IR-improved Soft-wall AdS/QCD Model for Baryons

We construct an infrared-improved soft-wall AdS/QCD model for baryons by considering the infrared-modified 5D conformal mass and Yukawa coupling of the bulk baryon field. The model is also built by taking into account the parity-doublet pattern for the excited baryons. When taking the bulk vacuum structure of the meson field to be the one obtained consistently in the infrared-improved soft-wall AdS/QCD model for mesons, we arrive at a consistent prediction for the baryon mass spectrum in even and odd parity. The prediction shows a remarkable agreement with the experimental data. We also perform a calculation for the $\rho(a_1)$ meson-nucleon coupling constant and obtain a consistent result in comparison with the experimental data and many other models.Comment: 12 pages, 4 tables, 1 figure, to be published in PL

The Alfred Cortot study edition of Chopin\u27s Etudes & how the Alexander Technique can facilitate progress towards performance through his suggested exercises

The purpose of this research paper is to study how the Alexander Technique can be applied to the process of pianistic practicing, and specific technique issues. The sets of exercises I choose to focus on are from the Alfred Cortot study edition of Chopin’s Etudes, op. 10 and op. 25. The Alexander Technique is a method of releasing unnecessary muscular tension when performing every action, including motions in piano playing. Therefore, the preparatory exercises suggested by Alfred Cortot in his study editions can be more effectively executed by applying the Alexander Technique principles. This research paper is divided into four chapters. The first chapter commences with background information about the teaching edition of Chopin’s Etudes by Alfred Cortot. As an exemplary pianist and teacher, Cortot’s contribution to the development of piano technique was and remains of landmark significance. It is valuable and important to examine how his systematic methods can lead pianists to conquer technical problems and refine their performance. Before focusing on the Alexander Technique in two sets of Chopin’s Etudes, the second chapter will provide readers with a brief biography of Frederick Matthias Alexander, founder of the Alexander Technique. The chapter will then go on to reveal how he established the Technique and shaped it into a complete curriculum whose goal is to re-educate the way in which physical aspects of human life are experienced. Finally, this chapter examines the main principles of the Alexander Technique and its applications for musicians and pianists. After examining Cortot’s study edition of the Chopin Etudes and establishing the value of the Alexander Technique for pianists, in the next two chapters I apply core ideas of the Technique to pianistic practicing of the individual Chopin Etudes through Alfred Cortot’s preparatory exercises. Chapter 3 focuses on Op. 10 Etudes. Chapter 4 focuses on Op. 25. It is hoped that the results of this research study will be beneficial for pianists, and facilitate progress in learning Chopin’s Etudes by applying principles of the Alexander Technique