The odd bod, the icon and the modest woman : the differences and similarities amongst three Australian women music teachers, performers and composers

Throughout Australia's history there have been many women who have been active in music education, performance and composition, despite the traditional family commitments which women have negotiated, overcoming prevailing negative attitudes to success outside the home. The period 1900 to 1950 in Australia saw significant changes in the social structure such as universal suffrage, Federation and World War 1. These changes broadened opportunities for some women to negotiate a life-time career in music. The researcher has identified three significant women who were able to forge careers in music during this time in music teaching, composition and performance. The women were Mona McBurney, Ruby Davy and Ruth Flockart. The selected women were all unique; McBurney was an outstanding composer for her time, being the first woman in Australia to compose an opera. Also, she was the first woman in Australia to gain her Bachelor of Music. Despite these successes, she had a reputation for her overwhelming modesty and shyness. Davy was significant because of her diversified ability as a teacher, performer, composer and elocutionist, and because she was the first woman in Australia to gain her Doctorate of Music. Davy has been described by several people as unusual, strange, and an 'odd bod'. Flockart was a music teacher at Methodist Ladies' College Melbourne for almost fifty years, half of those as the Director of Music. She was a significant figure in contemporary music education, particularly as a choral conductor, where she has been described as an 'icon'. This research looks at the differences and similarities amongst these three women in terms of family life, social position, education and support systems, and their ability to negotiate a career in music teaching, performance and composition.

Who, and what, is odd here? De-naturalizing students' experiences of 'the other'

This paper reviews a teaching process that aimed to prepare final year social work students for critical practice with diverse and marginalized populations. Alongside lecture input, in small group discussions and in the two sequenced written assignments students were encouraged to personalize questions of bias and stigma by recalling both their experiences of being ‘other-ed’ as well as their participation in practices that ‘other-ed’, such as racist and homophobic imaging and acting. Feedback to the unit's first iteration in 2004 was generally positive yet a significant minority of students were clearly dissatisfied. Whilst retaining the same formal content in 2005, greater attention was devoted to generating a supportive group process and a positive environment for ‘negative’ self-disclosure. This milieu acted to contain and normalize the students' struggle with internalized stereotypes, a stage associated with their greater preparedness to identify and challenge their own personal, cultural and ideological locations. Within the context of the unit remaining explicit about its value stance, by adopting an approach to the teaching/learning process that neither collided nor colluded we believe the 2005 revision better achieved the units aims. First, the unit received broader positive appraisal from students and, second, it appeared that the unit more firmly promoted the prospects for students carrying forward a capacity for critical self review post graduation.

In search of peaceful playgrounds

Recess is often thought of as a time to escape from the classroom, from work and from the constant gaze of the teacher. It was a peaceful and joyous time when most children occupied themselves in active play and the odd incident was quickly resolved with the help of the teacher on 'yard duty'. Not so any more. The playground is now a 'problem' in many schools largely because of the bullying behaviour occurring there. This paper discusses the relative merits of the strategies schools are implementing in an effort to deal with the bullying behaviour and suggests that more thought might be given to improving the playground environment itself as a way of addressing the problems.

Grain size effect on behaviour and microstructure of a warm deformed Ti-IF steel

The effect of grain size on the deformation behaviour in the fenite region of a Titanium stabilized Interstitial Free steel was investigated by hot torsion. The initial work hardening regime is followed by a softening regime where a broad peak stress develops. The peak stress and the stress at final strain were relatively insensitive to grain size. However, at low values of the Zener-Hollomon parameter, the strain to the peak stress was strongly dependent on the grain size. A series of microstructural parameters were examined to explain these observations.

Understanding the deformed microstructure of cold-rolled IF and LC steel

This paper presents an overview of a series of investigations of the microstructure and texture of cold-rolled IF and LC steel. The investigations made extensive use of orientation mapping using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM). The effect of grain boundaries on the deformed microstructure was examined by comparing the textures of regions near grain boundaries and in the interiors of grains.  A general weakening of the texture, but a strengthening of the {OOI}<110> component, occurs in the vicinity of grain boundaries. Misorientation angle and axis distributions were used to characterise the fragmentation of grains belonging to different orientation classes. The influence of carbon on the deformed microstructure and nucleation during recrystallization was clarified by examining the microstructures of LC and IF steels during rolling and annealing. The
results of the investigations emphasize the important role of shear banding in determining the fragmentation behaviour of ND-fibre grains and the orientations of viable recrystallization nuclei within the deformed microstructure.

Extending abelian groups to rings

For any abelian group G and any function f : G → G we define a commutative binary operation or `multiplication' on G in terms of f. We give necessary and sufficient conditions on f for G to extend to a commutative ring with the new multiplication. In the case where G is an elementary abelian p-group of odd order, we classify those functions which extend G to a ring and show, under an equivalence relation we call weak isomorphism, that there are precisely six distinct classes of rings constructed using this method with additive group the elementary abelian p-group of odd order p².

Characteristics of the contraction twins formed close to the fracture surface in Mg-3A1-1Zn alloy deformed in tension

Characteristics of the “contraction” twins, formed close to the fracture surface in Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy deformed in tension approximately perpendicular to the grain c-axes, are investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The grain c-axis contractions were largely accommodated by {1011}-{1012} source double-twins in a variant characterized by 38° ⟨1210⟩ source twin/matrix misorientation in conjunction with dislocation slip. A possible interpretation of the observed preference for this variant formation is given and some crystal plasticity modelling is performed to elucidate the matter.

Experimental and numerical analysis of the deformed process of cracks/cavities

In this paper, the three-point bending tests of beams with a small single-edge crack are conducted to demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the laser diffraction technique in detecting its deformation and evolution. As a comparison, the quasi-static analysis of the beam subjected to 3-point bending is further proceeded using the finite element method and the related results have been in good agreement with those from the tests.

Bush garden ethos in South Australia

The bush garden ethos in South Australia, notwithstanding the state's dearth of water, poor soils and Mediterranean climate, has been slow in evolving. Even today. the logical Mediterranean philosophical arguments of Trevor Nottle, expressed in Gardens of the Sun,' are passed over in favour of struggling or often over-watered gardens containing ubiquitous 'Iceberg' roses, an eclectic exotic collection of plants, and the odd umbrageous eucalypt.'

Exercise loading and cortical bone distribution at the tibial shaft

Cortical bone is not a uniform tissue, and its apparent density [cortical volumetric density (vBMD)] varies around the bone cross-section as well as along the axial length of the bone. It is not yet known, whether the varying vBMD distribution is attributable to modulation in the predominant loads affecting bone. The aim of the present study was to compare the cortical bone mass distribution through the bone cortex (radial distribution) and around the center of mass (polar distribution) among 221 premenopausal women aged 17–40 years representing athletes involved in high impact, odd impact, high magnitude, repetitive low impact, repetitive non-impact sports and leisure time physical activity (referent controls). Bone cross-sections at the tibial mid-diaphysis were assessed with pQCT. Radial and polar vBMD distributions were analyzed in three concentric cortical divisions within the cortical envelope and in four cortical sectors originating from the center of the bone cross-section. MANCOVA, including age as a covariate, revealed no significant group by division/sector interaction in either radial or polar distribution, but the mean vBMD values differed between groups (P < 0.001). The high and odd-impact groups had 1.2 to 2.6% (P < 0.05) lower cortical vBMD than referents, in all analyzed sectors/divisions. The repetitive, low-impact group had 0.4 to 1.0% lower (P < 0.05) vBMD at the mid and outer cortical regions and at the anterior sector of the tibia. The high magnitude group had 1.2% lower BMD at the lateral sector (P < 0.05). The present results generate a hypothesis that the radial and polar cortical bone vBMD distributions within the tibial mid-shaft are not modulated by exercise loading but the mean vBMD level is slightly affected.

Cross-sectional geometry of weight-bearing tibia in female athletes subjected to different exercise loadings

Summary The association of long-termsport-specific exercise loading with cross-sectional geometry of the weight-bearing tibia was evaluated among 204 female athletes representing five different exercise loadings and 50 referents. All exercises involving ground impacts (e.g., endurance running, ball games, jumping) were associated with thicker cortex at the distal and diaphyseal sites of the tibia and also with large diaphyseal cross-section, whereas the high-magnitude (powerlifting) and non-impact (swimming) exercises were not. Introduction Bones adapt to the specific loading to which they are habitually subjected. In this cross-sectional study, the association of long-term sport-specific exercise loading with the geometry of the weight-bearing tibia was evaluated among premenopausal female athletes representing 11 different sports.

Methods A total of 204 athletes were divided into five exercise loading groups, and the respective peripheral quantitative computed tomographic data were compared to data obtained from 50 physically active, non-athletic referents. Analysis of covariance was used to estimate the between-group differences.

Results At the distal tibia, the high-impact, odd-impact, and repetitive low-impact exercise loading groups had ~30% to 50% (p<0.05) greater cortical area (CoA) than the referents. At the tibial shaft, these three impact groups had ~15% to 20% (p<0.05) greater total area (ToA) and ~15% to 30% (p<0.05) greater CoA. By contrast, both the high-magnitude and repetitive non-impact groups had similar ToA and CoA values to the reference group at both tibial sites.

Conclusions High-impact, odd-impact, and repetitive lowimpact exercise loadings were associated with thicker cortex at the distal tibia. At the tibial shaft, impact loading was not only associated with thicker cortex, but also a larger cross-sectional area. High-magnitude exercise loading did not show such associations at either site but was comparable to repetitive non-impact loading and reference data. Collectively, the relevance of high strain rate together with moderate-to-high strain magnitude as major determinants of osteogenic loading of the weight-bearing tibia is implicated.

Direction-specific diaphyseal geometry and mineral mass distribution of tibia and fibula: A pQCT study of female athletes representing different exercise loading types

Bones adapt to prevalent loading, which comprises mainly forces caused by muscle contractions. Therefore, we hypothesized that similar associations would be observed between neuromuscular performance and rigidity of bones located in the same body segment. These associations were assessed among 221 premenopausal women representing athletes in high-impact, odd-impact, highmagnitude, repetitive low-impact, and repetitive nonimpact sports and physically active referents aged 17–40 years. The whole group mean age and body mass were 23 (5) and 63 (9) kg, respectively. Bone cross sections at the tibial and fibular mid-diaphysis were assessed with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Density-weighted polar section modulus (SSI) and minimal and maximal crosssectional moments of inertia (Imin, Imax) were analyzed. Bone morphology was described as the Imax/Imin ratio. Neuromuscular performance was assessed by maximal power during countermovement jump (CMJ). Tibial SSI was 31% higher in the high-impact, 19% in the odd-impact, and 30% in the repetitive low-impact groups compared with the reference group (P\0.005). Only the high-impact group differed from the referents in fibular SSI (17%, P\0.005). Tibial morphology differed between groups (P = 0.001), but fibular morphology did not (P = 0.247). The bone-bygroup interaction was highly significant (P\0.001). After controlling for height, weight, and age, the CMJ peak power correlated moderately with tibial SSI (r = 0.31, P\0.001) but not with fibular SSI (r = 0.069, P = 0.313). In conclusion, observed differences in the association between neuromuscular performance and tibial and fibular traits suggest
that the tibia and fibula experience different loading

Association between abnormal psychosocial situations in childhood, generalised anxiety disorder and oppositional defiant disorder

Objective: Psychosocial stressors are important in the pathogenesis of most mental disorders. However, little is known about the way psychosocial stressors uniquely combine to create risk for different expressions of child and adolescent psychopathology. The purpose of this study was to determine whether core dimensions of stressful psychosocial situations are differentially associated with childhood generalized anxiety disorder and oppositional defi ant disorder.

Method: A case-control design conducted in Trondheim (Norway) from 2002 to 2004 comparing exposure to ICD-10-defi ned abnormal psychosocial situations (Z-codes) among 21 children with oppositional defi ant disorder (ODD) and 22 children with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) recruited from a university outpatient clinic with 42 non-patient school controls.

Results: Multigroup discriminant analysis extracted two signifi cant dimensions within the psychosocial variables assessed. Function 1 was characterized by overprotection, parental pressures and acute life events and was associated with GAD. Function 2 was characterized by parental abuse/hostility and interpersonal stress and was associated with ODD. Both dimensions were able to correctly classify 89.7% of the cases, compared to 35.9% by chance.

Conclusions: The results indicate that specifi c psychosocial dimensions are differentially related to childhood GAD and ODD. This may be useful in targeting at-risk populations for preventive intervention as well as informing more accurate alignment of psychosocial resources for treatment.