A newly-discovered manuscript by Bohuslav Martinů on the Byzantine Octoechos

There are some discoveries in life that seem to fall from the sky. One of those is a hitherto virtually unknown manuscript on the Byzantine Octoechos and Greek music by one of the most famous and prominent Czech composers of the twentieth century, Bohuslav Martinů. My “story” with this manuscript started on my birthday, 14 April 2016, when I received a brief e-mail from a gentleman who was at that time unknown to me. After addressing me as “Vážený otče” (i.e. “Honourable Father” in Czech), he asked me for a brief meeting to help him with “liturgical matters in music” (“liturgické věci v hudbě“). Without giving it a great deal of thought, I replied, and we arranged a meeting – and of course, I explained that I was not a priest. At that meeting I discovered that this gentleman was Mr Jaroslav Mihule, a renowned Czech musicologist and one of the finest experts on the work of Bohuslav Martinů. After introducing himself, he showed me an original manuscript by Martinů on the Byzantine Octoechos, asked me a few questions about the “Alleluia” hymn noted in the manuscript and then, surprisingly, he offered to lend me the manuscript so I could study it carefully at home. It is difficult to describe my surprise upon coming across this coexistence of two musical worlds, ordinarily so remote from each other: the music of my childhood in Cyprus (since the manuscript essentially comprises liturgical chants of the Greek Orthodox Church), very thoroughly notated by a very famous and very “Western” composer. This manuscript forms part of the composer’s studies on Greek sacred music for his last opera The Greek Passion, which is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’s famous novel Christ Recrucified (Ο Χριστός ξανασταυρώνεται)

Fully nonlinear computations of waves and wave-structure interaction

This thesis concerns the development of an exact or fully nonlinear numerical model capable of describing surface water waves, including the occurrence of wave breaking, and their interaction with structures. The motivation for this work arose, first because of an inability to model limiting and overturning waves in directionally-spread seas and, second because of an inability to describe some of the highly nonlinear free-surface effects which arise when steep waves interact with surface-piercing columns. On both counts the available design tools were known to fall well short of accurately describing these important flows. The work has involved the development of a three-dimensional, fully nonlinear, multiple-flux Boundary Element Method (BEM) and has compared the results of this model to detailed laboratory observations. Quantitative comparisons of the numerical results to both new and existing experimental data, much of which has been gathered as part of the study, are presented. In order to accurately simulate the physical phenomenon associated with wave-wave and wave-structure interactions, it is necessary to formulate, store and solve very large systems of equations. Consequently, the three-dimensional numerical code is executed using a parallel implementation. This is not only necessary to maximise its time efficiency, but to also allow the feasible simulation of realistic problems involving significant directional spreads. The applications of the model include: (a) Solitary waves overturning on impermeable plane beach slopes. (b) Irregular (or unsteady) waves interacting with a vertical wall. (c) Waves interacting with submerged breakwaters and underwater caissons. (d) Overturning irregular waves, including descriptions of their associated water particle kinematics throughout the water column. (e) Waves interacting with surface-piercing columns, with details of the scattered waves arising. As a result of these studies, a new wave model has been fully validated, new numerical descriptions have been obtained, and improved physical insights concerning practically important problems have been realised

Problem Solving and Problem Posing in a Dynamic Geometry Environment

In this study, we considered dynamic geometry software (DGS) as the tool that mediates students’ strategies in solving and posing problems. The purpose of the present study was twofold. First, to understand the way in which students can solve problems in the setting of a dynamic geometry environment, and second, to investigate how DGS provides opportunities for posing new problems. Two mathematical problems were presented to six pre-service teachers with prior experience in dynamic geometry. Each student participated in two interview sessions which were video recorded. The results of the study showed that DGS, as a mediation tool, encouraged students to use in problem solving and posing the processes of modeling, conjecturing, experimenting and generalizing. Furthermore, we found that DGS can play a significant role in engendering problem solving and posing by bringing about surprise and cognitive conflict as students use the dragging and measuring facilities of the software

Developing student spatial ability with 3D software applications

This paper reports on the design of a library of software applications for the teaching and learning of spatial geometry and visual thinking. The core objective of these applications is the development of a set of dynamic microworlds, which enables (i) students to construct, observe and manipulate configurations in space, (ii) students to study different solids and relates them to their corresponding nets, and (iii) students to promote their visualization skills through the process of constructing dynamic visual images. During the developmental process of software applications the key elements of spatial ability and visualization (mental images, external representations, processes, and abilities of visualization) are carefully taken into consideration

THE INTERACTION OF NONLINEAR WAVES WITH THE SUBMERGED CAISSONS OF A GRAVITY BASED STRUCTURE

ABSTRACT This paper concerns the numerical description of nonlinear waves propagating over the storage caissons of a gravity based structure. This process produces a steepening of the incident wave-field, which occurs when the waves propagate into the shallower water region above the storage caissons, resulting in the focussing of wave energy. A fully nonlinear Multiple-flux Boundary Element Method (MF-BEM) is applied to simulate this effect. The MF-BEM differs from traditional boundary integral approaches in two important respects: first, a multiple-flux approach is employed to overcome the problem of geometric discontinuities; and, second, no filtering, smoothing, re-gridding or redistribution of the nodes is performed at any stage during the simulations. These two aspects are believed to play an important role in accurately predicting the steepening of the incident wave-field. The numerical predictions are compared to new laboratory observations that examine the extent of this wave-structure interaction and, particularly, the steepening of the incident wave-field

Maximum Power Training Load Determination and Its Effects on Load-Power Relationship, Maximum Strength, and Vertical Jump Performance

This study examines the changes in maximum strength, vertical jump performance, and the load-velocity and load-power relationship after a resistance training period using a heavy load and an individual load that maximizes mechanical power output with and without including body mass in power calculations. Forty-three moderately trained men (age: 22.7 6 2.5 years) were separated into 4 groups, 2 groups of maximum power, 1 where body mass was not included in the calculations of the load that maximizes mechanical power (Pmax 2 bw, n = 11) and another where body mass was included in the calculations (Pmax + bw, n = 9), a high load group (HL-90%, n = 12), and a control group (C, n = 11). The subjects performed 4-6 sets of jump squat and the repeated-jump exercises for 6 weeks. For the jump squat, the HL-90% group performed 3 repetitions at each set with a load of 90% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), the Pmax 2 bw group 5 repetitions with loads 48-58% of 1RM and the Pmax + bw 8 repetitions with loads 20-37% of 1RM. For the repeated jump, all the groups performed 6 repetitions at each set. All training groups improved (p < 0.05) maximum strength in the semisquat exercise (HL-90%: 15.2 ± 7.1, Pmax 2 bw: 6.6 ± 4.7, Pmax + bw: 6.9 ± 7.1, and C: 0 6 4.3%) and the HL-90% group presented higher values (p < 0.05) than the other groups did. All training groups improved similarly (p < 0.05) squat (HL-90%: 11.7 6 7.9, Pmax 2 bw: 14.5 ± 11.8, Pmax + bw: 11.3 ± 7.9, and C: 22.2 ± 5.5%) and countermovement jump height (HL-90%: 8.6 ± 7.9, Pmax 2 bw: 10.9 ± 9.4, Pmax + bw: 8.8 ± 4.3, and C: 0.4 ± 6%). The HL-90% and the Pmax 2 bw group increased (p < 0.05) power output at loads of 20, 35, 50, 65, and 80% of 1RM and the Pmax + bw group at loads of 20 and 35% of 1RM. The inclusion or not of body mass to determine the load that maximizes mechanical power output affects the long-term adaptations differently in the load-power relationship. Thus, training load selection will depend on the required adaptations. However, the use of heavy loads causes greater overall neuromuscular adaptations in moderately trained individuals. {\textcopyright} 2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Stereometry activities with DALEST

This book reports on a project to devise and test a teaching programme in 3D geometry for middle school students based on the needs, knowledge and experiences of a range of countries within the European Union. The main objective of the project was the development (and testing) of a dynamic three-dimensional geometry microworld that enabled the students to construct, observe and manipulate geometrical figures in space and which their teachers used to help their students construct an understanding of stereometr

SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 is associated with greater disease severity among hospitalised women but not men: multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 has been associated with an increased rate of transmission and disease severity among subjects testing positive in the community. Its impact on hospitalised patients is less well documented. METHODS: We collected viral sequences and clinical data of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 and hospital-onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs), sampled 16 November 2020 to 10 January 2021, from eight hospitals participating in the COG-UK-HOCI study. Associations between the variant and the outcomes of all-cause mortality and intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission were evaluated using mixed effects Cox models adjusted by age, sex, comorbidities, care home residence, pregnancy and ethnicity. FINDINGS: Sequences were obtained from 2341 inpatients (HOCI cases=786) and analysis of clinical outcomes was carried out in 2147 inpatients with all data available. The HR for mortality of B.1.1.7 compared with other lineages was 1.01 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.28, p=0.94) and for ITU admission was 1.01 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.37, p=0.96). Analysis of sex-specific effects of B.1.1.7 identified increased risk of mortality (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.78, p=0.096) and ITU admission (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.90, p=0.011) in females infected with the variant but not males (mortality HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.10, p=0.177; ITU HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.04, p=0.086). INTERPRETATION: In common with smaller studies of patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2, we did not find an overall increase in mortality or ITU admission associated with B.1.1.7 compared with other lineages. However, women with B.1.1.7 may be at an increased risk of admission to intensive care and at modestly increased risk of mortality.This report was produced by members of the COG-UK-HOCI Variant substudy consortium. COG-UK-HOCI is part of COG-UK. COG-UK is supported by funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute