Battelle-Institut ev

Entrainment theory focuses on processes in which interacting (i.e., coupled) rhythmic systems stabilize, producing synchronization in the ideal sense, and forms of phase related rhythmic coordination in complex cases. In human action, entrainment involves spatiotemporal and social aspects, characterizing the meaningful activities of music, dance, and communication. How can the phenomenon of human entrainment be meaningfully studied in complex situations such as dance? We present an in-progress case study of entrainment in William Forsythe’s choreography Duo, a duet in which coordinated rhythmic activity is achieved without an external musical beat and without touch-based interaction. Using concepts of entrainment from different disciplines as well as insight from Duo performer Riley Watts, we question definitions of entrainment in the context of dance. The functions of chorusing, turn-taking, complementary action, cues, and alignments are discussed and linked to supporting annotated video material. While Duo challenges the definition of entrainment in dance as coordinated response to an external musical or rhythmic signal, it supports the definition of entrainment as coordinated interplay of motion and sound production by active agents (i.e., dancers) in the field. Agreeing that human entrainment should be studied on multiple levels, we suggest that entrainment between the dancers in Duo is elastic in time and propose how to test this hypothesis empirically. We do not claim that our proposed model of elasticity is applicable to all forms of human entrainment nor to all examples of entrainment in dance. Rather, we suggest studying higher order phase correction (the stabilizing tendency of entrainment) as a potential aspect to be incorporated into other models.

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There is an increasing need for air monitoring regarding hazardous organic gases which — if released into the atmosphere — have impact on the environment, on human health or might cause hazardous industrial accidents. Conventional air monitoring techniques detect only nearby pollutants and thus yield limited information on the pollutants’ local distribution. As a consequence concentrations with strong spatial variations may not be detected at all or merely as apparently diluted and small. Therefore, a pronounced progress in air monitoring is expected from the DIAL technique (DIfferential Absorption LIDAR, LIDAR: LIght Detection And Ranging), since DIAL allows to identify, quantify and localize remote atmospheric pollutants from a single sensor location (without reflecting or backscattering topographic target); concentration profiles and three-dimensional maps obtained by DIAL display spatial concentration variations as well as temporal fluctuations and concentration build ups. DIAL is based on absorption spectroscopy. Since relevant hazardous gases show characteristic absorption lines which coincide with CO2 laser lines within the 9 to 11 µm regions1, CO2 laser based DIAL sensors seem to be well suited instruments for monitoring the atmosphere.

The data introduced here are part of a project lasting from 1976 to 1985 in an acid beech wood forest in the northern part of the Black Forst in Southern Germany. With Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) as an example, attempts were made to determine the part played by the mesofauna in the soil system. Parameters such as respiration, production, and consumption were estimated using abundance and biomass data as a basis. The results show that not only the Enchytraeidae but even single species like Cognettia sphagnetorum or Mesenchytraeus glandulosus contribute a measurable amount to the energy flow of the soil ecosystem. The respiration of the whole population, for example, corresponds to 3.4% of the total energy input via leaf litter, and consumption amounts to 8.1% of the total litter including twigs. It seems that the Enchytraeidae contribute around 60% of the total soil animal respiration in this acid beech wood, and thus play an important role in soil renewal.