Bleaching cotton in textile conservation: a closer look using atomic force microscopy

Aqueous bleaching may be used in textile conservation to improve the appearance of historic and culturally significant textiles. It is generally accepted amongst conservators that bleaching imparts damage. The aim of this research is to characterise the condition of cotton fibre's surface pre- and post-bleaching using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Unprocessed cotton calico (‘raw’ cotton), scoured cotton, and a historic cotton dress shirt (circa. 1920) were bleached using three separate methods: NaBH4 for 15 min; H2O2/NaBO3 for 1 h; and H2O2/NaBO3 buffered to pH 8.4 for 1 h. AFM was used in tapping-mode to obtain height, amplitude, and phase images. AFM imaging was able to distinguish between the cuticle, primary walls, and secondary walls of the cotton fibres. The data shows that bleaching has the effect of softening and removing individual layers of the cotton structure. Unprocessed cotton calico and scoured cotton fared better against the impact of bleaching. This was in stark contrast to the historic shirt where the already damaged surface of cotton fibres underwent further degradation using both oxidative and reductive bleaching. In general, reductive bleaching was more aggressive on the fibre surface compared to oxidative bleaching. The use of AFM provides further evidence of the physical effects of bleaching on historic textiles, and cotton textiles more broadly, and it has the potential to influence the conservator’s decision-making

Fluorescent carbon dioxide indicators

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology. Complementary volumes 9 and 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future

Tracking physical activity using smart phone apps: assessing the ability of a current app and systematically collecting patient recommendations for future development

Background Within the United Kingdom’s National Health System (NHS), patients suffering from obesity may be provided with bariatric surgery. After receiving surgery many of these patients require further support to continue to lose more weight or to maintain a healthy weight. Remotely monitoring such patients’ physical activity and other health-related variables could provide healthworkers with a more ‘ecologically valid’ picture of these patients’ behaviours to then provide more personalised support. The current study assesses the feasibility of two smartphone apps to do so. In addition, the study looks at the barriers and facilitators patients experience to using these apps effectively. Methods Participants with a BMI > 35 kg/m2 being considered for and who had previously undergone bariatric surgery were recruited. Participants were asked to install two mobile phone apps. The ‘Moves’ app automatically tracked participants’ physical activity and the ‘WLCompanion’ app prompted participants to set goals and input other health-related information. Then, to learn about participants’ facilitators and barriers to using the apps, some participants were asked to complete a survey informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. The data were analysed using regressions and descriptive statistics. Results Of the 494 participants originally enrolled, 274 participants data were included in the analyses about their activity pre- and/or post-bariatric surgery (ages 18–65, M = 44.02, SD ± 11.29). Further analyses were performed on those 36 participants whose activity was tracked both pre- and post-surgery. Participants’ activity levels pre- and post-surgery did not differ. In addition, 54 participants’ survey responses suggested that the main facilitator to their continued use of the Moves app was its automatic nature, and the main barrier was its battery drain. Conclusions The current study tracked physical activity in patients considered for and who had previously undergone bariatric surgery. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of participants whose data meet the inclusion criteria and the barriers participants encountered to using the apps. Future studies should take note of the barriers to develop more user-friendly apps.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; National Institute for Health Research; Applied Research Centre West Midland

Mawson and Mertz, pieces for the 1911-1914 Mawson Antar[c]tic Expedition

Mawson is a piece for computer realized quadraphonic tape, and Mertz is a duo for clarinet and horn. The pieces were written in celebration of the accomplishments of the 1911-1914 Mawson Antartic Expedition. The compositions are totally serialized, with a hexachord derived from Cartesian coordinates of Antartic locations used as source material. This hexachord was rotated and cyclically transformed to control attack, rhythm, pitch, and dynamics.Performance materials can be obtained from the Electronic Systems for Music Syntheses studio at Ball State University.Thesis (M.M.)School of Musi

The solo songs of Edward MacDowell : an examination of style and literary influence

Edward MacDowell is widely recognized as America's first great native-born composer. His music has come to be characterized as being extremely lyrical and harmonically inventive. Solo songs constitute an overlooked area of MacDowell's output and no serious study has been undertaken of them to date. The goal of this dissertation is to obtain a more complete portrait of MacDowell through a detailed examination of his songs.Previously unstudied manuscripts and sketches from the MacDowell Collection of the Library of Congress provide important insights into his songwriting process. The choice of text proved to be such an important determinant in MacDowell's settings that the author has chosen to divide the songs into three stylistic groupings based primarily on MacDowell's selection of texts rather than on chronology.In MacDowell's first-period songs, he concentrated on setting German texts while living in Germany from 1880 to 1888. Poetry by Heine, Goethe, and Klopstock plays an important role in these songs, which are stylistically similar to the nineteenth-century Lied. Chromatic harmonies, frequent modulations, and active piano accompaniments characterize these songs.MacDowell's second-period songs, written between 1886 and 1890, use English texts and differ markedly from the earlier Lieder. While many of their texts (and consequently, best songs of this group show the development of MacDowell's characteristic harmonic language and lyricism.The second-period songs serve as a transition into MacDowell's final songwriting period (c. 1893-1901), during which he wrote his most successful works. The third-period songs are delineated by the use of original poetry and represent a synthesis of the first two periods. The chromaticism and active piano parts of the lieder are combined with the new lyricism of the second-period songs.Songwriting spans MacDowell's entire career and is evidence of the seriousness with which he viewed the medium. A thorough study of the songs, both published and unpublished, reveals a steady line of development throughout MacDowell's career, with many musical advances predicated by the text. This development, which closely mirrors similar advances in the piano music, is an important factor in MacDowell's entire creative output.Thesis (D.A.