Legitimate Voices: A Multi-Case Study of Trans and Non-Binary Singers in the Applied Voice Studio

This qualitative, multi-case study examined trans and non-binary singers in the applied voice studio. The purpose of this study was to explore (1) the impact of music participation on the identities of trans and non-binary singers, (2) the experiences of trans and non-binary singers taking private singing lessons, and (3) the strategies and practices of their voice teachers. Purposeful sampling of four singers included two trans men and two non-binary individuals. Four teachers with prior experience in teaching trans or non-binary singers included two teachers identifying as trans men, and two cisgender (one female, one male) teachers. Data were collected through interviews and lesson observations, presented through portraiture analysis to provide an insider’s view of the experiences, perspectives, and practices of the participants. Findings and implications emerged through cross-case analyses. The results indicate that gender impacts musical spaces. While participation in musical activities created an outlet for some singers to explore their trans or non-binary identity, the reification of the gender binary in musical spaces was oppressive for others. Students modeled high self-efficacy by showing perceived competence to change discriminatory policies and practices in music and the performing arts. Teachers demonstrated emotional support in the applied studio by being cognizant of student needs. While the training of each student looked distinct, teachers affirmed students through student-centered pedagogical approaches, allowing students to guide their vocal training and development. Teachers discussed the need for adept understanding of vocal technique in training trans and non-binary singers. All four trans men (two students and two teachers) discussed their voice modification through testosterone replacement therapy. The two non-binary singers, not engaged in medical voice modulation, discussed changes in their voices through singing lessons. The research posits that curricular development in vocal pedagogy courses is needed to educate singing teachers on cultural competency and trans and non-binary vocality. This study revealed the need to examine applied teacher readiness in educating trans and non-binary singing. Research on the longitudinal effects of testosterone on the voice is warranted. Additional scholarship is needed in working with trans or non-binary voices not engaging in hormone replacement therapy

Two Scale FE Simulation of Coated Forming Tools under Thermo-Mechanical Loading

Modern trends and challenges in manufacturing processes have led to an increasing complexity of hybrid forming processes in the last couple of years. Besides the improvement of the thermo-mechanical process chain the application of coated forming tools plays a crucial role in actual developments. Considering machining processes in general the investigation of tools experienced a secondary role in the past. For example, in numerical simulations of manufacturing processes tools are often modelled as rigid bodies. To remedy, this paper introduces a two scale finite element model for the coating system of a coated hybrid forming tool. Within this concept individual coating layers are considered on the mesocale and macroscopic results for the coating elements are obtained using volume averaging procedures. Two numerical examples using an implicit and an explicit integration scheme show the capability of the model to be applied for a coated forming tool subjected to thermo-mechanical loading conditions

High-magnetic field phase diagram and failure of magnetic Gr\"uneisen scaling in LiFePO4_4

We report the magnetic phase diagram of single-crystalline LiFePO$_4$ in magnetic fields up to 58~T and present a detailed study of magneto-elastic coupling by means of high-resolution capacitance dilatometry. Large anomalies at \tn\ in the thermal expansion coefficient $\alpha$ imply pronounced magneto-elastic coupling. Quantitative analysis yields the magnetic Gr\"uneisen parameter $\gamma_{\rm mag}=6.7(5)\cdot 10^{-7}$~mol/J. The positive hydrostatic pressure dependence $dT_{\rm N}/dp = 1.46(11)$~K/GPa is dominated by uniaxial effects along the $a$-axis. Failure of Gr\"uneisen scaling below $\approx 40$~K, i.e., below the peak temperature in the magneto-electric coupling coefficient [\onlinecite{toft2015anomalous}], implies several competing degrees of freedom and indicates relevance of recently observed hybrid excitations~[\onlinecite{yiu2017hybrid}]. A broad and strongly magnetic-field-dependent anomaly in $\alpha$ in this temperature regime highlight the relevance of structure changes. Upon application of magnetic fields $B||b$-axis, a pronounced jump in the magnetisation implies spin-reorientation at $B_{\rm SF} = 32$~T as well as a precursing phase at 29~T and $T=1.5$~K. In a two-sublattice mean-field model, the saturation field $B_{\rm sat,b} = 64(2)$~T enables the determination of the effective antiferromagnetic exchange interaction $J_{\rm af} = 2.68(5)$~meV as well as the anisotropies $D_{\rm b} = -0.53(4)$~meV and $D_{\rm c} = 0.44(8)$~meV

The fate of the homoctenids (Tentaculitoidea) during the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction (Late Devonian)

The homoctenids (Tentaculitoidea) are small, conical-shelled marine animals which are amongst the most abundant and widespread of all Late Devonian fossils. They were a principal casualty of the Frasnian-Famennian (F-F, Late Devonian) mass extinction, and thus provide an insight into the extinction dynamics. Despite their abundance during the Late Devonian, they have been largely neglected by extinction studies. A number of Frasnian-Famennian boundary sections have been studied, in Poland, Germany, France, and the United States. These sections have yielded homoctenids, which allow precise recognition of the timing of the mass extinction. It is clear that the homoctenids almost disappear from the fossil record during the latest Frasnian “Upper Kellwasser Event”. The coincident extinction of this pelagic group, and the widespread development of intense marine anoxia within the water column, provides a causal link between anoxia and the F-F extinction. Most notable is the sudden demise of a group, which had been present in rock-forming densities, during this anoxic event. One new species, belonging to Homoctenus is described, but is not formally named here

Measurements of branching fraction ratios and CP-asymmetries in suppressed B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- and B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^- decays

We report the first reconstruction in hadron collisions of the suppressed decays B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- and B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^-, sensitive to the CKM phase gamma, using data from 7 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. We reconstruct a signal for the B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- suppressed mode with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations, and measure the ratios of the suppressed to favored branching fractions R(K) = [22.0 \pm 8.6(stat)\pm 2.6(syst)]\times 10^-3, R^+(K) = [42.6\pm 13.7(stat)\pm 2.8(syst)]\times 10^-3, R^-(K)= [3.8\pm 10.3(stat)\pm 2.7(syst]\times 10^-3, as well as the direct CP-violating asymmetry A(K) = -0.82\pm 0.44(stat)\pm 0.09(syst) of this mode. Corresponding quantities for B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^- decay are also reported.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, accepted by Phys.Rev.D Rapid Communications for Publicatio

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Measurement of the t t-bar production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The t t-bar production cross section (sigma[t t-bar]) is measured in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV in data collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 inverse femtobarns. The measurement is performed in events with two leptons (electrons or muons) in the final state, at least two jets identified as jets originating from b quarks, and the presence of an imbalance in transverse momentum. The measured value of sigma[t t-bar] for a top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV is 161.9 +/- 2.5 (stat.) +5.1/-5.0 (syst.) +/- 3.6(lumi.) pb, consistent with the prediction of the standard model.Comment: Replaced with published version. Included journal reference and DO