Thesis (M.F.A.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 17 p. : col. ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 15).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1995. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves [20]-[24]

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-62).

Bibliography: leaves 150-161. This thesis addresses two areas in the field of conceptual structures. The first is the unification of conceptual graphs, and the consequent work in projection and in type hierarchies... The second area of investigation is the definition of constraints, especially real-value constraints on the concept referents, with particular attention to handling constraints during the unification of conceptual graphs.

Nesta dissertação, analisam-se alguns ditos populares retomados em músicas do cancioneiro popular, com base na teoria da metáfora conceptual (Lakoff e Jonhson, 1980; Kövecses, 2002), e na teoria da integração conceptual (Fauconnier e Turner, 2002). Busca se investigar se a projeção metafórica presente no dito empregado em situações cotidianas se sustenta, quando o mesmo é retomado em uma letra de música. Este estudo encontra sua justificativa em uma das assunções basilares da linguística cognitiva de que as metáforas conceptuais estão presentes tanto nas conversas cotidianas quanto nas manifestações literárias e artísticas. Pretende se, assim, observar a multidirecionalidade dos processos de significação desse tipo de construção linguística, a fim de postular seu poder projetivo e metafórico na mente dos falantes. Dentro do repertório de construções proverbiais em português, é perceptível a construção proverbial condicional com a configuração sintático semântica [x P Q], entre as quais foi escolhida como objeto de estudo a configuração [Quem P Q]. A escolha das músicas foi aleatória, já que não se buscou um gênero ou estilo específico, mas canções que possuíssem ditos populares em suas letras. Na análise, de cunho interpretativo, procedeu-se a identificação do papel da metáfora conceptual presente no dito empregado em situações cotidianas e nas 10 músicas selecionadas para este estudo. Em seguida, postularam-se redes de integração conceptual subjacente ao sentido dos ditos nas interações em geral e nas músicas, de modo a explicar que as diferenças de sentido observadas ou não nos ditos transpostos para letras de músicas estão relacionadas ao tipo de rede de integração conceptual ativado durante o processo de mesclagem. As redes de integração postuladas para explicar a construção de sentido dos ditos e destes nas músicas analisadas, revelam compressões das relações de CAUSA EFEITO, MUDANÇA, IDENTIDADE, ANALOGIA DESANALOGIA e TEMPO, devido, sobretudo, ao papel que os ditos desempenham ao ilustrar cenas da vida das pessoas. Entre as metáforas que estruturam os ditos, nas interações e nas músicas, encontram-se A VIDA É UMA VIAGEM / A VIDA É UM TRAJETO QUE DEVE SER PERCORRIDO COM CAUTELA / VIDA É UM JOGO DE AZAR; TEMPO É LOCAL PARA ONDE ALGO SE DESLOCA; DIFICULDADES SÃO IMPEDIMENTOS (IN) TRANSPONÍVEIS; RELIGIÃO É UMA TRANSAÇÃO COMERCIAL; MORAL É UM OBJETO PRECIOSO (MAS FRÁGIL COMO O VIDRO); EXAGEROS SÃO GOLPES INCERTOS. Espera-se que a hipótese aventada com este estudo motive outras pesquisas sob o escopo teórico da Linguística Cognitiva; em especial, as teorias da metáfora e da mesclagem conceptual, as quais revelaram um potencial descritivo promissor para análise de fenômenos semântico-pragmáticos da língua portuguesa, como os ditos populares, construções situadas no topo da escala de idiomaticidade / In this dissertation, some popular sayings found in folk songs, based on conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980; Kövecses, 2002), and conceptual integration theory (Fauconnier and Turner, 2002) are analyzed. We investigate if this metaphorical projection in those popular saying is sustained in everyday situations, when it is taken up in a lyric. This study finds its justification in one of the basic assumptions of cognitive linguistics that conceptual metaphors are present both in everyday conversations and in the literary and artistic manifestations. The aim is to observe the processes of significance of this type of linguistic construction in order to posit its power projective and metaphorical in the speakers minds. Within the repertoire of proverbial constructions in portuguese, it is noted the proverbial conditional construction with this syntax semantics configuration [x PQ], among these, it was chosen as the object of this study the setting [About PQ]. The choice of songs was random, since no attempt was made to a specific genre or style, but songs that possess popular sayings in his lyrics. In this analysis, interpretive nature, we proceeded to identify the role of conceptual metaphor in that this employee in everyday situations and in the 10 songs selected for this study. Then, it was postulated conceptual integration networks underlying the effect of said interactions in general and in music, in order to explain the observed differences in meaning or not the sayings translated into lyrics. Those songs are related to the type of conceptual integration of network activated during the merge process. The network integration postulated to explain the construction of meaning of these sayings and the songs are analyzed and it shows the compression of the relations of CAUSE AND EFFECT, CHANGE, IDENTIDY, ANALOGY AND DISANALOGY, TIME, due mainly to the role that those plays illustrate scenes of people's lives. Among the metaphors that structure those popular sayings in the interactions and in the songs are: LIFE IS A JOURNEY / LIFE IS A PATH TO BE TRAVELED WITH CAUTION / LIFE IS A GAMBLING GAME, TIME IS A PLACE WHERE SOMETHING MOVES; DIFFICULTIES ARE BARS (IN) TRANSPOSABLE; RELIGION IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION, MORAL IS A PRECIOUS OBJECT (BUT FRAGILE AS GLASS). It is expected that the hypothesis of this study will motivate further research on the theoretical scope of Cognitive Linguistics, in particular, theories of metaphor and conceptual blending, which revealed a potential promise for descriptive analysis of semantic-pragmatic phenomena of Portuguese as the sayings popular construction on the top idiomatic scale

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autor / Determina de qué manera, la aplicación de los organizadores del conocimiento, mejora el desarrollo de las capacidades en estudiantes de la asignatura de expresión escrita en estudios generales de la Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal 2015. Para tal efecto se utiliza el diseño cuasi experimental de tipo transversal con 2 grupos: conformados por 40 estudiantes para el grupo experimental y 40 estudiantes para el grupo de control. Con ambos grupos se trabaja la aplicación de los organizadores del conocimiento, asimismo se le aplican exámenes de conocimientos conceptuales, procedimentales y actitudinales y reforzados con las fichas de observación realizadas por la investigadora. De los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que los puntajes promedio alcanzados por los estudiantes de la asignatura de expresión escrita de estudios generales de la Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal 2015. Luego de la aplicación de los organizadores del conocimiento son diferentes, siendo más altos para el grupo experimental, lo cual significa que estos favorecen el desarrollo de las capacidades de los estudiantes. / Tesis

PPI has been growing considerably in the last 15 years in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) following shifts in the relationship between institutions and the public. Various legislative changes during this period have moved the NHS towards a consumerist model of delivery with a greater emphasis on the voice of their service users and the public. High profile cases, such as the severe failings at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (Francis, 2013), have provided impetus for PPI. However, despite increases in PPI-related activities, research into PPI methods and their impact have indicated that both methods and impact are difficult to evaluate (e.g. Conklin et al., 2012). Many existing models of PPI appear to over simplify what is a complex social phenomenon. Relatively simple early models such as the ladder of participation (Arnstein, 1969) are still widely referenced. Many studies have focused on individual PPI activities and individual stakeholder perspectives but have paid less attention to the commonalities and differences across and within stakeholder groups and PPI contexts. This study explored the complexities of PPI by collecting detailed observational, documentary and interview data from three different healthcare provider organisations (a mental health trust, a social enterprise, and an acute hospital trust). A range of methods (observations, semi-structured interviews, and document reviews) were used to explore in depth the complex nature of PPI and capture detailed data about contextual and organisational factors. Furthermore, whilst this study aimed to explore a range of activities and individual perspectives across multiple organisations, the ultimate outcome of this research was to produce a conceptual framework that extends theory by placing greater emphasis on the influence of contextual and societal factors. This study identified a plethora of factors that contribute to successful PPI; some of which had been found in previous research (such as personal barriers for laypeople). The constraining role of organisational structures and hierarchies; the strong influence of Government policies and initiatives; and the gatekeeping role of PPI facilitators were novel to this research, or added nuances to existing literature. With regards to the latter, a key finding was the significant role PPI facilitators play in both the implementation and success of PPI work. Their role is essentially a mediator between their employer and patients and the public. This study identified that the role of the voice of patients and the public is negotiated via PPI facilitators, making these key to the success of PPI. PPI facilitators were both responsible for facilitating PPI activities and reporting back the results of that work to senior management (including Board members); the ultimate goal of which was to influence service improvements as well as long term organisational strategies. These findings indicate that a conceptual framework of PPI is needed that considers not just individual perspectives and methods of PPI, but also the process of negotiation via PPI facilitators in making PPI a success.

The purposes of this study were (a) to examine Zambian Junior high school pre-service science teachers' familiarity with, interest in learning more about electrochemistry, and their conceptual understanding and performance on electrochemistry (b) to examine the pre-service science teachers' ability to identify misconceptions on electrochemistry and their pedagogical ideas on how to address the identified misconceptions in junior high school classrooms, and (c) to establish the extent to which pre-service science teachers' familiarity with, interest in, conceptual understanding of, performance on, and pedagogical ideas for, electrochemistry are related. The electrochemistry concepts examined in this study were categorized into basic and advanced concepts. A sample comprised 66 junior high school pre-service science teachers at Mufulira College of Education in Zambia. The study used a mixed methods research design, and data were collected using a questionnaire, performance test, and interviews. The first two instruments collected quantitative data which was analyzed using non-parametric tests - Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. The third instrument collected qualitative data which was analyzed by identifying the emerging themes that formed categories. The pre-service science teachers reported high familiarity and interest in the electrochemistry concepts examined. There were statistically significant differences in familiarity with and interest in all concepts among all the groups. The year in college and level at which electrochemistry was learned showed statistically significant differences for both familiarity and interest. Results further showed low pre-service science teachers' conceptual understanding and performance on electrochemistry test. Between group comparisons on conceptual understanding and performance were statistically significant for year in college and levels at which electrochemistry was learned. The pre-service science teachers interviewed exhibited inability to identify misconceptions in most scenarios on basic electrochemistry concepts. Furthermore, teachers' suggested pedagogical ideas for addressing the misconceptions comprised both learner-centered and teacher-centered instructional practices. As such, the pre-service science teachers' self-reported knowledge of electrochemistry was not consistent with their actual knowledge. Correlational analysis of familiarity, interest, conceptual understanding and performance revealed statistically significant correlations between familiarity and conceptual understanding, r(64) = 0.56, p = 0.000 and between performance and conceptual understanding r(64) = 0.64, p = 0.000 only. These results have implications for teacher education and science teaching and learning.

Nesta dissertação, analisam-se alguns ditos populares retomados em músicas do cancioneiro popular, com base na teoria da metáfora conceptual (Lakoff e Jonhson, 1980; Kövecses, 2002), e na teoria da integração conceptual (Fauconnier e Turner, 2002). Busca se investigar se a projeção metafórica presente no dito empregado em situações cotidianas se sustenta, quando o mesmo é retomado em uma letra de música. Este estudo encontra sua justificativa em uma das assunções basilares da linguística cognitiva de que as metáforas conceptuais estão presentes tanto nas conversas cotidianas quanto nas manifestações literárias e artísticas. Pretende se, assim, observar a multidirecionalidade dos processos de significação desse tipo de construção linguística, a fim de postular seu poder projetivo e metafórico na mente dos falantes. Dentro do repertório de construções proverbiais em português, é perceptível a construção proverbial condicional com a configuração sintático semântica [x P Q], entre as quais foi escolhida como objeto de estudo a configuração [Quem P Q]. A escolha das músicas foi aleatória, já que não se buscou um gênero ou estilo específico, mas canções que possuíssem ditos populares em suas letras. Na análise, de cunho interpretativo, procedeu-se a identificação do papel da metáfora conceptual presente no dito empregado em situações cotidianas e nas 10 músicas selecionadas para este estudo. Em seguida, postularam-se redes de integração conceptual subjacente ao sentido dos ditos nas interações em geral e nas músicas, de modo a explicar que as diferenças de sentido observadas ou não nos ditos transpostos para letras de músicas estão relacionadas ao tipo de rede de integração conceptual ativado durante o processo de mesclagem. As redes de integração postuladas para explicar a construção de sentido dos ditos e destes nas músicas analisadas, revelam compressões das relações de CAUSA EFEITO, MUDANÇA, IDENTIDADE, ANALOGIA DESANALOGIA e TEMPO, devido, sobretudo, ao papel que os ditos desempenham ao ilustrar cenas da vida das pessoas. Entre as metáforas que estruturam os ditos, nas interações e nas músicas, encontram-se A VIDA É UMA VIAGEM / A VIDA É UM TRAJETO QUE DEVE SER PERCORRIDO COM CAUTELA / VIDA É UM JOGO DE AZAR; TEMPO É LOCAL PARA ONDE ALGO SE DESLOCA; DIFICULDADES SÃO IMPEDIMENTOS (IN) TRANSPONÍVEIS; RELIGIÃO É UMA TRANSAÇÃO COMERCIAL; MORAL É UM OBJETO PRECIOSO (MAS FRÁGIL COMO O VIDRO); EXAGEROS SÃO GOLPES INCERTOS. Espera-se que a hipótese aventada com este estudo motive outras pesquisas sob o escopo teórico da Linguística Cognitiva; em especial, as teorias da metáfora e da mesclagem conceptual, as quais revelaram um potencial descritivo promissor para análise de fenômenos semântico-pragmáticos da língua portuguesa, como os ditos populares, construções situadas no topo da escala de idiomaticidade / In this dissertation, some popular sayings found in folk songs, based on conceptual metaphor theory (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980; Kövecses, 2002), and conceptual integration theory (Fauconnier and Turner, 2002) are analyzed. We investigate if this metaphorical projection in those popular saying is sustained in everyday situations, when it is taken up in a lyric. This study finds its justification in one of the basic assumptions of cognitive linguistics that conceptual metaphors are present both in everyday conversations and in the literary and artistic manifestations. The aim is to observe the processes of significance of this type of linguistic construction in order to posit its power projective and metaphorical in the speakers minds. Within the repertoire of proverbial constructions in portuguese, it is noted the proverbial conditional construction with this syntax semantics configuration [x PQ], among these, it was chosen as the object of this study the setting [About PQ]. The choice of songs was random, since no attempt was made to a specific genre or style, but songs that possess popular sayings in his lyrics. In this analysis, interpretive nature, we proceeded to identify the role of conceptual metaphor in that this employee in everyday situations and in the 10 songs selected for this study. Then, it was postulated conceptual integration networks underlying the effect of said interactions in general and in music, in order to explain the observed differences in meaning or not the sayings translated into lyrics. Those songs are related to the type of conceptual integration of network activated during the merge process. The network integration postulated to explain the construction of meaning of these sayings and the songs are analyzed and it shows the compression of the relations of CAUSE AND EFFECT, CHANGE, IDENTIDY, ANALOGY AND DISANALOGY, TIME, due mainly to the role that those plays illustrate scenes of people's lives. Among the metaphors that structure those popular sayings in the interactions and in the songs are: LIFE IS A JOURNEY / LIFE IS A PATH TO BE TRAVELED WITH CAUTION / LIFE IS A GAMBLING GAME, TIME IS A PLACE WHERE SOMETHING MOVES; DIFFICULTIES ARE BARS (IN) TRANSPOSABLE; RELIGION IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION, MORAL IS A PRECIOUS OBJECT (BUT FRAGILE AS GLASS). It is expected that the hypothesis of this study will motivate further research on the theoretical scope of Cognitive Linguistics, in particular, theories of metaphor and conceptual blending, which revealed a potential promise for descriptive analysis of semantic-pragmatic phenomena of Portuguese as the sayings popular construction on the top idiomatic scale

This study outlines the requirement for a company to be able to manage its intellectual capital. On the basis of this requirement this study presents a new design methodology based around the requirements of the military aircraft industry. It tackles the difficult management problem of capturing, storing and re-using valuable company product knowledge. The detailed research documented in this thesis focuses on the conceptual design area of this methodology. Work in this area has resulted in the development of a further methodology for the conceptual design arena. This methodology is called the intelligent conceptual engineering system (ICES). The ICES methodology embraces the artificial intelligence disciplines of knowledge-based systems and case-based reasoning. Through the evolutionary development of the ICES methodology a significant contribution to knowledge has been made in three areas. Firstly, this study introduces a new method of assigning justifiable numerical weights to design drivers acting on the design process. Secondly, the work introduces the novel concept of using secondary rules in the knowledge-based system so a 'best structure' can be derived from the manufacturing and structures perspectives. Finally, this work adds a new concept to case-based reasoning called the 'jury technique'. These concepts, developed to support the ICES methodology have been placed in a prototype design decision support tool.