Joep Franssens\u27 Harmony of the Spheres: a conductor\u27s analysis

Harmony of the Spheres is Dutch composer Joep Franssens’ most extensive choral work to date, exhibiting a substantial possibility to enter the international repertoire as a complete work; however, several of the movements can stand alone effectively. Presented in five symmetrically conceived movements, Franssens scores the piece for SSAATTBB chorus with only the addition of full string orchestra for Movement III. The composition seeks to explore profound connections between science, music, philosophy, religion, and human relationships, intertwining excerpts from Benedict de Spinoza’s magnum opus, Ethica, allusions to the ancient idea of the music of the spheres, and European minimalism. Franssens considers himself part of a movement amongst Dutch composers known as “New Spirituality” in the Netherlands. The research is divided into three chapters. The first chapter offers a brief background of the composer and describes the compositional history behind Harmony of the Spheres. Chapter Two, titled “Spheres of Influence,” explores the diverse influences on the composer and the work: Spinoza and Ethica, the ancient concept of the music of the spheres, American and “Holy” minimalisms, and the compositional philosophies of the Franssens and J. S. Bach. These critical underpinnings enlighten much of the compositional strategy and style employed by the composer. The final chapter presents an analytical overview of the work, informed by the varying influences described in Chapter 2 as well as representing a conductor’s perspective in relating the intriguing stylistic traits and challenges of the work

The Mentoring across Professions (MaP) Project: What can we learn from international good practice in employee mentoring and coaching?

This research sought to establish what teacher mentoring stakeholders might learn from successful and effective practice in other sectors – in the UK and internationally. The research team thus set out to identify: 1. effective employee mentoring and coaching practice in private and public sector organisations (excluding teacher mentoring schemes); 2. the impact of those employee mentoring and coaching schemes identified; 3. the various factors contributing to the effectiveness and success of the selected mentoring and coaching schemes. 1 On the other hand, research into the relatively rare phenomenon of ‘external mentoring’ for teachers in secondary schools found this to have significant benefits for the (predominantly early career) teachers supported (Hobson et al., 2012; Hobson & McIntyre, 2013; McIntyre & Hobson, 2016). 2 THE MENTORING ACROSS PROFESSIONS PROJECT We use the term teacher to refer to those formally tasked to facilitate learning in early years, primary, secondary and further education (FE)2 settings. We use the term mentoring to describe ‘the support given by one (usually more experienced) person for the growth and learning of another, and for their integration into and acceptance by a specific community’ (Malderez, 2001, p. 57). We take coaching to refer to one of a number of (potential) aspects of mentoring, and as having a narrower focus, notably relating to specific support for an individual’s skill development (Finn, 1993; Malderez & Bodoczky, 1999; Hopkins-Thompson, 2000). Given this, we normally use the term mentoring, in this report, to encompass mentors’ potential use of coaching. Nonetheless, we recognise that other scholars and practitioners use the terms mentoring and coaching differently. We thus use the term coaching, in this report, when it relates to a particular programme (notably the Sussex Police Leadership Coaching Programme – Chapter 9) or where it is used, by others, in a different way. With respect to the scope and contextual boundaries of the study, we did not seek to explore (for example) cross-cultural mentoring, cross-national mentoring, or the concept of reverse mentoring (Marcinkus Murphy, 2012)

Optimizing future dark energy surveys for model selection goals

We demonstrate a methodology for optimizing the ability of future dark energy surveys to answer model selection questions, such as `Is acceleration due to a cosmological constant or a dynamical dark energy model?'. Model selection Figures of Merit are defined, exploiting the Bayes factor, and surveys optimized over their design parameter space via a Monte Carlo method. As a specific example we apply our methods to generic multi-fibre baryon acoustic oscillation spectroscopic surveys, comparable to that proposed for SuMIRe PFS, and present implementations based on the Savage-Dickey Density Ratio that are both accurate and practical for use in optimization. It is shown that whilst the optimal surveys using model selection agree with those found using the Dark Energy Task Force (DETF) Figure of Merit, they provide better informed flexibility of survey configuration and an absolute scale for performance; for example, we find survey configurations with close to optimal model selection performance despite their corresponding DETF Figure of Merit being at only 50% of its maximum. This Bayes factor approach allows us to interpret the survey configurations that will be good enough for the task at hand, vital especially when wanting to add extra science goals and in dealing with time restrictions or multiple probes within the same project.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

Immune sensing of Candida albicans requires cooperative recognition of mannans and glucans by lectin and Toll-like receptors

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The dynamics of animal social networks: Analytical, conceptual, and theoretical advances

Social network analysis provides a broad and complex perspective on animal sociality that is widely applicable to almost any species. Recent applications demonstrate the utility of network analysis for advancing our understanding of the dynamics, selection pressures, development, and evolution of complex social systems. However, most studies of animal social networks rely primarily on a descriptive approach. To propel the field of animal social networks beyond exploratory analyses and to facilitate the integration of quantitative methods that allow for the testing of ecologically and evolutionarily relevant hypotheses, we review methodological and conceptual advances in network science, which are underutilized in studies of animal sociality. First, we highlight how the use of statistical model- ing and triadic motifs analysis can advance our understanding of the processes that structure networks. Second, we discuss how the consideration of temporal changes and spatial constraints can shed light on the dynamics of social networks. Third, we consider how the study of variation at multiple scales can potentially transform our understanding of the structure and function of animal networks. We direct readers to analytical tools that facilitate the adoption of these new concepts and methods. Our goal is to provide behavioral ecologists with a toolbox of current methods that can stimulate novel insights into the ecological influences and evolutionary pressures structuring networks and advance our understanding of the proximate and ultimate processes that drive animal sociality

The dynamics of animal social networks: Analytical, conceptual, and theoretical advances

Social network analysis provides a broad and complex perspective on animal sociality that is widely applicable to almost any species. Recent applications demonstrate the utility of network analysis for advancing our understanding of the dynamics, selection pressures, development, and evolution of complex social systems. However, most studies of animal social networks rely primarily on a descriptive approach. To propel the field of animal social networks beyond exploratory analyses and to facilitate the integration of quantitative methods that allow for the testing of ecologically and evolutionarily relevant hypotheses, we review methodological and conceptual advances in network science, which are underutilized in studies of animal sociality. First, we highlight how the use of statistical model- ing and triadic motifs analysis can advance our understanding of the processes that structure networks. Second, we discuss how the consideration of temporal changes and spatial constraints can shed light on the dynamics of social networks. Third, we consider how the study of variation at multiple scales can potentially transform our understanding of the structure and function of animal networks. We direct readers to analytical tools that facilitate the adoption of these new concepts and methods. Our goal is to provide behavioral ecologists with a toolbox of current methods that can stimulate novel insights into the ecological influences and evolutionary pressures structuring networks and advance our understanding of the proximate and ultimate processes that drive animal sociality

Spatiotemporal Patterns in Nest Box Occupancy by Tree Swallows Across North America

Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) suggest that populations of aerial insectivorous birds are declining, particularly in northeastern regions of the continent, and particularly since the mid-1980s. Species that use nest boxes, such as Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), may provide researchers with large data sets that better reveal finer-scale geographical patterns in population trends. We analyzed trends in occupancy rates for ca. 40,000 Tree Swallow nest-box-years from 16 sites across North America. The earliest site has been studied intensively since 1969 and the latest site since 2004. Nest box occupancy rates declined significantly at five of six (83%) sites east of -78° W longitude, whereas occupancy rates increased significantly at four of ten sites (40%) west of -78° W longitude. Decreasing box occupancy trends from the northeast were broadly consistent with aspects of a previous analysis of BBS data for Tree Swallows, but our finding of instances of increases in other parts of the continent are novel. Several questions remain, particularly with respect to causes of these broad-scale geographic changes in population densities of Tree Swallows. The broad geographic patterns are consistent with a hypothesis of widespread changes in climate on wintering, migratory, or breeding areas that in turn may differentially affect populations of aerial insects, but other explanations are possible. It is also unclear whether these changes in occupancy rates reflect an increase or decrease in overall populations of Tree Swallows. Regardless, important conservation steps will be to unravel causes of changing populations of aerial insectivores in North America

Preclinical Evaluation of Long-Acting Emtricitabine Semi-Solid Prodrug Nanoparticle Formulations.

Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations promise to deliver patient benefits by overcoming issues associated with non-adherence. A preclinical assessment of semi-solid prodrug nanoparticle (SSPN) LAI formulations of emtricitabine (FTC) is reported here. Pharmacokinetics over 28 days were assessed in Wistar rats, New Zealand white rabbits, and Balb/C mice following intramuscular injection. Two lead formulations were assessed for the prevention of an HIV infection in NSG-cmah-/- humanised mice to ensure antiviral activities were as anticipated according to the pharmacokinetics. Cmax was reached by 12, 48, and 24 h in rats, rabbits, and mice, respectively. Plasma concentrations were below the limit of detection (2 ng/mL) by 21 days in rats and rabbits, and 28 days in mice. Mice treated with SSPN formulations demonstrated undetectable viral loads (700 copies/mL detection limit), and HIV RNA remained undetectable 28 days post-infection in plasma, spleen, lung, and liver. The in vivo data presented here demonstrate that the combined prodrug/SSPN approach can provide a dramatically extended pharmacokinetic half-life across multiple preclinical species. Species differences in renal clearance of FTC mean that longer exposures are likely to be achievable in humans than in preclinical models