Ordinary Usage Research Articles

Electromagnetic noise in electric circuits: Ringing and resonance phenomena in the common mode

It is generally believed that electromagnetic noise originates from the coupling of electric signals in a circuit with electric signals in surrounding materials in the environment. However, the noise phenomenon had not been quantified until now. In order to study the phenomenon of noise, we considered a standard circuit (two transmission lines), to which an additional transmission line was introduced in order to explicitly take into account the effect of conductors in the environment. We performed calculations using a newly developed multiconductor transmission-line theory for the resulting three-line circuit in order to determine the magnitude of the coupling between the circuit and the conductors in the environment under various conditions. We observed ringing and resonance phenomena in the common mode, which influenced the performance of the normal mode as electromagnetic noise. Our findings were confirmed by recent experiments in which conductor lines were arranged in various ways using a printed circuit board (PCB). The ordinary usage of electricity in the standard electric circuit was found to be worst in exciting the common mode noise.

Knowledge statements and belief statements: how do their differences matter for Science Education

In this paper, I examine first the way knowledge-statements and belief-statements are questioned in ordinary language. The former are questioned by “how do you know?” questions, while the latter are questioned by “why do you believe?” questions. The answers to these questions are different. In the former case, one replies by providing the reasons that justify their being in position to know, whereas in the latter case, one replies by adducing the evidence for their statement. Then, I explore the epistemological repercussions of the difference in ordinary usage between the verbs ‘to know’ and ‘to believe’ and, drawing on these, I discuss the implication for science teaching.

FACTIVE VERBS AND PROTAGONIST PROJECTION

AbstractNearly all philosophers agree that only true things can be known. But does this principle reflect actual patterns of ordinary usage? Several examples in ordinary language seem to show that ‘know’ is literally used non-factively. By contrast, this paper reports five experiments utilizing explicit paraphrasing tasks, which suggest that these non-factive uses are actually not literal. Instead, they are better explained by a phenomenon known as protagonist projection. It is argued that armchair philosophical orthodoxy regarding the truth requirement for knowledge withstands current empirical scrutiny.

Hope, positive illusions and palliative rehabilitation

In ordinary usage, the word ‘hope’ is clear and unambiguous. But in the palliative care context it has been amplified, dramatized, glamorized, and spiritualized to the extent that it is no more than a piece of inflated rhetoric. In this paper, I will offer a simple analysis of a simple word; explain why the inflated sense is unhelpful; show why hope does not have a straightforward ‘opposite’; and argue that ‘hope’ is not a name for a metaphysical, psychological, or spiritual something-or-other. However, bewitched by their inflated understanding of ‘hope’, some palliative care professionals apparently tell patients and carers what they should hope for – which could hardly be more patronizing – while others use it as a portmanteau term to describe whatever positive health care outcomes take their fancy. My suggestion is that palliative rehabilitation specialists should resist the temptations of inflation and glamorisation, and begin to use the word more precisely, modestly, and transparently. There is no such thing as ‘hope’ the life force, ‘hope’ the inner power, ‘hope’ the universal human phenomenon, or ‘hope’ the theological virtue.

Discernment of Spirits in the Bible

In English, “to discern” basically means “to detect something that is obscure or concealed.” It also means “to perceive or recognize as being different or distinct; distinguish.” Hence, in ordinary usage, “discernment” has to do with “keenness of insight and judgment.”

Investigations and Comparison of Noise Signals to Useful Signals for the Detection of Dents in Vehicle Bodies by Sound Emission Analysis

The context of this paper is the German research project KESS (Konfigurierbares Elektronisches Schadensidentifikationssystem) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In this Project, an entire system from sensing structure-borne sound up to Car-2-Infrastructure communication for the minor damage detection of car sharing vehicles is under development. Therefore, the suppression of noise signals is essential for the further algorithms to classify minor damages. Minor damages in vehicle body parts create structure-borne sound which overlaps with additional oscillations of the vehicle. In the ordinary usage of vehicles, those additional oscillations are mainly caused by road and engine noise. Within this paper the differences of such noise signals and signals of structure damages will be described. Therefore, an analysis method to calculate spectrally decomposed envelope signals of structure-borne sound signals is given and the analysis results will be presented. A digital filter method to attenuate the majority of noise signals and to preserve the useful signals for the detection of minor damages will be given at the end of this paper. This digital filter method has been successfully designed and implemented into the algorithm of the sensor by using model based design techniques.

Stylistic Approach to Shakespeare's Sonnets 1-5

: Poetry is a genre of literature that students find difficult to understand over the years. The difficulty may be traced to the cryptic nature of the language of poetry that makes it inaccessible to readers. The desire to make the sonnets of William Shakespeare clearer to secondary school students and undergraduates informs this study. The themes and subject matters of sonnets 1-5 are considered in the study through attention to the language of the poet. William Shakespeare wrote his works in English Language. He lived between 1564 and 1616. He was a potent voice in the era known as the Renaissance. He wrote some sonnets that amply reflected the socio-political contradictions of that period in England. The study sought, therefore to unravel the subject matter of sonnets 1 — 5 through conscious attention to the language of the poet. Language has been a means of communication over the years. From the dawn of time, language has remained a potent means of communication. It is the instrument through which landmarks are recorded. Poetry and other disciplines rely greatly on language. It is debatable whether there could be development without language. However, the language of poetry has been a source of concern to students and critics over the years. This source of concern centres on the abstract nature of the language of poetry. William Shakespeare’s poems are adjudged difficult as a result of the language and the need to transcend the level of ordinary communicative usage to the individualised world of the poet. Secondary school students and undergraduates alike, therefore, find these poems difficult to understand.

The Broad View of Aesthetic Experience

Peter Kivy and Noël Carroll advocate a narrow view of aesthetic experience according to which it consists mainly in attention to formal properties. Excluded are cognitive and moral properties. I defend the broader view that includes the latter properties. I argue first that cognition and moral assessment can be inseparable in experience from grasp of form and expressiveness. Second, Kivy and Carroll must extend the notion of form itself beyond ordinary usage to accommodate acknowledged aesthetic experience. Third, the broad view has a more impressive historical lineage than the narrow view. Fourth, aesthetic experience is appreciation of aesthetic value, and the latter is more plausibly analyzed in a broad way.

Isolation: A Concept Analysis

Concept analysis of isolation. This article uses Walker and Avant's methodological approach in distinguishing the concept of isolation between the normal, ordinary language usage and the scientific usage of the concept. The importance of social contact has long been recognized as a fundamental need for humans. The concept of isolation is used throughout the lay and scientific literature and has a primarily negative connotation for humans. The experience is sometimes severe enough to result in serious reductions in adaptation and performance. The Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases were searched using the key terms of concept analysis, human, and isolation with no restriction on the year of publication. English language reports were used exclusively. Three attributes were identified: sensory deprivation, social isolation, and confinement. Antecedents included individual perception and situational dimensions. Consequences included anxiety, depression, mood disturbances, anger, loneliness, and adverse health events. Through this concept analysis, isolation has been theoretically defined as a state in which an individual experiences a reduction in the level of normal sensory and social input with possible involuntary limitations on physical space or movement. Systematic studies of isolation using this concept can ultimately enhance nurses' knowledge base and contribute to the quality of life for isolated persons.

Disagreement, Error, and an Alternative to Reference Magnetism

Lewisian reference magnetism about linguistic content determination [Lewis 1983 has been defended in recent work by Weatherson [2003] and Sider [2009], among others. Two advantages claimed for the view are its capacity to make sense of systematic error in speakers' use of their words, and its capacity to distinguish between verbal and substantive disagreements. Our understanding of both error and disagreement is linked to the role of usage and first order intuitions in semantics and in linguistic theory more generally. I argue, partially on the basis of these more general considerations, that reference magnetism delivers implausible results. Specifically, I argue that the proponent of reference magnetism maintains her analysis of genuinely systematic error at the cost of an empirically unjustifiable error theory regarding ordinary usage. In response, I describe an alternative view of content determination—MUMPS, or Meaning is Use Minus Pragmatics—which is not committed to such error theories. Despite this advantage, MUMPS has high prima facie costs. On such a view, there is a great deal of variation in linguistic meaning across speakers and times. As a result, a large number of seemingly mistaken claims are analysed as expressing true propositions. Correspondingly, a large number of seemingly substantive disagreements are analysed as terminological. However, I argue that these consequences are not as costly as they seem. Despite appearances, MUMPS is consistent with objective, metaphysically realist adjudication of disagreements, even in cases where meanings are not shared and where both parties to a dispute speak truly. MUMPS thus allows for a more nuanced understanding of linguistic usage, change, and variation, without imposing a commitment to any form of metaphysical anti-realism.

USAGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES: LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ POSITION

Over the latter decade a rapid development of information communication technologies has been going on in various directions. Technological possibilities have increased very significantly (Lamanauskas, 2011). The development of internet and technologies related with it has been extremely fast. A lot of internet service providers have appeared in the market, their number still continues to grow. The internet connection methods are changing - from the ordinary usage of phone line modems (dial - up) to broadband internet technology (DSL) and cable TV internet nets. It can be asserted, that over the mentioned period Web 1.0 internet (static, used for getting information) has been changed to Web 2.0 internet (social). The internet diaries, social portals, technologies allowing live communication on the internet (Internet Relay Chat, IRC), talk programme Windows Live Messenger (MSN), ICQ forums and other have occurred and are spreading. With the appearance of “Skype”, the internet telephony has acquired a qualitatively new characteristic and practically has become a daily routine. Thus, today a consumer can create his profile on the internet, can make friends, communicate in the interest groups and so on. It can be stated, that every human being contributes in his own way to the internet and at the same time to ICT development, in general. It is obvious, that together with technological problems also arise social internet problems. Social networking websites are closely related with economical, psychological, educational, paleological and other aspects. There is a shortage of researches grounding socio-educational social network aspects. It is important to know not only how much time the consumers spend surfing the net, but how much of this time is allotted for communicating in social networking websites, which of them are the most popular and why, how the respondents evaluate social networking website functions, what in general they know about them, what advantages, disadvantages and threats they discern. Finally, it is important to find out whether the usage of social networking websites improves information – communication abilities in some way. Key words: social networking websites, survey, university students.

Essential Security Interests in International Investment Agreements

Embedded in a significant number of international investment agreements are provisions that allow states to invoke essential security interests at times of necessity to limit the application of substantive treaty agreements. These provisions, which are largely devoid of express signatory intent, have caused an intensified debate over their scope and meaning in light of recent investor-state arbitration proceedings against Argentina. This article investigates the historical origins and state usage of security provisions found in international economic agreements and argues an essential security defense may be raised only in circumstances involving national security interests. While states ought to be given a margin of appreciation on what constitutes a threat to their own national security interests, the burden falls on the signatory states to diverge from the shared linguistic expectations attached to the ordinary usage of treaty terms. This approach injects a degree of predictability into the meaning of otherwise silent terms, reducing the detrimental reliance problem introduced by treaties that are designed to induce good faith investment by third-party beneficiaries. The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.

Evaluating Real-Life Performance of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs in Electric Vehicles

In regard to the increasing market launch of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), understanding battery pack performance under electric vehicle (EV) operating conditions is essential. As lifetime still remains an issue for battery packs, it is a necessity to monitor the battery pack's state-of-health (SOH) on-board. Standard performance tests for health evaluation do not apply since operation interruptions and additional testing equipment are beyond question during ordinary EV usage. We suggest a novel methodology of performance estimation from real-life battery data. On the basis of battery pack data collected during PHEV operation, a support vector machine model is constructed that serves as source for performance evaluation figures. The SOH indicator "10 s discharge resistance" as known from hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) tests is chosen to exemplify how performance degradation can be followed over a year.

Indicative conditionals, conditional probabilities, and the “defective truth-table”: A request for more experiments

While there is now considerable experimental evidence that, on the one hand, participants assign to the indicative conditional as probability the conditional probability of consequent given antecedent and, on the other, they assign to the indicative conditional the “defective truth-table” in which a conditional with false antecedent is deemed neither true nor false, these findings do not in themselves establish which multi-premise inferences involving conditionals participants endorse. A natural extension of the truth-table semantics pronounces as valid numerous inference patterns that do seem to be part of ordinary usage. However, coupled with something the probability account gives us—namely that when conditional-free ϕ entails conditional-free ψ, “if ϕ then ψ” is a trivial, uninformative truth—we have enough logic to derive the paradoxes of material implication. It thus becomes a matter of some urgency to determine which inference patterns involving indicative conditionals participants do endorse. Only thus will we be able to arrive at a realistic, systematic semantics for the indicative conditional.

SOCIALINIAI TINKLAPIAI: NAUJA EDUKACINĖ ERDVĖ

Over the latter decade the spread of information communication technologies was going on in various directions. Technological possibilities grew up very significantly (Lamanauskas, 2011). Especially rapid was the development of the internet and technologies related with it. A lot of internet service providers occurred in the market, their number still continues to grow. The internet link methods change - from the ordinary usage of phone line modems (dial - up) to broadband internet technology (DSL) and cable TV internet nets. It can be asserted, that over the mentioned period Web 1.0 internet (static, used for getting information) was changed by Web 2.0 internet (social). The internet diaries, social portals, technologies allowing live communication on the internet (Internet Relay Chat, IRC), talk programme Windows Live Messenger (MSN), ICQ forums and other have occurred and are spreading. With the occurrence of “Skype”, internet telephony acquired a qualitatively new characteristic and practically became a daily routine. Thus, today a consumer can create his profile on the internet, can make friends, communicate in the interest groups and so on. It can be stated, that every human being in his own way contributes to the internet and at the same time to ICT development, in general. It is obvious, that together with technological problems arise social internet problems as well. Social networking websites (SNW) are closely related with economical, psychological, educational, valeological and other aspects. There is a lack of researches based on socio-educational social networking website aspects. It is important to know not only how much time the consumers spend surfing the net, but how much time is allotted for communicating in social networking websites, which of them are the most popular and why, how the respondents evaluate social networking website functions, what in general they know about them, what advantages, disadvantages and threats they discern. Finally, it is important to find out whether usage of social networking websites makes information – communication abilities better in any way. Key words: ICT, educational technologies, social networking websites

SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES: NEW EDUCATIONAL SPACE

Over the latter decade the spread of information communication technologies was going on in various directions. Technological possibilities grew up very significantly (Lamanauskas, 2011). Especially rapid was the development of the internet and technologies related with it. A lot of internet service providers occurred in the market, their number still continues to grow. The internet link methods change - from the ordinary usage of phone line modems (dial - up) to broadband internet technology (DSL) and cable TV internet nets. It can be asserted, that over the mentioned period Web 1.0 internet (static, used for getting information) was changed by Web 2.0 internet (social). The internet diaries, social portals, technologies allowing live communication on the internet (Internet Relay Chat, IRC), talk programme Windows Live Messenger (MSN), ICQ forums and other have occurred and are spreading. With the occurrence of “Skype”, internet telephony acquired a qualitatively new characteristic and practically became a daily routine. Thus, today a consumer can create his profile on the internet, can make friends, communicate in the interest groups and so on. It can be stated, that every human being in his own way contributes to the internet and at the same time to ICT development, in general. It is obvious, that together with technological problems arise social internet problems as well. Social networking websites (SNW) are closely related with economical, psychological, educational, valeological and other aspects. There is a lack of researches based on socio-educational social networking website aspects. It is important to know not only how much time the consumers spend surfing the net, but how much time is allotted for communicating in social networking websites, which of them are the most popular and why, how the respondents evaluate social networking website functions, what in general they know about them, what advantages, disadvantages and threats they discern. Finally, it is important to find out whether usage of social networking websites makes information – communication abilities better in any way.

Evaluating Real-Life Performance of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs in Electric Vehicles

In regard to the increasing market launch of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), understanding battery pack performance under electric vehicle (EV) operating conditions is essential. As lifetime still remains an issue for battery packs, it is a necessity to monitor the battery pack's state-of-health (SOH) on-board. Standard laboratory performance tests for health evaluation do not apply since operation interruptions and additional testing equipment are out of the question during ordinary EV usage. We suggest a novel methodology of performance estimation from real-life battery data. On the basis of battery pack data collected during PHEV operation, a support vector machine model capturing battery behavior characteristics is constructed. By virtually testing this battery model, access to standard performance evaluation figures can be gained. The SOH indicator “10 s discharge resistance” as known from hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) tests is chosen to exemplify how performance can be followed over a year.

Usage of skin care products and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Swedish EIRA study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to cosmetics, often containing mineral oil, and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study was performed against the background that occupational exposure to mineral oil has recently been shown to be associated with an increased risk for RA in man, and that injection of or percutaneous exposure to mineral-oil-containing cosmetics can induce arthritis in certain rat strains.MethodsA population-based case-control study of incident cases of RA was performed among the population aged 18 to 70 years in a defined area of Sweden during May 1996 to December 2003. A case was defined as an individual from the study base, who received for the first time a diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Controls were randomly selected from the study base with consideration taken for age, gender and residential area. Cases (n = 1,419) and controls (n = 1,674) answered an extensive questionnaire regarding environmental and lifestyle factors including habits of cosmetic usage. The relative risk of developing RA was calculated for subjects with different cosmetic usage compared with subjects with low or no usage. Analysis was also performed stratifying the cases for presence/absence of rheumatoid factor and antibodies to citrulline-containing peptides.ResultsThe relative risks of developing RA associated with use of cosmetics were all close to one, both for women and men, for different exposure categories, and in relation to different subgroups of RA.ConclusionThis study does not support the hypothesis that ordinary usage of common cosmetics as body lotions, skin creams, and ointments, often containing mineral oil, increase the risk for RA in the population in general. We cannot exclude, however, that these cosmetics can contribute to arthritis in individuals carrying certain genotypes or simultaneously being exposed to other arthritis-inducing environmental agents.

Taking the Self out of Self-Rule

Many philosophers believe that agents are self-ruled only when ruled by their (authentic) selves. Though this view is rarely argued for explicitly, one tempting line of thought suggests that self-rule is just obviously equivalent to rule by the self. However, the plausibility of this thought evaporates upon close examination of the logic of ‘self-rule’ and similar reflexives. Moreover, attempts to rescue the account by recasting it in negative terms are unpromising. In light of these problems, this paper instead proposes that agents are self-ruled only when not ruled by others. One reason for favouring this negative social view is its ability to yield plausible conclusions concerning various manipulation cases that are notoriously problematic for nonsocial accounts of self-rule. A second reason is that the account conforms with ordinary usage. It is concluded that self-rule may be best thought of as an essentially social concept.

The constitutive element of probabilistic agency in risk: a semantic analysis of risk, danger, chance, and hazard

Defining central concepts with accuracy is crucial to any scientific discipline. A recent debate over risk definitions in this journal illustrates the far reaching consequences of divergent definitions. Aven and Renn define risk as a social construct while Rosa defines risk as an ontological fact. Both claim that their definition reflects the common usage of the word risk. Through a semantic analysis this paper points to a constitutive element of what is termed probabilistic agency in the risk concept. In this respect, risk is distinct from danger, and because Rosa’s main argument is based on the apparent synonymy between risk and danger, the premises for his risk ontology are not valid. The paper furthermore argues that Aven and Renn’s attempt to bridge between epistemology and ontology is based on a distinction between a conceptual level of risk and its practical application which is impossible to uphold if a risk definition is to be in accordance with the ordinary usage of the word. The paper concludes by arguing that risks are only real within a subjective ontology.