Zero is not a Four-Letter Word: Studies in the Evolution of Language

We examine a model genetic system that has features of both genetic programming and genetic regulatory networks, to show how various forms of degeneracy in the genotype-phenotype map can induce complex and subtle behaviour in the dynamics that lead to enhanced evolutionary robustness and can be fruitfully described in terms of an elementary algorithmic “language”

Twilight of the Anthropocene idols

Following on from Theory and the Disappearing Future, Cohen, Colebrook and Miller turn their attention to the eco-critical and environmental humanities’ newest and most fashionable of concepts, the Anthropocene. The question that has escaped focus, as “tipping points” are acknowledged as passed, is how language, mnemo-technologies, and the epistemology of tropes appear to guide the accelerating ecocide, and how that implies a mutation within reading itself—from the era of extinction events.Only in this moment of seeming finality, the authors argue, does there arise an opportunity to be done with mourning and begin reading. Drawing freely on Paul de Man’s theory of reading, anthropomorphism and the sublime, Twilight of the Anthropocene Idols argues for a mode of critical activism liberated from all-too-human joys and anxieties regarding the future. It was quite a few decades ago (1983) that Jurgen Habermas declared that ‘master thinkers had fallen on hard times.’ His pronouncement of hard times was premature. For master thinkers it is the best of times. Not only is the world, supposedly, falling into a complete absence of care, thought and frugality, a few hyper-masters have emerged to tell us that these hard times should be the best of times. It is precisely because we face the end that we should embrace our power to geo-engineer, stage the revolution, return to profound thinking, reinvent the subject, and recognize ourselves fully as one global humanity. Enter anthropos

Real life applications of bio-inspired computing models: EAP and NEPs

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Departamento de Ingeniería Informática. Fecha de lectura: 04-07-201

The scope of naturalism in British working-class drama, with particular reference to Joe Corrie, D.H. Lawrence and Sean O'Casey

The purpose of this dissertation is to define the scope of naturalism in British working-class drama with special reference to the plays of D.H. Lawrence, Sean O'Casey and Joe Corrie. To fulfill such a project, I undertook a personal assessment of the theory of naturalism and its practice in the theatre. For the purpose of being more comprehensive, I carried out a comparative study between working-class naturalism and that of the New Drama since the latter preceded the former. Having assessed and evaluated the theory of naturalism, in general, and its manifestation in the works of the new drama exponents and of the working-class dramatists, I defined and discussed the comparative aspects, as concepts, in the plays of three British playwrights. I have also tried to familiarize the reader with the features of the conversational analysis in the light of which I approached the issue of how similar to natural discourse dramatic dialogue may be. The study of the manifestation of naturalism in the plays of Lawrence, Corrie and O'Casey, which covers the last three chapters, is undertaken in the light of the scope of naturalism as I have previously defined it. In other words, an attempt is being made to question the validity of the naturalist theory as advocated by its exponents, and to prove the practicality of the angle from which I approached naturalism by examining certain plays. The study of the plays, therefore, allows me to define the extent to which one can refer to Lawrence, Corrie and O'Casey as naturalist dramatists and to question, if not to correct, some unfounded criticisms of naturalism in general and working-class naturalism in particular

Making the matrix work : how can conflict be managed when introducing the matrix organization structure in growth markets; a case study in the Middle East

The introduction of the matrix organization structure leads to both advantages and disadvantages. This study investigated how to manage conflict, as an outcome of introducing the matrix structure, with a specific focus on the Middle East growth market. The nature of conflict to be managed is the negatively perceived conflict with destructive impact, bearing in mind that conflict in its normal form is a desired outcome of the matrix that can be positively utilized. The study applied the grounded theory building method, in view of the limited research data available on the Middle East region. The research followed the iterative approach, where the scope of the study eventually developed and expanded to include several categories, based on the continuous flow of slices of data and analyzing such data. Such categories included organization development interventions (ODIs), culture and leadership, following the outcomes of the in-depth interviews conducted in the pilot study. The research findings and conclusions suggest that the introduction/implementation of matrix organization structures in dynamic growth markets like the Middle East is unlikely to be successful in the traditional form. Managers perceive it as hindering to the business. To make the matrix structure work, managers apply a variety of creative approaches, building on loose coupling, sense-making and sense giving. They deploy personal capabilities, influential games and cultural tools, which in essence break all matrix rules. Transition to a matrix structure should be done gradually, building on local leaders’ experience as champions. The company should introduce ODIs at early stages and ensuring effective orientation and alignment on basic decision rules. Implications for business can be quite significant for multinational firms interested in expanding the business to the emerging markets including the Middle East. The matrix model needs either to be modified or even abandoned in the early stages of business growth, to ensure local managers’ endorsement and acceptance. Companies are encouraged to use methodological approaches such as the grounded theory in providing solutions for contextual issues in real life. The research provides room for a strategic approach to market entry models, taking into consideration various elements including leadership, national and professional cultures as well as market dynamics. This approach is represented in the form of a conceptual framework proposed for market entry. This would affect the training and development models adopted by companies as well as the development of innovative ODIs that cover specific market needs

A Revetment

Historically, in Iran, ornament was an integral part of architecture and considered a valuable part of built form. However, in time the use of ornament suffered from the decline of figural articulation in architecture, and its status was diminished to mere decoration. In this process, ornament shifted from a pattern that was integrated with the structure to the role of revetment, from symbolic to commemorative, and from meaningfully designed to arbitrary. Investigating the changing modes of ornament to understand its significance and survival, this thesis looks at the decline of ornament from its role as a necessary structural component and/or an expressive element communicating the common values of a society into an arbitrary fragment celebrating the significant past. Traditional ornament was dependent not only on architecture but also on science, cosmology, culture, art, literature, as well as on society and its beliefs; therefore there was an intimate relationship between ornament and its context, and more importantly including the inhabitant or spectator who held those beliefs. However, today those close ties no longer exist and ornament is characterized variously as luxurious, decorative, and retrospective. This change is studied from various perspectives including historical forces, prehistory, traditional Persian cultural expression, the incursion of Islamic motifs and geometries, modernity and folk legend. To retrieve and reinstate the link between ornament and building as well as with the spectator, the thesis project engages the narrative content of ornament to re-establish these relationships. It tells its own story not in a literal way, but rather through the complex tale of the lovers in the famous historical poem (c.1190) by Nezami. The thesis narrates the epic romance of Farhad and Shirin within a love triangle with its superb pictorial cues for depiction. The story unfolds through a series of architectures and architectural representations and images. The theme and motifs of the poem imply transition (both spiritual and physical) that corresponds to the transformative mode of ornament par excellence. The ornamental manifestation of the depicted poem is applied in a subway station which is in itself the locus of transition in our contemporary lives. The architectural details of the design project are fragments of the selected episodes from the story

Chinese elements : a bridge of the integration between Chinese -English translation and linguaculture transnational mobility

[Abstract] As the popularity of Chinese elements in the innovation of the translation part in Chinese CET, we realized that Chinese elements have become a bridge between linguaculture transnational mobility and Chinese-English translation.So, Chinese students translation skills should be critically improved; for example, on their understanding about Chinese culture, especially the meaning of Chinese culture. Five important secrets of skillful translation are introduced to improve students’ translation skills

Four films: crossing the boundaries of modernism and postmodernism

This work is based on studying films from the perspective of modernism, late-modernism, postmodernism and film theory. The introduction on the major issues and debates on late-modernism and postmodernism will be followed by the textual analysis of four films: Luchino Visconti's Death in Venice, Michaelangelo Antonioni's L'avventure, Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail and David Lynch's Blue Velvet. I argue that Death in Venice is a wholly intended modernist film that inscribes itself into the tradition of modernism by rewriting other modernist texts, notably the literary work of Thomas Mann and the modernist theories of Theodor Adorno. In this respect, the film is a late-modern, as it embodies the discourses of modernism. L'avventura both presents a modernist narration and departure from European cinematic tradition. Its shifting between post-neorealism, an ironic authorship and an organization of desire that propels the narrative suggest a postmodern departure from late-modern cinema. Blackmail parodies modernism from within. By quoting the styles of modernist movements the film establishes an ironic distance from modernism itself; at the same time, it ironically assimilates an institutionalized narrative that suggests the impossibility of a fully modernist narration. Finally, I argue that as a postmodern film Blue Velvet surrounds its story material with meta-textual references that subverts the unity between the story and its narration. However, the author's intention to 'master' his narrating by a network of extra-diegetic references inscribes a modernist strategy into a postmodern film

Analytic Causative Constructions in Medieval Spanish: The Origins of a Construction

he goal of this study is to provide an inventory of the Analytic Causative constructions that were in use in Peninsular Spanish from the 12 th to the 16 th centuries from the constructional perspective of Cognitive Grammar. A detailed profile of each construction was made including its constructional schema along with relevant semantic, syntactic, lexical, pragmatic, and socio-cultural information. Fifteen different constructions involving the verbs mandar 'command', fazer 'make/do', and enviar 'send' were recorded and described. Moreover, several of the evolution paths constructions followed and the way constructions influenced and interacted with each other forming constructional networks were identified. The importance of semantic factors triggering change, as well as the role that prototypical exemplars, collocations, and analogy play in the emergence and conservation of constructions are discussed