Opera Houses of the Genesee Country: Perceived Indicators of Economic and Cultural Success

During the half-century following the end of the Civil War, over fifty opera houses were built across the Genesee Country of New York State- a region extending from the western edge of the Finger Lakes to the eastern border of the Niagara region. Although little different from their earlier counterparts, called \u27halls\u27, the conscious choice to call a newly built or acquired entertainment hall an opera house reflected a desire on the part of both town and builder to be thought of as appreciative of higher culture and the arts, and of having the financial stability to create and support such a venue. These opera houses were what I believe to be perceived indicators of a town\u27s cultural and economic progress: that is, they were understood on the part of the financier and community at large to be visible evidence to outsiders of the town\u27s cultural sensitivity and financial security. In addition, the construction of an opera house conferred on the builder/financier a secure place within the town\u27s social hierarchy as that of benefactor and promoter of the common good. Eloquent speeches outlining the town\u27s gratitude for such a place of entertainment were often a major part of opening night ceremonies at the new opera house. Thus, the perception of an opera house as being representative of economic and cultural success exists on a dual level- that of the political entity and its inhabitants, and that of the individual builder. Leisure time was increasing during the last part of the 19th century, due to changes in technology and labor laws, and in many social circles attending performances at the local opera house was considered to be preferable to attending those at vaudeville theaters, burlesque houses, circuses, or taverns. Opera houses were perceived as offering a higher, more morally desirable quality of entertainment than many other venues- a perception often utilized by acting companies and theater managers in their advertising. By studying the plays, touring and local acts, newspaper advertisements and playbills associated with local opera houses, it is possible to further our understanding of how a community\u27s opera house reflected cultural transitions during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These changes were happening nationally as well, as an agrarian society changed to one more urban- and industrially- based. New technologies, economic growth, and increasingly more complex national rail infrastructure influenced the rise in popularity of the opera house both in the study region and on the national level. Conversely, all these factors also played a role in the demise of the opera house as cultural icon. Still, even though their heyday has long since passed, many citizens of towns which possessed one of these structures have spoken with pride in the fact that their town once had one. More than a century after these structures were built, the perception that an opera house represented their town\u27s elevated level of prosperity and cultural achievement still exists in this region today

Heavy Supersymmetric Particle Effects in Higgs Boson Production Associated with a Bottom Quark Pair at LHC and Tevatron

If all the supersymmetry particles (sparticles) except a light Higgs boson are too heavy to be directly produced at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and Tevatron, a possible way to reveal evidence for supersymmetry is through their virtual effects in other processes. We examine such supersymmetric QCD effects in bottom pair production associated with a light Higgs boson at the LHC and Tevatron. We find that if the relevant sparticles (gluinos and squarks) are well above the TeV scale, too heavy to be directly produced, they can still have sizable virtual effects in this process. For large $\tan\beta$, such residual effects can alter the production rate by as much as 40 percent, which should be observable in future measurements of this process.Comment: results for Tevatron added, version in PR

Selective self-categorization: Meaningful categorization and the in-group persuasion effect

Research stemming from self-categorization theory (Turner et al., 1987) has demonstrated that individuals are typically more persuaded by messages from their in-group than by messages from the out-group. The present research investigated the role of issue relevance in moderating these effects. In particular, it was predicted that in-groups would only be more persuasive when the dimension on which group membership was defined was meaningful or relevant to the attitude issue. In two studies, participants were presented with persuasive arguments from either an in-group source or an out-group source, where the basis of the in-group/out-group distinction was either relevant or irrelevant to the attitude issue. Participants' attitudes toward the issue were then measured. The results supported the predictions: Participants were more persuaded by in-group sources than out-group sources when the basis for defining the group was relevant to the attitude issue. However, when the defining characteristic of the group was irrelevant to the attitude issue, participants were equally persuaded by in-group and out-group sources. These results support the hypothesis that the fit between group membership and domain is an important moderator of self-categorization effects

Simulation study for investment decisions on the EcoBoost camshaft machining line

Design/redesign of manufacturing systems is a complex, risky, and expensive task. Ford Motor Company’s Valencia Engine Plant faces this challenge as it plans to upgrade its machining and assembly lines to introduce the new EcoBoost engines. The research project described in this paper aimed to support the transition process particularly at the camshaft machining line by using simulation modelling techniques. A series of experiments was carried out using the simulation model developed, and recommendations were proposed based on the results of these experiments to support the decision as to where to invest on the line. The outcomes from the research project indicated that investment is required in terms of increasing the capacity of two bottleneck operations through retooling and improving the conveyor routing logic in one key area. Keywords: simulation modelling, closed-loop network, automotive production system

Alfven-Wave Studies On Pretext

Fusion Research Cente

Unilateral agenesis of the facial artery with compensation by a giant transverse facial artery

During routine dissections carried out in the course of our medical gross anatomy work, an unusual structure was found unilaterally on the left side of an adult male cadaver. Upon investigation, this was determined to be a hugely dilated transverse facial artery. Also noted was the complete absence of the ipsilateral facial artery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of complete agenesis and not simply diminution of the facial artery with compensatory enlargement of the transverse facial artery

Severe bilateral atrophy of the spinati muscles in a cadaver

During the routine dissection of a 62-year-old male cadaver, bilateral atrophy of the supra and infraspinatus muscles was observed. The suprascapular nerves, cervical spinal cord and surrounding muscles were found to be normal. We propose that, in the face of normal histology and other normal shoulder girdle muscles and normal nerves, this case represents an instance of Parsonage-Turner syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bilateral spinati atrophy in a cadaver

Secondary school pupils' preferences for different types of structured grouping practices

The aim of this paper is to explore pupils’ preferences for particular types of grouping practices an area neglected in earlier research focusing on the personal and social outcomes of ability grouping. The sample comprised over 5,000 year 9 pupils (aged 13-14 years) in 45 mixed secondary comprehensive schools in England. The schools represented three levels of ability grouping in the lower school (years 7 to 9). Pupils responded to a questionnaire which explored the types of grouping that they preferred and the reasons for their choices. The majority of pupils preferred setting, although this was mediated by their set placement, type of school, socio-economic status and gender. The key reason given for this preference was that it enabled work to be matched to learning needs. The paper considers whether there are other ways of achieving this avoiding the negative social and personal outcomes of setting for some pupils