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The purpose of this study was to create and validate a measure for jazz theory knowledge assessment. The Jazz Theory Measure (JTM) was created by exploring publications on jazz improvisation instruction and research studies that utilized jazz theory as a significant aspect of the study (i.e., dependent variable, independent variable, data collection). Latent jazz theory components (i.e., Key Knowledge, Scale Knowledge, and Chord Knowledge) were identified from an exploration of the literature and each was paired with several subtests. Items representing the JTM (N = 60) demonstrate significant representation of the jazz theory components through alpha reliability (0.98), and confirmatory factor analysis (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.0327, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.930, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.907) providing support for the JTM as a valid and reliable measure of jazz theory knowledge. Further analysis suggests that music educators providing instruction in jazz improvisation should focus on building a foundation of jazz theory in the first 5 years of jazz instruction.

Abstract Background Native warm‐season grass (NWSG) mixtures may provide a low‐nitrogen (N)‐input summer perennial forage option to extensively managed forage–livestock systems. Methods Mixed pastures of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Michx.), and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.) fertilized with 0 or 67 kg N ha−1 were continuously stocked with beef heifers and cows. Forage mass, nutritive value, and canopy heights were determined every 2 weeks during the grazing season. Stand persistence measures included the canopy cover and leaf area index (LAI) and plant crown density at spring emergence following 3 years of grazing management. Results Forage mass, canopy height, and stocking densities were greater for N‐fertilized NWSG than unfertilized NWSG for the first 30 days of the growing season across the 3‐year study. Forage NWSG fertilized with N had a greater decrease in LAI during the growing season (51% decrease) than unfertilized NWSG. Spring NWSG plant density estimates following 3 years of grazing did not differ across N management strategies. Conclusions Forage NWSG mixtures supported superior forage attributes and greater stocking densities early in the grazing season under low‐level N than zero‐N‐input systems and may provide a low‐N‐input alternative for improved species use in southeastern US forage–livestock systems.

In southeastern USA, the use of baleage has increased as an alternative technology to hay production, thereby allowing for a timelier harvest of the conserved forage. A series of studies were conducted to determine the nutritive value, fermentation parameters, and in situ disappearance of the cool-season annual forage mixtures that were ensiled with or without silage inoculant for up to 120 d. The forage mixtures were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) + brassica hybrid (Brassica rapa L. × napus L.) (WB), wheat + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) (WC), and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) + oat (Avena sativa L.) + crimson clover (ROC). The inoculant strategy affected the CP concentration (p < 0.05), with it increasing in WB and decreasing in ROC. Among the mixtures, the DM concentration decreased by up to 5%, and the NDF and ADF concentrations decreased by up to 10% during the ensiling period. The pH averaged 5.0, 5.0, and 5.5 for the WC, WB, and ROC mixtures, respectively. Based on our results, the baleage of the cool-season annual forage mixtures may provide a viable high-quality option to sustain animal growth and performance.

An important consideration for biopharmaceutical processes is the cost of goods (CoGs) of biotherapeutics manufacturing. CoGs can be reduced by dramatically increasing the productivity of the bioreactor process. In this study, we demonstrate that an intensified process which couples a perfused N‐1 seed reactor and a fully automated high inoculation density (HID) N stage reactor substantially increases the bioreactor productivity as compared to a low inoculation density (LID) control fed‐batch process. A panel of six CHOK1SV GS‐KO® CHO cell lines expressing three different monoclonal antibodies was evaluated in this intensified process, achieving an average 85% titer increase and 132% space–time yield (STY) increase was demonstrated when comparing the 12‐day HID process to a 15‐day LID control process. These productivity increases were enabled by automated nutrient feeding in both the N‐1 and N stage bioreactors using in‐line process analytical technologies (PAT) and feedback control. The N‐1 bioreactor utilized in‐line capacitance to automatically feed the bioreactor based on a capacitance‐specific perfusion rate (CapSPR). The N‐stage bioreactor utilized in‐line Raman spectroscopy to estimate real‐time concentrations of glucose, phenylalanine, and methionine, which are held to target set points using automatic feed additions. These automated feeding methodologies were shown to be generalizable across six cell lines with diverse feed requirements. We show this new process can accommodate clonal diversity and reproducibly achieve substantial titer uplifts compared to traditional cell culture processes, thereby establishing a baseline technology platform upon which further increases bioreactor productivity and CoGs reduction can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to test a hypothesized model of solo music performance assessment. Specifically, this study investigates the influence of technique and musical expression on perceptions of overall performance quality. The Aural Musical Performance Quality (AMPQ) measure was created to measure overall performance quality, technique, musical expression, tone, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, articulation, tempo, dynamics, tone character, and interpretation. The factors of interest were identified from previous studies on musical performance constructs, musical achievement, musical expression, and scale construction. Alpha reliability for the 44-item Likert scale AMPQ measure was reported at 0.977. Volunteer adjudicators (N = 58) were recruited to evaluate four solo instrumental recordings (brass, woodwind, voice, and string). A path analysis of the 232 performance evaluations provided empirical support for the hypothesized model. Technique demonstrated significant direct effects on assessments of overall performance quality and musical expression. Musical expression also demonstrated a significant direct effect on overall perceptions of performance quality. The results of this study are consistent with hypothesized model of performer-controlled musical factors.

The purpose of this study was to examine influences of parental involvement-home music environment, family background, and parenting style factors on success in school music and in school. Participants (N = 1114) were music students in grades 4-12 from six regions of the United States. Data were gathered about parental involvement-home environment in music (PIHEM), attitudes towards music, music achievement, parenting style, psychosocial maturity, academic and musical grades, homework and reading, and educational expectations. All PIHEM factors were related to each of the composite outcome measures and with parenting style. Regression results accounted for 49.9%, 17.6% and 17.5% of the variance in musical, academic, and psychosocial outcomes, respectively. Musical home environment, socioeconomic status, and school level obtained direct effects for all outcomes. Direct effects were found for musical home structure and family musical background with both musical and academic outcomes, and for attitudes towards music study with both musical and psychosocial outcomes. Parental expectations about music study and family music participation had direct effects for only musical outcomes. PIHEM factors appear to have both direct effects and indirect effects on various educational outcomes, and interact with family background characteristics, student characteristics, and parenting style.

The purpose of this study was to test a hypothesized model that proposes a causal relationship between motivation and academic achievement on the acquisition of jazz theory knowledge. A reliability analysis of the latent variables ranged from 0.92 to 0.94. Confirmatory factor analyses of the motivation (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.067) and jazz theory (SRMR = 0.063) measures indicated a good fit of the predicted model to the observed data. Results of the latent path model indicated good fit (?2 = 20.08, p = 0.692, df = 24, N = 102) and large, positive, and statistically significant direct effects of motivation (ß = 0.65) and academic achievement (ß = 0.56) on jazz theory knowledge acquisition. The successful identification of this proposed model lends enough support for continued investigation into the process surrounding the acquisition of jazz theory knowledge.