Phase Edges, Quantifier Float and the Nature of (Micro-) Variation

This paper considers quantifier float off wh-elements in varieties of West Ulster English. It establishes that there are several sub-dialects of West Ulster English and not just the single variety described by McCloskey (2000); these varieties differ in the positions in which floated quantifiers associated with wh-elements can appear. The full range of possible positions includes not only the highest CP, the first-merge position of the wh-element and the edge of intermediate CPs, as observed by McCloskey, but also the edge of intermediate vPs, providing evidence that wh-movement transits the edge of vP phases. Dialects vary in the range of positions in which a floated quantifier is possible, and in some a floated quantifier cannot occur in the first-merge position of the wh-elements, but only in intermediate positions. Comparing quantifier float off wh-elements with quantifier float off DPs, which is possible in a wider range of language varieties including standard English, the paper offers a possible solution to the puzzle of why quantifier float off DPs is not generally possible in the first-merge position of the DPs in passives and unaccusatives: UG prescribes the positions where elements appear or transit and thus where copies occur, but individual grammars select a subset of those positions as possible for pronunciation of a floated quantifier.Este artículo considera a los cuantificadores flotantes asociados a los elementos qu- utilizados en variedades distintas del inglés habladas en la parte occidental de Irlanda del Norte. El artículo establece que la variedad del inglés hablada en la parte occidental de Irlanda del Norte comprende varios sub-dialectos en lugar de uno solo, como se afirmó en McCloskey (2000); estas variedades difieren en base a las distintas posiciones en las que pueden aparecer los cuantificadores flotantes asociados con elementos qu-. El rango completo de posiciones posibles en las que pueden aparecer los cuantificadores incluye no solo el SC más alto, la posición de base (primermerge) del elemento qu- y el filo del SC intermedio, todas observadas por McCloskey. También incluye el filo de Svs intermedios, lo cual ofrece evidencia de que el movimiento qu- transita por el filo de las fases Sv. Los dialectos varían dependiendo de cuántas de estas posiciones puede ocupar un cuantificador flotante. En algunos dialectos un cuantificador flotante no puede aparecer en la posición base de los elementos qu-, sino solo en posiciones intermedias. Al comparar los cuantificadores flotantes asociados a elementos qu- con cuantificadores flotantes asociados a SDs, lo cual es posible en una amplia gama de variedades lingüísticas en las que se incluye el inglés estándar, este artículo ofrece una posible solución al problema de por qué los cuantificadores flotantes asociados con SDs generalmente no son posibles en la posición base de los SDs en estructuras pasivas e inacusativas: La gramática universal (UG) prescribe las posiciones en las que aparecen o por las que transitan los elementos, así como donde aparecen las copias, pero las gramáticas individuales pueden seleccionar un subconjunto de esas posiciones como posibles para la pronunciación de un cuantificador flotante.Este artigo considera a flutuação do quantificador fora de elementos-wh em variedades do inglês de Ulster ocidental. Estabelece que existem vários sub-dialetos do inglês de Ulster ocidental e não apenas a única variedade descrita por McCloskey (2000); estas variedades diferem quanto às posições em que os quantificadores flutuantes associados aos elementos-wh podem aparecer. A totalidade de posições possíveis inclui não só o CP mais elevado, a posição da primeira concatenação do elemento-wh e a periferia dos CPs intermédios, como observado por McCloskey, mas também a periferia dos vPs intermédios, demonstrando que o movimentowh transpõe a periferia das fases de vP. Os dialetos variam quanto às diferentes posições possíveis para um quantificador flutuante, e, em algumas, um quantificador flutuante não pode ocorrer na primeira posição de concatenação dos elementos-wh, mas apenas em posições intermédias. Comparando a flutuação do quantificador fora de elementos-wh com a flutuação do quantificador fora de DPs, o que é possível num grande número de variedades linguísticas, incluindo o inglês padrão, o artigo apresenta uma possível solução para o enigma de por que razão a flutuação do quantificador fora de DPs não é geralmente possível na primeira posição de concatenação dos DPs em passivas e estruturas inacusativas: a GU prescreve as posições em que os elementos aparecem e que transitam e, como tal, em que as cópias ocorrem, mas as gramáticas individuais selecionam uma parte dessas posições como possíveis para a pronunciação de um quantificador flutuante

Dialect Variation, Optionality, and the Learnability Guarantee

In acqumng a language the child is often faced with developing a grammar on the basis of input from a range of adults who speak different dialects or idiolects and whose grammars are not therefore identical. The fact that language acquisition is not subject to failure in such circumstances must mean that input from any combination of possible language varieties is guaranteed to trigger the development of a language system. The implications of this for the nature of Universal Grammar and the language acquisition process are explore

Photoinduced Removal of Nifedipine Reveals Mechanisms of Calcium Antagonist Action on Single Heart Cells

The currents through voltage-activated calcium channels in heart cell membranes are suppressed by dihydropyridine calcium antagonists such as nifedipine. Nifedipine is photolabile, and the reduction of current amplitude by this drug can be reversed within a few milliseconds after a 1-ms light flash. The blockade by nifedipine and its removal by flashes were studied in isolated myocytes from neonatal rat heart using the whole-cell clamp method. The results suggest that nifedipine interacts with closed, open, and inactivated calcium channels. It is likely that at the normal resting potential of cardiac cells, the suppression of current amplitude arises because nifedipine binds to and stabilizes channels in the resting, closed state. Inhibition is enhanced at depolarized membrane potentials, where interaction with inactivated channels may also become important. Additional block of open channels is suggested when currents are carried by Ba^(2+) but is not indicated with Ca^(2+) currents. Numerical simulations reproduce the experimental observations with molecular dissociation constants on the order of 10^(-7) M for closed and open channels and 10^(-8) M for inactivated channels

Facing tough realities and inspiring change: The comic satire of Sherman Alexie

Examines the comic modes Sherman Alexie uses, the purposes behind his critical, yet humorous, commentary, the multiple audiences toward which his satire is aimed, and the desired outcomes of his satire. Explores the theme of alcoholism in Alexie\u27s writings that plays a role in the degradation of Native American lives in modern times and why alcoholism has become a problem for the Native American community. Also, examines why Native Americans have become so dependent on White handouts and how this passivity and acceptance has created problems in Indian society. Finally, offers insights into Alexie\u27s use of humor as a means of communicating hope, restoring community, and rebuilding tradition in Native American society

Media psychology, symbolic power and social justice in Aotearoa

Psychologists reside in a world saturated by media. We work in professional contexts where guidelines for practice foreground ethical obligations to address issues of social justice. This paper addresses both these contextual dimensions of psychological research and practice. We explore the social significance of increased media production by Maori in challenging the tendency in mainstream media to marginalize Maori concerns while promoting Pakeha perspectives. The analysis focuses on the recent 'Inside Out documentary - Hikoi', which was initiated by two young Maori women as a challenge to media framing of Maori protests as 'unjustified' and 'disruptive' acts. We illustrate how this documentary furthers public dialogue regarding the foreshore and seabed controversy by promoting an alternative depiction of a Maori protest, which emphasize the history of grievances and social unity. The implications of such representations for psychologists working to address issues of social justice and to challenge abuses of symbolic power are discussed

Why the Child's Theory of Mind Really Is a Theory

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73444/1/j.1468-0017.1992.tb00202.x.pd

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals

Noninvasive genetic sampling approaches are becoming increasingly important to study wildlife populations. A number of studies have reported using noninvasive sampling techniques to investigate population genetics and demography of wild populations1. This approach has proven to be especially useful when dealing with rare or elusive species2. While a number of these methods have been developed to sample hair, feces and other biological material from carnivores and medium-sized mammals, they have largely remained untested in elusive small mammals. In this video, we present a novel, inexpensive and noninvasive hair snare targeted at an elusive small mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps). We describe the general set-up of the hair snare, which consists of strips of packing tape arranged in a web-like fashion and placed along travelling routes in the pikas’ habitat. We illustrate the efficiency of the snare at collecting a large quantity of hair that can then be collected and brought back to the lab. We then demonstrate the use of the DNA IQ system (Promega) to isolate DNA and showcase the utility of this method to amplify commonly used molecular markers including nuclear microsatellites, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), mitochondrial sequences (800bp) as well as a molecular sexing marker. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of this novel noninvasive hair snare as a sampling technique for wildlife population biologists. We anticipate that this approach will be applicable to a variety of small mammals, opening up areas of investigation within natural populations, while minimizing impact to study organisms

Atmospheric correction and target detection in aerial hyperspectral imagery

The use of aerial hyperspectral imagery (HSI) in remote sensing is a rapidly growing research area. Currently, targets are generally detected by looking for distinct spectral features of objects under surveillance. For example, a camouflaged vehicle, designed to blend into background trees and grass in the visible spectrum, can be revealed using spectral features in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum