Hakha Lai Definites

This paper uses fieldwork data to investigate definite expressions in Hakha Lai, a Kuki-Chin language spoken in western Burma/Myanmar and southern Indianapolis. Previous investigations of definite expressions (Hawkins 1978, Heim 1982, Roberts 2003, Schwarz 2009, and others) have posited properties such as uniqueness and identifiability as well as anaphoric reference as key features of definiteness. In an analysis of German definite articles, Schwarz (2009) proposes that definite expressions can be divided into two categories, weak definites, correlated with the semantic uniqueness of a referent, and strong definites which are correlated with anaphoric reference. Hakha Lai has two postnominal adjuncts, kha and cu, whose behavior is consistent with Schwarz’s weak and strong definites. This data from Hakha Lai expands upon previous research on definite expressions cross-linguistically and investigates the relationship between definiteness and its morphosemantic representations in natural language

The Origins of Terrorism: Cross-Country Estimates on Socio-economic Determinants of Terrorism

As a prerequisite of an appropriate anti-terror strategy, it is indispensable to assess the underlying causes of terror. We examine social and economic conditions in the country of origin of terrorist attacks, claiming that low opportunity costs of terror, e.g., approximated by slow growth and poor institutions raise the likelihood of terror and the willingness in the population to support terror. Using a negative binomial regression model, we are able to show that unfortunate socio-economic conditions in a country are likely to reduce the opportunity costs of potential terrorists and increase the number of terrorist attacks originating from a specific country. Interestingly, this effect is particularly relevant after a certain level of development has been reached. We therefore distinguish between several broad country groups, namely the OECD, Europe and Islamic countries.terror attacks, openness, discrete choice analysis, institutions

High Performing Hospital Enterprise Architecture

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Organizational Assessment Processes for Lean Enterprise Transformation

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Finding Opportunities for Commonality Across Complex Systems: A Study of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Application of Prediction Markets for Cost and Risk Assessment in Defense Acquisition Programs

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Adaptive Test Strategies Using PATFrame

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Standardization in Enterprise Product Development Processes

Student research poster, LAI Annual Meeting, Dana Point, C

Pre and post fire carbon dynamics in a Florida Scrub oak

Scrub oak is a xeromorphic shrub ecosystem discontinuously distributed in coastal and inland Florida. It supports a high biodiversity which includes a large number of endangered and threatened species. Its structural features are maintained by a fire return cycle of 7 to 10 years which maintains the biodiversity. Management of fire prone ecosystems such as this raises the question of whether the management strategy contributes to the system being a carbon sink or carbon source over the long-term. We used eddy covariance and biometric approaches to measure carbon dynamics in a Florida scrub oak ecosystem located at Kennedy Space Center in east Central Florida from April 2004 to December 2007. The study site was controlled burned in February 2006. Two years previous to fire, the site experienced average precipitation but drought conditions during the two years after fire. Net ecosystem production (NEP) was 419 g C m-2 yr-1 during the first year of measurements, and the ecosystem incorporated 823 g C m-2 during the 22 months before the fire. Aboveground net primary production (NPP) represented 50% of annual NEP. Carbon released by fire reached 316 g C m-2. Ecosystem respiration (Re) dominated the carbon balance during the first six months after fire, and the ecosystem released an extra 119 g C m-2. However, gross ecosystem production (GEP) increased with leaf area index (LAI) after fire, dominating the carbon balance during the following six months. The ecosystem was a carbon sink of 88 g C m-2 yr-1 during the first year after the fire. Leaf area index (LAI) reached 1.54 m2 m-2 by October 2007 (80% of pre-burn value for the same time period). The scrub oak ecosystem was a continuous carbon sink six months after the fire despite the dominant drought conditions during 2006 – 2007. The ecosystem offset 80% (251 g C m-2) of the carbon released in the fire during the following twenty two months after the fire. Considering the fire return cycle of 7 to 10 years and the fact that the study site and a similar site nearby incorporated more than 400 g C m-2 yr-1 during the two years before fire, this scrub oak is a net carbon sink in the landscape under current management strategies