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Josephin ‘Sâr’ Péladan, Charles Tournemire and apocalyptic mysticism
No full textThis chapter explores the presence of Péladan’s aesthetics of transformation in Charles Tournemire's religious-modernist project. I first outline various critical contexts for understanding mysticism, connecting these concepts to musical modes that were fundamental to Tournemire’s and Olivier Messiaen’s modernist musical aesthetics. In the second section, I detail how Péladan created a form of emancipatory apocalyptic mysticism that was important for Tournemire and foundation for Messiaen’s music. The third section discusses Tournemire’s employment and refashioning of karnatic or hindu modes, known as the ‘Mēḷakartā’, in his Sept Chorals-Poèmes d’Orgue pour les sept paroles du Xrist (1935) for organ. Tournemire’s inculcation of these modes, I contend, was a creative means of embodying symbolist and religious meaning, and the mysticism, desire, and fantasy implicit in Péladan’s vision of art
Technical note: A preliminary assessment of UV-C imaging using the Full Spectrum Imaging System (FSIS-II) for the detection of latent fingermarks
Get PDFThe Full Spectrum Imaging System (FSIS-II) was assessed for the detection of latent fingermarks on a variety of
substrates, specifically focusing on UV-C imaging for untreated marks and those that have been treated with
cyanoacrylate (CA). The use of UV-C was effective at the detection of latent fingermarks on a variety of substrates
and UV-C imaging may be effective when UV-A does not provide any fingermark detections on thermal paper. A
Phase 2 and a small Phase 3 trials on aluminium cans were carried out with a detection sequence of UV-C imaging, CA fuming, UV-C imaging, UV-A imaging and BY40. For Phase 2 laboratory trials, the use of initial UV-C
reflection was effective at removing the background and was a useful tool for initial screening. The use of UV-C
was superior to UV-A after CA fuming and provided the highest overall number of high-quality marks. For phase
3 trials, the results showed that BY40 fluorescence was marginally more effective than UV-C imaging of CAtreated marks. This preliminary study shows that the FSIS-II and UV-C imaging can complement other
methods for the detection of latent fingermarks
“Physical well-being is our top priority”: Healthcare professionals' challenges in supporting psychosocial well-being in stroke services
Get PDFBackground
Following stroke, a sense of well-being is critical for quality of life. However, people living with stroke, and health professionals, suggest well-being is not sufficiently addressed within stroke services, contributing to persistent unmet needs. Knowing that systems and structures shape clinical practice, this study sought to understand how health professionals address well-being, and to examine how the practice context influences care practice.
Methods
Underpinned by Interpretive Description methodology, we interviewed 28 health professionals across multiple disciplines working in stroke services (acute and rehabilitation) throughout New Zealand. Data were analysed using Applied Tensions Analysis.
Results
Health professionals are managing multiple lines of work in stroke care: biomedical work of investigation, intervention and prevention; clinical work of assessment, monitoring and treatment; and moving people through service. While participants reported working to support well-being, this could be deprioritised amidst the time-oriented pressures of the other lines of work that were privileged within services, rendering it unsupported and invisible.
Conclusion
Stroke care is shaped by biomedical and organisational imperatives which privilege physical recovery and patient throughput. Health professionals are not provided with the knowledge, skills, time or culture of care that enable them to privilege well-being within their work. This has implications for the well-being of people with stroke, and the well-being of health professionals. In making these discourses and culture visible, and tracing how these impact on clinical practice, we hope to provide insight into why well-being work remains other to the ‘core’ work of stroke, and what needs to be considered if stroke services are to better support people’s well-being.
Patient or public contributions
People with stroke, family members, and people who provide support to people with stroke, and health professionals set priorities for this research. They advised on study conduct and have provided feedback on wider findings from the research
Enhancing Embodied Music Cognition Through Music Theatre, with Particular Reference to Solo by Michael Pinchbeck and Ollie Smith
Get PDFIt is widely accepted that the sense of understanding (cognition) music results from an embodied process. This view is supported by developments in modern neurological studies. Our concern in this chapter is to explore the implications of this view of music cognition in relation to forms of music theatre in which the audience is actively engaged. Our overall research question is, whether or not, and to what extent, the physical engagement of audiences in music theatre performances enhances their embodied cognition of the music. The first objective of our research is to define and examine the approaches used to achieve physical engagement by the audience in music theatre. The second objective, which we hope will be the subject of a further research project, is to assess the extent to which these approaches may enhance the embodied cognition of the music concerned.
We start with a discussion of the view that music cognition is an embodied, rather than a purely mental, process, focusing on recent scholarship on embodied music cognition and mimetic engagement in music, as well as theories from the field of neurology. We then analyse four examples of music theatre which attempt to engage their audiences in physical actions in a way which may enhance the process of cognition of the music. We focus in detail on Solo by Michael Pinchbeck and Ollie Smith and describe its relationship to Ravel’s Tzigane (1924), comparing the approaches used in this piece to those used in the other examples reviewed. We argue that Solo is the piece that most effectively elucidates aspects of the music (specifically, in this case, the phrase structure and folk-like character of Ravel’s Tzigane) and suggest that this is likely due to the high degree of immersion in the world of the drama and the nature of physical engagement it requires from its audience. In conducting a review of this type, we hope to shed new light on the importance of the body as a vehicle for music cognition
“Something that helped the whole picture”: Experiences of parents offered rapid prenatal exome sequencing in routine clinical care in the English National Health Service
Get PDFObjectives
In October 2020, rapid prenatal exome sequencing (pES) was introduced into routine National Health Service (NHS) care in England. This study aimed to explore parent experiences and their information and support needs from the perspective of parents offered pES and of health professionals involved in its delivery. Methods in this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 women and 6 male partners and 63 fetal medicine and genetic health professionals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
Overall views about pES were positive and parents were grateful to be offered the test. Highlighted benefits of pES included the value of the additional information for pregnancy management and planning for future pregnancies. An anxious wait for results was common, often associated with the need to make decisions near to 24 weeks in pregnancy when there are legal restrictions for late termination. Descriptions of dealing with uncertainty were also
common, even once results had been returned. Many parents described pES results informing decision-making around whether or not to terminate pregnancy. Some professionals were concerned that a non-informative result could be overly reassuring and highlighted that careful counselling was needed to ensure parents have a good
understanding of what the result means for their pregnancy. Emotional support from professionals was valued, however some parents felt that post-test support was lacking.
Conclusion
Parents and professionals welcomed the introduction of pES. Results inform parents’ decision making around termination of pregnancy. When there are no diagnostic findings or uncertain findings from pES, personalised counselling that considers scans and other tests is crucial. Directing parents to reliable online sources of information and providing emotional support throughout could improve their experiences of care
Factors Affecting Healthy Aging and Its Interconnected Pathways
Get PDFThe process of aging is influenced by factors across different aspects of life including biology, lifestyle, and the surrounding environment. As the global population continues to age it is crucial to understand the complexities involved in maintaining the health and quality of life of adults. This article offers an
overview of the dimensions of aging by examining the key factors and demonstrating how they are interconnected in shaping the aging process. Biological factors play a role at molecular and systemic levels. Lifestyle choices also have an impact with regular physical activity, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and cognitive engagement all contributing to overall well-being.
Social support networks, community resources and access to healthcare services are environmental factors that also influence healthy aging trajectories. In addition, socioeconomic circumstances contribute to disparities in aging outcomes with individuals from poorer backgrounds often facing greater challenges in accessing resources and healthcare services. Genetic predisposition can play a role
in determining how well we are with certain genes and molecular pathways associated with age related diseases that can affect longevity.
In order to comprehensively explore the literature on aging, this study employed the methodological approach of a scoping review to identify topics and evidence types, and also a rapid review to systematically map current knowledge. This combination provides a focus on qualitative summaries rather than exhaustive analysis and enabled a systematic search for relevant papers while ensuring rigorous screening processes for categorizing and synthesizing the findings. It involved searching the
PubMed database by scanning titles and abstracts for relevance and then organizing information based on the dominant themes. A qualitative analysis of the evidence was then carried out, related to the concept of healthy aging, while also identifying gaps in the research.
The result is an overview of the evidence surrounding aging and areas that require investigation. To summarize, this innovative approach using scoping and rapid review methodologies enabled a systematic mapping of current knowledge about aging. By examining these factors, and understanding their interconnectedness, approaches can be developed that will be effective in helping to promote healthy aging and thereby enhance the quality of life for older adults. This article aims to provide
insights into the influencers of the aging process while also highlighting potential avenues for future
research and intervention
Challenges Encountered by Healthcare Professionals as Frontline Fighters during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFThroughout the pandemic, healthcare professionals (HCPs) around the world encountered numerous challenges. This study was conducted in the middle of the pandemic, from June to November 2021, and explored the multiple issues that HCPs faced in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thirty doctors and nurses, covering a wide range of workplaces and experiences, were interviewed. A qualitative investigation was performed to assess the influence that diverse organizational, familial, social, and religious factors had on their commitment to fulfil their professional duties. Thematic content analysis was performed on the findings. The results emphasize the physical and mental health problems of HCPs, the vital role of organizations in addressing the wellbeing of HCPs, and the necessity of providing training for them, along with workloads and PPE-related problems. It also explores the roles of families, the influence of society, and the impact of religious beliefs on their commitment during the pandemic
Developing a Data-Driven AI Model to Enhance Energy Efficiency in UK Residential Buildings
Get PDFResidential buildings contribute to 30% of the UK’s total final energy consumption. However, with less than one percent of its housing stock being replaced annually, retrofitting existing homes has significant importance in meeting energy efficiency targets. Consequently, many physics-based and data-driven models and tools have been developed to analyse the effects of retrofit strategies from various points of view. This paper aims to develop a data-driven AI model that predicts buildings’ energy performance based on their features under various retrofit scenarios. In this context, four different machine learning models were developed based on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) dataset for residential buildings and Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) guidelines in the UK. Additionally, an interface was designed that enables users to analyse the effect of different retrofit strategies on a building’s energy performance using the developed AI models. The results of this study revealed the artificial neural network as the most accurate predictive model, with a coefficient of determination (R^2) of 0.82 and a mean percentage error of 11.9 percent. However, some conceptual irregularities were observed across all the models when dealing with different retrofit scenarios. In summary, such tools can be further improved to offer a potential alternative or support to physics-based models, enhancing the efficiency of retrofitting processes in buildings.
Keywords: machine learning, energy performance certificate, building energy consumptio
Our Own Devices: Reproducing with Technologies
No full textOverview volume of contemporary art practices examining problems, beliefs and contradictions that the family as an institution embodies
Mobility-aware modeling and evaluation of IoT systems using stochastic reward nets
Get PDFThe frequent geographical changes of mobile nodes in Internet of Things (IoT) systems affect communication, activities, and behaviors. In such scenarios, it is crucial to establish a system model capable of evaluating quality of service (QoS) measures. However, the existing formal modeling techniques pose complexities in modeling mobility. To deal with these challenges, this study aims to propose a model that simplifies the process of modeling mobility within IoT systems. This paper presents a method for modeling mobility within IoT systems by leveraging a widely recognized extension of stochastic Petri nets known as stochastic reward nets (SRNs). The proposed method enhances the SRN model by incorporating the location concept, resulting in a novel extension called mobile SRN (MSRN). In this work, a case study utilizes the MSRN to evaluate the suggested features, examining various scenarios and investigating the impact of factors such as environmental conditions, sensor sampling rate, and the permissible distance of the node from the sink