bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined estrogen replacement therapy on metabolic control in postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Xu Youhua , Lin Jing , Wang Shanshan , Xiong Jianfeng , Zhu Quan
Published: April 2014

Previous studies have shown that the incidence of diabetes is higher when women come to menopause. This study was carried out to examine the effects of combined estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on diabetes in postmenopausal women. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for English‐language articles published between January 1997 and June 2011. Studies that examined ERT on the incidence of diabetes and randomized clinical trials that evaluated combined ERT (estrogen plus progesterone) on diabetic indices in postmenopausal women were included. Pooled relative risks were calculated using a random‐ or a fixed‐effects model. Sixteen studies comprising 17,971 cases were included. Based on the pooled data, ERT significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes [odds ratio (OR), 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.68, ERT past/current/continuous use vs. never use; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.51–0.65, ERT current/continuous use vs. past/never use]. Women with combined ERT have significantly lower levels of fasting plasma glucose (mean difference, –1.41 mM/L; 95% CI, –2.49 to −0.33 mM/L) and HbA1c (mean difference, –0.73%; 95% CI, from −1.28 to −0.18%) compared with placebo. Furthermore, combined ERT dramatically reduced plasma total cholesterol (mean difference, –0.34 mM/L; 95% CI, from −0.53 to −0.15 mM/L) and low‐density lipoprotein (mean difference, –0.43 mM/L; 95% CI, from −0.71 to −0.14 mM/L) but slightly increased high‐density lipoprotein (mean difference, 0.02 mM/L; 95% CI, from −0.07 to 0.12 mM/L) levels as compared with placebo control. This systemic review and meta‐analysis provides evidence that postmenopausal women taking low‐dose combined ERT have a decreased risk of developing diabetes and have better diabetic control.
Ein national gefördertes Onlinelabor als Infrastruktur für die psychologische Forschung
Authors: Bruder Martin , Göritz Anja S. , Reips Ulf-Dietrich , Gebhard Ramon K.
Published: April 2014

Momentan besteht hohes wissenschaftspolitisches Interesse an der Entwicklung von Forschungsinfrastrukturen in allen Wissenschaftsbereichen. Wir plädieren dafür, ein national gefördertes Onlinelabor für die psychologische Forschung in diesen Diskurs einzubringen. Dieses Labor sollte einen großen Teilnehmerpool, notwendige Software-Tools, edukative Komponenten (Methodenberatung) sowie Schnittstellen zu Datenarchiven zur Verfügung stellen. Die Vorteile einer solchen Einrichtung werden auf der Basis von Effizienzbetrachtungen sowie methodischen und forschungsethischen Überlegungen verdeutlicht. Abschließend diskutieren wir mittelfristige Entwicklungspotenziale eines Nationalen Onlinelabors.
Energetische Aspekte von Musik der Jugendkulturen und ihre Möglichkeiten für die Musiktherapie und Sozialpädagogik
Authors: Voit Nina
Published: April 2014

Der folgende Artikel entstand als Resultat eines Vortrags zu den Tagen der Wissenschaften in München im Herbst 2012 zusammen mit Prof. DDDr. Wolfgang Mastnak. Dabei sollte er zunächst als Ergänzung zu Mastnaks Beitrag „Musik und Energie” dienen. Gegen Ende stellte sich jedoch heraus, dass die behandelte Thematik „Jugendkulturen und Energie” mit einer differenten Herangehensweise aufwartet und im Gegensatz zum Hauptartikel Mastnaks eher dem sozialpädagogischen als dem musiktherapeutischen Komplex zuzuschreiben ist, weshalb eine eigenständige Stellung angebracht schien. Zu Beginn versucht die Autorin Begrifflichkeiten wie Jugendalter, Cliquen, Jugendkulturen und –szenen in Zusammenhang zueinander und zur Energie-Thematik zu bringen. Um den sozialpädagogischen bzw. den musiktherapeutischen Ansprüchen gerecht zu werden, erfolgt im Anschluss daran eine konkrete Aufführung energetischer Potenziale von Musik der Jugendkulturen. Es wird vor allem auf therapeutische Wirkungsmöglichkeiten für Jugendliche eingegangen, obwohl die energetischen Aspekte für Erwachsene im gleichen Ausmaß gelten. Da Jugendkulturen, wie der Name weist, aber als spezifisches Rückzugsgebiet der Teenager gelten, versucht der Artikel dem zu entsprechen und auf dieses Entwicklungsalter fokussiert zu bleiben. Der Artikel schließt mit einigen Beispielen aus der Praxis, die zeigen sollen, auf welch verschiedene Art mit unterschiedlichen Musikstilen (Rock, Hiphop, Pop etc.) im therapeutischen und pädagogischem Rahmen gearbeitet wird, um Jugendlichen die energetischen Leistungen „ihrer” Musik zugutekommen zu lassen.
Synthesis of hexagonal boron nitride graphene-like few layers
Authors: Yuan S. , Toury B. , Journet C. , Brioude A.
Published: April 2014

Free-standing highly crystallized h-BN mono-, bi- or few-layers have been obtained by the polymer derived ceramics route at relatively low temperature.
Tunable band gaps of Co3−xCuxO4 nanorods with various Cu doping concentrations
Authors: Ho Chun-Te , Weng Tsu-Heng , Wang Chiu-Yen , Yen Shiang-Jie , Yew Tri-Rung
Published: April 2014

Tunable band gaps of Co3−xCuxO4 nanorods were synthesized with a solution process and first reported in this study.
Spin-filtering effect of thin Al2O3 barrier on tunneling magnetoresistance
Authors: Joo Sungjung , Jung K. Y. , Jun K. I. , Kim D. S. , Shin K. H. , Hong J. K. , Lee B. C. , Rhie K.
Published: April 2014

Tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) dependence on the Al2O3 barrier thickness was investigated for CoFe/Al2O3/CoFe magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). MTJs with very thin Al2O3 layers were grown by inserting an amorphous FeZr buffer layer whose role is only to reduce the roughness of bottom electrode. The TMR decreased as the thickness of the Al2O3 layer was reduced. The results are analyzed with the dependence of the spin-filtering effect on the Al2O3 thickness. It was found that a simple model of separating sp- and d-like electrons does not work, and it may suggest that the tunneling electrons are in rather hybridized state.
The local topology of stream- and vortex lines in turbulent flows
Authors: Boschung J. , Schaefer P. , Peters N. , Meneveau C.
Published: April 2014

Tangent lines to a given vector field, such as streamlines or vortex lines, define a local unit vector t that points everywhere in the line's direction. The local behavior of the lines is characterized by the eigenvalues of the tensor \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\bf T = {\bf \nabla } \cdot \bf t$\end{document}T=∇·t. In case of real eigenvalues, t can be interpreted as a normal vector to a surface element, whose shape is defined by the eigenvalues of T. These eigenvalues can be used to define the mean curvature −H and the Gaussian curvature K of the surface. The mean curvature −H describes the relative change of the area of the surface element along the field line and is a measure for the local relative convergence or divergence of the lines. Different values of (H, K) determine whether field lines converge or diverge (elliptic concave or elliptic convex surface element, stable/unstable nodes), converge in one principal direction and diverge in another (saddle) or spiral inwards or outwards (stable/unstable focus). In turbulent flows, a plethora of local field line topologies are expected to co-exist and it is of interest to find out whether certain topologies are more likely to occur than others. With this question in mind, the joint probability density function (JPDF) of H and K are evaluated for streamlines and vortex lines from several datasets obtained from direct numerical simulations of forced isotropic turbulence at four different Reynolds numbers. The JPDF for streamlines is asymmetric with a long tail towards negative H, implying that stream tubes tend to expand rapidly while shrinking more gently – a manifestation of negative skewness in turbulence. On the other hand, the JPDF for vortex lines is symmetrical with respect to H, indicating that the convergence and divergence of vortex lines is similar, different to streamlines.
Communication: Disorder-suppressed vibrational relaxation in vapor-deposited high-density amorphous ice
Authors: Shalit Andrey , Perakis Fivos , Hamm Peter
Published: April 2014

We apply two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to differentiate between the two polyamorphous forms of glassy water, low-density (LDA) and high-density (HDA) amorphous ices, that were obtained by slow vapor deposition at 80 and 11 K, respectively. Both the vibrational lifetime and the bandwidth of the 1–2 transition of the isolated OD stretch vibration of HDO in H2O exhibit characteristic differences when comparing hexagonal (Ih), LDA, and HDA ices, which we attribute to the different local structures – in particular the presence of interstitial waters in HDA ice – that cause different delocalization lengths of intermolecular phonon degrees of freedom. Moreover, temperature dependent measurements show that the vibrational lifetime closely follows the structural transition between HDA and LDA phases.
Modulation of drift-wave envelopes in a nonuniform quantum magnetoplasma
Authors: Misra A. P.
Published: April 2014

We study the amplitude modulation of low-frequency, long-wavelength electrostatic drift-wave envelopes in a nonuniform quantum magnetoplasma consisting of cold ions and degenerate electrons. The effects of tunneling associated with the quantum Bohm potential and the Fermi pressure for nonrelativistic degenerate electrons, as well as the equilibrium density and magnetic field inhomogeneities are taken into account. Starting from a set of quantum magnetohydrodynamic equations, we derive a nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) that governs the dynamics of the modulated quantum drift-wave packets. The NLSE is used to study the modulational instability (MI) of a Stoke's wave train to a small plane wave perturbation. It is shown that the quantum tunneling effect as well as the scale length of inhomogeneity plays crucial roles for the MI of the drift-wave packets. Thus, the latter can propagate in the form of bright and dark envelope solitons or as drift-wave rogons in degenerate dense magnetoplasmas.
Measurement of the intrinsic damping constant in individual nanodisks of Y3Fe5O12 and Y3Fe5O12|Pt
Authors: Hahn C. , Naletov V. V. , de Loubens G. , Klein O. , d'Allivy Kelly O. , Anane A. , Bernard R. , Jacquet E. , Bortolotti P. , Cros V. , Prieto J. L. , Muñoz M.
Published: April 2014

We report on an experimental study on the spin-waves relaxation rate in two series of nanodisks of diameter ϕ=300, 500, and 700 nm, patterned out of two systems: a 20 nm thick yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film grown by pulsed laser deposition either bare or covered by 13 nm of Pt. Using a magnetic resonance force microscope, we measure precisely the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of each individual YIG and YIG|Pt nanodisks. We find that the linewidth in the nanostructure is sensibly smaller than the one measured in the extended film. Analysis of the frequency dependence of the spectral linewidth indicates that the improvement is principally due to the suppression of the inhomogeneous part of the broadening due to geometrical confinement, suggesting that only the homogeneous broadening contributes to the linewidth of the nanostructure. For the bare YIG nano-disks, the broadening is associated to a damping constant α=4 × 10−4. A threefold increase of the linewidth is observed for the series with Pt cap layer, attributed to the spin pumping effect. The measured enhancement allows to extract the spin mixing conductance found to be G↑↓=1.55 × 1014 Ω−1 m−2 for our YIG(20nm)|Pt interface, thus opening large opportunities for the design of YIG based nanostructures with optimized magnetic losses.
The atomic structure, band gap, and electrostatic potential at the (112)[11¯] twin grain boundary of CuInSe2
Authors: Yamaguchi Hiroyuki , Hiramatsu Hidenori , Hosono Hideo , Mizoguchi Teruyasu
Published: April 2014

To develop a higher efficiency thin-film compound photovoltaic (PV) cell, it is crucial to understand not only the key factors determining the stability of the grain boundary (GB) but also the band gap and band bending at the GB in the photoabsorption layer. In this study, we investigate the atomic structure, band gap, and electrostatic potential at the (112)[11¯0] twin GB of CuInSe2 (CIS), which is typically used in the photoabsorption layer in thin-film compound PV cells. We utilize aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and first-principles hybrid-functional calculations. We find that the formation energies of the twin GB in CIS are very small: 0.03–0.15 J/m2. The local coordination of the Se at the GB is a primary factor modulating the GB energy, band gap, and the electrostatic potential at the GB.
Dynamics of submicron aerosol droplets in a robust optical trap formed by multiple Bessel beams
Authors: Thanopulos Ioannis , Luckhaus David , Preston Thomas C. , Signorell Ruth
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we model the three-dimensional escape dynamics of single submicron-sized aerosol droplets in optical multiple Bessel beam traps. Trapping in counter-propagating Bessel beams (CPBBs) is compared with a newly proposed quadruple Bessel beam (QBB) trap, which consists of two perpendicularly arranged CPBB traps. Calculations are performed for perfectly and imperfectly aligned traps. Mie-theory and finite-difference time-domain methods are used to calculate the optical forces. The droplet escape kinetics are obtained from the solution of the Langevin equation using a Verlet algorithm. Provided the traps are perfectly aligned, the calculations indicate very long lifetimes for droplets trapped either in the CPBB or in the QBB trap. However, minor misalignments that are hard to control experimentally already severely diminish the stability of the CPBB trap. By contrast, such minor misalignments hardly affect the extended droplet lifetimes in a QBB trap. The QBB trap is found to be a stable, robust optical trap, which should enable the experimental investigation of submicron droplets with radii down to 100 nm. Optical binding between two droplets and its potential role in preventing coagulation when loading a CPBB trap is briefly addressed.
Light induced phase change in Cu2−xZn1.3SnS4 thin films
Authors: Kumar Samji Sunil , Tiwari Brajesh , Krishna Surendra M. , Ramachandra Rao M. S.
Published: April 2014

Cu2ZnSnS4 and its alloy based thin film solar cells have shown better photovoltaic performance under Cu-poor and Zn-rich conditions. However, the effect of Cu-stoichiometry on the coexistence of kesterite (KS), stannite and/or partially disordered kesterite (PD-KS) phases and their influence on photovoltaic performance is not clearly understood. Raman studies were carried out on Cu2−xZn1.3SnS4 (x = 0, 0.3, and 0.5) thin films by changing the intensity of the incident laser beam. It was observed that both Cu-stoichiometry and incident laser beam intensity induce a disorder in the system. Disorder induced transformation of KS (I4¯) to PD-KS (I4¯2m) is explained by Raman studies.
Laser induced spin precession in highly anisotropic granular L1 FePt
Authors: Becker J. , Mosendz O. , Weller D. , Kirilyuk A. , Maan J. C. , Christianen P. C. M. , Rasing Th. , Kimel A.
Published: April 2014

The dynamic magnetic properties of a highly anisotropic, granular L10 FePt thin film in magnetic fields up to 7 T are investigated using time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. We find that ultrashort laser pulses induce coherent spin precession in the granular FePt sample. Frequencies of spin precession up to over 400 GHz are observed, which are strongly field and temperature dependent. The high frequencies can be ascribed to the high value of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant Ku leading to large anisotropy fields Ha of up to 10.7 T at 170 K. A Gilbert damping parameter of α ∼ 0.1 was derived from the lifetimes of the oscillations.
An equipment-free polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic spotter for fabrication of microarrays
Authors: Tang Teng , Li Gang , Jia Chunping , Gao Kunpeng , Zhao Jianlong
Published: April 2014

This paper presents a low-cost, power-free, and easy-to-use spotter system for fabrication of microarrays. The spotter system uses embedded dispensing microchannels combined with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane containing regular arrays of well-defined thru-holes to produce precise, uniform DNA or protein microarrays for disease diagnosis or drug screening. Powered by pre-evacuation of its PDMS substrate, the spotter system does not require any additional components or external equipment for its operation, which can potentially allow low-cost, high-quality microarray fabrication by minimally trained individuals. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was used to modify the PDMS surface to prevent protein adsorption by the microchannels. Experimental results indicate that the PDMS spotter shows excellent printing performance for immobilizing proteins. The measured coefficient of variation (CV) of the diameter of 48 spots was 2.63% and that of the intensity within one array was 2.87%. Concentration gradient experiments revealed the superiority of the immobilization density of the PDMS spotter over the conventional pin-printing method. Overall, this low-cost, power-free, and easy-to-use spotting system provides an attractive new method to fabricate microarrays.
Effects of Mg-doped AlN/AlGaN superlattices on properties of p-GaN contact layer and performance of deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes
Authors: Al tahtamouni T. M. , Lin J. Y. , Jiang H. X.
Published: April 2014

Mg-doped AlN/AlGaN superlattice (Mg-SL) and Mg-doped AlGaN epilayers have been investigated in the 284 nm deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) as electron blocking layers. It was found that the use of Mg-SL improved the material quality of the p-GaN contact layer, as evidenced in the decreased density of surface pits and improved surface morphology and crystalline quality. The performance of the DUV LEDs fabricated using Mg-SL was significantly improved, as manifested by enhanced light intensity and output power, and reduced turn-on voltage. The improved performance is attributed to the enhanced blocking of electron overflow, and enhanced hole injection.
Determination of the polarization state of x rays with the help of anomalous transmission
Authors: Schulze K. S. , Marx B. , Uschmann I. , Förster E. , Stöhlker T. , Paulus G. G.
Published: April 2014

Besides intensity and direction, the polarization of an electromagnetic wave provides characteristic information on the crossed medium. Here, we present two methods for the determination of the polarization state of x rays by polarizers based on anomalous transmission (Borrmann effect). Using a polarizer-analyzer setup, we have measured a polarization purity of less than 1.5 × 10−5, three orders of magnitude better than obtained in earlier work. Using the analyzer crystal in multiple-beam case with slightly detuned azimuth, we show how the first three Stokes parameters can be determined with a single angular scan. Thus, polarization analyzers based on anomalous transmission make it possible to detect changes of the polarization in a range from degrees down to arcseconds.
Hassallidins, antifungal glycolipopeptides, are widespread among cyanobacteria and are the end-product of a nonribosomal pathway
Authors: Vestola Johanna , Shishido Tania K. , Jokela Jouni , Fewer David P. , Aitio Olli , Permi Perttu , Wahlsten Matti , Wang Hao , Rouhiainen Leo , Sivonen Kaarina
Published: April 2014

Significance

New antifungal compounds are needed due to an increasing incidence of invasive fungal infections and resistance to many currently used drugs. Here we show that cyanobacteria are a rich source of antifungal compounds such as glycosylated lipopeptides, called hassallidins, which are commonly produced by filamentous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. A diverse group of hassallidins and their complex nonribosomal biosynthesis were characterized in detail. Hassallidins and their previously unidentified biosynthetic enzymes offer new material for drug development. In addition, these compounds may have an ecological role in protecting cyanobacteria from parasitic fungi.
Variation, structure and norms
Authors: Harder Peter
Published: April 2014

After a period when the focus was essentially on mental architecture, the cognitive sciences are increasingly integrating the social dimension. The rise of a cognitive sociolinguistics is part of this trend. The article argues that this process requires a re-evaluation of some entrenched positions in linguistics: those that see linguistic norms as antithetical to a descriptive and variational linguistics. Once such a re-evaluation has taken place, however, the social recontextualization of cognition will enable linguistics (including sociolinguistics as an integral part), to eliminate the cracks in the foundations that were the result of suppressing the sociocultural underpinnings of linguistic facts. Structuralism, cognitivism and social constructionism introduced new and necessary distinctions, but in their strong forms they all turned into unnecessary divides. The article tries to show that an evolutionary account can reintegrate the opposed fragments into a whole picture that puts each of them in their ‘ecological position’ with respect to each other. Empirical usage facts should be seen in the context of operational norms in relation to which actual linguistic choices represent adaptations. Variational patterns should be seen in the context of structural categories without which there would be only ‘differences’ rather than variation. And emergence, individual choice, and flux should be seen in the context of the individual’s dependence on lineages of community practice sustained by collective norms.
Cognitive Sociolinguistics in L2-variety dictionaries of English
Authors: Wolf Hans-Georg , Polzenhagen Frank
Published: April 2014

The recent decades have witnessed the incorporation of new linguistic trends into lexicography. One of these trends is a usage-based approach, with the first major application of computer-corpus data in the Collins COBUILD English dictionary (1995) and successive adaptation in other L1-dictionaries. Another, concurrent innovation — inspired by Conceptual Metaphor Theory — is the provision of conceptual information in monolingual dictionaries of English. So far, however, only the Macmillan English dictionary for advanced learners (1st and 2nd edition) has paid tribute to the fact that understanding culture-specific metaphors and being aware of metaphoric usage are crucial for learning a foreign language. Given that most of the English as lingua franca interactions take place between L2-speakers of English (see Kachru, 1994), providing conceptual information is not only a desideratum for L1- and learner dictionaries, but especially for (L2-)variety dictionaries of English. In our paper, we follow earlier tentative proposals by Polzenhagen (2007) and Wolf (2012) and present examples from A dictionary of Hong Kong English (Cummings & Wolf, 2011), showing how culturally salient conceptual information can be made explicit and conceptual links between lexical items retrievable. The examples demonstrate that fixed expressions and idioms — a perennial problem for lexicographers — are explicable by means of the proposed lexicographic design, too. Our approach is cognitive-sociolinguistic in that the Conceptual Metaphor approach is coupled with the study of regional varieties of English, more specifically Hong Kong English. Our analysis is empirically backed up by corpus-linguistic insights into this L2 variety.
Spread of on-going changes in an immigrant language
Authors: Doğruöz A. Seza , Gries Stefan Th.
Published: April 2014

Turkish spoken in the Netherlands (NL-Turkish) sounds different in comparison to Turkish spoken in Turkey (TR-Turkish). Analyses of an NL-Turkish spoken corpus reveal that NL-Turkish is changing through literally translated Dutch constructions. Combining the cognitive linguistics framework with methods of sociolinguistic analysis, this study investigates to what extent these attested changes are spread within the NL-Turkish speech community. Results of our experimental study show that NL-Turkish speakers recognize the changing constructions and tolerate them more than TR-Turkish speakers (control group). In addition, both NL-Turkish and TR-Turkish speakers exhibit a learning process for the changing constructions during the course of the experiment. However, we did not necessarily find a positive correlation between the frequency of changing constructions and their acceptance rate. We predict that sociolinguistic factors (e.g. group dynamics and continuous contact with TR-Turkish) influence the spread of on-going changes in NL-Turkish at the current stage of contact.
Defining the cognitive mechanisms underlying reactions to foreign accented speech
Authors: Pantos Andrew J.
Published: April 2014

With the notable exception of the application of the metonymy model to explain stereotyping (Kristiansen, 2001), sociolinguistic language attitudes research has typically focused exclusively on explicit attitudes toward foreign accents without providing a cognitive model to explain how such attitudes are formed. At the same time, researchers in other fields have proposed the use of specific cognitive processing models such as the Elaboration Likelihood Model (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986) to explain the cognitive processes underlying reactions to foreign-accented speakers, without isolating foreign accent as an independent variable and without considering that listeners may possess different explicit and implicit attitudes towards the same speaker (e.g., Frumkin, 2007). Focusing on instances where participants exhibit different explicit attitudes toward the same foreign accented speaker for different speaker traits (e.g., likeability versus knowledge), the present study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the nature of reactions to foreign accented speech by testing at which point negative attitudes toward foreign accents are formed and changed. Specifically, this research asks whether interlocutors have uniformly negative immediate associative reactions to foreign accent that are subsequently mitigated for certain judgments by propositional processes to form differing explicit attitudes, or whether the immediate reactions are ambivalent, but subsequently become negative for certain judgments through propositional processes.
Issue Framing and Language Use in the Swedish Blogosphere
Authors: Dahlberg Stefan , Sahlgren Magnus
Published: April 2014

Issue framing has become one of the most important means of elite influence on public opinion. In this paper, we introduce a method for investigating issue framing based on statistic analysis of large samples of language use. Our method uses a technique called Random Indexing (RI), which enables us to extract semantic and associative relations to any target concept of interest, based on co-occurrence statistics collected from large samples of relevant language use. As a first test and evaluation of our proposed method, we apply RI to a large collection of Swedish blog data and extract semantic relations relating to our target concept “outsiders”. This concept is widely used in the public debate both in relation to labour market issues and socially related issues.
Participation and recontextualisation in New Media
Authors: Boyd Michael S.
Published: April 2014

The chapter explores the ways in which viewer comments are exploited by the YouTube community to interact with political discourse. The corpus-based study, based on three speeches by Barack Obama, aims to uncover the linguistic means adopted in text comments for positive and negative presentation and for recontextualisation of the speeches. In line with Critical Discourse Analysis, the work is premised on the assumption that the speeches rebroadcast on YouTube reshape linguistic and social practice by providing a wider reception and more direct access to institutionalized political discourse. Specifically, the work explores how interaction in the form of text comments influences the medium of YouTube, the discourse community and the genre of political speech. On a theoretical level the work considers the important issues of online identity and participation in the public sphere, with a focus on the various ways recontextualisation is exploited by commenters.
Formal properties of event-reporting sentences in Old High German and Old French
Authors: Petrova Svetlana , Rinke Esther
Published: April 2014

This article investigates the interplay between syntax and information structure by comparing the discourse conditions under which a special class of root clauses in two Old High German (OHG) and Old French (OF) texts occur. The focus is on sentences with post-verbal subjects and either the inflected verb or an adverbial phrase in sentence initial position. The empirical investigation shows that this pattern is preferred over the canonical SV orders in contexts which disfavour a topic–comment division in the clause.
Subjects and objects in Germanic and Romance
Authors: Faarlund Jan Terje , Hagemann Kristin
Published: April 2014

The syntactic functions of subject and object are usually characterized by a certain semantic role and/or discourse function (information structure). In a “free word order” language, the position of a phrase at main clause level tends to be determined by its discourse function, while retaining its prototypical semantic role. In this paper we show that in the earlier stages of Germanic (represented by Norwegian) and of Romance (Spanish), the syntactic functions of subject and object were largely characterized by their semantic role, rather than by information structure. These languages then underwent a change, whereby the discourse-functional properties of subjects and objects became more prominent, allowing subjects to express various semantic roles.
Contrastivity and information structure in the old Ibero-Romance languages
Authors: Eide Kristine Gunn , Sitaridou Ioanna
Published: April 2014

In this article, we discuss how contrastivity can be identified in historical texts where we have no direct access to prosodic features such as stress and intonation. We depart from our knowledge of contrastivity in the modern languages and their exponence in Modern Spanish and Portuguese, where both word order and prosody play a role in expressing contrast, and compare the analysis of the modern languages to our data of Old Spanish and Old Portuguese. Our findings indicate that very little has changed with regard to the expression of contrastivity through word order. Therefore, any word order changes should be attributed to other changes in syntax and information structure, in particular changes along the given-new axis, such as the loss of preverbal information focus in Old Spanish, the loss of IP scrambling in Portuguese and the fact that, unlike today, the SV order was linked to the topicality of the subject.
Cannabis Withdrawal in Patients with and without Opioid Dependence
Authors: Chauchard Emeline , Goncharov Oleg , Krupitsky Evgeny , Gorelick David A.
Published: April 2014

Background

Cannabis use is common among opioid-dependent individuals, but little is known about cannabis withdrawal in this population.

Methods

Thirty inpatients (57% men) completed the Marijuana Quit Questionnaire (MJQQ) after completing acute heroin detoxification treatment in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The MJQQ collected data on motivations for quitting, withdrawal symptoms, and coping strategies used to help maintain abstinence during their most “serious” (self-defined) quit attempt made without formal treatment outside a controlled environment.

Results

At the start of their quit attempt, 70% of participants smoked cannabis at least weekly (40% daily), averaging [SD] 2.73 [1.95] joints daily; 60% were heroin dependent. Subjects with heroin dependence were significantly older at the start of their quit attempt (22.9 [3.6] vs. 19.1 [2.9] years), were significantly less likely to report withdrawal irritability/anger/aggression (22% vs. 58%), restlessness (0% vs. 25%), or physical symptoms (6% vs. 33%), or to meet diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) cannabis withdrawal syndrome (6% vs. 33%), and had shorter duration of abstinence (29.6 [28.7] vs 73.7 [44.1] months) than those without heroin dependence.

Conclusion

Cannabis users with opioid dependence are less likely to experience cannabis withdrawal, suggesting that opiate use may prevent or mask the experience of cannabis withdrawal. Results should be considered preliminary due to small convenience sample and retrospective data.
Autoregulation of the 26S proteasome by in situ ubiquitination
Authors: Jacobson Andrew D. , MacFadden Andrea , Wu Zhiping , Peng Junmin , Liu Chang-Wei
Published: April 2014

The 26S proteasome degrades ubiquitinated proteins, and proteasomal degradation controls various cellular events. Here we report that the human 26S proteasome is ubiquitinated, by which the ubiquitin receptors Adrm1 and S5a, the ATPase subunit Rpt5, and the deubiquitinating enzyme Uch37 are ubiquitinated in situ by proteasome-associating ubiquitination enzymes. Ubiquitination of these subunits significantly impairs the 26S proteasome's ability to bind, deubiquitinate, and degrade ubiquitinated proteins. Moreover, ubiquitination of the 26S proteasome can be antagonized by proteasome-residing deubiquitinating enzymes, by the binding of polyubiquitin chains, and by certain cellular stress, indicating that proteasome ubiquitination is dynamic and regulated in cells. We propose that in situ ubiquitination of the 26S proteasome regulates its activity, which could function to adjust proteasomal activity in response to the alteration of cellular ubiquitination levels.
Coviability analysis of Western Mediterranean fisheries under MSY
scenarios for 2020
Authors: Maynou Francesc
Published: April 2014

An ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) seeks to manage fisheries sustainably, including all dimensions of fisheries: biological, social and economic aspects. The separate management of these aspects may lead to conflicting objectives. Coviability analysis helps us to rank a set of choices (alternative management measures) objectively, allows us to explore which policies will ensure strong sustainability, and formally recognizes the multi-objective nature of fisheries management. The coviability of the main Western Mediterranean Spanish fisheries was examined with a bioeconomic simulation model under alternative management strategies that implement strong fishing mortality reduction policies. Based on a joint (biological and economic) viability assessment, it has been shown that Western Mediterranean fisheries require the reduction of fishing effort to ∼10% of the 2010 levels. This strong conservation measure would need to be applied as soon as possible in order for European Mediterranean fisheries to be managed at MSY, as required by legally binding international agreements, which may be unrealistic. Large reductions in fishing mortality for stocks that have been subject to high exploitation rates for decades are difficult to achieve with the current paradigm of effort control in the Mediterranean. Instead, reorienting the exploitation of Mediterranean fish stocks with management measures that combine changes in exploitation patterns with seasonal or spatial area closures, should help meet the policy goals of fishing mortality levels compatible with MSY by 2020.
Three-Dimensional Modeling and Diversity Analysis Reveals Distinct AVR Recognition Sites and Evolutionary Pathways in Wild and Domesticated WheatPm3 RGenes
Authors: Sela Hanan , Spiridon Laurentiu N. , Ashkenazi Haim , Bhullar Navreet K. , Brunner Susanne , Petrescu Andrei-Jose , Fahima Tzion , Keller Beat , Jordan Tina
Published: April 2014

The Pm3 gene confers resistance against wheat powdery mildew. Studies of Pm3 diversity have shown that Pm3 alleles isolated from southern populations of wild emmer wheat located in Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Syria are more diverse and more distant from bread wheat alleles than alleles from the northern wild wheat populations located in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Therefore, southern populations from Israel were studied extensively to reveal novel Pm3 alleles that are absent from the cultivated gene pool. Candidate Pm3 genes were isolated via a polymerase chain reaction cloning approach. Known and newly identified Pm3 genes were subjected to variation analysis and polymorphic amino acid residues were superimposed on a three-dimensional (3D) model of PM3. The region of highest interspecies diversity between Triticum aestivum and T. dicoccoides lies in leucine-rich repeats (LRR) 19 to 24, whereas most intraspecies diversity in T. aestivum is located in LRR 25 to 28. Interestingly, these two regions are separated by one large LRR whose propensity for flexibility facilitates the conformation of the PM3 LRR domain into two differently structured models. The combination of evolutionary and protein 3D structure analysis revealed that Pm3 genes in wild and domesticated wheat show different evolutionary histories which might have been triggered through different interactions with the powdery mildew pathogen.
Bradyrhizobium manausense sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Vigna unguiculata grown in Brazilian Amazonian rainforest soils
Authors: Silva Flavia V. , De Meyer Sofie E. , Simões-Araújo Jean L. , Barbé Tatiane da Costa , Xavier Gustavo R. , O’Hara Graham , Ardley Julie K. , Rumjanek Norma G. , Willems Anne , Zilli Jerri E.
Published: April 2014

Root nodule bacteria were trapped within cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in soils with different cultivation histories collected from the Amazonian rainforest in northern Brazil. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of six strains (BR 3351T, BR 3307, BR 3310, BR 3315, BR 3323 BR and BR 3361) isolated from cowpea nodules showed that they formed a distinct group within the genus

Bradyrhizobium

, which was separate from previously identified type strains. Phylogenetic analyses of three housekeeping genes (glnII, recA and rpoB) revealed that

Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense

CCBAU 23303T was the most closely related type strain (96 % sequence similarity or lower). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles (predominant fatty acids being C16 : 0 and summed feature 8), the slow growth rate and carbon compound utilization patterns supported the assignment of the strains to the genus

Bradyrhizobium

. The results of DNA–DNA hybridizations, antibiotic resistance and physiological tests differentiated these novel strains from the most closely related species of the genus

Bradyrhizobium

with validly published names. Symbiosis-related genes for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) grouped the novel strains of the genus

Bradyrhizobium

together with

Bradyrhizobium iriomotense

strain EK05T, with 94 % and 96 % sequence similarity, respectively. Based on these data, these six strains represent a novel species for which the name Brabyrhizobium manausense sp. nov. (BR 3351T = HAMBI 3596T), is proposed.
Identification of novel anelloviruses with broad diversity in UK rodents
Authors: Nishiyama Shoko , Dutia Bernadette M. , Stewart James P. , Meredith Anna L. , Shaw Darren J. , Simmonds Peter , Sharp Colin P.
Published: April 2014

Anelloviruses are a family of small circular ssDNA viruses with a vast genetic diversity. Human infections with the prototype anellovirus, torque teno virus (TTV), are ubiquitous and related viruses have been described in a number of other mammalian hosts. Despite over 15 years of investigation, there is still little known about the pathogenesis and possible disease associations of anellovirus infections, arising in part due to the lack of a robust cell culture system for viral replication or tractable small-animal model. We report the identification of diverse anelloviruses in several species of wild rodents. The viruses are highly prevalent in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and field voles (Microtus agrestis), detectable at a low frequency in bank voles (Myodes glareolus), but absent from house mice (Mus musculus). The viruses identified have a genomic organization consistent with other anelloviruses, but form two clear phylogenetic groups that are as distinct from each other as from defined genera.
Genetic Influences on Brain Gene Expression in Rats Selected for Tameness and Aggression
Authors: Heyne Henrike , Lautenschlaeger Susann , Nelson Ronald , Besnier François , Rotival Maxime , Cagan Alexander , Kozhemyakina Rimma , Plyusnina Irina , Trut Lyudmila , Carlborg Orjan , Petretto Enrico , Kruglyak Leonid , Pääbo Svante , Schoeneberg Torsten , Albert Frank
Published: April 2014

Inter-individual differences in many behaviors are partly due to genetic differences, but the identification of the genes and variants that influence behavior remains challenging. Here, we studied an F2 intercross of two outbred lines of rats selected for tame and aggressive behavior towards humans for more than 64 generations. By using a mapping approach that is able to identify genetic loci segregating within the lines, we identified four times more loci influencing tameness and aggression than by an approach that assumes fixation of causative alleles, suggesting that many causative loci were not driven to fixation by the selection. We used RNA sequencing in 150 F2 animals to identify hundreds of loci that influence brain gene expression. Several of these loci colocalize with tameness loci and may reflect the same genetic variants. Through analyses of correlations between allele effects on behavior and gene expression, differential expression between the tame and aggressive rat selection lines, and correlations between gene expression and tameness in F2 animals, we identify the genes Gltscr2, Lgi4, Zfp40 and Slc17a7 as candidate contributors to the strikingly different behavior of the tame and aggressive animals.
Gradual divergence and diversification of mammalian duplicate gene functions
Authors: Assis Raquel , Bachtrog Doris
Published: April 2014

Gene duplication provides raw material for the evolution of functional innovation. We recently developed a phylogenetic method to classify the evolutionary processes underlying the retention and functional evolution of duplicate genes by quantifying divergence of their gene expression profiles. Here, we apply our method to pairs of duplicate genes in eight mammalian genomes, using data from 11 distinct tissues to construct spatial gene expression profiles. We find that young mammalian duplicates are often functionally conserved, and that functional divergence gradually increases with evolutionary distance between species. Examination of expression patterns in genes with conserved and new functions supports the ?out-of-testes? hypothesis, in which new genes arise with testis-specific functions and acquire functions in other tissues over time. While new functions tend to be tissue-specific, there is no bias toward expression in any particular tissue. Thus, duplicate genes acquire a diversity of functions outside of the testes, possibly contributing to the origin of a multitude of complex phenotypes during mammalian evolution.
Characterization of a Lamotrigine‐Resistant Kindled Model of Epilepsy in Mice: Evaluation of Drug Resistance Mechanisms
Authors: Singh Ekta , Pillai Krishna K. , Mehndiratta ManMohan
Published: April 2014

The aims of this study were to characterize a lamotrigine‐resistant kindled model of epilepsy in mice, to study the anticonvulsant effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA), and to probe into the mechanism for resistance. Swiss albino mice were kindled by a subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 30 mg/kg, i.p., every other day for 6 weeks). The mice were pre‐treated (30 min.) either with a low dose of LTG (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or with vehicle, and the seizures were scored. The acute treatment with LTG (15 mg/kg, i.p.) on the last day blocked seizure in the vehicle‐treated group, but the LTG pre‐treated group showed resistance. This resistance was extended to CBZ, but not to VPA. The resistant model was successfully replicated in mice with less kindling development time (6 weeks versus 9 weeks 5 days in rats). A highly significant decrease in the level of histamine (p < 0.001) was found, and there were also decreases in serotonin, GABA and AChE levels (p < 0.05). A significantly low level of histamine correlates with drug resistance and indicates involvement of the H1/H3 receptors. It is suggested that the selective action on voltage‐gated Na+ and Ca2+ channels could explain the differences in the sensitivity of CBZ and VPA.
Perceptual effects and efficacy of intermittent or continuous blood flow restriction resistance training
Authors: Fitschen P. J. , Kistler B. M. , Jeong J. H. , Chung H. R. , Wu P. T. , Walsh M. J. , Wilund K. R.
Published: April 2014

Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise may be an alternative form of resistance training; however, a side of effect of BFR resistance exercise is acute muscle pain. Typically, BFR exercise studies restrict blood flow with a cuff continuously during the exercise bout, including rest periods. However, others have used intermittent BFR where the cuff is inflated only during sets. We performed two studies to compare intermittent and continuous BFR exercise. In study one, eleven subjects randomly proceeded through three treatments of unilateral leg extensions to failure: (i) continuous BFR, (ii) intermittent BFR and (iii) control (exercise without BFR). Pain measurements were taken immediately after each set. In study two, subjects (n = 32) underwent a 5‐week resistance training programme after random assignment to one of the three conditions. Lean mass and strength were assessed at baseline and after training. Continuous BFR resulted in significantly greater pain than intermittent BFR or control. Both BFR conditions resulted in significantly fewer repetitions to failure than control. This suggests that an acute bout of intermittent BFR exercise may produce as much muscle fatigue as an acute bout of continuous BFR exercise, but with less pain. With training, maximal knee extension (P = 0·033) and maximum knee flexion (P = 0·007) strength increased among all groups. There were no significant differences between groups in strength or lean mass. These results suggest that short‐term low‐load resistance training increases muscle strength to a similar extent as low‐load resistance training without BFR.
Influence of exercise loading on magnetic resonance image texture of thigh soft tissues
Authors: Sikiö Minna , Harrison Lara C. V. , Nikander Riku , Ryymin Pertti , Dastidar Prasun , Eskola Hannu J. , Sievänen Harri
Published: April 2014

Adaptation to exercise training can affect bone marrow adiposity; muscle–fat distribution; and muscle volume, strength and architecture. The objective of this study was to identify exercise‐load‐associated differences in magnetic resonance image textures of thigh soft tissues between various athlete groups and non‐athletes. Ninety female athletes representing five differently loading sport types (high impact, odd impact, high magnitude, repetitive low impact and repetitive non‐impact), and 20 non‐athletic clinically healthy female controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Five thigh muscles, subcutaneous fat and femoral bone marrow were analysed with co‐occurrence matrix‐based quantitative texture analysis at two anatomical levels of the dominant leg. Compared with the controls thigh muscle textures differed especially in high‐impact and odd‐impact exercise‐loading groups. However, all sports appeared to modulate muscle textures to some extent. Fat tissue was found different among the low‐impact group, and bone marrow was different in the high‐impact group when compared to the controls. Exercise loading was associated with textural variation in magnetic resonance images of thigh soft tissues. Texture analysis proved a potential method for detecting apparent structural differences in the muscle, fat and bone marrow.