In the last twenty years, computer code has emerged from obscure beginnings to occupy a rather prominent place in our culture. We can see evidence of code's cultural presence in our everyday conversation, in the way we interact with computers and networks, and in many current advertisements. Code also occupies an important place in the study of new media; some in that field have gone so far as to call code "the language of our time." My thesis aims to comprehend the dimensions of this important relationship. I adopt an interdisciplinary approach to this comparison between language and code, using theory and examples from structuralist linguistics, information theory, computer programming, and literature. A group of experimental French authors called the Oulipo provides many excellent examples for our comparison of language and code. The science of cryptography provides another conceptual bridge between the two areas. The comparison will lead to an examination of some current efforts to engage in a criticism of software and will suggest additional future challenges.

The purpose of this research is to imitate the motion of the crab, and to propose a new control strategy for hexapod robots. Referring to the proportion of a real crab, we construct a 12- actuator hexapod robot. Walking experiments are achieved by using a tripod gait, a metachronal gait and a paired metachronal gait. We observe the loading of actuators and compare the functionality of the gaits. A special feed-forward gait and the Zero Torque control strategy are added in the climbing experiment. A compressed rubber-wire carpet and wire dactyl claws are used to simulate the non-slip climbing condition. Our experiment results show that the loading condition of the pendulous tripod gait is better than conventional tripod gait, and the paired metachronal gait is better than metachronal gait. During climbing experiments, our robot walks on a vertical, an upside-down, and two transitional terrains.

Models for mediation are widely used in psychology, behavior science and education because they help researchers understand how a causal effect happens through one or several mediating variables. And more complex mediation models that incorporate multiple mediators are increasingly being assessed. This report uses a generated dataset to provide an overview of the assessment of direct effects and indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Use of a multiple comparison-based procedure for testing a set of hypotheses simultaneously while controlling the experiment-wise type I error rate is used to calculate a confidence interval for each pairwise contrast of mediated effects. Three approaches will be used to test hypotheses concerning the contrast between pairs of mediator effects. These approaches include 1) an assumption of zero covariance between parameters from different models, 2) assumption of a non-zero covariance between parameters from different models and 3) use of bootstrapping. Results are provided and discussed. / text

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Comparative constructions allow individuals to be compared according to different properties. Such comparisons form two classes, those that permit direct, comparisons (comparisons of measurements as in Seymour is taller than he is wide) and those that only allow indirect comparisons (comparisons of relative positions on separate scales as in Esme is more beautiful than Einstein is intelligent). Traditionally, these two types of comparisons have been associated with an ambiguity in the interpretations of the comparative and equative morphemes (see, Bartsch & Vennemann, 1972; Kennedy, 1999). In this thesis, I propose that there is no such ambiguity. The interpretations of the comparative and equative morphemes remain the same whether they appear in sentences that compare individuals directly or relative to two separate scales. To develop a unified account, I suggest that all comparisons involve a scale of universal degrees that are isomorphic to the rational (fractional) numbers between 0 and 1. All comparative and equative constructions are assigned an interpretation based on a comparison of such degrees. These degrees are associated with the two individuals being compared. Crucial to a unified treatment, the connection between individuals and universal degrees involves two steps. First individuals are mapped to a value on a primary scale that respects the ordering of such individuals according to the quality under consideration (whether it be height, beauty or intelligence). Second, this value on the primary scale is mapped to a universal degree that encodes the value's relative position with respect to other values. It is the ability of iv the universal degrees to encode positions on a primary scale that enables comparative and equative morphemes to either compare individuals directly or indirectly. A direct comparison results if measurements such as seven feet participate in the gradable property (as in Seven feet is tall). Such participation can sometimes result in an isomorphism between two primary scales and the ordering of measurements in a measurement system. When this occurs, comparing positions in the primary scales is equivalent to comparing measurements. If this type of isomorphism cannot be established then the sentence yields an indirect comparison.

A cognitive process model is developed that predicts the 3 major symbolic comparison response time effects (distance, end, and semantic congruity) found in the results of the linear syllogistic reasoning task. The model assumes that people generate an ordering of a finite set of symbolic stimuli on the basis of information contained in the pairwise relations between adjacent stimulus items. The learning of this ordering is simulated within a simple connectionist framework. The decision-making component of the model utilizes 2 separate evidence accrual processes operating in parallel. One process accumulates information about the positional difference between the stimulus items being compared, and the other accumulates information about the endpoint status of each of those items. A response occurs whenever enough evidence favouring it has been accumulated within either of these processes. The model also assumes that the congruencies between the positions of the stimulus items within the ordering and the form of the comparative instruction can lead to either interfering or facilitating effects on the rate of evidence accumulation within each of these accrual processes. To test the model, data are obtained from the single-session performances of a group of 16 subjects and the multiple-session performances of an additional 2 subjects. The task is a variant of the one used by Trabasso, Riley, and Wilson (1975) and involves paired comparisons of ordered symbolic stimuli (three-letter names). Simulations of the model provide an excellent account of the group mean correct response times, as well as a very good account of the full set of data obtained from the 2 additional subjects (including percentage correct and response time distributional data).

Festinger (1954) postulated people desire social comparison to assess their abilities. Performance satisfaction was predicted to vary directly with the size of the comparison group since the accuracy of the appraisal would increase. Recently, Brickman and Bulman (1976) postulated that a drive exists for people to avoid social comparison. This is due to negative consequences arising from such encounters. To assess these two viewpoints 90 male and 90 female subjects were randomly assigned to either a positive skew, negative skew or equal score distribution based on false feedback from various perceptual-motor exercises. Each subject also was randomly assigned to an expected future comparison situation with a large group, a small group or the experimenter. Subjects desired social comparison to a greater extent in the small group situation than in the large group setting and least when meeting only with the experimenter. It appears that a curvilinear relationship exists between the desire for social comparison and the number of others being compared against. The desire for comparison reaches an apex in small group situations but decreases with larger numbers of others and in situations where there are no others for comparison.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

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Copyright law protection in the US and Europe Abstract The thesis compares copyright in the US and author rights in Europe. The comparison provides historical, theoretical, and international context. The thesis uses national legislation, European acquis, and international agreements. The case law of the EU Court of Justice and the US Supreme Court is used to provide a true picture of current legal regimes. The comparison uses the limits of copyright protection theory. General limits, such as the principles of uniqueness and originality or idea/expression dichotomy, draw the line between protected and unprotected works in selected copyright legislations. The Lockean natural law theory and utilitarian theory are compared to each other from the historical and philosophical points of view. This part of the thesis answers the question of where did these arguments emerge and what is their reason for copyright protection. Subsequently, the thesis introduces Aristotle's teleology as a suitable alternative for developed copyright systems. The following chapter describes international treaties and their role in the standardization of examined copyright systems. The thesis also explores contractual freedom in copyright. This chapter focuses mainly on legal reasons for authors to withdraw from the contract. The next...