The relationship between electro-acoustic music and instrumental/vocal composition in Europe in the period 1948-1970.

The study seeks to establish how theories and concepts derived from electro-acoustic practice can inform musicians about the'nature of instrumental thought. Instrumental/vocal musical languages are particular representations of a wide framework of fundamental musical laws. The most successful expression of these laws is through concepts of electro-acoustic music. As a result many points of contact between hitherto unconnected areas of music are revealed. Three principal'subJect-areas are investigated: 1) The'development of Pierre Schaeffer's musical researches: The researches under consideration are those conducted from 1948 up to-the publication of the revised edition or the “Traite des Objets Musicaux" in 1977. The importance of new musical-concepts and Schaeffer’s Programme de la Recherche Musicale are discussed. There has been no-extensive examination of these in English. Consequently, neither Schaeffer's position, nor French electro-acoustic music's role in the development ofcontemporary music has been efficiently assessed. 2) The Cologne studio's development during the period 1953-70: Particular emphasis is given to a discussion'of the studio's relationship with the evolution of serial thought. This relationship is identified as the main stimulus for many of the studio's musical concepts in addition'to its preoccupation with electronic sound generation. Furthermore, the conflict between Paris and Cologne regarding musical-languages is examined and the theory or eventual convergence of views is contested. 3) The, nature of Schaefferian music theory: The concepts of valeur/caractere, permanence/variation and Schaeffer's concept of the "instrument" are discussed. It is proposed that Schaefferian concepts offer & significant methodology for the study of contemporary music. They assist, therefore our understanding not just of electro-acoustic music but contemporary music in general

Instrument und Pseudoinstrument - Akusmatische Konzepte

Dack's research area is contemporary Musicology/History of Ideas. He is concerned with the identification, evaluation and explanation of theoretical concepts evolving from musicians' interaction with a variety of analogue/digital technologies. There are two principal subject areas: 1) The works of the Frenchman Pierre Schaeffer and the Groupe de Recherches Musicales in Paris; 2) The development of serial thought in the Westdeutscher Rundfunk studio in Cologne. Dack's exegeses and translations of French texts are a major contribution to the increasing awareness of Schaeffer's musical theories in the English-speaking world. Moreover, his work is integral to research currently pursued within the Lansdown Centre. The Schaefferian research into interactivity and technology has significant implications for evaluating Sonic Arts/Music performance practices. Furthermore, his historical/aesthetic investigations into the articulation of space in Sound Diffusion and Installation Art clarifies interdisciplinary concerns common to Fine Art and Music. Dack was invited to write this chapter by the volume's editor: Prof. Elena Ungeheuer of the Technische Universität, Berlin. The 13-volume series: ‘Handbuchs der Musik' has become a standard reference work in German-speaking countries and reflects the growing interest in the study of sound in contemporary culture. Volume 5 has been re-printed and is entitled: ‘Elektroakustische Musik' (Electroacoustic Music). Other authors are academics working in German, Italian or American universities; Dack is the only English contributor. Dack was asked to summarize and present his continuing research into French electroacoustic theory (an area with which the German scholarly community is frequently unfamiliar). His chapter described and evaluated the principal concepts of Schaefferian theory such as the ‘acousmatic situation', ‘value and characteristic', ‘permanence and variation' and Schaeffer's ‘Programme of Musical Research'. He then located these electroacoustic concepts within a generalized music theory. Dack also described the ‘British connection': the assimilation of Schaefferian theories by the British-based composer Denis Smalley

Patient reactions to a web-based cardiovascular risk calculator in type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study in primary care.

Use of risk calculators for specific diseases is increasing, with an underlying assumption that they promote risk reduction as users become better informed and motivated to take preventive action. Empirical data to support this are, however, sparse and contradictory

Mercury and Prenatal Growth: A Systematic Review

The intrauterine environment is critical for healthy prenatal growth and affects neonatal survival and later health. Mercury is a toxic metal which can freely cross the placenta and disrupt a wide range of cellular processes. Many observational studies have investigated mercury exposure and prenatal growth, but no prior review has synthesised this evidence. Four relevant publication databases (Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify studies of prenatal mercury exposure and birth weight, birth length, or head circumference. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, and results synthesised in a narrative review. Twenty-seven studies met the review criteria, these were in 17 countries and used 8 types of mercury biomarker. Studies of birth weight (total = 27) involving populations with high levels of mercury exposure, non-linear methods, or identified as high quality were more likely to report an association with mercury, but overall results were inconsistent. Most studies reported no strong evidence of association between mercury and birth length (n = 14) or head circumference (n = 14). Overall, our review did not identify strong evidence that mercury exposure leads to impaired prenatal growth, although there was some evidence of a negative association of mercury with birth weight

Prenatal Mercury Exposure and Neurodevelopment up to the Age of 5 Years:A Systematic Review

Neurodevelopmental delays can interfere with children’s engagement with the world and further development, and may have negative consequences into adulthood. Mercury is highly toxic and may negatively influence neurodevelopment because it can freely cross the placenta and accumulate in the fetal brain. We searched four publication databases (Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus) for studies examining the relationship between early life mercury exposure and scores on neurodevelopmental performance measures in children aged 0 to 5 years old. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool. Thirty-two prospective studies were included in the review. Neurodevelopmental performance was measured using 23 different scales, most commonly the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID). In most cases, the evidence for an association between mercury and neurodevelopment was weak. There did not appear to be exceptions for particular childhood ages, outcome scales, or mercury levels. The small number of results to the contrary were more likely to be studies which did not meet our high-quality criteria, and could be a consequence of multiple testing, selection bias, or incomplete confounder adjustment. Based on current evidence, dietary mercury exposure during pregnancy is unlikely to be a risk factor for low neurodevelopmental functioning in early childhood

Factors Associated with Sexual Risks and Risk of STIs, HIV and Other Blood-Borne Viruses Among Women Using Heroin and Other Drugs:A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review identified factors associated with sexual risks related to sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and other blood-borne viruses (BBV) among women using heroin and other drugs. The search strategy included five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycNET, Web of Science, Scopus), and PsycEXTRA for grey literature. Out of the 12,135 publications screened, 30 peer-reviewed articles were included. Most publications were cross-sectional (n = 25), quantitative (n = 23) and included 11,305 women. Factors identified were: (1) socio-demographics; (2) gender roles and violence against women; (3) substance use; (4) transactional sex; (5) partner characteristics, partner's drug use, and context of sex; (6) preferences, negotiation and availability of condoms; (7) HIV status and STIs; (8) number of sexual partners; (9) love and trust; (10) reproductive health and motherhood; and (11) risk awareness and perception of control. Overall, this review highlights important implications for future research and practice, and provides evidence for developing STI/BBV preventive strategies