Topic Continuity in Informal Conversations between Native and Non-Native Speakers of English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris-Adams, Muna

2013-01-01

Topic management by non-native speakers (NNSs) during informal conversations has received comparatively little attention from researchers, and receives surprisingly little attention in second language learning and teaching. This article reports on one of the topic management strategies employed by international students during informal, social…

Orienting to Topic in Clinical Discourse Elicitation of Everyday Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fond, Marissa Joanne

2013-01-01

Talking topically, as it is understood intuitively and evoked metadiscursively, requires constructing an intersubjective orientation to talk that must be continually renewed. Analysis of interactants' ability to orient to topic emergence provides evidence of what is achieved in interaction, as well as why conversational coordination can lapse…

Conversation Thread Extraction and Topic Detection in Text-Based Chat

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

conversation extraction task. Multiple conversations in a session are interleaved. The goal in extraction is to select only those posts that belong...others. Our first-phase experiments quite clearly show the value of using time-distance as a feature in conversation thread extraction . In this set of... EXTRACTION AND TOPIC DETECTION IN TEXT-BASED CHAT by Paige Holland Adams September 2008 Thesis Advisor

Beam position monitoring system at CESR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Billing, M. G.; Bergan, W. F.; Forster, M. J.; Meller, R. E.; Rendina, M. C.; Rider, N. T.; Sagan, D. C.; Shanks, J.; Sikora, J. P.; Stedinger, M. G.; Strohman, C. R.; Palmer, M. A.; Holtzapple, R. L.

2017-09-01

The Cornell Electron-positron Storage Ring (CESR) has been converted from a High Energy Physics electron-positron collider to operate as a dedicated synchrotron light source for the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and to conduct accelerator physics research as a test accelerator, capable of studying topics relevant to future damping rings, colliders and light sources. Some of the specific topics that were targeted for the initial phase of operation of the storage ring in this mode, labeled CESRTA (CESR as a Test Accelerator), included 1) tuning techniques to produce low emittance beams, 2) the study of electron cloud development in a storage ring and 3) intra-beam scattering effects. The complete conversion of CESR to CESRTA occurred over a several year period and is described elsewhere. As a part of this conversion the CESR beam position monitoring (CBPM) system was completely upgraded to provide the needed instrumental capabilities for these studies. This paper describes the new CBPM system hardware, its function and representative measurements performed by the upgraded system.

Energy conversion and storage program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cairns, E. J.

1992-03-01

The Energy Conversion and Storage Program applies chemistry and materials science principles to solve problems in: (1) production of new synthetic fuels; (2) development of high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells; (3) development of advanced thermochemical processes for energy conversion; (4) characterization of complex chemical processes; and (5) application of novel materials for energy conversion and transmission. Projects focus on transport-process principles, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, separation processes, organic and physical chemistry, novel materials, and advanced methods of analysis. Electrochemistry research aims to develop advanced power systems for electric vehicle and stationary energy storage applications. Topics include identification of new electrochemical couples for advanced rechargeable batteries, improvements in battery and fuel-cell materials, and the establishment of engineering principles applicable to electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Chemical Applications research includes topics such as separations, catalysis, fuels, and chemical analyses. Included in this program area are projects to develop improved, energy-efficient methods for processing waste streams from synfuel plants and coal gasifiers. Other research projects seek to identify and characterize the constituents of liquid fuel-system streams and to devise energy-efficient means for their separation. Materials Applications research includes the evaluation of the properties of advanced materials, as well as the development of novel preparation techniques. For example, the use of advanced techniques, such as sputtering and laser ablation, are being used to produce high-temperature superconducting films.

Radiation energy conversion in space; Conference, 3rd, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., January 26-28, 1978, Technical Papers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billman, K. W.

1978-01-01

Concepts for space-based conversion of space radiation energy into useful energy for man's needs are developed and supported by studies of costs, material and size requirements, efficiency, and available technology. Besides the more studied solar power satellite system using microwave transmission, a number of alternative space energy concepts are considered. Topics covered include orbiting mirrors for terrestrial energy supply, energy conversion at a lunar polar site, ultralightweight structures for space power, radiatively sustained cesium plasmas for solar electric conversion, solar pumped CW CO2 laser, superelastic laser energy conversion, laser-enhanced dynamics in molecular rate processes, and electron beams in space for energy storage.

Planning for the Introduction of the Metric System into Occupational Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Low, A. W.

1974-01-01

A three-dimensional planning model for introducting the International System of Metric Units into Canadian occupational education curricula includes employment level, career area, and metric topics. A fourth dimension, time, is considered in four separate phases: familiarization, adoption, conversion, and compulsory usage.

Activating Humans with Humor——A Dialogue System That Users Want to Interact with

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dybala, Pawel; Ptaszynski, Michal; Rzepka, Rafal; Araki, Kenji

The topic of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has been gathering more and more scientific attention of late. A very important, but often undervalued area in this field is human engagement. That is, a person's commitment to take part in and continue the interaction. In this paper we describe work on a humor-equipped casual conversational system (chatterbot) and investigate the effect of humor on a user's engagement in the conversation. A group of users was made to converse with two systems: one with and one without humor. The chat logs were then analyzed using an emotive analysis system to check user reactions and attitudes towards each system. Results were projected on Russell's two-dimensional emotiveness space to evaluate the positivity/negativity and activation/deactivation of these emotions. This analysis indicated emotions elicited by the humor-equipped system were more positively active and less negatively active than by the system without humor. The implications of results and relation between them and user engagement in the conversation are discussed. We also propose a distinction between positive and negative engagement.

What are we ‘tweeting’ about obesity? Mapping tweets with Topic Modeling and Geographic Information System

PubMed Central

Ghosh, Debarchana (Debs); Guha, Rajarshi

2014-01-01

Public health related tweets are difficult to identify in large conversational datasets like Twitter.com. Even more challenging is the visualization and analyses of the spatial patterns encoded in tweets. This study has the following objectives: How can topic modeling be used to identify relevant public health topics such as obesity on Twitter.com? What are the common obesity related themes? What is the spatial pattern of the themes? What are the research challenges of using large conversational datasets from social networking sites? Obesity is chosen as a test theme to demonstrate the effectiveness of topic modeling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and spatial analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS). The dataset is constructed from tweets (originating from the United States) extracted from Twitter.com on obesity-related queries. Examples of such queries are ‘food deserts’, ‘fast food’, and ‘childhood obesity’. The tweets are also georeferenced and time stamped. Three cohesive and meaningful themes such as ‘childhood obesity and schools’, ‘obesity prevention’, and ‘obesity and food habits’ are extracted from the LDA model. The GIS analysis of the extracted themes show distinct spatial pattern between rural and urban areas, northern and southern states, and between coasts and inland states. Further, relating the themes with ancillary datasets such as US census and locations of fast food restaurants based upon the location of the tweets in a GIS environment opened new avenues for spatial analyses and mapping. Therefore the techniques used in this study provide a possible toolset for computational social scientists in general and health researchers in specific to better understand health problems from large conversational datasets. PMID:25126022

What are we 'tweeting' about obesity? Mapping tweets with Topic Modeling and Geographic Information System.

PubMed

Ghosh, Debarchana Debs; Guha, Rajarshi

2013-01-01

Public health related tweets are difficult to identify in large conversational datasets like Twitter.com. Even more challenging is the visualization and analyses of the spatial patterns encoded in tweets. This study has the following objectives: How can topic modeling be used to identify relevant public health topics such as obesity on Twitter.com? What are the common obesity related themes? What is the spatial pattern of the themes? What are the research challenges of using large conversational datasets from social networking sites? Obesity is chosen as a test theme to demonstrate the effectiveness of topic modeling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and spatial analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS). The dataset is constructed from tweets (originating from the United States) extracted from Twitter.com on obesity-related queries. Examples of such queries are 'food deserts', 'fast food', and 'childhood obesity'. The tweets are also georeferenced and time stamped. Three cohesive and meaningful themes such as 'childhood obesity and schools', 'obesity prevention', and 'obesity and food habits' are extracted from the LDA model. The GIS analysis of the extracted themes show distinct spatial pattern between rural and urban areas, northern and southern states, and between coasts and inland states. Further, relating the themes with ancillary datasets such as US census and locations of fast food restaurants based upon the location of the tweets in a GIS environment opened new avenues for spatial analyses and mapping. Therefore the techniques used in this study provide a possible toolset for computational social scientists in general and health researchers in specific to better understand health problems from large conversational datasets.

Contradictions and Promise for End-of-Life Communication among Family and Friends: Death over Dinner Conversations.

PubMed

Lambert South, Andrea; Elton, Jessica

2017-04-20

The free, open-access website called "Let's Get Together and Talk about Death", or Death over Dinner (DoD), provides resources for initiating end-of-life conversations with family and friends by taking the frightening-talking about death-and transforming it into the familiar-a conversation over dinner. This qualitative, descriptive study uses grounded theory and thematic analysis to answer the following research question: How do friend and family groups communicate about death and dying in DoD conversations? To answer this question, 52 dinner groups were recruited and conversations were conducted, which consisted of a facilitator and volunteers. The facilitators were the researchers or research assistants who allowed dinner participants to control the conversation and identify topics of interest, and participants were free to share as much or as little as they wanted. Our analysis revealed that family and friend groups communicated similarly in that they talked about similar topics and used similar communication strategies to discuss those topics. Three major themes emerged: Desire for a good death , which juxtaposed people's perceptions of a "dreaded" death with those of a "desirable" death; tactics for coping , which consisted of the subthemes of humour to diffuse tension or deflect discomfort, spiritual reassurance, and topic avoidance; and topics that elicit fear or uncertainty , which consisted of the subthemes of organ and whole-body donation, hospice and palliative care, wills and advance directives. Ultimately, however, participants felt their experiences were positive and DoD shows promise as a tool for families to engage in end-of-life conversations.

A Michigan School Money Primer for Policymakers, School Officials, Media and Residents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Ryan S.; LaFaive, Michael D.

2007-01-01

The system that finances Michigan's schools from kindergarten through 12th grade is a perennial topic of conversation among policymakers, parents, taxpayers and voters. A constructive discussion of this issue, however, requires a sound knowledge of the financial workings of Michigan's elementary and secondary school system. This knowledge is…

The Prosody of Topic Transition in Interaction: Pitch Register Variations.

PubMed

Riou, Marine

2017-12-01

In conversation, speakers can mobilize a variety of prosodic cues to signal a switch in topics. This paper uses a mixed-methods approach combining Conversation Analysis and Instrumental Prosody to investigate the prosody of topic transition in American English, and analyzes the ways in which speakers can play on register level and on register span. A cluster of three prosodic parameters was found to be predictive of transitions: a higher maximum fundamental frequency (F0), a higher median F0 (key), and an expanded register span. Relative to speakers' habitual profiles, the mobilization of such prosodic cues corresponds to a marked upgraded prosodic design. This finding is consistent with the general assumption that continuation constitutes the norm in conversation, and that departing from it, as in the case of a topic transition, requires a marked action and marked linguistic design. The disjunctive action of opening a new topic corresponds to the use of a marked prosodic cue.

Thermoelectric Energy Conversion: Future Directions and Technology Development Needs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleurial, Jean-Pierre

2007-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews the process of thermoelectric energy conversion along with key technology needs and challenges. The topics include: 1) The Case for Thermoelectrics; 2) Advances in Thermoelectrics: Investment Needed; 3) Current U.S. Investment (FY07); 4) Increasing Thermoelectric Materials Conversion Efficiency Key Science Needs and Challenges; 5) Developing Advanced TE Components & Systems Key Technology Needs and Challenges; 6) Thermoelectrics; 7) 200W Class Lightweight Portable Thermoelectric Generator; 8) Hybrid Absorption Cooling/TE Power Cogeneration System; 9) Major Opportunities in Energy Industry; 10) Automobile Waste Heat Recovery; 11) Thermoelectrics at JPL; 12) Recent Advances at JPL in Thermoelectric Converter Component Technologies; 13) Thermoelectrics Background on Power Generation and Cooling Operational Modes; 14) Thermoelectric Power Generation; and 15) Thermoelectric Cooling.

Satellite Power Study (SPS) concept definition study (Exhibit D). Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G. M.

1981-01-01

Efforts concentrated on updating of the Rockwell reference concept, definition of new system options, studies of special emphasis topics, further definition of the transportation system, and further program definition. The Rockwell reference satellite concept has a gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cell array having flat concentrators with an effective concentration ratio of 1.83at end of life. Alternatives to this concept includes solid state power amplifiers or magnetrons for dc/RF conversion and multibandgap solar cells for solar to dc energy conversion. Two solid state concepts were studied. It was determined that the magnetron approach was the lowest mass and cost system.

Exploring Linear Measure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Philip L.

This material is an instructional unit on measuring and estimating. A variety of activities are used with manipulative devices, worksheets, and discussion questions included. Major topics are estimating lengths, accuracy of measurement, metric system, scale drawings, and conversion between different units. A teacher's guide is also available.…

Enhancing conversation skills in patients with Alzheimer's disease using a prosthetic memory aid.

PubMed

Bourgeois, M S

1990-01-01

The effectiveness of teaching Alzheimer's disease subjects to use a prosthetic memory aid when conversing with familiar partners was evaluated. Effects of the training of three topics by caregivers was assessed in daily probes with the experimenter and twice weekly probes with a familiar conversational partner. All 3 subjects learned to use the memory aid with both conversational partners and improved the quality of their conversational content. Subjects made significantly more statements of fact and fewer ambiguous utterances after training on each topic according to a multiple baseline design. All subjects also generated novel, untrained statements in conversations with both partners. Treatment effects were maintained at high levels throughout training and at 3- and 6-week follow-up sessions. Naive judges rated baseline and posttreatment conversational samples as significantly improved on all eight conversational dimensions.

Introducing the Concept of Biocatalysis in the Classroom: The Conversion of Cholesterol to Provitamin D[subscript 3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Luca, Belén M.; Nudel, Clara B.; Gonzalez, Rodrigo H.; Nusblat, Alejandro D.

2017-01-01

Biocatalysis is a fundamental concept in biotechnology. The topic integrates knowledge of several disciplines; therefore, it was included in the course "design and optimization of biological systems" which is offered in the biochemistry curricula. We selected the ciliate tetrahymena as an example of a eukaryotic system with potential for…

Tweeting About Prostate and Testicular Cancers: Do Twitter Conversations and the 2013 Movember Canada Campaign Objectives Align?

PubMed

Bravo, Caroline A; Hoffman-Goetz, Laurie

2016-06-01

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer of the reproductive system in men. Mass media campaigns have long been a tool for raising awareness of important health issues and changing health behavior. The Movember campaign was launched in Canada in 2007 with the goal of creating conversations about men's health in order to raise awareness and understanding about prostate cancer. In 2012, testicular cancer was added to the Movember Canada campaign agenda. Social networking sites such as Twitter are popular platforms for conversations in the digital age. Our objective was to determine if the Movember Canada 2013 campaign accomplished the goal of creating conversations about prostate and testicular cancers on the social media platform of Twitter. We conducted a content analysis of 4222 Canadian tweets posted during the November 2013 Movember Canada campaign to investigate whether tweets were health-related or non-health-related and to determine what topics of discussion were present in the tweets. There were significantly fewer health-related (n = 673) than non-health-related (n = 3549) tweets (p < 0.05). Few tweets (0.6 % of all tweets) referenced prostate or testicular cancers. Community engagement activities as well as moustache and grooming references were the most frequent topics in the health-related (10.49 and 1.97 %) and non-health-related (32.83 and 32.76 %) categories, which were significantly different by topic (p < 0.05). Findings from Twitter suggest that the Movember Canada 2013 did not meet the stated campaign objective of creating conversations about men's health and, specifically, about prostate and testicular cancers.

Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology, 1989

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Remarkable progress on a wide variety of approaches in space photovoltaics, for both near and far term applications is reported. Papers were presented in a variety of technical areas, including multi-junction cell technology, GaAs and InP cells, system studies, cell and array development, and non-solar direct conversion. Five workshops were held to discuss the following topics: mechanical versus monolithic multi-junction cells; strategy in space flight experiments; non-solar direct conversion; indium phosphide cells; and space cell theory and modeling.

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) Concept Definition Study. Volume 3: SPS Concept Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G.

1978-01-01

A solar photovoltaic satellite based upon the utilization of a GaAlAs solar cell is defined. Topics covered include silicon-based photovoltaics, solar thermal power conversion, microwave energy transmission, power distribution, structures, attitude control and stationkeeping, thermal, and information management and control.

Physicians' Religious Topic Avoidance during Clinical Interactions.

PubMed

Villagran, Melinda M; MacArthur, Brenda L; Lee, Lauren E; Ledford, Christy J W; Canzona, Mollie R

2017-05-08

Religious and spiritual (R/S) conversations at the end-of-life function to help patients and their families find comfort in difficult circumstances. Physicians who feel uncertain about how to discuss topics related to religious beliefs may seek to avoid R/S conversations with their patients. This study utilized a two-group objective structured clinical examination with a standardized patient to explore differences in physicians' use of R/S topic avoidance tactics during a clinical interaction. Results indicated that physicians used more topic avoidance tactics in response to patients' R/S inquiries than patients' R/S disclosures; however, the use of topic avoidance tactics did not eliminate the need to engage in patient-initiated R/S interactions.

Physicians’ Religious Topic Avoidance during Clinical Interactions

PubMed Central

Villagran, Melinda M.; MacArthur, Brenda L.; Lee, Lauren E.; Ledford, Christy J. W.; Canzona, Mollie R.

2017-01-01

Religious and spiritual (R/S) conversations at the end-of-life function to help patients and their families find comfort in difficult circumstances. Physicians who feel uncertain about how to discuss topics related to religious beliefs may seek to avoid R/S conversations with their patients. This study utilized a two-group objective structured clinical examination with a standardized patient to explore differences in physicians’ use of R/S topic avoidance tactics during a clinical interaction. Results indicated that physicians used more topic avoidance tactics in response to patients’ R/S inquiries than patients’ R/S disclosures; however, the use of topic avoidance tactics did not eliminate the need to engage in patient-initiated R/S interactions. PMID:28481290

Topic Appropriateness in Cross-Cultural Social Conversations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hinkel, Eli

A group of university students consisting of native speakers of Chinese (n=63), Japanese (n=33), Korean (n=21), Indonesian (n=20), and Arabic (n=13) with relatively extensive exposure to the American university environment and a control group of 20 native English-speakers were asked to rank the social appropriateness of 104 conversation topics.…

Parabolic Dish Solar Thermal Power Annual Program Review Proceedings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lucas, J. W.

1982-01-01

The results of activities of the parabolic dish technology and applications development element of DOE's Solar Thermal Energy System Program are presented. Topics include the development and testing of concentrators, receivers, and power conversion units; system design and development for engineering experiments; economic analysis and marketing assessment; and advanced development activities. A panel discussion concerning industrial support sector requirements is also documented.

E-Cigarette Social Media Messages: A Text Mining Analysis of Marketing and Consumer Conversations on Twitter

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Background As the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) rises, social media likely influences public awareness and perception of this emerging tobacco product. Objective This study examined the public conversation on Twitter to determine overarching themes and insights for trending topics from commercial and consumer users. Methods Text mining uncovered key patterns and important topics for e-cigarettes on Twitter. SAS Text Miner 12.1 software (SAS Institute Inc) was used for descriptive text mining to reveal the primary topics from tweets collected from March 24, 2015, to July 3, 2015, using a Python script in conjunction with Twitter’s streaming application programming interface. A total of 18 keywords related to e-cigarettes were used and resulted in a total of 872,544 tweets that were sorted into overarching themes through a text topic node for tweets (126,127) and retweets (114,451) that represented more than 1% of the conversation. Results While some of the final themes were marketing-focused, many topics represented diverse proponent and user conversations that included discussion of policies, personal experiences, and the differentiation of e-cigarettes from traditional tobacco, often by pointing to the lack of evidence for the harm or risks of e-cigarettes or taking the position that e-cigarettes should be promoted as smoking cessation devices. Conclusions These findings reveal that unique, large-scale public conversations are occurring on Twitter alongside e-cigarette advertising and promotion. Proponents and users are turning to social media to share knowledge, experience, and questions about e-cigarette use. Future research should focus on these unique conversations to understand how they influence attitudes towards and use of e-cigarettes. PMID:27956376

The utilization of nonterrestrial materials. [resources for solar power satellite construction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

The development of research and technology programs on the user of nonterrestrial materials for space applications was considered with emphasis on the space power satellite system as a model of large space systems for which the use of nonterrestrial materials may be economically viable. Sample topics discussed include the mining of raw materials and the conversion of raw materials into useful products. These topics were considered against a background of the comparative costs of using terrestrial materials. Exploratory activities involved in the preparation of a nonterrestrial materials utilization program, and the human factors involved were also addressed. Several recommendations from the workshop are now incorporated in NASA activities.

Modern Topics in Energy and Power Technical Meeting

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

systems are abysmally low, primarily due to their poor electronic structure. The III-V-based solar cells show the highest solar PV efficiency and thus are...initiatives include creating jet fuel based on seawater, research on photovoltaics ( PVs ) of different types, lightweight fuel cell systems for unmanned air...technoeconomic analysis studies indicate that a 20% solar -to-hydrogen PEC conversion efficiency is necessary for a commercially viable system. Additional

Advanced Thermionic Technology Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

Topics include surface studies (surface theory, basic surface experiments, and activation chamber experiments); plasma studies (converter theory and enhanced mode conversion experiments); and component development (low temperature conversion experiments, high efficiency conversion experiments, and hot shell development).

Wind Energy Conference, Boulder, Colo., April 9-11, 1980, Technical Papers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1980-03-01

Papers are presented concerning the technology, and economics of wind energy conversion systems. Specific topics include the aerodynamic analysis of the Darrieus rotor, the numerical calculation of the flow near horizontal-axis wind turbine rotors, the calculation of dynamic wind turbine rotor loads, markets for wind energy systems, an oscillating-wing windmill, wind tunnel tests of wind rotors, wind turbine generator wakes, the application of a multi-speed electrical generator to wind turbines, the feasibility of wind-powered systems for dairy farms, and wind characteristics over uniform and complex terrain. Attention is also given to performance tests of the DOE/NASA MOD-1 2000-kW wind turbine generator, the assessment of utility-related test data, offshore wind energy conversion systems, and the optimization of wind energy utilization economics through load management.

SOP Language Transformation Strategy Needs Assessment Project: Army Operator Survey Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-15

confident in their ability to participate in informal conversations on practical, social , and professional topics and in their ability to use...speakers. Examples: Cantonese , Japanese, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Turkish, Vietnamese (includes many tonal languages, Arabic dialects, East- Asian...in their ability to participate in informal conversations on practical, social , and professional topics and in their ability to use military

Time for "The Talk"... Now What? Autonomy Support and Structure in Mother-Daughter Conversations about Sex

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mauras, Carrie P.; Grolnick, Wendy S.; Friendly, Rachel W.

2013-01-01

This study explored how mothers communicated with their young adolescent daughters about the high-stakes topic of sex, as well as more everyday topics, from a Self-Determination Theory perspective. Mothers and their 11- to 14-year-old daughters (44 dyads) participated in two conversations and reported on their experiences. In the everyday…

Metric Measurement. A Course to Reduce Math Anxiety and Sex-Role Stereotyping in Elementary Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

City Univ. of New York, Flushing, NY. Queens Coll.

This Teacher Education and Mathematics (TEAM) content module focuses on metric measurement. Topics addressed include decimal structure and prefixes, precision in measurement, reference measures, United States customary and metric systems, volume, area, and conversion. The module consists of: (1) an instructor's text; (2) an instructor's guide and…

Role of Bioreactors in Microbial Biomass and Energy Conversion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Liang; Zhang, Biao; Zhu, Xun

Bioenergy is the world’s largest contributor to the renewable and sustainable energy sector, and it plays a significant role in various energy industries. A large amount of research has contributed to the rapidly evolving field of bioenergy and one of the most important topics is the use of the bioreactor. Bioreactors play a critical role in the successful development of technologies for microbial biomass cultivation and energy conversion. In this chapter, after a brief introduction to bioreactors (basic concepts, configurations, functions, and influencing factors), the applications of the bioreactor in microbial biomass, microbial biofuel conversion, and microbial electrochemical systems aremore » described. Importantly, the role and significance of the bioreactor in the bioenergy process are discussed to provide a better understanding of the use of bioreactors in managing microbial biomass and energy conversion.« less

Persuasive Dialogue Based on a Narrative Theory: An ECA Implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavazza, Marc; Smith, Cameron; Charlton, Daniel; Crook, Nigel; Boye, Johan; Pulman, Stephen; Moilanen, Karo; Pizzi, David; de La Camara, Raul Santos; Turunen, Markku

Embodied Conversational Agents (ECA) are poised to constitute a specific category within persuasive systems, in particular through their ability to support affective dialogue. One possible approach consists in using ECA as virtual coaches or personal assistants and to make persuasion part of a dialogue game implementing specific argumentation or negotiation features. In this paper, we explore an alternative framework, which emerges from the long-term development of ECA as "Companions" supporting free conversation with the user, rather than task-oriented dialogue. Our system aims at influencing user attitudes as part of free conversation, albeit on a limited set of topics. We describe the implementation of a Companion ECA to which the user reports on his working day, and which can assess the user's emotional attitude towards daily events in the office, trying to influence such attitude using affective strategies derived from a narrative model. This discussion is illustrated through examples from a first fully-implemented prototype.

Comparison of Prompting Techniques to Teach Children with Autism to Ask Questions in the Context of a Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swerdan, Matthew G.; Rosales, Rocío

2017-01-01

An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the efficacy of echoic and textual prompts to teach three students with autism (ages 8-15) to ask questions related to two pre-selected topics of conversation. Participants were first required to answer questions related to the topics to determine whether accurate responses were within…

E-Cigarette Social Media Messages: A Text Mining Analysis of Marketing and Consumer Conversations on Twitter.

PubMed

Lazard, Allison J; Saffer, Adam J; Wilcox, Gary B; Chung, Arnold DongWoo; Mackert, Michael S; Bernhardt, Jay M

2016-12-12

As the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) rises, social media likely influences public awareness and perception of this emerging tobacco product. This study examined the public conversation on Twitter to determine overarching themes and insights for trending topics from commercial and consumer users. Text mining uncovered key patterns and important topics for e-cigarettes on Twitter. SAS Text Miner 12.1 software (SAS Institute Inc) was used for descriptive text mining to reveal the primary topics from tweets collected from March 24, 2015, to July 3, 2015, using a Python script in conjunction with Twitter's streaming application programming interface. A total of 18 keywords related to e-cigarettes were used and resulted in a total of 872,544 tweets that were sorted into overarching themes through a text topic node for tweets (126,127) and retweets (114,451) that represented more than 1% of the conversation. While some of the final themes were marketing-focused, many topics represented diverse proponent and user conversations that included discussion of policies, personal experiences, and the differentiation of e-cigarettes from traditional tobacco, often by pointing to the lack of evidence for the harm or risks of e-cigarettes or taking the position that e-cigarettes should be promoted as smoking cessation devices. These findings reveal that unique, large-scale public conversations are occurring on Twitter alongside e-cigarette advertising and promotion. Proponents and users are turning to social media to share knowledge, experience, and questions about e-cigarette use. Future research should focus on these unique conversations to understand how they influence attitudes towards and use of e-cigarettes. ©Allison J Lazard, Adam J Saffer, Gary B Wilcox, Arnold DongWoo Chung, Michael S Mackert, Jay M Bernhardt. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 12.12.2016.

Using a Behavioral Skills Training Package to Teach Conversation Skills to Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nuernberger, Jodi E.; Ringdahl, Joel E.; Vargo, Kristina K.; Crumpecker, Anna C.; Gunnarsson, Karl F.

2013-01-01

A behavioral skills training package was used to teach vocal and non-vocal conversation skills to young adults with autism spectrum disorders. A task analysis was created and verified that included both vocal conversation skills such as making comments related to the conversation topic, and non-vocal conversation skills such as maintaining…

The Heinz Electronic Library Interactive Online System (HELIOS): Building a Digital Archive Using Imaging, OCR, and Natural Language Processing Technologies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galloway, Edward A.; Michalek, Gabrielle V.

1995-01-01

Discusses the conversion project of the congressional papers of Senator John Heinz into digital format and the provision of electronic access to these papers by Carnegie Mellon University. Topics include collection background, project team structure, document processing, scanning, use of optical character recognition software, verification…

Regenerative Fuel Cells for Space Power and Energy Conversion (NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell Development)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valdez, Thomas I.; Miley, George H.; Luo, Nie; Burton, Rodney; Mather, Joseph; Hawkins, Glenn; Byrd, Ethan; Gu, Lifeng; Shrestha, Prajakti Joshi

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation describing hydrogen peroxide and sodium borohydride development is shown. The topics include: 1) Motivation; 2) The Sodium Borohydride Fuel Cell; 3) Fuel Cell Comparisons; 4) MEA Optimization; 5) 500-Watt Stack Testing; 6) System Modeling: Fuel Cell Power Source for Lunar Rovers; and 7) Conclusions

Urothelial conversion of 5-aminolevulinic acid to protoporphyrin IX following oral or intravesical administration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Ronald B.; Miller, Gerald G.; Brown, Kevin; Bhatnagar, Rakesh; Tulip, John; McPhee, Malcolm S.

1995-03-01

Preferential conversion of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to protoporphyrin-IX (Pp-IX) occurs in malignant tissue, with accumulation to diagnostic and therapeutic levels. Recent studies have suggested selective conversion in epithelial tissue following oral or intravenous administration. Topical application avoids systemic photosensitization. However, the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer lining the urinary bladder is believed to be a protective barrier generally limiting mucosal absorption. Our objective was to evaluate uptake and conversion of 5-ALA following intravesical or oral administration. Using a rat model, Pp-IX content within epithelial and muscularis layers was quantitated by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Following intravesical administration, Pp-IX accumulated predominantly in the urothelium; whereas following oral administration, Pp-IX accumulated in both the urothelium and muscularis. Intravesical 5-ALA administration is feasible and may afford selective photosensitization of the urothelium for treatment of carcinoma in situ.

Tunable solid state lasers for remote sensing; Proceedings of the Conference, Stanford University, CA, October 1-3, 1984

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byer, R. L. (Editor); Trebino, R. (Editor); Gustafson, E. K. (Editor)

1985-01-01

Papers are presented on solid-state lasers for remote sensing, diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers, and tunable solid-state-laser systems. Topics discussed include titanium-sapphire tunable laser systems, the performance of slab geometry, and the development of slab lasers. Consideration is given to garnet host solid-state lasers, the growth of lasers and nonlinear materials, and nonlinear frequency conversion and tunable sources.

Use of Questions in Exhibit Labels to Generate Explanatory Conversation among Science Museum Visitors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hohenstein, Jill; Tran, Lynn Uyen

2007-01-01

Research suggests that conversations at museums contribute to, as well as serve as evidence for, learning. Many museums use labels to provide visitors with information as well as stimulate conversation about exhibit topics. However, most studies on exhibit labels do not centre on conversations. This investigation uses a Vygotskian framework to…

Using Video Modeling to Increase Variation in the Conversation of Children with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Charlop, Marjorie H.; Gilmore, Laura; Chang, Gina T.

2009-01-01

The present study assessed the effects of video modeling on acquisition and generalization of variation in the conversational speech of two boys with autism. A video was made showing several versions of several topics of conversation, thus providing multiple exemplars of each conversation. Video modeling consisted of showing each child a video…

Discourse intervention strategies in Alzheimer's disease: Eye-tracking and the effect of visual cues in conversation.

PubMed

Brandão, Lenisa; Monção, Ana Maria; Andersson, Richard; Holmqvist, Kenneth

2014-01-01

The goal of this study was to investigate whether on-topic visual cues can serve as aids for the maintenance of discourse coherence and informativeness in autobiographical narratives of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The experiment consisted of three randomized conversation conditions: one without prompts, showing a blank computer screen; an on-topic condition, showing a picture and a sentence about the conversation; and an off-topic condition, showing a picture and a sentence which were unrelated to the conversation. Speech was recorded while visual attention was examined using eye tracking to measure how long participants looked at cues and the face of the listener. Results suggest that interventions using visual cues in the form of images and written information are useful to improve discourse informativeness in AD. This study demonstrated the potential of using images and short written messages as means of compensating for the cognitive deficits which underlie uninformative discourse in AD. Future studies should further investigate the efficacy of language interventions based in the use of these compensation strategies for AD patients and their family members and friends.

Is conversion of a roadway from surfaced to un-surfaced for agency cost savings realistic? : [participant presentation].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-08-01

This webinar is for TxDOT project 0-6677: Costs Associated with Conversion of Surfaced to Un-surfaced Roads. The topic is Is conversion of a roadway from surfaced to un-surfaced for agency cost savings realistic?.

Is conversion of a roadway from surfaced to un-surfaced for agency cost savings realistic? : [instructor presentation].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-08-01

This webinar is for TxDOT project 0-6677: Costs Associated with Conversion of Surfaced to Un-surfaced Roads. The topic is Is conversion of a roadway from surfaced to un-surfaced for agency cost savings realistic?.

Elementary Metric Curriculum - Project T.I.M.E. (Timely Implementation of Metric Education). Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Community School District 18, Brooklyn, NY.

This is the second part of a two-part teacher's manual for an ISS-based elementary school course in the metric system. Behavioral objectives and student activities are included. Topics include: (1) capacity; (2) calculation of volume and surface area of cylinders and cones; (3) mass; (4) temperature; and (5) metric conversions. (BB)

Elementary Metric Curriculum - Project T.I.M.E. (Timely Implementation of Metric Education). Part I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Community School District 18, Brooklyn, NY.

This is a teacher's manual for an ISS-based elementary school course in the metric system. Behavioral objectives and student activities are included. The topics covered include: (1) linear measurement; (2) metric-decimal relationships; (3) metric conversions; (4) geometry; (5) scale drawings; and (6) capacity. This is the first of a two-part…

Improving Communication About Serious Illness in Primary Care: A Review.

PubMed

Lakin, Joshua R; Block, Susan D; Billings, J Andrew; Koritsanszky, Luca A; Cunningham, Rebecca; Wichmann, Lisa; Harvey, Doreen; Lamey, Jan; Bernacki, Rachelle E

2016-09-01

The Institute of Medicine recently called for systematic improvements in clinician-led conversations about goals, values, and care preferences for patients with serious and life-threatening illnesses. Studies suggest that these conversations are associated with improved outcomes for patients and their families, enhanced clinician satisfaction, and lower health care costs; however, the role of primary care clinicians in driving conversations about goals and priorities in serious illness is not well defined. To present a review of a structured search of the evidence base about communication in serious illness in primary care. MEDLINE was searched, via PubMed, on January 19, 2016, finding 911 articles; 126 articles were reviewed and selected titles were added from bibliography searches. Review of the literature informed 2 major topic areas: the role of primary care in communication about serious illness and clinician barriers and system failures that interfere with effective communication. Literature regarding the role that primary care plays in communication focused primarily on the ambiguity about whether primary care clinicians or specialists are responsible for initiating conversations, the benefits of primary care clinicians and specialists conducting conversations, and the quantity and quality of discussions. Timely and effective communication about serious illness in primary care is hampered by key clinician barriers, which include deficits in knowledge, skills, and attitudes; discomfort with prognostication; and lack of clarity about the appropriate timing and initiation of conversations. Finally, system failures in coordination, documentation, feedback, and quality improvement contribute to lack of conversations. Clinician and system barriers will challenge primary care clinicians and institutions to meet the needs of patients with serious illness. Ensuring that conversations about goals and values occur at the appropriate time for seriously ill patients will require improved training, validation, and dissemination of patient selection tools, systems for conducting and revisiting conversations, accessible documentation, and incentives for measurement, feedback, and continuous improvement.

Retrospective Catalog Conversion in Mid-Sized Law Libraries: Some Practical Guidelines for Automation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riger, Robert E.

1992-01-01

Discusses retrospective catalog conversion from the viewpoint of a law firm library. Topics discussed include reasons for retrospective conversion; preplanning; suggestions for the selection of software; conducting an inventory of the collection; sources of MARC bibliographic records; setting up an online public access catalog; and marketing…

Radiation energy conversion in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billman, K. W.

1979-01-01

Topics discussed at the third NASA conference on radiant energy conversion are reviewed. The unconcentrated-photovoltaic-generation version of a solar power satellite is described, noting that it will consist of a 21.3 x 5.3-sq-km silicon-solar-cell array expected to provide 17 Gw of electrical power, with 1 km in diam transmitters oriented to beam 2.45 GHz microwave power to two receiving/rectifying 'rectennas' on earth. The Solares space-energy-system concept, designed for providing a large fraction of the world's energy needs at costs comparable to those of future coal/nuclear alternative, is considered, as are subsystems for improving the economics of the solar power satellite. A concept proposing the use of relativistic-electron-storage rings for electron-beam energy transmission and storage, and a report on the production of a high temperature plasma with concentrated solar radiation are taken into account. Laser-conversion systems, including the direct-solar-pumped space laser, and the telec-powered spacecraft, are discussed.

Radiation energy conversion in space

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Billman, K.W.

1979-03-01

Topics discussed at the third NASA conference on radiant energy conversion are reviewed. The unconcentrated-photovoltaic-generation version of a solar power satellite is described, noting that it will consist of a 21.3 x 5.3-sq-km silicon-solar-cell array expected to provide 17 Gw of electrical power, with 1 km in diam transmitters oriented to beam 2.45 GHz microwave power to two receiving/rectifying 'rectennas' on earth. The Solares space-energy-system concept, designed for providing a large fraction of the world's energy needs at costs comparable to those of future coal/nuclear alternative, is considered, as are subsystems for improving the economics of the solar power satellite.more » A concept proposing the use of relativistic-electron-storage rings for electron-beam energy transmission and storage, and a report on the production of a high temperature plasma with concentrated solar radiation are taken into account. Laser-conversion systems, including the direct-solar-pumped space laser, and the telec-powered spacecraft, are discussed.« less

Selective Disclosure in a First Conversation about a Family Death in James Agee's Novel "A Death in the Family"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rober, Peter; Rosenblatt, Paul C.

2013-01-01

The first conversation of a family about a family death is a neglected but potentially important topic. In a first conversation in James Agee's (1957/2006) novel "A Death in the Family," the member who knows the most about the accidental death of another member discloses information selectively. The first conversation in Agee's novel suggests that…

EDITORIAL: Special issue for papers selected from The 8th International Workshop on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS 2008) Special issue for papers selected from The 8th International Workshop on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS 2008)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Shuji

2009-09-01

This special issue of the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering features papers selected from The 8th International Workshop on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS 2008) with the 2nd Symposium on Micro Environmental Machine Systems (μMEMS 2008). The workshop was held in Sendai, Japan on 9-12 November 2008 by Tohoku University. This is the second time that the PowerMEMS workshop has been held in Sendai, following the first workshop in 2000. Power MEMS is one of the newest categories of MEMS, which encompasses microdevices and microsystems for power generation, energy conversion and propulsion. The first concept of Power MEMS was born in the late 1990's from a MEMS-based gas turbine project at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After that, the research and development of Power MEMS have been promoted by the strong need for compact power sources with high energy and/or power density. Since its inception, Power MEMS has expanded to include not only various MEMS-based power generators but also small energy machines and microdevices for macro power generators. Previously, the main topics of the PowerMEMS workshop were miniaturized gas turbines and micro fuel cells, but recently, energy harvesting has been the hottest topic. In 2008, energy harvesting had a 41% share in the 118 accepted regular papers. This special issue includes 19 papers on various topics. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the International Steering Committee, the Technical Program Committee, the Local Organizing Committee and financial supporters. This special issue was edited in collaboration with the staff of IOP Publishing.

Discourse intervention strategies in Alzheimer's disease: Eye-tracking and the effect of visual cues in conversation

PubMed Central

Brandão, Lenisa; Monção, Ana Maria; Andersson, Richard; Holmqvist, Kenneth

2014-01-01

Objective The goal of this study was to investigate whether on-topic visual cues can serve as aids for the maintenance of discourse coherence and informativeness in autobiographical narratives of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The experiment consisted of three randomized conversation conditions: one without prompts, showing a blank computer screen; an on-topic condition, showing a picture and a sentence about the conversation; and an off-topic condition, showing a picture and a sentence which were unrelated to the conversation. Speech was recorded while visual attention was examined using eye tracking to measure how long participants looked at cues and the face of the listener. Results Results suggest that interventions using visual cues in the form of images and written information are useful to improve discourse informativeness in AD. Conclusion This study demonstrated the potential of using images and short written messages as means of compensating for the cognitive deficits which underlie uninformative discourse in AD. Future studies should further investigate the efficacy of language interventions based in the use of these compensation strategies for AD patients and their family members and friends. PMID:29213914

Profiling of Participants in Chat Conversations Using Creativity-Based Heuristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chiru, Costin-Gabriel; Rebedea, Traian

2017-01-01

This article proposes a new fully automated method for identifying creativity that is manifested in a divergent task. The task is represented by chat conversations in small groups, each group having to debate on the same topics, with the purpose of better understanding the discussed concepts. The chat conversations were created by undergraduate…

History through Red Eyes: A Conversation with James Loewen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jetty, Mike

2006-01-01

This article presents a conversation with James Loewen. Loewen is an author, historian, and professor. In a recent conversation with the author, he shared his views on how American Indian topics and events are traditionally taught and offered his insights into what teachers can do to accommodate multiple perspectives in their examination of…

Photonics for microwave systems and ultra-wideband signal processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ng, W.

2016-08-01

The advantages of using the broadband and low-loss distribution attributes of photonics to enhance the signal processing and sensing capabilities of microwave systems are well known. In this paper, we review the progress made in the topical areas of true-time-delay beamsteering, photonic-assisted analog-to-digital conversion, RF-photonic filtering and link performances. We also provide an outlook on the emerging field of integrated microwave photonics (MWP) that promise to reduce the cost of MWP subsystems and components, while providing significantly improved form-factors for system insertion.

Analysis of Online Social Networks to Understand Information Sharing Behaviors Through Social Cognitive Theory.

PubMed

Yoon, Hong-Jun; Tourassi, Georgia

2014-05-01

Analyzing the contents of online social networks is an effective process for monitoring and understanding peoples' behaviors. Since the nature of conversation and information propagation is similar to traditional conversation and learning, one of the popular socio-cognitive methods, social cognitive theory was applied to online social networks to. Two major news topics about colon cancer were chosen to monitor traffic of Twitter messages. The activity of "leaders" on the issue (i.e., news companies or people will prior Twitter activity on topics related to colon cancer) was monitored. In addition, the activity of "followers", people who never discussed the topics before, but replied to the discussions was also monitored. Topics that produce tangible benefits such as positive outcomes from appropriate preventive actions received dramatically more attention and online social media traffic. Such characteristics can be explained with social cognitive theory and thus present opportunities for effective health campaigns.

The Influence of Cognitive Coaching on the Planning and Use of Instructional Conversations, with a Focus on Mathematics Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Chen-Ju

2012-01-01

Instructional conversations are a teaching method in which teacher and students discuss academic topics with students' previous experience or knowledge (Tharp & Gallimore, 1988). In order to improve student learning, providing students more opportunities to engage in instructional conversations is often recommended. As research indicates…

Monitoring item and source information: evidence for a negative generation effect in source memory.

PubMed

Jurica, P J; Shimamura, A P

1999-07-01

Item memory and source memory were assessed in a task that simulated a social conversation. Participants generated answers to questions or read statements presented by one of three sources (faces on a computer screen). Positive generation effects were observed for item memory. That is, participants remembered topics of conversation better if they were asked questions about the topics than if they simply read statements about topics. However, a negative generation effect occurred for source memory. That is, remembering the source of some information was disrupted if participants were required to answer questions pertaining to that information. These findings support the notion that item and source memory are mediated, as least in part, by different processes during encoding.

Teaching autistic children conversational speech using video modeling.

PubMed Central

Charlop, M H; Milstein, J P

1989-01-01

We assessed the effects of video modeling on acquisition and generalization of conversational skills among autistic children. Three autistic boys observed videotaped conversations consisting of two people discussing specific toys. When criterion for learning was met, generalization of conversational skills was assessed with untrained topics of conversation; new stimuli (toys); unfamiliar persons, siblings, and autistic peers; and other settings. The results indicated that the children learned through video modeling, generalized their conversational skills, and maintained conversational speech over a 15-month period. Video modeling shows much promise as a rapid and effective procedure for teaching complex verbal skills such as conversational speech. PMID:2793634

Response to "Language, Politics, and Composition: A Conversation with Noam Chomsky."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sledd, James

1991-01-01

Responds to the conversation of two eminent compositionists with Noam Chomsky. Discusses the alleged literary crisis, sensible prescriptivism versus linguistic permissiveness, police and thought control, intellectually interesting versus humanly significant topics, and rhetorical theory. (PRA)

Processing Of Binary Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, H. S.

1985-07-01

An overview of the recent progress in the area of digital processing of binary images in the context of document processing is presented here. The topics covered include input scan, adaptive thresholding, halftoning, scaling and resolution conversion, data compression, character recognition, electronic mail, digital typography, and output scan. Emphasis has been placed on illustrating the basic principles rather than descriptions of a particular system. Recent technology advances and research in this field are also mentioned.

Hello, Who is Calling?: Can Words Reveal the Social Nature of Conversations?

PubMed

Stark, Anthony; Shafran, Izhak; Kaye, Jeffrey

2012-01-01

This study aims to infer the social nature of conversations from their content automatically. To place this work in context, our motivation stems from the need to understand how social disengagement affects cognitive decline or depression among older adults. For this purpose, we collected a comprehensive and naturalistic corpus comprising of all the incoming and outgoing telephone calls from 10 subjects over the duration of a year. As a first step, we learned a binary classifier to filter out business related conversation, achieving an accuracy of about 85%. This classification task provides a convenient tool to probe the nature of telephone conversations. We evaluated the utility of openings and closing in differentiating personal calls, and find that empirical results on a large corpus do not support the hypotheses by Schegloff and Sacks that personal conversations are marked by unique closing structures. For classifying different types of social relationships such as family vs other, we investigated features related to language use (entropy), hand-crafted dictionary (LIWC) and topics learned using unsupervised latent Dirichlet models (LDA). Our results show that the posteriors over topics from LDA provide consistently higher accuracy (60-81%) compared to LIWC or language use features in distinguishing different types of conversations.

Molecular artificial photosynthesis.

PubMed

Berardi, Serena; Drouet, Samuel; Francàs, Laia; Gimbert-Suriñach, Carolina; Guttentag, Miguel; Richmond, Craig; Stoll, Thibaut; Llobet, Antoni

2014-11-21

The replacement of fossil fuels by a clean and renewable energy source is one of the most urgent and challenging issues our society is facing today, which is why intense research has been devoted to this topic recently. Nature has been using sunlight as the primary energy input to oxidise water and generate carbohydrates (solar fuel) for over a billion years. Inspired, but not constrained, by nature, artificial systems can be designed to capture light and oxidise water and reduce protons or other organic compounds to generate useful chemical fuels. This tutorial review covers the primary topics that need to be understood and mastered in order to come up with practical solutions for the generation of solar fuels. These topics are: the fundamentals of light capturing and conversion, water oxidation catalysis, proton and CO2 reduction catalysis and the combination of all of these for the construction of complete cells for the generation of solar fuels.

Service user involvement in research may lead to contrary rather than collaborative accounts: findings from a qualitative palliative care study.

PubMed

Forbat, Liz; Hubbard, Gill

2016-04-01

The aim of this study was to explore what data emerge when former carergivers (co-researchers) are trained to interview current care-givers about their experiences. Despite a trend of involving service users in conducting research interviews, there have been few examinations of how and whether a common service user identity has an impact on the data generated. Four co-researchers were recruited, trained and supported to conduct qualitative interviews with 11 current carers of people receiving palliative services. Conversation analysis was used to examine the conversational characteristics of the research interviews. Data were collected in 2010-2011. Conversation analysis identified that interactional difficulties were evident across the data. When co-researchers talked about their own experiences as carers, interviewees frequently changed the topic of conversation, thereby closing-down opportunities for further disclosure or elaboration from the interviewee about the original topic. Conversation analysis identifies how caregiving identities are co-constructed and points where there is agreement and disagreement in the co-construction. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 3: Space power and thermal management

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Viewgraphs of briefings from the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft integrated technology plan on thermal power and thermal management are presented. Topics covered include: space energy conversion research and technology; space photovoltaic energy conversion; chemical energy conversion and storage; thermal energy conversion; power management; thermal management; space nuclear power; high capacity power; surface power and thermal management; space platforms power and thermal management; and project SELENE.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 3: Space power and thermal management

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

Viewgraphs of briefings from the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft integrated technology plan on thermal power and thermal management are presented. Topics covered include: space energy conversion research and technology; space photovoltaic energy conversion; chemical energy conversion and storage; thermal energy conversion; power management; thermal management; space nuclear power; high capacity power; surface power and thermal management; space platforms power and thermal management; and project SELENE.

Adolescent Girls’ Communication with “Mothers” About Topical Microbicides

PubMed Central

Sunder, Punita K.; Ramos, Stephanie; Short, Mary B.; Rosenthal, Susan L.

2007-01-01

Study Objective Topical microbicides, a female-initiated method to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy, will only be effective if found acceptable. Mothers may have an influence on acceptability and use among adolescent girls. The current study examined the communication between girls and mothers to understand the potential predictors and nature of conversations regarding surrogate microbicide products. Design Sexually experienced girls, 14 to 21 years, were recruited for a 6-month study examining microbicide acceptability. During face-to-face interviews, qualitative data were collected regarding communication between girls and mothers. Two independent raters coded the responses, which were organized into themes. Themes were interpreted according to the conceptual understanding of mother-daughter communication. Results Fifty percent of the 171 girls with codable responses had a conversation with their mother. Higher levels of indirect parental monitoring were related to being more likely to have a conversation. Concrete events related to the study (i.e. receiving phone call from the researcher, having an appointment, or seeing the product) or inquiries by mothers appeared to promote conversation. Barriers to conversation included the private nature of the information and relationship issues between the mother and daughter. Conversations often addressed issues related to girls’ participation in the study, although some conversations included global issues related to sexuality. Conclusions Girls may talk to their mothers about new products for STI prevention, and such conversations may provide opportunities to promote use. PMID:17174825

Adolescent girls' communication with "mothers" about topical microbicides.

PubMed

Sunder, Punita K; Ramos, Stephanie; Short, Mary B; Rosenthal, Susan L

2006-12-01

Topical microbicides, a female-initiated method to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy, will only be effective if found acceptable. Mothers may have an influence on acceptability and use among adolescent girls. The current study examined the communication between girls and mothers to understand the potential predictors and nature of conversations regarding surrogate microbicide products. Sexually experienced girls, 14 to 21 years, were recruited for a 6-month study examining microbicide acceptability. During face-to-face interviews, qualitative data were collected regarding communication between girls and mothers. Two independent raters coded the responses, which were organized into themes. Themes were interpreted according to the conceptual understanding of mother-daughter communication. Fifty percent of the 171 girls with codable responses had a conversation with their mother. Higher levels of indirect parental monitoring were related to being more likely to have a conversation. Concrete events related to the study (i.e. receiving phone call from the researcher, having an appointment, or seeing the product) or inquiries by mothers appeared to promote conversation. Barriers to conversation included the private nature of the information and relationship issues between the mother and daughter. Conversations often addressed issues related to girls' participation in the study, although some conversations included global issues related to sexuality. Girls may talk to their mothers about new products for STI prevention, and such conversations may provide opportunities to promote use.

Energy harvesting: an integrated view of materials, devices and applications.

PubMed

Radousky, H B; Liang, H

2012-12-21

Energy harvesting refers to the set of processes by which useful energy is captured from waste, environmental, or mechanical sources and is converted into a usable form. The discipline of energy harvesting is a broad topic that includes established methods and materials such as photovoltaics and thermoelectrics, as well as more recent technologies that convert mechanical energy, magnetic energy and waste heat to electricity. This article will review various state-of-the-art materials and devices for direct energy conversion and in particular will include multistep energy conversion approaches. The article will highlight the nano-materials science underlying energy harvesting principles and devices, but also include more traditional bulk processes and devices as appropriate and synergistic. Emphasis is placed on device-design innovations that lead to higher efficiency energy harvesting or conversion technologies ranging from the cm/mm-scale down to MEMS/NEMS (micro- and nano-electromechanical systems) devices. Theoretical studies are reviewed, which address transport properties, crystal chemistry, thermodynamic analysis, energy transfer, system efficiency and device operation. New developments in experimental methods; device design and fabrication; nanostructured materials fabrication; materials properties; and device performance measurement techniques are discussed.

Energy harvesting: an integrated view of materials, devices and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radousky, H. B.; Liang, H.

2012-12-01

Energy harvesting refers to the set of processes by which useful energy is captured from waste, environmental, or mechanical sources and is converted into a usable form. The discipline of energy harvesting is a broad topic that includes established methods and materials such as photovoltaics and thermoelectrics, as well as more recent technologies that convert mechanical energy, magnetic energy and waste heat to electricity. This article will review various state-of-the-art materials and devices for direct energy conversion and in particular will include multistep energy conversion approaches. The article will highlight the nano-materials science underlying energy harvesting principles and devices, but also include more traditional bulk processes and devices as appropriate and synergistic. Emphasis is placed on device-design innovations that lead to higher efficiency energy harvesting or conversion technologies ranging from the cm/mm-scale down to MEMS/NEMS (micro- and nano-electromechanical systems) devices. Theoretical studies are reviewed, which address transport properties, crystal chemistry, thermodynamic analysis, energy transfer, system efficiency and device operation. New developments in experimental methods; device design and fabrication; nanostructured materials fabrication; materials properties; and device performance measurement techniques are discussed.

Infralanguage: A Nonverbal Agent of Socialization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caputo, John; Cottrell, Eric

"Infralanguage," a non-verbal channel of communication, exists within daily conversation. Two divisions of "infralanguage" have been identified: the non-stated thematic, that is, themes presented in topics of discourse; and the sequence of those themes within conversation. This unspoken communication is implicit and ubiquitous…

A longitudinal study of conversations with parents about sex and dating during college.

PubMed

Morgan, Elizabeth M; Thorne, Avril; Zurbriggen, Eileen L

2010-01-01

Emerging adulthood is a time of sexual and romantic relationship development as well as change in the parent-child relationship. This study provides a longitudinal analysis of 30 young adults' (17 women, 13 men) sexual experiences, attitudes about sexuality and dating, and reported conversations with parents about sexuality and dating from the 1st and 4th years of college. Self-report questionnaires revealed increases in general closeness with parents, increases in sexual and dating experiences, and more sexually permissive as well as more gender stereotyped attitudes. Qualitative analyses of individual interviews indicated a movement from unilateral and restrictive sex-based topics to more reciprocal and relationship-focused conversations over time. Gender analyses revealed that young women reported more restrictive sex messages and young men more positive sex messages. Participants also described increased openness and comfort in talking about sexual topics with both mothers and fathers from the 1st to 4th year of college. Overall, the results suggest that prior findings of increased mutuality with parents during the college years extend to the traditionally taboo topic of sexuality. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

LEOS 1993 - Summer Topical Meeting Digest Held in Santa Barbara, California on July 19-30, 1993

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

M1.3 l0.2Oam - 11.-OOm (Invited) A BT View of Nonlinear Effects In Long-Haul Systems J V Wright BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath Ipswich, SuffokIP5...Gbit/s FM/AM Conversion System Experiment Bo Foged J0rgensen, Rune J. S. Pedersen and Carsten Gudmann Joergensen Center for Broadband Telecommunications...C. C. Neil , Applied Physics Letters, Vol 28, p. 192, 1976. 2. N. F. Hartman, L. E. Corey, "A New Time Delay Concept Using Integrated Optic Techniques

Mild aphasia: is this the place for an argument?

PubMed

Armstrong, Elizabeth; Fox, Sarah; Wilkinson, Ray

2013-05-01

Individuals with mild aphasia often report significant disruption to their communication despite seemingly minor impairment. This study explored this phenomenon through examining conversations of a person with mild aphasia engaging in argumentation--a skill she felt had significantly deteriorated after her stroke. A person with mild aphasia and her husband recorded 4 conversations involving topical issues. The discourse dynamics and lexical-grammatical content were analyzed using systemic functional linguistic (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004) and conversation analysis (Sacks, Schegloff, & Jefferson, 1974) frameworks. The couple demonstrated similarities in the types of conversational moves, but the language of the person with aphasia was more nonspecific and simplified, manifesting in difficulties developing a logical argument and responding to the partner's line of argument. In addition, the nonaphasic speaker recurrently overlapped the aphasic speaker in order to request clarification of particular points, highlighting the types of behaviors that can occur in this form of higher level language activity. The complex argument task and the multilevel and multi-approach analysis are useful tools for examining persons with mild aphasia, revealing aspects that are often overlooked in standard tests. Treatment could incorporate more complex notions such as evaluative language and the role of overlap in complex conversations.

Energy Conversion and Storage Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cairns, E. J.

1993-06-01

This report is the 1992 annual progress report for the Energy Conversion and Storage Program, a part of the Energy and Environment Division of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Work described falls into three broad areas: electrochemistry; chemical applications; and materials applications. The Energy Conversion and Storage Program applies principles of chemistry and materials science to solve problems in several areas: (1) production of new synthetic fuels, (2) development of high-performance rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, (3) development of advanced thermochemical processes for energy conversion, (4) characterization of complex chemical processes and chemical species, and (5) study and application of novel materials for energy conversion and transmission. Projects focus on transport-process principles, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, separation processes, organic and physical chemistry, novel materials, and advanced methods of analysis. Electrochemistry research aims to develop advanced power systems for electric vehicle and stationary energy storage applications. Chemical applications research includes topics such as separations, catalysis, fuels, and chemical analyses. Included in this program area are projects to develop improved, energy-efficient methods for processing product and waste streams from synfuel plants, coal gasifiers, and biomass conversion processes. Materials applications research includes evaluation of the properties of advanced materials, as well as development of novel preparation techniques. For example, techniques such as sputtering, laser ablation, and poised laser deposition are being used to produce high-temperature superconducting films.

MSC Common Room Conversations: Topics and Terms.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutting, Joan

1993-01-01

This paper explores the difference between conversations of new acquaintances and those of established friends. Psycho- and sociolinguistic literature on the subject lacks a systematic grammatical and lexical approach to the analysis of distinguishing features. This paper describes a longitudinal study of the 1991-1992 Edinburgh University Applied…

Compact Blue-Green Lasers: Summaries of Papers Presented at the Topical Meeting Held in Sante Fe, New Mexico on 20-21 February 1992. Volume 6. Technical Digest Series

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-21

Contents: Applications, IR Pumped Visible Lasers, Blue-Green Diode Emitters, Materials, Poster Session, Frequency Conversion in Bulk Devices, Gas Lasers, and Frequency Conversion in Guided-Wave Devices.

Anticipatory other-completion of augmentative and alternative communication talk: a conversation analysis study.

PubMed

Bloch, Steven

2011-01-01

The study described here investigates the practice of anticipatory completion of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) utterances in progress. The aims were to identify and analyse features of this practice as they occur in natural conversation between a person using an AAC system and a family member. The methods and principles of Conversation Analysis (CA) were used to video record conversations between people with progressive neurological diseases and a progressive speech disorder (dysarthria) and their family members. Key features of interaction were identified and extracts transcribed. Four extracts of talk between a man with motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his mother are presented here. Anticipatory completion of AAC utterances is intimately related to the sequential context in which such utterances occur. Difficulties can arise from topic shifts, understanding the intended action of an AAC word in progress and in recognising the possible end point an utterance. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding how AAC talk works in everyday interaction. The role of co-participants is particularly important here. These results may have implications for both AAC software design and clinical intervention.

Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 20th, Miami Beach, FL, August 18-23, 1985, Proceedings. Volumes 1, 2, & 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1985-12-01

Topics related to aerospace power are discussed, taking into account trends and issues of military space power systems technology, space station power system advanced development, the application and use of nuclear power for future spacecraft, the current status of advanced solar array technology development, the application of a parabolic trough concentrator to space station power needs, life test results of the Intelsat-V nickel-cadmium battery, and metal hydride hydrogen storage in nickel hydrogen batteries. Other subjects explored are concerned with alternative fuels, biomass energy, biomedical power, coal gasification, electric power cycles, and electric propulsion. Attention is given to an advanced terrestrial vehicle electric propulsion systems assessment, fuel cells as electric propulsion power plants, a sinewave synthesis for high efficiency dc-ac conversion, steam desulfurization of coal, leadless transfer of energy into the body to power implanted blood pumps, oil production via entrained flow pyrolysis of biomass, and a New Zealand synthetic gasoline plant.

Combined heat and power (cogeneration) plant based on renewable energy sources and electrochemical hydrogen systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigor'ev, S. A.; Grigor'ev, A. S.; Kuleshov, N. V.; Fateev, V. N.; Kuleshov, V. N.

2015-02-01

The layout of a combined heat and power (cogeneration) plant based on renewable energy sources (RESs) and hydrogen electrochemical systems for the accumulation of energy via the direct and inverse conversion of the electrical energy from RESs into the chemical energy of hydrogen with the storage of the latter is described. Some efficient technical solutions on the use of electrochemical hydrogen systems in power engineering for the storage of energy with a cyclic energy conversion efficiency of more than 40% are proposed. It is shown that the storage of energy in the form of hydrogen is environmentally safe and considerably surpasses traditional accumulator batteries by its capacitance characteristics, being especially topical in the prolonged absence of energy supply from RESs, e.g., under the conditions of polar night and breathless weather. To provide the required heat consumption of an object during the peak period, it is proposed to burn some hydrogen in a boiler house.

A Consensus-Based Set of Measures for Oral Health Care.

PubMed

Baâdoudi, F; Trescher, A; Duijster, D; Maskrey, N; Gabel, F; van der Heijden, G J M G; Listl, S

2017-04-01

Increasingly more responsive and accountable health care systems are demanded, which is characterized by transparency and explicit demonstration of competence by health care providers and the systems in which they work. This study aimed to establish measures of oral health for transparent and explicit reporting of routine data to facilitate more patient-centered and prevention-oriented oral health care. To accomplish this, an intermediate objective was to develop a comprehensive list of topics that a range of stakeholders would perceive as valid, important, and relevant for describing oral health and oral health care. A 4-stage approach was used to develop the list of topics: 1) scoping of literature and its appraisal, 2) a meeting of experts, 3) a 2-stage Delphi process (online), and 4) a World Café discussion. The aim was to create consensus through structured conversations via a range of stakeholders (general dental practitioners, patients, insurers, and policy makers) from the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, and Denmark. The study was part of the ADVOCATE project, and it resulted in a list of 48 topics grouped into 6 clusters: 1) access to dental care, 2) symptoms and diagnosis, 3) health behaviors, 4) oral treatments, 5) oral prevention, and 6) patient perception. All topics can be measured, as they all have a data source with defined numerators and denominators. This study is the first to establish a comprehensive and multiple-stakeholder consented topic list designed for guiding the implementation of transparent and explicit measurement of routine data of oral health and oral health care. Successful measurement within oral health care systems is essential to facilitate learning from variation in practice and outcomes within and among systems, and it potentiates improvement toward more patient-centered and prevention-oriented oral health care.

Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying: A Content Analysis.

PubMed

Van Scoy, Lauren Jodi; Reading, Jean M; Scott, Allison M; Chuang, Cynthia; Levi, Benjamin H; Green, Michael J

2016-11-01

Substantive discussions between loved ones are necessary for effective advance care planning. Although multiple tools are currently in use for promoting conversations, the content and clinical relevance of the conversations they stimulate is unknown. To describe the content and clinical relevance of conversations that occur during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game. Using convenience sampling, we scheduled adult volunteers to participate in an end-of-life conversation game (2-6 individuals per game; n = 68). Participants discussed 20 questions about death, dying, or end-of-life issues. Games lasted up to two hours and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach to identify emerging themes. Participants (n = 68) were primarily Caucasian (94%), females (68%), with mean age of 51.3 years (SD 0.7). Seventeen games were analyzed. Four primary themes emerged during game conversations: 1) the importance of people, relationships, and the roles played during end-of-life decision making, 2) values, beliefs, and preferences related to end-of-life care and the dying period, 3) considerations about preparing for the aftermath of one's death, and 4) the relevance of stories or experiences for informing one's own end-of-life preferences. Topics discussed during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game are substantive and address important issues for advance care planning. Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effects of enactment on communicative competence in aphasic casual conversation: a functional linguistic perspective.

PubMed

Groenewold, Rimke; Armstrong, Elizabeth

2018-05-14

Previous research has shown that speakers with aphasia rely on enactment more often than non-brain-damaged language users. Several studies have been conducted to explain this observed increase, demonstrating that spoken language containing enactment is easier to produce and is more engaging to the conversation partner. This paper describes the effects of the occurrence of enactment in casual conversation involving individuals with aphasia on its level of conversational assertiveness. To evaluate whether and to what extent the occurrence of enactment in speech of individuals with aphasia contributes to its conversational assertiveness. Conversations between a speaker with aphasia and his wife (drawn from AphasiaBank) were analysed in several steps. First, the transcripts were divided into moves, and all moves were coded according to the systemic functional linguistics (SFL) framework. Next, all moves were labelled in terms of their level of conversational assertiveness, as defined in the previous literature. Finally, all enactments were identified and their level of conversational assertiveness was compared with that of non-enactments. Throughout their conversations, the non-brain-damaged speaker was more assertive than the speaker with aphasia. However, the speaker with aphasia produced more enactments than the non-brain-damaged speaker. The moves of the speaker with aphasia containing enactment were more assertive than those without enactment. The use of enactment in the conversations under study positively affected the level of conversational assertiveness of the speaker with aphasia, a competence that is important for speakers with aphasia because it contributes to their floor time, chances to be heard seriously and degree of control over the conversation topic. © 2018 The Authors International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

APPLICATIONS OF LASERS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Laser system based on a commercial microwave oscillator with time compression of a microwave pump pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arteev, M. S.; Vaulin, V. A.; Slinko, V. N.; Chumerin, P. Yu; Yushkov, Yu G.

1992-06-01

An analysis is made of the possibility of using a commercial microsecond microwave oscillator, supplemented by a device for time compression of microwave pulses, in pumping of industrial lasers with a high efficiency of conversion of the pump source energy into laser radiation. The results are reported of preliminary experiments on the commissioning of an excimer XeCl laser.

SWAHILI, ADDITIONAL DIALOGUES TO FOLLOW "SWAHILI, AN ACTIVE INTRODUCTION, GENERAL CONVERSATION."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

INDAKWA, JOHN; AND OTHERS

THESE SUPPLEMENTARY DIALOGUES WERE DESIGNED TO FOLLOW THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE TEXT "AN ACTIVE INTRODUCTION TO SWAHILI, GENERAL CONVERSATION". BASED ON THE TOPICS PRESENTED IN THE TEXT, THE DIALOGUES APPEAR IN PHONEMIC TRANSCRIPTION OF SWAHILI IN THE LEFT-HAND COLUMN, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION ON THE RIGHT. (AM)

Making the Connection: Disarmament, Development and Economic Conversion. A Resource Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gold, Howard, Ed.

This nine-part guide provides resources on various topics and issues related disarmament, development, and economic conversion. They include: (1) recent publications (with their tables of contents provided, when applicable); (2) research institutes; (3) non-governmental organizations with primary contacts for information; (4) research and…

Researcher Perspectives on Class Size Reduction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graue, Elizabeth; Rauscher, Erica

2009-01-01

This article applies to class size research Grant and Graue's (1999) position that reviews of research represent conversations in the academic community. By extending our understanding of the class size reduction conversation beyond published literature to the perspectives of researchers who have studied the topic, we create a review that includes…

Finding the Right Words: Art Conversations and Poetry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reilly, Mary Ann

2008-01-01

Generative thinking is explored in this article by chronicling the development of middle school English language learners' poetry writing through their interaction with visual art. The author explains how art conversations (Reilly & Cohen, 2008) were used to help students engage in dialogue about the topic of journeys and how students' paintings…

Contextual Information and Verifying Inferences from Conversations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dubitsky, Tony

Research was conducted to investigate the effects of contextual information on the speed and accuracy with which two general classes of inferences were verified by readers. These types of inferences were based on information in conversations that were or were not topically ambiguous, depending upon the amount of available contextual information.…

Communicating psychosocial problems in German well-child visits. What facilitates, what impedes pediatric exploration? A qualitative study.

PubMed

Krippeit, Lorena; Belzer, Florian; Martens-Le Bouar, Heike; Mall, Volker; Barth, Michael

2014-11-01

To examine whether, and if so, how psychosocial topics are discussed between parents and pediatricians. Thirty well-child visits at eight pediatricians' practices in southwest Germany were video recorded. Conversations were analyzed. Although psychosocial topics were frequently touched upon, they were rarely thoroughly explored. Pediatricians pursued a rather reserved conversation style. Especially when parents withdraw and psychosocial stressors are less baby-related, pediatricians hardly explore the psychosocial situation. In summary, the pediatrician's conversation style, the nature of the stressors and the parents' openness are paramount in determining the depth of psychosocial exploration. In order to ensure a good and fair quality of care to all parents, pediatricians should be provided with tailored communicative skills training allowing them to create a climate in which parents may open up and build trust toward their pediatrician. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fossil Energy Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeese, L. E.

1981-01-01

Increased utilization of coal and other fossil fuel alternatives as sources of clean energy is reported. The following topics are discussed: coal conversion development, chemical research and development, materials technology, component development and process evaluation studies, technical support to major liquefaction projects, process analysis and engineering evaluations, fossil energy environmental analysis, flue gas desulfurization, solid waste disposal, coal preparation waste utilization, plant control development, atmospheric fluidized bed coal combustor for cogeneration, TVA FBC demonstration plant program technical support, PFBC systems analysis, fossil fuel applications assessments, performance assurance system support for fossil energy projects, international energy technology assessment, and general equilibrium models of liquid and gaseous fuel supplies.

Application of solar energy; Proceedings of the Third Southeastern Conference, Huntsville, Ala., April 17-19, 1978

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, S. T. (Editor); Christensen, D. L.; Head, R. R.

1978-01-01

Demonstration projects, systems-subsystems simulation programs, applications (heating, cooling, agricultural, industrial), and climatic data testing (standards, economics, institutional) are the topics of the book. Economics of preheating water for commercial use and collecting, processing, and dissemination of data for the national demonstration program are discussed. Computer simulation of a solar energy system and graphical representation of solar collector performance are considered. Attention is given to solar driven heat pumps, solar cooling equipment, hybrid passive/active solar systems, and solar farm buildings. Evaluation of a thermographic scanning device for solar energy and conservation applications, use of meteorological data in system evaluation, and biomass conversion potential are presented.

Finnish Eyes on Border Schools: Teacher Educators Compare Notes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kralovec, Etta; Dervin, Fred; Riitaoja, Anna-Leena

2017-01-01

This article offers readers the opportunity to eavesdrop on a conversation between teacher educators from Finland and the United States at the conclusion of a field research project conducted in border schools in Arizona. The conversation ranges across topics central to schooling in both countries and exposes educational practices that are not…

Using Self-Management to Improve the Reciprocal Social Conversation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koegel, Lynn Kern; Park, Mi N.; Koegel, Robert L.

2014-01-01

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders often exhibit difficulties with reciprocal social conversation, engaging in limited verbal exchanges, even when language structures are intact. This study employed a multiple baseline design to examine the effectiveness of a self-management intervention targeting (1) on-topic responsiveness to a…

Illustrations for a Competency Based Curriculum Guide: Ethanol Spark Ignition Engine Conversion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield. Dept. of Adult, Vocational and Technical Education.

This document contains 56 illustrations for use in an Illinois-developed competency-based course in ethanol spark ignition engine conversion. Each illustration is related to a specific competency in the course curriculum guide. Illustrations, which include photographs and line drawings, cover some of the following topics: carburetion, compression,…

"How Did That Make You Feel?": Influences of Gender and Parental Personality on Family Emotion Talk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manczak, Erika M.; Mangelsdorf, Sarah C.; McAdams, Dan P.; Wong, Maria S.; Schoppe-Sullivan, Sarah; Brown, Geoffrey L.

2016-01-01

Parent-child conversations about shared events may facilitate important aspects of psychosocial development through the family's references to emotions. Although past research has begun examining features of speakers and topics that predict emotion talk in these conversations, the potential contribution of personality traits has been overlooked.…

Tweeting about Mental Health: Big Data Text Analysis of Twitter for Public Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaydman, Mikhail

2017-01-01

This dissertation examines conversations and attitudes about mental health in Twitter discourse. The research uses big data collection, machine learning classification, and social network analysis to answer the following questions (1) what mental health topics do people discuss on Twitter? (2) Have patterns of conversation changed over time? Have…

Conversation, Composition, Cultural Investigations: Max Frisch's "Fragebogen" in the L2 Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Villanueva, Daniel

2005-01-01

In this article, "Fragebogen" (1992) by Max Frisch is shown to contain appropriately challenging linguistic constructions for use in courses as a supplement to traditional anthologies in conversation/composition courses. Frisch's eleven questionnaires on topics ranging from "Heimat," marriage and private property to humor, money and death serve as…

The Journey of Organizational Unlearning: A Conversation with William H. Starbuck

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nguyen, Nhien

2017-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overview of the concept "organizational unlearning" and its development since it was first introduced to the management literature and presents a useful perspective that can help to advance the conceptual development of this topic. Design/methodology/approach: Through a conversation with celebrated…

"Your Job Is to Take Care of Us": Teaching Our Way through the Boston Marathon Bombings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bentley, Dana Frantz

2015-01-01

The concept of social justice and critical thinking are prevalent topics in conversations about early childhood education. Usually, critical conversations around these practices tend to involve academics in discussion rather than include practitioners. In today's world, young children are frequently confronted with the realities of violence and…

Mother-Adolescent Health Communication: Are All Conversations Created Equally?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boone, Tanya L.; Lefkowitz, Eva S.

2007-01-01

Fifty-two mother-adolescent dyads (mean adolescent age = 16.3) participated in an observational study of communication about health topics. The aim of the study was to examine mother-adolescent conversations about health issues--drugs/alcohol, sexuality, nutrition/exercise--to determine the extent to which the mothers treat these issues similarly.…

Norms of Descriptive Adjective Responses to Common Nouns.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robbins, Janet L.

This paper gives the results of a controlled experiment on word association. The purpose was to establish norms of commonality of primary descriptive adjective responses to common nouns. The stimuli consisted of 203 common nouns selected from 10 everyday topics of conversation, approximately 20 from each topic. There were 350 subjects, 50% male,…

Gender Differences in Topical Coherence: Creating Involvement in Best Friends' Talk.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tannen, Deborah

1990-01-01

Examines gender differences in topical coherence of same-sex best friends' conversations using John Gumperz's framework for cross-cultural communication. Finds that girls exhibit minimal or no difficulty in finding something to talk about. Finds that boys exhibit more discomfort, with tenth grade boys talking about their own highly personal…

Using Play Behavior to Describe Young Children's Conversational Abilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shulman, Brian B.

The effects of three play contexts on young children's turn taking, topic maintenance, and topic change skills were investigated. Participants were 40 normally-developing, English-speaking Caucasian children of middle-income parents; they ranged in age from approximately 4 years to 6 and one half years. Subjects were subdivided into younger and…

From Peasant to Princess: A Standards Conversion Story with a Twist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grover, Jeanette M.; Monroe, Eula Ewing; Jacobs, James S.

2007-01-01

The first author, a student in a graduate children's literature class, designed a project to locate "good" mathematics-based children's literature selections. However, the reference tools usually consulted (e.g., "Books in Print") to locate books by topic were of little help, and those she located under individual mathematics topics were mostly…

Second NASA Conference on Laser Energy Conversion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Billman, K. W. (Editor)

1976-01-01

The possible transmission of high power laser beams over long distances and their conversion to thrust, electricity, or other useful forms of energy is considered. Specific topics discussed include: laser induced chemistry; developments in photovoltaics, including modification of the Schottky barrier devices and generation of high voltage emf'sby laser radiation of piezoelectric ceramics; the thermo electronic laser energy converter and the laser plasmadynamics converters; harmonic conversion of infrared laser radiation in molecular gases; and photon engines.

Using topic coding to understand the nature of change language in a motivational intervention to reduce alcohol and sex risk behaviors in emergency department patients.

PubMed

Kahler, Christopher W; Caswell, Amy J; Laws, M Barton; Walthers, Justin; Magill, Molly; Mastroleo, Nadine R; Howe, Chanelle J; Souza, Timothy; Wilson, Ira; Bryant, Kendall; Monti, Peter M

2016-10-01

To elucidate patient language that supports changing a health behavior (change talk) or sustaining the behavior (sustain talk). We developed a novel coding system to characterize topics of patient speech in a motivational intervention targeting alcohol and HIV/sexual risk in 90 Emergency Department patients. We further coded patient language as change or sustain talk. For both alcohol and sex, discussions focusing on benefits of behavior change or change planning were most likely to involve change talk, and these topics comprised a large portion of all change talk. Greater discussion of barriers and facilitators of change also was associated with more change talk. For alcohol use, benefits of drinking behavior was the most common topic of sustain talk. For sex risk, benefits of sexual behavior were rarely discussed, and sustain talk centered more on patterns and contexts, negations of drawbacks, and drawbacks of sexual risk behavior change. Topic coding provided unique insights into the content of patient change and sustain talk. Patients are most likely to voice change talk when conversation focuses on behavior change rather than ongoing behavior. Interventions addressing multiple health behaviors should address the unique motivations for maintaining specific risky behaviors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conference Support, 23rd Western Photosynthesis Conference 2014, Final Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wachter, Rebekka

The Western Photosynthesis Conference is a regional conference that is held on an annual basis to bring together researchers primarily from the Western United States to share their newest research advances on photosynthetic processes. The 23rd conference was focused on both fundamental and more applied research on the biological conversion of solar energy to various energy storage forms. Several particular areas of solar energy conversion were emphasized in this conference (see below). Some of these topics, such as carbon limitations on photosynthesis, biomimicry and phenotyping, have traditionally not been incorporated extensively in the Western Photosynthesis Conference. We found that thesemore » topics have substantially broadened of the scope of this meeting.« less

Applying conversation analysis to foster accurate reporting in the diet history interview.

PubMed

Tapsell, L C; Brenninger, V; Barnard, J

2000-07-01

Inaccuracy in reporting dietary intakes is a major problem in managing diet-related disease. There is no single best method of dietary assessment, but the diet history lends itself well to the clinical setting. In many diet histories data are collected orally, so analysis of interviews can provide insights into reporting behaviors. Conversation analysis is a qualitative method that describes the systematic organization of talk between people. Patterns are identified and checked for consistency within and among individual interviews. The aim of this study was to describe consistent ways of reporting diet histories and to identify conversational features of problematic reporting. Diet history interviews from 62 overweight and insulin-resistant adult volunteers (50 women, 12 men) attending an outpatient clinic and 14 healthy volunteers (7 men, 7 women) participating in an energy balance study were audiotaped and transcribed. Conversation analysis identified a remarkably consistent pattern of reporting diet histories and 3 conversational features that indicated problematic reporting: "it depends," denoting variability (least of all at breakfast); "probably," suggesting guesswork (related to portion sizes); and elaborated talk on certain foods, distinguishing sensitive topics (e.g., alcohol, chocolate, butter/margarine, take-out foods) from safe topics. These findings indicate that there are ways in which dietetics practitioners may conduct the diet history interview to foster more accurate reporting.

Future Directions for Selected Topics in Physics and Materials Science

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-12

referred to as lightides (e.g. borides , nitrides, phosphides) • Materials for energy conversion, energy storage, energy transport and energy production...Distributed nanosystems and sensors • Strategy for multilayered combinatorics • lightides ( borides , nitrides, phosphides, • New applications for...Strategy for multilayered combinatorics Lightides ( borides , nitrides, phosphides) • Energy conversion, .storage and production • Precision control

Internal Evaluation a Quarter-Century Later: A Conversation with Arnold J. Love

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Volkov, Boris B.

2011-01-01

This chapter features a recent conversation with Dr. Arnold J. Love, a long-time proponent of internal evaluation and one of the most cited internal evaluation authors. In 1983, Love edited the first issue of "New Directions for Program Evaluation" on the topic of internal evaluation. He is the author of the book "Internal…

Do They "Really" Get It? Evaluating Evidence of Student Understanding of Power Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kung, David; Speer, Natasha

2013-01-01

Most teachers agree that if a student understands a particular mathematical topic well, he/she will probably be able to do problems correctly. The converse, however, frequently fails: students who do problems correctly sometimes do not actually have robust understandings of the topic in question. In this paper we explore this phenomenon in the…

Using Conversation Analysis to Explore the Recurrence of a Topic in the Talk of a Boy with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stribling, Penny; Rae, John; Dickerson, Paul

2009-01-01

Some higher functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are reported to produce perseverative talk, especially around "special interests". Topic perseveration is a form of pragmatic impairment captured in Prizant and Rydell's (1993) continuum of unconventional verbal behaviour in autism. Although widely reported, there…

Auditory and Visual Cues for Topic Maintenance with Persons Who Exhibit Dementia of Alzheimer's Type.

PubMed

Teten, Amy F; Dagenais, Paul A; Friehe, Mary J

2015-01-01

This study compared the effectiveness of auditory and visual redirections in facilitating topic coherence for persons with Dementia of Alzheimer's Type (DAT). Five persons with moderate stage DAT engaged in conversation with the first author. Three topics related to activities of daily living, recreational activities, food, and grooming, were broached. Each topic was presented three times to each participant: once as a baseline condition, once with auditory redirection to topic, and once with visual redirection to topic. Transcripts of the interactions were scored for overall coherence. Condition was a significant factor in that the DAT participants exhibited better topic maintenance under visual and auditory conditions as opposed to baseline. In general, the performance of the participants was not affected by the topic, except for significantly higher overall coherence ratings for the visually redirected interactions dealing with the topic of food.

Auditory and Visual Cues for Topic Maintenance with Persons Who Exhibit Dementia of Alzheimer's Type

PubMed Central

Teten, Amy F.; Dagenais, Paul A.; Friehe, Mary J.

2015-01-01

This study compared the effectiveness of auditory and visual redirections in facilitating topic coherence for persons with Dementia of Alzheimer's Type (DAT). Five persons with moderate stage DAT engaged in conversation with the first author. Three topics related to activities of daily living, recreational activities, food, and grooming, were broached. Each topic was presented three times to each participant: once as a baseline condition, once with auditory redirection to topic, and once with visual redirection to topic. Transcripts of the interactions were scored for overall coherence. Condition was a significant factor in that the DAT participants exhibited better topic maintenance under visual and auditory conditions as opposed to baseline. In general, the performance of the participants was not affected by the topic, except for significantly higher overall coherence ratings for the visually redirected interactions dealing with the topic of food. PMID:26171273

Satellite power system concept development and evaluation program. Volume 1: Technical assessment summary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

Candidate satellite power system (SPS) concepts were identified and evaluated in terms of technical and cost factors. A number of alternative technically feasible approaches and system concepts were investigated. A reference system was defined to facilitate economic, environmental, and societal assessments by the Department of Energy. All elements of the reference system were defined including the satellite and all its subsystems, the orbital construction and maintenance bases, all elements of the space transportation system, the ground receiving station, and the associated industrial facilities for manufacturing the required hardware. The reference conclusions and remaining issues are stated for the following topical areas: system definition; energy conversion and power management; power transmission and reception; structures, controls, and materials; construction and operations; and space transportation.

Geothermal Program Review XI: proceedings. Geothermal Energy - The Environmental Responsible Energy Technology for the Nineties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-10-01

These proceedings contain papers pertaining to current research and development of geothermal energy in the USA. The seven sections of the document are: Overview, The Geysers, Exploration and Reservoir Characterization, Drilling, Energy Conversion, Advanced Systems, and Potpourri. The Overview presents current DOE energy policy and industry perspectives. Reservoir studies, injection, and seismic monitoring are reported for the geysers geothermal field. Aspects of geology, geochemistry and models of geothermal exploration are described. The Drilling section contains information on lost circulation, memory logging tools, and slim-hole drilling. Topics considered in energy conversion are efforts at NREL, condensation on turbines and geothermal materials.more » Advanced Systems include hot dry rock studies and Fenton Hill flow testing. The Potpourri section concludes the proceedings with reports on low-temperature resources, market analysis, brines, waste treatment biotechnology, and Bonneville Power Administration activities. Selected papers have been indexed separately for inclusion in the Energy Science and Technology Database.« less

Supramolecular photochemistry and solar cells

PubMed

Iha

2000-01-01

Supramolecular photochemistry as well as solar cells are fascinating topics of current interest in Inorganic Photochemistry and very active research fields which have attracted wide attention in last two decades. A brief outline of the investigations in these fields carried out in our Laboratory of Inorganic Photochemistry and Energy Conversion is given here with no attempt of an exhaustive coverage of the literature. The emphasis is placed on recent work and information on the above mentioned subjects. Three types of supramolecular systems have been the focus of this work: (i) cage-type coordination compounds; (ii) second-sphere coordination compounds, exemplified by ion-pair photochemistry of cobalt complexes and (iii) covalently-linked systems. In the latter, modulation of the photoluminescence and photochemistry of some rhenium complexes are discussed. Solar energy conversion and development of thin-layer photoelectrochemical solar cells based on sensitization of nanocrystalline semiconductor films by some ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are presented as an important application that resulted from specifically engineered artificial assemblies.

A content review of online naloxone Continuing Education courses for pharmacists in states with standing orders.

PubMed

Carpenter, Delesha M; Roberts, Courtney A; Westrick, Salisa C; Ferreri, Stefanie P; Kennelty, Korey A; Look, Kevin A; Abraham, Olufunmilola; Wilson, Courtenay

2017-11-21

Many community pharmacists are uncomfortable educating patients about naloxone, an opioid reversal agent. To examine whether training materials prepare pharmacists to counsel patients and caregivers about naloxone, online naloxone education materials for pharmacists in the 13 states with standing orders were analyzed. Two coders reviewed 12 naloxone training programs and extracted data for 15 topics that were clustered in four categories: background/importance, naloxone products, business/operations, and communication. Programs that included communication content were coded for whether they: 1) suggested specific verbiage for naloxone counseling; 2) recommended evidence-based communication practices; and 3) included example naloxone conversations. Most programs covered the majority of topics, with the exception of extended treatment for individuals who overdose and naloxone storage/expiration information. Eleven programs addressed pharmacist-patient communication, although information on communication was often limited. Only one program included an example pharmacist-patient naloxone conversation, but the conversation was 10 min long and occurred in a private room, limiting its applicability to most community pharmacies. Online naloxone training materials for pharmacists include limited content on how to communicate with patients and caregivers. Training materials that include more in-depth content on communication may increase pharmacists' confidence to discuss the topics of overdose and naloxone. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Demonstration of a Small Modular Biopower System Using Poultry Litter-Final Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

John Reardon; Art Lilley

2004-06-15

On-farm conversion of poultry litter into energy is a unique market connected opportunity for commercialization of small modular bioenergy systems. The United States Department of Energy recognized the need in the poultry industry for alternative litter management as an opportunity for bioenergy. The DOE created a relevant topic in the December 2000 release of the small business innovative research (SBIR) grant solicitation. Community Power Corporation responded to this solicitation by proposing the development of a small modular gasification and gas cleanup system to produce separate value streams of clean producer gas and mineral rich solids. This phase II report describesmore » our progress in the development of an on-farm litter to energy system.« less

Passenger and cell phone conversations in simulated driving.

PubMed

Drews, Frank A; Pasupathi, Monisha; Strayer, David L

2008-12-01

This study examines how conversing with passengers in a vehicle differs from conversing on a cell phone while driving. We compared how well drivers were able to deal with the demands of driving when conversing on a cell phone, conversing with a passenger, and when driving without any distraction. In the conversation conditions, participants were instructed to converse with a friend about past experiences in which their life was threatened. The results show that the number of driving errors was highest in the cell phone condition; in passenger conversations more references were made to traffic, and the production rate of the driver and the complexity of speech of both interlocutors dropped in response to an increase in the demand of the traffic. The results indicate that passenger conversations differ from cell phone conversations because the surrounding traffic not only becomes a topic of the conversation, helping driver and passenger to share situation awareness, but the driving condition also has a direct influence on the complexity of the conversation, thereby mitigating the potential negative effects of a conversation on driving. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

Structural Network Position and Performance of Health Leaders Within an HIV Prevention Trial.

PubMed

Mulawa, Marta I; Yamanis, Thespina J; Kajula, Lusajo J; Balvanz, Peter; Maman, Suzanne

2018-04-28

The effectiveness of peer leaders in promoting health may depend on the position they occupy within their social networks. Using sociocentric (whole network) and behavioral data from the intervention arm of a cluster-randomized HIV prevention trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we used generalized linear models with standardized predictors to examine the association between heath leaders' baseline structural network position (i.e., in-degree and betweenness centrality) and their 12-month self-reported (1) confidence in educating network members about HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) and (2) number of past-week conversations about HIV and GBV. As in-degree centrality increased, leaders reported fewer HIV-related conversations. As betweenness centrality increased, leaders reported greater number of conversations about GBV. Network position was not significantly associated with confidence in discussing either topic. Our results suggest that peer leaders who occupy spaces between sub-groups of network members may be more effective in engaging their peers in sensitive or controversial topics like GBV than more popular peer leaders.

Analysis of Online Social Networks to Understand Information Sharing Behaviors Through Social Cognitive Theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, Hong-Jun; Tourassi, Georgia

Analyzing the contents of online social networks is an effective process for monitoring and understanding peoples behaviors. Since the nature of conversation and information propagation is similar to traditional conversation and learning, one of the popular socio-cognitive methods, social cognitive theory was applied to online social networks to. Two major news topics about colon cancer were chosen to monitor traffic of Twitter messages. The activity of leaders on the issue (i.e., news companies or people will prior Twitter activity on topics related to colon cancer) was monitored. In addition, the activity of followers , people who never discussed the topicsmore » before, but replied to the discussions was also monitored. Topics that produce tangible benefits such as positive outcomes from appropriate preventive actions received dramatically more attention and online social media traffic. Such characteristics can be explained with social cognitive theory and thus present opportunities for effective health campaigns.« less

Why National Narratives Are Perpetuated: A Literature Review on New Insights from History Textbook Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grever, Maria; van der Vlies, Tina

2017-01-01

National narratives have often served to mobilize the masses for war by providing myths and distorted interpretations of the past, while conversely wars were major sources for producing national narratives. Because national history is very likely to remain a central topic in history education, albeit in ways that differ from how the topic was used…

Programmable Calculators for Elementary Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wayrik, John J.

1978-01-01

Instructions are given for using and programing programable calculators. Several problems and examples are given that include topics such as temperature conversion, estimation, and number operations. (MP)

Satellite power system concept development and evaluation program system definition technical assessment report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1980-12-01

The results of the system definition studies conducted by NASA as a part of the Department of Energy/National Aeronautics and Space Administration SPS Concept Development and Evaluation Program are summarized. The purpose of the system definition efforts was to identify and define candidate SPS concepts and to evaluate the concepts in terms of technical and cost factors. Although the system definition efforts consisted primarily of evaluation and assessment of alternative technical approaches, a reference system was also defined to facilitate economic, environmental, and societal assessments by the Department of Energy. This reference system was designed to deliver 5 GW ofmore » electrical power to the utility grid. Topics covered include system definition; energy conversion and power management; power transmission and reception; structures, controls, and materials; construction and operations; and space transportation.« less

Functional assessment and treatment of perseverative speech about restricted topics in an adolescent with Asperger syndrome.

PubMed

Fisher, Wayne W; Rodriguez, Nicole M; Owen, Todd M

2013-01-01

A functional analysis showed that a 14-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome displayed perseverative speech (or "restricted interests") reinforced by attention. To promote appropriate speech in a turn-taking format, we implemented differential reinforcement (DR) of nonperseverative speech and DR of on-topic speech within a multiple schedule with stimuli that signaled the contingencies in effect and who was to select the topic. Both treatments reduced perseverative speech, but only DR of on-topic speech increased appropriate turn taking during conversation. Treatment effects were maintained when implemented by family members and novel therapists. © Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Topical anesthesia in strabismus surgery: a review of 101 cases.

PubMed

Seijas, Olga; Gómez de Liaño, Pilar; Merino, Pilar; Roberts, Clare J; Gómez de Liaño, Rosario

2009-01-01

To analyze the results over a 10-year period with a different type of strabismus surgery performed with topical anesthesia, to describe the differences in technique compared with surgery performed with general anesthesia, and to detail current indications and technical changes made according to the experience accrued during these years. A total of 101 patients undergoing strabismus surgery with topical anesthesia in a single hospital were analyzed. These patients were randomly selected from a total of 567 patients who had undergone extra-ocular muscle surgery in the past 10 years. A good result was obtained (squint angle < 10 prism diopters and absence of diplopia) in 95% of patients immediately after surgery and in 85% at final follow-up (mean follow-up: 3.1 years). The mean operating time for each muscle was 29 minutes. Surgery was well tolerated in every patient. Conversion to general anesthesia was not necessary in any case. Atropine was used in three patients (3%) because of induction of the vagal reflex. Topical anesthesia in strabismus surgery is a useful technique in the treatment of extraocular muscle pathology, with few limitations. Appropriate monitoring by an anesthetist is vital to ensure adequate control of pain and possible side effects and to enable conversion to general anesthesia. The oculocardiac reflex is infrequent. For experienced strabismus surgeons, the total surgical time is comparable with topical and general anesthesia. Copyright 2009, SLACK Incorporated.

Assessing Physicians' Intentions to Talk about Sex when They Vaccinate Nine-Year-Old to 15-Year-Old Girls against HPV

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Askelson, Natoshia M.; Campo, Shelly; Smith, Sandi; Lowe, John B.; Dennis, Leslie; Andsager, Julie

2011-01-01

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine provides physicians with an opportunity to have conversations with girls about sex and sex-related topics. Current research suggests that these conversations are not happening. This study was designed to assess whether physicians would use the HPV vaccination as an opening to communicate with nine-year-old to…

The News Delivery Sequence: Bad News and Good News in Conversational Interaction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maynard, Douglas W.

1997-01-01

Explores the conditional nature of good and bad news while focusing on three topics: (1) the status of information as news according the participants in a conversation; (2) the valence of this information with regard to its perception as good or bad; and (3) the effect of news on individuals. Notes that good news is privileged over bad news in…

Conversations: with Sean O'Keefe. Interview by Frank Sietzen Jr.

PubMed

O'Keefe, Sean

2002-10-01

Sean O'Keefe, who took office as the 10th NASA administrator in December 2001, is interviewed after 9 months on the job. Topics of conversation include his transition from the Office of Management and Budget to NASA, management priorities, space shuttle safety, the Space Launch Initiative and the National Aerospace Initiative, future space exploration, relationships with Congress and the President, and NASA's budget.

Topical applications of resonance internal conversion in laser produced plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpeshin, F. F.

2007-04-01

Physical aspects of resonance effects arising in plasma due to interactions of nuclei with the electrons are considered. Among them are resonance conversion (TEEN) and the reverse process of NEET. These processes are of great importance for pumping the excited nuclear states (isomers) and for accelerating their decay. Experiment is discussed on studying the unique 3.5-eV 229m Th nuclide.

Teaching a Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder On-Topic Conversational Responses with an iPad: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sng, Cheong Ying; Carter, Mark; Stephenson, Jennifer

2017-01-01

Scripts in written or auditory form have been used to teach conversational skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but with the proliferation of handheld tablet devices the scope to combine these 2 formats has broadened. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if a script-based intervention, presented on an iPad…

Photoacoustic study of percutaneous absorption of Carbopol and transdermic gels for topic use in skin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, R. C. P.; de Paiva, R. F.; da Silva, M. D.; Barja, P. R.

2008-01-01

Topical medicine application has been used to treat a good number of pathological processes. Its efficacy is associated to an efficient penetration of the drug in the internal skin layers, promoting systemic effects and excluding the possibility of drug degradation by the digestive tract and hepatic elimination. This work analyzes the penetration kinetics of two soluble bases employed as vehicles for topic application: superficial gel (Carbopol 940) and transdermic (transdermal) gel. Analysis was performed with the photoacoustic technique, based upon the absorption of modulated light by a sample with subsequent conversion of the absorbed energy in heat, generating acoustic waves in the air layer adjacent to the sample. Each of the two vehicles was evaluated through in vivo (human skin) and in vitro application. Measurements in vitro employed samples of VitroSkin (synthetic material with properties similar to those of real skin, employed in the pharmaceutical industry research). Results show that the permeation was faster for the transdermal gel, both for in vivo and in vitro measurements, indicating that in vitro measurements may be utilized in qualitative, comparative permeation studies.

Transplant rejection and tolerance – advancing the field through integration of computational and experimental investigation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raimondi, Giorgio; Wood, Kathryn; Perelson, Alan S.

This Research Topic provides a venue for stimulating these interdisciplinary conversations in the context of transplantation. The articles collected under this Research Topic introduce new theoretical and experimental studies that describe novel techniques and methods for understanding the interactions between the immune response and transplants and for establishing more effective strategies of diagnosis and intervention that will promote transplant tolerance.

A 21st Century Research Agenda: Issues, Topics & Questions Guiding Inquiry into Middle Level Theory & Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Middle School Association, Columbus, OH.

The purpose of this document is to widen the conversation and include all the stakeholders in the further development and use of enlightened and relevant research on middle level schooling. The research agenda it presents is meant to be a guide to topics, themes, and questions central to a number of middle level issues. The agenda consists of sets…

Social Media and Men's Health: A Content Analysis of Twitter Conversations During the 2013 Movember Campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

PubMed

Bravo, Caroline A; Hoffman-Goetz, Laurie

2017-11-01

The Movember Foundation raises awareness and funds for men's health issues such as prostate and testicular cancers in conjunction with a moustache contest. The 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom shared the same goal of creating conversations about men's health that lead to increased awareness and understanding of the health risks men face. Our objective was to explore Twitter conversations to identify whether the 2013 Movember campaigns sparked global conversations about prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other men's health issues. We conducted a content analysis of 12,666 tweets posted during the 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom (4,222 tweets from each country) to investigate whether tweets were health-related or non-health-related and to determine what topics dominated conversations. Few tweets ( n = 84, 0.7% of 12,666 tweets) provided content-rich or actionable health information that would lead to awareness and understanding of men's health risks. While moustache growing and grooming was the most popular topic in U.S. tweets, conversations about community engagement were most common in Canadian and U.K. tweets. Significantly more tweets co-opted the Movember campaign to market products or contests in the United States than Canada and the United Kingdom ( p < .05). Findings from this content analysis of Twitter suggest that the 2013 Movember campaigns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom sparked few conversations about prostate and testicular cancers that could potentially lead to greater awareness and understanding of important men's health issues.

Liquid-metal flows: Magnetohydrodynamics and applications; Proceedings of the Fifth Beersheba International Seminar on Magnetohydrodynamic Flows and Turbulence, University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel, Mar. 2-6, 1987

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Branover, H.; Mond, M.; Unger, Y.

The present collection of papers on MHD-related uses of liquid metal flows and their applications discusses topics in laminar MHD flows, MHD power generation, metallurgical MHD applications, and two-phase MHD flows. Attention is given to MHD flows with closed streamlines, nonlinear waves in liquid metals under a transverse magnetic field, liquid-metal MHD conversion of nuclear energy to electricity, the testing of optimized MHD conversion (OMACON) systems, and aspects of a liquid-metal induction generator. Also discussed are MHD effects in liquid-metal breeder reactors, a plasma-driven MHD powerplant, modeling the recirculating flows in channel-induction surfaces, the hydrodynamics of aluminum reduction cells, free-surfacemore » determination in a levitation-melting process, the parametric interactions of waves in bubbly liquid metals, and the occurrence of cavitation in water jets.« less

Fifteenth symposium on biotechnology for fuels and chemicals: Program and abstracts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-07-01

This collection contains 173 abstracts from presented papers and poster sessions. The five sessions of the conference were on the subjects of: (1) Thermal, Chemical, and Biological Processing, (2) Applied Biological Research, (3) Bioprocessing Research (4), Process Economics and Commercialization, and (5) Environmental Biotechnology. Examples of specific topics in the first session include the kinetics of ripening cheese, microbial liquefaction of lignite, and wheat as a feedstock for fuel ethanol. Typical topics in the second session were synergism studies of bacterial and fungal celluloses, conversion of inulin from jerusalem artichokes to sorbitol and ethanol by saccharomyces cerevisiae, and microbial conversionmore » of high rank coals to methane. The third session entertained topics such as hydrodynamic modeling of a liquid fluidized bed bioreactor for coal biosolubilization, aqueous biphasic systems for biological particle partitioning, and arabinose utilization by xylose-fermenting yeast and fungi. The fourth session included such topics as silage processing of forage biomass to alcohol fuels, economics of molasses to ethanol in India, and production of lactic acid from renewable resources. the final session contained papers on such subjects as bioluminescent detection of contaminants in soils, characterization of petroleum contaminated soils in coral atolls in the south Pacific, and landfill management for methane generation and emission control.« less

History, Rationality, Narrative, Imagery: A Four-Way Conversation on Teaching the Arab-Israeli Conflict

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caplan, Neil; Pearlman, Wendy; Sasley, Brent E.; Sucharov, Mira

2012-01-01

The Arab-Israeli conflict can be a difficult topic to teach, for a variety of reasons. As such, this article represents a conversation by four scholar-teachers of the Middle East and the conflict about our approaches to teaching it. We discuss our motivations for the manner in which we teach the conflict and some of the specific tools we use to do…

Public Participation Guide: Stakeholder Interviews

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Interviews with stakeholders are one-to-one conversations about a specific topic or issue. The primary purpose of these interviews is to obtain project-relevant information and elicit stakeholder reactions and suggestions.

Public Participation Guide: Social Media

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Interviews with stakeholders are one-to-one conversations about a specific topic or issue. The primary purpose of these interviews is to obtain project-relevant information and elicit stakeholder reactions and suggestions.

A Study of Topic and Topic Change in Conversational Threads

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

AUTHOR(S) 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS( ES ) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND...ADDRESS( ES ) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES...unigrams. By converting documents to a vector space representations, the tools of geometry and algebra can be applied, and questions of difference

Introducing the concept of biocatalysis in the classroom: The conversion of cholesterol to provitamin D3.

PubMed

De Luca, Belén M; Nudel, Clara B; Gonzalez, Rodrigo H; Nusblat, Alejandro D

2017-03-04

Biocatalysis is a fundamental concept in biotechnology. The topic integrates knowledge of several disciplines; therefore, it was included in the course "design and optimization of biological systems" which is offered in the biochemistry curricula. We selected the ciliate tetrahymena as an example of a eukaryotic system with potential for the biotransformation of sterol metabolites of industrial interest; in particular, we focused on the conversion of cholesterol to provitamin D 3. The students work with wild type and recombinant strains and learn how sterol pathways could be modified to obtain diverse sterol moieties. During the course the students identify and measure the concentration of sterols. They also search for related genes by bioinformatic analysis. Additionally, the students compare biotransformation rates, growing the ciliate in plate and in a bioreactor. Finally, they use fluorescence microscopy to localize an enzyme involved in biotransformation. The last day each team makes an oral presentation, explaining the results obtained and responds to a series of key questions posed by the teachers, which determine the final mark. In our experience, this course enables undergraduate students to become acquainted with the principles of biocatalysis as well as with standard and modern techniques, through a simple and robust laboratory exercise, using a biological system for the conversion of valuable pharmaceutical moieties. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(2):105-114, 2017. © 2016 The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Middle School Science Notes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Science Review, 1982

1982-01-01

Presents procedures, demonstrations, activities, and teaching suggestions on topics appropriate for middle school science including a simple electrolysis cell, conversion factors, energy, solubilities of salts, condensers, and a worksheet for studying coppice woodlands. (DC)

Positive and negative communicative behaviors in coming-out conversations.

PubMed

Manning, Jimmie

2015-01-01

This essay features typographic analysis of 258 coming-out narratives from 130 diverse lesbian, gay, or bisexual participants. Two typologies of coming-out conversations, one exploring positive communicative behaviors and another exploring negative, are offered. Positive behaviors for all members of the conversation include open communication channels, affirming direct relational statements, laughter and joking, and nonverbal immediacy. Negative behaviors for those coming out included nervous nonverbal behavior, indirectly approaching the topic, and lack of preparation. Negative behaviors for receivers include expressing denial, religious talk, inappropriate questions or comments, shaming statements, and aggressive statements. Future studies and research implications are considered.

Table talk: How mothers and adolescents across socioeconomic status discuss food.

PubMed

Fielding-Singh, Priya; Wang, Jennifer

2017-08-01

This article reports findings from a qualitative study of food practices among families of differing socioeconomic circumstances. Using in-depth interviews from sixty-two families in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015-2016, we find socioeconomic differences in how mothers and adolescents talk about food. Across SES, mothers and adolescents engage in discussions about healthy eating. However, these conversations are more commonplace and embedded within high-SES family life than among low-SES families. Beyond conversations about 1) healthy eating, the topics of 2) food quality and 3) price are discussed to varying degrees across SES. Within high-SES families, frequent discussions of healthy eating are paired with dialogue highlighting the importance of consuming higher quality food. Price is largely absent as a topic of conversation among high-SES families. On the other end of the socioeconomic spectrum, low-SES mothers and adolescents frequently engage in conversations about price when discussing food. Mentions of food quality are rare, but when they do occur, they underscore important trade-offs between food's healthiness, quality and price. Given prior research showing the impact of dialogue between parents and adolescents on adolescents' dietary behaviors, these findings help us understand how family discussions contribute to shaping adolescents' approaches to food. An important implication is that high-SES families' discussions of food quality may strengthen messages about healthy eating, while conversations about affordability within low-SES families may highlight financial barriers to healthy eating. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Understanding Social Media’s Take on Climate Change through Large-Scale Analysis of Targeted Opinions and Emotions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pathak, Neetu; Henry, Michael J.; Volkova, Svitlana

Social media is a powerful data source for researchers interested in understanding population-level behavior, having been successfully leveraged in a number of different application areas including flu and illness prediction models, detecting civil unrest, and measuring public sentiment towards a given topic of interest within the public discourse. In this work, we present a study of a large collection of Twitter data centered on the social conversation around global cli- mate change during the UN Climate Change Conference, held in Paris, France during December 2015 (COP21). We first developed a mechanism for distinguishing between personal and non-personal accounts. We thenmore » analyzed demographics and emotion and opinion dynamics over time and location in order to understand how the different user types converse around meaningful topics on social media. This methodology offers an in-depth insight into the behavior and opinions around a topic where multiple distinct narratives are present, and lays the groundwork for future work in studying narratives in social media.« less

Views and Experiences of Malaysian Family Medicine Trainees of Female Sexual Dysfunction.

PubMed

Lai, Pauline Siew Mei; Tan, Sing Yee; Liew, Su May

2016-11-01

Sociocultural factors have been shown to be important influencers of sexual health and sexuality. Hence, the aim of our study was to explore the views and experiences of family medicine trainees regarding female sexual dysfunction (FSD) with a focus on the barriers and facilitators towards the initiation of conversation on this topic. A qualitative study design involving semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted with 19 family medicine trainees in Malaysia. The conceptual framework used was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Thematic approach was used to analyze the data. Participants perceived FSD as being uncommon and unimportant. According to our participants, patients often presented with indirect complaints, and doctors were not proactive in asking about FSD. Three main barriers were identified: doctor factors, perceived patient factors, and system factors. Lack of confidence, knowledge, experience, time, and embarrassment were the key barriers identified at the doctors' level. Lack of awareness, among patients regarding FSD, and local cultural and religious norms were the perceived patient barriers. System barriers were lack of time and privacy. Various facilitators, such as continuous medical education and public forums, were suggested as means to encourage family medicine trainees to initiate discussion on sexual matters during consultations. In conclusion, family medicine trainees found it difficult to initiate conversation on FSD with patients. Interventions to encourage conversation on FSD should target this and other identified barriers.

Pipeline To Environmental Awareness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caton, Elaine; Brewer, Carol; Berkey, Jim; Brown, Fletcher

1998-01-01

Presents an interdisciplinary project involving the harnessing of petroleum energy. Necessitates research into exploration, production, transport, and conversion of the energy resource and incorporates such topics as the biological and environmental effects of oil spills. (DDR)

Active Radiation Detectors for Use in Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit: Spatial and Energy Resolution Requirements and Methods for Heavy Ion Charge Classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McBeth, Rafe A.

Space radiation exposure to astronauts will need to be carefully monitored on future missions beyond low earth orbit. NASA has proposed an updated radiation risk framework that takes into account a significant amount of radiobiological and heavy ion track structure information. These models require active radiation detection systems to measure the energy and ion charge Z. However, current radiation detection systems cannot meet these demands. The aim of this study was to investigate several topics that will help next generation detection systems meet the NASA objectives. Specifically, this work investigates the required spatial resolution to avoid coincident events in a detector, the effects of energy straggling and conversion of dose from silicon to water, and methods for ion identification (Z) using machine learning. The main results of this dissertation are as follows: 1. Spatial resolution on the order of 0.1 cm is required for active space radiation detectors to have high confidence in identifying individual particles, i.e., to eliminate coincident events. 2. Energy resolution of a detector system will be limited by energy straggling effects and the conversion of dose in silicon to dose in biological tissue (water). 3. Machine learning methods show strong promise for identification of ion charge (Z) with simple detector designs.

Neurologist-patient communication about epilepsy in the United States, Spain, and Germany.

PubMed

Stern, John M; Cendes, Fernando; Gilliam, Frank; Kwan, Patrick; Ryvlin, Philippe; Sirven, Joseph; Smith, Brien; Adomas, Aleksandra; Walter, Lauren

2018-04-01

Effective communication between patients and their health care providers is recognized as critically important to improve the quality of health services for individuals with epilepsy. We aimed to describe in-office neurologist-patient conversations about epilepsy and focus on disease identification, shared decision-making, and care planning. Transcripts and audio recordings of conversations between patients and neurologists in the United States, Spain, and Germany were analyzed linguistically in the topic areas of epilepsy identification and diagnosis, disease education, treatments, and care planning. Analyses included word-level assessments, topic switching, strategies of information elicitation, identification of topics discussed, quantification of questions asked, and assessment of types of questions asked. Conversations of 17 neurologists in the United States, 12 in Spain, and 6 in Germany, with 50, 20, and 16 patients, respectively, were analyzed. Neurologists tended to utilize an event-based, patient-friendly vocabulary to refer to seizures, and in the United States, they avoided using the term "epilepsy." Regardless of who initiated the treatment discussion, the neurologists in all 3 countries were unilaterally responsible for the treatment decision and choice of medication. When describing a new medication, neurologists most often discussed potential side effects but did not review potential benefits. Neurologists rarely defined seizure control and did not ask patients what seizure control meant to them. We identified opportunities related to vocabulary, decision-making, and treatment goal setting that could be targeted to improve neurologist-patient communication about epilepsy, and ultimately, the overall treatment experience and outcomes for patients.

Progress in passive solar energy systems. Volume 8. Part 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayes, J.; Andrejko, D.A.

1983-01-01

This book presents the papers given at a conference sponsored by the US DOE, the Solar Energy Research Institute, SolarVision, Inc., and the Southern California Solar Energy Society. The topics considered at the conference included sizing solar energy systems for agricultural applications, a farm scale ethanol production plant, the EEC wind energy RandD program, the passive solar performance assessment of an earth-sheltered house, the ARCO 1 MW photovoltaic power plant, the performance of a dendritic web photovoltaic module, second generation point focused concentrators, linear fresnel lens concentrating photovoltaic collectors, photovoltaic conversion efficiency, amorphous silicon thin film solar cells, a photovoltaicmore » system for a shopping center, photovoltaic power generation for the utility industry, spectral solar radiation, and the analysis of insolation data.« less

Integration of photoswitchable proteins, photosynthetic reaction centers and semiconductor/biomolecule hybrids with electrode supports for optobioelectronic applications.

PubMed

Wang, Fuan; Liu, Xiaoqing; Willner, Itamar

2013-01-18

Light-triggered biological processes provide the principles for the development of man-made optobioelectronic systems. This Review addresses three recently developed topics in the area of optobioelectronics, while addressing the potential applications of these systems. The topics discussed include: (i) the reversible photoswitching of the bioelectrocatalytic functions of redox proteins by the modification of proteins with photoisomerizable units or by the integration of proteins with photoisomerizable environments; (ii) the integration of natural photosynthetic reaction centers with electrodes and the construction of photobioelectrochemical cells and photobiofuel cells; and (iii) the synthesis of biomolecule/semiconductor quantum dots hybrid systems and their immobilization on electrodes to yield photobioelectrochemical and photobiofuel cell elements. The fundamental challenge in the tailoring of optobioelectronic systems is the development of means to electrically contact photoactive biomolecular assemblies with the electrode supports. Different methods to establish electrical communication between the photoactive biomolecular assemblies and electrodes are discussed. These include the nanoscale engineering of the biomolecular nanostructures on surfaces, the development of photoactive molecular wires and the coupling of photoinduced electron transfer reactions with the redox functions of proteins. The different possible applications of optobioelectronic systems are discussed, including their use as photosensors, the design of biosensors, and the construction of solar energy conversion and storage systems. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Overview study of Space Power Technologies for the advanced energetics program. [spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taussig, R.; Gross, S.; Millner, A.; Neugebauer, M.; Phillips, W.; Powell, J.; Schmidt, E.; Wolf, M.; Woodcock, G.

1981-01-01

Space power technologies are reviewed to determine the state-of-the-art and to identify advanced or novel concepts which promise large increases in performance. The potential for incresed performance is judged relative to benchmarks based on technologies which have been flight tested. Space power technology concepts selected for their potentially high performance are prioritized in a list of R & D topical recommendations for the NASA program on Advanced Energetics. The technology categories studied are solar collection, nuclear power sources, energy conversion, energy storage, power transmission, and power processing. The emphasis is on electric power generation in space for satellite on board electric power, for electric propulsion, or for beamed power to spacecraft. Generic mission categories such as low Earth orbit missions and geosynchronous orbit missions are used to distinguish general requirements placed on the performance of power conversion technology. Each space power technology is judged on its own merits without reference to specific missions or power systems. Recommendations include 31 space power concepts which span the entire collection of technology categories studied and represent the critical technologies needed for higher power, lighter weight, more efficient power conversion in space.

UHMS position statement: topical oxygen for chronic wounds.

PubMed

Feldmeier, J J; Hopf, H W; Warriner, R A; Fife, C E; Gesell, L B; Bennett, M

2005-01-01

A small body of literature has been published reporting the application of topical oxygen for chronic non-healing wounds . Frequently, and erroneously, this form of oxygen administration has been referred to as "topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy" or even more erroneously "hyperbaric oxygen therapy." The advocates of topical oxygen claim several advantages over systemic hyperbaric oxygen including decreased cost, increased safety, decreased complications and putative physiologic effects including decreased free radical formation and more efficient delivery of oxygen to the wound surface. With topical oxygen an airtight chamber or polyethylene bag is sealed around a limb or the trunk by either a constriction/tourniquet device or by tape and high flow (usually 10 liters per minute) oxygen is introduced into the bag and over the wound. Pressures just over 1.0 atmospheres absolute (atm abs) (typically 1.004 to 1.013 atm abs) are recommended because higher pressures could decrease arterial/capillary inflow. The premise for topical oxygen, the diffusion of oxygen into the wound adequate to enhance healing, is attractive (though not proven) and its delivery is certainly less complex and expensive than hyperbaric oxygen. When discussing the physiology of topical oxygen, its proponents frequently reference studies of systemic hyperbaric oxygen suggesting that mechanisms are equally applicable to both topical and systemic high pressure oxygen delivery. In fact, however, the two are very different. To date, mechanisms of action whereby topical oxygen might be effective have not been defined or substantiated. Conversely, cellular toxicities due to extended courses of topical oxygen have been reported, although, again these data are not conclusive, and no mechanism for toxicity has been examined scientifically. Generally, collagen production and fibroblast proliferation are considered evidence of improved healing, and these are both enhanced by hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Paradoxically, claims of decreased collagen production and fibroblast inhibition in wounds subjected to topical oxygen have been reported in studies of topical oxygen as a benefit of topical oxygen therapy. The literature on topical oxygen is mostly small case series or small controlled but not randomized trials. Moreover, the studies generally are not aimed at specific ulcer types, but rather at "chronic wounds." This non-specific approach is recognized as a major design flaw in any study of therapies designed to improve impaired wound healing. The only randomized trial for topical oxygen in diabetic foot ulcers actually showed a tendency toward impaired wound healing in the topical oxygen group. Contentions that topical oxygen is superior to hyperbaric oxygen are not proven. There are potentially plausible mechanisms that support both possibly beneficial and detrimental effects of topical oxygen therapy, and thus well designed and executed basic science research and clinical trials are clearly needed. There is some ongoing research in regard to the role of topical oxygen at established wound laboratories. Neither CMS nor other third party payors recognize or reimburse for topical oxygen. Therefore, the policy of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in regard to topical oxygen is stated as follows: 1. Topical oxygen should not be termed hyperbaric oxygen since doing so either intentionally or unintentionally suggests that topical oxygen treatment is equivalent or even identical to hyperbaric oxygen. Published documents reporting experience with topical oxygen should clearly state that topical oxygen not hyperbaric oxygen is being employed. 2. Mechanisms of action or clinical study results for hyperbaric oxygen cannot and should not be co-opted to support topical oxygen since hyperbaric oxygen therapy and topical oxygen have different routes and probably efficiencies of entry into the wound and their physiology and biochemistry are necessarily different. 3. The application of topical oxygen cannot be recommended outside of a clinical trial at this time based on the volume and quality of scientific supporting evidence available, nor does the Society recommend third party payor reimbursement. 4. Before topical oxygen can be recommended as therapy for non-healing wounds, its application should be subjected to the same intense scientific scrutiny to which systemic hyperbaric oxygen has been held.

Public affairs events at Ocean Sciences Meeting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlenbrock, Kristan

2012-02-01

AGU public affairs will be cohosting two special events at Ocean Sciences 2012 that offer scientists opportunities to expand their communication, policy, and media experience. Join the conversations that highlight two important topics to connect science to society.

Improving the social-conversational skills of developmentally delayed children: an intervention study.

PubMed

Girolametto, L E

1988-05-01

Twenty mothers and their preschool-aged, developmentally delayed children participated in this parent-focused intervention study. Nine mother-child dyads received an 11-week training program that espoused a social-conversational approach, while 11 dyads served as controls. Pre- and posttest videotapes were transcribed and coded to yield measures of turn taking, as well as indexes of responsiveness, topic control, and uninvolvement. Following treatment, the mothers in the experimental group were more responsive to and less controlling of their children's behavior than the mothers in the comparison group. The children initiated more topics, were more responsive to their mother's preceding turns, and used more verbal turns and a more diverse vocabulary than the control group children. No differences in language development, as measured by a standardized test, were found. Individual maternal responses to intervention as well as implications for modifying parent training programs are discussed.

Feasibility of using social networking technologies for health research among men who have sex with men: a mixed methods study.

PubMed

Young, Sean D; Jaganath, Devan

2014-01-01

This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using social networking as a health research platform among men who have sex with men (MSM). Fifty-five MSM (primarily African American and Latino) were invited to join a "secret" group on the social networking website, Facebook. Peer leaders, trained in health education, posted health-related content to groups. The study and analysis used mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods. Facebook conversations were thematically analyzed. Latino and African American participants voluntarily used social networking to discuss health-related knowledge and personal topics (exercise, nutrition, mental health, disease prevention, and substance abuse) with other group participants (N=564 excerpts). Although Latinos comprised 60% of the sample and African Americans 25.5%, Latinos contributed 82% of conversations and African Americans contributed only 15% of all conversations. Twenty-four percent of posts from Latinos and 7% of posts from African Americans were related to health topics. Results suggest that Facebook is an acceptable and engaging platform for facilitating and documenting health discussions for mixed methods research among MSM. An understanding of population differences is needed for crafting effective online social health interventions.

Communicating in complex situations: a normative approach to HIV-related talk among parents who are HIV+.

PubMed

Edwards, Laura L; Donovan-Kicken, Erin; Reis, Janet S

2014-01-01

Parents with HIV/AIDS are confronted with unique challenges when discussing HIV-related information with their children. Strategies for navigating these challenges effectively have not been systematically examined. In this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 76 parents with HIV/AIDS who had children ages 10-18 years. Guided by O'Keefe and Delia's definition of a complex communication situation and Goldsmith's normative approach to interpersonal communication, we examined parents' goals for discussing HIV-related information, factors that made conversations challenging, and instances where these conversational purposes conflicted with one another. Our data reveal the following parent-adolescent communication predicaments: relaying safety information about HIV while minimizing child anxiety, modeling open family communication without damaging one's parental identity, and balancing parent-child relational needs amid living with an unpredictable health condition. Parents also described a variety of strategies for mitigating challenges when discussing HIV-related topics. Strategies parents perceived as effective included reframing HIV as a chronic, manageable illness; keeping talk educational; and embedding HIV-related topics within more general conversations. The theoretical and practical applications of these findings are discussed with regard to their relevance to health communication scholars and HIV care professionals.

Feasibility of using social networking technologies for health research among men who have sex with men: A mixed methods study

PubMed Central

Young, Sean D.; Jaganath, Devan

2013-01-01

This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using social networking as a health research platform among men who have sex with men (MSM). Fifty-five MSM (primarily African American and Latino) were invited to join a “secret” group on the social networking website, Facebook. Peer leaders, trained in health education, posted health-related content to groups. The study and analysis used mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods. Facebook conversations were thematically analyzed. Latino and African-American participants voluntarily used social networking to discuss health-related knowledge and personal topics (exercise, nutrition, mental health, disease prevention, and substance abuse) with other group participants (N=564 excerpts). Although Latinos comprised 60% of the sample and African Americans 25.5%, Latinos contributed 82% of conversations and African Americans contributed only 15% of all conversations. Twenty-four percent (24%) of posts from Latinos and 7% of posts from African Americans were related to health topics. Results suggest that Facebook is an acceptable and engaging platform for facilitating and documenting health discussions for mixed methods research among MSM. An understanding of population differences is needed for crafting effective online social health interventions. PMID:23407600

Research Ethics with Undergraduates in Summer Research Training Programs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, I.; Yalcin, K.

2016-02-01

Many undergraduate research training programs incorporate research ethics into their programs and some are required. Engaging students in conversations around challenging topics such as conflict of interest, cultural and gender biases, what is science and what is normative science can difficult in newly formed student cohorts. In addition, discussing topics with more distant impacts such as science and policy, intellectual property and authorship, can be difficult for students in their first research experience that have more immediate concerns about plagiarism, data manipulation, and the student/faculty relationship. Oregon State University's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Ocean Sciences: From Estuaries to the Deep Sea as one model for incorporating a research ethics component into summer undergraduate research training programs. Weaved into the 10-week REU program, undergraduate interns participate in a series of conversations and a faculty mentor panel focused on research ethics. Topics discussed are in a framework for sharing myths, knowledge and personal experiences on issues in research with ethical implications. The series follows guidelines and case studies outlined from the text, On Being A Scientist: Responsible Conduct In Research Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences.

CO2 CH4 and N20 fluxes during land conversion in early bioenergy systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zenone, T.

2012-04-01

CO2 CH4 and N20 fluxes during land conversion in early bioenergy systems Terenzio Zenone1-2, Jiquan Chen1-2, Ilya Gelfand3-4, G. Philip Robertson3-4 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH USA 2 Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI USA 3 W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI USA 4Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI USA Environmental sustainability of bioenergy crop cultivation represents an important challenge and is a topic of intensive scientific and political debate worldwide due to increasing societal needs for renewable energy. Despite the increasing knowledge related to potential bioenergy systems, the effect of land use change (LUC) on GHG fluxes during the conversion remains poorly understood but is likely to be substantial. In order to tackle this issue the Great lake Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) has established a field experiment and deployed a cluster of eddy-covariance towers to quantify the magnitude and changes of ecosystem carbon assimilation, loss, and balance during the conversion and establishment years in a permanent prairie and four types of candidate biofuel systems [Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland, switchgrass, mixed-species restored prairie and corn]. Six sites were converted to soybean in 2009 before establishing the bioenergy systems in 2010 while one site was kept grassland as reference. Soil N2O and CH4 fluxes were measured biweekly with static chambers in four replicate locations in each fields, within the footprint of the eddy covariance tower using static chamber GHG flux protocols of the KBS LTER site. Our field observations, made between January 2009 through December 2010, showed that conversion of CRP to soybean induced net C emissions during the conversion year that ranging from 288 g C m-2, to 173 g C m-2 . while at the reference CRP grassland site net C balance were -42.9 and - 16.1 g C m-2 yr-1 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. N20 emissions were larger at the former grassland converted to bioenergy crops 12.3 (±3.4) N2O-N (g ha-1d-1 compare to unmanaged grassland 2.7 (±0.7) g ha-1d-1. CH4 emission were considerable lower and ranged from -0.7 (±0.4) CH4-C g ha-1d-1 at the sites converted to 0.8 (±1.8) CH4-C g ha-1d-1 at unmanaged grassland. The conversion of CRP lands has induced major CO2 emission over the two-year study period that can take many years to recover. The cumulative C balance of the ecosystems in the years after the conversion was under the strong influence of the C lost during the conversion phase and the C balance of the new biofuel crops. The carbon lost during the conversion year cannot be detected by variations of SOC (the conversion phase is too short of a period) or by simply measuring the biomass production before and after the conversion. EC technique was able to detect short term C change necessary to evaluate C debt in converted biofuel systems. For better understanding the complex mechanisms that influence the C balance during the LUC, this study underlines the need to study the GHG fluxes during the conversion phases of permanent ecosystems (e.g., permanent grassland, forests, etc.) into agricultural or bioenergy crops.

Special Operations Forces Language Transformation Strategy Needs Assessment Project: Final Project Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-15

German (includes romance languages, etc.) CAT III/IV Language More difficult languages to acquire for native English speakers. Examples: Cantonese ...conversations on practical, social , and professional topics in my required AOR language. 52.9 62.1 51.9 51.9 52.0 SOF Language Transformation...67.6 85.7 77.2 67.5 71.9 73.1 63.6 67.6 63.0 I feel confident in my ability to participate in informal conversations on practical, social , and

Research and evolution of mid-infrared optical source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Changshui; Hu, Hui; Xu, Lei

2016-10-01

3-5 μm mid-infrared wave band is in the atmosphere window, it has lots of promising applications on the spectroscopy, remote sensing, medical treatment, environmental protection and military affairs. So, it has been a hot topic around the world to research the lasers at this wave band. In recent years, adiabatic passage technology has been applied in frequency conversion area, which borrowed from atomic physics. In this paper we will introduce efficient nonlinear optics frequency conversion by suing this technology.

Special Section on InterPACK 2017—Part 1

DOE PAGES

Mysore, Kaushik; Narumanchi, Sreekant; Dede, Ercan; ...

2018-03-02

InterPACK is a premier international forum for exchange of state-of-the-art knowledge in research, development, manufacturing, and applications of micro-electronics packaging. It is the flagship conference of the ASME Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD) founded in 1992 as an ASME-JSME joint biannual conference. Rapid changes in the semiconductor landscape together with findings from InterPACK Pathfinding workshop (IPW) in 2016 led to a significant reset of InterPACK conference priorities and focus to comprehensively address needs of the InterPACK community. As a result, starting in 2017, InterPACK has become an annual conference and the scope of the conference has increased significantly togethermore » with a systems-focus to include some of the most cutting-edge topics in electronics packaging, device integration, and reliability. These topics are organized across five different tracks: (1) heterogeneous integration: microsystems with diverse functionality, (2) servers of the future, (3) structural and physical health monitoring, (4) energy conversion and storage, and (5) transportation: autonomous and electric vehicles.« less

Special Section on InterPACK 2017—Part 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mysore, Kaushik; Narumanchi, Sreekant; Dede, Ercan

InterPACK is a premier international forum for exchange of state-of-the-art knowledge in research, development, manufacturing, and applications of micro-electronics packaging. It is the flagship conference of the ASME Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD) founded in 1992 as an ASME-JSME joint biannual conference. Rapid changes in the semiconductor landscape together with findings from InterPACK Pathfinding workshop (IPW) in 2016 led to a significant reset of InterPACK conference priorities and focus to comprehensively address needs of the InterPACK community. As a result, starting in 2017, InterPACK has become an annual conference and the scope of the conference has increased significantly togethermore » with a systems-focus to include some of the most cutting-edge topics in electronics packaging, device integration, and reliability. These topics are organized across five different tracks: (1) heterogeneous integration: microsystems with diverse functionality, (2) servers of the future, (3) structural and physical health monitoring, (4) energy conversion and storage, and (5) transportation: autonomous and electric vehicles.« less

Guest Editorial: Special Section on InterPACK 2017 - Part 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Narumanchi, Sreekant V; Mysore, Kaushik; Dede, Ercan

InterPACK is a premier international forum for exchange of state-of-the-art knowledge in research, development, manufacturing, and applications of micro-electronics packaging. It is the flagship conference of the ASME Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD) founded in 1992 as an ASME-JSME joint biannual conference. Rapid changes in the semiconductor landscape together with findings from InterPACK Pathfinding workshop (IPW) in 2016 led to a significant reset of InterPACK conference priorities and focus to comprehensively address needs of the InterPACK community. As a result, starting in 2017, InterPACK has become an annual conference and the scope of the conference has increased significantly togethermore » with a systems-focus to include some of the most cutting-edge topics in electronics packaging, device integration, and reliability. These topics are organized across five different tracks: (1) heterogeneous integration: microsystems with diverse functionality, (2) servers of the future, (3) structural and physical health monitoring, (4) energy conversion and storage, and (5) transportation: autonomous and electric vehicles.« less

Intersections between immune responses and morphological regulation in plants.

PubMed

Uchida, Naoyuki; Tasaka, Masao

2010-06-01

Successful plant pathogens have developed strategies to interfere with the defence mechanisms of their host plants through evolution. Conversely, host plants have evolved systems to counteract pathogen attack. Some pathogens induce pathogenic symptoms on plants that include morphological changes in addition to interference with plant growth. Recent studies, based on molecular biology and genetics using Arabidopsis thaliana, have revealed that factors derived from pathogens can modulate host systems and/or host factors that play important roles in the morphological regulation of host plants. Other reports, meanwhile, have shown that factors known to have roles in plant morphology also function in plant immune responses. Evolutionary conservation of these factors and systems implies that host-pathogen interactions and the evolution they drive have yielded tight links between morphological processes and immune responses. In this review, recent findings about these topics are introduced and discussed.

NASA Tech Briefs, April 2009

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

Topics covered include: Direct-Solve Image-Based Wavefront Sensing; Use of UV Sources for Detection and Identification of Explosives; Using Fluorescent Viruses for Detecting Bacteria in Water; Gradiometer Using Middle Loops as Sensing Elements in a Low-Field SQUID MRI System; Volcano Monitor: Autonomous Triggering of In-Situ Sensors; Wireless Fluid-Level Sensors for Harsh Environments; Interference-Detection Module in a Digital Radar Receiver; Modal Vibration Analysis of Large Castings; Structural/Radiation-Shielding Epoxies; Integrated Multilayer Insulation; Apparatus for Screening Multiple Oxygen-Reduction Catalysts; Determining Aliasing in Isolated Signal Conditioning Modules; Composite Bipolar Plate for Unitized Fuel Cell/Electrolyzer Systems; Spectrum Analyzers Incorporating Tunable WGM Resonators; Quantum-Well Thermophotovoltaic Cells; Bounded-Angle Iterative Decoding of LDPC Codes; Conversion from Tree to Graph Representation of Requirements; Parallel Hybrid Vehicle Optimal Storage System; and Anaerobic Digestion in a Flooded Densified Leachbed.

Special Operations Forces Language Transformation Strategy Needs Assessment Project: Air Force Operator Survey Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-15

CAT III/IV Language More difficult languages to acquire for native English speakers. Examples: Cantonese , Japanese, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Turkish...conversations on practical, social , and professional topics in my required AOR language. 64.1 62.0 68.8 SOF Language Transformation Strategy Needs...practical, social , and professional topics in the language required by my AOR assignment. 39 3.6 1.29 64.1 7.7 17.9 12.8 33.3 28.2 SOF

Socio Cultural Media Sharing as Conversations Sensing and Modeling Behavior in Response to Environmental Changes

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-06

social media. Here we collected data in the form of social media user’s comments to news articles about hydrofracking (or, fracking ). This topic was...hydrofracking (or, fracking ). This topic was chosen because it is a timely social and political issue. Nearly 300 posts were analyzed with automated linguistic...or, fracking ). Next, we expanded our efforts to address image-based content shared via social media. We opted to collect all images shared via twitter

Chem 1 Supplement: Energy Interconversions in Photosynthesis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bering, Charles L.

1985-01-01

Examines energy interconversions in photosynthesis, limiting the discussion to areas pertinent to chemistry (particularly the energetics of the light reactions). Topic areas considered include bioenergetics, photochemistry, conversion of light energy into electrical potential energy, the chemiosmotic hypothesis, and others. (JN)

Physics Notes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Science Review, 1982

1982-01-01

Demonstrations, procedures, games, teaching suggestions and information on a variety of physics topics are presented, including hydraulic rams, units and formulae, static electric motors, a computer graphics program, diffraction, adaptation of a basic meter, photoelasticity, photo-diodes, radioactive decay, and analog-digital conversions. (DC)

Fuel-conservative engine technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dugan, J. F., Jr.; Mcaulay, J. E.; Reynolds, T. W.; Strack, W. C.

1975-01-01

Aircraft fuel consumption is discussed in terms of its efficient use, and the conversion of energy from sources other than petroleum. Topics discussed include: fuel from coal and oil shale, hydrogen deficiency of alternate sources, alternate fuels evaluation program, and future engines.

Retinal detachment following endophthalmitis.

PubMed

Nelsen, P T; Marcus, D A; Bovino, J A

1985-08-01

Fifty-five consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis were reviewed. All patients were treated with systemic, periocular, topical, and intravitreal antibiotics. In addition, 33 of the patients underwent a pars plana vitrectomy. Nine retinal detachments occurred within six months of initial diagnosis. The higher frequency of retinal detachment in the vitrectomy group (21%) as compared to those patients managed without vitrectomy (9%) may be explained by a combination of surgical complications and the increased severity of endophthalmitis in the vitrectomy group. The two patients who developed retinal detachment during vitrectomy surgery rapidly progressed to no light perception. Conversely, the repair of retinal detachments diagnosed postoperatively had a good prognosis.

Parent-child communication about sexual and reproductive health: evidence from the Brong Ahafo region, Ghana.

PubMed

Manu, Abubakar A; Mba, Chuks Jonathan; Asare, Gloria Quansah; Odoi-Agyarko, Kwasi; Asante, Rexford Kofi Oduro

2015-03-07

Young people aged 10-24 years represent one-third of the Ghanaian population. Many are sexually active and are at considerable risk of negative health outcomes due to inadequate sexual and reproductive health knowledge. Although growing international evidence suggests that parent-child sexual communication has positive influence on young people's sexual behaviours, this subject has been poorly studied among Ghanaian families. This study explored the extent and patterns of parent-child sexual communication, and the topics commonly discussed by parents. A cross-sectional design was used to sample 790 parent-child dyads through a two-stage cluster sampling technique with probability proportional to size. Interviewer-administered questionnaire method was used to gather quantitative data on parent-child communication about sex. Twenty sexual topics were investigated to describe the patterns and frequency of communication. The Pearson's chi-square and z-test for two-sample proportions were used to assess sexual communication differences between parents and young people. Qualitative data were used to flesh-out relevant issues which standard questionnaire could not cover satisfactorily. About 82.3% of parents had at some point in time discussed sexual and reproductive health issues with their children; nonetheless, the discussions centered on a few topics. Whereas child-report indicated that 78.8% of mothers had discussed sexual communication with their children, 53.5% of fathers had done so. Parental discussions on the 20 sexual topics ranged from 5.2%-73.6%. Conversely, young people's report indicates that mother-discussed topics ranged between 1.9%-69.5%, while father-discussed topics ranged from 0.4% to 46.0%. Sexual abstinence was the most frequently discussed topic (73.6%), followed by menstruation 63.3% and HIV/AIDS 61.5%; while condom (5.2%) and other contraceptive use (9.3%) were hardly discussed. The most common trigger of communication cited by parent-child dyads was parent's own initiation (59.1% vs. 62.6% p=0.22). Parents in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana do talk to children about sex, but their conversations cover limited topics. While abstinence is the most widely discussed sexual topic, condoms and contraception were rarely discussed. Sex educational programmes ought to encourage parents to expand sexual communication to cover more topics.

Unraveling the physics of magnetic reconnection: the interaction of laboratory and space observations with models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drake, James

2017-10-01

Reconnection leads to impulsive conversion of magnetic energy into high-speed flows, plasma heating and the production of energetic particles. A major challenge has been to account for the enormous range of spatial scales in systems undergoing reconnection. Progress on the topic has been facilitated by the observations in space and the laboratory with models bridging the divide. Understanding the mechanisms for fast reconnection is a historical example. However, in this talk I will focus on reconnection in asymmetric systems - those with large ambient gradients in the pressure or density. The interest in the topic has been driven by efforts to understand when and where reconnection takes place in the laboratory (tokamaks) and in space (planetary magnetospheres and the solar wind). Ideas on reconnection suppression due to diamagnetic drifts have produced a unified picture of the conditions required for reconnection onset over a wide range of environments. Observations from the MMS mission have provided an extraordinary window into reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause, including the mechanisms for magnetic energy dissipation and the role of turbulence. Finally, the prospects for establishing the mechanisms for energetic particle production will be addressed.

Hello Harlie: Enabling Speech Monitoring Through Chat-Bot Conversations.

PubMed

Ireland, David; Atay, Christina; Liddle, Jacki; Bradford, Dana; Lee, Helen; Rushin, Olivia; Mullins, Thomas; Angus, Dan; Wiles, Janet; McBride, Simon; Vogel, Adam

2016-01-01

People with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and dementia are known to have difficulties in language and communication. This paper presents initial testing of an artificial conversational agent, called Harlie. Harlie runs on a smartphone and is able to converse with the user on a variety of topics. A description of the application and a sample dialog are provided to illustrate the various roles chat-bots can play in the management of neurological conditions. Harlie can be used for measuring voice and communication outcomes during the daily life of the user, and for gaining information about challenges encountered. Moreover, it is anticipated that she may also have an educational and support role.

Madonnas, Whores, and the Persian Gulf War.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruno, Maria F.

1992-01-01

Discusses reactions and attitudes of students in a women's studies course during the Gulf War. Contends that the imagery of war as a sexual, phallic event was a major topic of class discussion. Presents excerpts from teacher and student conversations. (CFR)

Talking with Young Children about Their Dreams: How to Listen and What to Listen For.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rousso, June; Gross, Augusta

1988-01-01

Addresses aspects of talking with young children about their dreams. Explains why dreams are worthwhile topics of conversation with young children and what approaches are effective in facilitating discussion of dreams in class. (BB)

Insight: An Energy Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kohl, Herb

1979-01-01

The author explains some of the activities he uses in his upper elementary energy curriculum when dealing with these topics: the definition of energy; gasoline consumption; energy conversion; solar energy; and the politics of energy. Resource agencies to which students may write for information are listed. (SJL)

Using Case Studies in the Teaching of Physical Principles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowe, Ian

1975-01-01

Proposes the use of problems of the everyday world to motivate students to master basic physical principles. Cites the example of conversion of solar energy by a photovoltaic cell as a source of topics in electricity and solid state physics. (CP)

QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT NO. 83,

DTIC Science & Technology

Topics included are: microwave spectroscopy; radio astronomy; solid-state microwave electronics; optical and infrared spectroscopy; physical electronics and surface physics; physical acoustics; plasma physics; gaseous electronics; plasmas and controlled nuclear fusion ; energy conversion research; statistical communication theory; linguistics; cognitive information processing; communications biophysics; neurophysiology; computation research.

Yemeni Arabic II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Qafisheh, Hamdi A.

Instructional materials for advanced Sanaani Arabic, a dialect used predominantly for oral communication, include 25 units consisting of text derived from recordings of spontaneous conversations of native speakers in various communication situations. Some of the topics are: medical services, marriage, jobs, an interview, a car accident, proverbs…

Free-space microwave-to-optical conversion via six-wave mixing in Rydberg atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jingshan; Vogt, Thibault; Gross, Christian; Jaksch, Dieter; Kiffner, Martin; Li, Wenhui

2017-04-01

The interconversion of millimeter waves and optical fields is an important and highly topical subject for classical and quantum technologies. In this talk, we report an experimental demonstration of coherent and efficient microwave-to-optical conversion in free space via six-wave mixing in Rydberg atoms. Our scheme utilizes the strong coupling of millimeter waves to Rydberg atoms as well as the frequency mixing based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) that greatly enhances the nonlinearity for the conversion process. We achieve a free-space conversion efficiency of 0.25% with a bandwidth of about 4 MHz in our experiment. Optimized geometry and energy level configurations should enable the broadband interconversion of microwave and optical fields with near-unity efficiency. These results indicate the tremendous potential of Rydberg atoms for the efficient conversion between microwave and optical fields, and thus paves the way to many applications. This work is supported by Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2 (Grant No. MOE2015-T2-1-085).

Targeting Iron Acquisition Blocks Infection with the Fungal Pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum

PubMed Central

Leal, Sixto M.; Roy, Sanhita; Vareechon, Chairut; Carrion, Steven deJesus; Clark, Heather; Lopez-Berges, Manuel S.; diPietro, Antonio; Schrettl, Marcus; Beckmann, Nicola; Redl, Bernhard; Haas, Hubertus; Pearlman, Eric

2013-01-01

Filamentous fungi are an important cause of pulmonary and systemic morbidity and mortality, and also cause corneal blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Utilizing in vitro neutrophil killing assays and a model of fungal infection of the cornea, we demonstrated that Dectin-1 dependent IL-6 production regulates expression of iron chelators, heme and siderophore binding proteins and hepcidin in infected mice. In addition, we show that human neutrophils synthesize lipocalin-1, which sequesters fungal siderophores, and that topical lipocalin-1 or lactoferrin restricts fungal growth in vivo. Conversely, we show that exogenous iron or the xenosiderophore deferroxamine enhances fungal growth in infected mice. By examining mutant Aspergillus and Fusarium strains, we found that fungal transcriptional responses to low iron levels and extracellular siderophores are essential for fungal growth during infection. Further, we showed that targeting fungal iron acquisition or siderophore biosynthesis by topical application of iron chelators or statins reduces fungal growth in the cornea by 60% and that dual therapy with the iron chelator deferiprone and statins further restricts fungal growth by 75%. Together, these studies identify specific host iron-chelating and fungal iron-acquisition mediators that regulate fungal growth, and demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of fungal iron acquisition can be utilized to treat topical fungal infections. PMID:23853581

Photochemical predictive analysis of photodynamic therapy with non-homogeneous topical photosensitizer distribution in dermatological applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salas-García, I.; Fanjul-Vélez, F.; Ortega-Quijano, N.; López-Escobar, M.; Arce-Diego, J. L.

2010-04-01

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic technique widely used in dermatology to treat several skin pathologies. It is based in topical or systemic delivery of photosensitizing drugs followed by irradiation with visible light. The subsequent photochemical reactions generate reactive oxygen species which are considered the principal cytotoxic agents to induce cell necrosis. In this work we present a PDT model that tries to predict the photodynamic effect on the skin with a topically administered photosensitizer. The time dependent inhomogeneous distribution of the photoactive compound protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is calculated after obtaining its precursor distribution (Methyl aminolevulinate, MAL) which depends on the drug permeability, diffusion properties of the skin, incubation time and conversion efficiency of MAL to PpIX. Once the optical energy is obtained by means of the Beer Lambert law, a photochemical model is employed to estimate the concentration of the different molecular compounds taking into account the electronic transitions between molecular levels and particles concentrations. The results obtained allow us to know the evolution of the cytotoxic agent in order to estimate the necrotic area adjusting parameters such as the optical power, the photosensitizer concentration, the incubation and exposition time or the diffusivity and permeability of the tissue.

Targeting iron acquisition blocks infection with the fungal pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum.

PubMed

Leal, Sixto M; Roy, Sanhita; Vareechon, Chairut; Carrion, Steven deJesus; Clark, Heather; Lopez-Berges, Manuel S; Di Pietro, Antonio; diPietro, Antonio; Schrettl, Marcus; Beckmann, Nicola; Redl, Bernhard; Haas, Hubertus; Pearlman, Eric

2013-01-01

Filamentous fungi are an important cause of pulmonary and systemic morbidity and mortality, and also cause corneal blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Utilizing in vitro neutrophil killing assays and a model of fungal infection of the cornea, we demonstrated that Dectin-1 dependent IL-6 production regulates expression of iron chelators, heme and siderophore binding proteins and hepcidin in infected mice. In addition, we show that human neutrophils synthesize lipocalin-1, which sequesters fungal siderophores, and that topical lipocalin-1 or lactoferrin restricts fungal growth in vivo. Conversely, we show that exogenous iron or the xenosiderophore deferroxamine enhances fungal growth in infected mice. By examining mutant Aspergillus and Fusarium strains, we found that fungal transcriptional responses to low iron levels and extracellular siderophores are essential for fungal growth during infection. Further, we showed that targeting fungal iron acquisition or siderophore biosynthesis by topical application of iron chelators or statins reduces fungal growth in the cornea by 60% and that dual therapy with the iron chelator deferiprone and statins further restricts fungal growth by 75%. Together, these studies identify specific host iron-chelating and fungal iron-acquisition mediators that regulate fungal growth, and demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of fungal iron acquisition can be utilized to treat topical fungal infections.

A Topical Trajectory on Survival: an Analysis of Link-Making in a Sequence of Lessons on Evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocksén, Miranda; Olander, Clas

2017-04-01

This study explores the concept of link-making in relation to communicative strategies applied in the teaching and studying of biological evolution. The analysis focused on video recordings of 11 lessons on biological evolution conducted in a Swedish 9th grade class of students aged 15 years. It reveals how the teacher and students connected classroom conversations, the frequency of references to conversations in whole-class settings, and the development of a theme focusing on species survival and extinction. Detailed examples from the data illustrate how this theme developed from its initiation during the first lesson, through discussion and clarification, to its wrapping up during the last lesson. They further illustrate how students made sense of what the teacher said and wrote, and how the teacher postponed issues, explained and developed topics, provided opportunities for link-making, organised the class, motivated students, and checked their understanding. The study's methodological approach offers a way of including several time dimensions within research. Based on our findings, we conclude that the excerpts examined here did succeed in building `islands of coherence' in the co-construction of curricular content. Moreover, the topical trajectory in relation to species survival provided opportunities for constructing a `scientific story' in the classroom.

[Symptomatic adrenal insufficiency secondary to the use of cutaneous topical steroids for skin-bleaching].

PubMed

Sène, D; Huong-Boutin, D L T; Thiollet, M; Barete, S; Cacoub, P; Piette, J-C

2008-12-01

In black population, the skin-bleaching with cutaneous topical corticosteroids on a large body area is a widespread practice and is associated with numerous cutaneous complications. We report a 25-year-old Congolese woman who was admitted for weakness, arthralgias and abdominal pain. The association of a relative hyperpigmentation of the small joints of hands and feet with clinical features of hypercorticism led to suspect a chronic use of cutaneous topical steroids for skin-bleaching. On biological tests, plasma cortisol and corticotropin levels were undetectable and the short corticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test was negative, leading to the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency complicating the chronic use of topical steroids. Clinical symptoms resolved with hydrocortisone therapy. One year later, the patient admitted a five-year continuous use of cutaneous topical steroids (betamethasone, 0.05%). Skin-bleaching through chronic use of cutaneous topical steroids, is a common practice in black women, and should be suspected in the presence of adrenal insufficiency with or without clinical features of hypercorticism, and conversely, skin-bleaching users should be tested for hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function.

Concerns with AED conversion: comparison of patient and physician perspectives.

PubMed

Smith, Brien J; St Louis, Erik K; Stern, John M; Green, Chad; Bramley, Thomas

2009-06-01

When discussing AED conversion in the clinic, both the patient and physician perspectives on the goals and risks of this change are important to consider. To identify patient-reported and clinician-perceived concerns, a panel of epilepsy specialists was questioned about the topics discussed with patients and the clinician's perspective of patient concerns. Findings of a literature review of articles that report patient-expressed concerns regarding their epilepsy and treatment were also reviewed. Results showed that the specialist panel appropriately identified patient-reported concerns of driving ability, medication cost, seizure control, and medication side effects. Additionally, patient-reported concerns of independence, employment issues, social stigma, medication dependence, and undesirable cognitive effects are important to address when considering and initiating AED conversion.

Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDevitt, John T.

1984-01-01

This introduction to photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells reviews topics pertaining to solar energy conversion and demonstrates the ease with which a working PEC cell can be prepared with n-type silicon as the photoanode and a platinum counter electrode (both immersed in ethanolic ferrocene/ferricenium solutions). Experiments using the cell are…

NCTM Student Math Notes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maletsky, Evan, Ed.; Yunker, Lee E., Ed.

1986-01-01

Five sets of activities for students are included in this document. Each is designed for use in junior high and secondary school mathematics instruction. The first Note concerns mathematics on postage stamps. Historical procedures and mathematicians, metric conversion, geometric ideas, and formulas are among the topics considered. Successful…

Current Physics Research. Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schewe, Phillip F.

1980-01-01

Discussed are two current physics research areas. Solar cell efficiencies are discussed relating to present and future conversion efficiencies. Topics discussed in Astrophysics include the observation of astronomical bodies at different wavelengths, in terms of electromagnetic spectrum, tools of astronomy, compact stars, pulsars X-ray binaries,…

The PC Connection Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dessy, Raymond E., Ed.

1986-01-01

Discusses topics involved in the selection of an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter and associated front-end signal conditioning hardware. Reviews what types of ADC's are available, best type for particular application, conversion rates, amplification, filtering, noise, and compatibility issues. Suggests purchase strategy and supplies names and…

Conversation on African Music.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saunders, Leslie R.

1985-01-01

A voice and music education teacher at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, talks about African music in this interview. Topics discussed include differences between African and Western music, African melody, rules for composing African music, the theory of counterpoint, and the popularity of classical composers in Nigeria. (RM)

ECUT: Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies program. Chemical Processes project report, FY 1982

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, R. E. (Compiler)

1983-01-01

Planned research efforts and reorganization of the Project as the Biocatalysis Research Activity are described, including the following topics: electrocatalysts, fluid extraction, ammonia synthesis, biocatalysis, membrane fouling, energy and economic analysis, decarboxylation, microscopic reaction models, plasmid monitoring, and reaction kinetics.

Catalytic conversion of light alkanes, Phase 3. Topical report, January 1990--December 1992

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

The mission of this work is to devise a new catalyst which can be used in the first simple, economic process to convert the light alkanes in natural gas to an alcohol-rich oxygenated product which can either be used as an environmentally friendly, high-performance liquid fuel, or a precursor to a liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuel. The authors have entered the proof-of-concept stage for converting isobutane to tert butyl alcohol in a practical process and are preparing to enter proof-of-concept of a propane to isopropyl alcohol process in the near future. Methane and ethane are more refractory and thus more difficultmore » to oxidize than the C{sub 3} and C{sub 4} hydrocarbons. Nonetheless, advances made in this area indicate that further research progress could achieve the goal of their direct conversion to alcohols. Progress in Phase 3 catalytic vapor phase methane and ethane oxidation over metals in regular oxidic lattices are the subject of this topical report.« less

Visual cues for person-centered communication.

PubMed

Williams, Kristine; Harris, Brynn; Lueger, Amy; Ward, Kathleen; Wassmer, Rebecca; Weber, Amy

2011-11-01

Nursing home communication is frequently limited and task-focused and fails to affirm resident personhood. We tested the feasibility and effects of automated digital displays of resident photographs to remind staff (N = 11) of resident (n = 6) personhood. Historical photographs were displayed in digital photo frames mounted in each resident's room. To evaluate the intervention's effects, staff-resident conversations were audio-recorded prior to displaying the frames and repeated 2 weeks and 3 months later. Conversations were transcribed and statements were topic coded (task-focused vs. interpersonal). Staff person-centered talk increased from 11% to 32% (z = 2.37, p = .02) after the intervention and task-talk decreased from 64% to 40%. Resident interpersonal topics increased from 20% to 37%. Staff statements increased from 29 at baseline, to 37 postintervention, and 41 at 3-month follow-up and resident engagement and reminiscence also increased. Effects were reduced after 3 months. Automated photo displays are an easily implemented, low-cost intervention to promote person-centered communication.

Invasive procedures on newly deceased examined with an ethical eye.

PubMed

1995-01-01

Death is a hot topic. Books on death are making the best-seller lists and their authors are on speaker circuits, TV talk shows, and at book-signing parties. No longer a taboo topic in polite conversation, our society has become voyeuristic and hell-bent on unmasking death. At the Brooklyn Academy, for example, a dance/theater troupe is performing choreographer Bill T. Jones's "Still/Here," which incorporates videotaped segments of real people who are terminally ill and talk about it. Given the nation's preoccupation with death and dying, it should come as no surprise that the issue of how the newly deceased are treated within health care institutions has become a current topic in the literature, as the following articles show.

Experimental model of a wind energy conversion system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasar, C.; Rat, C. L.; Prostean, O.

2018-01-01

The renewable energy domain represents an important issue for the sustainable development of the mankind in the actual context of increasing demand for energy along with the increasing pollution that affect the environment. A significant quota of the clean energy is represented by the wind energy. As a consequence, the developing of wind energy conversion systems (WECS) in order to achieve high energetic performances (efficiency, stability, availability, competitive cost etc) represents a topic of permanent actuality. Testing and developing of an optimized control strategy for a WECS direct implemented on a real energetic site is quite difficult and not cost efficient. Thus a more convenient solution consists in a flexible laboratory setup which requires an experimental model of a WECS. Such approach would allow the simulation of various real conditions very similar with existing energetic sites. This paper presents a grid-connected wind turbine emulator. The wind turbine is implemented through a real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) emulator, which will be analyzed extensively in the paper. The HIL system uses software implemented in the LabVIEW programming environment to control an ABB ACS800 electric drive. ACS800 has the task of driving an induction machine coupled to a permanent magnet synchronous generator. The power obtained from the synchronous generator is rectified, filtered and sent to the main grid through a controlled inverter. The control strategy is implemented on a NI CompactRIO (cRIO) platform.

School-age children talk about chess: does knowledge drive syntactic complexity?

PubMed

Nippold, Marilyn A

2009-08-01

This study examined language productivity and syntactic complexity in school-age children in relation to their knowledge of the topic of discussion-the game of chess. Children (N = 32; mean age = 10;11 [years;months]) who played chess volunteered to be interviewed by an adult examiner who had little or no experience playing chess. Children's chess knowledge and experience was assessed, and each child was classified as a novice or an expert player. Each child participated in 3 speaking tasks: General Conversation, Chess Conversation, and Chess Explanation. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed into Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (J. F. Miller & R. Chapman, 2003), segmented into T-units, and coded for finite clauses. Each speaking task was analyzed for total T-units; mean length of T-unit; clausal density; and nominal, relative, and adverbial clause use. Total T-units, mean length of T-unit, clausal density, and the use of each type of subordinate clause was substantially higher in the Chess Explanation task compared with the Chess Conversation task or the General Conversation task. Compared with the novices, the experts knew more about chess, had played longer, and were stronger players. Nevertheless, the novices and experts did not differ on any of the language factors for any of the speaking tasks. Language productivity and syntactic complexity in school-age children are strongly influenced by the speaking task. When children are presented with a motivating and challenging topic, they rise to the occasion to explain the finer details of it to a naïve adult.

Introduction to Svenska.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simonsen, Reidar G.

This Swedish language unit is intended to introduce high school students in the United States to modern spoken Swedish and to Swedish culture. The document is presented in 18 chapters. Topics include greetings, family, daily life, conversational openers, the alphabet, ordering food in a restaurant, football, sports, skiing, politics, travels, and…

Classical Sax: Conversation with Paul Brodie.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Row, David W.

1984-01-01

Paul Brodie, the most recorded concert saxophonist in the history of the instrument, talks about a number of topics, including his career, differences among saxophonists, mixing styles of playing, the effectiveness of music schools, and whether it is necessary to understand the structure of the piece being played. (RM)

Market Rhetoric and the Ebonics Debate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longaker, Mark Garrett

2005-01-01

Using a method of topical rhetorical analysis, inspired by K. Burke, to discuss the Ebonics debate, this article demonstrates that conversations about education, particularly writing instruction, have adopted a market rhetoric that limits teachers' agency. However, reappropriation of this market rhetoric can help writing teachers to imagine and…

AMERICAN ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMEN.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

COSTINETT, SANDRA; ROSS, GORDON

DESIGNED FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS ON AN INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED LEVEL OF ENGLISH, THIS TEXT PROVIDES FOR PRACTICE IN CONVERSATIONAL BUSINESS ENGLISH. EACH OF THE TWELVE UNITS IS BASED ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC--PHONE CALLS, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS, QUARTERLY REPORTS AND SALES, ORGANIZATION CHARTS, ORDERING, PLANT LAYOUT, INVESTMENTS, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS,…

Issues and Developments in English and Applied Linguistics (IDEAL), 1994.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickerson, Wayne B., Ed.; Kachru, Yamuna, Ed.

1994-01-01

Seven papers on topics of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction, language research, and applied linguistics are presented: "ESL Students and Common L2 Conversation-Making Expressions" (Eli Hinkel); "Thematic Options in Reporting Previous Research" (Sarah Thomas, Thomas Hawes); "Connected Speech Modifications in…

A Conversation with Simmons College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riesman, David

1979-01-01

Presents an edited transcript of a discussion with seven Simmons College faculty members about education for women and the role a women's college can play in a period of social change. Discussion topics include Simmons as a women's college, meaningful work, non-traditional careers, counseling responsibilities, and potential students. (CAM)

IDRA Newsletter. Volume 35, No. 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodman, Christie L., Ed.

2008-01-01

Each edition of the "IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association) Newsletter" strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on parent and community engagement and includes: (1) Community Conversations about…

Topics in Semantic Representation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffiths, Thomas L.; Steyvers, Mark; Tenenbaum, Joshua B.

2007-01-01

Processing language requires the retrieval of concepts from memory in response to an ongoing stream of information. This retrieval is facilitated if one can infer the gist of a sentence, conversation, or document and use that gist to predict related concepts and disambiguate words. This article analyzes the abstract computational problem…

Emerging Energy Alternatives for the Southeastern States

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stefanakos, E. K. (Editor)

1978-01-01

The proceedings of the first symposium on emerging energy alternatives for the Southeastern States are presented. Some topics discussed are: (1) solar energy, (2) wood energy, (3) novel energy sources, (4) agricultural and industrial process heat, (5) waste utilization, (6) energy conservation and (7) ocean thermal energy conversion.

Stanley Cavell in Conversation with Paul Standish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of Philosophy of Education, 2012

2012-01-01

Having acknowledged the recurrent theme of education in Stanley Cavell's work, the discussion addresses the topic of scepticism, especially as this emerges in the interpretation of Wittgenstein. Questions concerning rule-following, language and society are then turned towards political philosophy, specifically with regard to John Rawls. The…

Use of nonthermal blue (405- to 420-nm) and near-infrared light (850- to 900-nm) dual-wavelength system in combination with glycolic acid peels and topical vitamin C for skin photorejuvenation.

PubMed

Fournier, Nathalie; Fritz, Klaus; Mordon, Serge

2006-09-01

A major cause of skin aging is a chronic microinflammation created by environmental conditions and ultraviolet exposures. The hand-free application on the skin of a new intense light combining a narrowband blue-light (405- to 420-nm) antiinflammatory emission and a near-infrared (850- to 890-nm) emission inducing self-defense mechanisms provides a new component to photorejuvenation and antiaging treatment protocols. An innovative skin rejuvenation schedule is presented in this study. It includes skin exposure to the light, with concomitant glycolic peels and daily vitamin C cream regimen for group A and only topical vitamin C cream and glycolic peels for control group B. Results show a significant improvement on pore size, rhytids, and radiance in group A. Conversely no improvement is noticed in group B except for a brief increase of skin radiance. Mechanisms of action of that specific light source are discussed. The exposure to this device can clinically enhance conventional antiaging protocols in skin rejuvenation.

Marine biology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thurman, H.V.; Webber, H.H.

1984-01-01

This book discusses both taxonomic and ecological topics on marine biology. Full coverage of marine organisms of all five kingdoms is provided, along with interesting and thorough discussion of all major marine habitats. Organization into six major parts allows flexibility. It also provides insight into important topics such as disposal of nuclear waste at sea, the idea that life began on the ocean floor, and how whales, krill, and people interact. A full-color photo chapter reviews questions, and exercises. The contents are: an overview marine biology: fundamental concepts/investigating life in the ocean; the physical ocean, the ocean floor, the naturemore » of water, the nature and motion of ocean water; general ecology, conditions for life in the sea, biological productivity and energy transfer; marine organisms; monera, protista, mycota and metaphyta; the smaller marine animals, the large animals marine habitats, the intertidal zone/benthos of the continental shelf, the photic zone, the deep ocean, the ocean under stress, marine pollution, appendix a: the metric system and conversion factors/ appendix b: prefixes and suffixes/ appendix c: taxonomic classification of common marine organisms, and glossary, and index.« less

Hospital staff corridor conversations: work in passing.

PubMed

González-Martínez, Esther; Bangerter, Adrian; Lê Van, Kim; Navarro, Cécile

2016-03-01

First, to document the prevalence of corridor occupations and conversations among the staff of a hospital clinic, and their main features. Second, to examine the activities accomplished through corridor conversations and their interactional organization. Despite extensive research on mobility in hospital work, we still know fairly little about the prevalence and features of hospital staff corridor conversations and how they are organized. We conducted a study combining descriptive statistical analysis and multimodal conversation analysis of video recordings of staff corridor practices in a hospital outpatient clinic in Switzerland. In 2012, we collected 59 hours of video recordings in a corridor of a hospital clinic. We coded and statistically analysed the footage that showed the clinic staff exclusively. We also performed qualitative multimodal conversation analysis on a selection of the recorded staff conversations. Corridor occupations by the clinic staff are frequent and brief and rarely involve stops. Talk events (which include self-talk, face-to-face conversations and telephone conversations) during occupations are also brief and mobile, overwhelmingly focus on professional topics and are particularly frequent when two or more staff members occupy the corridor. The conversations present several interactional configurations and comprise an array of activities consequential to the provision of care and work organization. These practices are related to the fluid work organization of a spatially distributed team in a fast-paced, multitasking environment and should be taken into consideration in any undertaking aimed at improving hospital units' functioning. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A Course in Fundamentals of Coal Utilization and Conversion Processes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radovic, Ljubisa R.

1985-01-01

Describes the content, objectives, and requirements for a one-semester (30 20-hour sessions) graduate engineering course at the University of Concepcion, Chile. Major course topics include: structure and properties of coal; coal pyrolysis and carbonization; coal liquefaction; coal combustion and gasification; and economic and environmental…

Statistics for Geography Teachers: Topics in Geography, Number 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Council for Geographic Education.

This publication is designed to provide geography teachers with useful statistical information. It presents tables, maps, graphs, diagrams, and explanations of statistical data in 24 areas. The areas in which statistics are given are conversions, measurement, astronomy, time, daylight, twilight, latitude and longitude as distance, the relationship…

Managing Awkward, Sensitive, or Delicate Topics in (Chinese) Radio Medical Consultations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Guodong; Wu, Yaxin

2015-01-01

This study, using conversation analysis as the research methodology, probes into the use of "nage" (literally "that") as a practice of managing awkward, sensitive, or delicate issues in radio phone-in medical consultations about sex-related problems. Through sequential manipulation and turn manipulation, the caller uses…

Alice, Greenfoot, and Scratch--A Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Utting, Ian; Cooper, Stephen; Kolling, Michael; Maloney, John; Resnick, Mitchel

2010-01-01

This article distills a discussion about the goals, mechanisms, and effects of three environments which aim to support the acquisition and development of computing concepts (problem solving and programming) in pre-University and non-technical students: Alice, Greenfoot, and Scratch. The conversation started in a special session on the topic at the…

78 FR 15958 - Submission for OMB Review; 30-day Comment Request: Pediatric Palliative Care Campaign Pilot Survey

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-13

... Information Collection: NINR developed a Pediatric Palliative Care Campaign to address the communications... conversation and addressing the communications needs of health care providers around this topic. This...; 30-day Comment Request: Pediatric Palliative Care Campaign Pilot Survey SUMMARY: Under the provisions...

Edinburgh Working Papers in Applied Linguistics, Number 4.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davies, Alan

1993-01-01

"Edinburgh Working Papers" is intended to show a yearly cross-section of current work in Edinburgh's Department of Applied Linguistics and to elicit reactions and criticism. Articles in this volume include the following: "MSC Common Room Conversations: Topics and Terms" (Joan Cutting); "Speculation and Empiricism in Applied Linguistics" (Alan…

Talk Like a Scientist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marcum-Dietrich, Nanette

2010-01-01

In the scientific community, the symposium is one formal structure of conversation. Scientists routinely hold symposiums to gather and talk about a common topic. To model this method of communication in the classroom, the author designed an activity in which students conduct their own science symposiums. This article presents the science symposium…

Mapping Dialectal Variation Using the Algonquian Linguistic Atlas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cenerini, Chantale; Junker, Marie-Odile; Rosen, Nicole

2017-01-01

The Algonquian Linguistic Atlas (www.atlas-ling.ca) is an online multimedia linguistic atlas of Algonquian languages in Canada, built based on a template of conversational topics. It includes Algonquian languages primarily from the CreeInnu-Naskapi continuum, but also from Blackfoot, Mi'kmaw, and Ojibwe (including Algonquin), with other languages…

Converging Technology, Pedagogy, and Critical Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moeller, Aleidine J.; Van Alstine, Megan

2011-01-01

The theme of children and technology has been a prevailing topic of conversation among parents, teachers and researchers, stirring debate in all sectors of society. What is gained and what is lost by these "digital natives" born into an age of globalization, social connections, instant communication and gratification? How can technology be…

30 Ideas for Teaching Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Art, Comp.

2003-01-01

The National Writing Project's (NWP) "30 Ideas for Teaching Writing" discusses making grammar lessons dynamic, using casual student conversation as a source for writing, home language as an assisting tool to attain standard English and other topics by presenting strategies contributed by experienced writing project teachers. NWP does not promote a…

Talking with Concerned Parents about Immunization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturm, Lynne A.; Zimet, Gregory D.; Klausmeier, Thomas

2010-01-01

Clinical conversations between health professionals and parents can be frustrating for both parties when the topic is childhood immunization. Parents bring to the table personal models of decision making and experiences of risk that may differ from those of their health care providers. They may also feel confused by an explosion of information…

How Do Chinese Speakers of English Manage Rapport in Extended Concurrent Speech?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhu, Weihua

2017-01-01

Little research has focused on extended concurrent speech, unexpected floor taking, or topic switching, since it has been deemed rare (Schegloff 2000. "Overlapping talk and the organization of turn-taking for conversation." "Language in Society" 29(1). 1-63.) or inappropriate (Goldberg 1990." Interrupting the discourse on…

Net carbon uptake by establishing biofuel crops in Central Illinois

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Clean and renewable sources of energy as wind, solar or biofuels comprise a valuable set of options available to deal with the pressing topics of energy security and mitigation of climate change effects. However, the efficiency in energy conversion and the environmental impacts of each new source of...

Effective Uses of CSP Grant Funds in Tennessee Charter Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Andrew; Webb, Leigh

2013-01-01

The topic of educational spending and its connection to student achievement was long-debated before charter schools entered the conversation. With the rise in government spending on education, particularly charter school funding, the financial debate has strengthened and evoked much controversy. Though the Tennessee Department of Education (TNDOE)…

SciComm: No One Expects the Game of Twenty Questions!

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Scientific communication requires knowing your audience and understanding how to converse with them in a way that is natural and mutually respectful. This can be especially difficult when talking about controversial subjects such as climate change. However, these topics are often some of the most im...

Modularizing Remedial Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wong, Aaron

2013-01-01

As remedial mathematics education has become an increasingly important topic of conversation in higher education. Mathematics departments have been put under increased pressure to change their programs to increase the student success rate. A number of models have been introduced over the last decade that represent a wide range of new ideas and…

Environmental Topics in an Undergraduate Physics Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cowan, David J.

1972-01-01

Reducing the decline in the number of bachelor's degrees in physics conferred annually may be accomplished by increasing the versatility of the degree. One method is to apply physical principles to the following areas of environmental change in the curriculum: air pollution, energy conversion and resources, environmental radiation, noise, thermal…

Approximating the Practice of Writing the Dissertation Literature Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kucan, Linda

2011-01-01

This article is an attempt to join the conversation about doctoral preparation that has been a persistent but intermittent topic of interest in educational journals. Previous articles have focused on the format of the dissertation, the purpose of the literature review, and approaches to supporting doctoral students in acquiring professional…

Expanding the Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Branch-Brioso, Karen

2009-01-01

They are not the topics found in a conventional law review: An Austin-based journal delved into the reproductive rights of Hispanic women entering into commercial surrogacy contracts. The next issue of a University of California, Berkeley-based journal will probe the Voting Rights Act--and how it affects Puerto Ricans. A Harvard-based review once…

Aphasia and Topic Initiation in Conversation: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnes, Scott E.; Candlin, Christopher N.; Ferguson, Alison

2013-01-01

Background: Aphasiologists often research, assess and treat linguistic impairment and its consequences for daily life separately. Studies that link the language used by people with aphasia to routine communicative activities may expand the linguistic forms treated as relevant for successful communication by people with aphasia. Previous research…

A Closer Look at Formulaic Language: Prosodic Characteristics of Swedish Proverbs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallin, Anna Eva; Van Lancker Sidtis, Diana

2017-01-01

Formulaic expressions (such as idioms, proverbs, and conversational speech formulas) are currently a topic of interest. Examination of prosody in formulaic utterances, a less explored property of formulaic expressions, has yielded controversial views. The present study investigates prosodic characteristics of proverbs, as one type of formulaic…

Influence of the Social Context on Pragmatic Skills of Adults with Mental Retardation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oetting, Janna B.; Rice, Mabel L.

1991-01-01

The influence of social context on pragmatic skills of 16 adults with mild to moderate mental retardation was examined using videotaped conversations. Data analysis revealed that the subjects were proficient in judging topic maintenance presentations in a simplified but not a complex context. (DB)

Libraries as Facilitators of Coding for All

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Crystle

2017-01-01

Learning to code has been an increasingly frequent topic of conversation both in academic circles and popular media. Learning to code recently received renewed attention with the announcement of the White House's Computer Science for All initiative (Smith 2016). This initiative intends "to empower all American students from kindergarten…

Le Francais Courant, Part VI: Contemporary French.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL.

This course, developed largely within the framework of units 13, 14, and 15 of the second edition of "A-LM French, Level 2," emphasizes development of basic audiolingual skills. Conversational topics permit the student to review his summer vacation. Principal elements of structure are expressions of quantity, pronouns--including those…

Families Talking about Ecology at Touch Tanks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kopczak, Charles; Kisiel, James F.; Rowe, Shawn

2015-01-01

Research has demonstrated that conversations among museum, aquarium, and zoo visitors can be a clear indication of active learning, engagement, and participation in scientific reasoning. This descriptive study sought to determine the extent of talk about ecology-related topics exhibited by family groups visiting marine touch tanks at four Pacific…

Reflections: Continuing the Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephenson, Maxine

2012-01-01

An overarching methodological focus in this issue of the "Journal of Educational Administration and History" has been to engage Michel Foucault's concern with "a history of the present". In this article, the author begins her overview of the collection in the present--specifically, and in keeping with the topic for this special…

Functional Analysis and Treatment of Aggression Maintained by Preferred Conversational Topics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roscoe, Eileen M.; Kindle, Arianne E.; Pence, Sacha T.

2010-01-01

After an initial functional analysis of a participant's aggression showed unclear outcomes, we conducted preference and reinforcer assessments to identify preferred forms of attention that may maintain problem behavior. Next, we conducted an extended functional analysis that included a modified attention condition. Results showed that the…

THE TEACHING OF GEO SCIENCE IN MALAWI SECONDARY SCHOOLS: The case of the Solar System and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chasukwa Mwalwenje, Yvonne; Chasukwa, Fidel

2016-04-01

Malawi secondary school curriculum has been offering Geo sciences Education since the dawn of independence from the British rule in 1964. Qualified primary and secondary school teachers are responsible for the teaching of Geo sciences. The assumption is that trained teachers are more likely to produce successful students thus making geoscience a successful subject. To make the subject more relevant and captivating to stakeholders, the government revised Geo science curriculum and incorporated other topics. Among additional topic was the solar system that was covered in great detail in secondary school. The solar system is a Geo science concept taught in Geography curriculum from primary school for 8 years and in secondary school for 4 years. Despite the solar system being one of the traditional topics in Malawi school curriculum and Government's effort to revise the curriculum in the interest of learners and improving the pass rate, number of students conversant with the topic has been failing sharply over the years. The disparity between the input in terms of effort to improve familiarity with solar system among learners and the outcomes is of great concern and worth hard investigation to inform education policy and curriculum revision decisions. Based on empirical data collected through qualitative research design, the paper establishes that regardless of imploring such interventions, there are still indicators that students continue to fail in solar system related subjects. Malawi National Examination report (2015) reveals that Geography at Malawi School Certificate Examinations pass rate has been going down ranging from 69.49 to 60.78 per cent from 2009 to 2014. The report advances that lack of instruction materials across the schools have contributed to deteriorating knowledge in solar system education. For instance, the school may have no simple models such as globes that clarify the shape of the earth better. As such, the teacher may improvise by getting an orange year in and year out. Using such single improvisation strategy has resulted into boring and monotonous lessons hence high failure in the subject. Furthermore, the study reveals that other factors contributing to poor pass rate include use of single teaching and learning skills hence making the topic less popular among the learners. The paper concludes that education stakeholders need to take extra steps on purchasing of teaching and learning instructions to improve teaching and learning of the solar system to produce successful Malawian astronomers. The responsibility of purchasing teaching instructions should not be left to government alone. Lastly, teaching and learning of the solar system should be innovative and meaningful to the environment outside the classroom where learners can see pieces of empirical evidence. Key Words: Malawi, Geography, Malawi National Examinations Board, Solar System References All Africa (1999) Poor School examination results blamed on education system Malawi National Examinations Board (2015)

Advance Care Planning Meets Group Medical Visits: The Feasibility of Promoting Conversations

PubMed Central

Lum, Hillary D.; Jones, Jacqueline; Matlock, Daniel D.; Glasgow, Russell E.; Lobo, Ingrid; Levy, Cari R.; Schwartz, Robert S.; Sudore, Rebecca L.; Kutner, Jean S.

2016-01-01

PURPOSE Primary care needs new models to facilitate advance care planning conversations. These conversations focus on preferences regarding serious illness and may involve patients, decision makers, and health care providers. We describe the feasibility of the first primary care–based group visit model focused on advance care planning. METHODS We conducted a pilot demonstration of an advance care planning group visit in a geriatrics clinic. Patients were aged at least 65 years. Groups of patients met in 2 sessions of 2 hours each facilitated by a geriatrician and a social worker. Activities included considering personal values, discussing advance care planning, choosing surrogate decision-makers, and completing advance directives. We used the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the project. RESULTS Ten of 11 clinicians referred patients for participation. Of 80 patients approached, 32 participated in 5 group visit cohorts (a 40% participation rate) and 27 participated in both sessions (an 84% retention rate). Mean age was 79 years; 59% of participants were female and 72% white. Most evaluated the group visit as better than usual clinic visits for discussing advance care planning. Patients reported increases in detailed advance care planning conversations after participating (19% to 41%, P = .02). Qualitative analysis found that older adults were willing to share personal values and challenges related to advance care planning and that they initiated discussions about a broad range of relevant topics. CONCLUSION A group visit to facilitate discussions about advance care planning and increase patient engagement is feasible. This model warrants further evaluation for effectiveness in improving advance care planning outcomes for patients, clinicians, and the system. PMID:26951587

Geothermal materials development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kukacka, L. E.

1991-12-01

Advances in the development of new materials, the commercial availabilities of which are essential for the attainment of Hydrothermal Category Level 1 and 2 Objectives, continue to be made in the Geothermal Materials Development Project. Many successes have already been accrued and the results used commercially. In FY-91, utility company sponsored 'full cost' recovery programs based upon materials technology developed in this project were initiated on topics such as condensing heat exchangers, high temperature composites for utility vaults used in district heating systems, and corrosion resistant coatings for use in oil-fired electric generating processes. In FY-91, the DOE/GD-sponsored R&D project was focused on reducing well drilling, fluid transport and energy conversion costs. Specific activities being performed included lightweight CO2-resistant well cements, chemical systems for lost circulation control, thermally conductive and scale resistant protective linear systems, corrosion mitigation in process components at The Geysers, and elastomer-metal bonding systems needed for use in high temperature well drilling and safety related applications.

Radioisotopic energy conversion system (RECS): A new radioisotopic power cell, based on nuclear, atomic, and radiation transport principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinfelds, Eric Victor

The topic of this thesis is the development of the Radioisotope Energy Conversion System (RECS) in a project which is utilizing analytical computational assisted design and some experimental Research in the investigation of fluorescers and effective transducers with the appropriate energy range choice for the conversion of energy. It is desirable to increase the efficiency in electrical power from the raw kinetic power available from the radioactive material within radioisotope power generators. A major step in this direction is the development and use of Radioisotope Energy Conversion Systems to supplement and ideally replace Radioactive Thermal Generators (RTG). It is possible to achieve electrical conversion efficiencies exceeding 25% for RECS power devices compared to only 9 percent efficiency for RTG's. The theoretical basis with existent materials for the potential achievability of efficiencies above 25% is documented within this thesis. The fundamental RECS consists of a radioisotope radiative source (C1), a mediating fluorescent gas (C2) which readily absorbs energy from the beta particles (or alpha's) and subsequently emits blue or UV photons, photovoltaic cells (C3) to convert the blue and UV photons into electrical energy [2], and electrical circuitry (C4). Solid State inspired component (C3), due to its theoretical (and attainable) high efficiency, is a large step ahead of the RTG design concept. The radioisotope flux source produces the beta(-) particles or alpha particles. Geometrically, presently, we prefer to have the ambient fluorescent gas surround the radioisotope flux source. Our fluorescer shall be a gas such as Krypton. Our specifically wide band-gap photovoltaic cells shall have gap energies which are slightly less than that of UV photons produced by the fluorescing gas. Diamond and Aluminum Nitride sample materials are good potential choices for photovoltaic cells, as is explained here in. Out of the material examples discussed, the highest electric power to mass ratio is found to be readily attainable with strontium-90 as the radiative source. Krypton-85 is indisputably the most efficient in RECS devices. In the conclusion in chapter VI, suggestions are given on acceptable ways of containing krypton-85 and providing sufficient shielding on deep space probes destined to use krypton-85 powered 'batteries'.

Conversational behaviour of children with Asperger syndrome and conduct disorder.

PubMed

Adams, Catherine; Green, Jonathan; Gilchrist, Anne; Cox, Anthony

2002-07-01

Social communication problems in individuals who have Asperger syndrome constitute one of the most significant problems in the syndrome. This study makes a systematic analysis of the difficulties demonstrated with the use of language (pragmatics) in adolescents who have Asperger syndrome. Recent advances in discourse analysis were applied to conversational samples from a group of children with Asperger syndrome and a matched control group of children with severe conduct disorder. Two types of conversation were sampled from each group, differing in emotional content. The results showed that in these contexts children with Asperger syndrome were no more verbose as a group than controls, though they showed a tendency to talk more in more emotion-based conversations. Children with Asperger syndrome, as a group, performed similarly to control subjects in ability to respond to questions and comments. However, they were more likely to show responses which were problematic in both types of conversation. In addition, individuals with Asperger syndrome showed more problems in general conversation than during more emotionally and socially loaded topics. The group with Asperger syndrome was found to contain a small number of individuals with extreme verbosity but this was not a reliable characteristic of the group as a whole.

Applied Theatre Facilitates Dialogue about Career Challenges for Scientists.

PubMed

Segarra, Verónica A; Zavala, MariaElena; Hammonds-Odie, Latanya

2017-04-01

The design of programs in support of a strong, diverse, and inclusive scientific workforce and academe requires numerous difficult conversations about sensitive topics such as the challenges scientists can face in their professional development. Theatre can be an interactive and effective way to foster discussion around such subjects. This article examines the implementation and benefits of such interactive strategies in different contexts, including the benefits of getting early career academics and professionals talking about some of the situations that women and underrepresented minorities face in the workplace, while allowing more seasoned professionals and colleagues to join in the conversation.

Applied Theatre Facilitates Dialogue about Career Challenges for Scientists†

PubMed Central

Segarra, Verónica A.; Zavala, MariaElena; Hammonds-Odie, Latanya

2017-01-01

The design of programs in support of a strong, diverse, and inclusive scientific workforce and academe requires numerous difficult conversations about sensitive topics such as the challenges scientists can face in their professional development. Theatre can be an interactive and effective way to foster discussion around such subjects. This article examines the implementation and benefits of such interactive strategies in different contexts, including the benefits of getting early career academics and professionals talking about some of the situations that women and underrepresented minorities face in the workplace, while allowing more seasoned professionals and colleagues to join in the conversation. PMID:28656070

SPS energy conversion and power management workshop. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1980-06-01

In 1977 a four year study, the concept Development and Evaluation Program, was initiated by the US Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As part of this program, a series of peer reviews were carried out within the technical community to allow available information on SPS to be sifted, examined and, if need be, challenged. The SPS Energy Conversion and Power Management Workshop, held in Huntsville, Alabama, February 5 to 7, 1980, was one of these reviews. The results of studies in this particular field were presented to an audience of carefully selected scientists and engineers.more » This first report summarizes the results of that peer review. It is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the subject. Rather, it is designed to look at the SPS energy conversion and power management options in breadth, not depth, to try to foresee any troublesome and/or potentially unresolvable problems and to identify the most promising areas for future research and development. Topics include photovoltaic conversion, solar thermal conversion, and electric power distribution processing and power management. (WHK)« less

Climate Change on Twitter: Topics, Communities and Conversations about the 2013 IPCC Working Group 1 Report

PubMed Central

Pearce, Warren; Holmberg, Kim; Hellsten, Iina; Nerlich, Brigitte

2014-01-01

In September 2013 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its Working Group 1 report, the first comprehensive assessment of physical climate science in six years, constituting a critical event in the societal debate about climate change. This paper analyses the nature of this debate in one public forum: Twitter. Using statistical methods, tweets were analyzed to discover the hashtags used when people tweeted about the IPCC report, and how Twitter users formed communities around their conversational connections. In short, the paper presents the topics and tweeters at this particular moment in the climate debate. The most used hashtags related to themes of science, geographical location and social issues connected to climate change. Particularly noteworthy were tweets connected to Australian politics, US politics, geoengineering and fracking. Three communities of Twitter users were identified. Researcher coding of Twitter users showed how these varied according to geographical location and whether users were supportive, unsupportive or neutral in their tweets about the IPCC. Overall, users were most likely to converse with users holding similar views. However, qualitative analysis suggested the emergence of a community of Twitter users, predominantly based in the UK, where greater interaction between contrasting views took place. This analysis also illustrated the presence of a campaign by the non-governmental organization Avaaz, aimed at increasing media coverage of the IPCC report. PMID:24718388

Climate change on Twitter: topics, communities and conversations about the 2013 IPCC Working Group 1 report.

PubMed

Pearce, Warren; Holmberg, Kim; Hellsten, Iina; Nerlich, Brigitte

2014-01-01

In September 2013 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its Working Group 1 report, the first comprehensive assessment of physical climate science in six years, constituting a critical event in the societal debate about climate change. This paper analyses the nature of this debate in one public forum: Twitter. Using statistical methods, tweets were analyzed to discover the hashtags used when people tweeted about the IPCC report, and how Twitter users formed communities around their conversational connections. In short, the paper presents the topics and tweeters at this particular moment in the climate debate. The most used hashtags related to themes of science, geographical location and social issues connected to climate change. Particularly noteworthy were tweets connected to Australian politics, US politics, geoengineering and fracking. Three communities of Twitter users were identified. Researcher coding of Twitter users showed how these varied according to geographical location and whether users were supportive, unsupportive or neutral in their tweets about the IPCC. Overall, users were most likely to converse with users holding similar views. However, qualitative analysis suggested the emergence of a community of Twitter users, predominantly based in the UK, where greater interaction between contrasting views took place. This analysis also illustrated the presence of a campaign by the non-governmental organization Avaaz, aimed at increasing media coverage of the IPCC report.

Something to talk about: Topics of conversation between romantic partners during military deployments.

PubMed

Carter, Sarah P; Osborne, Laura J; Renshaw, Keith D; Allen, Elizabeth S; Loew, Benjamin A; Markman, Howard J; Stanley, Scott M

2018-02-01

Long-distance communication has been frequently identified as essential to military couples trying to maintain their relationship during a deployment. Little quantitative research, however, has assessed the types of topics discussed during such communication and how those topics relate to overall relationship satisfaction. The current study draws on a sample of 56 Army couples who provided data through online surveys while the service member was actively deployed. These couples provided information on current marital satisfaction, topics discussed during deployment (problem talk, friendship talk, love talk), and how they communicated via synchronous media (e.g., phone calls, video calls) and letters during deployment. Nonparametric Friedman tests followed by paired t tests revealed that synchronous communication was primarily utilized for friendship talk, whereas letters included friendship talk and love talk in similar amounts. Both synchronous communication and letters included less problem talk than other topics. In mixed-level modeling, only topics of communication for synchronous media (not for letters) were related to relationship satisfaction. Love talk via synchronous media was related to higher relationship satisfaction, whereas problem talk via synchronous media was related to less relationship satisfaction. The current study offers the first quantitative assessment of topics within deployment communication media and associations with relationship satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Volume 2. Navy Abstracts of Phase 1 Awards 1993

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

and toughness and strength will be evaluated by pressurized ring tensile tests. MUDAWAR THERMAL SYSTEM, INC. Topic#: 92-136 ID#: 92N40-240 1217...ARMY Topic#: 92-056 MTL SYSTEMS, INC. AF TopicS: 93-051 MIMS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AF Topic#: 93-111 AF Topic#: 93-011 MUDAWAR THERMAL SYSTEM...156 MUDAWAR THERMAL SYSTEM, INC. ANALYTICAL SERVICES & MATERIALS, INC. NAVY Topic#: 92-137 NAVY Topic#: 92-157 MOUNTAIN OPTECH, INC. DATAMAT SYSTEMS

Effectiveness of a Weekly Faculty Conversation Forum About Teaching

PubMed Central

Popovich, Nicholas G.; Peverly, Susan L.; Jackson, Terrence R.

2006-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of holding weekly 60-90 minute conversation forums for faculty members to discuss, explore, and reflect on various teaching topics in a relaxed, informal, interactive format. Methods Weekly, 60-90 minute sessions were held for faculty members of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. A 15-item retrospective pretest-posttest questionnaire was developed and administered at the end of the first year of implementation to evaluate the participants’ perceived knowledge, abilities, and confidence gains relative to becoming effective educators. Results Eleven faculty members completed the questionnaire. All respondents tended to agree (6/11) or agreed (5/11) that their confidence as educators improved after attending the conversation forums. In addition,7 respondents tended to agree and 4 agreed that their ability to self-assess their teaching had improved. Conclusions An ongoing weekly conversations forum provides faculty members opportunities to explore and learn about facets of teaching in a safe, informal environment. PMID:17149436

Solar energy conversion with photon-enhanced thermionic emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kribus, Abraham; Segev, Gideon

2016-07-01

Photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) converts sunlight to electricity with the combined photonic and thermal excitation of charge carriers in a semiconductor, leading to electron emission over a vacuum gap. Theoretical analyses predict conversion efficiency that can match, or even exceed, the efficiency of traditional solar thermal and photovoltaic converters. Several materials have been examined as candidates for radiation absorbers and electron emitters, with no conclusion yet on the best set of materials to achieve high efficiency. Analyses have shown the complexity of the energy conversion and transport processes, and the significance of several loss mechanisms, requiring careful control of material properties and optimization of the device structure. Here we survey current research on PETE modeling, materials, and device configurations, outline the advances made, and stress the open issues and future research needed. Based on the substantial progress already made in this young topic, and the potential of high conversion efficiency based on theoretical performance limits, continued research in this direction is very promising and may yield a competitive technology for solar electricity generation.

Defining the Ecological Coefficient of Performance for an Aircraft Propulsion System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Şöhret, Yasin

2018-05-01

The aircraft industry, along with other industries, is considered responsible these days regarding environmental issues. Therefore, the performance evaluation of aircraft propulsion systems should be conducted with respect to environmental and ecological considerations. The current paper aims to present the ecological coefficient of performance calculation methodology for aircraft propulsion systems. The ecological coefficient performance is a widely-preferred performance indicator of numerous energy conversion systems. On the basis of thermodynamic laws, the methodology used to determine the ecological coefficient of performance for an aircraft propulsion system is parametrically explained and illustrated in this paper for the first time. For a better understanding, to begin with, the exergy analysis of a turbojet engine is described in detail. Following this, the outputs of the analysis are employed to define the ecological coefficient of performance for a turbojet engine. At the end of the study, the ecological coefficient of performance is evaluated parametrically and discussed depending on selected engine design parameters and performance measures. The author asserts the ecological coefficient of performance to be a beneficial indicator for researchers interested in aircraft propulsion system design and related topics.

Dual-enhanced photothermal conversion properties of reduced graphene oxide-coated gold superparticles for light-triggered acoustic and thermal theranostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Li-Sen; Yang, Xiangyu; Niu, Gang; Song, Jibin; Yang, Huang-Hao; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2016-01-01

A rational design of highly efficient photothermal agents that possess excellent light-to-heat conversion properties is a fascinating topic in nanotheranostics. Herein, we present a facile route to fabricate size-tunable reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated gold superparticles (rGO-GSPs) and demonstrate their dual-enhanced photothermal conversion properties for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. For the first time, graphene oxide (GO) was directly used as an emulsifying agent for the preparation of gold superparticles (GSPs) with near-infrared absorption by the emulsion method. Moreover, GO spontaneously deposited on the surface of GSPs could also act as the precursor of the rGO shell. Importantly, both the plasmonic coupling of the self-assembled gold nanoparticles and the interaction between GSPs and rGO endow rGO-GSPs with enhanced photothermal conversion properties, allowing rGO-GSPs to be used for sensitive photoacoustic detection and efficient photothermal ablation of tumours in vivo. This study provides a facile approach to prepare colloidal superparticles-graphene hybrid nanostructures and will pave the way toward the design and optimization of photothermal nanomaterials with improved properties for theranostic applications.A rational design of highly efficient photothermal agents that possess excellent light-to-heat conversion properties is a fascinating topic in nanotheranostics. Herein, we present a facile route to fabricate size-tunable reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated gold superparticles (rGO-GSPs) and demonstrate their dual-enhanced photothermal conversion properties for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. For the first time, graphene oxide (GO) was directly used as an emulsifying agent for the preparation of gold superparticles (GSPs) with near-infrared absorption by the emulsion method. Moreover, GO spontaneously deposited on the surface of GSPs could also act as the precursor of the rGO shell. Importantly, both the plasmonic coupling of the self-assembled gold nanoparticles and the interaction between GSPs and rGO endow rGO-GSPs with enhanced photothermal conversion properties, allowing rGO-GSPs to be used for sensitive photoacoustic detection and efficient photothermal ablation of tumours in vivo. This study provides a facile approach to prepare colloidal superparticles-graphene hybrid nanostructures and will pave the way toward the design and optimization of photothermal nanomaterials with improved properties for theranostic applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07552a

Career Frontiers: New Conceptions of Working Lives.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peiperl, Maury A., Ed.; Arthur, Michael B., Ed.; Goffee, Rob, Ed.; Morris, Timothy, Ed.

This book draws upon and extends a number of existing debates in the area of careers and opens additional dialogues on the future of working life. The book contains 13 papers, organized in three parts and an Introduction. The Introduction contains one paper, "Topics for Conversation: Career Themes Old and New" (Maury A. Peiperl and…

The Dubious Promise of Educational Technologies: Historical Patterns and Future Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cuban, Larry; Jandric, Petar

2015-01-01

In this article, Larry Cuban discusses his ideas about the topic of this Special Issue of E-learning and Digital Media "Networked Realms and Hoped-For Futures: A Trans-Generational Dialogue" with one of its co-editors, Petar Jandric. The conversation explores the historical relationships between education and information and…

Individualized Math Problems in Measurement and Conversion. Oregon Vo-Tech Mathematics Problem Sets.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cosler, Norma, Ed.

This is one of eighteen sets of individualized mathematics problems developed by the Oregon Vo-Tech Math Project. Each of these problem packages is organized around a mathematical topic and contains problems related to diverse vocations. Solutions are provided for all problems. This volume includes problems involving measurement, computation of…

Diversity and Mentoring in the Workplace: A Conversation with Belle Rose Ragins

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chandler, Dawn E.; Ellis, Rebecca

2011-01-01

Given projected increases in workplace diversity, an understanding of diversity's intersection with mentoring is a critical topic in the literature. This article involved an interview with Belle Rose Ragins, one of the world's leading thinkers on diversity and mentoring in the workplace. After providing an overview of Ragins' key achievements and…

Talking Religion: Religious Diversity in Study Abroad Advising

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliott, Timothy Lynn; Romito, Lorien

2018-01-01

Students studying at US institutions of higher education come from a broad range of religious and non-religious traditions. Yet religion is often a "no go" topic of discussion within the American cultural context and educators frequently lack the training to engage in productive conversations about this aspect of students' identities.…

Mechanical Waves Conceptual Survey: Its Modification and Conversion to a Standard Multiple-Choice Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barniol, Pablo; Zavala, Genaro

2016-01-01

In this article we present several modifications of the mechanical waves conceptual survey, the most important test to date that has been designed to evaluate university students' understanding of four main topics in mechanical waves: propagation, superposition, reflection, and standing waves. The most significant changes are (i) modification of…

Applications of Location Similarity Measures and Conceptual Spaces to Event Coreference and Classification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McConky, Katie Theresa

2013-01-01

This work covers topics in event coreference and event classification from spoken conversation. Event coreference is the process of identifying descriptions of the same event across sentences, documents, or structured databases. Existing event coreference work focuses on sentence similarity models or feature based similarity models requiring slot…

Structuring Conversation: Discourse Markers in Cervantes's "Entremeses"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Jeremy

2011-01-01

Due to the recent shift in the linguistic pragmatics literature from the analysis of isolated speech acts to the focus on phenomena which affect the global meaning of a message, discourse markers (DMs) have become a frequent research topic. Despite their popularity, the evolution and development of these forms is often neglected in investigations…

Service and Emotional Support Animals on Campus: The Relevance and Controversy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Melinda

2016-01-01

Service and emotional support animals (ESA) have recently been a topic of conversation on college campuses, despite decades of controversy related to the interpretation of federal law. The distinction between an Emotional Support Animal and Service Animals, and the rights of the student regarding accommodations under FHA and ADA have been debated…

A Brief Parent-Focused Intervention to Improve Preschoolers' Conversational Skills and School Readiness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leech, Kathryn; Wei, Ran; Harring, Jeffrey R.; Rowe, Meredith L.

2018-01-01

Preschool children's use of decontextualized language, or talk about abstract topics beyond the here-and-now, is predictive of their kindergarten readiness and is associated with the frequency of parents' own use of decontextualized language. Does a brief, parent-focused intervention conveying the importance of decontextualized language cause…

Do Interlocutors or Conversation Topics Affect Migrants' Sense of Feeling Different When Switching Languages?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Panicacci, Alessandra; Dewaele, Jean-Marc

2018-01-01

A majority of multilinguals report feeling different when switching languages [Dewaele, J.-M. (2016). "Why do So Many Bi- and Multilinguals Feel Different When Switching Languages?" "International Journal of Multilingualism" 13 (1): 92-105; Panicacci, A., and J.-M. Dewaele. (2017). "'A Voice from Elsewhere': Acculturation,…

Learning Qualitative Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gerhart, Lael

2009-01-01

In this article I explore through a narrative how I came to do a research project in East New York. I show how first contact was established, how local contacts were made, and how trust between my research participants and me was created. I then explore how the research topic evolved through informal conversations, open-ended interviews, and…

Teen Success! Ideas to Move Your Mind. (2nd Edition)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elye, Beatrice J.

2007-01-01

This new edition will guide teenagers toward success with updated ideas and suggestions that today's teens can relate to. Perfect for at home or in the classroom, this conversational book can help give your teenager practical life skills and enlightened insights. Chapter topics include decision making, speed reading, building confidence, time…

Top Ten Secrets for a Successful Workshop

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Doug

2006-01-01

In this article, the author provides 10 suggestions for a successful workshop, including advice and examples: (1) Know your role; (2) Limit your topic; (3) Be organized and communicate that organization; (4) Set out a problem or possibility; then offer a solution or opportunity; (5) Be conversational and have fun; (6) Good handouts and good slides…

InP materials/cell fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coutts, T. J.

1987-01-01

The main points of discussion, conclusions and recommendations of a workshop on InP materials and cell fabrication are given. The importance of assessing the quality of p-Inp crystals supplied by different vendors, back contacts to solar cells, junction formation, energy conversion efficiency, testing for radiation resistance, and future develpments were among the topics discussed.

Teacher Dialogue and Its Relationship to Student Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montgomery, Heather Norton

2013-01-01

Many studies have been conducted to analyze the different methods and structures of teacher conversations. Researchers realize how complex the study of teacher dialogue may be and have concentrated their efforts to study discourse within the context of teaching teams. Some of the literature has focused on what topics and factors of dialogue…

Parenting a Precocious Preschooler: Breaking the Silence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fish, Leigh Ann

2016-01-01

Precocity in the very young should be a valid topic of discussion in parental and educational circles, yet too frequently those conversations are slow to occur or are absent altogether. Many parents and educators remain silent about raising and nurturing precocious preschoolers, and author Leigh Ann Fish believe that the silence is due to a lack…

Small Colleges Need "Gold Medal Selfies"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gross, Karen

2014-01-01

Higher education has been a favorite news topic for months. President Obama and the first lady have entered the national conversation, particularly around issues of cost and graduation rates for low-income students--addressing education in the State of the Union, at White House events, and in speeches across the nation. In the midst of these…

Developing Future Leaders: The Role of Reflection in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Cynthia

2008-01-01

Leadership development continues to be a topic of conversation, education, and research. Reflection has been named as one of the key competencies needed for effective leaders particularly as the workplace grows more complex and multicultural. But how does one develop reflective skill in college students, the leaders of the future? This paper…

A Study of Online Discourse at "The Chronicle of Higher Education"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Katrina A.

2010-01-01

Given the explosive growth of online communications, new forms of discourse are an intriguing topic of study. This research focused on ten online discussions hosted by "The Chronicle of Higher Education," using content and discourse analysis of the postings to answer several questions. What is the "conversational scaffolding" used by posters in…

Speaking Practice in the Medical English Classroom: Bridging the Gap between Medical English and the Everyday World.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webber, Pauline

1995-01-01

Discusses teaching methods and techniques for use in English for Special Purposes classrooms, focusing on conversation and speaking exercises for medical students and professionals that combine medical terminology and everyday usage. Examples include doctor-patient dialogues and group discussions of general interest topics. (15 references) (MDM)

Community Schools: A Vehicle for Educational Equity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Honda, Michael; Liu, Carol

2015-01-01

The impacts of poverty in this country cast a long shadow over the issues of education, social mobility, and global competitiveness. Although national conversations regarding income inequality have increased, the topic of poverty in America has not had as much attention. We seem to be at a loss about specific solutions that could address this…

Social skills differences among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder types in a chat room assessment task.

PubMed

Mikami, Amori Yee; Huang-Pollock, Cynthia L; Pfiffner, Linda J; McBurnett, Keith; Hangai, Dana

2007-08-01

This study assessed social skills in 116 children aged 7-12 with ADHD-Combined Type (ADHD-C; n=33), ADHD-Inattentive Type (ADHD-I; n=45), and comparison children (n=38), with consideration of the role sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms play in distinguishing profiles. Social skills were assessed using a novel computerized chat room task, in which participants were encouraged to join a conversation and type messages to interact with four computer-simulated peers. Every participant received the identical stimulus from the simulated peers, but was free to respond to it in his or her own unique way. Relative to comparison children, children with ADHD-C made off-topic and hostile responses; children with ADHD-I made off-topic responses, few responses and showed poor memory for the conversation. ADHD subtype differences remained after statistical control of IQ, reading achievement, typing skill, and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders. SCT symptoms, most prevalent among children with ADHD-I, predicted a distinct pattern of social withdrawal and lower hostility. Parent and teacher ratings and in-vivo observations of social skills correlate with this new measure.

Visualization of semantic relations in geosicences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritschel, Bernd; Pfeiffer, Sabine; Mende, Vivien

2010-05-01

The discovery of semantic relations related to the content and context of scientific geophysical and geodetic data and information is a fundamental concept for an integrated scientific approach for the research of multidisciplinary and complex questions of the permanent changing Earth system. Large high-quality and multi-domain geosciences datasets which are qualified by significant and standardized metadata describing the content and especially the context of the data are suitable for the search and discovery of semantic relations. Nowadays such data collections are ingested and provided by many national and international geoscientific data centers, such as e.g. the GFZ ISDC(1). Beside automatic and machine-based algorithm for the discovery of semantic relations, the graphical visualization of such relations are extremely capable for scientist in order to analyze complex datasets and to find sophisticated relations as well as for the public in order to understand the relations within geosciences and between geosciences and societal domains. There are different tools for the visualization of relations, especially in the object-oriented based analysis and development of systems and software. The tool eyePlorer(2) is an awarded program for the visualization of multi-domain semantic relations in the public world of Wikipedia. The data and information for the visualization of keyword based terms and concepts within one domain or topic as well as the relations to other topics are mainly based on wiki content and appropriate structures. eyePlorer's main topics structured and combined in super topics are Health, Species and Life Sciences, Persons and Organisations, Work and Society, Science & Technology as well as Time and Places. Considering the domains or topics of the conceptual model of the GFZ ISDC's data collection, such topics as geosciences-related project, platform, instrument, product type, publication and institution as well as space and time are disjunct and complement sets or subsets or intersections of eyePlorer's topics. The introduction of new topics and the enhancement of the conceptual data model of the eyePlorer as well as the transformation of GFZ ISDC's metadata into a wiki structure or into eyePlorer's internal data format are necessary for the use in eyePlorer for the visualization of geosciences and societal relations based on both, the Wikipedia information collection and the GFZ ISDC metadata. This paper deals with the analysis of eyePlorer's and GFZ ISDC's concepts for the creation of an integrated conceptual model. Furthermore, the transformation model for the conversion of ISDC's metadata into appropriate structures for the use of eyePlorer is described. Finally, the process of semantic visualization of geosciences and societal relations within eyePlorer and using eyePlorer's GUI are illustrated on a climate research related example which is capable to generate knowledge not only for geoscientists but also for the public. (1) GFZ ISDC: GFZ Information System and Data Center, http://isdc.gfz-potsdam.de (2) eyePlorer: http://en.eyeplorer.com/show/

Methods for locating ground faults and insulation degradation condition in energy conversion systems

DOEpatents

Agamy, Mohamed; Elasser, Ahmed; Galbraith, Anthony William; Harfman Todorovic, Maja

2015-08-11

Methods for determining a ground fault or insulation degradation condition within energy conversion systems are described. A method for determining a ground fault within an energy conversion system may include, in part, a comparison of baseline waveform of differential current to a waveform of differential current during operation for a plurality of DC current carrying conductors in an energy conversion system. A method for determining insulation degradation within an energy conversion system may include, in part, a comparison of baseline frequency spectra of differential current to a frequency spectra of differential current transient at start-up for a plurality of DC current carrying conductors in an energy conversion system. In one embodiment, the energy conversion system may be a photovoltaic system.

Using Conversation Topics for Predicting Therapy Outcomes in Schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Howes, Christine; Purver, Matthew; McCabe, Rose

2013-01-01

Previous research shows that aspects of doctor-patient communication in therapy can predict patient symptoms, satisfaction and future adherence to treatment (a significant problem with conditions such as schizophrenia). However, automatic prediction has so far shown success only when based on low-level lexical features, and it is unclear how well these can generalize to new data, or whether their effectiveness is due to their capturing aspects of style, structure or content. Here, we examine the use of topic as a higher-level measure of content, more likely to generalize and to have more explanatory power. Investigations show that while topics predict some important factors such as patient satisfaction and ratings of therapy quality, they lack the full predictive power of lower-level features. For some factors, unsupervised methods produce models comparable to manual annotation. PMID:23943658

Patient-physician discussions about costs: definitions and impact on cost conversation incidence estimates.

PubMed

Hunter, Wynn G; Hesson, Ashley; Davis, J Kelly; Kirby, Christine; Williamson, Lillie D; Barnett, Jamison A; Ubel, Peter A

2016-03-31

Nearly one in three Americans are financially burdened by their medical expenses. To mitigate financial distress, experts recommend routine physician-patient cost conversations. However, the content and incidence of these conversations are unclear, and rigorous definitions are lacking. We sought to develop a novel set of cost conversation definitions, and determine the impact of definitional variation on cost conversation incidence in three clinical settings. Retrospective, mixed-methods analysis of transcribed dialogue from 1,755 outpatient encounters for routine clinical management of breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression, occurring between 2010-2014. We developed cost conversation definitions using summative content analysis. Transcripts were evaluated independently by at least two members of our multi-disciplinary team to determine cost conversation incidence using each definition. Incidence estimates were compared using Pearson's Chi-Square Tests. Three cost conversation definitions emerged from our analysis: (a) Out-of-Pocket (OoP) Cost--discussion of the patient's OoP costs for a healthcare service; (b) Cost/Coverage--discussion of the patient's OoP costs or insurance coverage; (c) Cost of Illness- discussion of financial costs or insurance coverage related to health or healthcare. These definitions were hierarchical; OoP Cost was a subset of Cost/Coverage, which was a subset of Cost of Illness. In each clinical setting, we observed significant variation in the incidence of cost conversations when using different definitions; breast oncology: 16, 22, 24% of clinic visits contained cost conversation (OOP Cost, Cost/Coverage, Cost of Illness, respectively; P < 0.001); depression: 30, 38, 43%, (P < 0.001); and rheumatoid arthritis, 26, 33, 35%, (P < 0.001). The estimated incidence of physician-patient cost conversation varied significantly depending on the definition used. Our findings and proposed definitions may assist in retrospective interpretation and prospective design of investigations on this topic.

Measuring happiness in large population

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wenas, Annabelle; Sjahputri, Smita; Takwin, Bagus; Primaldhi, Alfindra; Muhamad, Roby

2016-01-01

The ability to know emotional states for large number of people is important, for example, to ensure the effectiveness of public policies. In this study, we propose a measure of happiness that can be used in large scale population that is based on the analysis of Indonesian language lexicons. Here, we incorporate human assessment of Indonesian words, then quantify happiness on large-scale of texts gathered from twitter conversations. We used two psychological constructs to measure happiness: valence and arousal. We found that Indonesian words have tendency towards positive emotions. We also identified several happiness patterns during days of the week, hours of the day, and selected conversation topics.

Cultural analysis of communication behaviors among juveniles in a correctional facility.

PubMed

Sanger, D D; Creswell, J W; Dworak, J; Schultz, L

2000-01-01

This study addressed communication behaviors of female juvenile delinquents in a correctional facility. Qualitative methodology was used to study 78 participants ranging in age from 13.1 to 18.9 (years; months), over a five-month period. Data collection consisted of observations, participant observation, interviews, and a review of documents. Additionally, participants were tested on the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-3. Listening and following rules, utterance types, topics of conversion, politeness, and conversational management emerged as themes. Findings indicated that as many as 22% of participants were potential candidates for language services. Implications for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) providing communication services will be provided.

Stigma's Effect on Social Interaction and Social Media Activity.

PubMed

Boudewyns, Vanessa; Himelboim, Itai; Hansen, Derek L; Southwell, Brian G

2015-01-01

Stigmatized topics, such as HIV/STD, likely constrain related information sharing in ways that should be apparent in social interactions both on and off the Internet. Specifically, the authors predicted that the more people perceive an issue as stigmatized, the less likely they are to talk about the issue both privately (with sexual partners and peers) and publicly (on Twitter). Study 1 tested the effect of stigma on conversations at the individual level: The authors asked a group of participants (N = 138) about perceived STD-testing stigma, interactions with a sexual partner, and conversations with peers about STD testing. Study 2 assessed whether health conditions, in the aggregate, were less likely to generate social media activity as a function of current stigmatization. Using 259,758 archived Twitter posts mentioning 13 medical conditions, the authors tested whether level of stigma predicted the volume of relevant social media conversation, controlling for each condition's amount of advocacy and Google search popularity from a user's perspective. Findings supported our hypotheses. Individuals who reported perceiving a given health conditions in more stigmatic ways also reported interacting less with others about that topic; Twitter results showed a similar pattern. Results also suggest a more complex story of influence, as funding from the National Institutes of Health (i.e., each conditions amount of advocacy) associated with the examined health conditions also predicted Twitter activity. Overall, these results indicated that stigma had a similar, dampening effect on face-to-face and Twitter interactions. Findings hold theoretical and practical implications, which are discussed.

The Effect of Contextualized Conversational Feedback in a Complex Open-Ended Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Segedy, James R.; Kinnebrew, John S.; Biswas, Gautam

2013-01-01

Betty's Brain is an open-ended learning environment in which students learn about science topics by teaching a virtual agent named Betty through the construction of a visual causal map that represents the relevant science phenomena. The task is complex, and success requires the use of metacognitive strategies that support knowledge acquisition,…

Reflection as a Habit of Mind: Empowering Students through Metacognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buckheit, James E.

2010-01-01

An important topic of current brain research is "cognitive overload." It is about the capacity of a person's working memory and the strategies employed when that capacity is taxed. The most common strategy for coping with cognitive overload is shutting down, like that point in a conversation with a non-English speaker when everything one…

How Has Dewey's Democratic Theory Influenced the Development of a New Primary School? A Headteacher's Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higham, Rupert; Biddulph, James

2018-01-01

This article provides the transcript of Dr. Rupert Higham (University College London, Institute of Education) in conversation with Dr. James Biddulph (Headteacher of the University of Cambridge Primary School). Among the topics discussed are: What the University of Cambridge Primary School (UCPS) motto, "Releasing the Imagination: Celebrating…

Toward a Pedagogy of Linguistic Diversity: Understanding African American Linguistic Practices and Programmatic Learning Goals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perryman-Clark, Staci M.

2012-01-01

The relationship between cultural diversity, linguistic diversity, and composition has been a topic that has received much attention in rhetoric and composition's disciplinary conversations, even if current pedagogical practices used to address these matters lag behind in progress. In this essay, the author focuses on how to address linguistic…

Lessons in the Conversation That We Are: Robert Frost's "Death of the Hired Man."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jost, Walter

1996-01-01

Looks at Robert Frost's "The Death of the Hired Man" as a "representative anecdote" for Frost's work, which, taken as a whole, shows readers how to lose themselves among the overlooked places and turnings, the topics and tropes, that make up Frost's rhetorical home, the place of everyday human talk and gossip. (TB)

Community-Based English Clubs: English Practice and Social Change outside the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malu, Kathleen F.; Smedley, Bryce

2016-01-01

This article defines and provides a rationale for the creation of community-based English clubs. We offer strategies that individuals can use to create and sustain English clubs, and we suggest meeting activities that will engage members in conversations and potential community action on a range of topics such as democracy, gender equality, and…

To Build or Not to Build: Addressing Facilities Needs While Controlling Costs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kadamus, James A.

2015-01-01

When trustees, presidents, and senior college administrators meet, one topic dominates the conversation: how to keep education quality high and costs down. To keep quality high, college leaders need to have strong faculties and state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research. Quality counts but it also costs, and that is where the pressures…

From Teachers to Testers: How Parents Talk to Novice and Expert Children in a Natural History Museum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palmquist, Sasha; Crowley, Kevin

2007-01-01

Informed by literature on childhood expertise in high-interest topics and parent-child conversation in museum settings, this study explored how children's level of dinosaur expertise influences family learning opportunities in a natural history museum. Interviews identified children with high and low dinosaur knowledge and assigned them to expert…

Narrating the Visual: Accounting for and Projecting Actions in Webinar Q&As

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Di; Tadic, Nadja

2018-01-01

Visual conduct, including the use of gaze to attend to bodily-visual cues and other semiotic resources in interaction, has long been a topic of interest in ethnomethodology and conversation analysis (EMCA). Past EMCA work has examined visual conduct in face-to-face interaction, shedding light on the use of gaze to secure recipiency, facilitate…

Student as Teacher: The Insiders' View of Peer Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boice-Pardee, Heath P.; Shirvanian, Daniel S.

2004-01-01

In 2000, Rutgers College launched a First-Year Interest Group Seminar (FIGS) program that offers entering new students an opportunity to engage in conversations on topics of mutual interest (health and medicine, business, or law) as well as learn about how to navigate a large Research-I institution. Each student involved in FIGS enrolls in a…

A Notion, a Reality: Sustaining the Most Important Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

St. Lifer, Evan

2005-01-01

School Library Journal hosted its first Leadership Summit March 18 and 19. The best and brightest were invited, and many of them came to New York City to discuss the most pressing issues facing K-12 education: literacy, student achievement, and the integration of 21st century learning skills. These core topics became the categories around which…

Bringing Climate Change into the Life Science Classroom: Essentials, Impacts on Life, and Addressing Misconceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawkins, Amy J.; Stark, Louisa A.

2016-01-01

Climate change is at the forefront of our cultural conversation about science, influencing everything from presidential debates to Leonardo DiCaprio's 2016 Oscar acceptance speech. The topic is becoming increasingly socially and scientifically relevant but is no closer to being resolved. Most high school students take a life science course but…

British Female Converts to Islam: Choosing Islam as a Rejection of Individualism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soutar, Louise

2010-01-01

Voluntary religious conversion is a topic of great interest and fascination. However, this fascination is increased when the religion is Islam and the convert is female. Through the use of three in-depth interviews, this research hopes to answer the following questions: how much does a dissatisfaction with typical British individualism contribute…

The Construction of Interculturality: A Study of Initial Encounters between Japanese and American Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mori, Junko

2003-01-01

Investigates how Japanese and American students initiate topical talk as they get acquainted with each other during their initial encounter at a student-organized conversation table. Looks at the observable and reportable ways in which the participants demonstrate the relevance, or the irrelevance, of interculturality in the development of the…

Charting an Alternate Pathway to Reaction Orders and Rate Laws in Introductory Chemistry Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rushton, Gregory T.; Criswell, Brett A.; McAllister, Nicole D.; Polizzi, Samuel J.; Moore, Lamesha A.; Pierre, Michelle S.

2014-01-01

Reaction kinetics is an axiomatic topic in chemistry that is often addressed as early as the high school course and serves as the foundation for more sophisticated conversations in college-level organic, physical, and biological chemistry courses. Despite the fundamental nature of reaction kinetics, students can struggle with transforming their…

Current Events and Teachable Moments: Creating Dialog about Transgender and Intersex Athletes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krane, Vikki; Barak, Katie Sullivan

2012-01-01

The purpose of this article is to help physical educators and coaches better understand the issues raised in recent news stories about transgender and intersex athletes and to encourage them to engage students and athletes in dialogues about these topics. In conversations with students, it is important for teachers and coaches to separate facts…

On the Importance of Subject Matter in Mathematics Education: A Conversation with Erich Christian Wittmann

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akinwunmi, Kathrin; Höveler, Karina; Schnell, Susanne

2014-01-01

Erich Christian Wittmann is one of the primary founders of mathematics education research as an autonomous field of work and research in Germany. The interview presented here reflects on his role in promoting mathematics education as a design science. The interview addresses the following topics: (1) The importance of subject matter in…

Experiments in Making History Personal: Public Discourse, Complexity, and Community Building

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwartz, Deborah

2010-01-01

This article is about two initiatives at the Brooklyn Historical Society that extend our efforts to build community and create a platform for ongoing public engagement, in the face of emotionally charged topics. The first project is a powerful oral history program and exhibition that promotes conversation about the war in Vietnam, the war's…

Twenty Years of Tannen: An Extensive Bibliography of the Writings of Deborah F. Tannen, 1976-1995.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cullum, Linda, Comp.; And Others

This unannotated bibliography features 99 listings of books and articles on, among other topics, language, linguistics, conversation, and gender, all written by the influential sociolinguist, Deborah Tannen. It also offers 10 listings of works co-authored or co-edited by Tannen. Although the bibliography focuses on written works published in…

Opening Up and Closing Down: How Teachers and TAs Manage Turn-Taking, Topic and Repair in Mathematics Lessons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radford, Julie; Blatchford, Peter; Webster, Rob

2011-01-01

Support for children with special educational needs in inclusive classrooms is increasingly provided by teaching assistants (TAs). They often have a direct pedagogical role, taking responsibility for instruction in mathematics. The quality of TAs' oral skills is crucial for learning but has rarely been researched. Using conversation analysis, this…

What Makes a cMOOC Community Endure? Multiple Participant Perspectives from Diverse cMOOCS

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bali, Maha; Crawford, Maureen; Jessen, Rhonda; Signorelli, Paul; Zamora, Mia

2015-01-01

Imagine the challenge of being immersed in a dynamic learning network where you play brinkmanship with being overwhelmed by a plethora of information, comments, and conversations on a topic of intense interest to you. Through adept facilitation, the comments and encouragement of fellow participants, and your own perseverance, you develop a network…

5 CFR 9901.371 - Conversion into NSPS pay system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Conversion into NSPS pay system. 9901.371... SECURITY PERSONNEL SYSTEM (NSPS) Pay and Pay Administration Conversion Provisions § 9901.371 Conversion....231 for conversion rules related to determining an employee's career group, pay schedule, and band...

Ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and education: An overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, D. Rodney

1992-05-01

Formal education is saturated with language, but language is usually seen as a separate and often subsidiary topic of research, secondary to social class, ethnicity, etc., which are regarded as independent variables. Ethnomethodology (EM) and Conversation Analysis (CA) are recent approaches devised in North America which propose to make language and the social organization of linguistic interchange a generic topic of investigation. They see mastery of language as central to the ability to make culturally recognizable sense of social interaction. Social class, for example, is thus seen as a worded entity. While EM and CA are sufficiently comprehensive to be applied to any topic, formal education is not stable and constant. It is apprehended differently by the various players of "language games". CA therefore uses "real-world" transcriptions of recordings for analysis of speech exchange. Early CA was concerned with commonsense membership categorizations such as "adult", "child", "adolescent", "mother", "son", "tennis player", which serve as reference points for the imputation of rights and obligations. Stress is now laid on children's techniques of communication, whereas conventional sociology sees the socialization of children as "one-way", from adults to children and frequently ignores children's language. In school tests, for example, it is not certain that children will only use the interpretive resources given them by the teacher, or that they will understand test items in terms of the test design devised by adults. The wider classroom agenda is also set by an adult teacher, who is conventionally the next speaker after each student in formal trum-taking.

Arguing collaboratively: Argumentative discourse types and their potential for knowledge building.

PubMed

Felton, Mark; Garcia-Mila, Merce; Villarroel, Constanza; Gilabert, Sandra

2015-09-01

There is growing interest in using argumentative discourse in educational settings. However, in a previous study, we found that discourse goals (persuasion vs. consensus) while arguing can affect student outcomes in both content learning and reasoning. In this study, we look at argumentative discourse data from a previous study to ask how differences in discourse might account for the differences we observed in learning and reasoning outcomes. One hundred and five dialogues (57 disputative, 48 consensus) between 7th grade science students attending a public high school near Tarragona, Spain. Participants were randomly assigned to conditions and paired with peers who disagreed with them on three topics related to renewable energy sources. After instruction on each topic, they were asked to either 'argue to convince' (persuasion condition) or 'argue to reach consensus' (consensus condition) on that topic. Conversations were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Students in the persuasion condition engaged in shorter conversational exchanges around argumentative claims and were more likely to use moves that foreclosed discussion, whereas students in the consensus condition were more likely to use moves that elicited, elaborated on, and integrated their partners' ideas. When arguing to reach - rather than defend - a conclusion, students are more likely to coconstruct knowledge by exchanging and integrating arguments. These findings are consistent with predictions about the potential of argumentation for knowledge building and suggest that teachers must attend to discourse goals when using argumentation to support learning and reasoning. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Exploring Nurse Communication About Spirituality.

PubMed

Wittenberg, Elaine; Ragan, Sandra L; Ferrell, Betty

2017-07-01

Although spiritual care is considered one of the pillars of palliative care, many health-care providers never receive formal training on how to communicate about spirituality with patients and families. The aim of this study was to explore the spiritual care experiences of oncology nurses in order to learn more about patient needs and nurse responses. A survey was circulated at a communication training course for oncology nurses in June 2015. Nurses recalled a care experience that included the initiation of a spiritual care topic and their response to the patient/family. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Nurses reported that communication about spirituality was primarily initiated by patients, rather than family members, and spiritual topics commonly emerged during the end of life or when patients experienced spiritual distress. Nurses' experiences highlighted the positive impact spiritual conversations had on the quality of patient care and its benefit to families. Spiritual communication was described as an important nursing role at the end of patients' lives, and nonverbal communication, listening, and discussing patients' emotions were emphasized as important and effective nurse communication skills during spiritual care conversations. Approximately one-third of nurses in the sample reported sharing their own personal spiritual or religious backgrounds with patients, and they reported that these sharing experiences strengthened their own faith. It is evident that patients want to discuss spiritual topics during care. Study findings illustrate the need to develop a spiritual communication curriculum and provide spiritual care communication training to clinicians.

Quantum modeling of ultrafast photoinduced charge separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozzi, Carlo Andrea; Troiani, Filippo; Tavernelli, Ivano

2018-01-01

Phenomena involving electron transfer are ubiquitous in nature, photosynthesis and enzymes or protein activity being prominent examples. Their deep understanding thus represents a mandatory scientific goal. Moreover, controlling the separation of photogenerated charges is a crucial prerequisite in many applicative contexts, including quantum electronics, photo-electrochemical water splitting, photocatalytic dye degradation, and energy conversion. In particular, photoinduced charge separation is the pivotal step driving the storage of sun light into electrical or chemical energy. If properly mastered, these processes may also allow us to achieve a better command of information storage at the nanoscale, as required for the development of molecular electronics, optical switching, or quantum technologies, amongst others. In this Topical Review we survey recent progress in the understanding of ultrafast charge separation from photoexcited states. We report the state-of-the-art of the observation and theoretical description of charge separation phenomena in the ultrafast regime mainly focusing on molecular- and nano-sized solar energy conversion systems. In particular, we examine different proposed mechanisms driving ultrafast charge dynamics, with particular regard to the role of quantum coherence and electron-nuclear coupling, and link experimental observations to theoretical approaches based either on model Hamiltonians or on first principles simulations.

Conversational Behaviors in Youth with High-functioning ASD and Asperger Syndrome

PubMed Central

Orlovski, Stephanie Miles; Marcinko, Hillary Chuba; Volkmar, Fred

2010-01-01

Twenty-nine youth with autism spectrum disorders and 26 with typical development between 12 and 18 years of age were engaged in structured interviews (ADOS). The interviews were videotaped and rated for atypical conversational behaviors by trained raters, using the Pragmatic Rating Scale (Landa et al. Psychol Med 22:245–254, 1992). The ASD group was divided into AS and HFA/PDD-NOS subgroups. Significant differences were found among groups on approximately one-third of the PRS items. These items involved primarily the management of topics and information, reciprocity, intonation, and gaze management. The only differences to reach significance between the AS and HFA/PDD-NOS group were a greater tendency for overly formal speech on the part of the AS group, and more difficulty with gaze management on the part of the group with HFA/PDD-NOS. The implications of these findings for understanding and treating conversational deficits in ASD are discussed. PMID:18607708

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brunett, A. J.; Fei, T.; Strons, P. S.

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT), located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is a test facility designed to evaluate the performance of reactor fuels and materials under transient accident conditions. The facility, an air-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor designed to utilize fuel containing high-enriched uranium (HEU), has been in non-operational standby status since 1994. Currently, in support of the missions of the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Material Management and Minimization (M3) Reactor Conversion Program, a new core design is being developed for TREAT that will utilize low-enriched uranium (LEU). The primary objective of this conversion effort ismore » to design an LEU core that is capable of meeting the performance characteristics of the existing HEU core. Minimal, if any, changes are anticipated for the supporting systems (e.g. reactor trip system, filtration/cooling system, etc.); therefore, the LEU core must also be able to function with the existing supporting systems, and must also satisfy acceptable safety limits. In support of the LEU conversion effort, a range of ancillary safety analyses are required to evaluate the LEU core operation relative to that of the existing facility. These analyses cover neutronics, shielding, and thermal hydraulic topics that have been identified as having the potential to have reduced safety margins due to conversion to LEU fuel, or are required to support the required safety analyses documentation. The majority of these ancillary tasks have been identified in [1] and [2]. The purpose of this report is to document the ancillary safety analyses that have been performed at Argonne National Laboratory during the early stages of the LEU design effort, and to describe ongoing and anticipated analyses. For all analyses presented in this report, methodologies are utilized that are consistent with, or improved from, those used in analyses for the HEU Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) [3]. Depending on the availability of historical data derived from HEU TREAT operation, results calculated for the LEU core are compared to measurements obtained from HEU TREAT operation. While all analyses in this report are largely considered complete and have been reviewed for technical content, it is important to note that all topics will be revisited once the LEU design approaches its final stages of maturity. For most safety significant issues, it is expected that the analyses presented here will be bounding, but additional calculations will be performed as necessary to support safety analyses and safety documentation. It should also be noted that these analyses were completed as the LEU design evolved, and therefore utilized different LEU reference designs. Preliminary shielding, neutronic, and thermal hydraulic analyses have been completed and have generally demonstrated that the various LEU core designs will satisfy existing safety limits and standards also satisfied by the existing HEU core. These analyses include the assessment of the dose rate in the hodoscope room, near a loaded fuel transfer cask, above the fuel storage area, and near the HEPA filters. The potential change in the concentration of tramp uranium and change in neutron flux reaching instrumentation has also been assessed. Safety-significant thermal hydraulic items addressed in this report include thermally-induced mechanical distortion of the grid plate, and heating in the radial reflector.« less

Conceptual design study of a coal gasification combined-cycle powerplant for industrial cogeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloomfield, H. S.; Nelson, S. G.; Straight, H. F.; Subramaniam, T. K.; Winklepleck, R. G.

1981-03-01

A conceptual design study was conducted to assess technical feasibility, environmental characteristics, and economics of coal gasification. The feasibility of a coal gasification combined cycle cogeneration powerplant was examined in response to energy needs and to national policy aimed at decreasing dependence on oil and natural gas. The powerplant provides the steam heating and baseload electrical requirements while serving as a prototype for industrial cogeneration and a modular building block for utility applications. The following topics are discussed: (1) screening of candidate gasification, sulfur removal and power conversion components; (2) definition of a reference system; (3) quantification of plant emissions and waste streams; (4) estimates of capital and operating costs; and (5) a procurement and construction schedule. It is concluded that the proposed powerplant is technically feasible and environmentally superior.

Conceptual design study of a coal gasification combined-cycle powerplant for industrial cogeneration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloomfield, H. S.; Nelson, S. G.; Straight, H. F.; Subramaniam, T. K.; Winklepleck, R. G.

1981-01-01

A conceptual design study was conducted to assess technical feasibility, environmental characteristics, and economics of coal gasification. The feasibility of a coal gasification combined cycle cogeneration powerplant was examined in response to energy needs and to national policy aimed at decreasing dependence on oil and natural gas. The powerplant provides the steam heating and baseload electrical requirements while serving as a prototype for industrial cogeneration and a modular building block for utility applications. The following topics are discussed: (1) screening of candidate gasification, sulfur removal and power conversion components; (2) definition of a reference system; (3) quantification of plant emissions and waste streams; (4) estimates of capital and operating costs; and (5) a procurement and construction schedule. It is concluded that the proposed powerplant is technically feasible and environmentally superior.

Maintaining a Distinction Between Possible and Impossible Topics of Conversation in the Outpatient Respiratory Medical Clinic

PubMed Central

Jensen, Lone Birgitte Skov; Larsen, Kristian; Konradsen, Hanne

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to generate a grounded theory explaining patterns of behavior among health care professionals (HCPs) during interactions with patients in outpatient respiratory medical clinics. The findings suggest that the HCPs managed contradictory expectations to the interaction by maintaining a distinction between possible and impossible topics to counseling. Three subcategories explaining the effort that maintain the impossible and possible topics separated were identified: (a) an effort to maintain the diseased lungs as the main task in counseling, (b) navigating interactions to avoid strong emotions of suffering in patients to reveal, (c) avoiding the appearance of the non-alterable life circumstances of the patients. The HCPs’ attitudes toward what patients could be offered generated a distance and a difficulty during counseling and created further suffering in the patients but likewise a discomfort and frustration among the HCPs. PMID:28462333

Maintaining a Distinction Between Possible and Impossible Topics of Conversation in the Outpatient Respiratory Medical Clinic.

PubMed

Jensen, Lone Birgitte Skov; Larsen, Kristian; Konradsen, Hanne

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to generate a grounded theory explaining patterns of behavior among health care professionals (HCPs) during interactions with patients in outpatient respiratory medical clinics. The findings suggest that the HCPs managed contradictory expectations to the interaction by maintaining a distinction between possible and impossible topics to counseling. Three subcategories explaining the effort that maintain the impossible and possible topics separated were identified: (a) an effort to maintain the diseased lungs as the main task in counseling, (b) navigating interactions to avoid strong emotions of suffering in patients to reveal, (c) avoiding the appearance of the non-alterable life circumstances of the patients. The HCPs' attitudes toward what patients could be offered generated a distance and a difficulty during counseling and created further suffering in the patients but likewise a discomfort and frustration among the HCPs.

Subclinical Primary Psychopathy, but Not Physical Formidability or Attractiveness, Predicts Conversational Dominance in a Zero-Acquaintance Situation

PubMed Central

Manson, Joseph H.; Gervais, Matthew M.; Fessler, Daniel M. T.; Kline, Michelle A.

2014-01-01

The determinants of conversational dominance are not well understood. We used videotaped triadic interactions among unacquainted same-sex American college students to test predictions drawn from the theoretical distinction between dominance and prestige as modes of human status competition. Specifically, we investigated the effects of physical formidability, facial attractiveness, social status, and self-reported subclinical psychopathy on quantitative (proportion of words produced), participatory (interruptions produced and sustained), and sequential (topic control) dominance. No measure of physical formidability or attractiveness was associated with any form of conversational dominance, suggesting that the characteristics of our study population or experimental frame may have moderated their role in dominance dynamics. Primary psychopathy was positively associated with quantitative dominance and (marginally) overall triad talkativeness, and negatively associated (in men) with affect word use, whereas secondary psychopathy was unrelated to conversational dominance. The two psychopathy factors had significant opposing effects on quantitative dominance in a multivariate model. These latter findings suggest that glibness in primary psychopathy may function to elicit exploitable information from others in a relationally mobile society. PMID:25426962

Student use of narrative and paradigmatic forms of talk in elementary science conversations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurth, Lori A.; Kidd, Raymond; Gardner, Roberta; Smith, Edward L.

2002-11-01

The purpose of this work was to examine and characterize student use of narrative and paradigmatic expression in elementary science discourse. This interpretive study occurred over a 2-year period in a professional development school with a largely international population. This analysis focused on the narrative and paradigmatic modes of expression used by combined first-second- and second-grade students in a semistructured, fairly autonomous, whole-class conversational format. Students demonstrated competence with both modes of talk at the beginning of the year. Over time, students moved toward more paradigmatic talk, but narrative examples continued to be key components of the science conversations. Topically, students used narrative more often for life sciences and paradigmatic talk for physical sciences. For gender there were no qualitative differences in narrative or paradigmatic expression. However, boys obtained more opportunities to practice their use of both discourse forms by either receiving more speaking turns or expressing more language features per turn. These conversations show that narrative and paradigmatic modes in science need not be in opposition but can, in fact, be used together in complementary ways that are mutually enhancing.

Subclinical primary psychopathy, but not physical formidability or attractiveness, predicts conversational dominance in a zero-acquaintance situation.

PubMed

Manson, Joseph H; Gervais, Matthew M; Fessler, Daniel M T; Kline, Michelle A

2014-01-01

The determinants of conversational dominance are not well understood. We used videotaped triadic interactions among unacquainted same-sex American college students to test predictions drawn from the theoretical distinction between dominance and prestige as modes of human status competition. Specifically, we investigated the effects of physical formidability, facial attractiveness, social status, and self-reported subclinical psychopathy on quantitative (proportion of words produced), participatory (interruptions produced and sustained), and sequential (topic control) dominance. No measure of physical formidability or attractiveness was associated with any form of conversational dominance, suggesting that the characteristics of our study population or experimental frame may have moderated their role in dominance dynamics. Primary psychopathy was positively associated with quantitative dominance and (marginally) overall triad talkativeness, and negatively associated (in men) with affect word use, whereas secondary psychopathy was unrelated to conversational dominance. The two psychopathy factors had significant opposing effects on quantitative dominance in a multivariate model. These latter findings suggest that glibness in primary psychopathy may function to elicit exploitable information from others in a relationally mobile society.

Peer-Peer Interaction in a Speaking Test: The Case of the "First Certificate in English" Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galaczi, Evelina D.

2008-01-01

This discourse-based study turns its attention to paired test-taker discourse in the First Certificate in English speaking test. Its primary aim is to focus on fundamental conversation management concepts, such as overall structural organisation, turn-taking, sequencing, and topic organisation found in the dyadic test-taker interaction in 30 pairs…

Linguistic Economies: Commentary on Language Policy Special Issue "Policing for Commodification: Turning Communicative Resources into Commodities"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cavanaugh, Jillian R.

2018-01-01

Although the relationship between language and economic activity has long been a topic of scholarly research, much of it building on the work of Raymond Williams and Pierre Bourdieu, recent attention to the commodification of language and its relationship to global economies and late capitalism moves this conversation in new directions. The…

Proceedings of the 1994 international meeting on reduced enrichment for research and test reactors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1997-08-01

This meeting brought together participants in the international effort to minimize and eventually eliminate the use of highly enriched uranium in civilian nuclear programs. Papers cover the following topics: National programs; fuel cycle; nuclear fuels; analyses; advanced reactors; and reactor conversions. Selected papers have been indexed separately for inclusion to the Energy Science and Technology Database.

Invasive Species as Ecological Threat: Is Restoration an Alternative to Fear-based Resource Management?

Treesearch

Paul H. Gobster

2005-01-01

Invasive species is a hot topic in the USDA Forest Service these days. Along with wildfire, land conversion and unmanaged recreation, Chief Dale Bosworth has called invasive species one of the `Four Threats` needing the attention of Forest Service land managers and researchers (USDA Forest Service 2004). My unit of the Forest Service, the North Central Research...

A Review of Parent-Based Barriers to Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex and Sexuality: Implications for Sex and Family Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malacane, Mona; Beckmeyer, Jonathon J.

2016-01-01

Although adolescents' sexual health is generally better when parents and adolescents communicate about sex and sexuality, researchers have found parents can be reluctant to engage adolescents in conversations about those topics. To better understand why, we reviewed prior literature and identified four types of parent-based barriers to…

Wherefore Art Thou MOOC?: Defining Massive Open Online Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackmon, Stephanie J.; Major, Claire H.

2017-01-01

Although MOOCs are a much-discussed topic in higher education, conversations about MOOCs do not often include details regarding the nuanced nature of these courses. What do people mean when they use the term MOOC? In the current work, we delve into the variations of MOOCs, and we put a typology we previously created into practice. Our goal with…

Arts and Learning SIG Proceedings: American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana, April 23-27, 1984). Volume 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koroscik, Judith S., Ed.; Barrett, Terry, Ed.

Sixteen conference papers representing diverse topics concerning research in the arts and presented as part of the 1984 Arts and Learning Special Interest Group (SIG) program of the American Educational Research Association are presented in the second of two volumes. Papers presented include: "First Graders' Conversations about Art Making:…

Yes, and … : Continuing the Scholarly Conversation about Mental Health Stigma in Higher Education. Wicked Problems Forum: Mental Health Stigma

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rudick, C. Kyle; Dannels, Deanna P.

2018-01-01

The issues surrounding mental health stigma in higher education are complex and multipronged; perfectly classifying the topic as a "wicked problem" Approximately 55% of students stated they have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for some form of mental illness while in college (American College Health Association, 2017a). The…

Reduced enrichment for research and test reactors: Proceedings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-07-01

The 15th annual Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) international meeting was organized by Ris{o} National Laboratory in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and Argonne National Laboratory. The topics of the meeting were the following: National Programs, Fuel Fabrication, Licensing Aspects, States of Conversion, Fuel Testing, and Fuel Cycle. Individual papers have been cataloged separately.

Deeper Learning, Reduced Stress: A Daily Schedule that Makes a Difference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flocco, David C.

2012-01-01

In the middle of the author's doctoral coursework in the spring of 2002, he had a discussion with the head of the upper school at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) (New Jersey) about a potential dissertation topic that would benefit their community. In no time at all, the conversation turned to the daily schedule. In August 2004, the author…

National Degree of Computerization: A Context for Evaluating Computer Education Policies in Developing Countries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boehm, Barry W.

Developing countries should take immediate steps to avoid some of the serious problems that are now facing the United States in regard to the pool of trained computer professionals. Problem areas which should be reconciled involve a diverse range of topics from general national policy to salary structures and conversions efforts. By using the…

Scholarship in Student Affairs Revisited: The Summit on Scholarship, March 2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jablonski, Margaret A.; Mena, Salvador B.; Manning, Kathleen; Carpenter, Stan; Siko, Kari Lee

2006-01-01

Over the past 5 years, ACPA and NASPA have promoted conversations about an exploration of scholarship in the field through dedicated special issues of their journals (2001 and 2002 respectively) to the topic. The leadership of NASPA called a "summit" in 2006 for scholars and practitioners to gather and discuss the state of scholarship in the field…

Cognitive Development, Culture, and Conversation: Comments on Harris and Koenig's "Truth in Testimony: How Children Learn about Science and Religion"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Callanan, Maureen A.

2006-01-01

Harris and Koenig make a compelling case for the importance of adult "testimony" and its influence on children's developing conceptions of topics in science and religion. This commentary considers how their analysis relates to constructivist and sociocultural theories and discusses several ways in which Harris and Koenig's arguments help to debunk…

The Role of Technology in EC Teacher Education: Global Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Selena; Donohue, Chip

2009-01-01

The first Working Forum for Teacher Educators was held in Auckland, New Zealand, in May 2008. Working Forum hosts Selena Fox, Chip Donohue, and Bonnie and Roger Neugebauer, organized the three-day event and created a format in which conversations on a variety of topics related to teacher education helped to organize and guide the Working Forum.…

Levels of Code Switching on EFL Student's Daily Language; Study of Language Production

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zainuddin

2016-01-01

This study is aimed at describing the levels of code switching on EFL students' daily conversation. The topic is chosen due to the facts that code switching phenomenon are commonly found in daily speech of Indonesian community such as in teenager talks, television serial dialogues and mass media. Therefore, qualitative data were collected by using…

Informal Statistics Help Desk

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ploutz-Snyder, R. J.; Feiveson, A. H.

2015-01-01

Back by popular demand, the JSC Biostatistics Lab is offering an opportunity for informal conversation about challenges you may have encountered with issues of experimental design, analysis, data visualization or related topics. Get answers to common questions about sample size, repeated measures, violation of distributional assumptions, missing data, multiple testing, time-to-event data, when to trust the results of your analyses (reproducibility issues) and more.

Action-projection in Japanese conversation: topic particles wa, mo, and tte for triggering categorization activities

PubMed Central

Tanaka, Hiroko

2015-01-01

Conversation analytic work has revealed how anticipatory completions and preemptive actions can offer invaluable glimpses into the cognitive, contextual, grammatical, and temporal bases of projectability in turn-taking, by virtue of their potential not only as a display of participants' online prediction of roughly what it might take to complete a turn-in-progress but also to plan the next move. While the predicate-final word order and the incremental transformability of turns in Japanese generally lead to delayed projectability of turn-endings, this may be partially offset by the capacity of certain postpositional particles to trigger and propel prospective action trajectories. This article engages in a case study of the topic particle wa (and related particles mo and tte), by demonstrating how its grammatical affordances, the categorization activities, and cognitive processing it can set in motion, coupled with the immediate contextual, and temporal-productional features may coalesce to a point of critical mass, thereby enhancing the projectability of the not-yet-produced trajectory of the current turn. The discussion attempts to contribute to recent debates on ways language-specific lexicogrammatical resources are deeply interlinked with the types of opportunities that are provided for social action. PMID:26379565

What is agenda setting in the clinical encounter? Consensus from literature review and expert consultation.

PubMed

Gobat, Nina; Kinnersley, Paul; Gregory, John W; Robling, Michael

2015-07-01

To establish consensus on the core domains of agenda setting in consultations. We reviewed the healthcare literature and, using a modified Delphi technique to embrace both patient and clinician perspectives, conducted an iterative online survey, with 30 experts in health communication. Participants described agenda setting and rated the importance of proposed domains. Consensus was determined where the group median was ≥5 on a 7-point Likert-like response scale, and the interquartile range fell to within one point on this scale. Relevant publications were identified in three overlapping bodies of healthcare literature. Survey respondents considered that agenda setting involved a process whereby patients and clinicians establish a joint focus for both their conversation and their working relationship. Consensus was obtained on six core domains: identifying patient talk topics, identifying clinician talk topics, agreement of shared priorities, establishing conversational focus, collaboration and engagement. New terminology--agenda mapping and agenda navigation--is proposed. We identified core agenda setting domains that embraced patient and clinician perspectives. An integrated conceptualization of agenda setting may now be used by researchers and educators in both clinician and patient focused interventions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bringing Chatbots into education: Towards Natural Language Negotiation of Open Learner Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerlyl, Alice; Hall, Phil; Bull, Susan

There is an extensive body of work on Intelligent Tutoring Systems: computer environments for education, teaching and training that adapt to the needs of the individual learner. Work on personalisation and adaptivity has included research into allowing the student user to enhance the system's adaptivity by improving the accuracy of the underlying learner model. Open Learner Modelling, where the system's model of the user's knowledge is revealed to the user, has been proposed to support student reflection on their learning. Increased accuracy of the learner model can be obtained by the student and system jointly negotiating the learner model. We present the initial investigations into a system to allow people to negotiate the model of their understanding of a topic in natural language. This paper discusses the development and capabilities of both conversational agents (or chatbots) and Intelligent Tutoring Systems, in particular Open Learner Modelling. We describe a Wizard-of-Oz experiment to investigate the feasibility of using a chatbot to support negotiation, and conclude that a fusion of the two fields can lead to developing negotiation techniques for chatbots and the enhancement of the Open Learner Model. This technology, if successful, could have widespread application in schools, universities and other training scenarios.

Relevance of deep-subsurface microbiology for underground gas storage and geothermal energy production.

PubMed

Gniese, Claudia; Bombach, Petra; Rakoczy, Jana; Hoth, Nils; Schlömann, Michael; Richnow, Hans-Hermann; Krüger, Martin

2014-01-01

This chapter gives the reader an introduction into the microbiology of deep geological systems with a special focus on potential geobiotechnological applications and respective risk assessments. It has been known for decades that microbial activity is responsible for the degradation or conversion of hydrocarbons in oil, gas, and coal reservoirs. These processes occur in the absence of oxygen, a typical characteristic of such deep ecosystems. The understanding of the responsible microbial processes and their environmental regulation is not only of great scientific interest. It also has substantial economic and social relevance, inasmuch as these processes directly or indirectly affect the quantity and quality of the stored oil or gas. As outlined in the following chapter, in addition to the conventional hydrocarbons, new interest in such deep subsurface systems is rising for different technological developments. These are introduced together with related geomicrobiological topics. The capture and long-termed storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon capture and storage (CCS), for example, in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, is considered to be an important options to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. On the other hand, the increasing contribution of energy from natural and renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal energy, or biogas production leads to an increasing interest in underground storage of renewable energies. Energy carriers, that is, biogas, methane, or hydrogen, are often produced in a nonconstant manner and renewable energy may be produced at some distance from the place where it is needed. Therefore, storing the energy after its conversion to methane or hydrogen in porous reservoirs or salt caverns is extensively discussed. All these developments create new research fields and challenges for microbiologists and geobiotechnologists. As a basis for respective future work, we introduce the three major topics, that is, CCS, underground storage of gases from renewable energy production, and the production of geothermal energy, and summarize the current stat of knowledge about related geomicrobiological and geobiotechnological aspects in this chapter. Finally, recommendations are made for future research.

Advanced Issues of Wind Turbine Modelling and Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simani, Silvio

2015-11-01

The motivation for this paper comes from a real need to have an overview about the challenges of modelling and control for very demanding systems, such as wind turbine systems, which require reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety over power conversion efficiency. These issues have begun to stimulate research and development in the wide control community particularly for these installations that need a high degree of “sustainability”. Note that this topic represents a key point mainly for offshore wind turbines with very large rotors, since they are characterised by challenging modelling and control problems, as well as expensive and safety critical maintenance works. In this case, a clear conflict exists between ensuring a high degree of availability and reducing maintenance times, which affect the final energy cost. On the other hand, wind turbines have highly nonlinear dynamics, with a stochastic and uncontrollable driving force as input in the form of wind speed, thus representing an interesting challenge also from the modelling point of view. Suitable control methods can provide a sustainable optimisation of the energy conversion efficiency over wider than normally expected working conditions. Moreover, a proper mathematical description of the wind turbine system should be able to capture the complete behaviour of the process under monitoring, thus providing an important impact on the control design itself. In this way, the control scheme could guarantee prescribed performance, whilst also giving a degree of “tolerance” to possible deviation of characteristic properties or system parameters from standard conditions, if properly included in the wind turbine model itself. The most important developments in advanced controllers for wind turbines are addressed, and open problems in the areas of modelling of wind turbines are also outlined.

KAM (Knowledge Acquisition Module): A tool to simplify the knowledge acquisition process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gettig, Gary A.

1988-01-01

Analysts, knowledge engineers and information specialists are faced with increasing volumes of time-sensitive data in text form, either as free text or highly structured text records. Rapid access to the relevant data in these sources is essential. However, due to the volume and organization of the contents, and limitations of human memory and association, frequently: (1) important information is not located in time; (2) reams of irrelevant data are searched; and (3) interesting or critical associations are missed due to physical or temporal gaps involved in working with large files. The Knowledge Acquisition Module (KAM) is a microcomputer-based expert system designed to assist knowledge engineers, analysts, and other specialists in extracting useful knowledge from large volumes of digitized text and text-based files. KAM formulates non-explicit, ambiguous, or vague relations, rules, and facts into a manageable and consistent formal code. A library of system rules or heuristics is maintained to control the extraction of rules, relations, assertions, and other patterns from the text. These heuristics can be added, deleted or customized by the user. The user can further control the extraction process with optional topic specifications. This allows the user to cluster extracts based on specific topics. Because KAM formalizes diverse knowledge, it can be used by a variety of expert systems and automated reasoning applications. KAM can also perform important roles in computer-assisted training and skill development. Current research efforts include the applicability of neural networks to aid in the extraction process and the conversion of these extracts into standard formats.

Taking a "Snapshot": Evaluation of a Conversation Aid for Identifying Psychosocial Needs in Young Adults with Cancer.

PubMed

Poort, Hanneke; Souza, Phoebe M; Malinowski, Paige K; MacDougall, Katelyn M; Barysauskas, Constance M; Lau Greenberg, Teresa; Tulsky, James A; Fasciano, Karen M

2018-05-21

Young adults (YAs) aged 18-35 years with cancer often experience unmet psychosocial needs. We aimed to evaluate a conversation aid ("Snapshot") that offered a framework for discussing YA-specific psychosocial concerns between patients and clinicians. We developed and implemented Snapshot between 2014 and 2016 as part of a quality improvement initiative at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We extracted pre- and postimplementation data from chart documentation of psychosocial concerns. YAs and social workers provided qualitative feedback on the use of Snapshot in clinical care. Postintervention chart reviews revealed a significant increase in the median number of topics documented in charts after implementation of Snapshot (preintervention median = 9 [range: 1-15] vs. postintervention median = 11 [range 6-15]; p = 0.003). Overall, YAs and social workers reported that using Snapshot improved communication and consistency of psychosocial care, with documented improvement in the following domains: understanding illness (p < 0.001), sexuality and intimacy (p = 0.03), symptom burden (p = 0.003), care planning (p < 0.001), support for caregivers and children (p = 0.02), and social, work, and home changes (p = 0.05). Snapshot improved the quality of psychosocial needs assessment among YAs with cancer. Implementation was successful in reducing variability identified in the preintervention cohort and increasing the number of YA-specific psychosocial topics discussed. A standardized conversation aid has the potential to improve quality of care for YAs by enabling early identification and intervention of psychosocial issues for all patients.

Evaluative studies in nuclear medicine research. Progress report, October 1, 1979-June 30, 1980

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Potchen, E.J.

Effort since the last progress report (September 1979) has been directed toward assessing the potential short and long term benefits of continued development and application and medical research of emission computed tomograhy (ECT). This report contains a review of existing ECT technology, including functional descriptions of current and proposed image systems, for both sngle-photon ECT (SPECT) and positron ECT (PECT) approaches. Medical research and clinical topics to which ECT has been, or may be, applied are presented. One such area of investigation involves the effects of stroke. The application of ECT to laboratory research, and to clinical diagnosis and prognosis,more » of stroke may result in improved management of the disease. An illustration of the potential savings in the cost of management of stroke due to the effects of applied ECT research is included. The results represent a compilation of data collected from conversations with, and conference presentations by, ECT users, researchers and image system designers, and from a review of the literature.« less

Education System Benefits of U.S. Metric Conversion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phelps, Richard P.

1996-01-01

U.S. metric conversion efforts are reviewed as they have affected education. Education system benefits and costs are estimated for three possible system conversion plans. The soft-conversion-to-metric plan, which drops all inch-pound instruction, appears to provide the largest net benefits. The primary benefit is in class time saved. (SLD)

5 CFR 534.406 - Conversion to the SES pay system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Conversion to the SES pay system. 534.406... UNDER OTHER SYSTEMS Pay and Performance Awards Under the Senior Executive Service § 534.406 Conversion... senior executive's converted rate of basic pay. Conversion to a new SES rate of basic pay is not...

The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career: A Portable Mentor for Scholars from Graduate School through Tenure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldsmith, John A.; Komlos, John; Gold, Penny Schine

Written as an informal conversation among colleagues, this book provides a guide to the academic career. It contains useful advice about finding a mentor, making it through the dissertation, getting a job, obtaining tenure, and other topics. The chapters of part 1, Becoming a Scholar, are: (1) Deciding on an Academic Career; (2) Entering Graduate…

Scientific and Technical Chinese, Volume I. A Textbook of Twenty-One Lessons and Supplementary Readings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kao, Kung-yi; And Others

An intermediate-level textbook intended for those who have had at least 2 1/2 years of Chinese language study is presented. The objective of the text is to assist in developing the reading and conversational skills required for dealing with general topics in the pure and applied sciences. Common terms and concepts from three general fields (Life…

Monthly energy review, December 1991. [Contains glossary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-12-23

This publication contains data and informative feature articles pertaining to various energy sources. The following topics are discussed: Section 1. energy overview; section 2. energy consumption; Section 3. petroleum; Section 4. natural gas; Section 5. Oil and gas resource development; Section 6. Coal; Section 7. electricity; Section 8. nuclear energy; Section 9. energy prices and Section 10. international energy. Appendix conversion factors a glossary is included. 57 tabs.,

Beyond Blame: Challenging Violence in the Media. Leader's Guide E: Parent/Caregiver Classes and Groups.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thoman, Elizabeth, Ed.

This program provides a new framework and approach for breaking the cycle of blame surrounding violent imagery in the culture and promotes an informed and rational public conversation about the topic. The goals of the program are to: (1) reduce exposure to media violence; (2) change the impact of violent images that are seen; (3) locate and…

Interactional Patterns Among Dental School Students and the Influence of Building Design. Final Progress Report on the Planning Study: Behavioral Factors in Dental School Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Myrick, Richard; Marx, Barbara S.

The relationship of architecture to human behavior is a topic of increasing concern both to designers and behavioral scientists. To further evaluate the extent of the relationship a series of preliminary investigations has been undertaken. The primary means of measurement was informal conversations of dental students as related to the…

Do Teacher Absences Impact Student Achievement? Longitudinal Evidence from One Urban School District. NBER Working Paper No. 13356

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Raegen T.; Murnane, Richard J.; Willett, John B.

2007-01-01

Rates of employee absences and the effects of absences on productivity are topics of conversation in many organizations in many countries. One reason is that high rates of employee absence may signal weak management and poor labor-management relations. A second reason is that reducing rates of employee absence may be an effective way to improve…

#Globalhealth Twitter Conversations on #Malaria, #HIV, #TB, #NCDS, and #NTDS: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

PubMed

Fung, Isaac Chun-Hai; Jackson, Ashley M; Ahweyevu, Jennifer O; Grizzle, Jordan H; Yin, Jingjing; Tse, Zion Tsz Ho; Liang, Hai; Sekandi, Juliet N; Fu, King-Wa

Advocates use the hashtag #GlobalHealth on Twitter to draw users' attention to prominent themes on global health, to harness their support, and to advocate for change. We aimed to describe #GlobalHealth tweets pertinent to given major health issues. Tweets containing the hashtag #GlobalHealth (N = 157,951) from January 1, 2014, to April 30, 2015, were purchased from GNIP Inc. We extracted 5 subcorpora of tweets, each with 1 of 5 co-occurring disease-specific hashtags (#Malaria, #HIV, #TB, #NCDS, and #NTDS) for further analysis. Unsupervised machine learning was applied to each subcorpus to categorize the tweets by their underlying topics and obtain the representative tweets of each topic. The topics were grouped into 1 of 4 themes (advocacy; epidemiological information; prevention, control, and treatment; societal impact) or miscellaneous. Manual categorization of most frequent users was performed. Time zones of users were analyzed. In the entire #GlobalHealth corpus (N = 157,951), there were 40,266 unique users, 85,168 retweets, and 13,107 unique co-occurring hashtags. Of the 13,087 tweets across the 5 subcorpora with co-occurring hashtag #malaria (n = 3640), #HIV (n = 3557), #NCDS (noncommunicable diseases; n = 2373), #TB (tuberculosis; n = 1781), and #NTDS (neglected tropical diseases; n = 1736), the most prevalent theme was prevention, control, and treatment (4339, 33.16%), followed by advocacy (3706, 28.32%), epidemiological information (1803, 13.78%), and societal impact (1617, 12.36%). Among the top 10 users who tweeted the highest number of tweets in the #GlobalHealth corpus, 5 were individual professionals, 3 were news media, and 2 were organizations advocating for global health. The most common users' time zone was Eastern Time (United States and Canada). This study highlighted the specific #GlobalHealth Twitter conversations pertinent to malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, noncommunicable diseases, and neglected tropical diseases. These conversations reflect the priorities of advocates, funders, policymakers, and practitioners of global health on these high-burden diseases as they presented their views and information on Twitter to their followers. Copyright © 2017 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2006

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2006-01-01

Topics covered include: Airport Remote Tower Sensor Systems; Implantable Wireless MEMS Sensors for Medical Uses; Embedded Sensors for Measuring Surface Regression; Coordinating an Autonomous Earth-Observing Sensorweb; Range-Measuring Video Sensors; Stability Enhancement of Polymeric Sensing Films Using Fillers; Sensors for Using Times of Flight to Measure Flow Velocities; Receiver Would Control Phasing of a Phased-Array Antenna; Modern Design of Resonant Edge-Slot Array Antennas; Carbon-Nanotube Schottky Diodes; Simplified Optics and Controls for Laser Communications; Coherent Detection of High-Rate Optical PPM Signals; Multichannel Phase and Power Detector; Using Satellite Data in Weather Forecasting: I; Using Dissimilarity Metrics to Identify Interesting Designs; X-Windows PVT Widget Class; Shuttle Data Center File-Processing Tool in Java; Statistical Evaluation of Utilization of the ISS; Nanotube Dispersions Made With Charged Surfactant; Aerogels for Thermal Insulation of Thermoelectric Devices; Low-Density, Creep-Resistant Single-Crystal Superalloys; Excitations for Rapidly Estimating Flight-Control Parameters; Estimation of Stability and Control Derivatives of an F-15; Tool for Coupling a Torque Wrench to a Round Cable Connector; Ultrasonically Actuated Tools for Abrading Rock Surfaces; Active Struts With Variable Spring Stiffness and Damping; Multiaxis, Lightweight, Computer-Controlled Exercise System; Dehydrating and Sterilizing Wastes Using Supercritical CO2; Alpha-Voltaic Sources Using Liquid Ga as Conversion Medium; Ice-Borehole Probe; Alpha-Voltaic Sources Using Diamond as Conversion Medium; White-Light Whispering-Gallery-Mode Optical Resonators; Controlling Attitude of a Solar-Sail Spacecraft Using Vanes; and Wire-Mesh-Based Sorber for Removing Contaminants from Air.

Pragmatics in discourse performance: insights from aphasiology.

PubMed

Ulatowska, Hanna K; Olness, Gloria Streit

2007-05-01

This article examines the preservation of pragmatic abilities of individuals with aphasia, as manifested in the discourse they produce. The construct of coherence is used as a framework for understanding this pragmatic preservation. Discourse coherence is largely derived from the structure, selection, and highlighting of information expressed in a discourse. Personal narratives, as one type of discourse, represent an extended turn-in-conversation on a topic of personal relevance to the speaker, common in everyday life. As such, they provide a valuable source of information about a speaker's pragmatic ability. Examples of personal narratives told by individuals with aphasia are used to illustrate and discuss the means by which discourse coherence is achieved. These include a tightly structured temporal-causal event line, development of theme, and evaluation of information. Possible approaches to clinical assessment are considered, including use of global rating systems.

Strategies for discovery and optimization of thermoelectric materials: Role of real objects and local fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Hao; Xiao, Chong

2018-06-01

Thermoelectric materials provide a renewable and eco-friendly solution to mitigate energy shortages and to reduce environmental pollution via direct heat-to-electricity conversion. Discovery of the novel thermoelectric materials and optimization of the state-of-the-art material systems lie at the core of the thermoelectric society, the basic concept behind these being comprehension and manipulation of the physical principles and transport properties regarding thermoelectric materials. In this mini-review, certain examples for designing high-performance bulk thermoelectric materials are presented from the perspectives of both real objects and local fields. The highlights of this topic involve the Rashba effect, Peierls distortion, local magnetic field, and local stress field, which cover several aspects in the field of thermoelectric research. We conclude with an overview of future developments in thermoelectricity.

Serious Illness Conversations in ESRD

PubMed Central

Bernacki, Rachelle E.; Block, Susan D.

2017-01-01

Dialysis-dependent ESRD is a serious illness with high disease burden, morbidity, and mortality. Mortality in the first year on dialysis for individuals over age 75 years old approaches 40%, and even those with better prognoses face multiple hospitalizations and declining functional status. In the last month of life, patients on dialysis over age 65 years old experience higher rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, procedures, and death in hospital than patients with cancer or heart failure, while using hospice services less. This high intensity of care is often inconsistent with the wishes of patients on dialysis but persists due to failure to explore or discuss patient goals, values, and preferences in the context of their serious illness. Fewer than 10% of patients on dialysis report having had a conversation about goals, values, and preferences with their nephrologist, although nearly 90% report wanting this conversation. Many nephrologists shy away from these conversations, because they do not wish to upset their patients, feel that there is too much uncertainty in their ability to predict prognosis, are insecure in their skills at broaching the topic, or have difficulty incorporating the conversations into their clinical workflow. In multiple studies, timely discussions about serious illness care goals, however, have been associated with enhanced goal-consistent care, improved quality of life, and positive family outcomes without an increase in patient distress or anxiety. In this special feature article, we will (1) identify the barriers to serious illness conversations in the dialysis population, (2) review best practices in and specific approaches to conducting serious illness conversations, and (3) offer solutions to overcome barriers as well as practical advice, including specific language and tools, to implement serious illness conversations in the dialysis population. PMID:28031417

Discussing Out-of-Pocket Expenses During Clinical Appointments: An Observational Study of Patient-Psychiatrist Interactions.

PubMed

Brown, Gregory D; Hunter, Wynn G; Hesson, Ashley; Davis, J Kelly; Kirby, Christine; Barnett, Jamison A; Byelmac, Dmytro; Ubel, Peter A

2017-06-01

High out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment have been associated with worse quality of life, decreased treatment adherence, and increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Treatment of depression potentially has high out-of-pocket expenses. Limited data characterize psychiatrist-patient conversations about health care costs. The authors conducted content analysis from 422 outpatient psychiatrist-patient visits for medication management of major depressive disorder in community-based private practices nationwide from 2010 to 2014. Patients' health care expenses were discussed in 38% of clinic visits (95% confidence interval [CI]= 33%-43%). Uninsured patients were significantly more likely to discuss expenses than were patients enrolled in private or public plans (64%, 44%, and 30%, respectively; p<.001). Sixty-nine percent of cost conversations lasted less than one minute (median=36 seconds; interquartile range [IQR]=16-81 seconds). Cost conversations most frequently addressed psychotropic medications (51%). Physicians initiated 50% of cost conversations and brought up costs for psychotropic medications more often than did patients (62% versus 38%, p=.009). Conversely, a greater percentage of patient-initiated cost conversations addressed provider visit costs (27% versus 10%, p=.008). Overall, 45% of cost conversations mentioned cost-reducing strategies (CI=37%-53%). The most frequently discussed cost-reducing strategies were lowering cost by changing the source or timing of an intervention (for example, changing pharmacies), providing free samples, and switching to a lower-cost therapy or diagnostic test. Psychiatrists and patients regularly discuss patients' health care costs in visits for depression. These discussions cover a variety of clinical topics and frequently include strategies to lower patients' costs.

Solid waste information and tracking system server conversion project management plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MAY, D.L.

1999-04-12

The Project Management Plan governing the conversion of Solid Waste Information and Tracking System (SWITS) to a client-server architecture. The Solid Waste Information and Tracking System Project Management Plan (PMP) describes the background, planning and management of the SWITS conversion. Requirements and specification documentation needed for the SWITS conversion will be released as supporting documents.

Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance Delphi SOFC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steven Shaffer; Sean Kelly; Larry Chick

2003-05-20

The objective of Phase I under this project is to develop a 5 kW SOFC power system for a range of fuels and applications. During Phase I, the following will be accomplished: 1. Develop and demonstrate technology transfer efforts on a 5 kW stationary distributed power generation system that incorporates steam reforming of natural gas with piped-in water (Demonstration System A). 2. Initiate development of a 5 kW system for later mass-market automotive auxiliary power unit application, which will incorporate catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reforming of gasoline, with anode exhaust gas injected into an ultra-lean burn internal combustion engine. Thismore » topical report covers work performed by Delphi Automotive Systems from January through June 2002 under DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-FC-02NT41246 for the 5 kW mass-market automotive (gasoline) auxiliary power unit. This report highlights technical results of the work performed under the following tasks for the automotive 5 kW system: 1. System Design and Integration 2. SOFC Stack Development 3. Reformer Development The next anticipated Technical Progress Report will be submitted January 30, 2003 and will include tasks contained within the cooperative agreement including development work on the Demonstration System A, if available.« less

“How Did We Get Here?”: Topic Drift in Online Health Discussions

PubMed Central

Hartzler, Andrea L; Huh, Jina; Hsieh, Gary; McDonald, David W; Pratt, Wanda

2016-01-01

Background Patients increasingly use online health communities to exchange health information and peer support. During the progression of health discussions, a change of topic—topic drift—can occur. Topic drift is a frequent phenomenon linked to incoherence and frustration in online communities and other forms of computer-mediated communication. For sensitive topics, such as health, such drift could have life-altering repercussions, yet topic drift has not been studied in these contexts. Objective Our goals were to understand topic drift in online health communities and then to develop and evaluate an automated approach to detect both topic drift and efforts of community members to counteract such drift. Methods We manually analyzed 721 posts from 184 threads from 7 online health communities within WebMD to understand topic drift, members’ reaction towards topic drift, and their efforts to counteract topic drift. Then, we developed an automated approach to detect topic drift and counteraction efforts. We detected topic drift by calculating cosine similarity between 229,156 posts from 37,805 threads and measuring change of cosine similarity scores from the threads’ first posts to their sequential posts. Using a similar approach, we detected counteractions to topic drift in threads by focusing on the irregular increase of similarity scores compared to the previous post in threads. Finally, we evaluated the performance of our automated approaches to detect topic drift and counteracting efforts by using a manually developed gold standard. Results Our qualitative analyses revealed that in threads of online health communities, topics change gradually, but usually stay within the global frame of topics for the specific community. Members showed frustration when topic drift occurred in the middle of threads but reacted positively to off-topic stories shared as separate threads. Although all types of members helped to counteract topic drift, original posters provided the most effort to keep threads on topic. Cosine similarity scores show promise for automatically detecting topical changes in online health discussions. In our manual evaluation, we achieved an F1 score of .71 and .73 for detecting topic drift and counteracting efforts to stay on topic, respectively. Conclusions Our analyses expand our understanding of topic drift in a health context and highlight practical implications, such as promoting off-topic discussions as a function of building rapport in online health communities. Furthermore, the quantitative findings suggest that an automated tool could help detect topic drift, support counteraction efforts to bring the conversation back on topic, and improve communication in these important communities. Findings from this study have the potential to reduce topic drift and improve online health community members’ experience of computer-mediated communication. Improved communication could enhance the personal health management of members who seek essential information and support during times of difficulty. PMID:27806924

Systematically reviewing and synthesizing evidence from conversation analytic and related discursive research to inform healthcare communication practice and policy: an illustrated guide

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Healthcare delivery is largely accomplished in and through conversations between people, and healthcare quality and effectiveness depend enormously upon the communication practices employed within these conversations. An important body of evidence about these practices has been generated by conversation analysis and related discourse analytic approaches, but there has been very little systematic reviewing of this evidence. Methods We developed an approach to reviewing evidence from conversation analytic and related discursive research through the following procedures: • reviewing existing systematic review methods and our own prior experience of applying these • clarifying distinctive features of conversation analytic and related discursive work which must be taken into account when reviewing • holding discussions within a review advisory team that included members with expertise in healthcare research, conversation analytic research, and systematic reviewing • attempting and then refining procedures through conducting an actual review which examined evidence about how people talk about difficult future issues including illness progression and dying Results We produced a step-by-step guide which we describe here in terms of eight stages, and which we illustrate from our ‘Review of Future Talk’. The guide incorporates both established procedures for systematic reviewing, and new techniques designed for working with conversation analytic evidence. Conclusions The guide is designed to inform systematic reviews of conversation analytic and related discursive evidence on specific domains and topics. Whilst we designed it for reviews that aim at informing healthcare practice and policy, it is flexible and could be used for reviews with other aims, for instance those aiming to underpin research programmes and projects. We advocate systematically reviewing conversation analytic and related discursive findings using this approach in order to translate them into a form that is credible and useful to healthcare practitioners, educators and policy-makers. PMID:23721181

'Conversion course' to allow holders of the IMI Diploma in Medical Illustration to gain a BSc in Medical Illustration from Glasgow Caledonian University.

PubMed

Herd, A Y; Milligan, R G

1997-09-01

The 'conversion course' described in this paper has been set up following discussions between the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) and Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). The 'conversion course' will take the form of a degree triple module with a credit rating of 60 Scottish Credit and Accumulation Transfer (SCOTCAT) credits at Scottish Degree (SD) level 3. This module will require the student to undertake an extended theoretical based investigative project. The project will permit the student to study in-depth an aspect of his/her specialist interest that has a particular professional relevance. The topic of the project will be negotiated between the student and a scrutiny panel under the aegis of the department of Biological Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University. The project will be written up in the style of an academic paper for the Institute's journal. Successful students will be awarded the BSc in Medical Illustration.

Race in Supervision: Let's Talk About It.

PubMed

Schen, Cathy R; Greenlee, Alecia

2018-01-01

Addressing race and racial trauma within psychotherapy supervision is increasingly important in psychiatry training. A therapist's ability to discuss race and racial trauma in psychotherapy supervision increases the likelihood that these topics will be explored as they arise in the therapeutic setting. The authors discuss the contextual and sociocultural dynamics that contributed to their own avoidance of race and racial trauma within the supervisory relationship. The authors examine the features that eventually led to a robust discussion of race and culture within the supervisory setting and identify salient themes that occurred during three phases of the conversation about race: pre-dialogue, the conversation, and after the conversation. These themes include building an alliance, supercompetence, avoidance, shared vulnerability, "if I speak on this, I own it," closeness versus distance, and speaking up. This article reviews the key literature in the field of psychiatry and psychology that has shaped how we understand race and racial trauma and concludes with guidelines for supervisors on how to facilitate talking about race in supervision.

Radiation-induced polymerization of glass forming systems. VI. Polymerization rate at higher conversion in binary systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaetsu, I.; Ito, A.; Hayashi, K.

1973-08-01

The effect of temperature and composition on the inflection point in the time-conversion curve and the saturated conversion was investigated in the gamma -radio-induced radical polymerization of binary systems consisting of a glass- forming monomer and a solvent. In the polymerization of completely homogeneous systems such as glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) -triacetin and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) --propylene glycol systems, the time-conversion curve has an inflection point at polymerization temperatures between T/sub vm/(T/sub v/ of monomer system) and T/sub vp/ (T/sub v/ of polymer system). Such conversions at the inflection point changed monotonically between 0 and 100% in this temperature range. T/submore » v/ was found to be 30 to 50 deg C higher than T/sub g/ (glass transition temperature) and a monotonic function of composition (monomer -- polymer -- solvent). The acceleration effect continued to 100% conversion above T/sub vp/, and no acceleration effect was observed below T/sub vm/. The saturated conversion in homogeneous systems changed monotonically between 0 and 100% for polymerization temperatures between T/sub gm/ (T/sub g/ of monomer system) and T/sub gp/(T of polymer system). T/sub g/ was also a monotonic function of composition. No saturation in conversion was observed above T/sub gp/ , and no polymerization occurred below T/sub gm/. In the polymerization of completely heterogeneous systems such as HEMA-dioctyl phthalate, no acceleration effect was observed at any temperature and composition. The saturated conversion was 100% sbove T/sub g/ of pure HEMA, and no polymerization occurred below this temperature in this system. (auth)« less

Mining of Business-Oriented Conversations at a Call Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, Hironori; Nasukawa, Tetsuya; Watanabe, Hideo

Recently it has become feasible to transcribe textual records from telephone conversations at call centers by using automatic speech recognition. In this research, we extended a text mining system for call summary records and constructed a conversation mining system for the business-oriented conversations at the call center. To acquire useful business insights from the conversational data through the text mining system, it is critical to identify appropriate textual segments and expressions as the viewpoints to focus on. In the analysis of call summary data using a text mining system, some experts defined the viewpoints for the analysis by looking at some sample records and by preparing the dictionaries based on frequent keywords in the sample dataset. However with conversations it is difficult to identify such viewpoints manually and in advance because the target data consists of complete transcripts that are often lengthy and redundant. In this research, we defined a model of the business-oriented conversations and proposed a mining method to identify segments that have impacts on the outcomes of the conversations and can then extract useful expressions in each of these identified segments. In the experiment, we processed the real datasets from a car rental service center and constructed a mining system. With this system, we show the effectiveness of the method based on the defined conversation model.

Systems and methods for deactivating a matrix converter

DOEpatents

Ransom, Ray M.

2013-04-02

Systems and methods are provided for deactivating a matrix conversion module. An electrical system comprises an alternating current (AC) interface, a matrix conversion module coupled to the AC interface, an inductive element coupled between the AC interface and the matrix conversion module, and a control module. The control module is coupled to the matrix conversion module, and in response to a shutdown condition, the control module is configured to operate the matrix conversion module to deactivate the first conversion module when a magnitude of a current through the inductive element is less than a threshold value.

Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Volume 2. Navy Abstracts of Phase 1 Awards 1992

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

The results of these studies will be used to identify the most promising strategies for minimizing or eliminating the sources of damage. MUDAWAR ...NAVY Topic#: 92-097 DARPA Topic#: 92-145 NOVA MANAGFMENT, INC. MUDAWAR THERMAL SYSTEM, INC. ARMY Topic#: 92-087 NAVY Topic#: 92-136 ARMY Topic#: 92-089...TECHNOLOGIES, INC. MUDAWAR THERMAL SYSTEM. INC. NAVY Topic#: 92-120 NAVY Topic#: 92-137 FOSTER-MILLER, INC. MOUNTAIN OPTECH, INC. MSNW, INC. NAVY Topic#: 92-138

Dual-enhanced photothermal conversion properties of reduced graphene oxide-coated gold superparticles for light-triggered acoustic and thermal theranostics†

PubMed Central

Lin, Li-Sen; Yang, Xiangyu; Niu, Gang

2017-01-01

A rational design of highly efficient photothermal agents that possess excellent light-to-heat conversion properties is a fascinating topic in nanotheranostics. Herein, we present a facile route to fabricate size-tunable reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated gold superparticles (rGO-GSPs) and demonstrate their dual-enhanced photothermal conversion properties for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. For the first time, graphene oxide (GO) was directly used as an emulsifying agent for the preparation of gold superparticles (GSPs) with near-infrared absorption by the emulsion method. Moreover, GO spontaneously deposited on the surface of GSPs could also act as the precursor of the rGO shell. Importantly, both the plasmonic coupling of the self-assembled gold nanoparticles and the interaction between GSPs and rGO endow rGO-GSPs with enhanced photothermal conversion properties, allowing rGO-GSPs to be used for sensitive photoacoustic detection and efficient photothermal ablation of tumours in vivo. This study provides a facile approach to prepare colloidal superparticles–graphene hybrid nanostructures and will pave the way toward the design and optimization of photothermal nanomaterials with improved properties for theranostic applications. PMID:26726809

Overlapping meta-analyses on the same topic: survey of published studies.

PubMed

Siontis, Konstantinos C; Hernandez-Boussard, Tina; Ioannidis, John P A

2013-07-19

To assess how common it is to have multiple overlapping meta-analyses of randomized trials published on the same topic. Survey of published meta-analyses. PubMed. Meta-analyses published in 2010 were identified, and 5% of them were randomly selected. We further selected those that included randomized trials and examined effectiveness of any medical intervention. For eligible meta-analyses, we searched for other meta-analyses on the same topic (covering the same comparisons, indications/settings, and outcomes or overlapping subsets of them) published until February 2013. Of 73 eligible meta-analyses published in 2010, 49 (67%) had at least one other overlapping meta-analysis (median two meta-analyses per topic, interquartile range 1-4, maximum 13). In 17 topics at least one author was involved in at least two of the overlapping meta-analyses. No characteristics of the index meta-analyses were associated with the potential for overlapping meta-analyses. Among pairs of overlapping meta-analyses in 20 randomly selected topics, 13 of the more recent meta-analyses did not include any additional outcomes. In three of the four topics with eight or more published meta-analyses, many meta-analyses examined only a subset of the eligible interventions or indications/settings covered by the index meta-analysis. Conversely, for statins in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, 11 meta-analyses were published with similar eligibility criteria for interventions and setting: there was still variability on which studies were included, but the results were always similar or even identical across meta-analyses. While some independent replication of meta-analyses by different teams is possibly useful, the overall picture suggests that there is a waste of efforts with many topics covered by multiple overlapping meta-analyses.

The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial Sphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Millar, William

2005-12-01

This introduction to the night sky is for amateur astronomers who desire a deeper understanding of the principles and observations of naked-eye astronomy. It covers topics such as terrestrial and astronomical coordinate systems, stars and constellations, the relative motions of the sky, sun, moon and earth leading to an understanding of the seasons, phases of the moon, and eclipses. Topics are discussed and compared for observers located in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Written in a conversational style, only addition and subtraction are needed to understand the basic principles and a more advanced mathematical treatment is available in the appendices. Each chapter contains a set of review questions and simple exercises to reinforce the reader's understanding of the material. The last chapter is a set of self-contained observation projects to get readers started with making observations about the concepts they have learned. William Charles Millar, currently Professor of Astronomy at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan, has been teaching the subject for almost twenty years and is very involved with local amateur astronomy groups. Millar also belongs to The Planetary Society and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and has traveled to Europe and South America to observe solar eclipses. Millar holds a Masters degree in Physics from Western Michigan University.

Topical methotrexate alters solute and water transport in the rat jejunum in vivo and rabbit ileum in vitro.

PubMed Central

Pinkerton, C R; Booth, I W; Milla, P J

1985-01-01

The topical effect of methotrexate (MTX) on small intestinal hexose and ion transport has been studied using an in vivo steady state jejunal perfusion technique in the rat, and short circuited rabbit terminal ileum in Ussing chambers in vitro. In rat jejunum, perfusion with MTX (1 mumol/l) caused significant reductions in water, sodium, and glucose absorption within 110 minutes of exposure. Fructose absorption was, however, unimpaired. The same concentration of MTX, when added to the mucosal side of distal rabbit ileum caused significant increases in transmucosal potential difference, short circuit current and the unidirectional flux of chloride from serosa to mucosa. In the presence of a subphysiological magnesium concentration (0.3 mmol/l), MTX resulted in the abolition of net sodium absorption and the conversion of net chloride absorption to secretion. We conclude that MTX has a topical effect on small intestinal transport which is independent of its effect on crypt cell kinetics. PMID:4018634

5 CFR 9901.372 - Conversion or movement out of NSPS pay system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

....372 Conversion or movement out of NSPS pay system. (a) General. (1) This section applies to the conversion or movement of employees out of the NSPS pay system to a different pay system. Under this section... system. When converting or moving an employee out of NSPS to another pay system, the pay-setting rules of...

Final Technical Report for Year 5 Early Career Research Project "Viscosity and equation of state of hot and dense QCD matter"

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Molnar, Denes

2016-05-25

The Section below summarizes research activities and achievements during the fifth (last) year of the PI’s Early Career Research Project (ECRP). Unlike the first four years of the project, the last year was not funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The ECRP advanced two main areas: i) radiative 3 ↔ 2 radiative transport, via development of a new computer code MPC/Grid that solves the Boltzmann transport equation in full 6+1D (3X+3V+time); and ii) application of relativistic hydrodynamics, via development of a self-consistent framework to convert viscous fluids to particles. In Year 5 we finalized thermalization studies withmore » radiative gg ↔ ggg transport (Sec. 1.1.1) and used nonlinear covariant transport to assess the accuracy of fluid-to-particle conversion models (Sec. 1.1.2), calculated observables with self-consistent fluid-to-particle conversion from realistic viscous hydrodynamic evolution (Secs. 1.2.1 and 1.2.2), extended the covariant energy loss formulation to heavy quarks (Sec. 1.4.1) and studied energy loss in small systems (Sec. 1.4.2), and also investigated how much of the elliptic flow could have non-hydrodynamic origin (Sec 1.3). Years 1-4 of the ECRP were ARRA-funded and, therefore, they have their own report document ’Final Technical Report for Years 1-4 of the Early Career Research Project “Viscosity and equation of state of hot and dense QCD matter”’ (same award number DE-SC0004035). The PI’s group was also part of the DOE JET Topical Collaboration, a multi-institution project that overlapped in time significantly with the ECRP. Purdue achievements as part of the JET Top- ical Collaboration are in a separate report “Final Technical Report summarizing Purdue research activities as part of the DOE JET Topical Collaboration” (award DE-SC0004077).« less

Web Conversations About Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Cancer: Content and Sentiment Analysis.

PubMed

Mazzocut, Mauro; Truccolo, Ivana; Antonini, Marialuisa; Rinaldi, Fabio; Omero, Paolo; Ferrarin, Emanuela; De Paoli, Paolo; Tasso, Carlo

2016-06-16

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is widespread and mostly self-administrated. Today, one of the most relevant topics is the nondisclosure of CAM use to doctors. This general lack of communication exposes patients to dangerous behaviors and to less reliable information channels, such as the Web. The Italian context scarcely differs from this trend. Today, we are able to mine and analyze systematically the unstructured information available in the Web, to get an insight of people's opinions, beliefs, and rumors concerning health topics. Our aim was to analyze Italian Web conversations about CAM, identifying the most relevant Web sources, therapies, and diseases and measure the related sentiment. Data have been collected using the Web Intelligence tool ifMONITOR. The workflow consisted of 6 phases: (1) eligibility criteria definition for the ifMONITOR search profile; (2) creation of a CAM terminology database; (3) generic Web search and automatic filtering, the results have been manually revised to refine the search profile, and stored in the ifMONITOR database; (4) automatic classification using the CAM database terms; (5) selection of the final sample and manual sentiment analysis using a 1-5 score range; (6) manual indexing of the Web sources and CAM therapies type retrieved. Descriptive univariate statistics were computed for each item: absolute frequency, percentage, central tendency (mean sentiment score [MSS]), and variability (standard variation σ). Overall, 212 Web sources, 423 Web documents, and 868 opinions have been retrieved. The overall sentiment measured tends to a good score (3.6 of 5). Quite a high polarization in the opinions of the conversation partaking emerged from standard variation analysis (σ≥1). In total, 126 of 212 (59.4%) Web sources retrieved were nonhealth-related. Facebook (89; 21%) and Yahoo Answers (41; 9.7%) were the most relevant. In total, 94 CAM therapies have been retrieved. Most belong to the "biologically based therapies or nutrition" category: 339 of 868 opinions (39.1%), showing an MSS of 3.9 (σ=0.83). Within nutrition, "diets" collected 154 opinions (18.4%) with an MSS of 3.8 (σ=0.87); "food as CAM" overall collected 112 opinions (12.8%) with a MSS of 4 (σ=0.68). Excluding diets and food, the most discussed CAM therapy is the controversial Italian "Di Bella multitherapy" with 102 opinions (11.8%) with an MSS of 3.4 (σ=1.21). Breast cancer was the most mentioned disease: 81 opinions of 868. Conversations about CAM and cancer are ubiquitous. There is a great concern about the biologically based therapies, perceived as harmless and useful, under-rating all risks related to dangerous interactions or malnutrition. Our results can be useful to doctors to be aware of the implications of these beliefs for the clinical practice. Web conversation exploitation could be a strategy to gain insights of people's perspective for other controversial topics.

Thermodynamic limits to the conversion of blackbody radiation by quantum systems. [with application to solar energy conversion devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buoncristiani, A. M.; Smith, B. T.; Byvik, C. E.

1982-01-01

Using general thermodynamic arguments, we analyze the conversion of the energy contained in the radiation from a blackbody to useful work by a quantum system. We show that the energy available for conversion is bounded above by the change in free energy in the incident and reradiated fields and that this free energy change depends upon the temperature of the receiving device. Universal efficiency curves giving the ultimate thermodynamic conversion efficiency of the quantum system are presented in terms of the blackbody temperature and the temperature and threshold energy of the quantum system. Application of these results is made to a variety of systems including biological photosynthetic, photovoltaic, and photoelectrochemical systems.

Addressing Value and Belief Systems on Climate Literacy in the Southeastern United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeal, K. S.

2012-12-01

The southeast (SEUS; AL, AR, GA, FL, KY, LA, NC, SC, TN, E. TX) faces the greatest impacts as a result of climate change of any region in the U.S. which presents considerable and costly adaptation challenges. Paradoxically, people in the SEUS hold attitudes and perceptions that are more dismissive of climate change than those of any other region. An additional mismatch exists between the manner in which climate science is generally communicated and the underlying core values and beliefs held by a large segment of people in the SEUS. As a result, people frequently misinterpret and/or distrust information sources, inhibiting efforts to productively discuss and consider climate change and related impacts on human and environmental systems, and possible solutions and outcomes. The Climate Literacy Partnership in the Southeast (CLiPSE) project includes an extensive network of partners throughout the SEUS from faith, agriculture, culturally diverse, leisure, and K-20 educator communities that aim to address this educational need through a shared vision. CLiPSE has conducted a Climate Stewardship Survey (CSS) to determine the knowledge and perceptions of individuals in and beyond the CLiPSE network. The descriptive results of the CSS indicate that religion, predominantly Protestantism, plays a minor role in climate knowledge and perceptions. Likewise, political affiliation plays a minimal role in climate knowledge and perceptions between religions. However, when Protestants were broken out by political affiliation, statistically significant differences (t(30)=2.44, p=0.02) in knowledge related to the causes of climate change exist. Those Protestants affiliated with the Democratic Party (n=206) tended to maintain a statistically significant stronger knowledge of the causes of global climate change than their Republican counterparts. When SEUS educator (n=277) group was only considered, similar trends were evidenced, indicating that strongly held beliefs potentially influence classroom climate instruction. In order to assist this educator group, CLiPSE has aligned a sub-set of the Climate and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) education resources to 11 SEUS state standards in order to better enable educators to implement climate topics in their classrooms. As a potential method to address the unique belief systems in the SEUS, CLiPSE has determined that the best way to engage individuals in the SEUS on the topic of climate change is to invite them into an honest dialogue surrounding climate. To facilitate these conversations effectively, CLiPSE utilizes a dialogical community model that values diversity, encourages respect for one another, recognizes and articulates viewpoints, and prioritizes understanding over resolution. CLiPSE emphasizes people's values and beliefs as they relate to climate change information. Results from pilot studies indicate that this is a promising method to bring together diverse individuals on the climate change topic and initiate the conversation about this very important issue that can often be considered "taboo" in the SEUS.

Hot asphalt burns: a review of injuries and management options.

PubMed

Bosse, George M; Wadia, Shernaz A; Padmanabhan, Pradeep

2014-07-01

Hot asphalt burns to human tissue can increase the likelihood of infection and potential conversion of partial thickness to full-thickness injuries. Successful intervention for hot asphalt burns requires immediate and effective cooling of the asphalt on the tissue followed by subsequent gradual removal of the cooled asphalt. A review of the literature reveals that multiple substances have been used to remove asphalt, including topical antibiotics, petroleum jelly, a commercial product known as De-Solv-It (ORANGE-SOL, Chandler, AZ), sunflower oil, baby oil, liquid paraffin, butter, mayonnaise, and moist-exposed burn ointment (MEBO). Although many of these products may be effective in the removal of asphalt, they may not be readily available in an emergency department setting. Topical antibiotics are readily available, are more commonly described in the medical literature, and would be expected to be effective in the removal of asphalt. We developed guidelines for on scene (first-aid) management and the initial care of such patients upon presentation to a health care facility. These guidelines emphasize the principles of early cooling, gradual removal of adherent asphalt using topical antibiotics, and avoidance of the use of topical agents, which are likely to result in tissue toxicity.

Creating Dynamic Learning Communities in Synchronous Online Courses: One Approach from the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniels, Melissa; Pfund, Christine; Barnicle, Katherine

2016-01-01

The ability to convert face-to-face curricula into rigorous and equally rich online experiences is a topic of much investigation. In this paper, we report on the conversion of a face-to-face research mentor training curriculum into a synchronous, online course. Graduate students and postdoc participants from the Center for the Integration of…

The Role of Context in the Development of Second Language Interactional Competence: A Comparative Microanalysis of Topic Initiation Practices in the Study Abroad Homestay and the Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Booven, Christopher D.

2017-01-01

This dissertation research aims to better specify the role of context in the development of second language interactional competence. Drawing on conversation-analytic methods and Wong and Waring's (2010) model of interactional practices, I described and compared the opportunities that two study abroad contexts--the homestay and the language…

Alternatives for American growth: a conversation with Ralph Nader and Herman Kahn

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1979-08-01

Co-editors of Public Opinion, Ben J. Wattenberg and Seymour Martin Lipset, brought Nader (public interest advocate) and Kahn (guru of growth) together to examine their views on the nature of economic and technological progress in our society. After Kahn and nader each stated their basic position, the following topics were discussed: who's killing capitalism; various nuclear power issues; and how deep is public disaffection.

"The child can remember your voice": parent-child communication about sexuality in the South African context.

PubMed

Vilanculos, Esmeralda; Nduna, Mzikazi

2017-03-01

There is a wealth of research on parent-child communication about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and its influence on young people's sexual behaviours. However, most of it is from the global North. The aim of this study was to explore parent-child communication in three South African provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga. Nine, peer, focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with young and adult black African men and women in their spoken languages. Data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed that cultural and religious constructions of taboo silenced direct communication and restricted the discussed topics. Parents' older age, low educational level, lack of knowledge, and discomfort in talking about sexuality matters were reported to restrict conversations with children about sex and sexuality. The influence of these factors differed for parents residing in an urban setting who were more liberal than their counterparts residing in more rural areas. The child's age and gender were also reported to be a consideration in approaching these conversations. There is a need for interventions to assist parents on how to communicate with their children about SRHR topics beyond pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. These interventions should take into account and address factors that seem to influence parent-child communication.

Mechanical waves conceptual survey: Its modification and conversion to a standard multiple-choice test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barniol, Pablo; Zavala, Genaro

2016-06-01

In this article we present several modifications of the mechanical waves conceptual survey, the most important test to date that has been designed to evaluate university students' understanding of four main topics in mechanical waves: propagation, superposition, reflection, and standing waves. The most significant changes are (i) modification of several test questions that had some problems in their original design, (ii) standardization of the number of options for each question to five, (iii) conversion of the two-tier questions to multiple-choice questions, and (iv) modification of some questions to make them independent of others. To obtain a final version of the test, we administered both the original and modified versions several times to students at a large private university in Mexico. These students were completing a course that covers the topics tested by the survey. The final modified version of the test was administered to 234 students. In this study we present the modifications for each question, and discuss the reasons behind them. We also analyze the results obtained by the final modified version and offer a comparison between the original and modified versions. In the Supplemental Material we present the final modified version of the test. It can be used by teachers and researchers to assess students' understanding of, and learning about, mechanical waves.

Systems and methods for reducing transient voltage spikes in matrix converters

DOEpatents

Kajouke, Lateef A.; Perisic, Milun; Ransom, Ray M.

2013-06-11

Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy using an energy conversion module that includes one or more switching elements. An exemplary electrical system comprises a DC interface, an AC interface, an isolation module, a first conversion module between the DC interface and the isolation module, and a second conversion module between the AC interface and the isolation module. A control module is configured to operate the first conversion module to provide an injection current to the second conversion module to reduce a magnitude of a current through a switching element of the second conversion module before opening the switching element.

Radio-Frequency-Controlled Urea Dosing for NH₃-SCR Catalysts: NH₃ Storage Influence to Catalyst Performance under Transient Conditions.

PubMed

Dietrich, Markus; Hagen, Gunter; Reitmeier, Willibald; Burger, Katharina; Hien, Markus; Grass, Philippe; Kubinski, David; Visser, Jaco; Moos, Ralf

2017-11-28

Current developments in exhaust gas aftertreatment led to a huge mistrust in diesel driven passenger cars due to their NO x emissions being too high. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with ammonia (NH₃) as reducing agent is the only approach today with the capability to meet upcoming emission limits. Therefore, the radio-frequency-based (RF) catalyst state determination to monitor the NH₃ loading on SCR catalysts has a huge potential in emission reduction. Recent work on this topic proved the basic capability of this technique under realistic conditions on an engine test bench. In these studies, an RF system calibration for the serial type SCR catalyst Cu-SSZ-13 was developed and different approaches for a temperature dependent NH₃ storage were determined. This paper continues this work and uses a fully calibrated RF-SCR system under transient conditions to compare different directly measured and controlled NH₃ storage levels, and NH₃ target curves. It could be clearly demonstrated that the right NH₃ target curve, together with a direct control on the desired level by the RF system, is able to operate the SCR system with the maximum possible NO x conversion efficiency and without NH₃ slip.

Building bridges across electronic health record systems through inferred phenotypic topics.

PubMed

Chen, You; Ghosh, Joydeep; Bejan, Cosmin Adrian; Gunter, Carl A; Gupta, Siddharth; Kho, Abel; Liebovitz, David; Sun, Jimeng; Denny, Joshua; Malin, Bradley

2015-06-01

Data in electronic health records (EHRs) is being increasingly leveraged for secondary uses, ranging from biomedical association studies to comparative effectiveness. To perform studies at scale and transfer knowledge from one institution to another in a meaningful way, we need to harmonize the phenotypes in such systems. Traditionally, this has been accomplished through expert specification of phenotypes via standardized terminologies, such as billing codes. However, this approach may be biased by the experience and expectations of the experts, as well as the vocabulary used to describe such patients. The goal of this work is to develop a data-driven strategy to (1) infer phenotypic topics within patient populations and (2) assess the degree to which such topics facilitate a mapping across populations in disparate healthcare systems. We adapt a generative topic modeling strategy, based on latent Dirichlet allocation, to infer phenotypic topics. We utilize a variance analysis to assess the projection of a patient population from one healthcare system onto the topics learned from another system. The consistency of learned phenotypic topics was evaluated using (1) the similarity of topics, (2) the stability of a patient population across topics, and (3) the transferability of a topic across sites. We evaluated our approaches using four months of inpatient data from two geographically distinct healthcare systems: (1) Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) and (2) Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). The method learned 25 phenotypic topics from each healthcare system. The average cosine similarity between matched topics across the two sites was 0.39, a remarkably high value given the very high dimensionality of the feature space. The average stability of VUMC and NMH patients across the topics of two sites was 0.988 and 0.812, respectively, as measured by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Also the VUMC and NMH topics have smaller variance of characterizing patient population of two sites than standard clinical terminologies (e.g., ICD9), suggesting they may be more reliably transferred across hospital systems. Phenotypic topics learned from EHR data can be more stable and transferable than billing codes for characterizing the general status of a patient population. This suggests that EHR-based research may be able to leverage such phenotypic topics as variables when pooling patient populations in predictive models. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Dynamic Dialog System Using Semantic Web Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ababneh, Mohammad

2014-01-01

A dialog system or a conversational agent provides a means for a human to interact with a computer system. Dialog systems use text, voice and other means to carry out conversations with humans in order to achieve some objective. Most dialog systems are created with specific objectives in mind and consist of preprogrammed conversations. The primary…

Dermal carotenoid level and kinetics after topical and systemic administration of antioxidants: enrichment strategies in a controlled in vivo study.

PubMed

Darvin, Maxim E; Fluhr, Joachim W; Schanzer, Sabine; Richter, Heike; Patzelt, Alexa; Meinke, Martina C; Zastrow, Leonhard; Golz, Karin; Doucet, Olivier; Sterry, Wolfram; Lademann, Juergen

2011-10-01

High doses of sun-emitted UV-radiation induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as major pro-oxidants thus inducing premature skin aging. The best prevention of the destructive action of free radicals in human skin is textile coverings, topical sunscreens and the development of a high antioxidative protective network. The effects of topical, systemic and combined application of antioxidants (AO) were investigated on human skin in vivo. Topical application of creams and systemic incorporation of tablets both containing AO was investigated in vivo by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Topical, systemic and combined AO-treatments induced a statistically significant increase of AO levels in human skin while placebo did not show any changes. The highest accumulation was induced by the combination of topical and systemic AO. Carotenoid-tablets combined with placebo-cream induced less carotenoid accumulation than carotenoid-tablets alone. Carotenoid levelling after the end of treatment lasted for around 2 weeks following the topical application of AOs, and up to 5 weeks after systemic administration, depending on the BMI of volunteers. Topically applied AO are stored in the SC for a short time only due to the rapid AO-depletion by desquamation, textile contact, washing and environmental stress. In contrast to topical application, the systemically applied carotenoids are stored in the body fat tissue and slowly released onto the skin surface with sweat and sebum. The combined topical and systemic application of AO represents an optimal form of protection of the AO-network. Copyright © 2011 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

14 CFR 1274.206 - Metric Conversion Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... metric measurement system is stated in NPD 8010.2, Use of the Metric System of Measurement in NASA... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Metric Conversion Act. 1274.206 Section... WITH COMMERCIAL FIRMS Pre-Award Requirements § 1274.206 Metric Conversion Act. The Metric Conversion...

14 CFR 1274.206 - Metric Conversion Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... metric measurement system is stated in NPD 8010.2, Use of the Metric System of Measurement in NASA... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Metric Conversion Act. 1274.206 Section... WITH COMMERCIAL FIRMS Pre-Award Requirements § 1274.206 Metric Conversion Act. The Metric Conversion...

41 CFR 101-30.402 - Conversion.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 2 2011-07-01 2007-07-01 true Conversion. 101-30.402... Federal Catalog System § 101-30.402 Conversion. Following completion of cataloging action, GSA will establish a time period in which conversion to the Federal Catalog System shall be accomplished by all civil...

41 CFR 101-30.402 - Conversion.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Conversion. 101-30.402... Federal Catalog System § 101-30.402 Conversion. Following completion of cataloging action, GSA will establish a time period in which conversion to the Federal Catalog System shall be accomplished by all civil...

5 CFR 534.506 - Conversion provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Conversion provisions. 534.506 Section... OTHER SYSTEMS Pay for Senior-Level and Scientific and Professional Positions § 534.506 Conversion provisions. (a) This section covers initial conversion to the pay system under 5 U.S.C. 5376 as of the...

5 CFR 534.506 - Conversion provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Conversion provisions. 534.506 Section... OTHER SYSTEMS Pay for Senior-Level and Scientific and Professional Positions § 534.506 Conversion provisions. (a) This section covers initial conversion to the pay system under 5 U.S.C. 5376 as of the...

"How Did We Get Here?": Topic Drift in Online Health Discussions.

PubMed

Park, Albert; Hartzler, Andrea L; Huh, Jina; Hsieh, Gary; McDonald, David W; Pratt, Wanda

2016-11-02

Patients increasingly use online health communities to exchange health information and peer support. During the progression of health discussions, a change of topic-topic drift-can occur. Topic drift is a frequent phenomenon linked to incoherence and frustration in online communities and other forms of computer-mediated communication. For sensitive topics, such as health, such drift could have life-altering repercussions, yet topic drift has not been studied in these contexts. Our goals were to understand topic drift in online health communities and then to develop and evaluate an automated approach to detect both topic drift and efforts of community members to counteract such drift. We manually analyzed 721 posts from 184 threads from 7 online health communities within WebMD to understand topic drift, members' reaction towards topic drift, and their efforts to counteract topic drift. Then, we developed an automated approach to detect topic drift and counteraction efforts. We detected topic drift by calculating cosine similarity between 229,156 posts from 37,805 threads and measuring change of cosine similarity scores from the threads' first posts to their sequential posts. Using a similar approach, we detected counteractions to topic drift in threads by focusing on the irregular increase of similarity scores compared to the previous post in threads. Finally, we evaluated the performance of our automated approaches to detect topic drift and counteracting efforts by using a manually developed gold standard. Our qualitative analyses revealed that in threads of online health communities, topics change gradually, but usually stay within the global frame of topics for the specific community. Members showed frustration when topic drift occurred in the middle of threads but reacted positively to off-topic stories shared as separate threads. Although all types of members helped to counteract topic drift, original posters provided the most effort to keep threads on topic. Cosine similarity scores show promise for automatically detecting topical changes in online health discussions. In our manual evaluation, we achieved an F1 score of .71 and .73 for detecting topic drift and counteracting efforts to stay on topic, respectively. Our analyses expand our understanding of topic drift in a health context and highlight practical implications, such as promoting off-topic discussions as a function of building rapport in online health communities. Furthermore, the quantitative findings suggest that an automated tool could help detect topic drift, support counteraction efforts to bring the conversation back on topic, and improve communication in these important communities. Findings from this study have the potential to reduce topic drift and improve online health community members' experience of computer-mediated communication. Improved communication could enhance the personal health management of members who seek essential information and support during times of difficulty. ©Albert Park, Andrea L Hartzler, Jina Huh, Gary Hsieh, David W McDonald, Wanda Pratt. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 02.11.2016.

NUCLEAR CONVERSION APPARATUS

DOEpatents

Seaborg, G.T.

1960-09-13

A nuclear conversion apparatus is described which comprises a body of neutron moderator, tubes extending therethrough, uranium in the tubes, a fluid- circulating system associated with the tubes, a thorium-containing fluid coolant in the system and tubes, and means for withdrawing the fluid from the system and replacing it in the system whereby thorium conversion products may be recovered.

Laser energy conversion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jalufka, N. W.

1989-01-01

The conversion of laser energy to other, more useful, forms is an important element of any space power transmission system employing lasers. In general the user, at the receiving sight, will require the energy in a form other than laser radiation. In particular, conversion to rocket power and electricity are considered to be two major areas where one must consider various conversion techniques. Three systems (photovoltaic cells, MHD generators, and gas turbines) have been identified as the laser-to-electricity conversion systems that appear to meet most of the criteria for a space-based system. The laser thruster also shows considerable promise as a space propulsion system. At this time one cannot predict which of the three laser-to-electric converters will be best suited to particular mission needs. All three systems have some particular advantages, as well as disadvantages. It would be prudent to continue research on all three systems, as well as the laser rocket thruster. Research on novel energy conversion systems, such as the optical rectenna and the reverse free-electron laser, should continue due to their potential for high payoff.

Communication about sex and HPV among Puerto Rican mothers and daughters.

PubMed

Colón-López, Vivian; Fernández-Espada, Natalie; Vélez, Camille; Gonzalez, Velda J; Diaz-Toro, Elba C; Calo, William A; Savas, Lara S; Pattatucci, Angela; Fernández, María E

2017-08-01

Although opportunities to vaccinate against human papillomavirus (HPV) are available, vaccination rates in Puerto Rico remain low. Communication between parents and adolescents about sexual topics may influence decisions about HPV vaccination uptake, particularly among young women; yet, few studies have addressed this issue. This qualitative study explored Puerto Rican mothers' and daughters' communication on sex-related topics, and HPV, including the HPV vaccine. Thirty participants, including 9 mothers and 21 daughters, participated in seven focus groups. Participants were divided into groups of mothers and daughters, and further stratified by vaccination status. Transcripts were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach to identify emergent themes. Focus group data revealed four main themes: (1) limited parent-daughter communication about sex-related topics; (2) daughters' discomfort discussing sex-related topics with their parents; (3) parental focus on abstinence; and, (4) limited parent-daughter communication about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Although daughters in this study struggled with feelings of embarrassment, invasion of privacy, encouragement of abstinence, and the fear of parents' reaction to them being sexually active prior to marriage, they also recognized the need to increase the parent-daughter communication about sex-related topics including HPV and the HPV vaccine. Educational efforts should target both daughters and parents to increase communication skills and self-efficacy and to enable them to discuss sexual health in open and nonjudgmental conversations.

Topical drug delivery systems: a patent review.

PubMed

Singh Malik, Deepinder; Mital, Neeraj; Kaur, Gurpreet

2016-01-01

Topical administration is the favored route for local delivery of therapeutic agents due to its convenience and affordability. The specific challenge of designing a therapeutic system is to achieve an optimal concentration of a certain drug at its site of action for an appropriate duration. This review summarizes innovations from the past 3 years (2012-2015) in the field of topical drug delivery for the treatment of local infections of the vagina, nose, eye and skin. The review also throws some light on the anatomy and physiology of these organs and their various defensive barriers which affect the delivery of drugs administered topically. Topical administration has been gaining attention over the last few years. However, conventional topical drug delivery systems suffer from drawbacks such as poor retention and low bioavailability. The successful formulation of topical delivery products requires the careful manipulation of defensive barriers and selection of a soluble drug carrier. Extensive research is required to develop newer topical drug delivery systems aiming either to improve the efficacy or to reduce side effects compared to current patented systems.

5 CFR 9901.231 - Conversion of positions and employees to NSPS classification system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS SYSTEMS (DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NATIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL SYSTEM (NSPS) Classification Transitional... employee's career group, pay schedule, and band upon conversion. (d) Grade retention prior to conversion...

Channeling Identity: A Study of Storytelling in Conversations Between Introverted and Extraverted Friends

PubMed Central

Thorne, Avril; Korobov, Neill; Morgan, Elizabeth M.

2009-01-01

This narrative study examined the process of personal storytelling between college-age friends who were similarly introverted or extraverted. Participants were 19 introverted and 20 extraverted same-sex pairs (49 percent female) who had been friends for an average of 18 months. Stories emerged spontaneously during 10-minute catch-up conversations. Extraverted friends more often told stories that changed the topic, and more often co-constructed story plots. Introverted friends more often told stories that were embedded in a developing theme, and constructed story plots solo. With regard to content, extraverted friends told stories about romance more so than introverted friends, whose stories more often concerned family/hometown, and older events. The findings suggest that the traits of extraversion and introversion channel the identity-making process. PMID:19325709

[Effects of situational and individual variables on critical thinking expression].

PubMed

Tanaka, Yuko; Kusumi, Takashi

2016-04-01

The present study examined when people decide to choose an expression that is based on critical thinking, and how situational and individual variables affect such a decision process. Given a conversation scenario including overgeneralization with two friends, participants decided whether to follow the conversation by a critical-thinking expression or not. The authors controlled purpose and topic as situational variables, and measured critical-thinking ability, critical-thinking disposition, and self-monitoring as individual variables. We conducted an experiment in which the situational variables were counterbalanced in a within-subject design with 60 university students. The results of logistic regression analysis showed differences within individuals in the decision process whether to choose a critical-thinking expression, and that some situational factors and some subscales of the individual measurements were related to the differences.

Exercise, Energy Intake, Glucose Homeostasis, and the Brain

PubMed Central

van Praag, Henriette; Fleshner, Monika; Schwartz, Michael W.

2014-01-01

Here we summarize topics covered in an SFN symposium that considered how and why exercise and energy intake affect neuroplasticity and, conversely, how the brain regulates peripheral energy metabolism. This article is not a comprehensive review of the subject, but rather a view of how the authors' findings fit into a broader context. Emerging findings elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms by which exercise and energy intake modify the plasticity of neural circuits in ways that affect brain health. By enhancing neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and neuronal stress robustness, exercise and intermittent energy restriction/fasting may optimize brain function and forestall metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, brain-centered glucoregulatory and immunomodulating systems that mediate peripheral health benefits of intermittent energetic challenges have recently been described. A better understanding of adaptive neural response pathways activated by energetic challenges will enable the development and optimization of interventions to reduce the burden of disease in our communities. PMID:25392482

Residential Solar Power and the Physics Teacher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, David

2007-10-01

The roof of my house sports one of the largest residential photovoltaic arrays in Ohio. It produces all of the electricity for my house and family of four. With state and federal incentives, it cost less to install than the price of a new car. It will pay for itself within the warrantee period. A picture of my house with solar panels is the background on my classroom computer. I am the physics teacher at Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio. I don't need a formal curriculum. Sooner or later my students start asking questions. They even ask the exact same questions that adults do. The inverter for my PV system sends performance data to my computer. I post this on my website, which takes it into my classroom. This sparks conversation on a whole variety of topics, from sun angles to energy, electricity, technology and climate studies.

Quantum optics in a high impedance environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puertas, Javier; Gheeraert, Nicolas; Krupko, Yuriy; Dassonneville, Remy; Planat, Luca; Foroughui, Farshad; Naud, Cecile; Guichard, Wiebke; Buisson, Olivier; Florens, Serge; Roch, Nicolas; Snyman, Izak

Understanding light matter interaction remains a key topic in fundamental physics. Its strength is imposed by the fine structure constant, α. For most atomic and molecular systems α =e2/ℏc 4 πɛo = 1 / 137 << 1 , giving weak interactions. When dealing with superconducting artificial atoms, α is either proportional to 1 /Zc (magnetic coupling) or Zc (electric coupling), where Zc is the characteristic impedance of the environment. Recent experiments followed the first approach, coupling a flux qubit to a low impedance environment, demonstrating strong interaction (α 1). In our work, we reached the large α regime, following a complementary approach: we couple electrically a transmon qubit to an array of 5000 SQUIDs. This metamaterial provides high characteristic impedance ( 3 kΩ), in-situ flux tunability and full control over its dispersion relation. In this new regime, all usual approximations break down and new phenomena such as frequency conversion at the single photon level are expected.

The Piancatelli reaction and its variants: recent applications to high added-value chemicals and biomass valorization.

PubMed

Verrier, Charlie; Moebs-Sanchez, Sylvie; Queneau, Yves; Popowycz, Florence

2018-01-31

The Piancatelli reaction, also called the Piancatelli rearrangement, consists in the direct conversion of furfuryl alcohols to cyclopentenone derivatives through a furan ring opening-electrocyclization process. Discovered in the late 70's, this reaction has been scarcely used for more than 40 years but recently has been the focus of particular interest from the scientific community and an increasing number of publications on the topic have emerged in the last few years. The first part of this review provides an overview of the recent achievements in classical Piancatelli reactions, discussing reaction conditions and catalytic systems, whereas the second part focuses on the variants recently developed, including the use of new nucleophiles in the process. Finally, the third part of this review deals with the recent application of this transformation to the production of commodity chemicals from renewable carbon feedstocks based on sugar-derived furanic platforms.

How the intentions of the draftsman shape perception of a drawing.

PubMed

Pignocchi, Alessandro

2010-12-01

The interaction between the recovery of the artist's intentions and the perception of an artwork is a classic topic for philosophy and history of art. It also frequently, albeit sometimes implicitly, comes up in everyday thought and conversation about art and artworks. Since recent work in cognitive science can help us understand how we perceive and understand the intentions of others, this discipline could fruitfully participate in a multidisciplinary investigation of the role of intention recovery in art perception. The method I propose is to look for cases where recovery of the artist's intentions interacts with perception of a work of art, and this cannot be explain by a simple top-down influence of conscious propositional knowledge on perception. I will focus on drawing and show that recovery of the draftsman's intentional actions is handled by a psychological process shaped by the motor system of the observer. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Clinical judgment research on economic topics: Role of congruence of tasks in clinical practice.

PubMed

Huttin, Christine C

2017-01-01

This paper discusses what can ensure the performance of judgment studies with an information design that integrates economics of medical systems, in the context of digitalization of healthcare. It is part of a series of 5 methodological papers on statistical procedures and problems to implement judgment research designs and decision models, especially to address cost of care, and ways to measure conversation on cost of care between physicians and patients, with unstructured data such as economic narratives to complement billing and financial information (e.g. cost cognitive cues in conjoint or reversed conjoint designs). The paper discusses how congruence of tasks can increase the reliability of data. It uses some results of two Meta reviews of judgment studies in different fields of applications: psychology, business, medical sciences and education. It compares tests for congruence in judgment studies and efficiency tests in econometric studies.

REVIEWS OF TOPICAL PROBLEMS: Gas lasers with solar excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordiets, B. F.; Panchenko, Vladislav Ya

1986-07-01

CONTENTS 1. Introduction 703 2. General requirements for laser media using solar excitation 704 3. Lasers with direct excitation by solar light 705 3.1. Basic characteristics of laser media. 3.2. Photodissociation Br2-CO2 lasers. 3.3. Interhalogen molecule lasers. 3.4. Iodine lasers. 3.5. Alkali metal vapor lasers. 4. Lasers with thermal conversion of solar pumping 709 4.1. General considerations. 4.2. CO2 laser with excitation in a black body cavity and with gas flow. 4.3. cw CO2 laser without gas flow. 5. Space laser media with solar excitation 713 5.1. Population inversion of molecular levels in the outer atmosphere of the Earth. 5.2. Laser effect in the atmospheres of Venus and Mars. 5.3. Terrestrial experimental technique for observing infrared emission in the atmospheres of planets. 5.4. Designs for laser systems in the atmospheres of Venus and Mars. 6. Conclusions 717 References 717

Epidermal growth factor in alkali-burned corneal epithelial wound healing.

PubMed

Singh, G; Foster, C S

1987-06-15

We conducted a double-masked study to evaluate the effect of epidermal growth factor on epithelial wound healing and recurrent erosions in alkali-burned rabbit corneas. Epithelial wounds 10 mm in diameter healed completely under the influence of topical epidermal growth factor, whereas the control corneas did not resurface in the center. On reversal of treatment, the previously nonhealing epithelial defects healed when treated with topical epidermal growth factor eyedrops. Conversely, the epidermal growth factor-treated and resurfaced corneas developed epithelial defects when treatment was discontinued. Histopathologic examination disclosed hyperplastic epithelium growing over the damaged stroma laden with polymorphonuclear leukocytes when treated with epidermal growth factor eyedrops, but it did not adhere to the underlying tissue. Hydropic changes were seen intracellularly as well as between the epithelial cells and the stroma.

Navigating "thorny" issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchinson, Kashema; Gilbert, Aderinsola; Malyukova, Anna

2016-09-01

In their article Mindfulness and discussing ` thorny' issues in the classroom Konstantinos Alexakos et al. (Cult Stud Sci Educ, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s11422-015-9718-0) describe "thorny" issues as "difficult topics to discuss because they are more personal to some perhaps even cause pain and violence." As women from different backgrounds, we engage in a metalogue, which expands on our thoughts and emotions the thorny issues evoked. Our discussion is grounded in theoretical frameworks of mindfulness, wellness, and safe space for learning. We also reflect on our experiences of facing some of the thorny issues in our academic and personal lives. Having trust and respect for one another and being aware of thorny issues allows for a meaningful conversation about the complexity and nuances involved in discussing difficult topics in a classroom setting.

41 CFR 101-30.402 - Conversion.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT 30-FEDERAL CATALOG SYSTEM 30.4-Use of the Federal Catalog System § 101-30.402 Conversion. Following completion of cataloging action, GSA will establish a time period in which conversion to the Federal Catalog System shall be accomplished by all civil...

41 CFR 101-30.402 - Conversion.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT 30-FEDERAL CATALOG SYSTEM 30.4-Use of the Federal Catalog System § 101-30.402 Conversion. Following completion of cataloging action, GSA will establish a time period in which conversion to the Federal Catalog System shall be accomplished by all civil...

41 CFR 101-30.402 - Conversion.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT 30-FEDERAL CATALOG SYSTEM 30.4-Use of the Federal Catalog System § 101-30.402 Conversion. Following completion of cataloging action, GSA will establish a time period in which conversion to the Federal Catalog System shall be accomplished by all civil...

15 CFR 995.25 - Quality management system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... management system are those defined in this part. The quality management system must ensure that the... type approved conversion software is maintained by a third party, CEVAD shall ensure that no changes made to the conversion software render the type approval of the conversion software invalid, and shall...

15 CFR 995.25 - Quality management system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... management system are those defined in this part. The quality management system must ensure that the... type approved conversion software is maintained by a third party, CEVAD shall ensure that no changes made to the conversion software render the type approval of the conversion software invalid, and shall...

15 CFR 995.25 - Quality management system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... management system are those defined in this part. The quality management system must ensure that the... type approved conversion software is maintained by a third party, CEVAD shall ensure that no changes made to the conversion software render the type approval of the conversion software invalid, and shall...

15 CFR 995.25 - Quality management system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... management system are those defined in this part. The quality management system must ensure that the... type approved conversion software is maintained by a third party, CEVAD shall ensure that no changes made to the conversion software render the type approval of the conversion software invalid, and shall...

Charging system with galvanic isolation and multiple operating modes

DOEpatents

Kajouke, Lateef A.; Perisic, Milun; Ransom, Ray M.

2013-01-08

Systems and methods are provided for operating a charging system with galvanic isolation adapted for multiple operating modes. A vehicle charging system comprises a DC interface, an AC interface, a first conversion module coupled to the DC interface, and a second conversion module coupled to the AC interface. An isolation module is coupled between the first conversion module and the second conversion module. The isolation module comprises a transformer and a switching element coupled between the transformer and the second conversion module. The transformer and the switching element are cooperatively configured for a plurality of operating modes, wherein each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes corresponds to a respective turns ratio of the transformer.

Conceptual Design of a Space-Based Multimegawatt MHD Power System, Task 1 Topical Report; Volume 1: Technical Discussion

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

system requirements, design guidelines, and interface requirements has been prepared and included as Volume II of this Task 1 topical report. The Volume ...WAESD-TR-88-0002 Conceptual Design Of A Space-Based Multimegawatt MHD Power System ffA«kjjjjjTfc Task 1 Topical Report Volume I: Technical...Space-Based Multimegawatt MHD Power System: Task 1 Topical Report, Volume I: Technical Discussion Personal Author: Dana, RA. Corporate Author Or

Fossil energy program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeese, L. E.

1981-12-01

The progress made during the period from July 1 through September 30 for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory research and development projects in support of the increased utilization of coal and other fossil fuels as sources of clean energy is reported. The following topics are discussed: coal conversion development, chemical research and development, materials technology, fossil energy materials program, liquefaction projects, component development, process analysis, environmental control technology, atmospheric fluidized bed combustion, underground coal gasification, coal preparation and waste utilization.

The Relationship of PTSD and Communication with Intimate Partners in a Sample of Vietnam Veterans

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-08

developed reactions simply in response to daily life stressors. They also noted that married veterans were typically better adjusted than unmarried men...sequences were compared based on PTSD severity, status (PTSD vs non-PTSD), and conversation topic. Increasing PTSD severity was related to fewer overall...self- report, and by coding the richer details of communication instead of relying entirely on positive vs . negative variables. This introduction

Advanced Development of Leishmania Topical Skin Test Antigen

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-28

can cause sensitization manifest by the conversion of a negative to positive delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test. This was observed on the...third skin test with 30 ug and 50 ug doses of the crude lysate administered intradermally at monthly intervals. Fractionation of the lysate...identified dominant proteins at 8 kDa, 20 kDa, and 56-58 kDa. Skin tests in L. tropica sensitized guinea pigs with each of these fractions revealed

Crossword Puzzles and Conversation: An Approach to Teaching Pre-Employment and On-the-Job Communication Skills to Adult (Refugee) ESL Students. Special Experimental Demonstration Project--Adult Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Larsen, R. Ann

This curriculum guide is intended to help high school and adult refugees master the preemployment and on-the-job English as a Second Language (ESL) communication skills that are essential to survival in the workplace. The following topics are covered in the individual lessons: job application, occupations and duties, help wanted ads, job…

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Hydrodynamic efficiency of laser-induced transfer of matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isakov, Vladimir A.; Kanavin, Andrey P.; Nasibov, A. S.

2007-04-01

A one-dimensional analytic hydrodynamic model of the direct laser-induced transfer of matter is considered. The efficiency of pulsed laser radiation energy conversion to the kinetic energy of the ejected matter is determined. It is shown that the hydrodynamic efficiency of the process for the layers of matter of thickness exceeding the laser radiation absorption depth is determined by the adiabatic index of the evaporated matter.

Strategies for Augmentation Initiatives for Leadership Self-Development Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-08-01

sensitive to ethical matters. Leaders must not tolerate unethical behavior by subordinates, peers, or superic s. This can be an area of great ambiguity, if... planned with the intent of the reader becoming reliably informed and conversant with the topic, while maintaining a high level of motivation and interest...Soc;it Sciences Distribution Is restricted. U.S. ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES A Field Operating Agency Under the

Extended turn construction and test question sequences in the conversations of three speakers with agrammatic aphasia

PubMed Central

Beckley, Firle; Best, Wendy; Johnson, Fiona; Edwards, Susan; Maxim, Jane

2013-01-01

The application of Conversation Analysis (CA) to the investigation of agrammatic aphasia reveals that utterances produced by speakers with agrammatism engaged in everyday conversation differ significantly from utterances produced in response to decontextualised assessment and therapy tasks. Early studies have demonstrated that speakers with agrammatism construct turns from sequences of nouns, adjectives, discourse markers and conjunctions, packaged by a distinct pattern of prosody. This article presents examples of turn construction methods deployed by three people with agrammatism as they take an extended turn, in order to recount a past event, initiate a discussion or have a disagreement. This is followed by examples of sequences occurring in the talk of two of these speakers that result in different, and more limited, turn construction opportunities, namely “test” questions asked in order to initiate a new topic of talk, despite the conversation partner knowing the answer. The contrast between extended turns and test question sequences illustrates the effect of interactional context on aphasic turn construction practices, and the potential of less than optimal sequences to mask turn construction skills. It is suggested that the interactional motivation for test question sequences in these data are to invite people with aphasia to contribute to conversation, rather than to practise saying words in an attempt to improve language skills. The idea that test question sequences may have their origins in early attempts to deal with acute aphasia, and the potential for conversation partnerships to become “stuck” in such interactional patterns after they may have outlived their usefulness, are discussed with a view to clinical implications. PMID:23848370

Hydrogen turbine power conversion system assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, D. E.; Lucci, A. D.; Campbell, J.; Lee, J. C.

1978-01-01

A three part technical study was conducted whereby parametric technical and economic feasibility data were developed on several power conversion systems suitable for the generation of central station electric power through the combustion of hydrogen and the use of the resulting heat energy in turbogenerator equipment. The study assessed potential applications of hydrogen-fueled power conversion systems and identified the three most promising candidates: (1) Ericsson Cycle, (2) gas turbine, and (3) direct steam injection system for fossil fuel as well as nuclear powerplants. A technical and economic evaluation was performed on the three systems from which the direct injection system (fossil fuel only) was selected for a preliminary conceptual design of an integrated hydrogen-fired power conversion system.

Advanced carbon manufacturing for energy and biological applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turon Teixidor, Genis

The science of miniaturization has experienced revolutionary advances during the last decades, witnessing the development of the Integrated Circuit and the emergence of MEMS and Nanotechnology. Particularly, MEMS technology has pioneered the use of non-traditional materials in microfabrication by including polymers, ceramics and composites to the well known list of metals and semiconductors. One of the latest additions to this set of materials is carbon, which represents a very important inclusion given its significance in electrochemical energy conversion systems and in applications where it is used as sensor probe material. For these applications, carbon is optimal in several counts: It has a wide electrochemical stability window, good electrical and thermal conductivity, high corrosion resistance and mechanical stability, and is available in high purity at a low cost. Furthermore carbon is biocompatible. This thesis presents several microfabricated devices that take advantage of these properties. The thesis has two clearly differentiated parts. In the first one, applications of micromachined carbon in the field of energy conversion and energy storage are presented. These applications include lithium ion micro batteries and the development of new carbon electrodes with fractal geometries. In the second part, the focus shifts to biological applications. First, the study of the interaction of living cells with micromachined carbon is presented, followed by the description of a sensor based on interdigitated nano-electrode arrays, and finally the development of the new instrumentation needed to address arrays of carbon electrodes, a multiplexed potentiostat. The underlying theme that connects all these seemingly different topics is the use of carbon microfabrication techniques in electrochemical systems.

Content Coding of Psychotherapy Transcripts Using Labeled Topic Models.

PubMed

Gaut, Garren; Steyvers, Mark; Imel, Zac E; Atkins, David C; Smyth, Padhraic

2017-03-01

Psychotherapy represents a broad class of medical interventions received by millions of patients each year. Unlike most medical treatments, its primary mechanisms are linguistic; i.e., the treatment relies directly on a conversation between a patient and provider. However, the evaluation of patient-provider conversation suffers from critical shortcomings, including intensive labor requirements, coder error, nonstandardized coding systems, and inability to scale up to larger data sets. To overcome these shortcomings, psychotherapy analysis needs a reliable and scalable method for summarizing the content of treatment encounters. We used a publicly available psychotherapy corpus from Alexander Street press comprising a large collection of transcripts of patient-provider conversations to compare coding performance for two machine learning methods. We used the labeled latent Dirichlet allocation (L-LDA) model to learn associations between text and codes, to predict codes in psychotherapy sessions, and to localize specific passages of within-session text representative of a session code. We compared the L-LDA model to a baseline lasso regression model using predictive accuracy and model generalizability (measured by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) from the receiver operating characteristic curve). The L-LDA model outperforms the lasso logistic regression model at predicting session-level codes with average AUC scores of 0.79, and 0.70, respectively. For fine-grained level coding, L-LDA and logistic regression are able to identify specific talk-turns representative of symptom codes. However, model performance for talk-turn identification is not yet as reliable as human coders. We conclude that the L-LDA model has the potential to be an objective, scalable method for accurate automated coding of psychotherapy sessions that perform better than comparable discriminative methods at session-level coding and can also predict fine-grained codes.

Content Coding of Psychotherapy Transcripts Using Labeled Topic Models

PubMed Central

Gaut, Garren; Steyvers, Mark; Imel, Zac E; Atkins, David C; Smyth, Padhraic

2016-01-01

Psychotherapy represents a broad class of medical interventions received by millions of patients each year. Unlike most medical treatments, its primary mechanisms are linguistic; i.e., the treatment relies directly on a conversation between a patient and provider. However, the evaluation of patient-provider conversation suffers from critical shortcomings, including intensive labor requirements, coder error, non-standardized coding systems, and inability to scale up to larger data sets. To overcome these shortcomings, psychotherapy analysis needs a reliable and scalable method for summarizing the content of treatment encounters. We used a publicly-available psychotherapy corpus from Alexander Street press comprising a large collection of transcripts of patient-provider conversations to compare coding performance for two machine learning methods. We used the Labeled Latent Dirichlet Allocation (L-LDA) model to learn associations between text and codes, to predict codes in psychotherapy sessions, and to localize specific passages of within-session text representative of a session code. We compared the L-LDA model to a baseline lasso regression model using predictive accuracy and model generalizability (measured by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve). The L-LDA model outperforms the lasso logistic regression model at predicting session-level codes with average AUC scores of .79, and .70, respectively. For fine-grained level coding, L-LDA and logistic regression are able to identify specific talk-turns representative of symptom codes. However, model performance for talk-turn identification is not yet as reliable as human coders. We conclude that the L-LDA model has the potential to be an objective, scaleable method for accurate automated coding of psychotherapy sessions that performs better than comparable discriminative methods at session-level coding and can also predict fine-grained codes. PMID:26625437

Systems of meaning and transference: Implicit significant-other activation evokes shared reality.

PubMed

Przybylinski, Elizabeth; Andersen, Susan M

2015-10-01

Evidence shows that representations of significant others (SOs) are used in interpersonal relations-for example, in the social-cognitive process of transference (see Andersen & Chen, 2002), a process that is assumed to serve meaning-making functions (Glassman & Andersen, 1999b). Five studies tested the more specific notion that implicit activation of an SO representation in transference should indirectly activate the worldview shared with the SO, leading to its active pursuit, validation, and protection. Shared worldviews were assessed beforehand, both idiographically, as values (Studies 1 and 4), and nomothetically, as political ideology or religious beliefs (Studies 2, 3, and 5). In each experiment, participants learned about new persons, one subtly resembling their own SO. Transference was assessed (memory bias; positive evaluation; see Andersen, Reznik, & Manzella, 1996) and, crucially, as predicted, when considering the new person resembling their SO (vs. the control persons), participants showed faster response latencies in a lexical decision task to words reflecting the worldview shared with the SO (vs. held only personally, Studies 1-3, or only by the SO, Study 3). With this person, they also anticipated a more meaningful interaction and actively socially tuned to the SO-shared worldview, selecting conversation topics reflecting the SO-shared worldview (vs. personally held or SO-held topics, Studies 1-3). Finally, threatening the SO-shared worldview with this person (vs. threatening personally held, SO-held, or irrelevant worldviews) prompted goal activation to restore the disrupted meaning (Studies 4 and 5), assessed by response latency in a lexical decision task. Transference thus evokes shared meaning systems and serves epistemic functions. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

"Soul" and "Self": Soviet and American Cultures in Conversation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carbaugh, Donal

1993-01-01

Analyzes a particular conversation which invokes Soviet and U.S. cultures, demonstrating how conversation is, at least in part, shaped by cultural systems, and how cultural systems differently employ a generic ritual communicative form. (SR)

Conversational Agents in E-Learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerry, Alice; Ellis, Richard; Bull, Susan

This paper discusses the use of natural language or 'conversational' agents in e-learning environments. We describe and contrast the various applications of conversational agent technology represented in the e-learning literature, including tutors, learning companions, language practice and systems to encourage reflection. We offer two more detailed examples of conversational agents, one which provides learning support, and the other support for self-assessment. Issues and challenges for developers of conversational agent systems for e-learning are identified and discussed.

A Study of Energy Conversion Devices Using Photoactive Organometallic Electrocatalysts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-23

arylisocyanide complexes confined to polymeric thin films in solar energy conversion systems . The chemical systems of interest were chromium...The goals of the project then became threefold: 1) examine the thermo- dynamics an- ’ kinetics of charge transfer in the systems in which we had shown...complexes confined to polymeric thin films in solar energy conversion systems . The chemical systems of interest were chromium, molybdenum and

Communication self-efficacy, perceived conversational difficulty, and renal patients' discussions about transplantation.

PubMed

Traino, Heather M

2014-02-01

Many patients with chronic and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have reported difficulties initiating and managing discussions about kidney transplantation, particularly live donor transplantation (LDT). Limited communication has demonstrable impact on patients' access to transplantation, the duration of dialysis treatments, and the length of time awaiting a transplantable kidney. This formative study sought to identify the specific communicative and conversational elements impeding ESRD patients' discussions about transplantation to inform the design of an educational program facilitating transplant-related discussions. From March to July 2012, semi-structured telephone interviews (n=63) were conducted with ESRD patients waitlisted for kidney transplantation at one mid-Atlantic transplant center. Although 85.7% (n=54) of patients reported holding discussions about transplantation, qualitative analyses of open-ended responses revealed that the majority (66.7%) had limited conversations. Patients reported difficulties managing a variety of logistical and content-related aspects of LDT discussions. Moderate levels of communication self-efficacy were also found (mean=19.2 out of 28); self-efficacy was highest among respondents having held discussions and was significantly related to perceived magnitude of difficulty handling conversational aspects. Results support comprehensive communication skills training for ESRD patients awaiting kidney transplantation. Potential topics to be included in such training are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mapping epidemiology's past to inform its future: metaknowledge analysis of epidemiologic topics in leading journals, 1974-2013.

PubMed

Trinquart, Ludovic; Galea, Sandro

2015-07-15

An empiric perspective on what epidemiology has studied over time might inform discussions about future directions for the discipline. We aimed to identify the main areas of epidemiologic inquiry and determine how they evolved over time in 5 high-impact epidemiologic journals. We analyzed the titles and abstracts of 20,895 articles that were published between 1974 and 2013. In 5 time periods that reflected approximately equal numbers of articles, we identified the main topics by clustering terms based on co-occurrence. Infectious disease and cardiovascular disease epidemiology were the prevailing topics over the 5 periods. Cancer epidemiology was a major topic from 1974 to 2001 but disappeared thereafter. Nutritional epidemiology gained relative importance from 1974 to 2013. Environmental epidemiology appeared during 1996-2001 and continued to be important, whereas 2 clusters related to methodology and meta-analysis in genetics appeared during 2008-2013. Several areas of epidemiology, including injury or psychiatric epidemiology, did not make an appearance as major topics at any time. In an ancillary analysis of 6 high-impact general medicine journals, we found patterns of epidemiologic articles that were overall consistent with the findings in epidemiologic journals. This metaknowledge investigation allowed identification of the dominant topics in and conversely those that were absent from 5 major epidemiologic journals. We discuss implications for the field. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Associations of Topics of Discussion on Twitter With Survey Measures of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors Related to Zika: Probabilistic Study in the United States

PubMed Central

Winneg, Kenneth; Chan, Man-Pui Sally; Hall Jamieson, Kathleen; Albarracin, Dolores

2018-01-01

Background Recent outbreaks of Zika virus around the world led to increased discussions about this issue on social media platforms such as Twitter. These discussions may provide useful information about attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of the population regarding issues that are important for public policy. Objective We sought to identify the associations of the topics of discussions on Twitter and survey measures of Zika-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, not solely based upon the volume of such discussions but by analyzing the content of conversations using probabilistic techniques. Methods Using probabilistic topic modeling with US county and week as the unit of analysis, we analyzed the content of Twitter online communications to identify topics related to the reported attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors captured in a national representative survey (N=33,193) of the US adult population over 33 weeks. Results Our analyses revealed topics related to “congress funding for Zika,” “microcephaly,” “Zika-related travel discussions,” “insect repellent,” “blood transfusion technology,” and “Zika in Miami” were associated with our survey measures of attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors observed over the period of the study. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that it is possible to uncover topics of discussions from Twitter communications that are associated with the Zika-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of populations over time. Social media data can be used as a complementary source of information alongside traditional data sources to gauge the patterns of attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors in a population. PMID:29426815

How Do Adolescents Access Health Information? And Do They Ask Their Physicians?

PubMed Central

Ettel, George; Nathanson, Ian; Ettel, Donna; Wilson, Christine; Meola, Paul

2012-01-01

Objective: To improve understanding about how high school students use electronic tools to obtain health information and how this information affects their behavior. Design/Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we administered an anonymous survey to high school students in grades 9 through 12 at a single private Catholic high school, inquiring about their use of electronic tools to obtain health information, topics of interest, sources used to obtain information, and modifications in their behavior based on that information. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance were used to compare trends across grade levels. Results: Of 705 students enrolled, 24.7% were either absent or chose not to participate in the survey. Of the remaining 531 students, 497 completed the surveys, for a response rate of 70.5% (497 of 705) and a participation rate of 93.6% (497 of 531). All students were comfortable using the Internet, and >90% used it at home and in school. Access to broadband applications averaged 95% at home and 80% at school. A significant proportion (0.66; p < 0.0001) of students reported that they trusted the information found online, and 22% (not significant) modified their behavior on the basis of the information they found. Forty-two percent searched for general health information, and 43% investigated specific medical conditions or disease states. Topics related to skin were researched significantly more than nutrition, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases. Although a significant number of students (p < 0.05) reported conducting e-mail conversations related to health topics with their teachers, <5% had e-mail communications with physicians. Conclusions: These data indicate that most high school students used the Internet and broadband applications at school and at home as resources for health care information. A significant number of students trusted the online information, and at nearly one-quarter subsequently modified their behavior. Students conducted e-mail conversations with teachers about health-related topics, but few students used this tool to communicate with their physicians. This information raises questions about design and implementation of strategies to provide adolescents access to appropriate health care information, including that provided by physicians. PMID:22529757

"The Math You Need" When Faculty Need It: Enhancing Quantitative Skills at a Broad Spectrum of Higher Education Institutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baer, E. M.; Wenner, J. M.

2014-12-01

Implementation of "The Math You Need, When You Need It" (TMYN) modules at a wide variety of institutions suggests a broad need for faculty support in helping students develop quantitative skills necessary in introductory geoscience courses. Designed to support students in applying geoscience relevant quantitative skills, TMYN modules are web-based, self-paced and commonly assigned outside of class. They include topics such as calculating slope, rearranging equations, and unit conversions and provide several applications of the mathematical technique to geoscience problems. Each instructor chooses modules that are applicable to the content in his/her individual course and students typically work through the module immediately before the module topic is applied in lab or class. Instructors assigned TMYN modules in their courses at more than 40 diverse institutions, including four-year colleges and universities (4YCs) that vary from non-selective to highly selective and open-door two-year colleges (2YCs). Analysis of module topics assigned, frequency of module use, and institutional characteristics reveals similarities and differences among faculty perception of required quantitative skills and incoming student ability at variably selective institutions. Results indicate that institutional type and selectivity are not correlated with module topic; that is, faculty apply similar quantitative skills in all introductory geoscience courses. For example, nearly every instructor assigned the unit conversions module, whereas very few required the trigonometry module. However, differences in number of assigned modules and faculty expectations are observed between 2YCs and 4YCs (no matter the selectivity). Two-year college faculty typically assign a higher number of modules per course and faculty at 4YCs more often combine portions of multiple modules or cover multiple mathematical concepts in a single assignment. These observations suggest that quantitative skills required for introductory geoscience courses are similar among all higher-education institution types. However, faculty at 4YCs may expect students to acquire and apply multiple quantitative skills in the same class/lab, whereas 2YC faculty may structure assignments to introduce and apply only one quantitative technique at a time.

Initiating decision-making conversations in palliative care: an ethnographic discourse analysis.

PubMed

Bélanger, Emmanuelle; Rodríguez, Charo; Groleau, Danielle; Légaré, France; Macdonald, Mary Ellen; Marchand, Robert

2014-01-01

Conversations about end-of-life care remain challenging for health care providers. The tendency to delay conversations about care options represents a barrier that impedes the ability of terminally-ill patients to participate in decision-making. Family physicians with a palliative care practice are often responsible for discussing end-of-life care preferences with patients, yet there is a paucity of research directly observing these interactions. In this study, we sought to explore how patients and family physicians initiated decision-making conversations in the context of a community hospital-based palliative care service. This qualitative study combined discourse analysis with ethnographic methods. The field research lasted one year, and data were generated through participant observation and audio-recordings of consultations. A total of 101 consultations were observed longitudinally between 18 patients, 6 family physicians and 2 pivot nurses. Data analysis consisted in exploring the different types of discourses initiating decision-making conversations and how these discourses were affected by the organizational context in which they took place. The organization of care had an impact on decision-making conversations. The timing and origin of referrals to palliative care shaped whether patients were still able to participate in decision-making, and the decisions that remained to be made. The type of decisions to be made also shaped how conversations were initiated. Family physicians introduced decision-making conversations about issues needing immediate attention, such as symptom management, by directly addressing or eliciting patients' complaints. When decisions involved discussing impending death, decision-making conversations were initiated either indirectly, by prompting the patients to express their understanding of the disease and its progression, or directly, by providing a justification for broaching a difficult topic. Decision-making conversations and the initiation thereof were framed by the organization of care and the referral process prior to initial encounters. While symptom management was taken for granted as part of health care professionals' expected role, engaging in decisions regarding preparation for death implicitly remained under patients' control. This work makes important clinical contributions by exposing the rhetorical function of family physicians' discourse when introducing palliative care decisions.

Energy conversion alternatives study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shure, L. T.

1979-01-01

Comparison of coal based energy systems is given. Study identifies and compares various advanced energy conversion systems using coal or coal derived fuels for baselaoad electric power generation. Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS) reports provede government, industry, and general public with technically consistent basis for comparison of system's options of interest for fossilfired electric-utility application.

Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power Systems (MCNSPS) conceptual design and evaluation report. Volume 3, technologies 2: Power conversion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wetch, J. R.

1988-01-01

The major power conversion concepts considered for the Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power System (MCNSPS) are discussed. These concepts include: (1) Rankine alkali-metal-vapor turbine alternators; (2) in-core thermionic conversion; (3) Brayton gas turbine alternators; and (4) free piston Stirling engine linear alternators. Considerations important to the coupling of these four conversion alternatives to an appropriate nuclear reactor heat source are examined along with the comparative performance characteristics of the combined systems meeting MCNSPS requirements.

Systems and methods for commutating inductor current using a matrix converter

DOEpatents

Ransom, Ray M; Kajouke, Lateef A; Perisic, Milun

2012-10-16

Systems and methods are provided for delivering current using a matrix converter in a vehicle. An electrical system comprises an AC interface, a first conversion module coupled to the AC interface, an inductive element coupled between the AC interface and the first conversion module, and a control module coupled to the first conversion module. The control module is configured to operate the first conversion module in a bidirectional operating mode to commutate current bidirectionally. When a magnitude of the current through the inductive element is greater than a first threshold value, the control module operates the conversion module in a unidirectional operating mode, wherein current is commutated unidirectionally.

Physicians Asking Patients About Guns: Promoting Patient Safety, Respecting Patient Rights.

PubMed

Parent, Brendan

2016-10-01

Recent debate on whether physicians should discuss gun ownership with their patients has centered on determining whether gun injuries are an issue of health or safety, and on protecting patient privacy. Yet, physicians' duties span personal health, public health, and safety spheres, and they often must address private patient matters. To prioritize gun safety and reduce gun injuries, the primary policy-driving question should be: will physician counseling on gun ownership effectively reduce gun-related injuries without interfering with the physician's other treatment obligations or compromising the physician-patient relationship? Existing data on physician-initiated conversations with patients about guns support a positive prevention effect. However, it is critical that physician-initiated discussions of safe gun practices are not motivated by, nor convey, disapproval of gun ownership. To be ethical, respectful, and efficient, the conversation should be standard between primary care providers and all of their patients (not limited to patient subsets); questions and education should be limited to topics of gun-ownership risks and storage practices; and the conversation must be framed without bias against gun ownership.

Laser power conversion system analysis, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, W. S.; Morgan, L. L.; Forsyth, J. B.; Skratt, J. P.

1979-01-01

The orbit-to-orbit laser energy conversion system analysis established a mission model of satellites with various orbital parameters and average electrical power requirements ranging from 1 to 300 kW. The system analysis evaluated various conversion techniques, power system deployment parameters, power system electrical supplies and other critical supplies and other critical subsystems relative to various combinations of the mission model. The analysis show that the laser power system would not be competitive with current satellite power systems from weight, cost and development risk standpoints.

Biomass conversion processes for energy and fuels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sofer, S. S.; Zaborsky, O. R.

The book treats biomass sources, promising processes for the conversion of biomass into energy and fuels, and the technical and economic considerations in biomass conversion. Sources of biomass examined include crop residues and municipal, animal and industrial wastes, agricultural and forestry residues, aquatic biomass, marine biomass and silvicultural energy farms. Processes for biomass energy and fuel conversion by direct combustion (the Andco-Torrax system), thermochemical conversion (flash pyrolysis, carboxylolysis, pyrolysis, Purox process, gasification and syngas recycling) and biochemical conversion (anaerobic digestion, methanogenesis and ethanol fermentation) are discussed, and mass and energy balances are presented for each system.

Ocular delivery systems for topical application of anti-infective agents.

PubMed

Duxfield, Linda; Sultana, Rubab; Wang, Ruokai; Englebretsen, Vanessa; Deo, Samantha; Rupenthal, Ilva D; Al-Kassas, Raida

2016-01-01

For the treatment of anterior eye segment infections using anti-infective agents, topical ocular application is the most convenient route of administration. However, topical delivery of anti-infective agents is associated with a number of problems and challenges owing to the unique structure of the eye and the physicochemical properties of these compounds. Topical ocular drug delivery systems can be classified into two forms: conventional and non-conventional. The efficacy of conventional ocular formulations is limited by poor corneal retention and permeation resulting in low ocular bioavailability. Recently, attention has been focused on improving topical ocular delivery of anti-infective agents using advanced drug delivery systems. This review will focus on the challenges of efficient topical ocular delivery of anti-infective agents and will discuss the various types of delivery systems used to improve the treatment anterior segment infections.

Workshop on Basic Research Opportunities in Photovoltaics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benner, J.; McConnell, R.; Deb, S., Editors

1999-08-25

The Basic Research Opportunities in Photovoltaics Workshop was held on May 3, 1999, in Seattle, Washington, in conjunction with the 195th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society. The workshop was structured into eight topics. Each topic area opened with a presentation in which the participants were asked to address the following: a brief introduction of the area of research; key research issues that were identified in an earlier workshop in 1992; what fundamental research has been done since then or is currently being done to address those issues; what are the research issues that are still relevant in light of advancesmore » made since the first workshop; identification of new fundamental research opportunities that will lead to important advances and innovations; and identification of significant commonalities and common research issues that have a cross-cutting impact, such as logically exist in silicon-based thin films, II-VI, and related materials. The topic areas discussed included amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide; III-V materials; novel materials and energy conversion approaches, semiconducting oxides, and characterization. After the meeting, participants in each working topic continued discussions by electronic means, completing journal articles that are to be published as a separate section in the ECS Proceedings of the ''PV for the 21st Century'' Symposium.« less

Web Conversations About Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Cancer: Content and Sentiment Analysis

PubMed Central

Truccolo, Ivana; Antonini, Marialuisa; Rinaldi, Fabio; Omero, Paolo; Ferrarin, Emanuela; De Paoli, Paolo; Tasso, Carlo

2016-01-01

Background The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is widespread and mostly self-administrated. Today, one of the most relevant topics is the nondisclosure of CAM use to doctors. This general lack of communication exposes patients to dangerous behaviors and to less reliable information channels, such as the Web. The Italian context scarcely differs from this trend. Today, we are able to mine and analyze systematically the unstructured information available in the Web, to get an insight of people’s opinions, beliefs, and rumors concerning health topics. Objective Our aim was to analyze Italian Web conversations about CAM, identifying the most relevant Web sources, therapies, and diseases and measure the related sentiment. Methods Data have been collected using the Web Intelligence tool ifMONITOR. The workflow consisted of 6 phases: (1) eligibility criteria definition for the ifMONITOR search profile; (2) creation of a CAM terminology database; (3) generic Web search and automatic filtering, the results have been manually revised to refine the search profile, and stored in the ifMONITOR database; (4) automatic classification using the CAM database terms; (5) selection of the final sample and manual sentiment analysis using a 1-5 score range; (6) manual indexing of the Web sources and CAM therapies type retrieved. Descriptive univariate statistics were computed for each item: absolute frequency, percentage, central tendency (mean sentiment score [MSS]), and variability (standard variation σ). Results Overall, 212 Web sources, 423 Web documents, and 868 opinions have been retrieved. The overall sentiment measured tends to a good score (3.6 of 5). Quite a high polarization in the opinions of the conversation partaking emerged from standard variation analysis (σ≥1). In total, 126 of 212 (59.4%) Web sources retrieved were nonhealth-related. Facebook (89; 21%) and Yahoo Answers (41; 9.7%) were the most relevant. In total, 94 CAM therapies have been retrieved. Most belong to the “biologically based therapies or nutrition” category: 339 of 868 opinions (39.1%), showing an MSS of 3.9 (σ=0.83). Within nutrition, “diets” collected 154 opinions (18.4%) with an MSS of 3.8 (σ=0.87); “food as CAM” overall collected 112 opinions (12.8%) with a MSS of 4 (σ=0.68). Excluding diets and food, the most discussed CAM therapy is the controversial Italian “Di Bella multitherapy” with 102 opinions (11.8%) with an MSS of 3.4 (σ=1.21). Breast cancer was the most mentioned disease: 81 opinions of 868. Conclusions Conversations about CAM and cancer are ubiquitous. There is a great concern about the biologically based therapies, perceived as harmless and useful, under-rating all risks related to dangerous interactions or malnutrition. Our results can be useful to doctors to be aware of the implications of these beliefs for the clinical practice. Web conversation exploitation could be a strategy to gain insights of people’s perspective for other controversial topics. PMID:27311444

Analysis and optimization of three main organic Rankine cycle configurations using a set of working fluids with different thermodynamic behaviors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamdi, Basma; Mabrouk, Mohamed Tahar; Kairouani, Lakdar; Kheiri, Abdelhamid

2017-06-01

Different configurations of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are potential thermodynamic concepts for power generation from low grade heat. The aim of this work is to investigate and optimize the performances of the three main ORC systems configurations: basic ORC, ORC with internal heat exchange (IHE) and regenerative ORC. The evaluation for those configurations was performed using seven working fluids with typical different thermodynamic behaviours (R245fa, R601a, R600a, R227ea, R134a, R1234ze and R1234yf). The optimization has been performed using a genetic algorithm under a comprehensive set of operative parameters such as the fluid evaporating temperature, the fraction of flow rate or the pressure at the steam extracting point in the turbine. Results show that there is no general best ORC configuration for all those fluids. However, there is a suitable configuration for each fluid. Contribution to the topical issue "Materials for Energy harvesting, conversion and storage II (ICOME 2016)", edited by Jean-Michel Nunzi, Rachid Bennacer and Mohammed El Ganaoui

Thermionic energy conversion technology - Present and future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shimada, K.; Morris, J. F.

1977-01-01

Aerospace and terrestrial applications of thermionic direct energy conversion and advances in direct energy conversion (DEC) technology are surveyed. Electrode materials, the cesium plasma drop (the difference between the barrier index and the collector work function), DEC voltage/current characteristics, conversion efficiency, and operating temperatures are discussed. Attention is centered on nuclear reactor system thermionic DEC devices, for in-core or out-of-core operation. Thermionic fuel elements, the radiation shield, power conditions, and a waste heat rejection system are considered among the thermionic DEC system components. Terrestrial applications include topping power systems in fossil fuel and solar power generation.

TopicLens: Efficient Multi-Level Visual Topic Exploration of Large-Scale Document Collections.

PubMed

Kim, Minjeong; Kang, Kyeongpil; Park, Deokgun; Choo, Jaegul; Elmqvist, Niklas

2017-01-01

Topic modeling, which reveals underlying topics of a document corpus, has been actively adopted in visual analytics for large-scale document collections. However, due to its significant processing time and non-interactive nature, topic modeling has so far not been tightly integrated into a visual analytics workflow. Instead, most such systems are limited to utilizing a fixed, initial set of topics. Motivated by this gap in the literature, we propose a novel interaction technique called TopicLens that allows a user to dynamically explore data through a lens interface where topic modeling and the corresponding 2D embedding are efficiently computed on the fly. To support this interaction in real time while maintaining view consistency, we propose a novel efficient topic modeling method and a semi-supervised 2D embedding algorithm. Our work is based on improving state-of-the-art methods such as nonnegative matrix factorization and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding. Furthermore, we have built a web-based visual analytics system integrated with TopicLens. We use this system to measure the performance and the visualization quality of our proposed methods. We provide several scenarios showcasing the capability of TopicLens using real-world datasets.

The metric system: An introduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lumley, Susan M.

On 13 Jul. 1992, Deputy Director Duane Sewell restated the Laboratory's policy on conversion to the metric system which was established in 1974. Sewell's memo announced the Laboratory's intention to continue metric conversion on a reasonable and cost effective basis. Copies of the 1974 and 1992 Administrative Memos are contained in the Appendix. There are three primary reasons behind the Laboratory's conversion to the metric system. First, Public Law 100-418, passed in 1988, states that by the end of fiscal year 1992 the Federal Government must begin using metric units in grants, procurements, and other business transactions. Second, on 25 Jul. 1991, President George Bush signed Executive Order 12770 which urged Federal agencies to expedite conversion to metric units. Third, the contract between the University of California and the Department of Energy calls for the Laboratory to convert to the metric system. Thus, conversion to the metric system is a legal requirement and a contractual mandate with the University of California. Public Law 100-418 and Executive Order 12770 are discussed in more detail later in this section, but first they examine the reasons behind the nation's conversion to the metric system. The second part of this report is on applying the metric system.

Successfully Engaging Family and Student Audiences in Climate Science Workshops in an Informal Learning Venue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeFrancis, G.; Haynes, R.; Schroer, K.

2017-12-01

The Montshire Museum of Science, a regional science center serving families, teachers, and students in rural Vermont and New Hampshire, has been actively engaged in in climate literacy initiatives for over 10 years. The Museum's visitor evaluation data shows that before audiences can be engaged in conversations around climate change, they need to be introduced to the underlying earth processes that drive climate, and to the nature of how climate science is done. Through this work, the Museum has developed a suite of climate science programs that can be incorporated in informal science programming at museums, science centers, and libraries, and in the formal K-8 classroom environment. Front-end and formative evaluation data was used in the program design, and summative evaluation showed an increase in concept understanding in the topic presented. Family science and student workshops developed focused on Albedo and the Earth's energy budget, properties and characteristics of sea ice, sediment cores and ice cores to study changes in the climate over time, and the geography of the polar regions. We found that successful climate literacy learning experiences require meaningful hands-on, inquiry-based activities focused on a single earth process, and leads to an increase in science talk and conversation about climate change between the program instructor and audience members as learners begin to understand how these processes interact in the Earth's climate system.

Preserving the Family Woods: tools to help guide transfer to the next generation of landowners

Treesearch

US FS Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry; John Becker; Michael Jacobson

2008-01-01

Hello, Woodland Owner! Looking forward to a nice conversation with your family about estate planning? If so, you're one of a fairly small number. Estate planning may not be a fun or easy topic, but this is an area where failing to plan can mean planning to fail. This guide is designed to help make the process a little easier. If it helps to know, you're not...

Porphyrin-sensitized solar cells: systematic molecular optimization, coadsorption and cosensitization.

PubMed

Song, Heli; Liu, Qingyun; Xie, Yongshu

2018-02-15

As a promising low-cost solar energy conversion technique, dye-sensitized solar cells have undergone spectacular development since 1991. For practical applications, improvement of power conversion efficiency has always been one of the major research topics. Porphyrins are outstanding sensitizers endowed with strong sunlight harvesting ability in the visible region and multiple reaction sites available for functionalization. However, judicious molecular design in consideration of light-harvest, energy levels, operational dynamics, adsorption geometry and suppression of back reactions is specifically required for achieving excellent photovoltaic performance. This feature article highlights some of the recently developed porphyrin sensitizers, especially focusing on the systematic dye structure optimization approach in combination with coadsorption and cosensitization methods in pursuing higher efficiencies. Herein, we expect to provide more insights into the structure-performance correlation and molecular engineering strategies in a stepwise manner.

Continuing the conversation in nursing on race and racism.

PubMed

Hall, Joanne M; Fields, Becky

2013-01-01

Nursing values include diversity and a commitment to the elimination of health disparities. However, nursing comprises predominantly white, female nurses. The authors explore structural and interpersonal sources of disparities experienced by black persons, including white privilege. Here, the authors advocate for a continuation of the racism conversation, specifically among white nurses. Racial disadvantages stem from structural inequalities from daily slights, and usually unintended subtle racism toward black people on the part of white people, including white nurses. By raising consciousness on how we propagate subtle racism, nursing can progress faster in eliminating health disparities. Topics include postracialism, colorblindness, institutional racism, white privilege, health disparities, clinical encounters, subtle racism, and racial microaggressions. Suggestions for open dialogue, historical awareness, education, research, and practice are highlighted. Difficulties involved in confronting racism and white privilege are explored. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

``The sun is sleeping now'': Early learning about light and shadows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segal, Gilda; Cosgrove, Mark

1993-12-01

To keep intuitive knowledge fluid for an extended time, we wish to encourage young children to examine continuously those intuitive explanations for natural phenomena which later become hard wired, highly resistant to development or change. To assist this we designed a learning package which integrated three extensively researched educational strategies (cooperative learning, informal inquiry and familiar context) for children to explore their notions about the topic light. Children in a kindergarten class were encouraged to share their ideas about shadows and shadow formation with peers, as they took part in explorations of shadow formation inside and outside their classroom. Whole class discussions, small group conversations and final conversations between researcher and small groups provide insights into social and individual construction of knowledge, young children's abilities to be scientific and the social construction of gender.

NASA presentation. [wind energy conversion systems planning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, R. L.

1973-01-01

The development of a wind energy system is outlined that supplies reliable energy at a cost competitive with other energy systems. A government directed industry program with strong university support is recommended that includes meteorological studies to estimate wind energy potentials and determines favorable regions and sites for wind power installations. Key phases of the overall program are wind energy conversion systems, meteorological wind studies, energy storage systems, and environmental impact studies. Performance testing with a prototype wind energy conversion and storage system is projected for Fiscal 1977.

Design of multi-energy Helds coupling testing system of vertical axis wind power system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Q.; Yang, Z. X.; Li, G. S.; Song, L.; Ma, C.

2016-08-01

The conversion efficiency of wind energy is the focus of researches and concerns as one of the renewable energy. The present methods of enhancing the conversion efficiency are mostly improving the wind rotor structure, optimizing the generator parameters and energy storage controller and so on. Because the conversion process involves in energy conversion of multi-energy fields such as wind energy, mechanical energy and electrical energy, the coupling effect between them will influence the overall conversion efficiency. In this paper, using system integration analysis technology, a testing system based on multi-energy field coupling (MEFC) of vertical axis wind power system is proposed. When the maximum efficiency of wind rotor is satisfied, it can match to the generator function parameters according to the output performance of wind rotor. The voltage controller can transform the unstable electric power to the battery on the basis of optimizing the parameters such as charging times, charging voltage. Through the communication connection and regulation of the upper computer system (UCS), it can make the coupling parameters configure to an optimal state, and it improves the overall conversion efficiency. This method can test the whole wind turbine (WT) performance systematically and evaluate the design parameters effectively. It not only provides a testing method for system structure design and parameter optimization of wind rotor, generator and voltage controller, but also provides a new testing method for the whole performance optimization of vertical axis wind energy conversion system (WECS).

Life on the line: the therapeutic potentials of computer-mediated conversation.

PubMed

Miller, J K; Gergen, K J

1998-04-01

In what ways are computer networking practices comparable to face-to-face therapy? With the exponential increase in computer-mediated communication and the increasing numbers of people joining topically based computer networks, the potential for grass-roots therapeutic (or antitherapeutic) interchange is greatly augmented. Here we report the results of research into exchanges on an electronic bulletin board devoted to the topic of suicide. Over an 11-month period participants offered each other valuable resources in terms of validation of experience, sympathy, acceptance, and encouragement. They also asked provocative questions and furnished broad-ranging advice. Hostile entries were rare. However, there were few communiques that parallel the change-inducing practices more frequent within many therapeutic settings. In effect, on-line dialogues seemed more sustaining than transforming. Further limits and potentials of on-line communication are explored.

A pHorseshoe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plumsky, Roger

1999-07-01

Students often find pH calculations boring and irrelevant, and many memorize calculation schemes without understanding. It has been suggested that such topics should be dropped from the first-year chemistry course. I have found an approach that involves memorization but enables students of average ability to achieve understanding through its use and subsequent development of the topic. Providing students with a memorization scheme at the outset eliminates initial frustration and discouragement and leads to better understanding by the time the unit has been developed. Understanding is developed after the students have successfully calculated conversions between pH and hydrogen ion concentration. In this article the pHorseshoe is described not only for the purpose of sharing with other teachers who might find it useful but also to explain why, in this case at least, memorization is the servant of understanding and not a substitute for it.

Public reactions to e-cigarette regulations on Twitter: a text mining analysis.

PubMed

Lazard, Allison J; Wilcox, Gary B; Tuttle, Hannah M; Glowacki, Elizabeth M; Pikowski, Jessica

2017-12-01

In May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule that deemed e-cigarettes to be within their regulatory authority as a tobacco product. News and opinions about the regulation were shared on social media platforms, such as Twitter, which can play an important role in shaping the public's attitudes. We analysed information shared on Twitter for insights into initial public reactions. A text mining approach was used to uncover important topics among reactions to the e-cigarette regulations on Twitter. SAS Text Miner V.12.1 software was used for descriptive text mining to uncover the primary topics from tweets collected from May 1 to May 17 2016 using NUVI software to gather the data. A total of nine topics were generated. These topics reveal initial reactions to whether the FDA's e-cigarette regulations will benefit or harm public health, how the regulations will impact the emerging e-cigarette market and efforts to share the news. The topics were dominated by negative or mixed reactions. In the days following the FDA's announcement of the new deeming regulations, the public reaction on Twitter was largely negative. Public health advocates should consider using social media outlets to better communicate the policy's intentions, reach and potential impact for public good to create a more balanced conversation. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Statistical thermodynamics foundation for photovoltaic and photothermal conversion. II. Application to photovoltaic conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badescu, Viorel; Landsberg, Peter T.

1995-08-01

The general theory developed in part I was applied to build up two models of photovoltaic conversion. To this end two different systems were analyzed. The first system consists of the whole absorber (converter), for which the balance equations for energy and entropy are written and then used to derive an upper bound for solar energy conversion. The second system covers a part of the absorber (converter), namely the valence and conduction electronic bands. The balance of energy is used in this case to derive, under additional assumptions, another upper limit for the conversion efficiency. This second system deals with the real location where the power is generated. Both models take into consideration the radiation polarization and reflection, and the effects of concentration. The second model yields a more accurate upper bound for the conversion efficiency. A generalized solar cell equation is derived. It is proved that other previous theories are particular cases of the present more general formalism.

Conversational pursuit of medication compliance in a Therapeutic Community for persons diagnosed with mental disorders*

PubMed Central

Mortari, Luigina

2014-01-01

Purpose In this article, we contribute to the debate on medication compliance by exploring the conversational “technologies” entailed in the process of promoting clients’ adherence to psychopharmacological prescriptions. Using a case study approach, we explore how medication-related problems are dealt with in conversational interaction between the staff members and the clients of a mental health Therapeutic Community (TC) in Italy. Method Four meetings between two staff members (Barbara and Massimo) and the clients of the TC were audio-recorded. The data were transcribed and analyzed using the method of Conversation Analysis. Results Barbara and Massimo recur to practices of topic articulation to promote talk that references the clients’ failure to take the medications. Through these practices they deal with the practical problem of mobilizing the clients’ cooperation in courses of action that fit into the institutional agenda of fostering medication adherence. Conclusions Barbara and Massimo’s conversational practices appear to reflect the assumption that medication-related problems can be reduced to compliance problems. This assumption works to make the clients accountable for their failure to take the medications while shaping a conversational environment that is unreceptive to their complaints about side effects. Implications for the understanding of mental health rehabilitation practice in TCs are discussed. Implications of RehabilitationTherapeutic community staff members should be aware of the challenges and blocks in communicating with their clients.Therapeutic communities can promote staff members’ awareness of communication challenges through reflective workshops in which they can jointly view and comment on interaction with their clients.Reflective workshops can be used to raise awareness of the presuppositions underlying therapeutic community staff members’ communication practices. PMID:24053481

Limits to solar power conversion efficiency with applications to quantum and thermal systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byvik, C. E.; Buoncristiani, A. M.; Smith, B. T.

1983-01-01

An analytical framework is presented that permits examination of the limit to the efficiency of various solar power conversion devices. Thermodynamic limits to solar power efficiency are determined for both quantum and thermal systems, and the results are applied to a variety of devices currently considered for use in space systems. The power conversion efficiency for single-threshold energy quantum systems receiving unconcentrated air mass zero solar radiation is limited to 31 percent. This limit applies to photovoltaic cells directly converting solar radiation, or indirectly, as in the case of a thermophotovoltaic system. Photoelectrochemical cells rely on an additional chemical reaction at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, which introduces additional second-law demands and a reduction of the solar conversion efficiency. Photochemical systems exhibit even lower possible efficiencies because of their relatively narrow absorption bands. Solar-powered thermal engines in contact with an ambient reservoir at 300 K and operating at maximum power have a peak conversion efficiency of 64 percent, and this occurs for a thermal reservoir at a temperature of 2900 K. The power conversion efficiency of a solar-powered liquid metal magnetohydrodydnamic generator, a solar-powered steam turbine electric generator, and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter is discussed.

Heat Rejection Concepts for Brayton Power Conversion Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siamidis, John; Mason, Lee; Beach, Duane; Yuko, James

2005-01-01

This paper describes potential heat rejection design concepts for closed Brayton cycle (CBC) power conversion systems. Brayton conversion systems are currently under study by NASA for Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) applications. The Heat Rejection Subsystem (HRS) must dissipate waste heat generated by the power conversion system due to inefficiencies in the thermal-to-electric conversion process. Space Brayton conversion system designs tend to optimize at efficiencies of about 20 to 25 percent with radiator temperatures in the 400 to 600 K range. A notional HRS was developed for a 100 kWe-class Brayton power system that uses a pumped sodium-potassium (NaK) heat transport loop coupled to a water heat pipe radiator. The radiator panels employ a sandwich construction consisting of regularly-spaced circular heat pipes contained within two composite facesheets. Heat transfer from the NaK fluid to the heat pipes is accomplished by inserting the evaporator sections into the NaK duct channel. The paper evaluates various design parameters including heat pipe diameter, heat pipe spacing, and facesheet thickness. Parameters were varied to compare design options on the basis of NaK pump pressure rise and required power, heat pipe unit power and radial flux, radiator panel areal mass, and overall HRS mass.

Radio-Frequency-Controlled Urea Dosing for NH3-SCR Catalysts: NH3 Storage Influence to Catalyst Performance under Transient Conditions

PubMed Central

Dietrich, Markus; Hagen, Gunter; Reitmeier, Willibald; Burger, Katharina; Hien, Markus; Grass, Philippe; Kubinski, David; Visser, Jaco; Moos, Ralf

2017-01-01

Current developments in exhaust gas aftertreatment led to a huge mistrust in diesel driven passenger cars due to their NOx emissions being too high. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with ammonia (NH3) as reducing agent is the only approach today with the capability to meet upcoming emission limits. Therefore, the radio-frequency-based (RF) catalyst state determination to monitor the NH3 loading on SCR catalysts has a huge potential in emission reduction. Recent work on this topic proved the basic capability of this technique under realistic conditions on an engine test bench. In these studies, an RF system calibration for the serial type SCR catalyst Cu-SSZ-13 was developed and different approaches for a temperature dependent NH3 storage were determined. This paper continues this work and uses a fully calibrated RF-SCR system under transient conditions to compare different directly measured and controlled NH3 storage levels, and NH3 target curves. It could be clearly demonstrated that the right NH3 target curve, together with a direct control on the desired level by the RF system, is able to operate the SCR system with the maximum possible NOx conversion efficiency and without NH3 slip. PMID:29182589

Holder and Topic Based Analysis of Emotions on Blog Texts: A Case Study for Bengali

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Dipankar; Bandyopadhyay, Sivaji

The paper presents an extended approach of analyzing emotions of the blog users on different topics. The rule based techniques to identify emotion holders and topics with respect to their corresponding emotional expressions helps to develop the baseline system. On the other hand, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) based supervised framework identifies the holders, topics and emotional expressions from the blog sentences by outperforming the baseline system. The existence of many to many relations between the holders and the topics with respect to Ekman's six different emotion classes has been examined using two way evaluation techniques, one is with respect to holder and other is from the perspective of topic. The results of the system were found satisfactory in comparison with the agreement of the subjective annotation. The error analysis shows that the topic of a blog at document level is not always conveyed at the sentence level. Moreover, the difficulty in identifying topic from a blog document is due to the problem of identifying some features like bigrams, Named Entities and sentiment. Thus, we employed a semantic clustering approach along with these features to identify the similarity between document level topic and sentential topic as well as to improve the results of identifying the document level topic.

Reliability and mass analysis of dynamic power conversion systems with parallel of standby redundancy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Juhasz, A. J.; Bloomfield, H. S.

1985-01-01

A combinatorial reliability approach is used to identify potential dynamic power conversion systems for space mission applications. A reliability and mass analysis is also performed, specifically for a 100 kWe nuclear Brayton power conversion system with parallel redundancy. Although this study is done for a reactor outlet temperature of 1100K, preliminary system mass estimates are also included for reactor outlet temperatures ranging up to 1500 K.

Family assessment conversations as a tool to support families affected by parental mental illness: a retrospective review of electronic patient journals.

PubMed

Lauritzen, Camilla; Kolmannskog, Anne Berit; Iversen, Anette Christine

2018-01-01

Previous research has shown a link between parental mental illness and adverse development in their offspring. In Norway, it is mandatory for health professionals to identify if patients in adult mental health services have children, and subsequently to provide support for the children. An important tool to detect if families are affected by parental mental illness and to assess if there is a need for further intervention is the Family Assessment Conversation. Family Assessment Conversations is potentially a powerful tool for communication with families affected by parental mental illness because it facilitates early identification of children at risk of various adversities due to the family situation. Additionally the tool may initiate processes that enable children and parents to cope with the situation when a parent becomes seriously ill. Little is however known about how the mental health practitioners use the family assessment form in conversations, and to what extent they record relevant information in the electronic patient journals. The main aim of the study was to provide information about the existing practice within mental health services for adults in terms of parental mental illness and family assessment conversations. The project is a retrospective journal review. The data base consists of relevant journal data from 734 patients aged 20-60 years admitted. In total, 159 recordings of family assessment conversations were discovered. The main result in this study was that many of the questions in the family assessment form lacked documented responses and assessments from the healthcare professionals. Only 17% of the participants had been assessed with the total family assessment form. Additionally, there was a lack of documentation about whether or not the children had been informed in a large proportion of the assessment forms (31%). A total of 55% say that the child has not been informed. This implies that there is still a long way to go in order to make sure that children of parents with a mental illness are given relevant information and support. The documentation and family assessment frequency is low and reflects the challenges healthcare professionals and patient experience when the child's situation becomes the topic of assessment. There is a need to further investigate the challenges of changing the mental health systems to incorporate the children and families of patients. More research should promote knowledge on what may facilitate family assessment dialogue.