bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid measurement of a high step microstructure with 90° steep sidewall
Authors: Ju Bing-Feng , Chen Yuan-Liu , Zhang Wei , Fang F. Z.
Published: January 2012

A prototype STM system with high aspect ratio measurement capability is developed to fulfill accurate profile measurement of a high step microstructure with 90° steep sidewall. Distinguished from the traditional STM, the new system consists of a long range piezoelectric (PZT) actuator with full stroke of 60 μm as Z-direction servo scanner, a specially customized high aspect ratio STM probe with effective tip length of 300 μm, and an X-Y motorized driven stage for planar scanning. A tilt stage is used to adjust the probe-sample relative angle to compensate the evitable non-parallel effects. Based on the new STM system, sample-tilt-scanning methodology is proposed for eliminating the scanning blind region between the probe and the microstructure. A high step microstructure with height of 23 μm, 90° steep sidewall and width of 50μm has been successfully measured. The slope angle of the sidewall has been achieved to be 85° and the step height at the rising edge and the trench depth at the falling edge are both measured to be 22.96 μm. The whole measuring process only spent less than 10 min. It provides an effective and nondestructive solution for the measurement of high step or deep trench microstructures. In addition, this work also opens the way for further study on sidewall roughness and the tip-sample interaction at the edge of the sidewall, which are highly valuable for fabrication and quality control of high step microstructures.
Variation of radiative lifetimes of NH2(Ã2A1) with rotational levels in the (0, 8, 0) and (0, 9, 0) vibration bands
Authors: N’Doumi Marc , Halpern Joshua B.
Published: January 2012

Radiative lifetimes from the first electronically excited state of the amidogen free radical, NH2(Ã2A1), are reported for rotational states in selected vibrational levels ν2′ using laser-induced fluorescence. Thermal collision of argon, Ar*(3P0, 3P2) metastable atoms in a microwave discharge-flow system with ammonia (NH3) molecules produced ground state NH2($\tilde {\rm X}^2$X̃2B1). The radiative lifetimes for the deactivation of NH2(Ã2A1) were determined by measuring the decay profiles of NH2(Ã2A1 → $\tilde {\rm X}^2$X̃2B1). In addition to the Fermi resonances with the ground state that lengthen the radiative lifetimes, a systematic increase in the radiative lifetimes with rotational quantum number was observed. Furthermore, the average radiative lifetimes of the (0, 9, 0) Γ, τ1 = 18.65 ± 0.47 μs and (0, 8, 0) Φ, τ2 = 23.72 ± 0.65 μs levels were much longer than those of the (0, 9, 0) Σ, τ3 = 10.62 ± 0.47 μs, and (0, 8, 0) Π, τ4 = 13.55 ± 0.55 μs states suggesting increased mixing of the first electronic excited and the ground states.
Global existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a nonlinear wave equation of fourth-order
Authors: Wang Yu-Zhu , Wang Yin-Xia
Published: January 2012

In this paper we focus on the Cauchy problem for a nonlinear wave equation of fourth-order in n-dimensional space (n ⩾ 1), the decay structure of which is of regularity-loss property. Based on the decay estimate of solutions to the linear problem, we introduce a set of time-weighted Sobolev spaces. By using the contraction mapping theorem, we obtain the global in-time existence and the optimal decay estimates of solutions to the Cauchy problem under smallness assumption on the initial data.
Low noise MgB2 terahertz hot-electron bolometer mixers
Authors: Bevilacqua S. , Cherednichenko S. , Drakinskiy V. , Stake J. , Shibata H. , Tokura Y.
Published: January 2012

We report on low noise terahertz bolometric mixers made of MgB2 superconducting thin films. For a 10-nm-thick MgB2 film, the lowest mixer noise temperature was 600 K at 600 GHz. For 30 to 10-nm-thick films, the mixer gain bandwidth is an inverse function of the film thickness, reaching 3.4 GHz for the 10-nm film. As the critical temperature of the film decreases, the gain bandwidth also decreases, indicating the importance of high quality thin films for large gain bandwidth mixers. The results indicate the prospect of achieving a mixer gain bandwidth as large as 10-8 GHz for 3 to 5-nm-thick MgB2 films.
Ultrafast all-optical tunable Fano resonance in nonlinear ferroelectric photonic crystals
Authors: Zhang Yingbo , Hu Xiaoyong , Fu Yulan , Yang Hong , Gong Qihuang
Published: January 2012

We report an ultrafast all-optical tunable Fano resonance in a nonlinear ferroelectric photonic crystal made of polycrystal lithium niobate, which provides a large nonlinear susceptibility because of strong quantum size effect of nanoscale crystal grains. The femtosecond pump and probe method is adopted to measure the tunability of the Fano resonance based on the nonlinear optical Kerr effect. A 37-nm shift in the Fano resonance wavelength is obtained under excitation of a 30 MW/cm2 pump laser. An ultrafast response time of 43 ps is achieved due to fast relaxation dynamics of bound electrons in polycrystal lithium niobate.
Thermal resistance reduction in high power superluminescent diodes by using active multi-mode interferometer
Authors: Zang Zhigang , Mukai Keisuke , Navaretti Paolo , Duelk Marcus , Velez Christian , Hamamoto Kiichi
Published: January 2012

Low thermal resistance of high power superluminescent diodes (SLEDs) by using active multi-mode interferometer (active-MMI) is presented in this paper. The active layer temperature evaluation demonstrates that the power saturation mechanism in active-MMI SLED is heat for the first time. Low thermal resistance of 4.83 K/W in active-MMI SLEDs leads to a high power of 115 mW. Moreover, the effect of the active area size on the output power is demonstrated both experimentally and theoretically. Good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results indicates that active-MMI configuration is a new design in support of efficient heat dissipation and thermal resistance reduction for SLEDs.
Modulation and cancellation of the Casimir force by using radiation pressure
Authors: Banishev A. A. , Chang C.-C. , Zandi R. , Mohideen U.
Published: January 2012

We demonstrate the cancellation and dynamic modulation of the Casimir force by using transparent electrodes and radiation pressure. The attractive Casimir force between the two surfaces is balanced by radiation pressure on the first surface from light transmitted through the second transparent surface. The cancellation and dynamic modulation of dispersion forces will find applications in the design and enhanced performance of micro- and nanoelectro mechanical systems.
A One-Dimensional Superstructure from the Self-Assembly of Ag Nanoparticles Induced by Cu2+ Ion Coordination
Authors: Nalage Santosh V. , Ghule Namdev V. , Bhosale Sidhanath V. , Bhosale Sheshanath V.
Published: January 2012

The self-assembly of spherical silver nanoparticles with variable size and controlled organization using triglycine as an organic template is described. Triglycine and silver nitrate were used as the starting materials for the preparation of the spherical nanoparticles, and in the presence of copper cations, the particles further self-assembled into one dimensional nanostructures. The formation of supramolecular nanoaggregates was evaluated by means of UV/vis, TEM, SEM, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
A power pulsed low-pressure argon microwave plasma investigated by Thomson scattering: evidence for molecular assisted recombination
Authors: Hübner S , Palomares J M , Carbone E A D , van der Mullen J J A M
Published: January 2012

A squared-wave power pulsed low-pressure plasma is investigated by means of Thomson scattering. By this method the values of the electron density and temperature are obtained, directly. The plasma is created by a surfatron launcher in pure argon at gas pressures of 8–70 mbar. Features of the pulse rise and decay are studied with microsecond time resolution. During the pulse rise we observe initial high temperature values, while the density is still rising. At power switch-off we find decay times of the electron density that are smaller than what is expected on the basis of diffusion losses. This implies that the dominant decay mechanism in the studied pressure regime is provided by molecular assisted recombination.
A novel family of peptides with potent activity against influenza A viruses
Authors: Nicol Marlynne Q. , Ligertwood Yvonne , Bacon Matthew N. , Dutia Bernadette M. , Nash Anthony A.
Published: January 2012

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of influenza virus has catalysed a search for new antiviral agents to supplement or replace existing drugs. Following the success of the human immunodeficiency virus entry blocker Enfuvirtide, there has been a resurgence of interest in peptide-based antivirals. In this paper, we report on the discovery of a novel family of peptides (FluPep, FP) that function as inhibitors of influenza A virus infection. The prototype peptide (FP1, also known as Tkip) interacts with haemagglutinin and inhibits the binding of the virus to cell membranes. Using a plaque-reduction assay, we have demonstrated that a variety of influenza A virus subtypes (including H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1) are inhibited by FluPep and its derivatives at nanomolar concentrations. By truncating FluPep we have identified a minimal sequence of 6 aa that binds to haemagglutinin and inhibits infection. Using a mouse model of intranasal influenza virus infection, we observed potent inhibition of virus infection when peptide is given at the time of virus administration. These data indicate that FluPep is a highly effective anti-influenza agent with the potential to translate to the clinic.
Ants and the enigmatic Namibian fairy circles – cause and effect?
Authors: PICKER MIKE D. , ROSS‐GILLESPIE VERE , VLIEGHE KELLY , MOLL EUGENE
Published: January 2012

1. Parts of the Namibian landscape show extensive surface perturbation in the form of long‐lived, yet dynamic ‘fairy circles'. While exerting profound ecological effects on 7.3% of the land surface, the origin and nature of these large bare discs embedded in an arid grassland matrix remains unresolved.

2. We found no evidence to support the current hypothesis of a termite origin for fairy circles but instead observed a strong spatial association between fairy circles and large nests of the ant Black pugnacious ant Anoplolepis steingroeveri Forel, with much higher ant abundances on the circles compared with the matrix.

3. Aggression trials showed that different colonies of A. steingroeveri were located on different circles, and that the species was polydomous.

4. Fairy circles and Pogonomyrmex ant nests both have a bare disc surrounding the nest, are overdispersed (evenly spaced), and are associated with elevated soil moisture. Fairy circle soils exhibited a five‐fold increase in soil moisture when compared with the matrix.

5. Senescent Stipagrostis obtusa (Delile) Nees seedlings were only observed on the circles and not in the matrix, and were found to have a reduction in both root length and number of roots.

6. Anoplolepis steingroeveri excavated the root system of both S. obtusa seedlings on the disc and Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) de Winter grasses on the perimeter of the circles, where they tended honeydew‐secreting Meenoplidae bugs that fed on grass roots and culms. The bugs occurred almost exclusively on grasses associated with the circles. This ant–bug interaction is a possible mechanism for the observed reduction in root length and number of senescent grass seedlings on the circles.
Wet season range fidelity in a tropical migratory ungulate
Authors: Morrison Thomas A. , Bolger Douglas T.
Published: January 2012

1. In migratory populations, the degree of fidelity and dispersal among seasonal ranges is an important population process with consequences for demography, management, sensitivity to habitat change and adaptation to local environmental conditions.

2. Characterizing patterns of range fidelity in ungulates, however, has remained challenging because of the difficulties of following large numbers of marked individuals across multiple migratory cycles and of identifying the appropriate scale of analysis.

3. We examined fidelity to wet season (i.e. breeding) ranges in a recently declining population of wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Burchell in northern Tanzania across 3 years. We used computer‐assisted photographic identification and capture–recapture to characterize return patterns to three wet season ranges that were ecologically discrete and topographically isolated from one another.

4. Among 2557 uniquely identified adult wildebeest, we observed 150 recaptures across consecutive wet seasons. Between the two migratory subpopulations, the probability of remaining faithful to wet season areas ranged between 0·82 and 1·00. Animals from a non‐migratory segment of the population (near Lake Manyara National Park) were rarely observed in other wet season ranges, despite proximity to one of the migratory pathways.

5. We found no effect of sex on an individuals’ probability of switching wet season ranges. However, the breeding status of females in year i had a strong influence on patterns of range selection in year i + 1, with surviving breeders over three times as likely to switch ranges as non‐breeders.

6. Social‐group associations between pairs of recaptured animals were random with respect to an individual’s wet season range during the previous or forthcoming wet seasons, suggesting that an individual’s herd identity during the dry season does not predict wet season range selection.

7. Examining fidelity and dispersal in terrestrial migrations improves our understanding of the constraints that migrants experience when they face rapid habitat changes or fluctuations in environmental conditions.
Edge effects and their influence on habitat suitability calculations: a continuous approach applied to birds of the Atlantic forest
Authors: Zurita Gustavo , Pe’er Guy , Bellocq M. Isabel , Hansbauer Miriam M.
Published: January 2012

1. The suitability of human‐modified habitats for native species and the response of species to habitat edges are two important ecological processes that affect species and communities in fragmented landscapes. However, field studies generally analyse these two processes separately. We extended a recently proposed continuous approach to link these two processes, using empirical data from birds of the Atlantic forest in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

2. We tested different models for describing the responses of birds (both forest and open‐habitat species) to the interior–exterior gradient within different edge types (ecotones). We used two types of data: the first originated from a large data set collected at regional scale using the point‐count method and the second originated from a detailed local telemetry study of three bird species.

3. For both data sets, these models successfully described the responses to edges of the majority of species and assemblages and significantly influenced the calculated habitat suitability in both native and anthropogenic habitats. Edge effects were seen in the majority of species; however, the magnitude of these effects was influenced by the ecotone type. At the assemblage level, more species avoided edges in the ecotone with tree plantations compared with open habitats.

4. The effect of edges on the calculated habitat suitability was either positive or negative, depending on the function that best described the response of the species to edges and whether they avoided edges or penetrated into the less‐preferred habitat. In general, forest species penetrated deeper into tree plantations but moved only short distances into open habitats.

5. Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrate the impact of edge effects on bird species and communities in fragmented landscapes. Furthermore, the differential penetration capacity of the native forest birds into anthropogenic habitats shows the importance of using a continuous approach to calculate habitat suitability; classic calculation (without considering the distance to the preferred habitat) is likely to bias the calculated suitability and permeability of the hostile matrix and affect our estimations of connectivity.
Automatic tracking of individual migrating cells using low‐magnification dark‐field microscopy
Authors: NENASHEVA T.A. , CARTER T. , MASHANOV G.I.
Published: January 2012

Many fundamental biological processes, such as the search for food, immunological responses and wound healing, depend on cell migration. Video microscopy allows the magnitude and direction of cell migration to be documented. Here, we present a simple and inexpensive method for simultaneous tracking of hundreds of migrating cells over periods of several days. Low‐magnification dark‐field microscopy was used to visualize individual cells whereas time‐lapse video images were acquired by computer for future analysis. We employed an automated tracking algorithm to identify individual cells on each video image allowing migration paths to be tracked using a nearest neighbour algorithm. To test the method, we followed the time‐course of migration of 3T3 fibroblasts, endothelial cells and individual amoeba in the absence of any chemical stimulus gradient. All cell types showed a ‘random walk’ behaviour in which mean squared displacement in position increased linearly with time. We defined a ‘migration coefficient’ (Dmig), analogous to a diffusion coefficient, which gave an estimate of cell migration rate. Dmig depended on cell type and temperature. When amoebas were made to undergo chemotaxis, the cells no longer followed a random walk but instead moved at a near constant velocity (Vav) towards the chemotactic stimulus.
Population genetic structure, gene flow and recombination of Cochliobolus miyabeanus on cultivated wildrice (Zizania palustris)
Authors: Castell‐Miller C. V. , Samac D. A.
Published: January 2012

A collection of 168 Cochliobolus miyabeanus isolates was made from cultivated wildrice (Zizania palustris) paddies in Minnesota, USA, during 2007 and 2008. Analysis of 26 polymorphic amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers generated with three primer‐pair combinations indicated a moderate average gene diversity () of 0·283. Genotypic diversity was high in all collection areas with the exception of a paddy in Itasca County. Significant population subdivision by collection site was found with amova tests using both the entire fungal population data (FST = 0·29, P < 0·001) and the clone‐corrected data (FST = 0·08, P < 0·001), and with a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. Abundant immigrants, shared haplotypes and admixed genotypes were found in paddies in central‐eastern areas. Although indirect tests did not support the hypothesis of random mating at the subpopulation level, sexual recombination nevertheless may be possible in areas where both mating type idiomorphs, MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2, were found. These results may have implications in breeding for resistance and disease management.
Assessment of the impact of resistant and susceptible canola on Plasmodiophora brassicae inoculum potential
Authors: Hwang S. F. , Ahmed H. U. , Zhou Q. , Strelkov S. E. , Gossen B. D. , Peng G. , Turnbull G. D.
Published: January 2012

The impact on clubroot severity of growing susceptible canola or mixtures of resistant and susceptible canola genotypes was examined. Bioassays revealed greater clubroot severity and incidence, and reduced plant height, where 100% of a susceptible cultivar had been grown. A higher proportion of susceptible plants within a resistant canola crop increased root hair and secondary infections. Regression analysis of root hair infection and the amount of Plasmodiophora brassicae DNA (as determined by quantitative PCR) revealed strong linear relationships between the two parameters. The linear relationships between root hair infection and P. brassicae DNA were stronger for the resistant cultivar than for the susceptible cultivar when regression analysis was conducted by cultivar over the sampling dates. In conclusion, the cropping of a resistant cultivar reduced clubroot severity, while the presence of susceptible volunteer canola increased inoculum potential. Quantitative PCR was a reliable tool for the quantification of root hair infection.
Microbiota and dietary interactions – an update to the hygiene hypothesis?
Authors: Frei R. , Lauener R. P. , Crameri R. , O'Mahony L.
Published: January 2012

The dramatic increase in the incidence and severity of allergy and asthma has been proposed to be linked with an altered exposure to, and colonization by, micro‐organisms, particularly early in life. However, other lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity are also thought to be important, and it is likely that multiple environmental factors with currently unrecognized interactions contribute to the atopic state. This review will focus on the potential role of microbial metabolites in immunoregulatory functions and highlights the known molecular mechanisms, which may mediate the interactions between diet, microbiota, and protection from allergy and asthma.
Effect of light on the gene expression and hormonal status of winter and spring wheat plants during cold hardening
Authors: Majláth Imre , Szalai Gabriella , Soós Vilmos , Sebestyén Endre , Balázs Ervin , Vanková Radomíra , Dobrev Petre I. , Tari Irma , Tandori Júlia , Janda Tibor
Published: January 2012

The effect of light on gene expression and hormonal status during the development of freezing tolerance was studied in winter wheat (Triticum aestivumvar. Mv Emese) and in the spring wheat variety Nadro. Ten‐day‐old plants (3‐leaf stage) were cold hardened at 5°C for 12 days under either normal (250 µmol m−2s−1) or low (20 µmol m−2s−1) light conditions. Comprehensive analysis was carried out to explore the background of frost tolerance and the differences between these wheat varieties. Global genome analysis was performed, enquiring about the details of the cold signaling pathways. The expression level of a large number of genes is affected by light, and this effect may differ in different wheat genotypes. Photosynthesis‐related processes probably play a key role in the enhancement of freezing tolerance; however, there are several other genes whose induction is light‐dependent, so either there is cross‐talk between signaling of chloroplast originating and other protective mechanisms or there are other light sensors that transduce signals to the components responsible for stress tolerance. Changes in the level of both plant hormones (indole‐3‐acetic acid, cytokinins, nitric oxide and ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid) and other stress‐related protective substances (proline, phenolics) were investigated during the phases of the hardening period. Hormonal levels were also affected by light and their dynamics indicate that wheat plants try to keep growing during the cold‐hardening period. The data from this experiment may provide a new insight into the cross talk between cold and light signaling in wheat.
Size scaling and stiffness of avian primary feathers: implications for the flight of Mesozoic birds
Authors: WANG X. , NUDDS R. L. , PALMER C. , DYKE G. J.
Published: January 2012

The primary feathers of birds are subject to cyclical forces in flight causing their shafts (rachises) to bend. The amount the feathers deflect during flight is dependent upon the flexural stiffness of the rachises. By quantifying scaling relationships between body mass and feather linear dimensions in a large data set of living birds, we show that both feather length and feather diameter scale much closer to predictions for geometric similarity than they do to elastic similarity. Scaling allometry also indicates that the primary feathers of larger birds are relatively shorter and their rachises relatively narrower, compared to those of smaller birds. Two‐point bending tests indicated that larger birds have more flexible feathers than smaller species. Discriminant functional analyses (DFA) showed that body mass, primary feather length and rachis diameter can be used to differentiate between different magnitudes of feather bending stiffness, with primary feather length explaining 63% of variance in rachis stiffness. Adding fossil measurement data to our DFA showed thatArchaeopteryxandConfuciusornisdo not overlap with extant birds. This strongly suggests that the bending stiffness of their primary feathers was different to extant birds and provides further evidence for distinctive flight styles and likely limited flight ability inArchaeopteryxandConfuciusornis.
Recurrent endocrine mucin‐producing sweat gland carcinoma in the eyelid
Authors: Koike Tomoyuki , Mikami Taro , Maegawa Jiro , Iwai Toshinori , Wada Hidefumi , Yamanaka Shoji
Published: January 2012

Endocrine mucin‐producing sweat gland carcinoma (EMPSGC) has recently been recognised as a low‐grade carcinoma that almost always occurs on the eyelid. This carcinoma is very rare, with only 20 cases (including the present one) having been reported in the literature. EMPSGC is frequently found in association with invasive mucinous carcinoma. While EMPSGC treatments consist of a complete surgical removal, there has been no consensus regarding the surgical margin. Therefore, reports on surgical management of EMPSGC may potentially provide important therapeutic information. Here, we present a case of a 74‐year‐old man with EMPSGC of the eyelid that repeatedly recurred despite surgical treatments at another institution. After referral to our department, the patient underwent tumour excision. However, the specimen revealed a positive surgical margin and thus, he subsequently underwent a wider excision. There has been no sign of tumour recurrence or metastasis 6 months after his last operation. This article reviews the current literature and discusses the surgical management of EMPSGC.
Isovolaemic hemodilution with gelatin and hydroxyethylstarch 130/0.42: effects on hemostasis in piglets
Authors: Witt Lars , Osthaus Wilhelm Alexander , Jahn Wiebke , Rahe‐Meyer Niels , Hanke Alexander , Schmidt Florian , Boehne Martin , Sümpelmann Robert
Published: January 2012

Objectives:  Artificial colloids, frequently used to prevent hemorrhagic shock in children, impair blood coagulation. To determine the impact of acute isovolaemic hemodilution with artificial colloids on clot formation, we conducted an experimental study in a pediatric animal model.

Methods:  Fifteen piglets underwent hemorrhage by withdrawing 40 ml·kg−1 of blood volume in steps of 10 ml·kg−1 each within 1 hour. After each withdrawal, the blood loss was randomly compensated by administering 4% gelatin (GEL) or hydroxylethyl starch 130/0.42 (HES) in a ratio of 1 : 1, or isotonic crystalloid solution (ICS) in a ratio of 1 : 4 for isovolaemic hemodilution. Quality of clot formation and platelet function was measured using Thrombelastometry (ROTEM®) and Multiple electrode impedance aggregometry (Multiplate®) after 10, 20, and 40 ml·kg−1 blood replacement.

Results:  Moderate hemodilution (10–20 ml·kg−1 blood replacement) caused no significant differences among groups (e.g. INTEM®‐MCF after 20 ml·kg−1 blood replacement (ICS vs GEL vs HES, P > 0.05). Profound hemodilution with 40 ml·kg−1 blood replacement showed a significant difference between ICS and both colloids (P < 0.05), but no significant differences between GEL and HES.

Conclusions:  Impairment of clot formation by moderate isovolaemic hemodilution did not significantly differ between ICS, GEL, and HES. Profound hemodilution of more than 50% of the estimated blood volume with GEL and HES caused significant impairment of clot formation in comparison to ICS and has to be considered when using high amounts of these synthetic colloids.
EXAM SCHEDULING AND STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Authors: Di Pietro Giorgio
Published: January 2012

This paper uses data from a single School of a UK university to estimate the impact of a switch from end‐of‐semester to end‐of‐year final exams on student performance. The identification strategy exploits the fact that while the timing of final exams changed, the timing of mid‐term exams remained the same. Estimates are based on a difference‐in‐differences methodology that compares final and mid‐term exam scores after the switch, with final and mid‐term exam scores before the switch. The empirical findings suggest that the shift of final exams to the end of the academic year had a negative effect on student achievement. Many changes in higher education are often done on the basis of financial, administrative or ideological considerations, underestimating the magnitude of their effect on student learning and student performance.
Pluperfect periphrases in Medieval Greek: a perspective on the collaboration between linguistics and philology
Authors: Giannaris Thanasis
Published: January 2012

This article focuses on the history of the Medieval Greek ‘BE + aorist participle’ periphrastic construction with the aim of contributing to the understanding of its development and arguing in favour of a particular methodological perspective for historical linguistics. Specifically, by exploring the diachrony of this verbal construction, which has been neglected in historical accounts of Greek, I propose that an adequate explanation for all its properties will require us to supplement our theoretically informed linguistic approach with parameters pertaining to the textual nature of the historical data. My conclusion will emphasize the necessity of a close collaboration between linguistics and philology.
The emergence and the reanalysis of the existential proform: evidence from early Italo‐Romance
Authors: Ciconte Francesco Maria
Published: January 2012

In this article I claim that the emergence of the existential proform in early Italo‐Romance is motivated by the overt marking of definiteness. The available data from a relatively large corpus of early Italo‐Romance texts dating from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century suggest that the overt marking of definiteness, which differentiates Romance from its ancestor Latin, favours the establishment of an existential pattern where the encoding of non‐canonical pivots (definite ones) is licensed by a locative anchor. From having the status of locative licenser of definiteness, the proform is thereafter reanalysed as an obligatory marker of the existential construction, and is progressively extended to all types of existential construction.
Non‐parametric testing for seasonally and periodically integrated processes
Authors: Castro Tomás del Barrio , Osborn Denise R.
Published: January 2012

This article obtains the asymptotic distributions of the seasonal variance ratio tests proposed by A.M.R.Taylor (2005,Journal of Econometrics124, 33)when these tests are applied to a periodically integrated process [PI(1)]. In contrast to the situation where the process is seasonally integrated [SI(1)], all test statistics in thePI(1) case are driven by a single stochastic trend and hence follow the distribution obtained byBreitung (2002,Journal of Econometrics108, 343)for the original (non‐seasonal) variance ratio test. The multivariate non‐parametric cointegration test ofBreitung (2002Journal of Econometrics 108, 343)is also investigated to distinguish betweenPIandSIprocesses. A Monte Carlo analysis shows how these results apply in finite samples for bothSIandPIprocesses and an empirical application investigates seasonally unadjusted quarterly US industrial production series.
A textual détournement: from Paul the Deacon's Liber de episcopis Mettensibus to the Vita Clementis
Authors: KEMPF DAMIEN
Published: January 2012

This article considers the question of textual variation and its effects on manuscript dissemination in the Middle Ages by examining the reframing of Paul the Deacon's Liber de episcopis Mettensibus at the end of the tenth century. Originally written by Paul at the request of Angilram, bishop of Metz, to promote the leading role of Metz in the Carolingian kingdom, the monks of the abbey of Saint‐Clement appropriated the text and interpolated the opening section on Clement, the first bishop of Metz, to fix his cult at the abbey and thereby prevent episcopal attempts to transfer the saint's body to the cathedral. It was in this interpolated form that the Liber found its most extensive audience. This example sheds light on the process by which, in medieval manuscript culture, the continual actualization of texts – combining reinscription and reinterpretation – created the conditions governing their circulation.
A Special Breed?– A Longitudinal and Cross‐Sectional Study of Norwegian Budgeting and Financial Civil Servants
Authors: Christensen Tom , Lægreid Per
Published: January 2012

Abstract: This paper focuses on civil servants in the central Norwegian civil service whose main tasks are budgeting, supervision and accounting. The main research questions are: (a) What is their typical demographic profile? (b) How has their demographic profile changed over time? (c) What are the effects of having budgeting, supervising and accounting as a main task on civil servants’ attitudes and behaviour? The main findings are that they have a specific profile. There are significant differences between ministries and central agencies as well as changes over time and also marked differences with other civil servants regarding their attitudes and behavior.
Towards a ‘Consensual’ Urban Politics? Creative Planning, Urban Sustainability and Regional Development
Authors: KRUEGER ROB , BUCKINGHAM SUSAN
Published: January 2012

This article critically examines three interrelated contemporary themes in urban regeneration and regional development: economic development, urban sustainability and creative city planning. While these themes have distinct conceptual origins, they complement each other in practice. The question we ask in this article is: how do the embedded and contingent politics found in these approaches shape opportunities for sustainable urban regeneration? We begin the article by defining our core concepts: urban sustainability and creative planning. We then explore their convergence with economic development, both in theory and practice, and raise critical questions about the universal applicability of these formulas. We conclude with a conceptual discussion of the problems these discourses represent. In particular, we reveal how these discourses create consensus among diverse (often competing) groups of actors, and the problems associated with this form of ‘consensual urban politics’.

Cet article étudie sous un angle critique trois thèmes contemporains liés dans le cadre de la régénération urbaine et du développement régional: l'essor économique, la ville durable et l'urbanisme créatif. Bien qu'ayant des origines conceptuelles différentes, ils se complètent mutuellement sur le terrain. Il s'agit ici de savoir comment les politiques imbriquées et contingentes qui relèvent de ces approches configurent les opportunités de régénération urbaine durable. L'étude définit d'abord ses concepts fondamentaux: la durabilité urbaine et l'urbanisme créatif. Elle s'intéresse ensuite à leur convergence avec le développement économique, sur un plan à la fois théorique et pratique, afin d'amener un questionnement critique sur l'applicabilité universelle de ces formules. La conclusion présente une analyse conceptuelle des problèmes soulevés par ces discours. Elle éclaire notamment la manière dont ces derniers créent un consensus entre divers groupes d'acteurs (souvent concurrents), ainsi que les difficultés qu'entraîne cette forme de ‘politique urbaine consensuelle’.
The International Migration System Between Turkey and Russia: Project‐Tied Migrant Workers in Moscow
Authors: İçduygu Ahmet , Karaçay Ayşem Biriz
Published: January 2012

The last 50 years of emigration history in Turkey indicate that the migratory flows of Turkish citizens have consecutively become a part of various migratory systems. In this essay, our main aims are twofold. First, we attempt to document the dynamics and mechanism of project‐tied migration from Turkey to the Russian Federation, focusing in particular on the case of project‐tied workers migrating from Turkey to Moscow. Second, this effort intends to elaborate on the research on migratory systems between Turkey and the former communist countries of Eastern Europe and Central and Northern Asian countries, mainly referring to macro‐, micro‐ and meso‐level factors affecting the relevant migration systems. In this paper, in which we tackle the various migration systems with which Turkey is involved, we conclude by arguing that parallel to the new migration patterns that have been experienced throughout the post‐Soviet geographies, the internalization process of Turkish constructors within the changing dynamics of Turkish foreign policy has widened the direction of the migration flows from Turkey by introducing new migrant worker profiles to different regions. In this sense, short‐term labour migrants, shuttle traders and in particular project‐tied migrant workers show not only the important role that migrants may play in the shift towards a market‐based economy in the Russian Federation, but also how they have become crucial actors of the migration system between Turkey and Russia.
Roma and the Politics of EU Citizenship in France: Everyday Security and Resistance*
Authors: PARKER OWEN
Published: January 2012

This article reflects on the politics of European Union citizenship – and the ethical possibilities and limitations of a cosmopolitan or ‘normative power’ EU – via an analysis of the situation of the Roma in France, which was widely mediatized in summer 2010. It argues in a first step that during this period the French government ‘securitized’ the Roma, ‘extra‐ordinarily’ casting them as collective threat and thereby justifying their deportation. The European Commission's outspoken response demanded that the French authorities refrain from discriminating against EU citizens on grounds of ethnicity; in so doing, the EU seemed to act as protector of minorities in accordance with its raison d'être as liberal peace project. However, in a second step, the article draws attention to the deportations perpetrated before these high‐profile events, highlighting that conditionality within the law pertaining to EU citizenship allowed for the securitization of Roma. Thus, in a third step, it is argued that the invocation of citizenship may be a useful but limited strategy of political resistance by and with excluded groups such as Europe's Roma. Rather, it is the inherently ambiguous nature of a multi‐level EU liberal or cosmopolitan government – and concomitant EU citizenship – which opens an important space for resistance.
Vocal anatomy, tongue protrusion behaviour and the acoustics of rutting roars in free‐ranging Iberian red deer stags (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)
Authors: Frey Roland , Volodin Ilya , Volodina Elena , Carranza Juan , Torres‐Porras Jerónimo
Published: January 2012

Roaring in rutting Iberian red deer stags Cervus elaphus hispanicus is unusual compared to other subspecies of red deer, which radiated from the Iberian refugium after the last glacial maximum. In all red deer stags, the larynx occupies a permanent low mid‐neck resting position and is momentarily retracted almost down to the rostral end of the sternum during the production of rutting calls. Simultaneous with the retraction of the larynx, male Iberian red deer pronouncedly protrude the tongue during most of their rutting roars. This poses a mechanical challenge for the vocal tract (vt) and for the hyoid apparatus, as tongue and larynx are strongly pulled in opposite directions. This study (i) examines the vocal anatomy and the acoustics of the rutting roars in free‐ranging male C. e. hispanicus; (ii) establishes a potential mechanism of simultaneous tongue protrusion and larynx retraction by applying a two‐dimensional model based on graphic reconstructions in single video frames of unrestrained animals; and (iii) advances a hypothesis of evaporative cooling by tongue protrusion in the males of a subspecies of red deer constrained to perform all of the exhausting rutting activities, including acoustic display, in a hot and arid season.
Width and elevation of the palatal shelves in unoperated unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients in the permanent dentition
Authors: Latief Benny S. , Lekkas Kostas C. , Schols Jan G. J. H. , Fudalej Piotr S. , Kuijpers Mette A. R.
Published: January 2012

Patients with cleft left lip and palate (CLP) normally require extensive surgery from an early age up to the end of adolescence. These surgeries affect the growth of the maxillofacial complex. The degree to which the cleft itself affects growth of the maxillofacial complex remains poorly understood. By analysing the width and elevation of the palatal shelves in unoperated adolescents and adults with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP and BCLP, respectively) and a non‐cleft control group, it is possible to gain more insight into the real intrinsic growth potential of the maxillary structures. In this study, dental casts of the full permanent dentition of individuals with unrepaired UCLP (n = 68) and BCLP (n = 13) and non‐cleft controls (n = 24) from the same area of Indonesia were digitized three‐dimensionally. Maxillary arch width in the canine, premolar and molar regions, and the width and elevation of the palatal shelves were measured. Results showed that in patients with UCLP, the width of the palatal shelves on the cleft side in all regions, and on the non‐cleft side in the canine/first premolar region, was significantly smaller compared with the control group. BCLP subjects showed similar deviations. In the UCLP group, the palatal shelves were rotated cranially and positioned more vertically. In the BCLP group, the palatal shelves were inclined by almost 10 ° more than the control group. The width of the palatal shelf and width of the maxillary arch positively correlated in the canine and first premolar regions for both the cleft and non‐cleft side in patients with UCLP, and in the canine region for patients with BCLP. This means that the wider the palatal shelf, the wider the maxillary arch. The elevation of palatal shelves correlated with the maxillary arch width in all regions in patients with UCLP, and only in the premolar region in the control group. Thus, the wider the arch width, the smaller the elevation angle (the maxillary shelves are less vertical). No correlations between palatal shelf elevation and maxillary arch width were found in the BCLP group. This shows that the intrinsic growth potential in patients with UCLP and BCLP is affected by a smaller palatal shelf width and larger elevation of the shelves. These deviations may result in a wider cleft.
Midday dew – an overlooked factor enhancing photosynthetic activity of corticolous epiphytes in a wet tropical rain forest
Authors: Lakatos Michael , Obregón André , Büdel Burkhard , Bendix Jörg
Published: January 2012

See also the Commentary by Proctor
The effect of blood storage duration on in‐hospital mortality: a randomized controlled pilot feasibility trial
Authors: Heddle Nancy M. , Cook Richard J. , Arnold Donald M. , Crowther Mark A. , Warkentin Theodore E. , Webert Kathryn E. , Hirsh Jack , Barty Rebecca L. , Liu Yang , Lester Connie , Eikelboom John W.
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: Whether the duration of storage of blood has an impact on patient outcomes remains controversial. The objective was to determine feasibility of a comparative effectiveness trial to evaluate duration of storage of blood before transfusion on in‐hospital mortality.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A single‐center randomized controlled trial was performed at an acute care hospital in Canada between June and December 2010, involving consecutive hospitalized patients needing blood transfusion. Patients (n = 910) were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to receive freshest available versus standard‐issue (oldest available) blood. Four feasibility criteria were measured: proportion of eligible patients randomized, contrast in age of blood between treatment groups, real‐time data acquisition, and trial impact on blood outdating. In‐hospital mortality was also reported.

RESULTS: A total of 1075 of 1129 patients (95.2%) were eligible and 910 of 1075 (84.7%) were randomized: 309 received freshest available blood (1157 units), and 601 received standard‐age blood (2369 units). Contrast in mean age of the oldest blood transfused between groups was 14.6 days: 12.0 (standard deviation [SD], 6.8) days in the fresh arm and 26.6 (SD, 7.8) days in the standard arm. Weekly recruitment and event reporting were achieved for all patients. The blood outdate rate was 0.10%. In‐hospital mortality was 10.5%: 35 deaths (11.3%) in the fresh arm and 61 deaths (10.1%) in the standard arm (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73, 1.76).

CONCLUSION: It is feasible to conduct a large comparative effectiveness trial comparing the effect of freshest available versus standard‐issue blood on in‐hospital mortality. The wide CI around the estimate for in‐hospital mortality supports the need for a large trial.
Pentoxifylline inhibits hepatic stellate cells proliferation via the Raf/ERK pathway
Authors: Zhang Di , Jiang Huiqing , Wang Yan , Ma Junji
Published: January 2012

Pentoxifylline (PTX), which is a xanthine derivative, is a well‐known suppressor of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐alpha) production in inflammatory cells and has also been shown to inhibit collagen synthesis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of PTX on proliferation in HSCs as mediated by the Raf/MEK/extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. The rat hepatic stellate cell line T6 and activated primary rat HSCs were used in this study. The proliferation rate of the cells treated with 1 mM PTX significantly decreased compared with that of the control in T6 cells (78.3 ± 6.03% at 12 h, 61.0 ± 7.55% at 24 h, and 44.7 ± 2.08% at 48 h, p < 0.05). PTX (1 mM) also decreased the fraction of the HSC population in the S and G2/M‐phases of the cell cycle in primary activated rat HSCs. The Raf‐1 inhibitor GW5074 and the ERK inhibitor U0126 had inhibitory effects that were similar to those of PTX on HSC proliferation. In addition, PTX inhibited the phosphorylation of Raf‐1 (p‐Raf‐1) and ERK (p‐ERK) in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner in HSCs. These data provide evidence that PTX suppresses HSC proliferation via the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.