Musicians’ perceptions and experiences of using simulation training to develop performance skills

Simulation has been applied as a tool for learning and training in sports, psychology and medicine for some time, but its current use and potential for training musicians is less well understood. The aim of this study was to explore musicians’ perceptions and experiences of using simulated performance environments. Nine conservatory students performed in two simulations, each with interactive virtual elements and vivid environmental cues: a recital with a virtual audience and an audition with virtual judges. Qualitative data were collected through a focus group interview and written reflective commentaries. Thematic analysis highlighted the musicians’ experiences in terms of (1) their anticipation of using the simulations, (2) the process of performing in the simulations, (3) the usefulness of simulation as a tool for developing performance skills and (4) ways of improving simulation training. The results show that while simulation was new to the musicians and individual levels of immersion differed, the musicians saw benefits in the approach for developing, experimenting with and enhancing their performance skills. Specifically, the musicians emphasised the importance of framing the simulation experience with plausible procedures leading to and following on from the performance, and they recognised the potential for combining simulation with complementary training techniques

Purposeful selection of variables in logistic regression

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Historical Trajectory of Strategic Renewal Activities at Scandinavian Airlines System, 1946-2012

Although the second half of the twentieth century saw the rise and fall of ‘multi-flag companies’ in the civil aviation industry, our understanding of how some managed to buck the trend and achieve longevity remains limited. This paper advances business history and strategic management research by examining the strategic renewal activities of Scandinavian Airlines (formerly Scandinavian Airlines System) during the period 1946-2012. The study sheds light on the key roles of private and state owners, rivals as well as banks, in critical financial phases are discussed in terms of longevity in the company. The longevity of the business stems from the leaders’ ability to develop as anticipated and respond to change in their competitive arena in close interaction with the owners. Thus, incumbent firms that strategically renew themselves prior to or during market reform, such as deregulation, enhance their chances of developing the size of their networks and revenue streams. Our main contribution to business history and strategic management literatures is the development of context-specific stages, which shed light on the evolution of strategic renewal activities and shifts from older processes and routines towards customer service and efficiency

Is there an elephant in the room? A Response to Batavia et al

Non peer reviewe

Efficacy and safety of lumasiran for infants and young children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1: 12-month analysis of the phase 3 ILLUMINATE-B trial

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic disease that causes progressive kidney damage and systemic oxalosis due to hepatic overproduction of oxalate. Lumasiran demonstrated efficacy and safety in the 6-month primary analysis period of the phase 3, multinational, open-label, single-arm ILLUMINATE-B study of infants and children < 6 years old with PH1 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03905694 (4/1/2019); EudraCT: 2018–004,014-17 (10/12/2018)). Outcomes in the ILLUMINATE-B extension period (EP) for patients who completed ≥ 12 months on study are reported here. METHODS: Of the 18 patients enrolled in the 6-month primary analysis period, all entered the EP and completed ≥ 6 additional months of lumasiran treatment (median (range) duration of total exposure, 17.8 (12.7–20.5) months). RESULTS: Lumasiran treatment was previously reported to reduce spot urinary oxalate:creatinine ratio by 72% at month 6, which was maintained at 72% at month 12; mean month 12 reductions in prespecified weight subgroups were 89%, 68%, and 71% for patients weighing < 10 kg, 10 to < 20 kg, and ≥ 20 kg, respectively. The mean reduction from baseline in plasma oxalate level was reported to be 32% at month 6, and this improved to 47% at month 12. Additional improvements were also seen in nephrocalcinosis grade, and kidney stone event rates remained low. The most common lumasiran-related adverse events were mild, transient injection-site reactions (3 patients (17%)). CONCLUSIONS: Lumasiran treatment provided sustained reductions in urinary and plasma oxalate through month 12 across all weight subgroups, with an acceptable safety profile, in infants and young children with PH1. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information

Overview of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is under construction to measure the expansion history of the Universe using the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation technique. The spectra of 35 million galaxies and quasars over 14000 square degrees will be measured during the life of the experiment. A new prime focus corrector for the KPNO Mayall telescope will deliver light to 5000 fiber optic positioners. The fibers in turn feed ten broad-band spectrographs. We present an overview of the instrumentation, the main technical requirements and challenges, and the current status of the project.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Diabetes status and post-load plasma glucose concentration in relation to site-specific cancer mortality: findings from the original Whitehall study

ObjectiveWhile several studies have reported on the relation of diabetes status with pancreatic cancer risk, the predictive value of this disorder for other malignancies is unclear. Methods: The Whitehall study, a 25year follow-up for mortality experience of 18,006 men with data on post-challenge blood glucose and self-reported diabetes, allowed us to address these issues. Results: There were 2158 cancer deaths at follow-up. Of the 15 cancer outcomes, diabetes status was positively associated with mortality from carcinoma of the pancreas and liver, while the relationship with lung cancer was inverse, after controlling for a range of potential covariates and mediators which included obesity and socioeconomic position. After excluding deaths occurring in the first 10years of follow-up to examine the effect of reverse causality, the magnitude of the relationships for carcinoma of the pancreas and lung was little altered, while for liver cancer it was markedly attenuated. Conclusions: In the present study, diabetes status was related to pancreatic, liver, and lung cancer risk. Cohorts with serially collected data on blood glucose and covariates are required to further examine this area

Cognitive function is associated with risk aversion in community-based older persons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Emerging data from younger and middle-aged persons suggest that cognitive ability is negatively associated with risk aversion, but this association has not been studied among older persons who are at high risk of experiencing loss of cognitive function.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using data from 369 community-dwelling older persons without dementia from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, an ongoing longitudinal epidemiologic study of aging, we examined the correlates of risk aversion and tested the hypothesis that cognition is negatively associated with risk aversion. Global cognition and five specific cognitive abilities were measured via detailed cognitive testing, and risk aversion was measured using standard behavioral economics questions in which participants were asked to choose between a certain monetary payment ($15) versus a gamble in which they could gain more than$15 or gain nothing; potential gamble gains ranged from $21.79 to$151.19 with the gain amounts varied randomly over questions. We first examined the bivariate associations of age, education, sex, income and cognition with risk aversion. Next, we examined the associations between cognition and risk aversion via mixed models adjusted for age, sex, education, and income. Finally, we conducted sensitivity analyses to ensure that our results were not driven by persons with preclinical cognitive impairment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In bivariate analyses, sex, education, income and global cognition were associated with risk aversion. However, in a mixed effect model, only sex (estimate = -1.49, standard error (SE) = 0.39, p < 0.001) and global cognitive function (estimate = -1.05, standard error (SE) = 0.34, p < 0.003) were significantly inversely associated with risk aversion. Thus, a lower level of global cognitive function and female sex were associated with greater risk aversion. Moreover, performance on four out of the five cognitive domains was negatively related to risk aversion (<it>i.e</it>., semantic memory, episodic memory, working memory, and perceptual speed); performance on visuospatial abilities was not.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A lower level of cognitive ability and female sex are associated with greater risk aversion in advanced age.</p

A critical engagement with theological education in Africa

The higher education landscape has arguably become one of the most arduous to traverse. More so in the African context, where a host of variables continiously challenge educators to reflect critically on their philosophies and practices as they engage an ever-changing audience. In this book, a critical engagement with theological education in Africa is offered. As the book originates from South Africa, it is presented as a South African perspective, although contributors are situated accross the African continent and abroad. The common denominator is that all contributers are, in some way or another, invested in theological education in Africa. The main contribution of this collaborative work is to be sought in the insights it offers on four main areas of theological education: A historical and current orientation on theological edcuation in Africa, some paradigm shifts in theological education in Africa, ministerial formation needs versus theological education challenges, and a critical reflection on elective models and methods. The book presents the original and innovative research of scholars for fellow scholars involved in theological higher education as it is grounded in the respective fields of interest of each contributor. It contributes to a better understanding of the complex African theological higher education landscape that is also mindful of post-COVID-19 realities. Methodologically the work draws on a combination of methods, including literature studies, empirical work, and in some cases sectional offerings from doctoral studies, as indicated in the various chapters

The "silver" Japanese quail and the MITF gene: causal mutation, associated traits and homology with the "blue" chicken plumage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>MITF </it>(<it>microphthalmia-associated transcription factor</it>) gene has been investigated in mice and various vertebrates but its variations and associated effects have not yet been explored much in birds. The present study describes the causal mutation <it>B </it>at the <it>MITF </it>gene responsible for the "silver" plumage colour in the Japanese quail (<it>Coturnix japonica</it>), and its associated effects on growth and body composition, and tests its allelism with the "blue" plumage colour mutation <it>Bl </it>in <it>Gallus gallus</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The semi dominant <it>B </it>mutation results from a premature stop codon caused by a 2 bp deletion in exon 11 of <it>MITF</it>. Homozygous "white" (<it>B/B</it>) quail which have a white plumage also show a slightly lower growth, lower body temperature, smaller heart, and lighter <it>pectoralis </it>muscles but more abdominal adipose tissue than the recessive homozygous "wild-type" (<it>+/+</it>) and heterozygous "silver" (<it>B/+</it>) quail. Similar observations on cardiac and body growth were made on mice (<it>Mus musculus</it>) homozygous for mutations at <it>MITF</it>. The production of chicken-quail hybrids with a white plumage obtained by crossing <it>Bl/+ </it>chicken heterozygous for the <it>blue </it>mutation with <it>B/B </it>white quail indicated that the mutations were allelic.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The "silver" Japanese quail is an interesting model for the comparative study of the effects of <it>MITF </it>in birds and mammals. Further investigation using a chicken family segregating for the "blue" plumage and molecular data will be needed to confirm if the "blue" plumage in chicken results from a mutation in <it>MITF</it>.</p