2008-2009 Master Class - Robert Langevin (Flute)

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_masterclasses/1101/thumbnail.jp

Formative influences on Arnold Bennett as revealed in five representative novels

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1940In this thesis I have endeavored to prove that there is a marked correlation between the life of Arnold Bennett and his novels. In section II I have given a rather complete account of his surroundings during his life; of the books which influenced his living and thinking and writing; of the persons - literary and non-literary - who inspired Bennett. There is also included a detailed account of his personal and literary characteristics. In section III I have shown the relation of this biographical material with five of his novels - four dealing with the Five Towns region in which he spent his youth, and one with its setting in London in which he spent his last eight years of life. I have found that there are four outstanding characteristics of Bennett, namely: the fulness and correctness of his observation; his willingness to set down everything about his characters, whether flattering or not; his power to see external surroundings and internal conflicts through the eyes of his characters; and lastly, his preoccupation with money. In section III I have endeavored to give adequate proof that Bennett possessed these characteristics through specific quotations from his novels which support my contentions

Using nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems to understand and correct errors in equilibrium and nonequilibrium discrete Langevin dynamics simulations

Common algorithms for computationally simulating Langevin dynamics must discretize the stochastic differential equations of motion. These resulting finite time step integrators necessarily have several practical issues in common: Microscopic reversibility is violated, the sampled stationary distribution differs from the desired equilibrium distribution, and the work accumulated in nonequilibrium simulations is not directly usable in estimators based on nonequilibrium work theorems. Here, we show that even with a time-independent Hamiltonian, finite time step Langevin integrators can be thought of as a driven, nonequilibrium physical process. Once an appropriate work-like quantity is defined -- here called the shadow work -- recently developed nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems can be used to measure or correct for the errors introduced by the use of finite time steps. In particular, we demonstrate that amending estimators based on nonequilibrium work theorems to include this shadow work removes the time step dependent error from estimates of free energies. We also quantify, for the first time, the magnitude of deviations between the sampled stationary distribution and the desired equilibrium distribution for equilibrium Langevin simulations of solvated systems of varying size. While these deviations can be large, they can be eliminated altogether by Metropolization or greatly diminished by small reductions in the time step. Through this connection with driven processes, further developments in nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems can provide additional analytical tools for dealing with errors in finite time step integrators.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Learning Strategies of Students Attending a “Second Chance” School

This study was conducted in Quebec with 608 students (aged 16-19) in four “second chance” schools of the greater Montreal area. The objectives were twofold: (a) to identify the strategies of these students in the context of five learning activities; and (b) to compare the strategies of students who had withdrawn from school after their mandatory attendance period (age 16-17) with those of students exceeding the age limit for high school (age 18-19). Results from a self-reported questionnaire in French show that the students lack many learning strategies, particularly for two of the five activities. The differences between the two groups always favor the older students and pertain to a specific aspect of the activity. These results argue for differentiation in research and classroom practices according to the activities presented to the students and according to the two age groups.Cette étude a été réalisée au Québec auprès de 608 élèves (âgés de 16 à 19 ans) de quatre écoles de « raccrocheurs » de la région métropolitaine de Montréal. La recherche a poursuivi deux objectifs : (a) identifier les stratégies des élèves « raccrocheurs » dans le cadre de cinq activités d’apprentissage; et (b) comparer les stratégies des élèves qui avaient abandonné l’école après la période de fréquentation obligatoire (16-17 ans) à celles des élèves qui avaient dépassé l’âge limite de fréquentation de l’école secondaire (18-19 ans). Les résultats à un questionnaire validé en français indiquent que tous les élèves, en général, disent avoir recours à un nombre restreint de stratégies d’apprentissage, notamment dans deux des cinq activités. Les différences entre les deux groupes favorisent toujours les élèves plus âgés et sont pertinentes pour un aspect spécifique de l’activité. Ces résultats militent en faveur d’une différenciation de la recherche et des pratiques pédagogiques selon les activités présentées aux élèves d’une part, et les deux groupes d’âge d’autre part

Ultrastructural visualization of cytoskeletal mRNAs and their associated proteins using double-label in situ hybridization

We have been able to visualize cytoskeletal messenger RNA molecules at high resolution using nonisotopic in situ hybridization followed by whole-mount electron microscopy. Biotinated cDNA probes for actin, tubulin, or vimentin mRNAs were hybridized to Triton-extracted chicken embryo fibroblasts and myoblasts. The cells were then exposed to antibodies against biotin followed by colloidal gold-conjugated antibodies and then critical-point dried. Identification of mRNA was possible using a probe fragmented to small sizes such that hybridization of several probe fragments along the mRNA was detected as a string of colloidal gold particles qualitatively and quantitatively distinguishable from nonspecific background. Extensive analysis showed that when eight gold particles were seen in this iterated array, the signal to noise ratio was greater than 30:1. Furthermore, these gold particles were colinear, often spiral, or circular suggesting detection of a single nucleic acid molecule. Antibodies against actin, vimentin, or tubulin proteins were used after in situ hybridization, allowing simultaneous detection of the protein and its cognate message on the same sample. This revealed that cytoskeletal mRNAs are likely to be extremely close to actin protein (5 nm or less) and unlikely to be within 20 nm of vimentin or tubulin filaments. Actin mRNA was found to be more predominant in lamellipodia of motile cells, confirming previous results. These results indicate that this high resolution in situ hybridization approach is a powerful tool by which to investigate the association of mRNA with the cytoskeleton

Referral Patterns Between Allopathic Physicians and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners

Introduction and Objectives: The provision of basic healthcare in the United States may be viewed considering two different, and sometimes combined, therapeutic approaches: •Allopathic/osteopathic medicine •Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) Our study is interested in the intersection of allopathic medicine and CAM. Evidence suggests that Americans are seeking CAM at a similar or even a higher rate than allopathic medicine, yet there seems to be a division between practitioners of each discipline. Isthis division created by a lack of coordination, such as an inadequately established referral system, or by a general lack of knowledge, or by the attitudes of the practitioners? In our study our objectives were: ? To assess the referral patterns between allopathic and CAM practitioners in Chittenden County. ? To examine the various factors that may influence these referral patterns using confidential surveys.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1017/thumbnail.jp

Viscosities of the Gay-Berne nematic liquid crystal

We present molecular dynamics simulation measurements of the viscosities of the Gay-Berne phenomenological model of liquid crystals in the nematic and isotropic phases. The temperature dependence of the rotational and shear viscosities, including the nonmonotonic behavior of one shear viscosity are in good agreement with experimental data. The bulk viscosities are significantly larger than the shear viscosities, again in agreement with experiment.Comment: 11 pages, 4 Postscript figures, Revte

Manual and Electrical Needle Stimulation in Acupuncture Research: Pitfalls and Challenges of Heterogeneity

In the field of acupuncture research there is an implicit yet unexplored assumption that the evidence on manual and electrical stimulation techniques, derived from basic science studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, is generally interchangeable. Such interchangeability would justify a bidirectional approach to acupuncture research, where basic science studies and clinical trials each inform the other. This article examines the validity of this fundamental assumption by critically reviewing the literature and comparing manual to electrical acupuncture in basic science studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses. The evidence from this study does not support the assumption that these techniques are interchangeable. This article also identifies endemic methodologic limitations that have impaired progress in the field. For example, basic science studies have not matched the frequency and duration of manual needle stimulation to the frequency and duration of electrical stimulation. Further, most clinical trials purporting to compare the two types of stimulation have instead tested electroacupuncture as an adjunct to manual acupuncture. The current findings reveal fundamental gaps in the understanding of the mechanisms and relative effectiveness of manual versus electrical acupuncture. Finally, future research directions are suggested to better differentiate electrical from manual simulation, and implications for clinical practice are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140314/1/acm.2014.0186.pd