bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential Patterns of Music Instruction and Learning to Use Them
Authors: Price Harry E.
Published: June 2006

Three experiments examined the effects of instruction, teaching practica, feedback from the course instructor, and videotaped self-observation on undergraduates' use of complete sequential patterns and sequential-pattern components. The complete sequential pattern is a teacher/student interaction sequence that follows the cyclical pattern of a teacher presentation of a task to be learned, followed by student interaction with the task and teacher, and then specific praise and corrective feedback related to the task. This model has undergone continuous refinement, has been found to be present in music settings, and is preferred by music teachers. There were significant increases ( p < .01) in subjects' use of complete sequential patterns as defined in each experiment, feedback, and in approvals and their specificity.
Effects of Historical and Analytical Teaching Approaches on Music Appreciation
Authors: Halpern Jessica
Published: June 2006

In this study, I investigated effects of historical and analytical information on subjects' I responses to music listening experiences. Forty-five undergraduate nonmusic majors were randomly assigned to three groups that received different types of information prior to listening to four compositions. Subjects in one group read analytical information describing the music's structure. Subjects in another group read historical background information describing circumstances under which the composers wrote their music. Subjects in the third group acted as a control and read no information prior to listening. Using 7-point Likert-type scales, subjects rated five aspects of their responses to each piece, which together were intended to measure the overall value that they placed on the piece. Analysis of the groups' scores for each of the four compositions revealed one significant difference, in favor of the group that received historical information. Other qualitative responses also indicated a preference for the historical method of teaching.
The Effect of Preparatory Set on Musical Response in College Students
Authors: Bartel Lee R.
Published: June 2006

In this study, I explored the effect of three specific dimensions of preparatory set—(1) self I perception of musicality, (2) attitude toward generalized style concepts and attitude as valuing of music experiences, and (3) beliefs and expectations of the music listening experience—on the cognitive-affective response to music. Results demonstrated that: (a) self-perception of musicality affected response, with greater musicality corresponding with a more cognitive response; (b) general attitude toward music activity had a major effect on response; (c) attitude toward the concept of “classical” music differentiated between high and low attitude level groups, with the subjects having the more positive attitude demonstrating a more cognitive response to all styles; (d) a difference in attitude toward jazz was related to a difference in response to all three styles (the response to music in general was more cognitive for the subjects with the more positive attitude toward jazz); (e) the group having a more positive attitude toward country music differed significantly in response from the group with a less favorable attitude; and (f) of the five expectation variables examined, only expectation of popular music had an effect on response. Both the low-expectation and medium-expectation groups differed from the high-expectation group. The high-expectation group indicated expectation of a more intellectual experience with music.
The Patrick Conway Military Band School, 1922–1929
Authors: Fonder Mark
Published: June 2006

Patrick Conway (1865–1929) was one of America's foremost bandleaders. His professional band was as famous as John Philip Sousas band, playing throughout the country for state fairs, expositions, and concert series. Conway's band also recorded for the Victor and Edison labels and, during the late 1920s, was a regular attraction on the General Motors Family Hour radio show.

While the Conway Band enjoyed tremendous success during the 1910s and 1920s, other bands declined in popularity, possibly victims of competition from other forms of amusement like the automobile and phonograph. The incipient establishment of school bands created a great demand for trained band teachers and musicians, yet little formal education for band musicians existed. Realizing this state of affairs, Conway opened one of the first schools for the training of the band musician: the Conway Military Band School. This article traces the influences and environment that led Conway to establish this institution. Also included is a description of the school and its development during the seven years of its existence.
The Effects of Three Years of Piano Instruction on Children's Cognitive Development
Authors: Costa-Giomi Eugenia
Published: June 2006

The relationship between music and cognitive abilities was studied by observing the cognitive development of children provided ( n = 63) and not provided ( n = 54) with individual piano lessons from fourth to sixth grade. There were no differences in cognitive abilities, musical abilities, motor proficiency, self-esteem, academic achievement, or interest in studying piano between the two groups of children at the beginning of the study. It was found that the treatment affected children's general and spatial cognitive development. The magnitude of such effects (omega squared) was small. Additional analyses showed that although the experimental group obtained higher spatial abilities scores in the Developing Cognitive Abilities Test after 1 and 2 years of instruction than did the control group, the groups did not differ in general or specific cognitive abilities after 3 years of instruction. The treatment did not affect the development of quantitative and verbal cognitive abilities.
Elementary Directed Listening to Music: A Singing Approach versus a Nonsinging Approach
Authors: McLean Claude
Published: June 2006

The basic purpose of this study was to compare a singing approach to a nonsinging approach with regard to aural thematic recognition and thematic preference. The sample consisted of 241 students in Grades 5 and 6. Upon completion of the researcher-developed art music listening program, participating teachers administered the Thematic Aural Perception Test and Musical Thematic Preference Questionnaire. These researcher-generated tests had reliability coefficients of .84 and .87, respectively. Analyses of variance indicated that subjects who sang thematic material had a significantly higher rate of aural recall ( p < .05) than subjects who did not sing. There was no significant difference with regard to preference. Evaluative comments from the participating teachers were valuable in formulating suggestions for teaching and further research.
A Matter of Perspective: Thoughts on the Multiple Realities of Research
Authors: Campbell Patricia Shehan
Published: June 2006

Patricia Shehan Campbell is the recipient of the MENC 2002 Senior Researcher Award. The following speech was presented on April 12, 2002, at a special session of the Society for Research in Music Education at MENC's National Biennial In-Service Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Self-Evaluation Tendencies of Junior High Instrumentalists
Authors: Hewitt Michael P.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of the current study was threefold: (a) to determine the nature of junior high school instrumental music students' self evaluation tendencies over time, (b) to examine whether the process of self evaluation, with or without the use of a model, has an effect on self-evaluation accuracy, and (c) to determine if a relationship exists between self evaluation accuracy and music performance achievement. Forty-one junior high woodwind (h = 28), brass (n = 10), and percussion (n = 3) students participated in the pretest/posttest 2×2 factorial design. Data indicated that students' self-evaluation scores increased and their self-evaluation scores did not improve over time regardless of model-group condition. Furthermore, intonation accuracy may deteriorate. A Pearson correlation showed no correlation between expert and student evaluations in all pretest performance subareas and most posttest subareas. There was a moderate positive relationship between model-group tempo and combined group interpretation posttest scores.
Effects of Small-Group Peer Interaction on Self-Evaluation of Music Performance
Authors: Bergee Martin J. , Cecconi-Roberts Lecia
Published: June 2006

Research has shown that undergraduate students' self-evaluation of performance correlates poorly with instructor and peer evaluation. This article reports two exploratory investigations into the development of a treatment condition for improving performance self-evaluation. The condition consisted of small groups of peers informally discussing performances and sharing feedback with one another.

The first investigation resulted in a statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups in ability to self-evaluate, although the effect size was small. With a second investigation, we pursued a modified version of the treatment emphasizing changes over time in ability to self-evaluate. In the second investigation, we also examined different effects of this modified treatment condition on students whose initial attempt to self-evaluate was either accurate or inaccurate. The second investigation did not result in significant differences between treatment and control groups; however, a significant interaction between time (self-evaluation across five small-group peer-interaction sessions) and initial ability to self-evaluate accurately was noted. A prompt improvement was found with performers whose initial ability to self-evaluate accurately was poor, although the effect tended to fade over time.

Consistent with prior research, self-evaluation did not correlate highly with instructor evaluation. Also consistent with prior research, peer evaluation was higher than instructor evaluation. Correlations between instructor evaluation and peer evaluation declined over the five sessions. Self-evaluation scores increased over time, moving away from instructor evaluation scores and toward the higher peer-evaluation scores.
An In-Service Training Program in Music for Child-Care Personnel Working with Infants and Toddlers
Authors: de l'Etoile Shannon K.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate an in-service training program in music for child-care personnel working with infants and toddlers. Results of a needs assessment determined that most child-care centers offer music activities and that caregivers would be interested in receiving training. Training materials were developed, pilot-tested, and revised. For the final training program, caregivers in a university-based child-care program attended three in-service training sessions. Evaluation of the program revealed that caregivers made significant improvements in their attitude toward and knowledge about music activities for young children. Additionally, caregivers increased their use of 9 out of 11 behaviors considered necessary for successful music activity implementation. The children in their care also increased the amount of time they were visually, vocally, and physically engaged during music activities. These results suggest that a music training program can benefit both caregivers and children.
Individual Expressive Performance: Its Relationship to Ensemble Achievement, Technical Achievement, and Musical Background
Authors: Broomhead Paul
Published: June 2006

Participation in an expressive ensemble may be inappropriately presumed to produce expressive independence in individual ensemble members. This study is an examination of relationships between individual expressive achievement and (a) the expressive achievement of choral ensembles, (b) technical performance, and (c) musical background. Subjects included 11 high school choral ensembles and 82 individual ensemble members. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant relationships between individual and ensemble expressive achievement. Cor-relations showed technical and expressive performance to be strongly related. Significantly related musical background factors from a MANOVA included: (a) involvement in outside performing groups, (b) semesters of high school choir, (c) private vocal lessons, and (d) age of first private lessons. The study provided grounds for questioning the assumption that expressive ensembles yield expressive individuals.
Listening to the Music: Compositional Processes of High School Composers
Authors: Kennedy Mary A.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of the study was to investigate the compositional processes of adolescents to clarify effective strategies for implementing composition activities in high school music programs. The study charted the progress of four high school music students as they completed two separate composition tasks. Data collection techniques consisted of semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis. Analysis consisted of studying the field note and interview texts, making marginal notes, sorting, and coding. A model was constructed that reflected the common processes of composition used by the four student participants. Important features of the model are the role played by listening, the necessity of individual thinking time, and the improvisatory character of the final products. Findings from the study suggest that although there may be common elements in student compositional processes, the nature of the compositional process is idiosyncratic.
Perception and Cognition in Music: Musically Trained and Untrained Adults Compared to Sixth-Grade and Eighth-Grade Children
Authors: Madsen Clifford K. , Madsen Katia
Published: June 2006

We investigated different levels of age and musical training in relation to subjects' melodic perception in music by testing their ability to perceive a target melody when extremely similar melodies are interpolated between this original melody and its reoccurrence. Participants were sixth graders, eighth graders, young adults, and trained musicians who listened to 16 original melodies, each of which was followed by 8 extremely similar melodies. Two different experiments (A and B) tested different arrangements of mode and meter interpolations. We also asked the adult musicians to specify cognitive strategies for accomplishing the task. Results demonstrated greater accuracy among experienced musicians, yet results show that even young students are capable of remembering and discriminating similar melodies with high accuracy. Written analyses of strategies used by musicians indicated they considered the task extremely difficult and that their past musical training helped with the task; they also indicated that children could not do this task, which was not the case.
The Effects of Computer-Based Expository and Discovery Methods of Instruction on Aural Recognition of Music Concepts
Authors: Hopkins Michael T.
Published: June 2006

This study presents a comparison of the effectiveness of computer-based expository and discovery methods of instruction for fostering the aural recognition of selected musical concepts. The expository method (EM) contained the instructional sequence (a) definition of the concept, (b) examples, (c) practice exercises. The discovery method (DM) contained the instructional sequence (a) examples, (b) practice exercises, (c) opportunity to verbalize discovery, (d) definition of the concept. The DM group spent more time than the EM group working with the software (p = .03). The groups did not differ significantly on total time spent in instruction (p = .19). No significant differences were found between treatments on the posttest or retention test. Both groups improved from pretest to posttest and declined from posttest to retention test (p < .01). A relationship was found between subjects' ability to define the concepts verbally and their ability to recognize aurally examples of the musical concepts. Greater variance was found among DM subjects.
Practice Expectations and Attitudes: A Survey of College-Level Music Teachers and Students
Authors: Kostka Marilyn J.
Published: June 2006

Two independent groups, one consisting of college-level studio music teachers (n = 127) and the other of music majors (n = 134), completed a written survey containing 10 questions about attitudes and expectations for practicing music. The questionnaire was designed to address four major areas of interest: (1) attitudes about specific music skills, (2) expectations concerning use of practice time, (3) expectations for routines and strategies for practicing, and (4) attitudes toward practice in general. Results indicated that teachers expected more weekly practice time to be taking place than was actually reported by students. Additionally, most teachers expected that students should follow a specific practice routine, but 55% of students indicated that they do not do so; and although nearly all teachers in the survey stated that they discussed practice strategies with students, 67% of students reported that practice strategies were not discussed in their studio lessons. Finally, teachers and students had widely differing views regarding their feelings about practice in general.
Relationships between Perceptions of Conducting Effectiveness and Ensemble Performance
Authors: Van Weelden Kimberly
Published: June 2006

Conducting is a complex art that involves, among other things, effective nonverbal communication. While this communication includes hand and arm gestures as well as eye contact and facial expression, it also encompasses nonverbal messages sent by the rest of a conductor's body, such as his/her physical appearance. Assumptions based on what conductors look like and how well they fit the stereotypical role they are portraying often affect opinions of their job performance. Thus, the nonverbal messages sent by a conductor's physical appearance could affect ensemble members' opinions of him or her as a conductor. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate whether perceptions of a conductor's body type were a factor when judging the conductor and ensemble performances. Furthermore, relationships between ensemble performance ratings and the conductor's visual appearance characteristics (eye contact, facial expression, and posture), evaluator confidence in the conductor, and overall conductor effectiveness were explored. Neither the conductor's body type nor the gender or college major of the evaluator affected ratings of the conductor and ensemble performances. However, performance ratings were affected when the conductors were viewed in a certain order. There were moderate to moderately strong relationships between the performance ratings and conductor posture, conductor facial expression, evaluator's confidence in the conductor, and overall conducting effectiveness. Eye contact, however, was not strongly related to performance ratings.
Effects of Aural and Visual Conditions on Response to Perceived Artistic Tension in Music and Dance
Authors: David Frego R. J.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aural, visual, and combined aural/visual conditions on the emotional response to music and dance of musicians and nonmusicians. Measurement was recorded on the perceived amount of artistic tension occurring in three stimuli. Subjects were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: aural-only, visual-only, and combined aural/visual. Stimuli used for the experimental conditions were three dance excerpts. Subjects were asked to indicate degrees of perceived artistic tension by manipulating a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) dial during experimental conditions. Additional data were gathered using a questionnaire. Results indicated no significant differences in perceived artistic tension between musicians and nonmusicians. Additionally, no differences were found in perceived artistic tension among the responses to the three experimental conditions. Subjects responded similarly regardless of whether they had previously considered the existence of artistic tension. A significant difference occurred in subject response to each of the three stimuli.
Video Songs from Sesame Street: A Comparison of Fifth Graders' and Adults' Opinions regarding Messages for Preschool Children
Authors: Jellison Judith A. , Wolfe David E.
Published: June 2006

The study was designed to assess the opinions of fifth-graders and adults concerning messages conveyed to preschool children through video songs, and to compare fifth graders' and adults' opinions to preschool children's responses to questions about the same video songs. Also assessed were subjects' opinions regarding the importance of the messages, whether the messages would be learned, and how much the videos would be liked by preschool children. Two hundred seventeen subjects (fifth-grade children, n = 91; and adults, n = 726) were shown three videotaped productions of songs used in a previous study with preschool children. Adults listed significantly more implicit messages than did fifth graders, whose messages were more explicit (previous findings show that preschoolers report explicit messages). Significant differences were also found between fifth graders and adults concerning importance, learning, and liking. The study has implications for adults who use music segments from children's television as educational experiences for young children.
Relationship between Humor Perceived in Music and Preferences of Different-Age Listeners
Authors: LeBlanc Albert , Sims Wendy L. , Malin Sue A. , Sherrill Carolyn
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship between humor perceived in music and the self reported music preference opinions of subjects representing four different age levels. We administered a listening test composed of humorous and nonhumorous song excerpts in three popular music styles to 445 subjects in Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Male and female listeners in Grades 3, 7, and 11 as well as college undergraduates participated in the study. Perception of humor was largely a function of age, with younger listeners perceiving significantly more humor than older ones until age levels began to approach adulthood in the upper grades. Higher levels of perceived humor were significantly associated with higher levels of preference. Listener age exerted a distinct influence on overall preference scores, which were highest with the youngest listeners, were lower in the middle age-groups, and rose again at the college level. Listener gender was influential in the case of some music examples.
Transitions in the Early Musical Careers of Able Young Musicians: Choosing Instruments and Teachers
Authors: Sloboda John A. , Howe Michael J. A.
Published: June 2006

Forty-two students at a specialist school for able musicians and 20 of their parents were interviewed about the circumstances that led to these young people's commencing instrumental study, changing teachers, and taking up new instruments prior to the point where they were recognized as ready for specialist music education. The results showed that parents' sustained support and intervention were vital to developing excellence, and that the student's first teacher's personal characteristics had a marked effect on future levels of development. Students showed a high level of mobility between both instruments and teachers. The principal driving force for these transitions lay with the parent or the child rather than the teacher, who rarely suggested a transition. The implications of these results for understanding the process of high- level development are discussed.
Music Teaching in the Boston Public Schools, 1864-1879
Authors: Howe Sondra Wieland
Published: June 2006

Music instruction was instituted in the Boston Public Schools by Lowell Mason in 1838. During the 1860s and 1870s, a strong music program was developed in Boston under the leadership of the Committee on Music, Luther Whiting Mason, and other music staff members. Education historians have described the growth of bureaucratic urban school systems in the nineteenth century. This article deals with the development of the Boston music program, with its centralized administration, specialized music supervisors, and teacher-training programs. Textbooks were published and a curriculum organized to meet the needs of the expanding urban school system. The Boston School Committee endorsed music to promote good discipline and encouraged music performances to bring the school system positive publicity. The music program declined in the economically depressed 1870s because the music staff was cut while the school population increased. Nevertheless, the Boston program became a model for music programs throughout America and abroad.
Role Stress in the Professional Life of the School Music Teacher: A Collective Case Study
Authors: Scheib John W.
Published: June 2006

The theoretical framework of this article is based on the description of occupational role stress by Kahn, Wolfe, Quinn, and Snoek (1964) and Beehr (1987). The present study is an examination of six role stressors: role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, underutilization of skills, resource inadequacy, and nonparticipation. One midwestern high school's music department in the United States, consisting of four music teachers, served as the study s focus. Data were collected as field notes from observations, transcripts from interviews, and document analysis. While role ambiguity and nonparticipation issues were not of great concern among the participants, issues related to role conflicts, role overloads, underutilization of skills, and resource inadequacy were substantial. The burden of tedious administrative responsibilities (underutilization of skills), the constant need for music education advocacy (role overload), conflicts between personal and professional roles (role conflict), and tension created by scheduling conflicts due to the increasingly busy schedules of students (resource inadequacy) were among the most significant stressors.
Musical Play: A Case Study of Preschool Children and Parents
Authors: Berger Audrey A. , Cooper Shelly
Published: June 2006

In this study of a 10-week music education program for preschool children and parents, we observed the musical behaviors of preschool children in free and structured musical play environments to discover how children explore sound alone and with others. Analysis of the data revealed three themes: unfinished play, extinguishing play, and enhancing play. The children communicated their needs for free musical play to adults and other children through statements, requests, gestures, and actions. We identified conditions that interrupted, modified, or enhanced children's musical play. We concluded that children needed extended, uninterrupted time for play episodes as well as appropriate materials in the environment. Adult valuing of all children's musical utterances and flexibility within structured lessons enhanced play.
An Examination of Preservice Teaching Intensity in Relation to In-Service Teacher Retention and Attrition
Authors: Hancock Carl B.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice teacher intensity, time on and off task, and effectiveness in relation to in-service teacher retention/attrition. Senior music education majors (N = 150) made a videotape of their “best” teaching during the final weeks of student teaching. Excerpts were observed, evaluated, and teacher time on/off task was recorded using the Simple Recording Interface for Behavioral Observation (Duke & Farra, 1996). Each subject's teaching status as K—college music educator in 1995 and 2001 was then determined. No differences were found for intensity, effectiveness, or time on / off task in relation to teaching status assessed, suggesting that preservice teaching performance does not indicate continuing participation in music education as an in-service music teacher. Further analysis revealed that mean interval duration of teacher off task affects ratings of intensity and effectiveness more than do frequency and duration of on task. Application to teacher training and suggestions for further areas of research are discussed.
Incentives and Barriers for Potential Music Teacher Education Doctoral Students
Authors: Teachout David J.
Published: June 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine positive influences and barriers associated with entering a music teacher education doctoral program. Practicing music educators (N = 63), were asked to rate 48 positive-influence items and 54 barrier items. The highest-ranked positive influence was “Trainingyoung teachers to provide worthwhile educational experiences for their students, ” while the highest-ranked barrier item was “Reduction of income while working on the degree.” Using the top 21 positive-influence items and the top 21 barrier items, two factor-analysis procedures were calculated to determine whether positive-influence and barrier items could be reduced to a smaller number of discrete factors. Four positive-influence factors (“Prestige of and Connection with Faculty/University, ” “Desire to Affect Future Music Teachers, ” “Desire to Learn, ” and “Personal/Professional Future”) and two barrier factors (“Financial Challenges” and “Family/Time Considerations”) were identified.
The Effect of Three Orchestra/ School Partnerships on Students' Interest in Instrumental Music Instruction
Authors: Abeles Hal
Published: June 2006

This study is an examination of the influence of three orchestra/school partnerships on students' interest in instrumental music. A vocational choice survey was used to assess students' interest in instrumental music. Surveys were administered to second-through fourth-grade students at partnership and nonpartnership schools. Results indicated that there were significant differences in vocational choices between students at partnership schools and students at nonpartnership schools. Partnership students selected musician as a vocation more frequently than did nonpartnership students. In partnerships that were focused exclusively on developing students' interest in instrumental music, students selected music vocations more frequently than did students in other partnerships. Additional surveys and interviews indicated that many students in higher grades who were participating in instrumental music programs attributed their participation to partnership activities.
High School Choral Directors' Description of Appropriate Literature for Beginning High School Choirs
Authors: Reames Rebecca R.
Published: June 2006

Undertaken to investigate and describe the literature performed with a population of “beginning” high school choirs, this study is a survey of 263 MENC high school choral directors. From the 80% responses, 5 categories were analyzed: demographic information, repertoire selection criteria, literature sources, types of literature performed, and recommended repertoire for beginning high school mixed choirs. Chi-square and Kendall's tau-b analyses produced only one significant relationship. Additional findings in the study revealed that directors selected repertoire for advanced and beginning choirs similarly and that directors valued concerts, choral reading sessions, personal choral libraries, and recordings. Directors indicated that they programmed 20th-century literature most frequently and most successfully. Few similarities were found when selections recommended by directors were compared with a large published list.
Adults' Perceptions of Piano Study: Achievements and Experiences
Authors: Cooper Thelma L.
Published: June 2006

The purposes of this investigation were to describe adults' perceptions of piano study, to identify their music and nonmusic interests, and to describe perceptions of home influences related to music. Of the 564 respondents who returned completed questionnaires, 58% studied piano only as children, 15% studied both as children and as adults, and 3% studied only as adults. Those who studied as children cited parents' decision for beginning lessons. Adults were motivated to begin or resume lessons for reasons of skill development and personal pleasure. Three-fourths of respondents reported receiving personal benefits from piano playing, and over half continue to play. Perceptions of piano skills and ratings of lessons were positively related to perceptions of other aspects of lessons, practicing, and playing. This study has implications for instructors of piano in creating a positive environment to promote lifelong enjoyment of piano playing.
Effects of pre‐trial publicity and jury deliberation on juror bias and source memory errors
Authors: Ruva Christine , McEvoy Cathy , Bryant Judith Becker
Published: June 2006

We examined the effects of exposure to pre‐trial publicity (PTP) and jury deliberation on juror memory and decision making. Mock jurors either read news articles containing negative PTP or articles unrelated to the trial. They later viewed a videotaped murder trial, after which they either made collaborative group decisions about guilt or individual decisions. Finally, all participants independently attributed specific information as having been presented during the trial or in the news articles. Exposure to PTP significantly affected guilty verdicts, sentence length, perceptions of defendant credibility, and misattributions of PTP as having been presented as trial evidence. Jury deliberation had significant effects on jury verdicts, perceptions of defendant credibility, source memory for trial items, and confidence in source memory judgements, but did not affect sentences or critical source memory errors. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High Sensitive Fluorophotometric Determination of Nucleic Acids with Pyronine G Sensitized by N,N‐Dimethylformamide
Authors: Wei Qin , Zhang Hui , Duan Caihong , Li Yan , Du Bin
Published: June 2006

In Tris‐HCl buffer (pH 8.0), the fluorescence of Pyronine G emitted at 552 nm was quenched by nucleic acids when excited at 525 nm. Adding N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as a sensitive media can enhance the sensitivity greatly. Based on the fluorescence reactions sensitive fluorimetric methods for nucleic acids at nanogram levels were proposed. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.0032 ∼ 2.5 μg mL‐1 for ct DNA and 0.0024 ∼ 2.5 μg mL‐1 for hs DNA. The limits of determination were 3.2 ng mL‐1 and 2.4 ng mL‐1 respectively. This method has good selectivity and high sensitivity. It has been applied to the determination of DNA in the synthetic samples and real samples with satisfactory results.
Determination of a Cationic Surfactant with Naphthalene Black 12B by the Resonance Light Scattering Technique
Authors: Feng Suling , Wang Jin , Fan Jing
Published: June 2006

A new determination method for a cationic surfactant, zephiramine (Zeph), was developed with resonance light scattering (RLS) technique, based on the interaction of naphthalene black 12B with Zeph. The resonance light scattering (RLS) and UV characteristics of interaction between naphthalene black 12B and Zeph were studied. The RLS intensity of naphthalene black 12B at 363 nm was greatly enhanced in the presence of Zeph at pH 6.0. The enhanced RLS is proportional to the concentration of Zeph in the range of 3.20×10‐7∼1.44×10‐5 mol L‐1. The limit of detection was 8.8×10‐8 mol L‐1. The proposed method was applied to the determination of Zeph in synthetic and spiked water samples with the recovery of 96.2‐104% and RSD of 1.1‐2.5%.
Radioisotope X‐Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Alncient Pottery from Tel Kouzama Site in Damascus, Syria
Authors: Bakraji Elias Hanna , Romeié Mouhammad , Issa Haissam
Published: June 2006

The radioisotope X‐ray fluorescence method has been utilized in the analysis of thirty nine archaeological pottery fragment samples from Tel Kouzama site, Damascus city, Syria. The samples were irradiated by a 109Cd radioisotope source (∼9 108 Bq) for 1000 s. 17 chemical elements were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods, cluster and factor analysis in order to determine similarities and correlation between the various samples. Factor analysis confirms that samples were correctly classified by cluster analysis. These two methods suggest that samples can be considered to be manufactured using four different sources of raw material.
Two‐Step Simultaneous Distillation and Slolvent Extraction for Isolation Both Free and Bound Aroma Intobacco
Authors: Hu Yaqin , Cai Jibao , Zhu Xiaolan , Gao Yun , Su Qingde
Published: June 2006

In this investigation, a novel two‐step simultaneous distillation and solvent extraction (two‐step SDE) method was developed to isolate both free and bound aroma in tobacco. Firstly, free aroma were extracted into dichloromethane by SDE for 4 h with SDE sample solution at pH 5.5. Then the SDE sample solution was adjusted to pH 2.5, bound aroma were hydrolyzed, and released as free aroma extracted by fresh dichloromethane. Following, both the free and bound aroma were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS).The whole isolation procedure of both free and bound aroma was carried out in one SDE apparatus and using one same sample. Especially, the procedure of isolation of bound aroma was greatly simplified. To apply and validate the proposed two‐step SDE method, a traditional method were also used to isolate the bound aroma. The total bound aroma obtained by the proposed two‐step SDE method and the traditional method were 119.83 mg kg‐1 and 88.9 mg kg‐1, respectively. For isolation of bound aroma, the proposed two‐step SDE method was of better extraction recovery, less labourious, solvent and time consuming than the traditionalmethod.
Development of a Model to Predict Partition Coefficient of Organic Pollutants in Cloud Point Extraction Process
Authors: Shahmirani Samareh , Vasheghani Farahani Ebrahim , Ghasemi Jahanbakhsh
Published: June 2006

A quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) study has been performed to establish a model to relate structural descriptors of 45 organic compounds to their partition coefficients in water‐hexadecylpyridinium chloride (CPC) micelles at 298K using partial least squares (PLS). 510 of six different categories of structural descriptors were calculated by Dragon software. The descriptors with 0.9 mutually pair correlations and with less than 0.1 with dependent variables were excluded at the early stage of the preprocessing of the structural data matrix. The data set was randomly divided into two groups: training set (40 molecules) and test set (5 molecules). In the final model 50 of the most effective of the structural descriptors on the partition coefficient were remained to model building by PLS calibration method. The optimum number of latent variables 5, which spanned 80% of the original variations of data matrix, was selected using leave one out cross validation method. Prediction ability of the model was tested by prediction of the partition coefficients of five unknown compounds and the mean relative error of prediction was 3.60%. The outliers were treated using leverage and score plots of the first third principal components. The efficiency of the new model was compared with Abraham model and it was found that the proposed model has more prediction ability.
A Chemometric Approach to the Investigation of Major and Minor Ion Chemistry in Lake Como (Lombardia, Northern Italy)
Authors: Giussani Barbara , Dossi Carlo , Monticelli Damiano , Pozzi Andrea , Recchia Sandro
Published: June 2006

A chemometric approach based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been proposed, in order to study chemical features (major and minor ions, total alkalinity, dissolved silica) of surface and deep waters of Lake Como (Northern Italy). The method allowed us to investigate the correlations between the analyzed ions in an easy‐to‐see way, using bi‐dimensional graphs. In wintertime, the ionic composition of Lake Como waters seems to be mainly related to the geological composition of the lake basin, with a crystalline bedrock on the northern side and a sedimentary cover in the southern part. The presence of contaminants such as bromide and nitrite in water columns is also evidenced and discussed.
Comparison of effects of in vivo nitrogen dioxide exposure starting from different periods on alveolar macrophage activity, assessed by a chemiluminescence technique in Brown‐Norway rats
Authors: Kumae Takashi , Arakawa Hatsuko
Published: June 2006

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been extensively studied for its immune modulating effects on pulmonary cells. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play an important role in pulmonary immunity. The Brown‐Norway (BN) rat has been studied as a high‐risk model of allergic diseases. In this study, BN rats were exposed to NO2 from the embryonic or weanling period (EP or WP, respectively). To evaluate the effects of NO2 exposure on pulmonary immunity, the activity levels of rat AMs were assessed as reactive oxygen species‐generating capacity, measured by a chemiluminescence (CL) technique, and as cytokine‐producing ability. Except for 0.2 ppm of NO2 exposure, the CL responses of AMs obtained from the WP group at 12 weeks old were suppressed significantly. Changes of the cytokine‐producing levels suggest that inflammatory reactions are terminated at 12 weeks in the EP group. Correlations between the CL responses and the cytokine levels reveal that NO2 exposure may modulate the direction of AM activation. The CL technique is thought to be useful to evaluate changes in AM activity. In this study, the results suggest that, using the high‐risk model of allergic diseases, NO2 exposure from the weanling period has stronger effects on AM activity.Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemiluminescent determination of total antioxidant capacity during winemaking
Authors: Girotti Stefano , Fini Fabiana , Bolelli Luca , Savini Luigi , Sartini Elisa , Arfelli Giuseppe
Published: June 2006

The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of five different wines (four red and one white) was determined in five different steps of winemaking carried out in a commercial wine cellar by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. The CL method is suitable to determine the antioxidant capacity of beverages, and preliminary trials showed that the TAC immediately after the bottle was opened was greater than the day after (about 25% decrease). Immediate analysis or a correct sample storage is therefore necessary. The wines were characterized by different levels of total phenolics and TAC: these differences were related to grape composition and winemaking technologies. The TAC values were the highest immediately after devatting. The TAC suffered the highest decrease (30–50%) after the clarification procedure, which may be due to the fining agents used and to oxygen contact, then remained more or less constant in the subsequent steps. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bovine serum albumin displays luciferase‐like activity in presence of luciferyl adenylate: insights on the origin of protoluciferase activity and bioluminescence colours
Authors: Viviani Vadim R. , Ohmiya Y.
Published: June 2006

Luciferyl adenylate, the key intermediate in beetle bioluminescence, is produced through adenylation of d‐luciferin by beetle luciferases and also by mealworm luciferase‐like enzymes which produce a weak red chemiluminescence. However, luciferyl adenylate is only weakly chemiluminescent in water at physiological pH and it is unclear how efficient bioluminescence evolved from its weak chemiluminescent properties. We found that bovine serum albumin (BSA) and neutral detergents enhance luciferyl adenylate chemiluminescence by three orders of magnitude, simulating the mealworm luciferase‐like enzyme chemiluminescence properties. These results suggest that the beetle protoluciferase activity arose as an enhanced luciferyl adeny‐late chemiluminescence in the protein environment of the ancestral AMP‐ligase. The predominance of luciferyl adenylate chemiluminescence in the red region under most conditions suggests that red luminescence is a more primitive condition that characterized the original stages of protobioluminescence, whereas yellow‐green bioluminescence may have evolved later through the development of a more structured and hydrophobic active site. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of a 21 day metabolic study on serum opsonic activity in female college students, assessed by a chemiluminescence technique
Authors: Kumae Takashi , Kogure Hiroko , Nishimuta Mamoru , Kodama Naoko , Yoshitake Yutaka
Published: June 2006

A metabolic study to evaluate nutritional balance, in which subjects have to eat all the foods supplied and maintain a set schedule, is thought to be stressful for the subjects. The effects of stress on the immune system have been studied extensively. However, there are no studies of non‐specific immunological changes during a metabolic study. Serum opsonic activity (SOA) is a direct and suitable indicator of non‐specific humoral immunity. In this study, we used luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence (LmCL) to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from pooled human neutrophils as an indicator of SOA. We also measured serum immunoglobulin levels and plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Eleven female college students took part in this 21 day metabolic study after giving their written informed consent. The results obtained suggest that the metabolic study has almost no effect on immunoglobulin levels. According to MPO levels, neutrophils in vivo may be deactivated to some minor extent. In contrast to these results, peak time (PT) and peak height (PH) of LmCL were changed significantly during the metabolic study. In conclusion, SOA increased during the 21 day metabolic study. There was no significant correlation between SOA and serum immunoglobulin levels on any of the study days. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitric Oxide‐Induced Fluorescence Enhancement by Displacement of Dansylated Ligands from Cobalt
Authors: Lim Mi Hee , Kuang Chaoyuan , Lippard Stephen J.
Published: June 2006

The cobalt complexes [Co(Ds‐AMP)2] (1) and [Co(Ds‐AQ)2] (2), where Ds‐AMP and Ds‐AQ are the conjugate bases of dansyl aminomethylpyridine (Ds‐HAMP) and dansyl aminoquinoline (Ds‐HAQ), respectively, were synthesized in two steps as fluorescence‐based nitric oxide (NO) sensors and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The fluorescence of the two complexes was significantly quenched in CH3CN or CH3OH compared to that of the free Ds‐HAMP or Ds‐HAQ ligands. Addition of NO to a CH3CN solution of 1 or 2 enhanced the integrated fluorescence emission by factors of 2.1(±0.3) or 3.6(±0.4) within 35 or 20 min, respectively. Introduction of NO to methanolic solutions of the complexes similarly increased the fluorescence by 1.4(±0.1) for 1 or 6.5(±1.4) for 2 within 1 h. These studies demonstrate that 1 and 2 can monitor the presence of NO with turn‐on emission and that their fluorescence responses are more rapid than those of previously reported cobalt systems in coordinating solvents such as CH3CN and CH3OH. 1H NMR and IR spectroscopic data revealed the formation of a {Co(NO)2}10 cobalt–dinitrosyl adduct, with concomitant dissociation of one ligand from the cobalt center, as the metal‐containing product of the NO reactions, a result indicating NO‐induced ligand release to be the cause of the fluorescence increase.