bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palladium mediated regioselective intramolecular Heck reaction: synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines, 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinolines and 3H-pyrazolo[4,3-f][1,7]naphthyridines
Authors: Prakash Rashmi , Shekarrao Kommuri , Saikia Pallabi , Gogoi Sanjib , Boruah Romesh C.
Published: February 2015

A new approach for the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines, 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinolines and 3H-pyrazolo[4,3-f][1,7]naphthyridines via an intramolecular Heck reaction is described.
Turning it off! Disfavouring hydrogen evolution to enhance selectivity for CO production during homogeneous CO2 reduction by cobalt–terpyridine complexes
Authors: Elgrishi Noémie , Chambers Matthew B. , Fontecave Marc
Published: February 2015

Understanding the activity and selectivity of molecular catalysts for CO2 reduction to fuels is an important scientific endeavour in addressing the growing global energy demand.
Tuning fluorocarbon adsorption in new isoreticular porous coordination frameworks for heat transformation applications
Authors: Lin Rui-Biao , Li Tai-Yang , Zhou Hao-Long , He Chun-Ting , Zhang Jie-Peng , Chen Xiao-Ming
Published: February 2015

We report adsorption behaviors of a typical fluorocarbon R22 (CHClF2) in a new series of isoreticular porous coordination frameworks [Zn4O(bpz)2(ldc)].
Carbon dots supported upon N-doped TiO2 nanorods applied into sodium and lithium ion batteries
Authors: Yang Yingchang , Ji Xiaobo , Jing Mingjun , Hou Hongshuai , Zhu Yirong , Fang Laibing , Yang Xuming , Chen Qiyuan , Banks Craig E.
Published: February 2015

N-doped TiO2 decorated with C-dots shows superior rate capability and extended battery life when utilized in Li-ion and Na-ion batteries.
Developments of furan and benzodifuran semiconductors for organic photovoltaics
Authors: Huang Peishen , Du Jia , Biewer Michael C. , Stefan Mihaela C.
Published: February 2015

This review describes the developments of organic photovoltaic materials containing furan or benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]difuran (BDF) building blocks.
Size-tunable LDH–protein hybrids toward the optimization of drug nanocarriers
Authors: Rojas R. , Giacomelli C. E.
Published: February 2015

Stabilization of LDH nanoparticles containing chloride and dodecylsulfate with BSA points to optimization of drug nanocarriers based on these solids.
Adamantyl-based benzocyclobutene low-k polymers with good physical properties and excellent planarity
Authors: Kong Lingqiang , Cheng Yuanrong , Jin Yunxia , Ren Zhidong , Li Yan , Xiao Fei
Published: February 2015

Adamantane was introduced into benzocyclobutene (BCB) siloxane to obtain two novel low-kpolymers with excellent properties.
Two-dimensional square-pyramidal VO2 with tunable electronic properties
Authors: Tang Zhen-Kun , Li Xi-Bo , Zhang Deng-Yu , Zhang Yan-Ning , Liu Li-Min
Published: February 2015

In order to design the high-performance spintronics, it is rather critical to develop new materials, which can easily regulate the magnetism of nanostructures.
Asymmetric hydrogenation of quinazolinium salts catalysed by halide-bridged dinuclear iridium complexes bearing chiral diphosphine ligands
Authors: Kita Yusuke , Higashida Kosuke , Yamaji Kenta , Iimuro Atsuhiro , Mashima Kazushi
Published: February 2015

Asymmetric hydrogenation of 4-substituted quinazolinium salts catalyzed by dinuclear Ir complexes is described.
A novel rhodium-catalyzed domino-hydroformylation-reaction for the synthesis of sulphonamides
Authors: Dong Kaiwu , Fang Xianjie , Jackstell Ralf , Beller Matthias
Published: February 2015

An efficient and highly selective domino hydroformylation-reductive sulphonamidation reaction has been developed for the synthesis of sulphonamides using a rhodium/phosphine catalyst.
An outstanding catalyst for the oxygen-mediated oxidation of arylcarbinols, arylmethylene and arylacetylene compounds
Authors: Urgoitia G. , SanMartin R. , Herrero M. T. , Domínguez E.
Published: February 2015

A more sustainable procedure for several aerobic oxidations, including a new oxygen-mediated cleavage of alkynes, is described.
Tuning the electronic and phosphorescence properties of blue-emitting iridium(iii) complexes through different cyclometalated ligand substituents: a theoretical investigation
Authors: Li Jieqiong , Zhang Qing , He Hongqing , Wang Li , Zhang Jinglai
Published: February 2015

A DFT/TDDFT investigation was performed to estimate the OLED performance of six reported and seven newly designed iridium(iii) complexes.
A series of lanthanoid selenidoantimonates(v): rare examples of lanthanoid selenidoantimonates based on dinuclear lanthanide complexes
Authors: Xiao Hong-Ping , Zhou Jian , Zhao Rong-Qing , Zhang Wei-bing , Huang Yong
Published: February 2015

This work provides rare examples of lanthanoid selenidoantimonates based on dinuclear lanthanide complexes.
The lateral diffusion and fibrinogen induced clustering of platelet integrin αIIbβ3reconstituted into physiologically mimetic GUVs
Authors: Gaul Vinnie , Lopez Sergio G. , Lentz Barry R. , Moran Niamh , Forster Robert J. , Keyes Tia E.
Published: February 2015

A novel method for reconstitution of Integrin αIIbβ3into GUVs with unrestricted lipid composition is described and the lateral diffusion and phase partitioning of the integrin on activation and ligand binding in biomimetic GUVs compositions is studied in GUVs with biomimetic formulations.
Synchrotron radiation and neutrons in art and archaeology 2014
Authors: Bertrand Loïc , Dillmann Philippe , Reiche Ina
Published: February 2015

Loïc Bertrand, Philippe Dillmann and Ina Reiche introduce the Synchrotron radiation and neutrons in art and archaeology 2014 themed issue, and give an overview of the conference held in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
γ-(S)-Trifluoromethyl proline: evaluation as a structural substitute of proline for solid state 19F-NMR peptide studies
Authors: Kubyshkin Vladimir , Afonin Sergii , Kara Sezgin , Budisa Nediljko , Mykhailiuk Pavel K. , Ulrich Anne S.
Published: February 2015

γ-(S)-Trifluoromethyl proline has been evaluated as a structural label for solid state 19F-NMR studies of polypeptides.
Reactivities of vinyl azides and their recent applications in nitrogen heterocycle synthesis
Authors: Hu Bao , DiMagno Stephen G.
Published: February 2015

This review categorizes the active intermediates generated from denitrogenation of vinyl azides under different reaction conditions, and highlights newly discovered transformations of vinyl azides that lead to convenient syntheses of N-heterocycles.
Anti-biofilm properties of magnesium metal via alkaline pH
Authors: Qin Hui , Zhao Yaochao , Cheng Mengqi , Wang Qi , Wang Qiaojie , Wang Jiaxing , Jiang Yao , An Zhiquan , Zhang Xianlong
Published: February 2015

Mg prevents bacteria biofilm formationviahigh alkalinity at its surface rather than by high Mg ion concentration.
Novel hybrid Sr-doped TiO2/magnetic Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 for enhanced separation and photodegradation of organics under visible light
Authors: Liu Fuming , Xie Yu , Yu Changlin , Liu Xiaoming , Dai Yuhua , Liu Lianjun , Ling Yun
Published: February 2015

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been intensively used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, but is typically obstacle by a low efficiency, costly separation, limited visible light response, and poor recyclability.
A practical and novel “standard addition” strategy to screen pharmacodynamic components in traditional Chinese medicine using Heishunpian as an example
Authors: Li Yubo , Wang Yuan , Yang Bin , Wang Yuming , Hou Zhiguo , Li Aizhu , Xu Yanyan , Ju Liang , Wu Huanyu , Zhang Yanjun
Published: February 2015

The standard addition strategy allows accurate pharmacodynamic compounds screening and embodies the systematic nature of TCM.
Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of primary benzamides from aryl bromides via a cyanation and hydration sequence
Authors: Sharif Muhammad , Wu Xiao-Feng
Published: February 2015

An interesting and effective procedure for the synthesis of primary benzamides from aryl bromides via cyanation and in situ hydration sequence has been developed.
Gap separation-controlled nanogap electrodes by molecular ruler electroless gold plating
Authors: Serdio V Victor M. , Muraki Taro , Takeshita Shuhei , Hurtado S Daniel E. , Kano Shinya , Teranishi Toshiharu , Majima Yutaka
Published: February 2015

Molecular ruler electroless plated (MoREP) nanogap electrodes: gap separation can be controlled between 2.5 and 3.3 nm by surfactant CnTAB.
Persistent luminescent and photocatalytic properties of ZnxGa2O3+x (0.8 ≤ x ≤ 1) phosphors
Authors: Li Darong , Wang Yinhai , Xu Ke , Zhao Hui , Hu Zhengfa
Published: February 2015

The ZnxGa2O3+x (x = 1, 0.95, 0.9, 0.85, 0.8) phosphors were synthesised successfully via high temperature solid-state reaction.
One-step strategy to a three-dimensional NiS-reduced graphene oxide hybrid nanostructure for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Cai Feng , Sun Rui , Kang Yiran , Chen Hongyuan , Chen Minghai , Li Qingwen
Published: February 2015

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of a NiS/rGO nanocomposite with NiS nanoparticles uniformly distributed on the three-dimensional porous conductive rGO nanoscaffold as high performance electrode materials for supercapacitors.
A dual-response BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for the discrimination of glutathione from cystein and homocystein
Authors: Wang Feiyi , Zhou Li , Zhao Chunchang , Wang Rui , Fei Qiang , Luo Sihang , Guo Zhiqian , Tian He , Zhu Wei-Hong
Published: February 2015

By employing a dual response approach, distinguishable fluorescence signals are initiated by GSH-mediated and Cys/Hcy-induced cascade reactions, thus allowing selective detection.
A catalytic chiral gel microfluidic reactor assembled via dynamic covalent chemistry
Authors: Liu Haoliang , Feng Juan , Zhang Jianyong , Miller Philip W. , Chen Liuping , Su Cheng-Yong
Published: February 2015

A novel dynamic covalent gel strategy is reported to immobilize an asymmetric catalyst within the channels of a microfluidic flow reactor.
Investigations into the origin of pseudocapacitive behavior of Mn3O4 electrodes using in operando Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Yang Lufeng , Cheng Shuang , Ji Xu , Jiang Yu , Zhou Jun , Liu Meilin
Published: February 2015

In operando Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor the origin of the pseudocapacitive behavior of Mn3O4 electrodes during charging/discharging processes.
Titania as a driving agent for DHICA polymerization: a novel strategy for the design of bioinspired antimicrobial nanomaterials
Authors: Vitiello Giuseppe , Pezzella Alessandro , Zanfardino Anna , Varcamonti Mario , Silvestri Brigida , Costantini Aniello , Branda Francesco , Luciani Giuseppina
Published: February 2015

Organic materials are widely employed to tune surface chemistry and/or as structuring agents of inorganic materials.
Efficient OLEDs with low efficiency roll-off using iridium complexes possessing good electron mobility
Authors: Xu Qiu-Lei , Liang Xiao , Zhang Song , Jing Yi-Ming , Liu Xuan , Lu Guang-Zhao , Zheng You-Xuan , Zuo Jing-Lin
Published: February 2015

Two iridium(iii) complexes with high photoluminescence quantum efficiency and electron mobility were synthesized and highly efficient OLEDs (ηc,max of 101.96 cd A−1 and ηEQE,max of 31.6% for Ir1; ηc,max of 99.97 cd A−1 and ηEQE,max of 30.5% for Ir2) were fabricated with low efficiency roll-off ratios.
Quantum‐dot‐based integrated non‐linear sources
Authors: Bernard Alice , Mariani Silvia , Andronico Alessio , Gerard Jean‐Michel , Kamp Martin , Jepsen Peter‐Uhd , Leo Giuseppe
Published: February 2015

The authors report on the design and the preliminary characterisation of two active non‐linear sources in the terahertz and near‐infrared range. The former is associated to difference‐frequency generation between whispering gallery modes of an AlGaAs microring resonator, whereas the latter is granted by parametric generation in a waveguide via modal phase matching. Both devices rely on embedded quantum‐dot lasers, which allow for low‐threshold currents and unconventional geometries. They also include specific degrees of freedom that open a practical route towards phase matching, either during the lithographic process or during operation.
Improved phase gradient autofocus algorithm based on segments of variable lengths and minimum‐entropy phase correction
Authors: Azouz Ahmed Abd Elhalek , Li Zhenfang
Published: February 2015

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an essential tool for modern remote sensing applications. Owing to its size and weight constraints, UAV is very sensitive to atmospheric turbulence that causes serious trajectory deviations. In this study, an improved phase gradient autofocus (PGA) motion compensation approach is proposed for UAV‐SAR imagery. The approach is implemented in two steps. The first step determines the length of each segment depending on number of good quality scatterers and motion errors obtained from navigation data. In the second step, a novel minimum‐entropy phase correction based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients is proposed. In this approach, transform phase error estimated by PGA to DCT‐coefficients that represent the phase error in the frequency or time–frequency domain. The entropy of a focused image is utilised as the optimisation function of the DCT‐coefﬁcients to improve the final image quality. Finally, real‐data experiments show that the proposed approach is appropriate for highly precise imaging of UAV‐SAR equipped with only low‐accuracy inertial navigation systems.
Joint inference of dominant scatterer locations and motion parameters of an extended target in high range‐resolution radar
Authors: De Freitas Allan , de Villiers Johan Pieter , Nel Willie A.J.
Published: February 2015

A target of interest measured by a high range resolution radar may be modelled by multiple dominant points of reflections referred to as dominant scatterers. In this study a non‐linear state space setting is used to model the states and measurements of a target moving in two dimensions. A resample‐move particle filter (PF) with simulated annealing is successfully used to jointly infer the locations of the dominant scatterers and the motion parameters of the target. The location estimates of scatterers using the PF method are compared with those obtained using standard range‐Doppler inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging when using the same radar returns for both cases. The PF infers the location of scatterers more accurately than ISAR processing, and the processing can be performed online as opposed to ISAR processing, which requires batching. It is relatively straightforward to extend the method to perform localisation and tracking of scatterers in three dimensions, whereas such an extension is challenging in ISAR processing. However, several challenges need be addressed to make this algorithm suitable for practical implementation and these challenges are discussed. This method may be used to obtain very accurate estimates of target state, which may in turn be used for accurate ISAR motion compensation.
Para-hydrogen and helium cluster size distributions in free jet expansions based on Smoluchowski theory with kernel scaling
Authors: Kornilov Oleg , Toennies J. Peter
Published: February 2015

The size distribution of para-H2 (pH2) clusters produced in free jet expansions at a source temperature of T0 = 29.5 K and pressures of P0 = 0.9–1.96 bars is reported and analyzed according to a cluster growth model based on the Smoluchowski theory with kernel scaling. Good overall agreement is found between the measured and predicted, Nk = A ka e−bk, shape of the distribution. The fit yields values for A and b for values of a derived from simple collision models. The small remaining deviations between measured abundances and theory imply a (pH2)k magic number cluster of k = 13 as has been observed previously by Raman spectroscopy. The predicted linear dependence of b−(a+1) on source gas pressure was verified and used to determine the value of the basic effective agglomeration reaction rate constant. A comparison of the corresponding effective growth cross sections σ11 with results from a similar analysis of He cluster size distributions indicates that the latter are much larger by a factor 6-10. An analysis of the three body recombination rates, the geometric sizes and the fact that the He clusters are liquid independent of their size can explain the larger cross sections found for He.
Optimization of dissolved air flotation technique in harvesting microalgae from treated wastewater without flocculants addition
Authors: Niaghi Mohsen , Mahdavi Mahmood A. , Gheshlaghi Reza
Published: February 2015

Harvesting is a crucial step in biofuel production from microalgae. The expense of harvesting operation is estimated to be 20%–30% of the total biofuels production cost. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a well known technology for separating solid particles from liquid streams such as wastewater. This technology has been introduced for microalgae harvesting in the past few years. However, the high operating cost has been a hurdle to commercialization of this technology for microalgae dewatering. High power consumption for air compression and high cost of chemical coagulants are two main cost items. In this study, the DAF process was optimized without the use of chemical coagulants. It was found that saturator could be running at the low pressure of 3 atm to reduce the power consumption to 0.0025 kW h/m3 that was a reasonable value compared to similar DAF units that used chemical coagulants. Statistical analysis revealed that concentration of algal solution was the most significant factor to gain maximum removal efficiency. In this study, high concentration of algal solution along with low flow rates of air-saturated water contributed to the unprecedented removal efficiency of 91% without flocculation.
Observation of giant exchange bias in bulk Mn50Ni42Sn8 Heusler alloy
Authors: Sharma Jyoti , Suresh K. G.
Published: February 2015

We report a giant exchange bias (EB) field of 3520 Oe in bulk Mn50Ni42Sn8 Heusler alloy. The low temperature magnetic state of the martensite phase has been studied by DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements. Frequency dependence of spin freezing temperature (Tf) on critical slowing down relation and observation of memory effect in zero field cooling mode confirms the super spin glass (SSG) phase at low temperatures. Large EB is attributed to the strong exchange coupling between the SSG clusters formed by small regions of ferromagnetic order embedded in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) matrix. The temperature and cooling field dependence of EB have been studied and related to the change in unidirectional anisotropy at SSG/AFM interface. The training effect also corroborates with the presence of frozen (SSG) moments at the interface and their role in EB.
Skeleton-supported stochastic networks of organic memristive devices: Adaptations and learning
Authors: Erokhina Svetlana , Sorokin Vladimir , Erokhin Victor
Published: February 2015

Stochastic networks of memristive devices were fabricated using a sponge as a skeleton material. Cyclic voltage-current characteristics, measured on the network, revealed properties, similar to the organic memristive device with deterministic architecture. Application of the external training resulted in the adaptation of the network electrical properties. The system revealed an improved stability with respect to the networks, composed from polymer fibers.
Legume grain-based supplements in dairy sheep diet: effects on milk yield, composition and fatty acid profile
Authors: Bonanno Adriana , Grigoli Antonino Di , Vitale Francesca , Alabiso Marco , Giosuè Cristina , Mazza Francesca , Todaro Massimo
Published: February 2015

With the aim to find protein sources that are free of genetically modified organisms, the effects of legume grain-based concentrates, used as alternatives of a mixed concentrate feed containing soybean, were evaluated on sheep milk production. Twelve lactating ewes were divided into four groups, fed hay and, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, supplied with 800 g/day of a commercial mixed concentrate feed (MCF) containing maize and soybean, or the same amount of isoprotein concentrates consisting of chickpea (CH), faba bean (FB), or pea (PE) mixed with barley. The ewes ingested more of the concentrates with legume grains than the MCF (702, 702, 678 vs 587 g/day DM for CH, FB, PE and MCF; P ≤ 0.001). Compared with CH, FB and PE resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) milk yield (710, 718 vs 654 g/day for FB, PE and CH, respectively), and led to a greater (P ≤ 0.05) efficiency of dietary protein utilisation for milk casein synthesis (94, 97 vs 87 g casein/kg crude protein intake for FB, PE and CH, respectively), whereas MCF resulted in intermediate levels of milk yield (677 g/day) and milk casein/crude protein intake (88 g/kg). Chickpea increased the milk content of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in comparison with FB and PE and, similarly to MCF, increased the milk content of linoleic acid, as well as total unsaturated fatty acids (24.3, 23.9 vs 17.2, 16.8 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters for MCF, CH, FB and PE; P ≤ 0.001), thereby improving the potential health-promoting index. Legume grains can replace soybean in diets of dairy ewes, as they do not adversely affect milk yield and composition.
Nutrition and maternal metabolic health in relation to oocyte and embryo quality: critical views on what we learned from the dairy cow model
Authors: Leroy Jo L. M. R. , Valckx Sara D. M. , Jordaens Lies , De Bie Jessie , Desmet Karolien L. J. , Van Hoeck Veerle , Britt Jack H. , Marei Waleed F. , Bols Peter E. J.
Published: February 2015

Although fragmented and sometimes inconsistent, the proof of a vital link between the importance of the physiological status of the mother and her subsequent reproductive success is building up. High-yielding dairy cows are suffering from a substantial decline in fertility outcome over past decades. For many years, this decrease in reproductive output has correctly been considered multifactorial, with factors including farm management, feed ratios, breed and genetics and, last, but not least, ever-rising milk production. Because the problem is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach, it is hard to formulate straightforward conclusions leading to improvements on the ‘work floor’. However, based on remarkable similarities on the preimplantation reproductive side between cattle and humans, there is a growing tendency to consider the dairy cow’s negative energy balance and accompanying fat mobilisation as an interesting model to study the impact of maternal metabolic disorders on human fertility and, more specifically, on oocyte and preimplantation embryo quality. Considering the mutual interest of human and animal scientists studying common reproductive problems, this review has several aims. First, we briefly introduce the ‘dairy cow case’ by describing the state of the art of research into metabolic imbalances and their possible effects on dairy cow reproduction. Second, we try to define relevant in vitro models that can clarify certain mechanisms by which aberrant metabolite levels may influence embryonic health. We report on recent advances in the assessment of embryo metabolism and meantime critically elaborate on advantages and major limitations of in vitro models used so far. Finally, we discuss hurdles to be overcome to successfully translate the scientific data to the field.
iASPP, a previously unidentified regulator of desmosomes, prevents arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)-induced sudden death
Authors: Notari Mario , Hu Ying , Sutendra Gopinath , Dedeić Zinaida , Lu Min , Dupays Laurent , Yavari Arash , Carr Carolyn A. , Zhong Shan , Opel Aaisha , Tinker Andrew , Clarke Kieran , Watkins Hugh , Ferguson David J. P. , Kelsell David P. , de Noronha Sofia , Sheppard Mary N. , Hollinshead Mike , Mohun Timothy J. , Lu Xin
Published: February 2015

Significance

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a disease that is selective to the right side of the heart and results in heart failure and sudden death. Genetic defects in desmosome components account for approximately 50% of human ARVC cases; in the other 50% of patients, however, the causes remain unknown. We show that inhibitor of apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53 (iASPP) is an important regulator of desmosomes. It interacts with desmoplakin and desmin in cardiomyocytes and regulates desmosome integrity and intermediate filaments. iASPP-deficient mice display pathological features of ARVC and die of sudden death. In human ARVC patients, cardiomyocytes exhibit reduced levels of iASPP at the cell junctions, suggesting that iASPP may be critical in ARVC pathogenesis.
Transcription factor interaction with COMPASS-like complex regulates histone H3K4 trimethylation for specific gene expression in plants
Authors: Song Ze-Ting , Sun Le , Lu Sun-Jie , Tian Yongke , Ding Yong , Liu Jian-Xiang
Published: February 2015

Significance

In metazoans, pausing of Pol II during early elongation is a widespread regulatory mechanism for transcription regulation. However, preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly is more important for transcription in plants. Chromatin remodeling and histone modifications are considered important for access of protein factors to the underlying DNA sequences. However, how histone modifications are specifically and timely generated at active promoters is less understood. COMPASS-like complex plays a critical role in PIC assembly and histone H3K4 trimethylation. We found thatArabidopsistranscription factors bZIP28/bZIP60 interact with COMPASS-like components both in vitro and in vivo. We present a general model on how histone H3K4 trimethylation is specifically formed during inducible gene expression by using the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response system inArabidopsisplants.
Antisense long noncoding RNAs regulate
var
gene activation in the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Amit-Avraham Inbar , Pozner Guy , Eshar Shiri , Fastman Yair , Kolevzon Netanel , Yavin Eylon , Dzikowski Ron
Published: February 2015

Significance

How cells specifically express only a single gene among numerous equivalent copies within their genomes is one of the unsolved mysteries in the field of eukaryotic gene expression. The molecular mechanisms that underlie mutually exclusive gene expression are the key for understanding the virulence of
Plasmodium falciparum
, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria.
P. falciparum
expresses its primary virulence determinants in a mutually exclusive manner and evades human immune attack through switches in expression between different variants of a large gene family named
var
. We found that
var
-specific antisense long noncoding RNA molecules incorporate into chromatin and determine how parasites select a single gene for expression while the rest of the family is maintained silenced.
APOBEC3Bexpression in breast cancer reflects cellular proliferation, while a deletion polymorphism is associated with immune activation
Authors: Cescon David W. , Haibe-Kains Benjamin , Mak Tak W.
Published: February 2015

Significance

Somatic mutagenesis is fundamental to the development and evolution of cancers. APOBEC3B (A3B) is a cellular deaminase, which is overexpressed in cancers and believed to be an important cause of cancer-associated mutations. The factors responsible forA3Bup-regulation are unknown. Interestingly, a germ-line deletion polymorphism exists, such that a significant proportion of the global population does not express A3B protein. Using large human cancer datasets, we show thatA3Bexpression is strongly associated with cellular proliferation. Furthermore, we identify a pattern of immune activation related to hypermutation in tumors arising inA3Bdeletion carriers suggesting that these patients could respond differently to immune-directed therapies. These results provide important context for the ongoing study of A3B as a therapeutic target or biomarker.
Control of a hair bundle’s mechanosensory function by its mechanical load
Authors: Salvi Joshua D. , Ó Maoiléidigh Dáibhid , Fabella Brian A. , Tobin Mélanie , Hudspeth A. J.
Published: February 2015

Significance

Hair bundles are the sensory antennae that detect different types of mechanical signals in diverse sensory systems of vertebrates. Here we design and use a mechanical-load clamp to show that the mechanical properties of hair bundles and their accessory structures dictate their sensory behaviors. By demonstrating how the same organelle can be used to detect a wide gamut of signals, this study reveals both the versatility and essential similarity of hair bundles across receptor organs. These observations reveal a general principle that may be used by both biological and artificial systems: by adjustment of only a few key parameters, a nonlinear system can be controlled to serve many different functions.
Children's strategies when reporting appropriate and inappropriate speech events
Authors: Hickmann Maya , Warden David
Published: February 2015

This study examines the effects of utterance form and appropriateness on how children report conversations. Children between 7 and 9 years were asked to narrate filmed dialogues that contained two types of target utterances: (a) declaratives, interrogatives, or imperatives that were used appropriately as directives; (b) declaratives and interrogatives that were inappropriate from the point of view of information exchange, i.e., that should not have been used by the interlocutors as means of giving or requesting information, given background knowledge conditions. When reporting the appropriate directive targets, the 7/8-year-olds frequently transformed declaratives into more explicit imperatives, while the 9-year-olds' reports did not vary systematically with directive types. With respect to the inappropriate targets, omissions were more frequent at 7/8 years, transformations at 9 years. Transformations consisted most often of changing the mood or modality of inappropriate declaratives to make them appropriate. Some role reversals also occurred with inappropriate interrogatives. Finally, children of all ages omitted or transformed other events preceding or following the target utterances, so as to make the dialogues coherent more globally. These findings show children's sensitivity to the forms and functions of utterances in conversations, but they also suggest developmental changes in their reporting strategies. The younger children prefer functionally transparent reports and they omit utterances in cases of inadequate conditions of use. With increasing age, children use more complex strategies to adapt some inappropriate utterances locally by transforming systematically their form, their conditions of use, and/or their functional value.
Caution and consensus in American business meetings
Authors: Wasson Christina
Published: February 2015

This article contributes to studies of politeness and talk in the workplace. In particular, it focuses on the ways in which cautiousness is exercised to achieve consensus in American business meetings. This topic is elaborated against the real-world background of the surveillance culture of corporate America and a tradition of consensus-oriented decision-making, in the theoretical context of politeness theory (adding variables related to the ‘political economy’ of the investigated interactions), and with the methodological insights provided by conversation analysis. ‘Reversals’ are identified as specific turn patterns in face-saving strategies aimed at consensus. Two processes are highlighted: Attempts at protecting oneself through a reversal of opinion, and protecting others by helping them articulate a reversal.
Pretextuality and pretextual gaps
Authors: Maryns Katrijn , Blommaert Jan
Published: February 2015

Drawing on the rich tradition of investigations into linguistic inequality, this paper seeks to define the phenomenon of pretextual gaps, i.e. socially anchored and often invisible differences between what is expected in communication and what people can bring and deploy in communication. Pretextual gaps refer to conditions on sayability, differential distribution of access to these conditions, and social evaluations attached to such differences. We shall investigate pretextual gaps in three sets of data, all of them instances of experiential narration: Asylum seekers’ narratives, hand-written life histories from Shaba, Congo, and narratives of suffering produced during the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. We will attempt to demonstrate how a fine-grained discourse analysis focused on linguistic resources and models of deployment can refine existing views on linguistic inequality.
The intuitive basis of implicature
Authors: Haugh Michael
Published: February 2015

The notion of implicature was first introduced by Grice (1967, 1989), who defined it essentially as what is communicated less what is said. This definition contributed in part to the proliferation of a large number of different species of implicature by neo-Griceans. Relevance theorists have responded to this by proposing a shift back to the distinction between explicit and implicit meaning (corresponding to explicature and implicature respectively). However, they appear to have pared down the concept of implicature too much, ignoring phenomena which may be better treated as implicatures in their over-generalisation of the concept of explicature. These problems have their roots in the fact that explicit and implicit meaning intuitively overlap, and thus do not provide a suitable basis for distinguishing implicature from other types of pragmatic phenomena. An alternative conceptualisation of implicature based on the concept of implying with which Grice originally associated his notion of implicature is thus proposed. From this definition it emerges that implicature constitutes something else inferred by the addressee that is not literally said by the speaker. Instead, it is meant in addition to what the literally speaker says, and consequently, it is defeasible like all other types of pragmatic phenomena.
Compliments and compliment responses in Kunming Chinese
Authors: Yuan Yi
Published: February 2015

This article describes the way compliments and compliment responses are executed in Kunming Chinese, a Mandarin dialect spoken in Kunming, China. By looking at data collected through DCT questionnaires and natural observations, the author examines the semantic formulas used in forming compliments and compliment responses and the syntactic patterns of compliments in the two types of data. It is found that explicit compliments are the most common form of complimenting in the dialect. Implicit compliments, on the other hand, are much rarer and tend to occur by themselves. Syntactically, over 90% of the compliments fall into one of 4 syntactic structures paid through the third person/impersonal or second person perspectives. In replying to a compliment, speakers of Kunming Chinese are found to be drifting away from the tradition of rejecting compliments outright. They are more willing to accept compliments now although often indirectly. A quarter of the time, in real life situations, they just smile away a compliment they receive. While the DCT data and natural data are similar in the use of a majority of the semantic formulas, some differences are also found between the two types of data. Some methodological and cross-cultural implications are discussed at the end of the article.
Behaviour regulation in the family context in Estonia and Sweden
Authors: De Geer Boel , Tulviste Tiia
Published: February 2015

The aim of the study is to compare the regulatory speech used by parents and children in three different groups: Swedes in Sweden, and Estonians in Estonia and Sweden. 54 families with children of 9-13 were videotaped during mealtime. All regulatory speech aimed at controlling behaviour was identified and coded according to sentence form used for regulation as well as outcome (response). Estonians in Estonia used behaviour directives most frequently, and favoured the direct imperative form of regulatory language over declaratives and questions used by Estonians and Swedes in Sweden. Although the outcomes of regulation were mainly compliance in all groups, Estonian children living in Sweden complied significantly less than Swedish children. The results also show that Estonian children in Sweden have been influenced by the Swedish preference for regulating by declaratives and questions, using more questions and fewer imperatives than their mothers.
Actors and discourses in the construction of hegemony
Authors: Heller Monica
Published: February 2015

In this paper, I will examine one aspect of a Gramscian notion of hegemony, one which focusses on the way in which hegemony is about “collectively attaining a single cultural “climate””, at least in part through language. This assumes discursive struggle in which some views end up marginalizing others. I will examine this struggle in terms of some of the ways in which the trajectories of actors and of discourses are connected, such that discursive resources are (or are not) available to actors with different positions with respect to unequally distributed symbolic and material resources, and are used in practice in ways which make sense given the sets of interests these actors have. This attempt at operationalizing an ethnography of hegemony is based on an analysis of discursive shift in between ethnonational forms of hegemonic discourse and practice being challenged by commodification, economic networking, and multiple affiliations, under conditions of economic shift from primary and secondary resource economies to tertiary ones, and of the re- shaping of the State’s relationship to civil society and the private sector. It has specifically to do with current shifts in ideas about what constitutes the category francophone in Canada, or put differently, what it might mean to do being “francophone”. In particular, I will examine the ways in which the institutionalized structures related to that categorization have been called into question by ongoing political economic change, and how actors involved in those structures act in, on and through the process of change to produce new ways of doing la francophonie, at least on the local level.
A touch of class
Authors: Verschueren Jef
Published: February 2015

This paper describes how political discourse, as manifested in the policy statements of two Flemish political parties which assign to themselves the epithet ‘social’, contributes to the erasion of group-based or class- related forms of social inequality. A brief comparison with the academic defense of ‘Third Way’ politics (in the work of Anthony Giddens) leads to the suggestion that we are witnessing a hegemonic process.
Discourse theory and the study of ideological (trans-)formations
Authors: De Vos Patrick
Published: February 2015

The discourse theory of Laclau and Mouffe, it is argued, is a model of discursive conflict: Political conflicts are understood as struggles between conflicting discourses that strive to impose their own system of meaning. This article starts by outlining this model as a theoretical framework as well as a set of instruments for political analysis. First the main theoretical concepts are spelled out and clarified. The article then turns to the issue of the rearticulation of the social democratic ideology during the 1990s. The so-called ‘crisis of social democracy’, a crisis that necessitated a transformation of this political project, is outlined together with some of the articulatory practices through which the renewal of social democracy took shape and the discursive background against which it has been articulated. To illustrate the contingency of the articulatory process, the article concludes with a summary of some contested assumptions of the new social democratic model. The overall aim of the article is to illustrate the feasibility and the added value of discourse theory for political research.
Echo answers in native/non-native interaction
Authors: Svennevig Jan
Published: February 2015

An echo answer is an answer that repeats elements of the question. This response form occurs after yes/noquestions and “statements about B-events”. The current study is based on data from native/non-native institutional interaction, and echo answers are shown to play an important role in certain types of repair that are characteristic of such interaction. Echo answers have two main usages. The first is to appropriate a candidate formulation and integrate it into one’s own turn in progress. This often happens when native speakers attempt to assist non-native interlocutors in expressing themselves. The other is to claim a strengthened commitment to the answer. This is especially salient in cases where a minimal agreement might project a potential dispreferred response. Echo answers may occur alone or with an initial or final response word, and these different response formats are shown to index the relative epistemic authority of the interlocutors.
The “value” of dialect as object
Authors: Puckett Anita
Published: February 2015

This paper focuses on whether the concept of “speech variety” has value as a material-like “object” and whether academic research and outreach study a particular variety can “profit” both community residents using the variety and the academic community valuing the research on it. It examines these issues by exploring how economic processes of “valuation” apply to the discursive circulation of the proper noun Appalachian English and its logotype AE in communities using grammatical forms diagnostic of it. It draws upon ethnographic and interview data from southeastern Kentucky and southwest Virginia communities to argue that linguistic misrecognition of these forms constitute a redirected system of valuation that contradicts and undercuts the overt denotational function of Appalachian English in the academic or popular discursive contexts in which they appear. Examining the pragmatics and semantics of possessive pronoun construction, this paper further concludes that Appalachian English does not and cannot circulate as a valued noun in the existing verbal repertoire of the communities examined. What constitutes acceptable and authoritative knowledge instead becomes “stored” in Appalachian English so that its value is in its potential monopoly of knowledge sparingly distributed under specific protocols distributed by “professionals”.
The functions of formulaic speech in the L2 class
Authors: Girard Marie
Published: February 2015

This study deals with Formulaic Speech (FS) usage in the context of the partial L2 immersion class. It tries to define and classify FS according to its functions. The fact that learners resort to FS shows that second language production is not only based on the construction of sentences from scratch but also on the integration of formulaic sequences in discourse. But what is the use of FS? What are the possible functions it performs?

We attempt to show that FS makes up for a lack of structural knowledge and might therefore be used as a learning strategy in the acquisition of structure. Then we consider the psycholinguistic function of FS and try to demonstrate that it might be a pre-planning strategy and a way for the learner to economize effort on processing and thus focus on his or her learning of the language. Finally, the paper analyzes the communicative function of FS and its role in the relation between speaker and hearer, and suggests that it might play a part in the development of pragmatic competence.
Order and disorder in the classroom
Authors: Paoletti Isabella , Fele Giolo
Published: February 2015

The article discusses some aspects of classroom interaction as described in the ethnomethodological literature in particular, and it does so through the analysis of an excerpt from conversational interaction in a classroom. The interactional model described in the relevant literature is an asymmetric system of conversational rights in which the teacher controls every aspect of the conversation: Turn-taking, topic choice and duration, definition of what has been said for all practical purposes The study argues that teachers constantly endeavour to strike a difficult balance between two contrasting tasks: Maintaining control over the class on the one hand, and monitoring the ordered unfolding of activities and soliciting student participation on the other.
Identity construction in Chinese heritage language classes
Authors: He Agnes Weiyun
Published: February 2015

From an interactionally enriched linguistic anthropological perspective, this article promotes the view that identity is indexical with specific sets of acts and stances, which in turn are constructed by specific language forms. Based on detailed sequential and grammatical analyses of data from Chinese heritage language classes, it argues that identity is dynamic, constantly unfolding along with interaction, and thus has the potential to shift and mutate. It positions identity as emerging through co-participants’ responses and reactions and thus as an intersubjective and reciprocal entity. It further suggests that identity construction is intricately linked with heritage language learning.
Evidentiality and morality in a Korean heritage language school
Authors: Lo Adrienne
Published: February 2015

Previous work on Korean grammar has claimed that one person can not have access to another person’s thoughts, feelings or sensations, as indicated by the use of evidential markers. By looking at cases in which a teacher at a Korean heritage language school claims to read her students’ minds with a high degree of certainty, I demonstrate how expressions of epistemic stance relate to moral evaluation. Speakers portray their access to the thoughts and sensations of individuals who they deem morally worthy as more distant and uncertain. When individuals are evaluated as morally suspect, however, speakers represent these persons’ emotions, thoughts and sensations as self-evident displays of affect. This paper thus argues that evidential marking in Korean interaction is a social act through which interlocutors morally evaluate others.
Showing structure
Authors: Rendle-Short Johanna
Published: February 2015

Umanduhare generally considered to be indicative of dysfluency and uncertainty in speech production. However, analysis of the academic seminar indicates that the distribution ofumanduhis not random. In specific well-defined environmentsumis used to indicate the underlying structure of the talk. Although Swerts (1998) has already suggested that fillers such asumanduhcould be treated as discourse markers in Dutch, the notion that such tokens are functioning as discourse markers has not been developed in detail. This paper analyses the role played byumin a series of computer science seminars. Using traditional conversation analysis techniques, the paper focuses on the way in whichumindicates structure in the academic seminar by maintaining coherence across bits of talk. It thus argues that in specific well-defined environmentsumfunctions as a discourse marker. This paper therefore addresses such issues as the role and function ofumin seminar talk, the environments in which it occurs, and its use in indicating the structure of the talk to the listening audience.