Moving Towards Illumination? The Development of Method and Rhetoric in the American School of Archaeologists

This thesis examines two aspects of the work the American School of archaeologists: 1) their refinements of archaeological method; and 2) their cultivation of a particular rhetorical strategy to describe the significance of their findings In the first chapter, we explore the rise of Near Eastern archaeology from the mid-nineteenth century through the early-twentieth century. During this time many communities of faith joined in the digging in hopes of locating finds with biblical implications. A lofty rhetoric was developed to describe these discoveries and to relate their impact upon the accounts of the Bible. This period was marked by the free-wheeling exploits of adventurers who lacked any sort of developed scientific approach, but who, nonetheless, cultivated lofty claims about the truth of the Bible based on their discoveries. In the following chapters, we examine the rise of the American school of biblical archaeology. The study begins with William Foxwell Albright, the father of the American school. We show how Albright established the foundation of a critical methodology on which the American school was built and how he developed a new and slightly more restrained rhetoric of light and illumination to describe the effect of archaeology on the Bible. We also show how Albright\u27s approach was closely followed by his students John Bright and George Ernest Wright. These men remained devoted to Albright\u27s approach, but tempered even more the rhetoric and truth claims prominent in their teacher\u27s writings. In the next chapters, our study narrows its focus to follow the career of William G. Dever, one of Wright\u27s students. During this time -often portrayed as the pinnacle of the American school- Dever and others placed a great emphasis on the refinement of methodology, and a completely restrained (if not agnostic) rhetoric with reference to the impact of archaeology on the truth of the Bible. At the Gezer field school, Dever trained an upcoming generation of archaeologists in this method and rhetoric. We argue that this period was concluded with Dever\u27s lectures to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in January 1972. This period ends with Dever calling for a complete separation between biblical archaeology and Syro-Palestinian archaeology. Finally, we trace the history of the rise of the post-modemists and Dever\u27 s conflict with their new approach to the biblical accounts. Unfortunately, the dialogue was quickly mired in accusations and name-calling. Each period addressed in this work provides an interesting case study in the interplay between culture and faith, as it was played out in the developments smTounding archaeology and biblical studies. This thesis explores these case studies in hopes of understanding the nature of the changes and developments

A New Witness to the Chronicle of John of Nikiu: EMML 7919

This article introduces a new witness to the Chronicle of John of Nikiu (EMML 7919). It analyses the text of this witness alongside the four previously known Ethiopic manuscripts of this work. The article considers the current state of research on the Chronicle of John of Nikiu, including an examination of the textual witnesses, the language of the original composition, and the biographical and historical information of the chronicler. The textual analysis of EMML 7919 demonstrates a strong relation with the text attested in ANL Conti Rossini 27, which suggests that EMML 7919 is highly valuable for the reconstruction of the Ethiopic version of the Chronicle of John of Nikiu. Finally, there is a catalogue entry for EMML 7919, which details the textual and codicological features of the manuscript

Examining Passenger Flow Choke Points at Airports Using Discrete Event Simulation

The movement of passengers through an airport quickly, safely, and efficiently is the main function of the various checkpoints (check-in, security. etc) found in airports. Human error combined with other breakdowns in the complex system of the airport can disrupt passenger flow through the airport leading to lengthy waiting times, missing luggage and missed flights. In this paper we present a model of passenger flow through an airport using discrete event simulation that will provide a closer look into the possible reasons for breakdowns and their implications for passenger flow. The simulation is based on data collected at Norfolk International Airport (ORF). The primary goal of this simulation is to present ways to optimize the work force to keep passenger flow smooth even during peak travel times and for emergency preparedness at ORF in case of adverse events. In this simulation we ran three different scenarios: real world, increased check-in stations, and multiple waiting lines. Increased check-in stations increased waiting time and instantaneous utilization. while the multiple waiting lines decreased both the waiting time and instantaneous utilization. This simulation was able to show how different changes affected the passenger flow through the airport

The importance of data partitioning and the utility of bayes factors in bayesian phylogenetics

As larger, more complex data sets are being used to infer phylogenies, accuracy of these phylogenies increasingly requires models of evolution that accommodate heterogeneity in the processes of molecular evolution. We investigated the effect of improper data partitioning on phylogenetic accuracy, as well as the type I error rate and sensitivity of Bayes factors, a commonly used method for choosing among different partitioning strategies in Bayesian analyses. We also used Bayes factors to test empirical data for the need to divide data in a manner that has no expected biological meaning. Posterior probability estimates are misleading when an incorrect partitioning strategy is assumed. The error was greatest when the assumed model was underpartitioned. These results suggest that model partitioning is important for large data sets. Bayes factors performed well, giving a 5% type I error rate, which is remarkably consistent with standard frequentist hypothesis tests. The sensitivity of Bayes factors was found to be quite high when the across-class model heterogeneity reflected that of empirical data. These results suggest that Bayes factors represent a robust method of choosing among partitioning strategies. Lastly, results of tests for the inclusion of unexpected divisions in empirical data mirrored the simulation results, although the outcome of such tests is highly dependent on accounting for rate variation among classes. We conclude by discussing other approaches for partitioning data, as well as other applications of Bayes factors. Copyright © Society of Systematic Biologists

Social-Cognitive Biases in Simulated Airline Luggage Screening

This study illustrated how social cognitive biases affect the decision making process of air1ine luggage screeners. Participants (n = 96) performed a computer simulated task to detect hidden weapons in 200 x-ray images of passenger luggage. Participants saw each image for two (high time pressure) or six seconds (low time pressure). Participants observed pictures of the "passenger" who owns the luggage . The "pre-anchor group" answered questions about the passenger before the luggage image appeared, the "post-snchor" group answered questions after the luggage appeared, and the "no-anchor group" answered no questions. Participants either stopped or did not stop the bag. and rated their confidence in their decision. Participants under high time pressure had lower hit rates and higher false alarms, Significant differences between the pre-, no-, and post-anchor groups were based on the gender and race of the passengers. Participants had higher false alarm rates in response to male than female passengers

Materials Challenges for Trapped-Ion Quantum Computers

Trapped-ion quantum information processors store information in atomic ions maintained in position in free space via electric fields. Quantum logic is enacted via manipulation of the ions' internal and shared motional quantum states using optical and microwave signals. While trapped ions show great promise for quantum-enhanced computation, sensing, and communication, materials research is needed to design traps that allow for improved performance by means of integration of system components, including optics and electronics for ion-qubit control, while minimizing the near-ubiquitous electric-field noise produced by trap-electrode surfaces. In this review, we consider the materials requirements for such integrated systems, with a focus on problems that hinder current progress toward practical quantum computation. We give suggestions for how materials scientists and trapped-ion technologists can work together to develop materials-based integration and noise-mitigation strategies to enable the next generation of trapped-ion quantum computers.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, commments welcome, now with all the figure

Infrared Observations During the Secondary Eclipse of HD 209458b: I. 3.6-Micron Occultation Spectroscopy Using the VLT

We search for an infrared signature of the transiting extrasolar planet HD 209458b during secondary eclipse. Our method, which we call `occultation spectroscopy,' searches for the disappearance and reappearance of weak spectral features due to the exoplanet as it passes behind the star and later reappears. We argue that at the longest infrared wavelengths, this technique becomes preferable to conventional `transit spectroscopy'. We observed the system in the wing of the strong nu-3 band of methane near 3.6 microns during two secondary eclipses, using the VLT/ISAAC spectrometer at a spectral resolution of 3300. Our analysis, which utilizes a model template spectrum, achieves sufficient precision to expect detection of the spectral structure predicted by an irradiated, low-opacity (cloudless), low-albedo, thermochemical equilibrium model for the exoplanet atmosphere. However, our observations show no evidence for the presence of this spectrum from the exoplanet, with the statistical significance of the non-detection depending on the timing of the secondary eclipse, which depends on the assumed value for the orbital eccentricity. Our results reject certain specific models of the atmosphere of HD 209458b as inconsistent with our observations at the 3-sigma level, given assumptions about the stellar and planetary parameters.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures Accepted to Astrophysical Journa

Neurosteroids and GABAA Receptor Interactions: A Focus on Stress

Since the pioneering discovery of the rapid CNS depressant actions of steroids by the “father of stress,” Hans Seyle 70 years ago, brain-derived “neurosteroids” have emerged as powerful endogenous modulators of neuronal excitability. The majority of the intervening research has focused on a class of naturally occurring steroids that are metabolites of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone, which act in a non-genomic manner to selectively augment signals mediated by the main inhibitory receptor in the CNS, the GABAA receptor. Abnormal levels of such neurosteroids associate with a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, suggesting that they serve important physiological and pathophysiological roles. A compelling case can be made to implicate neurosteroids in stress-related disturbances. Here we will critically appraise how brain-derived neurosteroids may impact on the stress response to acute and chronic challenges, both pre- and postnatally through to adulthood. The pathological implications of such actions in the development of psychiatric disturbances will be discussed, with an emphasis on the therapeutic potential of neurosteroids for the treatment of stress-associated disorders