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The purpose of this study was to examine the assigned ratings, interrater reliability, and possible influences of school level and instrumentation on adjudicators' evaluations of orchestra performances at a national-level adjudicated music festival. Data consisted of the overall ratings assigned to orchestra performances (N = 55) at the 2017, 2018, and 2019 American String Teachers Association's National Orchestra Festival (NOF). Analysis revealed that 83.64% of all participating orchestras earned a I/Superior or II/Excellent overall rating. A logistic regression model revealed that both school level and instrumentation were not significant predictors of earning a I/Superior overall rating. Individual members of each three-judge adjudication panel assigned identical ratings to 61.82% of orchestra performances and possessed a mean internal consistency of .90. Orchestra teachers can use the results of this study to weigh the educational benefits of participating in the NOF.

The purpose of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of repertoire performed by youth orchestras in the United States. Through an online survey, youth orchestra administrators (N = 39) provided information about repertoire performed by their program's premier orchestra during their 2015-2016 season. Orchestras performed 302 different pieces of music by 158 different composers. "The Firebird" by Igor Stravinsky, "Carmen Suite No. 1" by Georges Bizet, and "Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture" by Mikhail Glinka were performed most frequently. Approximately three quarters of all compositions were written after 1850, and only 7.14% were composed after 2000. Compositions by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Brahms were the most frequently performed, and female composers only wrote 0.78% of the repertoire performed by youth orchestras during their 2015-2016 season. Conductors should use these findings as an impetus to identify culturally diverse repertoire appropriate for youth orchestras by non-male composers.

Adjudicated festival ratings can affect developing musicians, ensemble directors, and music programs long after festival performances end. With prior research demonstrating that adjudicators provide an abundance of positive ratings at festivals, this article discusses how ratings--both appropriate and inappropriate--may influence students' musical development and the growth of music programs, as well as ensemble directors' professional development. Based on their personal teaching philosophies and the discussion points in this article, directors are encouraged to determine whether their current adjudicated festivals stimulate or obstruct the development of their students, their music programs, and themselves.

This study examined the relationship between library instruction and student achievement. Dependent variables included grade in course, course completion rates, and overall GPA. There were significant relationships between participation in library instruction and completion of the course for which library instruction was attended, participation in library instruction and grade in course, and participation in library instruction and GPA. The results indicate that library instruction is an instructional strategy that faculty can use to contribute to improved student performance. This article describes the research study, the results of this study, and makes recommendations for future actions and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to examine attitudes toward private lesson teaching of a cross-section of string instrument instructors ("N" = 1,617). The participant pool was drawn from the membership of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). Results were similar in many ways to responses in previous studies also involving music faculty and music students. These groups indicated that they liked teaching, liked the challenges of teaching musicians, and believed preparation for teaching is important. Depending on the age of their students, they also enjoyed talking about pedagogical issues with students. Engaging the membership of organizations such as ASTA will be necessary if the profession is to find additional ways to provide educational opportunities for musicians interested in teaching. (Contains 1 table.)

Social work is invested in supporting positive change for individuals and communities grappling with natural disasters within a changing climate. This scoping review investigated the extent, range and nature of longitudinal research examining contextual influences on experiences of post-traumatic growth (PTG) following a natural disaster. Literature searches of four databases were conducted from December 2021 to April 2022 to identify thirty-two longitudinal studies. Thematic analysis identified themes relating to the impacts of contextual factors on experiences of individual growth, across relational, social, structural and time dimensions. The quality and quantity of relational and social support were found to be significant in facilitating growth; these findings have important implications for social work practice in disaster recovery, which utilises a person-in-environment lens to strengthen the contextual resources that support positive changes. Other contextual factors that may influence PTG, including structural, cultural and time factors, remain understudied. In advocating for a critical person-in-environment approach, social work is uniquely positioned to move beyond existing individualistic conceptualisations and contribute a more holistic understanding of growth to enhance future disaster recovery interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A considerable number of scientific journals have been launched recently. Evolutionary Ecology Research seeks to operate liberal dissemination rules and to publish as cheaply as possible. Animal Cognition covers cognitive issues across a broad range of species, but will have to compete with several journals already publishing papers on this subject. Pattern Analysis and Applications seeks to focus on unusual techniques and industrial applications of pattern recognition.

Ligaments are non-contracting tissues which restrict particular movements by joints. Experiments suggest that tension exerted on ligaments can trigger reflexes that result in muscle contraction. This would provide protection against the excessive joint motion signalled by the ligaments. Most studies of this proposed reflex have centered on the medial collateral ligament in the knee. The possibility of such reflex activity associated with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), another important stabilizing ligament in the knee, was studied in cats. Contraction in the muscles which straighten or bend the knee was easily evoked by standard reflex or other stimulation. However, no muscle contraction was observed following stretch of the ACL by moving the shin bone forward slightly. Placing strain on the ligament by another technique also caused no reflexive muscle contraction. The experiments differed from another study which found ACL-associated reflex contraction in the use of anesthesia, the amount of tension exerted on the ACL, and in positioning of the knee joint. It is likely that some modification of muscle activity results from tension on ligaments surrounding the knee joint, but the participation of the ACL in such activity is questionable. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the literature for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) to ensure the National Standards for DSMES (Standards) align with current evidence-based practices and utilization trends. Methods: The 10 Standards were divided among 20 interdisciplinary workgroup members. Members searched the current research for diabetes education and support, behavioral health, clinical, health care environment, technical, reimbursement, and business practice for the strongest evidence that guided the Standards revision. Results: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support facilitates the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care as well as activities that assist a person in implementing and sustaining the behaviors needed to manage their condition on an ongoing basis. The evidence indicates that health care providers and people affected by diabetes are embracing technology, and this is having a positive impact of DSMES access, utilization, and outcomes. Conclusion: Quality DSMES continues to be a critical element of care for all people with diabetes. The DSMES services must be individualized and guided by the concerns, preferences, and needs of the person affected by diabetes. Even with the abundance of evidence supporting the benefits of DSMES, it continues to be underutilized, but as with other health care services, technology is changing the way DSMES is delivered and utilized with positive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article report the changes implemented at fitness center to remain open, including providing in-person fitness classes in the safest, evidenced-based manner possible which includes CrossFit Northland, Missouri provides group-based fitness classes, personal training, and nutrition coaching.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the literature for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) to ensure the National Standards for DSMES (Standards) align with current evidence-based practices and utilization trends. Methods The 10 Standards were divided among 20 interdisciplinary workgroup members. Members searched the current research for diabetes education and support, behavioral health, clinical, health care environment, technical, reimbursement, and business practice for the strongest evidence that guided the Standards revision. Results Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support facilitates the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care as well as activities that assist a person in implementing and sustaining the behaviors needed to manage their condition on an ongoing basis. The evidence indicates that health care providers and people affected by diabetes are embracing technology, and this is having a positive impact of DSMES access, utilization, and outcomes. Conclusion Quality DSMES continues to be a critical element of care for all people with diabetes. The DSMES services must be individualized and guided by the concerns, preferences, and needs of the person affected by diabetes. Even with the abundance of evidence supporting the benefits of DSMES, it continues to be underutilized, but as with other health care services, technology is changing the way DSMES is delivered and utilized with positive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of presentation condition, adjudicators' performing experience on string instruments, and music stimulus tempo on music majors' evaluations of string orchestra performances. Participants (N = 96) were randomly assigned to one of the four presentation conditions. Musical stimuli varied by quality of performance (good vs. poor) and presentation condition: audio only of good and poor performances, video only of good and poor performances, video of a good performance with audio of good or poor performances, and video of a poor performance with audio of good or poor performances. Participants assigned ratings to 12 evaluative statements (six for general musical performance and six for string instrument specific aspects) and also rated the overall performance. Participants also indicated their level of comfort with assigning ratings in each presentation condition. Repeated-measures ANOVA tests revealed that the ratings assigned to the 12 evaluation statements and to the overall performance were significantly more favorable for audio presentations of good performances compared to performances of poor performances. For 12 of the 13 evaluation scales, video presentations of good performances paired with audio presentations of good and poor performances received more favorable ratings than performances in the other presentation conditions. Results indicate that good visual presentations of performances can influence ratings for audio presentations of poor performances. Participants' comfort levels with assigning ratings to the string specific scales increased with string instrument playing experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of school level (middle and high), festival level (district and state), music classification (A, B, C, D, and E), and instrumentation (full and string orchestra) on the overall performance ratings assigned to orchestral performances at large ensemble Music Performance Assessment (MPA) festivals. Data consisted of overall ratings (N = 1,996) assigned at district (n = 1,844) and state level (n = 152) MPA festivals sponsored by the Florida Orchestra Association between 2010 and 2015. Analysis revealed that 94% of all high school orchestras at district and state festivals earned a I/Superior or II/Excellent rating. Logistic regression models revealed: (a) high school orchestras were more likely to earn I/Superior ratings at district festivals than state festivals, (b) middle school orchestras were less likely to earn I/Superior ratings than high school orchestras, and (c) orchestras that performed more difficult repertoire increased their likelihood of earning a I/Superior over ensembles that played easier literature. Festival administrators may use the results of this study to identify specific evaluation trends at adjudicated festivals that can be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]