5 research outputs found
Interaction between physiological and subjective states predicts the effect of a judging panel on the postures of cellists in performance
No full textThis study investigated the effect of a panel of judges on the movements and postures of cellists in performance. 24 expert cellists played a short piece of music, to a metronome beat, in the presence and absence of the panel. Kinematic analyses showed that in the presence of the panel the temporal execution of left arm shifting movements became less variable and closer to the metronome beat. In contrast, the panel's presence had no reliable effect on their spatial accuracy. A detailed postural analysis indicated that left elbow angle during execution of a given high note was correlated with level of heart rate, though the nature of this correlation was systematically affected by the relevant participant's subjective state: if anxious, a higher heart rate correlated with a more flexed elbow, if not anxious then with a more extended elbow. Our results suggest a change in physiological state alone does not reliably predict a change in behaviour in performing cellists, which instead depends on the interaction between physiological state and subjective experience of anxiety. This highlights a need to distinguish performance anxiety from physiological arousal, to which end we advocate currency for the specific term performance arousal to describe heightened physiological activity in a performer
Perception of string quartet synchronisation
No full textTiming variation in small group musical performance results from intentional, expressive and unintentional, error components in individual player timing. These timing fluctuations produce variability in between-player note asynchrony and require timing adjustments to keep the ensemble together. The size of the adjustments relative to the asynchrony (correction gain) affects the amount and nature of asynchrony variability. We present new listening tests to estimate thresholds for perception of between-player asynchrony variability and to determine whether listeners use differences in the nature of the variability, as well as in its magnitude, to judge asynchrony.In two experiments, computer-simulated ensemble performances of a 48-note excerpt from Haydn Op. 74 No. 1 were generated. Between-player note asynchrony was systematically manipulated in terms of level of within-player timing variability (Exp.1) and correction gain (Exp. 2). On each trial, participants listened to two samples, one (target) with more between-player asynchrony variability than the other (test), and reported which was less together. In both experiments, the test sample correction gain was fixed at the statistically optimal vlaue of 0.25 and the within-player timing variability was minimal (zero except for random variability in the initial note). In Exp. 1 the target correction gain was fixed at 0.25 and the timing variability was adjusted over trials by a staircase algorithm designed to converge on the level of asynchrony variability giving 75% correct identification. In Exp. 2 the timing variability in the target was set at half that in Exp. 1 and the correction gain was varied to converge on 75% correct identification.Our results show that the between-player asynchrony variability giving 75% correct identification in Exp. 2 was significantly lower than in Exp. 1. This finding indicates that people are sensitive to both the degree of variance and the micro-structure of the time-serie
Aldo-keto reductase 1B10 and its role in proliferation capacity of drug-resistant cancers
No full textThe human aldo-keto reductase AKR1B10, originally identified as an aldose reductase-like protein and human small intestine aldose reductase, is a cytosolic NADPH-dependent reductase that metabolizes a variety of endogenous compounds, such as aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and dicarbonyl compounds, and some drug ketones. The enzyme is highly expressed in solid tumors of several tissues including lung and liver, and as such has received considerable interest as a relevant biomarker for the development of those tumors. In addition, AKR1B10 has been recently reported to be significantly up-regulated in some cancer cell lines (medulloblastoma D341 and colon cancer HT29) acquiring resistance towards chemotherapeutic agents (cyclophosphamide and mitomycin c), suggesting the validity of the enzyme as a chemoresistance marker. Although the detailed information on the AKR1B10-mediated mechanisms leading to the drug resistance process is not well understood so far, the enzyme has been proposed to be involved in functional regulations of cell proliferation and metabolism of drugs and endogenous lipids during the development of chemoresistance. This article reviews the current literature focusing mainly on expression profile and roles of AKR1B10 in the drug resistance of cancer cells. Recent developments of AKR1B10 inhibitors and their usefulness in restoring sensitivity to anticancer drugs are also reviewed
Synchronization and leadership in string quartet performance: a case study of auditory and visual cues
No full textTemporal coordination between members of a string quartet was investigated across repeated performances of an excerpt of Haydn’s string quartet in G Major, Op. 77 No. 1. Cross-correlations between interbeat intervals of performances at different lags showed a unidirectional dependence of Viola on Violin I, and of Violin I on Cello. Bidirectional dependence was observed for the relationships between Violin II and Cello and Violin II and Viola. Own-reported dependencies after the performances reflected these measured dependencies more closely than dependencies of players reported by the other players, which instead showed more typical leader-follower patterns in which Violin I leads. On the other hand, primary leadership from Violin I was observed in an analysis of the bow speed characteristics preceding the first tone onset. The anticipatory movement of Violin I set the tempo of the excerpt. Taken together the results show a more complex and differentiated pattern of dependencies than expected from a traditional role division of leadership suggesting several avenues for further research
Model-based initial residual unbalance identification for rotating machines in one and two planes using an iterative inverse approach
No full textFunding Information: The research is funded by Business Finland project BRAIN (decision no. 1119/31/2018). Funding Information: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research is funded by Business Finland project BRAIN Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s).To achieve acceptable dynamical behavior for large rotating machines operating at subcritical speeds, the balancing quality check at the planned service speed in the installation location is often demanded for machines such as turbo-generators or high-speed machines. While most studies investigate the balancing quality at critical speeds, only a few studies have investigated this aspect using numerical methods at operational speed. This study proposes a novel, model-based method for inversely estimating initial residual unbalance in one and two planes after initial grade balancing for large flexible rotors operating at the service speeds. The method utilizes vibration measurements from two planes in any single direction, combined with a finite element model of the rotor to inversely determine the residual unbalance in one and two planes. This method can be practically used to determine the initial and residual unbalance after the balancing process, and further it can be used for condition-based monitoring of the unbalance state of the rotor.Peer reviewe
