Due to its significant morbidity, alternatives to autogenous bone grafting are required. Recent research has focused on application of growth factors, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Two recombinant human BMP (rhBMP) containing bioimplants, Infuse® (rhBMP-2) and OP-1® (rhBMP-7), are approved for human application. Objective: to provide a direct comparison of the two approved rhBMP containing bioimplants in their clinically available forms. Methods: Activity of rhBMP-2 and -7 were tested using the C2C12 cell based assay comparing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Activity of Infuse® or OP-1® bioimplants containing 52.5µg of rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-7 were compared using a mouse muscle pouch assay and analyzed with micro CT (mCT) and histology. Results: in vitro: rhBMP-2 induced greater ALP production than rhBMP-7 at different time points. In vivo: OP-1® induced greater bone volume than Infuse® of equivalent quality based on mCT. Conclusions: In the clinically available form, OP-1® induced greater bone volume than Infuse®.

Due to its significant morbidity, alternatives to autogenous bone grafting are required. Recent research has focused on application of growth factors, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Two recombinant human BMP (rhBMP) containing bioimplants, Infuse® (rhBMP-2) and OP-1® (rhBMP-7), are approved for human application. Objective: to provide a direct comparison of the two approved rhBMP containing bioimplants in their clinically available forms. Methods: Activity of rhBMP-2 and -7 were tested using the C2C12 cell based assay comparing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Activity of Infuse® or OP-1® bioimplants containing 52.5µg of rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-7 were compared using a mouse muscle pouch assay and analyzed with micro CT (mCT) and histology. Results: in vitro: rhBMP-2 induced greater ALP production than rhBMP-7 at different time points. In vivo: OP-1® induced greater bone volume than Infuse® of equivalent quality based on mCT. Conclusions: In the clinically available form, OP-1® induced greater bone volume than Infuse®.

Rachmaninov regarded Nikolai Medtner as the greatest composer he had ever known, yet Medtner's music is often neglected in the standard repertoire. Lack of public awareness, as well as the technical and musical difficulties in these works, both contribute to their inaccessibility. Unlike Rachmaninov's music, Medtner's music possesses none of the romance and sentimentality, thus lacking in immediate appeal. However, with repeated listening, it gradually reveals its beauty and brilliance. This document examines Medtner's Acht Stimmungsbilder, Op. 1, from a pedagogical viewpoint. Chapter One provides a short biographical background. Chapter Two discusses Medtner's musical style and his publication, The Muse and the Fashion. Chapter Three is devoted to a pedagogical analysis of the work. The last chapter concludes the paper with a suggested order of study. This set of work is technically challenging and is selected with the advanced-level or college student in mind. These students would have had experience performing 19th Century works and is looking to expand their repertoire. This pedagogical guide is written for the reference of the teacher, however, the student may find this useful to them as well.

Denna rapport handlar om en användbarhetsutvärdering av synthesizern OP-1, utvecklad av företaget Teenage Engineering. Studien är kvalitativ och undersöker bara den omedelbara användarupplevelsen av produkten. Rapporten baseras på resultat från ett antal användbarhetstester, utförda på företaget i fråga. Användbarhetstesterna avser att undersöka hur en användare kan förstå hur OP-1:s kan användas och hur de kan förstår dess olika lägen och vidare på vilket sätt detta påverkar den initiala användarupplevelsen. Totalt nio av fjorton tillfrågade personer har ingått i användbarhetstesterna. Urvalsgruppen bestod av personer med tidigare, dock varierande mängd, erfarenhet av synthesizers. I den teoretiska referensramen förenas Jonas Löwgren och Erik Stoltermans brukskvalitetsteorier tillsammans med valda delar av Donald Normans ” Seven Stages of Actions as Design Aids”. Resultatet visar att användarna snabbt kommer igång med synthesizerns grundläggande funktioner. Samtliga användare tycker att OP-1 är estetiskt tilltalande, underhållande och uppskattar dess portabla format, med vilket de ser användningsområden i både resor och livesammanhang. Användarna anser också att de inte alltid måste förstå synthesizerns grafiska element, på display eller knappar, då detta tydliggörs efter användning av produkten. Användarna visar svårigheter med funktioner som pattern sequencer och viss redigering i tape. Vidare har de även ibland svårt att förstå i vilket mode som synthesizern befinner sig i. Samtliga användbarhetstester utfördes på en pre-betaversion av OP-1. Den slutgiltiga versionen av synthesizern har uppdaterats utefter resultaten från den här undersökningen. / This report is based on results given from usability testing of the synthesizer OP-1 developed by the company Teenage Engineering. The study has involved potential end users during the development process and aims only to look at the first experience the user gets from the interaction with the synthesizer. The meaning of the usability tests is to find out how the user can understand how to use OP-1, how intuitive the different modes are and how this affects the initial user experience. Nine people, out of a total amount of fourteen asked, participated in these usability tests. The selection of participants is based on their previous knowledge and experience of synthesizers. The theoretical frame of reference includes Jonas Löwgren and Erik Stoltermans theories of use qualities and are combined with chosen parts of Donald Normans ” Seven Stages of Actions as Design Aids”. The shown results indicate that the users quickly understand how to use the basic modes and features of the synthesizer. All of the participated users think OP-1 is entertaining, finds the design of OP-1 attractive and appriciates its portability, in which they see potential for both travelling and live performances. The users do not always fully understand the graphical elements but reckon that it is not always necessary to, neither in the display, nor on the buttons, since this clearifies after further usage. The users show some difficulties interacting with functions such as the pattern sequencer and some editing in tape mode. The users also sometimes show difficulties determining which mode the synthesizer is in. All of the usability tests were performed on a pre beta version of the OP-1. The final version of the synthesizer has been updated with changes influenced by the results of this report.

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The Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by Peter Maxwell Davies is one of his earliest works, and a notoriously difficult work to perform. While using serialism and other twentieth-century compositional techniques, this work also uses older historical forms, including sonata-allegro and sonata-rondo forms. An analysis of the work is presented, identifying the older historical forms, and considerations for performers when making decisions on how to perform the work are provided.

This sonata by Alban Berg is a product of Arnold Schoenberg's teachings and is, indeed, a musical reflection of the Schoenberg of 1907-1908. At this time the musical thought of Schoenberg himself was in a state of metamorphosis, developing from the chromaticism of the late Romantic composers toward the twelve-tone technique which he was to formulate a few years later. The sonata, as a whole and above all, reflects the growth of an important composer, one who is perhaps the most important link between the traditional Classical and Romantic schools and the modern schools. His growth was based on a thorough knowledge of traditional styles and techniques, vestiges of which are seen in the formal design, chromaticism, and evasive harmony of the work. His advance is seen in his peculiar use of polyphony and motivic variation. Compared with many other works for piano, Berg's sonata is perhaps not among the most celebrated. But as indication of the attitude of a great composer who wished to build upon rather than break with his heritage, it is a most significant work.

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