MANAGING TECHNICAL AND STYLISTIC CHALLENGES OF 5 SOPRANO ROLES IN 3 DIFFERENT FACHS

This dissertation follows the demands of one soprano's journey through five diverse works covering and incorporating four different musical periods (Classical, Be1 Canto, Romantic, and Verismo), three German Facher (Soubrette, Lyric Coloratura, and Dramatic Coloratura), and two languages (Italian and French). Ultimately, this project is a study and presentation of the challenges of singing diverse roles effectively while remaining healthy, both vocally and ~sychologically. Beyond the use of the German Fach system of categorization and subcategorization, I felt motivated to discover how to determine for myself if the operatic roles offered to me would be well suited to my voice, its timbre, and my physical capabilities. Sometimes, the challenge in singing a role has little reflection on the ability of the singer or whether she is singing within her assigned Fach but, rather, has more to do with the composer's ability to write well for the voice. While the works within this dissertation show both contrasting characters and, thus, differing Fach categorizations, I will argue that the German Fach System is a subjective framework. The use of the Fach system assists theaters in deciding which roles each singer can be expected to sing before choosing the repertoire. In my opinion however, many roles can be sung by singers from more than one Fach category, depending on the abilities of the singers, conscientious teachers, conductors, directors, and even the sizes of the opera theaters. In my dissertation, I will discuss whether the roles I selected to perform provided a healthy regimen and how the preparation and performance of works from different musical periods has required special techniques and posed unusual psychological demands. Also, I will discuss the effect of using two different languages on a singer's voice. It is important to note that this dissertation is not a study of the progression of the soprano voice as it changes from one Fach classification to another through maturity or increased vocal technique. Rather, it is look at singing across several Fach categories and in diverse periodical styles with regularity

The Non-Linear Relationship Between CEO Compensation Incentives And Corporate Tax Avoidance

This study examines the effect of CEO compensation incentives on corporate tax avoidance. Unlike prior literature that assumes a monotonic relation between executive compensation incentives and tax avoidance, we find a non-linear relation between the two. Specifically, we find that CEO compensation incentives exhibit a positive relation with corporate tax avoidance at low levels of compensation incentives, whereas they show a negative relation at high levels of compensation incentives. We further find that the non-linear relationship between CEO compensation incentives and corporate tax avoidance does not exist for the subsample of S&P500 firms. Collectively, we provide evidence of the two counter effective forces, namely, - the incentive alignment effect and the risk-reducing effect, - that help explain the effect of CEO compensation incentives on tax avoidance

Development of Prediction Method for Dimensional Stability of 3D-Printed Objects

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), as one of the additive manufacturing processes, is known for strong layer adhesion suitable for prototypes and end-use items. This study used a multiple regression model and statistical analysis to explore the dimensional accuracy of FDM objects. Factors such as inclination angle, layer thickness, support space, and raster angle were examined. Machine learning models (Gaussian process regression (GPR), support vector machines (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN)) predicted dimensions using 81 datapoints. The mean squared dimensional error (MSDE) between the measured and designed surface profiles was selected as an output for the dimensional accuracy. Support spacing, layer thickness, and raster angle were determined to be statistically significant, and all factors were confirmed as significant predictors. The coefficients of determination for multiple linear regression, GPR, SVM, and ANN models were 76%, 98%, 93%, and 99%, respectively. The mean absolute errors (MAEs)—errors between the measured and the predicted MSDEs—were 0.020 mm and 0.034 mm, respectively, for GPR and SVM models. The MAEs for ANN models were 0.0055 mm for supporting cases and 2.1468 x 10 -5 mm for non-supporting cases

High-Performance PVC Gel for Adaptive Micro-Lenses with Variable Focal Length.

This paper presents a bio-inspired adaptive micro-lens with electrically tunable focus made of non-ionic high-molecular-weight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel. The optical device mimics the design of the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle of the human eye. It consists of a plano-convex PVC gel micro-lens on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass, confined with an annular electrode operating as an artificial ciliary muscle. Upon electrical activation, the electroactive adhesive force of the PVC gel is exerted on the annular anode electrode, which reduces the sagittal height of the plano-convex PVC gel lens, resulting in focal length variation of the micro-lens. The focal length increases from 3.8 mm to 22.3 mm as the applied field is varied from 200 V/mm to 800 V/mm, comparable to that of the human lens. The device combines excellent optical characteristics with structural simplicity, fast response speed, silent operation, and low power consumption. The results show the PVC gel micro-lens is expected to open up new perspectives on practical tunable optics

Growth of ultra-uniform graphene using a Ni/W bilayer metal catalyst

We investigated a bilayer catalyst system consisting of polycrystalline Ni and W films for growing mono-layer graphene over large areas. Highly uniform graphene was grown on Ni/W bilayer film with 100% coverage. The graphene grown on Ni/W bilayer film and transferred onto an insulating substrate exhibited average hole and electron mobilities of 727 and 340 cm(2)V(-1)s(-1), respectively. A probable growth mechanism is proposed based on X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy, which suggests that the reaction between diffused carbon and tungsten atoms results in formation of tungsten carbides. This reaction allows the control of carbon precipitation and prevents the growth of non-uniform multilayer graphene on the Ni surface; this has not been straightforwardly achieved before. These results could be of importance in better understanding mono-layer graphene growth, and suggest a facile fabrication route for electronic applications. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLCopen0

Associations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, and their inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, with obesity-related biomarkers in apparently healthy adolescent boys

PurposeMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in atherosclerosis, and therefore, are considered risk factors for metabolic dysfunction in adults. However, there is little data on circulating levels of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) with regard to obesity-related biomarkers in the general adolescent population. In the present study, we determined the associations of MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels and MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios with obesity-related biomarkers in apparently healthy adolescent boys.MethodsWe measured MMP and TIMP concentrations in plasma samples using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed their associations with obesity-related biomarkers, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, in a sample of 91 Korean boys aged 13-14 years who participated in a general health check-up.ResultsThe mean age of the boys was 13.8±0.3 years; 72 boys were normal weight and 19 were overweight/obese. The Pearson correlation coefficients revealed a significant correlation between MMP-8 and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.217, P=0.039) and alanine aminotransferase (r=0.250, P=0.017) and between TIMP-1 and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.267, P=0.011). In a multivariate linear regression analysis, serum alanine aminotransferase was positively associated with the MMP-8 level. There were no significant differences in the MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 levels or MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios between control and overweight/obese subjects.ConclusionWe found a significant association between the MMP-8 level and alanine aminotransferase in the apparently healthy adolescent boys. These findings indicate that there may be a pathophysiological mechanism underlying the relationship between MMP-8 and liver enzymes in young adolescents

Effects of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) on characteristics of polyaniline nanoparticles synthesized by a solution plasma process with an Ar gas bubble channel

The quality of polyaniline nanoparticles (PANI NPs) synthesized in plasma polymerization depends on the discharge characteristics of a solution plasma process (SPP). In this paper, the low temperature dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is introduced to minimize the destruction of aniline molecules induced by the direct current (DC) spark discharge. By adopting the new electrode structure coupled with a gas channel, a low temperature DBD is successfully implemented in a SPP, for the first time, thus inducing an effective interaction between the Ar plasma and aniline monomer. We examine the effects of a low temperature DBD on characteristics of polyaniline nanoparticles synthesized by a SPP with an Ar gas bubble channel. As a result, both carbonization of aniline monomer and erosion of the electrode are significantly reduced, which is confirmed by analyses of the synthesized PANI NPs. © 2020 by the authors.1

Assessment of genetic diversity and distance of three Cicuta virosa populations in South Korea

Cicuta virosa L. (Apiaceae) is a perennial emergent plant designated as an endangered species in South Korea. Accordingto the former records, only four natural habitats remain in South Korea. A former study suggested that three of four popu-lations (Pyeongchang: PC, Hoengseong: HS, Gunsan: GS) would be classified as different ecotypes based on their differentmorphological characteristics and life cycle under different environmental conditions. To evaluate this suggestion, weestimated genetic diversity in each population and distance among three populations by random amplification of poly-morphic DNA. Seven random primers generated a total of 61 different banding positions, 36 (59%) of them were polymor-phic. Neis gene diversity and the Shannon diversity index increased in the order of PC < HS < GS, which is the same orderof population size. In the two-dimensional (2D) plot of first two principal components in principal component analysiswith the presence of 61 loci, individuals could be grouped as three populations easily (proportion of variance = 0.6125).Neis genetic distance for the three populations showed the same tendency with the geographical distance within threepopulations. And it is also similar to the result of discriminant analysis with the morphological or life-cycle factors fromthe previous study. From the results, we concluded that three different populations of C. virosa should be classified asecotypes based on not only morphology and phenology but genetic differences in terms of diversity and distance as well.This study was supported by the Korea Ministry of En-vironment as The Eco-Innovation project, 416-111-010and by the Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration(CAER) of the Eco-STAR project from the Ministry of En-vironment, Republic of Korea (MOE;08-III-12).OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2013-01/102/0000026049/7SEQ:7PERF_CD:SNU2013-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000026049ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A075900DEPT_CD:719CITE_RATE:0FILENAME:07_ecoenv_36(3)_jae geun kim_(205-210).pdfDEPT_NM:생물교육과EMAIL:[email protected]: