An Analysis and Performance Guide of Three New Works For Clarinet and Saxophone Duo

The clarinet and saxophone duo has become one of the standard chamber ensembles available to both instruments. However, there has been a lack of scholarship surrounding this ensemble and its music. This dissertation seeks to bring awareness to the duo and its music through providing an analysis and performance guide of three new works commissioned by Duo Velox. The first piece, Shots Fired by Caleb Westby is written for B-flat clarinet, tenor saxophone, and electronic playback. Shots Fired derives much of its thematic material from a post-tonal version of a theme from the Columbine Alma Mater by Frank Ticheli. The second piece, Vortex III by Attakorn Sookjaeng is written for B-flat clarinet and alto saxophone. Attakorn combines aspects of his two previous Vortex works, originally for solo soprano saxophone, to create Vortex III. The last piece Polarized by John Kosch is unique in that it was written for mixed woodwind duo. Each performer is required to play both B-flat clarinet and alto saxophone. Kosch utilized two themes one aggressive and one timid to illustrate the current political climate through music. Each analysis utilizes unique analytical tools derived from post tonal theory, such as set class theory and motivic transformation. Within the formal analysis of Shots Fired, the electronic playback is analyzed through the method found within Narrative Soundscape Composition as described by Yvette Janine Jackson. Narrative Soundscape Composition is a subgenre of Soundscape Composition where a narrative of a location is described through electroacoustic means. The analysis of the electronic playback in Shots Fired also utilizes and expands upon David Cope’s listening method. Following the analyses, a performance guide that is informed by the preceding analysis is included to aid performers in preparing each piece. The performance guide is divided into three sections: Instrumental Considerations, Chamber Considerations, and Giving an Informed Performance

Crystal structure, thermodynamics, magnetics and disorder properties of Be-Fe-Al intermetallics

The elastic and magnetic properties, thermodynamical stability, deviation from stoichiometry and order/disorder transformations of phases that are relevant to Be alloys were investigated using density functional theory simulations coupled with phonon density of states calculations to capture temperature effects. A novel structure and composition were identified for the Be-Fe binary {\epsilon} phase. In absence of Al, FeBe_5 is predicted to form at equilibrium above ~ 1250 K, while the {\epsilon} phase is stable only below ~ 1650 K, and FeBe_2 is stable at all temperatures below melting. Small additions of Al are found to stabilise FeBe_5 over FeBe_2 and {\epsilon}, while at high Al content, AlFeBe_4 is predicted to form. Deviations from stoichiometric compositions are also considered and found to be important in the case of FeBe_5 and {\epsilon}. The propensity for disordered vs ordered structures is also important for AlFeBe_4 (which exhibits complete Al-Fe disordered at all temperatures) and FeBe_5 (which exhibits an order-disorder transition at ~ 950 K).Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in J. Alloy Compd. on 14 March 201

Order, disorder and stability in Be intermetallics for fusion applications

Be intermetallics are a promising family of materials for the first wall and neutron multiplying applications in future nuclear fusion reactors, owing to their low atomic number, still high beryllium content but improved thermo-mechanical properties over pure beryllium. Due to the difficulties of working with Be, however, they are often poorly characterized. Thus, the crystallography, elastic and magnetic properties, thermodynamical stability, deviation from stoichiometry and order/disorder transformations of intermetallics, which are relevant to Be alloys have been investigated using computer simulation [1,2,3]. These include Be-Fe-Al ternary phases as well as a series of Be-transition metal binaries. Throughout the density functional code CASTEP was employed, coupled with phonon density of states calculations to capture temperature effects. The propensity for intermetallics to act as impurity sinks was also considered. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy and Purifying Selection in the Mammalian Female Germ Line.

Inherited mutations in the mitochondrial (mt)DNA are a major cause of human disease, with approximately 1 in 5000 people affected by one of the hundreds of identified pathogenic mtDNA point mutations or deletions. Due to the severe, and often untreatable, symptoms of many mitochondrial diseases, identifying how these mutations are inherited from one generation to the next has been an area of intense research in recent years. Despite large advances in our understanding of this complex process, many questions remain unanswered, with one of the most hotly debated being whether or not purifying selection acts against pathogenic mutations during germline development

Hydrogen trapping mechanisms of TiC and (Ti,Mo)C precipitates in steels

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Its About TIME: A Rigorous New Process for Selecting Instructional Materials for Science

California counties and school districts are implementing a critically needed change in how they evaluate science instructional materials before investing in local adoption. Past adoptions were often too superficial in nature, focusing on candidate materials' overall look and feel, use of graphical elements, and availability of ancillary materials while insufficiently attending to the substance of the materials for high-quality teaching and learning. In contrast, the California NGSS Toolkit for Instructional Materials Evaluation (hereafter referred to as TIME) process enables participants to use evidence-based measures to choose materials aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that meet their district's needs.This 11th report in the NGSS Early Implementers Initiative evaluation series is intended for school and district administrators, leaders of science professional learning, and state policymakers. It provides an overview of the full TIME process, including participants' perceptions, a detailed description of the statewide TIME trainings of 2018-19, and a vignette that illustrates a portion of the TIME process

Submission 238 to: Australia's Science and Research Priorities - Conversation Starter

Australia plans to obtain, build, and operate nuclear propelled submarines. The immense challenges brought about by this change in national defence strategy, along with the ambition to create a 20,000 strong nuclear science and engineering capable workforce, must be reflected in the National Science and Research Priorities, and the National Science Statement. We therefore recommend the inclusion of Nuclear Technology as a contemporary National Science and Research Priority, for consideration by the Science Strategy and Priorities Taskforce

Structural and phase evolution in U₃Si₂ during steam corrosion

U₃Si₂ nuclear fuel is corroded in deuterated steam with in situ neutron diffraction. Density functional theory is coupled with rigorous thermodynamic description of the hydride including gas/solid entropy contributions. H absorbs in the 2b interstitial site of U₃Si₂Hx and moves to 8j for x ≥ 0.5. Hydriding forces lattice expansion and change in a/c ratio linked to site preference. Rietveld refinement tracks the corrosion reactions at 350-500 °C and preference for the 8j site. Above 375 °C, formation of UO₂, U₃Si₅ and USi₃ take place in the grain boundaries and bulk. Hydriding occurs in bulk and precedes other reactions

Hydrogen trapping and embrittlement in metals – a review

Hydrogen embrittlement in metals (HE) is a serious challenge for the use of high strength materials in engineering practice and a major barrier to the use of hydrogen for global decarbonization. Here we describe the factors and variables that determine HE susceptibility and provide an overview of the latest understanding of HE mechanisms. We discuss hydrogen uptake and how it can be managed. We summarize hydrogen trapping and the techniques used for its characterization. We also review literature that argues that hydrogen trapping can be used to decrease HE susceptibility. We discuss the future research that is required to advance the understanding of HE and hydrogen trapping and to develop HE-resistant alloys