In the United States, in 1953, the manufacture of band instruments in well established with a large part of the industry centered in Elkhart, Indiana. Three major problems will be considered in this thesis: Why the band instrument industry was started in Elkhart, what factors led to the growth and expansion of the industry, and why, after almost eighty years, Elkhart has retained its prominence as the nation's band instrument center.

Parmi les problèmes musculo-squelettiques liés à l’exécution de la musique, touchant particulièrement les instrumentistes à cordes frottées, la douleur est le symptôme le plus fréquent. La douleur liée à la pratique instrumentale a toutefois été peu documentée chez les étudiants qui font partie de l’élite en cordes, c’est-à-dire, les élèves de tous âges qui sont engagés dans une démarche d’apprentissage préprofessionnel de l’instrument. De plus, les facteurs de risque de la douleur liée à l’exécution de la musique ont été déterminés dans le contexte d’études transversales. Or certains facteurs de risque fluctuent dans le temps, par exemple la durée passée à jouer de l’instrument. À ce jour, l’impact des changements de la durée à jouer sur la douleur liée à l’exécution de la musique est peu connu. Les objectifs de ce mémoire sont de (1) décrire les caractéristiques de la douleur musculo-squelettique liée à l’exécution de la musique chez les étudiants en cordes qui font partie de l’élite, et (2) explorer l’effet des changements de la durée à jouer de l’instrument sur la douleur. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, des étudiants ont été recrutés dans trois camps musicaux offrant de la formation supérieure de façon intensive durant la période estivale. Les participants ont complété un questionnaire-maison auto-administré environ 1 mois avant le début du camp afin de caractériser leur douleur (objectif 1 : n=132) ainsi qu’à leur arrivée au camp musical et une semaine plus tard pour étudier relation entre le changement de durée à jouer et le changement de douleur (objectif 2 : n=93). La plupart des participants rapportent de la douleur liée à l’exécution de la musique (86 % à 96 % selon le temps de mesure considéré), d’une durée relativement courte (30 minutes) et d’intensité faible à modérée (moyenne de 33 mm à l’échelle visuelle analogue), touchant principalement les muscles stabilisateurs (cou, épaules, haut du dos). Une augmentation moyenne de 23 heures/semaine de la durée à jouer de l’instrument est rapportée dans le cadre de la participation à un camp musical intensif. Cette augmentation est significativement liée à l’exacerbation de l’expérience de douleur (fréquence et intensité des symptômes), mais elle n’explique que 10 % du phénomène. L’impact fonctionnel de la douleur, soit la perception d’incapacité à jouer à cause de la douleur, est significatif à tous les temps de mesure. Ces résultats démontrent la forte prévalence de la douleur liée à la pratique instrumentale chez les étudiants en cordes qui font partie de l’élite, et confirment le lien entre l’augmentation de la durée à jouer et l’exacerbation de la douleur liée à la pratique instrumentale.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background: Wong and Deyo (2001) believe that 98% of the LBP cases are musculoskeletal (mechanical) in origin and 51,7% of these individuals are chronic sufferers (Andersson, 1999). Weak spinal stability muscles have shown to be an aetiological cause (Chok, Lee and Latimer, 1999). Wolff, Weinik and Maitin (2003) agree a combination of brace aided pelvic stabilization combined with a spinal stability programme may be the best treatment intervention for chronic low back pain (CLBP). Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the relative effectiveness of three treatment protocols with (Group A-Groovi-SI-Belt®; Group B-standard SI belt) and without (Group C-control) brace aided pelvic stabilization in patients with CLBP. Method: Forty-six patients suffering from CLBP were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment groups. A spinal stability programme was progressively taught and enforced in all three groups. Weekly follow-up consultations were required to assess subjective and objective outcomes of the three treatment interventions. Outcomes were obtained by using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS); Quebec disability scale; Active straight leg raiser test; Biofeedback device and the static trunk extensor endurance test. Results: Data was analysed using the SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Ill, USA).Comparing pre and post outcome measurements using a p value <0.05 which was considered to be statistically significant. All three treatments improved most outcomes significantly over time. The Groovi-SI-Belt® showed non significant trends of quicker rates of improvement. . Conclusion: This study revealed that brace aided pelvic stabilization combined with a spinal stability programme was a beneficial treatment intervention with the Group A being superior to Group B.

Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) is a new measurement technique combining scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and MR spectroscopy, offering the potential of high resolution chemical specific imaging. MRFM is based on the principle of force detection of magnetic resonance (FDMR) in which the magnetisation of a sample in a magnetic field is coupled to an atomic force microscopy cantilever via a field gradient. Magnetic resonance is used to modulate the sample magnetisation at the cantilever resonant frequency and the resulting oscillating force on the cantilever leads to oscillations which may be detected optically. The high sensitivity of force detection offers the potential for single electron spin sensitivity. This thesis describes instrumental aspects of ESR based FDMR experiments and presents the first results at high fields (3.3T). High fields are advantageous for sensitivity and spectral resolution. However, they pose significant technical challenges. FDMR measurements on the organic conductor (fluoranthene)2PF6 were carried out in experiments based around an existing quasi-optical high field ESR spectrometer. Further measurements on (FA)2PF6 and DPPH are presented together with progress towards the construction of a high field MRFM system, based on a commercial SPM instrument. Experiments were performed with both magnet-on-cantilever and sample-on-cantilever configurations with the former the favoured method for potential imaging applications. Signal detection uses a novel fibre-optic interferometer. Cantilever magnets of low conductivity ferrite appear to be more promising for high Q measurements than the metallic magnets favoured by most other groups. Experiment sensitivities are estimated at around 4.4 x 10⁸ polarised electron spins, comparable to conventional commercial ESR spectrometers. Experimental consistency was difficult, especially regarding the positioning of probe and sample, an area in which refinement is essential for repeatable and sensitive experiments. The potential for imaging is attractive and the prospect of single spin detection is discussed.

This thesis addresses one of the major limiting factors in the performance of photomultipliers, that is that the photocathodes employed often only absorb a small fraction, typically less than 25%, of the power in the incident light. Current photocathodes are almost exclusively planar and the starting point of the thesis is the mathematical modelling of both, semitransparent and reflective planar photocathodes. The analysis shows that the absorptance of semitransparent photocathodes increases for light incident beyond the critical angle needed for Attenuated Total Internal Reflection (ATIR). Reflective type planar photocathodes could certainly have their absorptance enhanced by use of silver rather than nickel substrates, as increases in absorptance of 2-3 times are possible for red light. The proposed method for remedying the inherent loss in sensitivity of photomultipliers caused by the non-total absorption of light in the photocathode was to employ a ridged substrate in the photocathode. The ridged substrate, glass or metal for semitransparent and reflective type photocathodes respectively, allows the light multiple interactions with the photoemissive layer. In the case of semitransparent photocathodes ATIR would mean no power is transmitted for those interactions that take place beyond the critical angle of incidence. The mathematical modelling and subsequent analysis of ridged photocathodes show enhanced absorptance (20-30 fold improvements are certainly achievable), especially for light in the red end of the operating spectral range. Further gains in quantum efficiency can follow by the reduction of the optimum photocathode thickness, resulting from the structure, while maintaining high absorptance. Some subwavelength structures are also modelled and analysed to ascertain whether this route could be used to improve the absorptance of photocathodes, the results are inconclusive but generally indicate anti-reflective, rather than absorbing properties. Finally the extremely sparse nature of published permitivity data has been rectified by our own measurements for the permitivities of certain photocathodes over a wide wavelength range.

No description available.

Digital musical instruments pose a number of unique challenges for designers and performers. These issues stem primarily from the lack of innate physical connection between the performance interface and means of sound generation, for the latter is usually dematerialised. Thus, this relationship must instead be explicitly determined by the designer, and can be essentially any desired. However, many design issues and constraints remain poorly understood, from the nature of control to the provision of performer-instrument feedback. This practice-based research contends that while the digital and acoustic domains are so different as to be fundamentally incompatible, useful antecedents for digital musical instruments can be found in the histories of electronic music. Specifically, it argues that the live electronics of David Tudor are of particular prescience. His home-made circuits offer an electronic music paradigm quite antithetical to both the familiar keyboard interface and the electronic music studios that grew up in the years after World War II, and are seen to embody a number of aspirational qualities. These include performer-instrument interaction more akin to steering rather than fine control, the potential for musical outcomes that are unknown and unknowable in advance, and distinct instrumental character. This leads to the central contribution of this research; the development of a Tudor-inspired conceptual framework that can inform how digital musical instruments are designed, played, and evaluated. To enable more detailed and nuanced discussion, the framework is broken down into a series of sub-themes. These include both design issues such as nuance, plasticity and emergence, and human issues such as experience, expressiveness, skill, learning, and mastery. The notion of sketching in hardware and software is also developed in relation to the rapid iteration of multiple designs. Informed by this framework, seven new digital musical instruments are presented. These instruments are tested from two different perspectives, with the personal experiences of the author supplemented with data from a series of smallscale user studies. Particular emphasis is placed on how the instruments are played, the music they can produce, and their capacity to convey the musical intentions of the performer (i.e. their expressiveness). After the evaluation of the instruments, the Tudorian framework is revisited to form the basis of the conclusions. A number of modifications to the original framework are proposed, from the addition of a dialogical model of performerinstrument interaction, to the situation of digital musical instruments within a wider musical ecology. The thesis then closes with a suggestion of possibilities for future research.

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy