The structure of phonological theory

Samuels, Bridget D Harvard University 2009 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation takes a Minimalist approach to phonology, treating the phonological module as a system of abstract symbolic computation, divorced from phonetic content. I investigate the position of the phonological module within the architecture of grammar and the evolutionary scenario developed by Hauser et al. (2002a) and Fitch et al. (2005). Chapters 1 & 2 introduce Minimalism, the substance-free approach to phonology, and Evolutionary Phonology, the tripartite foundation upon which the dissertation rests. I argue that the role of diachrony must be factored out from synchronic phonological theory: what is diachronically possible must be separated from what is computationally possible and from what is learnable. Chapter 3 seeks to define the nature of phonological representations. This chapter addresses issues such as whether phonological features are innate or emergent, how much underspecification is allowed in lexical representations, and how segmental and suprasegmental material is organized into strings. I argue that phonological representations are 'flat' or 'linearly hierarchical.'. Chapter 4 establishes the formalisms for the repertoire of primitive operations, SEARCH, COPY, and DELETE , which account for all (morpho)phonological processes. I illustrate the application of these operations with analyses of data from domains such as vowel harmony, reduplication, affixation, and subtractive morphology, then extend 'generalized SEARCH and COPY' to the rest of phonology. Chapter 5 moves from the representations and operations developed in the previous chapters to the syntax-phonology interface. This chapter argues for maintaining a direct reference conception of the syntax-phonology interface, based on the notion that phonology and syntax operate on synchronized cycles. Chapter 6 focuses on the broader implications of the theory presented in the earlier chapters. I demonstrate on the basis of behavioral and physiological studies on a variety of species that all the cognitive abilities necessary for human phonological representations and operations are present in creatures other than Homo sapiens and in domains other than phonology. Chapter 7 summarizes the dissertation and suggests directions for future research.

The Evaluation, Selection, and Diffusion of Software Innovations Insights and Implications of Systematic Field Placement Software Adoption

Samuels, Kristen Mitchell ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Arizona State Univ 2021 해외박사(DDOD)

This multi-phase dissertation explores how student placement management software can be evaluated, selected, adopted, and diffused within a university setting, considering multiple stakeholders with varying needs and differing levels of decision-making authority. Utilizing a case study design and Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation framework (2003), the articles are proposed to generate a guide modeled to improve practice, which is the primary goal of Action Research (Barnett & Muth, 2008). These articles will chronicle lessons learned, offer considerations, and provide helpful resources to strategically adopt a software platform within a university setting. The articles are proposed as follows: 1) Selection of Field Education Management Software in Social Work (v, published May 2020) focusing on the evaluation and selection phases for Social Work programs; and 2) Toward a Decision Support Tool for Selecting Third-Party Student Management Software in Field-based Education (target journal - Springer - Educational Technology Research and Development) which will expand on previous research to a broader audience of student-placing programs and diffusing the software innovation throughout the university setting. Each article will explore a different aspect of the Action Research, the findings which emerged from the study, and provide additional insights and implications to each journal audience.

Structural and Biochemical Studies of UvrA, the Bacterial NER DNA Damage Sensor, and the Biochemical Characterization of a Bacterial MCM Protein

Samuels, Martin A Harvard University 2011 해외박사(DDOD)

In this work I present a novel conformation of the Bacillus stearothermophilus UvrA (BstUvrA) protein and biochemical data to support its validity. The 2.1 A crystal structure is of a truncation of the protein lacking the UvrB-binding domain and the Insertion domain but retaining the two nucleotide binding sites. It captures a conformation in which the proximal binding site is vacant and its signature domain, signature domain II, has rotated away from the nucleotide binding site. The distal site is occupied by ADP and assumes a similar fold to that observed in the full-length BstUvrA structure. Much remains unknown about the mechanism by which UvrA deposits UvrB onto a DNA lesion to create the pre-incision complex. The rearrangement of the proximal site may represent the "disengaged" conformation of UvrA, as it leaves behind the UvrB-DNA pre-incision complex loaded at the site of DNA damage. In addition, I present work characterizing a bacterial gene product that was identified as a joint primase-MCM helicase. The novelty of this protein is that MCMs behave as the eukaryotic replicative helicase, a process which most bacteria perform with the protein DnaB. While I was able to find evidence of MCM helicase activity by the gene product, no primase activity was observed.

Understanding and predicting climate variations in the Middle East for sustainable water resource management and development

Samuels, Rana Columbia University 2008 해외박사(DDOD)

Water issues are a source of tension between Israelis and Palestinians. In the and region of the Middle East, water supply is not just scarce but also uncertain: It is not uncommon for annual rainfall to be as little as 60% or as much as 125% of the multiannual average. This combination of scarcity and uncertainty exacerbates the already strained economy and the already tensed political situation. The uncertainty could be alleviated if it were possible to better forecast water availability. Such forecasting is key not only for water planning and management, but also for economic policy and for political decision making. Water forecasts at multiple time scales are necessary for crop choice, aquifer operation and investments in desalination infrastructure. The unequivocal warming of the climate system adds another level of uncertainty as global and regional water cycles change. This makes the prediction of water availability an even greater challenge. Understanding the impact of climate change on precipitation can provide the information necessary for appropriate risk assessment and water planning. Unfortunately, current global circulation models (GCMs) are only able to predict long term climatic evolution at large scales but not local rainfall. The statistics of local precipitation are traditionally predicted using historical rainfall data. Obviously these data cannot anticipate changes that result from climate change. It is therefore clear that integration of the global information about climate evolution and local historical data is needed to provide the much needed predictions of regional water availability. Currently, there is no theoretical or computational framework that enables such integration for this region. In this dissertation both a conceptual framework and a computational platform for such integration are introduced. In particular, suite of models that link forecasts of climatic evolution under different CO2 emissions scenarios to observed rainfall data from local stations are developed. These are used to develop scenarios for local rainfall statistics such as average annual amounts, dry spells, wet spells and drought persistence. This suite of models can provide information that is not attainable from existing tools in terms of its spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, the goal is to project the impact of established global climate change scenarios in this region and, how much of the change might be mitigated by proposed CO2 reduction strategies. A major problem in this enterprise is to find the best way to integrate global climatic information with local rainfall data. From the climatologic perspective the problem is to find the right teleconnections. That is, non local or global measurable phenomena that influence local rainfall in a way that could be characterized and quantified statistically. From the computational perspective the challenge is to model these subtle, nonlinear relationships and to downscale the global effects into local predictions. Climate simulations to the year 2100 under selected climate change scenarios are used. Overall, the suite of models developed and presented can be applied to answer most questions from the different water users and planners. Farmers and the irrigation community can ask "What is the probability of rain over the next week?" Policy makers can ask "How much desalination capacity will I need to meet demand 90% of the time in the climate change scenario over the next 20 years?" Aquifer managers can ask "What is the expected recharge rate of the aquifers over the next decade?" The use of climate driven answers to these questions will help the region better prepare and adapt to future shifts in water resources and availability.

Ramanujan complexes, non-uniform quotients, and isospectrality

Samuels, Beth Sharon Yale University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

We define and construct Ramanujan complexes. These are simplicial complexes which are higher dimensional analogues of Ramanujan graphs (constructed in [LPS] and [Ma1]). They are obtained as quotients of the buildings of type Ad-1, associated with PGLd(F), where F is a local field of positive characteristic. Furthermore, Morgenstern [Mo2] generalized the notion of a Ramanujan graph to a "Ramanujan diagram", which is a weighted graph obtained by dividing the k-regular tree, B , by suitable non-uniform lattices of PGL2(F). Morgenstern showed that if F has positive characteristic and Gamma is a congruence subgroup of PGL2(F), then the diagram Gamma\ B is Ramanujan, that is the spectrum of the adjacency operator acting on L2(Gamma\ B ) is contained in the spectrum of L2( B ). We generalize this notion to complexes and show the opposite. If d ≥ 3, F = Fq (1/y)), R = Fq [y], and Gamma is a congruence subgroup of PGLd(R), then Gamma\ B is not Ramanujan. Here B = PGLd(F)/PGLd(O), where O is the ring of integers of F. In addition, we show that for d ≥ 3, there are arithmetic lattices Gammai in PGLd(F) such that Gammai\ B are isospectral non-commensurable manifolds (in archimedean fields of characteristic zero), and complexes (in characteristic p). The constructions are based on arithmetic groups obtained from division algebras with the same ramification points but different invariants. In contrast, if Gamma 1 and Gamma2 are arithmetic lattices in PGL 2( R ) or in PGL2( C ) which give rise to isospectral manifolds, then it has been shown that Gamma1 and Gamma2 are always commensurable (after conjugation) [Re].

Law school prestige and alumni career attainment: A study of four career paths and four strata of law schools

Samuels, Marlene Bernstein The University of Chicago 2000 해외박사(DDOD)

There is great variation among law schools in prestige. Graduates of high prestige ones command higher levels of recognition, earnings, satisfaction, and are over-represented in specific careers. Those institutions are reputed for producing graduates who attain predictable levels in commonly pursued fields. This dissertation is about the influence of institutional prestige upon professional success; about individuals who, while earning law degrees, pursued other careers. The premise is that institutional impact is short term and overstated; that other identifiable factors account for success. Since law school graduates pursue a range of careers that include academia, business, law, and government, attainment parameters vary. Four hypotheses follow: (H₁) High academic achievement is significantly associated with success and achievement, independent of law school attended. (H₂) High levels of academic and professional attainment are significantly associated for those in large law firms or academia not seen among those with government or business careers. (H₃) Institutional influence is greatest during early career, decaying consistently as ability and motivation dominate. (H₄) There are identifiable variables significantly associated with attainment that transcend influences of institutional prestige. These findings suggest a decay in the influence asserted by variables associated with institutional prestige, academic performance, and family background. They were time sensitive because career entry barriers that were based upon socioeconomic origins, gender, race, and prestige of institutions from which one graduated have dissipated. Findings indicate ability and motivational levels result in access to opportunities and positions that were unavailable in the past regardless of individual merits. They had been reserved for those with elite credentials. Institutional prestige may have a role, but it is short-lived and more limited than previously assumed. Finally, these data indicate that not all graduates were “chosen” by their institutions, but that there was “institution choosing” on the part of law school applicants; socioeconomic origins, for a substantial portion, were as responsible for selecting institutions as was individual ability.

In Defense of Israel: The Soteriological Function of the Advocate in Early Judaism and Rabbinic Literature

Samuels, Aaron D ProQuest Dissertations & Theses University of Cali 2022 해외박사(DDOD)

How the text traditions of early Judaism and rabbinic literature integrated Greek and Roman representations of advocacy with longstanding Jewish traditions of intercessory speakers constitutes the overarching focus of the present study. The limited scholarly discussion of advocates in early Judaism likely derives from similar research shortages in the closely related sphere of intercessory speech. In early Jewish texts, the act of speaking on behalf of an individual or group often involved a legally oriented form of intercessory appeal. It follows, therefore, that this specialized form of intervention would receive even less scholarly attention than the broader subject of intercession itself. Turning to rabbinic literature, scholars have focused largely on the rabbis’ opposition to supporting speakers for hire, generally as an important means of distinguishing between Jewish inquisitorial and Roman adversarial courtroom procedure. There has been minimal distinction, however, between the terms, synegoros (συνήγορος/סניגור), parakletos (παράκλητοςפרקליט/), patron (פטרון/patronus) andʿoreḵ din (עורך דין) in discussions of the meaning and function of a supporting speaker in rabbinic writings. Nor has a satisfactory treatment of rabbinic advocates appeared in relation to late ancient Jewish soteriology, specifically concerning theological principles of election, expiation, covenant preservation, redemption from exile, and eschatology. Finally, an abundant amount of scholarship has addressed the intercessory attributes of the law court prayer pattern, a formula of human appeal to the divine spanning from biblical through rabbinic literature. This begs the question of why such an important liturgical performance has not been considered more closely in relation to late ancient Jewish representations of supporting speech. These considerations form the basis for the current thesis, which argues that late ancient Jewish constructions of advocacy, reflecting a tension between ancient biblical and later Greek and Roman traditions, performed a soteriological function, both in the post-temple theatre of expiatory performance as well as in the religiously constructed divine courtroom. Furthermore, when advocates appear as intercessors through formal speech in late Second Temple and rabbinic texts, they frequently act to preserve Israel’s election in both the present and in the world to come, a move deemed requisite in light of Israel’s limited ability to be vindicated through her own merit. The collapsing of time common to several cases of rabbinic supporting speech indicates the strong eschatological component characteristic of intercessory advocacy. Whether the eschatological orientation is realized, inaugurated, or imminently urgent, the advocate speaks on behalf of an Israel whose salvation in the world to come cannot fully materialize through the accumulation of divine merits. The looming presence of crisis reveals a broken relationship between Israel and her God where unilateral divine intervention, at times orchestrated by a supporting speaker, remains the surest path to corporate deliverance. Adopting a soteriological approach to the question of advocacy in early Judaism and rabbinic literature helps to nuance certain preconceptions and overgeneralizations regarding late ancient Jewish approaches to law and salvation. A great portion of rabbinic discourse, for example, involves the presentation of a legal tradition or scriptural text, each of which initiates both exegetical interpretations and legal-theological discussions. In the case of halakhic principles, discussions aiming to determine the correct legal opinion have an underlying motive of preserving a community in proper relationship with their God, where righteous behaviors ensure the ongoing election of Israel in both the present world and the restoration to come. Yet rabbinic theology, like its biblical and Second Temple predecessors, understood the limits of human action and provided safeguards for moments where halakhic observance proved insufficient for staving off divine condemnation or imminent crises. Acknowledging the soteriological aspects of advocacy, therefore, yields two immediate takeaways First, the number of narratives where advocacy confronts the uncertain and at times tenuous nature of Israel’s existence reveals that late ancient Jewish advocacy occurs quite frequently within the imaginary divine courtroom. Recent scholarship attune to this phenomenon has emphasized the rhetorical skills employed in such occurrences of supporting speech; yet scholars often overlook the soteriological motives presupposing these forms of argumentation. Absent of the core principles of ancient Jewish salvation doctrine, the crafting of advanced arguments before God loses its substantive meaning. Second, the unilateral actions undertaken by God and mediated by the advocate demonstrate the limitations on human merit within rabbinic teachings. This challenges the preconceptions of antinomian thinkers, who have characterized rabbinic theology as overly legalistic and over reliant on human action as a means to salvation.

Reinventing Infrastructure: The 101 Freeway and the Revisioning of Downtown Los Angeles

Samuels, Linda Carol University of California, Los Angeles 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

In the first decade of the 2000s, three coinciding conditions instigated attention from architects, urban designers, and landscape architects towards infrastructure as an untapped site for the reinvention of the public realm: a series of tragic and highly visible infrastructure failures; an economic recession which simultaneously left tens of thousands of creative professionals unemployed and spurred a new generation of public works programs; and a shift in the disciplinary discourse away from the pessimism and cynicism of the 1980s and 90s towards collaborative, productive alternatives. Resulting competitions proved creative infrastructure reinvention projects possible, though successfully implemented versions remained scarce. One site in Los Angeles, the 101 Freeway north of downtown (known as the "trench"), has been the location of four such proposals since 1988, including Steel Cloud by Asymptote, winner of the West Coast Gateway competition, and Morphosis's 101 Pedestrian Bridge. Though award-winning projects by globally distinguished firms, both failed to be implemented. By comparison, another project similarly challenged to reinvent divisive lines of mobility through visionary design, Olympic Sculpture Park by Weiss/Manfredi, has proven instrumental in providing new public space that connects the city to the water, increases the area's ecological contribution, and capitalizes on infrastructure's spatial, material, and financial possibilities. The two failed cases were analyzed in six categories---objectives, politics, stakeholders, context, finances, and discourse---and through ten conditions derived from policy scholarship known to improve implementation success. The findings from an equivalent analysis of the success case were used to cross-examine the failures. The results revealed ways the likelihood of project implementation might be improved, including the disciplinary hybridity unique to landscape and infrastructural urbanism. Those rather pragmatic findings are framed within an intellectual argument that seeks to reclaim infrastructure as public space. Having lost its collective role when, first, it was relegated to engineering through demands of modernization and, second, its "public" was sanitized and limited, this new discourse requires loosening infrastructure's myopic definitions and rigidly controlled uses. By conceptualizing infrastructure as part of the production of public space it reclaims that marginalized territory for design intervention, alternative occupation, and political appropriation.

Cultural voices: Where are they in classroom literacy practices?

Samuels, Verdie D The Ohio State University 1999 해외박사(DDOD)

Language and literacy experiences in the classroom setting may differ dramatically from the shared learning environment of the home. In the school setting, the teacher may not understand the child's distinctive ways of knowing or speaking. Hence, when students come to school, they are confronted with a secondary discourse community that often differs significantly from the primary discourse that is used in their homes. Therefore, to address and understand this issue, the questions for this research study are: (1) How are students' and parents' cultural voices manifested in the school's literacy experience as viewed by the teacher and researcher? (2) How is the bridge that allows students' and parents' cultural voices to come into the school's literacy experiences co-constructed? (3) What are parents' and students' perceptions of their cultural, voices in classroom literacy practices? This study was founded on a theoretical framework that emphasizes the social and cultural contexts of literacy development; hence, a sociocultural perspective of literacy learning. The methods used by the researcher included: classroom observations, field notes, audio recordings, teacher interviews, parent interviews, student interviews and documentations of student class work and teacher home communications. The findings revealed that the teacher in this study used six culturally responsive teaching strategies: providing choices in terms of participation structures, learning space, and materials; bidding for student voices; embracing constructivist literacy teaching and learning; promoting critical thinking during literacy discussions; providing authentic, multicultural literature; and bridging home and school via classroom activities and written communications. The six parents in this study possessed confidence and trust that the school met their children's literacy needs. Additionally, the parents saw the school as a resource and support system. The student interviews revealed that both continuity and discontinuity existed between home and school literacy practices. Some of the students described reading and writing at home as an extension of classroom activities. Other students described reading and writing as a seamless process between home and school. Implications for the classroom teacher, curriculum planners and teacher education programs, along with directions for further research are offered.

Aspects of Causal Inference within the Evenly Matchable Population: The Average Treatment Effect on the Evenly Matchable Units, Visually Guided Cohort Selection, and Bagged One-to-One Matching

Samuels, Lauren Ruth Vanderbilt University ProQuest Dissertations & The 2017 해외박사(DDOD)

Abstract not available.