechenden β-Ketoamids verlief aufgrund des freien Amid-Protons nicht erfolgreich. Eine Verwendung der para-Nitrobenzylschutzgruppe zur Blockade des Amids führte zum Erfolg, nachdem Versuche unter Anwendung der PMB- bzw. DMB-Schutzgruppen fehlschlugen. (–)-Hymenosetin konnte somit erfolgreich in zwölf Stufen ausgehend von (R)-(+)-Citronellal synthetisiert und seine Stereochemie totalsynthetisch und mit Hilfe der VCD- sowie ECD-Spektroskopie bestätigt werden. Die durchgeführte Totalsynthese stellt die erste Synthese einer 3-Decalinoyltetramsäure mit freier Amidfunktion dar. Es wurden des Weiteren die N-methylierten und 5‘6‘-epimeren Derivate des (–)-Hymenosetins synthetisiert und auf ihre Aktivität gegen M. tuberculosis getestet. Unter Verwendung der photolabilen ortho-Nitrobenzylschutzgruppe wurde außerdem die erste Totalsynthese für epi-Trichosetin entwickelt, das in elf Stufen ausgehend von (R)-(+)-Citronellal synthetisiert werden konnte. Auch dieser Naturstoff gehört der Klasse der 3-Decalinoyltetramsäuren an und zeigt eine Aktivität sowohl gegen Gram-positive als auch Gram-negative Bakterien. Es wurden weiterhin Studien zur Synthese von 3-Decalinoyltetramsäuren mit verlängerter Seitenkette am Beispiel des Altersetins durchgeführt. Im Rahmen dieser Synthesen wurde ein in der Seitenkette endständig bromiertes Decalingerüst gewonnen, das aufgrund seiner (Z)-Konfiguration der Seitenkette auf den ungewöhnlichen ionischen Mechanismus der intramolekularen Diels-Alder-Reaktion schließen lässt. Neben den synthetischen Arbeiten wurde die Strukturaufklärung verschiedener biologisch aktiver Naturstoffe betrieben. Es wurden Komponenten der chinesischen Heilkräutermischung Free&Easy Wanderer, eines Pilzes der Gattung Cladorrhinum, der Orchidee Hymantoglossum hircinum, des Rittersterns Crinum glaucum und der Ampferarten Rumex crispus und acetosella untersucht.The aim of this thesis was the structure elucidation of the natural product (–)-hymenosetin isolated from a fungus of the genus Phoma and the determination of its stereochemistry by total synthesis. The compound belongs to the class of 3-decalinoyltetramic acids whose representatives have interesting antibacterial and fungicidal activities. A direct acylation of the tetramic acid building block with the decalin system, which was established by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction as a key step, proved to be impossible. The synthesis of the compound by a Lacesy-Dieckmann cyclization of the corresponding β-keto amide was also not successful because of the free amide proton. Using the para-nitrobenzyl protecting group to block the amide led to success after attempts to use the PMB and DMB protecting groups failed. (–)-Hymenosetin was successfully synthesized in twelve steps from (R)-(+)-citronellal and its stereochemistry could be confirmed by total synthesis and with the aid of VCD- and ECD-spectroscopy. The presented total synthesis is the first synthesis of a 3-decalinoyltetramic acid with a free amide function. Furthermore, the N-methylated and 5’6’-epimeric derivatives of (–)-hymenosetin were synthesized and tested for their activity against M. tuberculosis. Using the photolabile ortho-nitrobenzyl protecting group, the first total synthesis was developed for epi-trichosetin, which could be synthesized in eleven steps from (R)-(+)-citronellal. This natural product also belongs to the class of 3-decalinoyltetramic acids and shows activity both against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Studies were also carried out on the synthesis of 3-decalinoyltetramic acids with extended side chains, using the example of altersetin. Within the scope of these syntheses, a decalinic system terminally brominated in the side chain was obtained, which due to its (Z)-configuration of the side chain suggests the unusual ionic reaction mechanism of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. In addition to the synthetic work, the structure elucidation of various biologically active natural products was carried out. Components of the Chinese herbal remedy Free&Easy Wanderer, a fungus of the genus Cladorrhinum, the orchid Hymantoglossum hircinum, the Hippeastrum species Crinum glaucum and the amp species Rumex crispus and acetosella were examined

A comparison of the water quality between the mangrove areas Mulyorejo and Wonorejo

The East Coast of Surabaya consists of large mangrove and fish pond areas. These areas are crucial for the ecosystem and for providing food and shelter for the local community. If the water quality decreases the mangroves will not be able to provide these functions. The water quality of these areas can be measured in two ways: by looking at the physico-chemical parameters or by looking at the biological parameters. Both offer a very good view of what state the area is in. The purpose of this study is to find out what the differences are between the Mulyorejo and the Wonorejo areas to see what differences there are within the East Coast of Surabaya and what could be the main cause of these differences. The data shows that the physico-chemical data does not comply with the limitation factors. The main problem are the nutrients which will have to be lowered to preserve the ecosystem. In terms of the biological state of the mangrove, there are few problems found. It is, however, unclear why the tree density in one of the Wonorejo areas is declining and it should be determined what the reason for this is