A Proposed Approach for Stabilizing Verdant Concrete of \u3cem\u3eStairway to the Sky, Las Pozas,\u3c/em\u3e Mexico

At Las Pozas, it is the coalescence of nature and art that has become valued by many who have visited the site. This thesis sets forth an approach that seeks to find a common ground between maintaining the decayed appearance of a reinforced concrete structure known as Stairway to the Sky, while preserving the material integrity of its sculptural concrete—a complicated task in the warm, humid environment of Mexico\u27s Huasteca (was-tek-a) region

A conductor's analysis of standard choral works applying the high challenge-skill balance dimension of flow theory

Thesis (D.M.A.)--Boston UniversityMihaly Csikszentmihalyi's psychological construct "flow"-a subjective state describing an individual's optimal experience and engagement during intrinsically-motivated activity-has remained influential with respect to widely divergent fields of inquiry. Review of recent literature in music psychology and music education concerned specifically with flow, or "flow theory," reveals certain aspects of musical experience, and of choral experience. However, the application of flow theory specifically to the context ofchoral music-making remains largely underdeveloped, particularly as it concerns the subjectively-perceived nature of the construct. The present document presents a conductor's analysis ofthree standard choral works in light of this subjectively-perceived nature of the high challenge-skill balance dimension of flow theory. Chapter One considers the origins of flow theory, and elaborates upon the so-called nine "dimensions" of the flow experience. Additionally, this chapter offers a review of the relevant research concerned with: flow in music learning, flow experience in group settings, and flow in choral ensembles. Chapter Two outlines the document's analytical framework, which puts forward the possibility of accounting for the subjectively-perceived nature of challenges and skills-as espoused by the most contemporary conceptions of flow theory-through the lens of identifying "salient potential challenges" in choral works. Chapter Three analyzes three standard choral works: Jean-Baptist Weckerlin's Mon coeur se recommande avous, Johannes Brahms' O schone Nacht (op. 92, no. 1), and Joseph Haydn's Te Deum (Hob. XXIIIc: 2). Salient potential challenges to be found in each piece are explored in terms of the following common analytical categories: vocal/technical challenges, tonal/rhythmic challenges, and structural awareness challenges. Chapter Four offers a concluding summary as well as suggestions for further research. Structural diagrams, and texts and translations, made available in the appendices to the document, supplement the analytical work

Urban Forest Dynamics: Untangling Ecosystem Patterns at Harbison State Forest

As expansion continues to push the wildland-urban interface farther into the suburbs and the landscape which surrounds cities, it will become more important to understand the factors that influence species composition in remaining green spaces. Harbison State Forest, an ~890-hectare urban forest provides a convenient setting to analyze species composition patterns within a multipurpose urban green space. The factors that can create these patterns include environmental (topography, soil nutrient content, light, temperature, and precipitation), naturally occurring disturbances that alter these factors (e.g., fire, windthrow), and anthropogenic disturbances such as logging and prescribed burning. I measured basal area by species on 74 randomly distributed plots. These data were complemented by measures of logging history and burn history along with environmental measures of slope angle, elevation, and slope orientation taken in situ. Soil samples were taken at each plot and analyzed by an outside lab for chemical make-up and nutrient content. I then used NMS, MRPP, and ISA to analyze the distribution of species. NMS created gradients of soil structure differences between floodplain and upland soils while MRPP found significant (p \u3c0.05) differences between plots with differing histories. Soil proved to be the main determining factor in relation to woody species composition. Forest succession in Harbison is mostly influenced by environmental factors and represents a natural ecosystem existing in a suburban landscape

Southern Protestantism in the Fiction of Flannery O'Connor

The main body of the thesis concerns itself with the beliefs and characteristics of Southern Protestantism as they appear in the fiction of Flannery O'Connor

Assessing the practices of genetic counselors regarding head circumference measurement in hereditary cancer assessment

PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene, has been identified as an overgrowth susceptibility gene causing Cowden syndrome. Cowden syndrome is characterized by an increased risk for breast cancer and other malignancies, mucocutaneous lesions, and macrocephaly. Macrocephaly is a hallmark of Cowden syndrome, is considered a major criterion for the clinical diagnosis, and is present in an estimated 80% of individuals diagnosed with Cowden syndrome. However, it is unknown what percentage of genetic counselors routinely measure head circumference when evaluating patients for hereditary cancer assessment. This study queried National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) members about current practices and opinions regarding head circumference measurement. A questionnaire was dispersed electronically to all members of NSGC, and those who have practiced cancer genetic counseling in the last six months were eligible to respond. The data from 216 surveys was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods including thematic analysis. Eighty-four percent of genetic counselors are not measuring head circumference on every patient presenting for hereditary cancer assessment, nor those who are specifically presenting for hereditary breast cancer assessment. Thematic analysis revealed these individuals feel head circumference measurement should not be standard in a cancer assessment, but reserved for those who are suspicious of Cowden syndrome based on personal or family history. Additionally, some genetic counselors expressed they have not received appropriate training in head circumference measurement. However, the 29% of genetic counselors who believe head circumference should routinely be measured felt it is a quick and easy measurement that is helpful in assessment and is good clinical practice. Thematic analysis also revealed mixed responses about the value of head circumference measurement with the increasing use of next generation sequencing panels. Although macrocephaly is a major diagnostic criterion for Cowden syndrome, there have been diverse outcomes on the exact incidence, ranging from 40-100%. Identification of Cowden syndrome has significant public health implications. Because Cowden syndrome is associated with increased lifetime risks of cancer of multiple organ sites, and because increased screening and consideration of risk-reducing surgery, it is important that health care professionals identify cases of Cowden syndrome in their patient population

Airport ramp safety and crew performance issues

This study examined 182 ramp operations incident reports from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database, to determine which factors influence ramp operation incidents. It was found that incidents occurred more often during aircraft arrival operations than during departure operations; incidents occurred most often at the gate stop area, less so at the gate entry/exit areas, and least on the ramp fringe areas; and reporters cited fewer incidents when more ground crew were present. The authors offer suggestions for both airline management and flight crews to reduce the rate of ramp incidents

Seismological constraints on the density, thickness and temperature of the lithospheric mantle in southwestern Tibet

H. M.-D. thanks H. Fang, D. Forsyth, R. G. Green, A. Holt, V. Levin, C. Yu and especially L. Royden for helpful discussions, and to Schlumberger for a scholarship. He is also grateful to V. Levin and S. Roecker for making all seismo-grams from the Y2 network freely available through the IRIS Data Management Centre. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for thorough, constructive reviews. Data were processed using ObsPy. All figures were prepared using Matplotlib, alongside the Cartopy library for mapping.Peer reviewedPostprin