Does Change in Timbre Alter Stereotypy Movements Exhibited by Three Persons with Diagnoses of Mental Retardation and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Three Case Studies

The purpose of this study was to observe and collect data while monitoring the responses of three individuals to recorded presentations of four folk songs. The individuals, or participants, were all residents of a state-run facility in the southern region of the United States. The participants were females diagnosed with mental retardation and autism spectrum disorder, and they all exhibited one or more stereotypy behaviors in some form or another. The primary purpose of the study was to see if change in timbre of the songs would alter the stereotypy movements exhibited by these participants as the songs were presented to them. The four songs chosen were Danny Boy, All Through the Night, To the Sky, and Amazing Grace. In an effort to control as many variables as possible within reason, the pieces were chosen for their similarity of style and melodic contour and were all presented in keys of either F major or C major. The timbre presentations of each piece were (1) mezzo-soprano, melody only, a cappella; (2) bassbaritone, melody only, a cappella; (3) piano, melody only; (4) acoustic guitar, melody only; (5) tone chime, melody only. Assisting the researcher in collecting the data for the study was the participants\u27 psychologist. Assessment instruments for data collection were a journal completed by the researcher during the study and a behavior data sheet made for each participant with a separate sheet for the timbral presentation of each song. Also, there was a questionnaire for the psychologist to answer concerning each participant that covered the overall impression of the study for that participant. Once the study was completed, the researcher and the psychologist met and discussed the assessment instruments and found that overall, change in timbre did alter the stereotypy movements of the participants in differing ways. It was agreed that of all the timbres presented, the two timbres which had the most positive effect, that of slowing or stopping the engagement of stereotypy, were the mezzo-soprano and the piano. The timbre that had the least positive effect, that of accelerating or causing the exhibition of stereotypy, was the bass-baritone. Possible reasons for these effects were discussed and reported along with implications of the research to the field of music education

Local authority engagement with small and medium‐sized enterprises in energy efficiency: Governance approaches used in the Energy Efficient Scotland programme

Meeting net zero emissions targets requires co‐operation of multiple actors across scales and sectors, including small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs); research on action by SMEs to improve energy efficiency of their buildings has however been limited. This article focuses on the work of local authorities in engaging SMEs in energy efficiency initiatives. Empirical findings are from systematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with local authorities participating in the Energy Efficient Scotland pilot programme for national scale retrofit. The modes of governance conceptual framework (self‐governing, governing by partnership, governing through enabling, governing by provision and governing by authority) is combined with a local government capacities framework (responsibility, political authority, finance, personnel, knowledge and energy materialities) to explore the different strategies available to local authorities. Findings reveal that local authorities utilise various modes of governing for engaging SMEs; however some governing modes (self‐governing, governing through authority and governing through provision) proved more effective than others (governing through partnership and through enabling). The results demonstrate that the modes of governance used to engage SMEs in energy efficiency depend on local authority capacities. However, Scottish local authority capacities are varied, resulting in differential ability to utilise the different modes of governing. Government policy for heat in buildings therefore needs to be sensitive to the specificities of different local authorities in order to extend their capacities for engage SMEs through both direct and enabling modes of governance

Local authority engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises in energy efficiency:Governance approaches used in the Energy Efficient Scotland programme

Meeting net zero emissions targets requires co-operation of multiple actors across scales and sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); research on action by SMEs to improve energy efficiency of their buildings has however been limited. This article focuses on the work of local authorities in engaging SMEs in energy efficiency initiatives. Empirical findings are from systematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with local authorities participating in the Energy Efficient Scotland pilot programme for national scale retrofit. The modes of governance conceptual framework (self-governing, governing by partnership, governing through enabling, governing by provision and governing by authority) is combined with a local government capacities framework (responsibility, political authority, finance, personnel, knowledge and energy materialities) to explore the different strategies available to local authorities. Findings reveal that local authorities utilise various modes of governing for engaging SMEs; however some governing modes (self-governing, governing through authority and governing through provision) proved more effective than others (governing through partnership and through enabling). The results demonstrate that the modes of governance used to engage SMEs in energy efficiency depend on local authority capacities. However, Scottish local authority capacities are varied, resulting in differential ability to utilise the different modes of governing. Government policy for heat in buildings therefore needs to be sensitive to the specificities of different local authorities in order to extend their capacities for engage SMEs through both direct and enabling modes of governance

The masses, radii and luminosities of the components of U Geminorum

We present a phase-resolved spectroscopic study of the secondary star in the cataclysmic variable U Gem. We use our data to measure the radial velocity semi-amplitude, systemic velocity and rotational velocity of the secondary star. Combining this with literature data allows us to determine masses and radii for both the secondary star and white dwarf which are independent of any assumptions about their structure. We use these to compare their properties with those of field stars and find that both components follow field mass-radius relationships. The secondary star has the mass, radius, luminosity and photometric temperature of an M2 star, but a spectroscopic temperature of M4. The latter may well be due to a high metallicity. There is a troubling inconsistency between the radius of the white dwarf inferred from its gravitational redshift and inclination and that inferred from its temperature, flux, and astrometric distance. We find that there are two fundamental limits to the accuracy of the parameters we can derive. First the radial velocity curve of the secondary star deviates from a sinusoid, in part because of its asphericity (which can be modelled) and in part because the line flux is not evenly distributed over its surface. Second we cannot be certain which spectral type is the best match for the lines of the secondary star, and the derived rotational velocity is a function of the spectral type of the template star used.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for MNRA

Struggling with Adversities of Life: The Role of Forgiveness in Patients Suffering from Fibromyalgia

Objectives: We compared the magnitude and direction of associations between forgiveness and pain, mental and physical health, quality of life, and anger in a sample of fibromyalgia (FMS) patients and healthy controls. In addition, we compared FMS and controls on mean levels of these variables. Methods: 173 FMS patients and 81 controls completed this study. Patients and controls were residents of Germany recruited with the support of the German Fibromyalgia Patient Association and several self-help groups. FMS patients and controls were about 53 years of age, mostly married (70%), Christians (81%), with levels of education ranging from 9 years to 13+. All participants completed assessments of forgiveness, pain, health, quality of life, and anger. Results: Analyses revealed that FMS patients reported higher pain and anger and poorer health and quality of life. FMS patients also reported lower levels of both forgiveness of self and others. Size and direction of associations of forgiveness with pain, health, quality of life, and anger in were not significantly different between healthy individuals and patients with FMS. Discussion: Forgiveness of self and others is beneficially associated with pain, health, quality of life, and anger in FMS patients at levels that are of similar size and direction as in healthy controls. However, FMS patients manifest lower levels of forgiveness of self and others. Therapeutic promotion of forgiveness as a psychosocial coping strategy may help patients with FMS to better manage psychological and physical symptoms, thereby enhancing well-being