This study investigated three francophone adolescent girls� experiences with singing. A qualitative, narrative research approach (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003; Murray, 2003) was used to increase understanding about the benefits of singing, with a particular interest in exploring singing as a potentially positive means for adolescent minority-culture girls to successfully negotiate multiple aspects of identity, that is, adolescence, gender, and culture. Semi-structured interviews provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences, and describe what it is like for them to sing. Data were analyzed with The Listening Guide (Gilligan, Spencer, Weinberg, & Bertsch, 2003), a relational analysis responsive to the narrative and authentic voices of participants, and used to generate �I� poems and identify themes. Three ways of singing were identified � private informal, social informal, public formal � as well as three themes, evoked with the metaphors of: Rhythm (singing and experiences of identity), Harmony (singing and relationships), and Melody (singing, wellbeing, and strength). Findings confirm and extend the small but growing research literature on the psychology of singing, and have implications for those interested in working with youth using a strength-based perspective focused on positive youth development (Larson, 2000).

This work was carried out to study the effect of shot-peening on the fatigue behaviour of carbon steels. Differently heat treated medium and high carbon steel specimens were selected. Medium carbon steels, AISI 1141 and AISI 1151, were respectively air cooled and quenched-tempered. A high carbon steel, C70S6 (AISI 1070), was air cooled. The other material was a powder metal (0.5% C) steel. Each group of steels was divided into two. One was shot-peened. The other half remained in their original conditions. All were fatigue tested under fully reversed (R=-1) tension-compression loading conditions. Microhardness tests were carried out on both the grip and gage sections of selected non shot-peened and shot-peened specimens to determine the hardness profile and effect of cycling. Shot-peening was found to be deeper on one side of each specimen. Compressive residual stress profiles and surface roughness measurements were provided. Shot-peening increased the surface roughness from 0.26±0.03µm to 3.60±0.44µm. Compressive residual stresses induced by shot-peening reached a maximum of -463.9MPa at a depth of 0.1mm.The fatigue limit (N≈106 cycles) and microhardness profiles of the non shot-peened and shot-peened specimens were compared to determine the material behaviour changes after shot-peening and cycling. Also their fatigue properties were related to the manufacturing process including heat and surface treatments. Comparing the grip and gage microhardness profiles of each steel showed that neither cyclic softening nor hardening occurred in the non shot-peened condition. Cyclic softening was apparent in the shot-peened regions of all steels except powder metal (PM) steel. The amount of softening in the shot-peened region was 55.0% on the left side and 73.0% on the right in the AISI 1141 steel , 46.0% on the left side and 55.0% on the right in the C70S6AC steel and 31.0% on the right side in AISI 1151QT steel. Softening was accompanied by a decrease in the depth of surface hardness. It is suggested that although the beneficial effects of shot peening, compressive residual stresses and work hardening, were offset by surface roughness, crack initiation was more likely to occur below the surface. Surface roughness was not a significant factor in controlling the fatigue lives of AISI 1141AC and C70S6 steels, since they were essentially the same for the non shot-peened and shot-peened conditions. Shot-peening had very little effect on the push-pull fatigue limit of C70S6 steel (-2.1%), and its effect on AISI 1141AC steel was relatively small (6.0%). However, the influence of shot-peening on the AISI 1151QT and PM steels was more apparent. The fatigue limit of the PM steel increased 14.0% whereas the fatigue limit of the AISI 1151QT steel decreased 11.0% on shot peening.

Older patients comprise a large portion of patients in the acute care setting. Registered Nurses (RNs) are the main care providers in the hospital setting. RNs caring for older hospitalized patients are affected by many factors including workload pressures, issues related to the acute care environment and attitudes toward older patients. However, a literature review identified a limited number of studies exploring the RNs experience of caring for older patients in the acute care setting. This study explored the RNs experience of caring for older patients (age 65 and older) on an orthopedic unit in an acute care hospital. Saturation was reached with a purposive sample of nine RNs working on the orthopedic unit, including eight females and 1 male. Participants were interviewed using broad open-ended questions, followed by questions more specific to emerging themes. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Glasers (1992) grounded theory approach. Participants described the basic social problem as dealing with the complexity of older patients. The basic social process identified was the concept of looking beyond. Looking beyond was described as looking at the big picture to find what lies outside the scope of the ordinary. Three sub-processes of looking beyond were identified as connecting, searching, and knowing. Connecting was described as getting to know patients as a person by taking time, respecting and understanding the individual. Searching was described as digging deeper, searching for the unknown by looking for clues and mining everywhere for information. Knowing was described as intuitively knowing what is going to happen and what the older patient needs by pulling it all together and knowing what to expect. These dynamic sub-processes provided the RN with the relationship and information required to look beyond to manage the older patients complexity. The results of this study have implications for nursing practice, education and research. These findings may provide RNs with a process to manage the complex care of a large portion of our population.

This study investigated three francophone adolescent girls� experiences with singing. A qualitative, narrative research approach (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003; Murray, 2003) was used to increase understanding about the benefits of singing, with a particular interest in exploring singing as a potentially positive means for adolescent minority-culture girls to successfully negotiate multiple aspects of identity, that is, adolescence, gender, and culture. Semi-structured interviews provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences, and describe what it is like for them to sing. Data were analyzed with The Listening Guide (Gilligan, Spencer, Weinberg, & Bertsch, 2003), a relational analysis responsive to the narrative and authentic voices of participants, and used to generate �I� poems and identify themes. Three ways of singing were identified � private informal, social informal, public formal � as well as three themes, evoked with the metaphors of: Rhythm (singing and experiences of identity), Harmony (singing and relationships), and Melody (singing, wellbeing, and strength). Findings confirm and extend the small but growing research literature on the psychology of singing, and have implications for those interested in working with youth using a strength-based perspective focused on positive youth development (Larson, 2000).

A parallel-type independently controllable transmission mechanism (PT-ICT) comprises of two planetary gear trains and two transmission-connecting members. It also includes an input shaft connecting to the input power source, a controller shaft connecting to the controller, an output shaft connecting to the output end, and a free-transmission end connecting to a secondary input source or output end. The controller can independently manipulate the transmitted output speed that is not affected by the variation of the Input speed. Adjusting the free-transmission¡¦s torque can reduce the power of the controller. This study proposes a new structural arrangement of the PT-ICT, and a corresponding test-bed for kinematic and dynamic experiments is also constructed. It first analyzes the theoretical expressions of angular speeds, torques, and power flows introduced on each rotational shaft. And then for the purpose of verifying the validity of the analytical theoretical results, this study also builds a 3D model configuration with its prototype of the PT-ICT is also built to perform kinematic and dynamic experiments. It shows that experimental results are in agreement with the design values. It is expected that applying the proposed PT-ICT mechanism to wind turbines in a variable wind farm can achieve high quality electricity output, extend workable wind speed range, and have no need of using any frequency converters.

Building a computer system that can understand human languages has been one of the long-standing goals of artificial intelligence. Currently, most state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) systems use statistical machine learning methods to extract linguistic knowledge from large, annotated corpora. However, constructing such corpora can be expensive and time-consuming due to the expertise it requires to annotate such data. In this thesis, we explore alternative ways of learning which do not rely on direct human supervision. In particular, we draw our inspirations from the fact that humans are able to learn language through exposure to linguistic inputs in the context of a rich, relevant, perceptual environment. We first present a system that learned to sportscast for RoboCup simulation games by observing how humans commentate a game. Using the simple assumption that people generally talk about events that have just occurred, we pair each textual comment with a set of events that it could be referring to. By applying an EM-like algorithm, the system simultaneously learns a grounded language model and aligns each description to the corresponding event. The system does not use any prior language knowledge and was able to learn to sportscast in both English and Korean. Human evaluations of the generated commentaries indicate they are of reasonable quality and in some cases even on par with those produced by humans. For the sportscasting task, while each comment could be aligned to one of several events, the level of ambiguity was low enough that we could enumerate all the possible alignments. However, it is not always possible to restrict the set of possible alignments to such limited numbers. Thus, we present another system that allows each sentence to be aligned to one of exponentially many connected subgraphs without explicitly enumerating them. The system first learns a lexicon and uses it to prune the nodes in the graph that are unrelated to the words in the sentence. By only observing how humans follow navigation instructions, the system was able to infer the corresponding hidden navigation plans and parse previously unseen instructions in new environments for both English and Chinese data. With the rise in popularity of crowdsourcing, we also present results on collecting additional training data using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Since our system only needs supervision in the form of language being used in relevant contexts, it is easy for virtually anyone to contribute to the training data. / text

This work was carried out to study the effect of shot-peening on the fatigue behaviour of carbon steels. Differently heat treated medium and high carbon steel specimens were selected. Medium carbon steels, AISI 1141 and AISI 1151, were respectively air cooled and quenched-tempered. A high carbon steel, C70S6 (AISI 1070), was air cooled. The other material was a powder metal (0.5% C) steel. Each group of steels was divided into two. One was shot-peened. The other half remained in their original conditions. All were fatigue tested under fully reversed (R=-1) tension-compression loading conditions. Microhardness tests were carried out on both the grip and gage sections of selected non shot-peened and shot-peened specimens to determine the hardness profile and effect of cycling. Shot-peening was found to be deeper on one side of each specimen. Compressive residual stress profiles and surface roughness measurements were provided. Shot-peening increased the surface roughness from 0.26±0.03µm to 3.60±0.44µm. Compressive residual stresses induced by shot-peening reached a maximum of -463.9MPa at a depth of 0.1mm.The fatigue limit (N≈106 cycles) and microhardness profiles of the non shot-peened and shot-peened specimens were compared to determine the material behaviour changes after shot-peening and cycling. Also their fatigue properties were related to the manufacturing process including heat and surface treatments. Comparing the grip and gage microhardness profiles of each steel showed that neither cyclic softening nor hardening occurred in the non shot-peened condition. Cyclic softening was apparent in the shot-peened regions of all steels except powder metal (PM) steel. The amount of softening in the shot-peened region was 55.0% on the left side and 73.0% on the right in the AISI 1141 steel , 46.0% on the left side and 55.0% on the right in the C70S6AC steel and 31.0% on the right side in AISI 1151QT steel. Softening was accompanied by a decrease in the depth of surface hardness. It is suggested that although the beneficial effects of shot peening, compressive residual stresses and work hardening, were offset by surface roughness, crack initiation was more likely to occur below the surface. Surface roughness was not a significant factor in controlling the fatigue lives of AISI 1141AC and C70S6 steels, since they were essentially the same for the non shot-peened and shot-peened conditions. Shot-peening had very little effect on the push-pull fatigue limit of C70S6 steel (-2.1%), and its effect on AISI 1141AC steel was relatively small (6.0%). However, the influence of shot-peening on the AISI 1151QT and PM steels was more apparent. The fatigue limit of the PM steel increased 14.0% whereas the fatigue limit of the AISI 1151QT steel decreased 11.0% on shot peening.

No description available.

Calculus at the university level is taken by thousands of undergraduate students each year. However, a significant number of students struggle with the subject, resulting in poor problem solving, low achievement, and high failure rates in the calculus courses overall (e.g., Kaput, 1994; Szydlik, 2000; Tall, 1985; Tall & Ramos, 2004; White & Mitchelmore, 1996). This is cause for concern as the lack of success in university calculus creates further barriers for students who require the course for their programs of study. This study examines this issue from the perspective of Tall’s Three Worlds of Mathematics (Tall, 2004a, 2004b, 2008), a theory of mathematics and mathematical cognitive development. A fundamental argument of Tall’s theory suggests that connecting between the different mathematical worlds, named the Embodied-Conceptual, Symbolic-Proceptual, and Formal-Axiomatic worlds, is essential for full cognitive development and understanding of mathematical concepts. Working from this perspective, this research examined, through the use of calculus task questions and semi-structured interviews, how fifteen undergraduate calculus students made connections between the different mathematical worlds for the calculus topics of limits and derivatives. The analysis of the findings suggests that how the students make connections can be described by eight different Response Categories. The study also found that how the participants made connections between mathematical worlds might be influenced by the type of questions that are asked and their experience in calculus courses. I infer that these Response Categories have significance for this study and offer potential for further study and educational practice. I conclude by identifying areas of further research in regards to calculus achievement, the Response Categories, and other findings such as a more detailed study of the influence of experience.

Com a globalização e o constante aumento do fluxo internacional, tanto de mercadorias como de pessoas, observou-se o incremento dos negócios jurídicos com conexão internacional. A escolha da lei aplicável aos estatutos pessoais dividiu-se doutrinariamente entre defensores do elemento de conexão nacionalidade, como Mancini, e defensores do elemento de conexão domicílio, como Savigny. Cada vez mais conflitos envolvendo negócios jurídicos multijurisdicionais se tornaram uma realidade submetida aos tribunais internos dos países, de modo que a residência habitual surge como uma solução à dicotomia existente entre nacionalidade e domicílio. Nesse contexto, a finalidade da presente dissertação é analisar a incidência do elemento de conexão residência habitual no mundo globalizado e a incidência da residência habitual no direito internacional privado brasileiro. Para desenvolver os objetivos propostos, o estudo divide-se em dois capítulos. No primeiro capítulo é abordado o debate doutrinário existente na definição de residência habitual enquanto elemento de conexão, bem como a relação que possui com o domicílio – diferenciando-se domicílio em países de common law e de civil law. Neste primeiro momento ocorre também a análise do surgimento da residência habitual como elemento de conexão a determinar a lei aplicável, as suas primeiras utilizações pelas Convenções da Haia, previsões em legislações internas de diferentes países e também em âmbito unional através da União Europeia. O segundo capítulo destina-se à incidência da residência habitual no direito internacional privado brasileiro com a sua previsão em convenções já ratificadas pelo Brasil, bem como ao reconhecimento deste elemento de conexão no cenário brasileiro. Compreende, ainda, o estudo de julgados brasileiros que já utilizaram o critério da residência habitual e o futuro deste elemento de conexão no direito internacional privado brasileiro. Destacam-se as tentativas de atualização da Lei de Introdução às Normas do Direito Brasileiro que já previram a inserção do elemento de conexão residência habitual de forma subsidiária ao domicílio. Em conclusão, tem-se que a atualização legislativa do direito internacional privado brasileiro deve inserir o elemento de conexão residência habitual, em ascensão no mundo atualmente, com primazia, e não de modo subsidiário como os projetos anteriores. A primazia do critério residência habitual permite a aplicação da lei mais próxima à vida da pessoa ou à relação jurídica multiconectada, e ainda harmoniza o direito internacional privado, permitindo que o domicílio e a nacionalidade sejam utilizados de modo subsidiário. / With globalization and the constant increase of the international flow of both goods and people, it was observed the increase of the legal transactions with an international connection. The choice of law applicable to personal statutes was divided doctrinally between defenders of the connecting factor of nationality as Mancini and defenders of the connecting factor of domicile as Savigny. More and more conflicts involving multijurisdictional legal business have become a constant reality submitted to the domestic courts of the countries, so that habitual residence emerges as a solution to the dichotomy existing between nationality and domicile. In this context, the purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the incidence of the connection factor of habitual residence in the globalized world and the incidence of habitual residence in Brazilian private international law. In order to develop the proposed objectives, the study is divided into two chapters. The first chapter addresses the doctrinal debate existing in the definition of habitual residence as connecting factor, as well as the relation that has with the domicile - differentiating domicile in countries of common law of civil law. In this first moment there is also the analysis of the emergence of habitual residence as an connecting factor to determine the applicable law, its first uses by the Hague Conventions, provisions in internal legislation of different countries and also in a unional scope through the European Union. The second chapter focuses on the incidence of habitual residence in Brazilian private international law with its prediction in conventions already ratified by Brazil, as well as the recognition of this connecting factor in the Brazilian scenario. It also includes the study of Brazilian judges who have already used the criterion of habitual residence and the future of this connecting factor in Brazilian private international law. It analyzes the attempts to update the Brazilian private international law that have already predicted the insertion of the connecting factor of habitual residence in a subsidiary form to the domicile. In conclusion, it is noticed that the legislative update of Brazilian private international law must insert the connecting factor of habitual residence, rising in the world today, with primacy, and not in a subsidiary way as the previous projects. The primacy of habitual residence allows the application of the law closest to the person's life or to the multi-connected legal relationship, and also harmonizes private international law, allowing domicile and nationality to be used in a subsidiary manner.