bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Slow degradation of compostable plastic carrier bags in a stream and its riparian area
Authors: Artru Maxime , Lecerf Antoine
Published: October 2019

There is no place on Earth where plastic debris could not be found. Impacts of plastics on aesthetics, biota and ecosystems are dependent on how long plastic items last, and what degradation products are released, in recipient environments. As bio-based plastics tend to replace petroleum-based plastics in everyday life, it is important to upgrade knowledge on the degradation of new polymers in natural environments. Single-use plastic carrier bags are nowadays made of bio-plastics certified as biodegradable and compostable. It is unclear, however, whether claims of biodegradability and compostability can be taken as evidence of rapid degradation of plastic bags outside recycling/composting facilities. This study sought to provide quantified information about the degradation of compostable plastic carrier bags in streams and riparian zones. We found that plastic samples enclosed in different types of mesh bags lost weight at extremely slow rates, albeit significant when submerged in a stream. 95% of initial plastic mass remained after 77 days spent in water whereas alder leaf litter allowed to decompose under the same condition had completely disappeared before the end of the study. Determination of respiration rate and invertebrate abundance in plastic samples showed a greater decomposer activity in the stream than in the riparian environment. However, biotically-mediated degradation by decomposers was probably overridden by dissolution processes in mediating plastic mass loss. Our findings suggest that mismanaged plastic carrier bags could impact recipient ecosystems even when they are claimed as biodegradable or compostable.
Pyrylium Salts: Selective Reagents for the Activation of Primary Amino Groups in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Pang Yue , Moser Daniel , Cornella Josep
Published: October 2019

Primary amino groups represent an ubiquitous category of functionalities in synthetic building blocks, drugs, and natural products. Therefore, such functionalities offer themselves as perfect handles for late-stage functionalization, and the development of robust and efficient strategies to transform these groups is highly desirable. Despite the extremely challenging activation of the C–N bond, the past few years have witnessed the rapid development of deaminative transformations using pyrylium salts as activating reagents. In most cases, the pyridinium salts formed were activated by single electron transfer, giving alkyl radicals which were used in a series of transformations via nickel and photoredox catalysis. This short review aims to give an overview to related properties of pyrylium salts, their historical significance, and summarize the recent progress in the field of deaminative transformations using these reagents.

1 Introduction

2 Pyrylium and Pyridinium Salts

2.1 Historical Context

2.2 Structure and Reactivity

2.3 Pyrylium Synthesis

2.4 Historical Context of the Reactivity of Pyridinium Salts

3 Recent Progress on Deaminative Transformations of Primary Amino Groups by Pyrylium Salts

3.1 Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings

3.2 Photoredox Catalysis and Photoinduced Reactions for C–C Bond Constructions

3.3 Borylations

3.4 SNAr Functionalization of Aminoheterocycles

4 Conclusion
Characterization of Antimonium crudum Activity Using Solvatochromic Dyes
Authors: Bonamin Leoni Villano , Pedro Renata Rossettini Palombro , Mota Hannah Maureen G. , Aguiar Michelle S. Correia , Pinto Sandra A. G. , de Souza Jefferson , de Oliveira Larissa Helen Silva , Aparicio Ana Carla , Peres Giovani B. , Suffredini Ivana , Dutra-Correa Maristela , Cartwright Steven J.
Published: October 2019

Background The mechanism by which highly diluted and agitated solutions have their effect is still unknown, but the development in recent years of new methods identifying changes in water and solute dipole moments is providing insights into potential modes of action.

Objective The objective of the current study was to compare the biological effects of Antimonium crudum (AC) previously obtained by our group and already described in the literature with now measurable physico-chemical effects on solvatochromic dyes.

Methods Different dilutions of AC and succussed water have been characterized with respect to their effect on the visible spectra of the solvatochromic dyes methylene violet (MV), a pyridinium phenolate (ET33), and a dimethylamino naphthalenone (BDN) compared with in-vitro action against Leishmania amazonensis-infected macrophages.

Results Dye responses varied according to the dye used and the level of AC dilution and results were found to corroborate previously published in-vivo and in-vitro effects of AC. In addition, a very significant enhancement in the absorbance increase of MV was seen using the supernatant from AC 200cH-treated cells (15%; p < 0.0001) over that seen with AC 200cH itself (4%; p = 0.034), suggesting the amplification of ultra-high dilution effects by biological systems. Furthermore, supernatants from AC-treated cells increased the range of dilutions of AC that were capable of producing effects on the spectra of MV. The effect of AC dilutions on dye ET33 was eliminated by a weak electric current passed through potency solutions.

Conclusion The data confirm a correspondence between the biological effects of dilutions of AC in-vitro and physico-chemical effects on solvatochromic dyes as measured by changes in their visible spectra. Results also indicate high dilutions of AC are sensitive to exposure to electric currents and biological systems.
Obesity Influences the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
Authors: Larsen Peter , Engberg Anne S. , Motahar Isa , Ostgaard Svend E. , Elsoe Rasmus
Published: October 2019

Purpose The primary aim of this study was to report the outcome of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 35.

Methods This is a prospective cohort study, including patients referred with the aim of planning bariatric surgery between October 2015 and January 2017. The primary outcome measurement was KOOS. An experienced radiologist obtained and evaluated standard radiological osteoarthritis examinations of the knee joints.

Results The mean age was 43.1 years, and ages ranged from 24 to 69 years. The mean BMI was 48.3, and BMI ranged from 35 to 66. Results show that obese patients reported significantly worse in the KOOS subscales pain, activities of daily living, sport, and quality of life (QOL) compared with a reference population, due to nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals. No significant differences between obese and superobese patients were observed on the KOOS subscales (p > 0.08). The KOOS subscales showed worse outcome with increasing severity of radiological knee osteoarthritis; however, only significant differences were observed for the KOOS subscales sport and QOL (p < 0.05).

Conclusion Results imply that the KOOS scores vary significantly with obesity. When utilizing KOOS outcome, considering obesity in the interpretation of outcome is highly recommended.

Level of Evidence This is an observational, level III study.
Detachment of Extensor Carpi Ulnaris and Anterior Branches of the Radial Collateral Ligament from the Epicondyle: A Modification of Kocher Lateral Approach for the Treatment of Radial Head Fractures
Authors: Touloupakis Georgios , Biancardi Elena , Ghirardelli Stefano , Antonini Guido , Crippa Cornelio
Published: October 2019

Purpose The aim of this study is to present clinical results of a retrospective case series that includes patients treated with an extensive modification of the Kocher lateral approach to the elbow with surgical detachment of the anterior branches of the radial collateral ligament.

Methods From January 2016 to January 2018, nine patients with closed isolated displaced or multifragmentary radial head fractures (Mason type II, III, or IV) who underwent osteosynthesis or arthroplasty through a modified Kocher lateral elbow approach were available for follow-up.

Results There were six female and three male patients. The median age at the time of surgery was 52 years old (range: 26–70). The dominant upper limb was injured in 22.2% of patients. After a median follow-up of 8 (range: 6–27) months, all patients regained completely all their daily activities and no cases of infections were recorded.

Conclusion We believe that the approach proposed can be a useful choice to deal with these challenging injuries. Our strategy may represent a valid alternative to more popular approaches as the use of anchors decreases the risk of instability that is the major danger considered in the past when soft tissues as tendons and ligaments are detached.

Level of Evidence This is a level IV study (therapeutic case series).
An Unusual Complication after Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Solarino Giuseppe , Maccagnano Giuseppe , Saracino Michele , Moretti Biagio
Published: October 2019

One-stage or two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in periprosthetic joint infections has been at the center of scientific debate for many years. As regards two-stage revision TKA, cement spacers have a good infection control rate with successful results reportable up to 96%, though some studies describe related spacer complications such as stiffness and loss of bone stock. We report a case of a fracture close to the antibiotic-loaded cement spacer in a 74-year-old female patient. Due to the blood tests and high risk of infection, we performed a hybrid external fixator. Six months after the surgery, X-rays did not show signs of fracture consolidation and nonunion was considered as an impending complication; therefore, the decision was made to perform tumor-like total knee arthroplasty. The postoperative evolution was satisfactory and return to daily activity without pain. At the 5-year follow-up, the patient showed a good score of 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and a range of motion from 0 to 90° without pain. The X-rays did not show signs of mobilization, dislocation, recurrence of infection, or other complications.
Anatomical and Radiological Study of Jugular Foramen
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Tripathi Alok , Raizaday Shobhit , Jain Shilpi , Khare Satyam , Kaushik Ram Kumar , Kausar Hina , Saxena Alok
Published: October 2019

Background and Aim The purpose of present study was to obtain comprehensive data of morphometric and anatomical details of jugular foramen.

Materials and Methods The study was performed on 30 dry adult human skulls along with computed tomography (CT) scans from 30 adult patients. The parameters observed were dimensions, shape, margins, confluence, septations, and distance from jugular foramen to mastoid base.

Result In the dry skull observations, only anteroposterior diameter (APD) was significantly different between the right and left side, while for the CT scan observations both transverse diameter and APD exhibit significant difference.

Conclusion We believe that data from the present study will help radiologists and neurosurgeons for diagnosis and treatment of skull base pathology around jugular foramen.
Weyl asymptotics for perturbed functional difference operators
Authors: Laptev Ari , Schimmer Lukas , Takhtajan Leon A.
Published: October 2019

We consider the difference operator HW = U + U−1 + W, where U is the self-adjoint Weyl operator U = e−bP, b > 0, and the potential W is of the form W(x) = x2N + r(x) with N∈N and |r(x)| ≤ C(1 + |x|2N−ɛ) for some 0 < ɛ ≤ 2N − 1. This class of potentials W includes polynomials of even degree with leading coefficient 1, which have recently been considered in Grassi and Mariño [SIGMA Symmetry Integrability Geom. Methods Appl. 15, 025 (2019)]. In this paper, we show that such operators have discrete spectrum and obtain Weyl-type asymptotics for the Riesz means and for the number of eigenvalues. This is an extension of the result previously obtained in Laptev et al. [Geom. Funct. Anal. 26, 288–305 (2016)] for W = V + ζV−1, where V = e2πbx, ζ > 0.
ARISE: A granular matter experiment on the International Space Station
Authors: Steinpilz Tobias , Musiolik Grzegorz , Kruss Maximilian , Jungmann Felix , Demirci Tunahan , Aderholz Manfred , Kollmer Jonathan E. , Teiser Jens , Bila Tetyana , Guay Evelyn , Wurm Gerhard
Published: October 2019

We developed an experiment to study different aspects of granular matter under microgravity. The 1.5U small experiment was carried out on the International Space Station. About 3500 almost identical spherical glass particles with 856 μm diameter were placed in a container of 50 × 50 mm cross section. Adjusting the height between 5 and 50 mm, the filling factor can be varied. The sample was vibrated under different frequencies and amplitudes. The majority of the data are video images of the particles’ motion. Here, we first give an overview of the general setup and a first qualitative account of different phenomena observed in about 700 experimental runs. These phenomena include collisional cooling, collective motion via gas-cluster coupling, and the influence of electrostatic forces on particle-particle interactions.
Gamma photons and electron-positron pairs from ultra-intense laser-matter interaction: A comparative study of proposed configurations
Authors: Gu Yan-Jun , Jirka Martin , Klimo Ondrej , Weber Stefan
Published: October 2019

High-energy γ-photon generation via nonlinear Compton scattering and electron–positron pair creation via the Breit–Wheeler process driven by laser–plasma interaction are modeled, and a number of mechanisms are proposed. Owing to the small cross section, these processes require both an ultra-intense laser field and a relativistic electron bunch. The extreme conditions for such scenarios can be achieved through recent developments in laser technology. Photon emission via nonlinear Thomson and Compton scattering has been observed experimentally. High-energy positron beams generated via a multiphoton process have recently been observed too. This paper reviews the principles of γ-ray emission and e+e− pair creation in the context of laser–plasma interaction. Several proposed experimental setups for γ-ray emission and e+e− pair creation by ultra-intense laser pulses are compared in terms of their efficiency and the quality of the γ-photon and positron beams produced for ultrashort (15 fs) and longer (150 fs) multi-petawatt laser beams.
Microscopic 3-dimensional mapping of hydrogen bubbles in polycrystalline Al by elastic recoil detection analysis under transmission geometry
Authors: Yamazaki A. , Sasa K. , Tomita S. , Ishii S. , Naramoto H. , Sataka M. , Kudo H. , Itoh G. , Ohkubo M.
Published: October 2019

We have measured microscopic 3-dimensional distribution of plasma-charged hydrogen in polycrystalline Al. The measurements have been carried out nondestructively by using elastic recoil detection analysis under transmission geometry of a collimated 8 MeV 4He2+ beam. The recoil cross section as large as 2 × 103 mb/sr due to the nuclear elastic collision allowed observation of the spatial distribution of hydrogen in the Al sample of 80 μm thickness. The distribution maps of hydrogen clearly visualize hydrogen bubbles of 10–20 μm diameter in the surface layer of about 12 μm thickness. The critical concentration of hydrogen minimally needed for growth of the hydrogen bubble of ten-μm size has been determined to be 1.6 × 1020 cm−3.
Directed kinetic transition network model
Authors: Zhou Hongyu , Wang Feng , Bennett Doran I. G. , Tao Peng
Published: October 2019

Molecular dynamics simulations contain detailed kinetic information related to the functional states of proteins and macromolecules, but this information is obscured by the high dimensionality of configurational space. Markov state models and transition network models are widely applied to extract kinetic descriptors from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. In this study, we developed the Directed Kinetic Transition Network (DKTN)—a graph representation of a master equation which is appropriate for describing nonequilibrium kinetics. DKTN models the transition rate matrix among different states under detailed balance. Adopting the mixing time from the Markov chain, we use the half mixing time as the criterion to identify critical state transition regarding the protein conformational change. The similarity between the master equation and the Kolmogorov equation suggests that the DKTN model can be reformulated into the continuous-time Markov chain model, which is a general case of the Markov chain without a specific lag time. We selected a photo-sensitive protein, vivid, as a model system to illustrate the usage of the DKTN model. Overall, the DKTN model provides a graph representation of the master equation based on chemical kinetics to model the protein conformational change without the underlying assumption of the Markovian property.
Probing ultrafast C–Br bond fission in the UV photochemistry of bromoform with core-to-valence transient absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Toulson Benjamin W. , Borgwardt Mario , Wang Han , Lackner Florian , Chatterley Adam S. , Pemmaraju C. D. , Neumark Daniel M. , Leone Stephen R. , Prendergast David , Gessner Oliver
Published: October 2019

UV pump–extreme UV (XUV) probe femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is used to study the 268 nm induced photodissociation dynamics of bromoform (CHBr3). Core-to-valence transitions at the Br(3d) absorption edge (∼70 eV) provide an atomic scale perspective of the reaction, sensitive to changes in the local valence electronic structure, with ultrafast time resolution. The XUV spectra track how the singly occupied molecular orbitals of transient electronic states develop throughout the C–Br bond fission, eventually forming radical Br and CHBr2 products. Complementary ab initio calculations of XUV spectral fingerprints are performed for transient atomic arrangements obtained from sampling excited-state molecular dynamics simulations. C–Br fission along an approximately CS symmetrical reaction pathway leads to a continuous change of electronic orbital characters and atomic arrangements. Two timescales dominate changes in the transient absorption spectra, reflecting the different characteristic motions of the light C and H atoms and the heavy Br atoms. Within the first 40 fs, distortion from C3v symmetry to form a quasiplanar CHBr2 by the displacement of the (light) CH moiety causes significant changes to the valence electronic structure. Displacement of the (heavy) Br atoms is delayed and requires up to ∼300 fs to form separate Br + CHBr2 products. We demonstrate that transitions between the valence-excited (initial) and valence + core-excited (final) state electronic configurations produced by XUV absorption are sensitive to the localization of valence orbitals during bond fission. The change in valence electron-core hole interaction provides a physical explanation for spectral shifts during the process of bond cleavage.
Development of a near-infrared tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer for trace moisture measurements in helium gas
Authors: Pal Sandip , Das Ananda , Nandy Sushanta , Kar Ranjan , Ghosh Jaharlal
Published: October 2019

There is a demand for water vapor or moisture measurement in gas mixture at trace level from industries like combustion studies, semiconductor industry, environmental studies, cryogenic services, etc. There are few principles, direct or indirect, to measure moisture—each having individual limitations. Among all, the chilled mirror hygrometer is very accurate but response time is poor; therefore, it is suitable for calibration purposes not for online measurement. An instrument based on near-infrared absorption spectroscopy has been developed and discussed in this article. In this instrument, the laser is modulated with both sinusoidal and slower linear scan, split into two beams: an intense one is passed only through air and the other one through air and the absorption cell of 50 cm length. The balanced detection technique is adopted between the two beams called the reference and the measurement channels, respectively, and the difference signal between the two undergoes the 2-f lock-in detection. This method is good for elimination of moisture present in air and any common-mode noise present in both the channels and as well determines the splitting ratio keeping the absorption cell in vacuum. This method also eliminates the 1-f component present in the signal, which causes asymmetry in the two wings of the 2-f absorption spectra. For computation of absorption spectra, it is found that the Hitran database is sufficient to predict for air as the base gas but Exomol should be used in the cases where helium is the base gas. Simulation and experiment both were performed at different concentration and pressures and the results are found in good agreement for the central spectrum with little difference in wings’ peak. The sensitivity of this instrument achieved at 100 mb pressure in the absorption cell for helium as the base gas with refresh rate of 625 Hz is ∼17 ppmv and ∼4 ppmv for direct and 2-f measurement, respectively. The applicability of the instrument for air as the base gas is also shown in the paper.
Obtaining consistent Lorentz gauging for a gravitationally coupled fermion
Authors: Fredsted John
Published: October 2019

For internal gauge forces, the result of locally gauging, i.e., of performing the substitution ∂ → D, is physically the same whether performed on the action or on the corresponding Euler-Lagrange equations of motion. Rather unsettling, though, such commutativity fails for the standard way of coupling a Dirac fermion to the gravitational field in the setting of a local Lorentz gauge theory of general relativity in the vierbein formalism, the equivalence principle thus seemingly being here violated. This paper will present a formalism in which commutativity holds for the gravitational force as well, the action for the gravitational field itself being still the Einstein-Hilbert one. Notably, in this formalism, the spinor field will carry a world/coordinate index, rather than a Lorentz spinor index as it does standardly. More generally, no Lorentz indices will figure, neither vector indices nor spinor indices, which from a parsimonious point of view seems quite satisfactory.
Effect of selenium and chlorine co-passivation in polycrystalline CdSeTe devices
Authors: Guo Jinglong , Mannodi-Kanakkithodi Arun , Sen Fatih G. , Schwenker Eric , Barnard E. S. , Munshi Amit , Sampath W. , Chan Maria K. Y. , Klie Robert F.
Published: October 2019

CdTe-based solar cell efficiency has rapidly improved over the last few years. Some of the reasons have been a change to the absorber composition including the incorporation of selenium, and better front contact and emitter materials in CdTe photovoltaic devices. In addition to the increase in short-circuit current by reducing the bandgap, Se plays other important roles in passivation of defects thus improving the conversion efficiency of CdSeTe/CdTe graded absorber photovoltaic devices. Here, we combine structural and optical characterizations with first principles calculations to investigate the role of Se and Cl segregation in CdSeTe devices. We find that in the presence of Se and Cl, the minority carrier lifetime improves due to a reduction of midgap defect states. We also correlate this effect with defect passivation in CdSeTe devices and suggest innovative ways to further improve CdTe-based photovoltaic efficiency.
Semiclassical analysis of the quantum instanton approximation
Authors: Vaillant Christophe L. , Thapa Manish J. , Vaníček Jiří , Richardson Jeremy O.
Published: October 2019

We explore the relation between the quantum and semiclassical instanton approximations for the reaction rate constant. From the quantum instanton expression, we analyze the contributions to the rate constant in terms of minimum-action paths and find that two such paths dominate the expression. For symmetric barriers, these two paths join together to describe the semiclassical instanton periodic orbit. However, for asymmetric barriers, one of the two paths takes an unphysically low energy and dominates the expression, leading to order-of-magnitude errors in the rate predictions. Nevertheless, semiclassical instanton theory remains accurate. We conclude that semiclassical instanton theory can be obtained directly from the semiclassical limit of the quantum instanton only for symmetric systems. We suggest a modification of the quantum instanton approach which avoids sampling the spurious path and thus has a stronger connection to semiclassical instanton theory, giving numerically accurate predictions even for very asymmetric systems in the low temperature limit.
Discourse and Political Culture
Authors: Kranert Michael
Published: October 2019

This book presents a new approach to comparative politico-linguistic discourse analysis. It takes a transdisciplinary stance and combines analytical tools from linguistic discourse analysis (keywords, metaphors, argumentation, genre) and political science (political culture, comparative politics, ideologies). It is comprehensive in its introduction of approaches from the German tradition of politico-linguistics. This tradition has not, thus far, been accessible to a non-German speaking readership and hence the volume adds insights into the mechanics of political discourse from a diverse set of viewpoints.
The book analyses the modernisation discourses in social democratic parties in Britain and Germany between 1994 and 2003, a project that was named ‘Third Way’. It demonstrates how political language and political culture are related and how politicians will adapt a global ideology to local political circumstances in order to convince the electorate. At the same time, the book presents new insights into the German political culture and the version of Third Way discourses in the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) under the leadership of Gerhard Schröder which have played a key role in shaping current political discourse in Germany. It concludes with a model for the study of political discourse which makes the work relevant to scholars in Social Sciences and beyond.
Portuguese as a heritage language in contact with German and
French
Authors: Flores Cristina , Santos Ana Lúcia , Almeida Letícia , Jesus Alice , Marques Rui
Published: October 2019

This study focuses on the acquisition of verbal
mood in complement clauses by two groups of heritage speakers of
European Portuguese (EP) (7–16 years old) with similar sociolinguistic
profiles and two different dominant languages, German and French.
The production of finite complement clauses was elicited through a
sentence completion task. By comparing two bilingual groups with
different dominant languages (a Romance language with a subjunctive
mood encoding the same semantic values as EP and a Germanic language
with no similar linguistic category), we discuss the relative weight
of cross-linguistic influence and of amount of exposure in bilingual
acquisition. The results show protracted development of both
bilingual groups concerning the subjunctive, with no negative effect
observed in the bilingual speakers who are dominant in German. We
conclude that cross-linguistic influence cannot explain this
performance and suggest that amount of input plays a role.
Prosody-driven scrambling in Italian
Authors: Samek-Lodovici Vieri
Published: October 2019

In Italian, the syntactic layout of the
constituent following a postverbal focus affects whether its
internal components may scramble above the preceding focus. The
governing factor is the phonological phrasing projected by the
constituent. Scrambling is only possible when it improves stress
alignment with the right boundary of the intonational phrase
wrapping the sentence. This study provides further evidence that the
classic T-model where syntax feeds prosody needs to be amended and
allow for prosody-syntax interaction. As this study shows, OT
provides a possible model for such interaction that entirely
dispenses with interface-related stipulations.
On Romanian preverbal subjects
Authors: Giurgea Ion
Published: October 2019

In the generative literature on Romanian, there
is disagreement on the status of preverbal subjects: some
researchers consider that they are always fronted by topicalization
or focalization, whereas others hold that preverbal subjects that
are neither topics nor foci can be found. Based on an analysis of
the conditions for topicalization, I argue that the latter view is
correct. On the other hand, there are configurations in which a
preverbal subject must be a topic (if it is not focus-fronted). I
offer a prosodic account for the ban on SV with non-topical S in
this type of examples. Moreover, I show that oblique experiencers in
non-canonical argument structures behave like nominative subjects
with respect to the availability of an unmarked preverbal
position.
A typology of evaluative nouns
Authors: Masià Melania S.
Published: October 2019

Evaluative nouns (ENs, idiota
‘idiot’, matasanos ‘quack’) do not only assign a
property, but also express a value judgment. A degree analysis
(Bolinger 1972; Matushansky 2002; Morzycki 2009) encounters
some problems, such as the controversial status of nominal
gradability and the relation between gradability and value judgment.
By focusing on Spanish data, this study shows that the defining
element for ENs is an expressive component of meaning and that these
nouns may vary on their gradability and the target of their
expressive meaning. Based on this, a typology of ENs is established.
In doing so, this paper contributes to the understanding of
evaluativity and the connection between gradability and subjectivity
in the nominal domain.
The object of explanation for linguistics
Authors: Reid Wallis
Published: October 2019

What is the ultimate object of explanation in linguistics? What are the pre-analytical observations, the
observations against which all theoretical constructs are tested? Columbia School (CS) proposes a radical answer:
the observations in linguistics, and hence its ultimate object of explanation, are the acoustic asymmetries of the
speech continuum. This fact is responsible for the paradoxical status of meaning and communication in CS theory.
CS theory takes the communicative function of language as key to the nature of linguistic structure, yet it does
not offer a theory of communication. It analyzes linguistic structure as consisting of inventories of
meaning-bearing signs; yet it does not offer a theory of meaning which maps utterances to interpretations. This
paper articulates the reasons that CS linguistics declines to treat the interpretations of utterances as
linguistic objects in need of explanation. It also provides a detailed description of how a CS grammatical
analysis accounts for features of the acoustic asymmetries of a spoken English text, and provides an explanation
for them.
La estabilización del tema discursivo
Authors: Darwich Berenice
Published: October 2019

El significado de en-foco propuesto para las formas que la tradición llama pronombres
personales en español nos permite entender su aparición en situaciones de correferencia. En este trabajo se
demuestra que, en dichos contextos, el pronombre aparece cuando asoma en el contexto un competidor focal, un
participante que podría erigirse en nuevo tema discursivo en situaciones en las que el hablante quiere mantener el
mismo tema. El significado de en-foco pone sobre aviso al receptor para que preste especial
atención a este tema discursivo que el hablante quiere sostener a pesar de la presencia del competidor. Son así
los contextos correferentes sin competidor los únicos en que predomina la omisión del pronombre.
Aproximación al significado de la forma española QUE dentro de la Escuela de Columbia
Authors: Ho-Fernández Eduardo
Published: October 2019

En este estudio, el análisis de la forma española que (incluyente de que
y qué) se libera de las bien conocidas categorías bajo de las cuales los distintos
ques han sido clasificados dentro de la gramática tradicional: relativo, conjunción,
interrogativo, exclamativo, comparativo y perifrástico. En cambio, se postula que todos estos usos representan una
misma señal QUE con el significado se requiere más información. Se evalúan los posibles paralelismos
entre esta hipótesis y otras propuestas previamente formuladas dentro y fuera de la Escuela de Columbia. Se dedica
atención especial al problema de la presencia de que dentro de las llamadas perífrasis verbales
de “obligación”: haber/tener + que + infinitivo.
El “juego” intraparadigmático
Authors: Martínez Angelita
Published: October 2019

El uso variable de los clíticos lo(la) y le manifiesta,
en el español rioplatense, alta frecuencia relativa del acusativo con verbos como preocupar y
angustiar. Este empleo variable se ha instalado, incluso, con verbos que denotan
situaciones de tres participantes, tales como robar. El hecho constituye una tendencia inversa a
lo que se ha señalado como un aumento generalizado en el español de la selección del dativo sobre el acusativo.
Los clíticos comparten con la terminación verbal un paradigma de base Caso que categoriza el grado de actividad
del actante en el evento. Sobre esta base intentaremos explicar el uso variable de las formas. Exponemos datos que
apoyan una hipótesis etnopragmática relacionada, en el caso de verbos como robar, con la
necesidad comunicativa de señalar representaciones actuales sobre el delito.
Being polite in Argentina
Authors: Mauder Elisabeth , Martínez Angelita
Published: October 2019

This paper focuses on the use of Spanish pronouns in polite-address contexts, where speakers tend to
prefer the (dative) form le over the (accusative) forms lo and
la. However, previous research has shown that this does not hold for all dialects (García & Otheguy, 1983) nor for all contexts (Mauder, 2008). Based on García’s (1975)
analysis of the pronoun forms in terms of ‘degrees of activity’ we present an explanation for the distribution of
the forms and we show that the verbs and constructions used in polite-address contexts differ notably from
canonical contexts. We propose an explanation for the dialectal variation based on whether speakers use the
pronoun for commenting on the referent’s degree of activity, independently of the chosen verb.
Rethinking the category of “basic color term”
Authors: Benczes Réka , Tóth-Czifra Erzsébet
Published: October 2019

One of the peculiarities of Hungarian is that two of its
“basic color terms” (BCTs), as defined by Berlin and Kay (1969), do not conform to
the established criteria used to identify such lexical items. By
analyzing etymological data and the lexicalization patterns of
[N/Adj + color term] constructions, the chapter challenges Berlin and Kay’s (1969)
original definition of “basic color term” by calling into question
the rigidity of this category. The chapter proposes instead a radial
category structure for “basic color term”, where certain color
terms are more typical (central) members than others. Such a
flexible approach is able to account for more problematic cases of
color terminology, as for example that exhibited by Hungarian.
Compound color terms in Italian
Authors: Grossmann Maria , D’Achille Paolo
Published: October 2019

The present paper is dedicated to compound color terms in
Italian. The aim is to give a descriptive overview of the
characteristics of the individual compounding patterns both from the
synchronic and the diachronic point of view. According to our
preliminary research (cf. Grossmann, 1988; D’Achille & Grossmann, 2013), in contemporary
Italian compounding is the most commonly used device for enlarging
the inventory of color terms. Data from corpora show that we are
dealing with constructions at the crossroads between word-formation
and syntax, i.e., between compounding proper and asyndetic
coordination. From a diachronic point of view, we have ascertained
that compound color terms appear with a certain frequency only from
the 18th century onwards; in earlier times they are attested only by
a few examples and in a limited number of patterns.
Lexicalization patterns in color naming in Korean
Authors: Rhee Seongha
Published: October 2019

Korean has a large inventory of color terms lexicalized
through diverse strategies. Sound symbolism is one of the most
determinative factors. Sound symbolism operative in color naming
includes vowel polarity, consonant tensing and aspiration,
prefixation of intensifiers, phonetic extension, and reduplicative
suffixation, through which diverse aspects of color perception,
e.g., intensity, luminosity, extent, solidity and pleasurability,
are encoded. Color naming patterns in Korean reveals an iconic
relationship between the perceived state of affairs in the world and
the linguistic forms in an intricate application of elaborate sound
symbolism, which suggests synesthesia with other related perceptual
domains such as auditory perception, distance perception, opacity
perception, and value judgment.
Lexicalization patterns in color naming in Gbaya, a Ubanguian
language of CAR
Authors: Roulon-Doko Paulette
Published: October 2019

In this chapter, I show that Gbaya, a Ubanguian language
of the Central African Republic, does not lexically distinguish
color from the visual aspect resulting from a variety of parameters.
I first analyze in detail the lexical terms and the grammatical
devices that Gbaya uses for color naming. Then, I discuss how Gbaya
speakers put these terms into actual use in a daily task. Gbaya
illustrates the main role played by grammar to organize the lexicon
according to properties expressed by adjectives, processes expressed
by verbs, and visual conspicuousness express by nouns. Beyond
language idiosyncrasies, the case of Gbaya illustrates, once more
(Wierzbicka, 2008), a
possible universal tendency among hunter-gatherers in the partition
of the visual aspect.
Lexicalization patterns in color naming
Authors: Drocco Andrea , Risato Orsola
Published: October 2019

The aim of this chapter is to draw attention to the
various lexicalization patterns which are used in Modern Hindī to
define colors, starting from basic color terms and including the
lexicalization strategies which are employed to describe different
shades. The following analysis, grounded in a corpus-based research,
as well as in the most authoritative grammars and dictionaries, will
outline both the “metonymy”-type of Hindī color lexicalization
patterns and the “approximation”-type mechanisms. We will show that
in the first case, Hindī color terms are usually created by means of
the suffix ‑ī [Nentity + suffix], while
the “approximation” is conveyed by (1) the suffix
-sā, and (2) the reduplication of the color
term, meant as the juxtaposition of the same repeated color
adjective.
Universals and variability of color naming in Icelandic,
Icelandic Sign Language, and North American Icelandic
Authors: Beck Þórhalla Guðmundsdóttir , Whelpton Matthew
Published: October 2019

Color naming remains a lively area of debate pitting
supporters of universal neuro-psychological constraints against
cultural relativists. The Evolution of Semantic Systems project
offered an extensional semantic approach, using statistical methods
to measure relative variability. This chapter uses a similar
methodology to compare color naming in Icelandic with a
typologically unrelated sign language (Icelandic Sign Language) in
the same community, and with a heritage language developing in an
English-speaking environment (North American Icelandic). Data from
North American English and British English are provided for context.
The statistical analysis shows very little variation in naming
patterns. However, a more detailed analysis of formal mechanisms of
color naming (compounding, object-naming, opaque lexemes) shows rich
variation obscured by a methodological emphasis on transparent
semantic heads and basic color terms.
Symbolic and cultural meaning of colors in phraseology
Authors: Barčot Branka , Hrnjak Anita
Published: October 2019

In the present study, we assume that color terms, as
components of phraseological units, contribute to the meaning of the
whole figurative unit in two ways: (1) through their denotative
lexical meaning; (2) through their symbolic and/or cultural
potential. We examine the phraseological subsystem of Russian and
German, and then perform a comparative phraseological analysis. The
main aim of this research is to systematically depict the main
features of Russian and German color phraseology, to determine how
much of the basic lexical meaning color components bring into the
formation of the phraseological meaning, and to which extent the
symbolism of colors has influenced the formation of that
meaning.
From object to color and back
Authors: Katunar Daniela , Kerovec Barbara , Murad Nawar Ghanim
Published: October 2019

This chapter deals with lexicalization patterns of color
terms and lexical units derived from color terms in Croatian,
Turkish, and Arabic, three typologically and socioculturally
different languages. The focus of the analysis is the relationship
between object and color in: (a) the way the languages exploit the
object for color conceptualization strategy in order to name colors
and (b) the way languages use the color for object conceptualization
strategy in order to lexicalize different phenomena of experience.
In addition, one of the main aims of the analysis is to see which
lexicalization patterns in the three languages are used productively
in both types of conceptualization strategies.
A more perfect unification
Authors: Phan Trang , Duffield Nigel
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we provide a new analysis of the Negative Constraint in Vietnamese, whereby the anterior morpheme đã loses its perfect reading in negative contexts. The Nanosyntax approach adopted here is claimed to derive this constraint without the stipulations inherent in existing formal accounts (e.g., Trinh 2005; Duffield 2017; Phan & Duffield 2016, 2019).
Illusory islands
Authors: Duffield Nigel
Published: October 2019

This paper offers an extended critique of an article by Bruening & Tran (2006) concerning wh-questions in Vietnamese. Drawing on both language-internal and cross-linguistic evidence, attention is brought to bear on several empirical shortcomings in Bruening & Tran’s analysis, as a result of which the constituency of wh-question constructions in this language is misrepresented. An alternative treatment is proposed which attempts to remedy these difficulties, and, in so doing, may also explain some additional distributional and interpretive anomalies.
Gender in Vietnamese
Authors: Hoang Dung , Phan Tran
Published: October 2019

This study aims to identify strategies for the representation and encoding of gender in Vietnamese, as well as to show the various manifestations of a mainstream gender bias against women that are observed in this language. We achieve our goal mainly by categorizing the human-denoting lexicon into subgroups of different gender-marking properties, and by making relevant comparisons to look for both qualitative and quantitative contrasts in the ways in which men and women are linguistically represented. While arguing that this imbalance stems from a conventionalized hierarchy that prefers men over women, we also point to a reduction in such bias in the contemporary language, and advance an alternative view of the derogatory drift of neutral words and phrases in collocation with female-marked terms.
Effects of grammatical roles and parallelism on referential form production in Vietnamese spoken and written narratives
Authors: Ngo Binh , Kaiser Elsi , Simpson Andrew
Published: October 2019

This study investigates the use of null and overt pronouns and noun phrases in Vietnamese spoken and written narratives, with a focus on referents’ grammatical roles and grammatical parallelism. Looking at Vietnamese allows us to address questions left open in prior work regarding the effects of pronominal form (null, overt) on reference resolution in different grammatical positions. Furthermore, looking at the use of Vietnamese pronouns adds typological breadth to the literature on reference resolution: Vietnamese overt pronouns differ typologically from pronouns in English-type languages as they also function as kin terms. Results from data we collected involving spoken and written narratives show that referential form choice is influenced not only by the grammatical role of the antecedent but also the grammatical role of the pronominal element. When the subject of the current clause refers to the subject of the preceding clause (subject parallelism), we find a high rate of (null and overt) pronouns. Lack of parallelism triggers mostly NPs. When the object of the current clause refers to the object of the preceding clause (object parallelism), more pronouns were produced than in non-parallel cases. Crucially, we find no clear differences in the distribution of null vs. overt pronouns, suggesting that grammatical roles and parallelism have the same effects on both pronoun types. Our results also show no effects of written vs. spoken modality, which indicates that modality does not play a role in the interaction between grammatical factors and referential form choice.
Mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with colorectal cancer cells showed increased invasive and proliferative abilities due to its altered p53/TGF-β1 levels
Authors: Oh In-Rok , Raymundo Bernardo , Kim MiJung , Kim Chan-Wha
Published: October 2019

Signaling between cancer cells, their neighboring cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) forms the tumor microenvironment. The complex heterogeneity of this microenvironment varies depending on the tumor type and its origins. However, most of the existing cancer-based studies have focused on cancer cells. In this study, we used a direct co-culture system (cross-talk signaling) to induce cross-interaction between cancer cells and mesenchymal stem cells. This induced deformation of MSCs. MSCs showed a diminished ability to maintain homeostasis. In particular, increase in the invasion ability of MSCs by TGF-β1 and decrease in p53, which plays a key role in cancer development, is an important discovery. It can thus be deduced that blocking these changes can effectively inhibit metastatic colorectal cancer. In conclusion, understanding the interactions and changes in MSCs associated with cancer will help develop novel therapeutic strategies for cancer.
Insulin activates intracellular transport of lipid droplets to release triglycerides from the liver
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Ojha Srikant , Rai Priyanka , Joshi Alaumy , Kamat Siddhesh S. , Mallik Roop
Published: October 2019

Triglyceride-rich lipid droplets (LDs) are catabolized with high efficiency in hepatocytes to supply fatty acids for producing lipoprotein particles. Fasting causes a massive influx of adipose-derived fatty acids into the liver. The liver in the fasted state is therefore bloated with LDs but, remarkably, still continues to secrete triglycerides at a constant rate. Here we show that insulin signaling elevates phosphatidic acid (PA) dramatically on LDs in the fed state. PA then signals to recruit kinesin-1 motors, which transport LDs to the peripherally located smooth ER inside hepatocytes, where LDs are catabolized to produce lipoproteins. This pathway is down-regulated homeostatically when fasting causes insulin levels to drop, thus preventing dangerous elevation of triglycerides in the blood. Further, we show that a specific peptide against kinesin-1 blocks triglyceride secretion without any apparent deleterious effects on cells. Our work therefore reveals fundamental mechanisms that maintain lipid homeostasis across metabolic states and leverages this knowledge to propose a molecular target against hyperlipidemia.