bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Degradable polymer networks and star polymers based on mixtures of two cleavable dimethacrylate crosslinkers: Synthesis, characterization, and degradation
Authors: Themistou Efrosyni , Patrickios Costas S.
Published: September 2009

Mixtures of two cleavable dimethacrylate crosslinkers, the hydrolyzable di(methacryloyloxy‐1‐ethoxy)methane (DMOEM) and the thermolyzable 1,1‐ethylenediol dimethacrylate (EDDMA), were used for the preparation of neat crosslinker polymer networks, randomly crosslinked polymer networks of methyl methacrylate (MMA), and star polymers of MMA, using group transfer polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF). All star polymers and randomly crosslinked polymer networks containing mixtures of the hydrolyzable DMOEM and the thermolyzable EDDMA crosslinkers gave THF‐soluble final products when subjected to sequential thermolysis and hydrolysis, in this order. When applying sequential hydrolysis and thermolysis, only the star polymers with an EDDMA crosslinker content equal to or higher than 50% gave THF‐soluble final products. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5853–5870, 2009
Synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters from poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) and poly(L‐lactic acid) by chain extension
Authors: Li Wen‐Da , Zeng Jian‐Bing , Li Yi‐Dong , Wang Xiu‐Li , Wang Yu‐Zhong
Published: September 2009

A series of aliphatic–aromatic multiblock copolyesters consisting of poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) (PEHT) and poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were synthesized successfully by chain‐extension reaction of dihydroxyl terminated PEHT‐OH prepolymer and dihydroxyl terminated PLLA‐OH prepolymer using toluene‐2,4‐diisoyanate as a chain extender. PEHT‐OH prepolymers were prepared by two step reactions using dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, and 1,6‐hexanediol as raw materials. PLLA‐OH prepolymers were prepared by direct polycondensation of L‐lactic acid in the presence of 1,4‐butanediol. The chemical structures, the molecular weights and the thermal properties of PEHT‐OH, PLLA‐OH prepolymers, and PEHT‐PLLA copolymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, GPC, TG, and DSC. This synthetic method has been proved to be very efficient for the synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight copolyesters (say, higher than Mw = 3 × 105 g/mol). Only one glass transition temperature was found in the DSC curves of PEHT‐PLLA copolymers, indicating that the PLLA and PEHT segments had good miscibility. TG curves showed that all the copolyesters had good thermal stabilities. The resulting novel aromatic–aliphatic copolyesters are expected to find a potential application in the area of biodegradable polymer materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5898–5907, 2009
From Cross‐linking to Plasticization – Characterization of Glycerin/HTPB Blends
Authors: Kohga Makoto
Published: September 2009

Usually, a plasticizer is a relatively low‐viscosity liquid ingredient that is added to improve the mechanical properties and the processing properties of a propellant, such as a lower viscosity for casting or a longer pot life of the mixed, but uncured propellant. The effects of many plasticizers on the performance of the composite propellant have been studied in detail. Glycerin is a triol, a low viscosity material, and inexpensive. It seems that the processing properties and the mechanical properties of the HTPB binder would be improved by the addition of glycerin. The curing behavior, the mechanical properties, and the thermal decomposition of a glycerin/HTPB blend have been investigated in this study. The viscosity of the glycerin/HTPB blend and the increasing ratio of the viscosity versus the elapsed time are lower than those of only HTPB. The mechanical properties are improved by the addition of glycerin, even for a low quantity of glycerin. The thermal decomposition behavior of the blend occurs at lower temperatures when compared to that of HTPB.
The structure and NO binding properties of the nitrophorin‐like heme‐binding protein from Arabidopsis thaliana gene locus At1g79260.1
Authors: Bianchetti Christopher M. , Blouin George C. , Bitto Eduard , Olson John S. , Phillips George N.
Published: September 2009

The protein from Arabidopsis thaliana gene locus At1g79260.1 is comprised of 166‐residues and is of previously unknown function. Initial structural studies by the Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics (CESG) suggested that this protein might bind heme, and consequently, the crystal structures of apo and heme‐bound forms were solved to near atomic resolution of 1.32 Å and 1.36 Å, respectively. The rate of hemin loss from the protein was measured to be 3.6 × 10−5 s−1, demonstrating that it binds heme specifically and with high affinity. The protein forms a compact 10‐stranded β‐barrel that is structurally similar to the lipocalins and fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs). One group of lipocalins, the nitrophorins (NP), are heme proteins involved in nitric oxide (NO) transport and show both sequence and structural similarity to the protein from At1g79260.1 and two human homologues, all of which contain a proximal histidine capable of coordinating a heme iron. Rapid‐mixing and laser photolysis techniques were used to determine the rate constants for carbon monoxide (CO) binding to the ferrous form of the protein (k′CO = 0.23 μM−1 s−1, kCO = 0.050 s−1) and NO binding to the ferric form (k′NO = 1.2 μM–1 s–1, kNO = 73 s−1). Based on both structural and functional similarity to the nitrophorins, we have named the protein nitrobindin and hypothesized that it plays a role in NO transport. However, one of the two human homologs of nitrobindin contains a THAP domain, implying a possible role in apoptosis. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Computational exploration of the network of sequence flow between protein structures
Authors: Cao Baoqiang , Elber Ron
Published: September 2009

We investigate small sequence adjustments (of one or a few amino acids) that induce large conformational transitions between distinct and stable folds of proteins. Such transitions are intriguing from evolutionary and protein‐design perspectives. They make it possible to search for ancient protein structures or to design protein switches that flip between folds and functions. A network of sequence flow between protein folds is computed for representative structures of the Protein Data Bank. The computed network is dense, on an average each structure is connected to tens of other folds. Proteins that attract sequences from a higher than expected number of neighboring folds are more likely to be enzymes and alpha/beta fold. The large number of connections between folds may reflect the need of enzymes to adjust their structures for alternative substrates. The network of the Cro family is discussed, and we speculate that capacity is an important factor (but not the only one) that determines protein evolution. The experimentally observed flip from all alpha to alpha + beta fold is examined by the network tools. A kinetic model for the transition of sequences between the folds (with only protein stability in mind) is proposed. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Local state policy and ‘new‐build gentrification’ in Montréal: the role of the ‘population factor’ in a fragmented governance context
Authors: Rose Damaris
Published: September 2009

This paper contributes to the debate on the role of public policy in gentrification through a case study of three phases of proactive promotion of residential intensification, especially to increase homeownership in central neighbourhoods in the City of Montréal (Québec, Canada). This case is used to explore the following questions: Where municipalities seek to enact ‘urban revitalisation’ by using housing policy tools to manipulate the size and composition of the resident population, what are the influences of local/regional fiscal and jurisdictional contexts? How are these articulated with the city's economic development trajectory? How do neoliberal policy turns emanating from scales beyond municipal jurisdiction influence the balance worked out in the domain of local housing policy between, on the one hand, local states' preoccupation with ‘fiscal pragmatism’ and local investment climates, and on the other hand, the demands they face to use their powers to reduce social inequalities within their territory? In the urban geographical literature, municipal involvement in new‐build gentrification is seen as an expression of a broader turn to urban neoliberalism and the concomitant entrepreneurial turn by the local state. The paper shows that exploring the influence of discourses around the ‘population question’ can add depth, nuance and complexity to such analyses. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relational mechanisms, formal contracts, and local knowledge acquisition by international subsidiaries
Authors: Li Julie Juan , Poppo Laura , Zhou Kevin Zheng
Published: September 2009

This research focuses on relational and contractual mechanisms and examines their impact on foreign subsidiaries' acquisition of tacit and explicit knowledge from local suppliers. Using survey data from 168 foreign subsidiaries operating in China, this study finds broad support for the proposed analytical framework. When the foreign subsidiary and supplier share common goals, the foreign subsidiary acquires greater levels of both explicit and tacit knowledge; trust between the two parties promotes the acquisition of greater levels of tacit than explicit knowledge. However, access to the local supplier network through the focal supplier enables the foreign subsidiary to acquire greater levels of explicit but not tacit knowledge. Formal contracts play a complementary role in knowledge acquisition: contracts enhance the acquisition of explicit knowledge and further strengthen the effects of relational mechanisms on tacit and explicit knowledge acquisition. Overall, these findings provide important implications for foreign subsidiaries regarding how to acquire local knowledge in host countries through both formal and informal mechanisms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies on the assessment process: usage of objective evidence in assessing process capability
Authors: Rout Terry
Published: September 2009

The Appraisal Assistant process assessment tool has been developed to support the assessment or appraisal of process capability and/or organizational maturity, following approaches consistent with the requirements of ISO/IEC 15504 and the Appraisal Requirements for Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI®). In the course of an assessment a workload data file is captured containing information on the volume and usage of collected evidence in the assessment. This paper presents an analysis of evidence usage data from a total of 30 assessments employing a range of Process Assessment Models and Assessment Methods. Key differences between ISO/IEC 15504‐based and CMMI‐based assessments are identified, and some explanations of the differences are offered. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anthropogenic snowfall events in the UK: examples of urban weather modification?
Authors: Wood Curtis R. , Harrison R. Giles
Published: September 2009

Snow in the UK is generally associated with synoptic or mesoscale weather systems, thus snowfall during quiescent anticyclonic conditions is surprising and might not even be forecast. Consequently it could present a hazard. Snowfall during anticyclonic freezing fog conditions at Didcot and Hereford in December 2006 is investigated here. These two snowfalls seem to present circumstances in which anthropogenically‐produced aerosols could have provided ice nuclei within the freezing fog, and therefore might provide characteristic examples of Anthropogenic Snowfall Events (ASEs).
Report of 2,087,915 Surgical Admissions in U.S. Children: Inpatient Mortality Rates by Procedure and Specialty
Authors: Abdullah Fizan , Gabre‐Kidan Alodia , Zhang Yiyi , Sharpe Leilani , Chang David C.
Published: September 2009

Background

Mortality rates for eight surgical procedures have been endorsed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as part of the Inpatient Quality Indicators developed to assist hospitals in identifying potential problem areas and as an indirect measure of quality for inpatient adult surgical care. Little to no broad information relating to the overall mortality relating to the surgical care of children is available. An analysis providing national data on the most common procedures performed in children and their associated mortality would be useful in beginning to create benchmarks for standards of surgical care in the pediatric patient.

Methods

A total of 93 million admissions from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) file from the years 1988–1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004–2005 and the Kids Inpatient Database (KID) from 1997, 2000, 2003 were screened to identify surgical admissions in children under the age of 18 years. Variables such as gender, race, age at admission, length of hospital stay, total hospital charges, insurance status, and inpatient mortality were analyzed. Diagnosis related group (DRG) codes were used to provide inpatient mortality rates for 147 different procedures and 15 surgical subspecialties.

Results

Over the 18‐year period considered, a total of 2,087,915 surgical admissions in U.S. children were identified. Most of the patients were white (60.92%), male (54.64%), and were treated in urban, teaching hospitals (60.36%). Overall inpatient mortality was 0.85%, with a median hospital stay of 3 days. Procedures with the highest mortality were craniotomies for trauma (26.27%), liver and/or intestinal transplants (11.12%), heart transplants (10.94%), and other procedures for multiple significant trauma (10.69%). When analyzed by surgical subspecialty, gastrointestinal or general pediatric surgery saw the highest volume of patients, followed by orthopedic and ear, nose, and throat surgery (534,053 vs. 352,228 vs. 257,118 total procedures, respectively).

Conclusions

Pediatric surgical literature has classically focused on disease‐based outcomes. However, such data do not provide a comprehensive profile of pediatric surgical outcomes by procedure or subspecialty. The present study provides nationwide data relating to inpatient pediatric surgical outcomes in U.S. hospitals by procedure and pediatric subspecialty.
Significance of mucin expression in pancreatobiliary neoplasms
Authors: Yonezawa Suguru , Higashi Michiyo , Yamada Norishige , Yokoyama Seiya , Goto Masamichi
Published: September 2009

Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins that play important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor invasion. We have described, for the first time, that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) with an aggressive behavior and a poor outcome expressed MUC1 (pan‐epithelial membrane‐associated mucin) but did not express MUC2 (intestinal‐type secreted mucin), whereas intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) with indolent behavior and a favorable outcome did not express MUC1 but did express MUC2. These expression profiles of MUC1 and MUC2 related to the prognoses of the patients were also observed in biliary neoplasms such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)‐mass‐forming type (MF), mucin‐producing bile duct tumor (MPBT), and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EHBDC). We also found recently that high expression of MUC4 (tracheobronchial membrane‐associated mucin) in PDACs, ICCs‐MF, and EHBDCs was a new independent poor prognostic factor, although MUC4 was not expressed in normal pancreatobiliary tissue. High de novo expression of MUC5AC (gastric‐type secreted mucin) was observed in many types of pancreatobiliary neoplasms, including all grades of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), and all types of IPMNs and MPBTs, as well as PDACs and ICCs‐MF, although MUC5AC was not expressed in normal pancreatobiliary tissue. The combined status of MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, and MUC5AC expression may be useful for the early detection of pancreatobiliary neoplasms and evaluation of their malignancy. In regard to the mechanism of mucin expression, we have recently reported thatMUC1,MUC2,MUC4, andMUC5AC gene expression is regulated by epigenetics (DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 modification) in cancer cell lines, including PDAC cells. Translational research of mucin gene expression mechanisms, including epigenetics, in pancreatobiliary neoplasms may give us new tools for the early and accurate detection of these neoplasms.
Risk factors for postoperative recurrence of non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shinkawa Hiroji , Uenishi Takahiro , Takemura Shigekazu , Ohba Kazuki , Ogawa Masao , Ichikawa Tsuyoshi , Kodai Shintaro , Yamamoto Takatsugu , Tanaka Hiromu , Kubo Shoji
Published: September 2009

Background/purpose

The majority of hepatocellular carcinomas are associated with chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus. Recently, however, the proportion of non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinomas has been increasing. It is necessary to determine the optimal surgical approach for non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

Seventy‐seven patients with non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent curative hepatic resection were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to clarify risk factors for postoperative recurrence of non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma.

Results

On univariate analysis, surgical margin <5 mm (P = 0.001) and the presence of multiple tumors (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with lower disease‐free survival rate. On multivariate analysis, surgical margin <5 mm and the presence of multiple tumors were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence.

Conclusion

Curative resection with adequate surgical margins for single non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma can achieve a good outcome.
Profile of bubbling solutions to a Liouville system
Authors: Lin Chang-Shou , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2009

In several fields of Physics, Chemistry and Ecology, some models are described by Liouville systems. In this article we first prove a uniqueness result for a Liouville system in

\mathbb{R}^{2}

. Then we establish a uniform estimate for bubbling solutions of a locally defined Liouville system near an isolated blowup point. The uniqueness result, as well as the local uniform estimates are crucial ingredients for obtaining a priori estimate, degree counting formulas and existence results for Liouville systems defined on Riemann surfaces.

En plusieurs champs de Physique, Chimie et Écologie, quelques modèles sont décrits par les systèmes de Liouville. Dans cet article nous prouvons d'abord un résultat de caractère unique pour un système de Liouville dans

\mathbb{R}^{2}

. Alors nous établissons une estimation uniforme pour les solutions d'explosion d'un système de Liouville localement défini prés d'un point d'explosion isolé. Le résultat d'unicité, aussi bien que les estimations uniformes locales sont les ingrédients cruciaux pour obtenir a priori l'estimation, les formules comptant le degré, et l'existence pour les systèmes de Liouville définis sur des surfaces de Reimann.
Acute postoperative pain as a risk factor for chronic pain after surgery
Authors: Nikolajsen Lone , Minella Cristina E.
Published: September 2009

Chronic postoperative pain is a major clinical problem. Several risk factors, including younger age, female gender, psychological, and genetic factors, have been identified. Surgery itself is the most important risk factor. Preoperative pain and severe acute postoperative pain are also very consistent risk factors for the development of chronic postoperative pain. Theoretically, a reduction of postoperative pain should reduce the risk of developing chronic postoperative pain. The present article will summarize the epidemiology of chronic pain after various surgical procedures. The emphasis will be on the relation between acute postoperative pain and chronic postoperative pain. Preventive measures will be discussed.
Neuropathic pain: Peripheral and central mechanisms
Authors: Jensen Troels Staehelin , Finnerup Nanna Brix
Published: September 2009

Neuropathic pain refers to a specific pain syndrome characterized by pain and sensory abnormalities in body parts that have lost their normal peripheral innervation or sensory representation. They are to be distinguished from other types of pain because of differences in the underlying pathophysiology and treatment. Following a peripheral nerve injury, a cascade of events occurs in primary afferents causing peripheral sensitization. Central sensitization, which is increased responsiveness in central neurons, is usually the result of an increased barrage from the periphery, but may also occur independent of such peripheral input. Again, a series of molecular changes contribute to this central sensitization. These peripheral and central sensitization phenomena in neuropathic pain represent the pathophysiological reason for the beneficial effect of antihyperalgesic treatment in this type of pain. In future, such treatment is likely to be replaced by agents that in a more specific ways attack the pain‐generating mechanisms.
Impulsivity, personality and bipolar disorder
Authors: Lewis M. , Scott J. , Frangou S.
Published: September 2009

Background

Increased impulsivity is a diagnostic feature of mania in bipolar disorder (BD). However it is unclear whether increased impulsivity is also a trait feature of BD and therefore present in remission. Trait impulsivity can also be construed as a personality dimension but the relationship between personality and impulsivity in BD has not been explored. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of impulsivity to clinical status and personality characteristics in patients with BD.

Methods

We measured impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and personality dimensions using Eysenck Personality Questionnaire in 106 BD patients and demographically matched healthy volunteers. Clinical symptoms were assessed in all participants using the Clinical Global Impressions Scale, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale. Based on their clinical status patients were divided in remitted (n = 36), subsyndromal (n = 25) and syndromal (n = 45).

Results

There was no difference in BIS-11 and EPQ scores between remitted patients and healthy subjects. Impulsivity, Neuroticism and Psychoticism scores were increased in subsyndromal and syndromal patients. Within the BD group, total BIS-11 score was predicted mainly by symptoms severity followed by Psychoticism and Neuroticism scores.

Conclusions

Increased impulsivity may not be a trait feature of BD. Symptom severity is the most significant determinant of impulsivity measures even in subsyndromal patients.
SM22α inhibits cell proliferation and protects against anticancer drugs and γ‐radiation in HepG2 cells: Involvement of metallothioneins
Authors: Kim Tae Rim , Moon Ji Hye , Lee Hee Min , Cho Eun Wie , Paik Sang Gi , Kim In Gyu
Published: September 2009

Smooth muscle protein 22‐alpha (SM22α) has been postulated to affect the structure and function of the actin filament. In this study, we report on the significant induction of SM22α by cytotoxic agents in HepG2 cells. SM22α‐overexpression inhibited the activation of IGF‐1Rβ/Akt and Erk, consequently suppressing cell proliferation. On the other hand, SM22α‐overexpressing cells became resistant to apoptotic cell death caused by cytotoxic agents, in which metallothionein (MT) isoforms, especially MT1G, were significantly induced. MT1G‐overexpression also conferred cellular resistance, and SM22α regulated the expression of MT1G at a transcriptional level. This study provides the first demonstration of SM22α‐induced blockage of cell proliferation and cellular resistance to overcome the detrimental effects of damaging agents.
Vesicular fractions of sunflower apoplastic fluids are associated with potential exosome marker proteins
Authors: Regente Mariana , Corti-Monzón Georgina , Maldonado Ana María , Pinedo Marcela , Jorrín Jesús , de la Canal Laura
Published: September 2009

Based on the presence of phospholipids in the extracellular fluids (EFs) of sunflower seeds, we have hypothesized on the existence of vesicles in the apoplastic compartment of plants. Ultracentrifugation of sunflower EF allowed the isolation of particles of 50‐200 nm with apparent membrane organization. A small GTPase Rab was putatively identified in this vesicular fraction. Since Rab proteins are involved in vesicular traffic and their presence in exosomes from animal fluids has been demonstrated, evidence presented here supports the existence of exosome‐like vesicles in apoplastic fluids of sunflower. Their putative contribution to intercellular communication in plants is discussed.
Translation termination in pyrrolysine‐utilizing archaea
Authors: Alkalaeva Elena , Eliseev Boris , Ambrogelly Alexandre , Vlasov Peter , Kondrashov Fyodor A. , Gundllapalli Sharath , Frolova Lyudmila , Söll Dieter , Kisselev Lev
Published: September 2009

Although some data link archaeal and eukaryotic translation, the overall mechanism of protein synthesis in archaea remains largely obscure. Both archaeal (aRF1) and eukaryotic (eRF1) single release factors recognize all three stop codons. The archaeal genus Methanosarcinaceae contains two aRF1 homologs, and also uses the UAG stop to encode the 22nd amino acid, pyrrolysine. Here we provide an analysis of the last stage of archaeal translation in pyrrolysine‐utilizing species. We demonstrated that only one of two Methanosarcina barkeri aRF1 homologs possesses activity and recognizes all three stop codons. The second aRF1 homolog may have another unknown function. The mechanism of pyrrolysine incorporation in the Methanosarcinaceae is discussed.
Clausal parentheticals, intonational phrasing, and prosodic theory
Authors: DEHÉ NICOLE
Published: September 2009

This paper investigates the intonational phrasing of three types of parenthetical insertions – non-restrictive relative clauses (NRRCs), full sentences, and comment clauses (CCs) – in actual spoken language. It draws on a large set of data from a corpus of spoken British English. Its aim is twofold: first, it evaluates the correctness of previous claims about the intonational phrasing of parentheticals, specifically the assumption that parentheticals are phrased in a separate intonation domain; second, it discusses the implications of the intonational phrasing of parentheticals for prosodic theory. The results of the data analysis are as follows. First, the longer types of interpolations but not CCs are by default phrased separately. Second, both the temporal and the tonal structure of the host may be affected by the parenthetical. Third, CCs lend themselves more readily to the restructuring of intonational phrases such that they are phrased in one domain together with material from the host. Fourth, the prosodic results cannot be explained in syntactic accounts which do not allow for a syntactic relation between parenthetical and host. Fifth, the interface constraints on intonational phrasing apply to parentheticals. Sixth, the intonational phrasing of parentheticals supports the assumption of a post-syntactic, phonological component of the grammar at which restructuring applies.
On the history of definiteness marking in Scandinavian
Authors: FAARLUND JAN TERJE
Published: September 2009

The definite article in many European languages has its origin in a demonstrative or a pronoun. The development into a definite article is a typical case of grammaticalization. In this article I will demonstrate that this kind of grammaticalization, like all kinds of grammaticalization, can be explained as a case of reduction through reanalysis at acquisition. In addition to the prenominal definite article shared with other Germanic languages, the Scandinavian languages also have a postposed definite article. In Old Norse the postnominal definite article is a clitic merged as a head in D, while in its modern descendent Norwegian it is an inflectional suffix checking a grammatical feature in the Infl domain, expressing definiteness within the DP according to general principles of agreement. Thus, so-called ‘double definiteness’ (den gamle hesten‘the old horse.def’) has become possible as an agreement phenomenon. In Old Norse, the clitic cannot trigger definiteness agreement. This change from a clitic to an inflectional suffix is obviously a case of grammaticalization, but it has wider implications than just the change of morphosyntactic status. ON is shown to have had two projections in the D domain (þau in stóru skip‘those the large ships’). Later the independent definite articleinnwas lost and replaced by the demonstrativeþann>den. As a result (or cause?) its projection was lost, and the postposed article was left without a free-word counterpart. This, combined with phonological reduction and semantic bleaching, reduced it to an inflectional suffix.
Does headedness affect processing? A new look at the VO–OV contrast
Authors: UENO MIEKO , POLINSKY MARIA
Published: September 2009

This paper examines the relationship between headedness and language processing and considers two strategies that potentially ease language comprehension and production. Both strategies allow a language to minimize the number of arguments in a given clause, either by reducing the number of overtly expressed arguments or by reducing the number of structurally required arguments. The first strategy consists of minimizing the number of overtly expressed arguments by using more pro-drop for two-place predicates (Pro-drop bias). According to the second strategy, a language gives preference to one-place predicates over two-place predicates, thus minimizing the number of structural arguments (Intransitive bias). In order to investigate these strategies, we conducted a series of comparative corpus studies of SVO and SOV languages. Study 1 examined written texts of various genres and children's utterances in English and Japanese, while Study 2 examined narrative stories in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Turkish. The results for these studies showed that pro-drop was uniformly more common with two-place predicates than with one-place predicates, regardless of the OV/VO distinction. Thus the Pro-drop bias emerges as a universal economy principle for making utterances shorter. On the other hand, SOV languages showed a much stronger Intransitive bias than SVO languages. This finding suggests that SOV word order with all the constituents explicitly expressed is potentially harder to process; the dominance of one-place predicates is therefore a compensatory strategy in order to reduce the number of preverbal arguments. The overall pattern of results suggests that human languages utilize both general (Pro-drop bias) and headedness-order-specific (Intransitive bias) strategies to facilitate processing. The results on headedness-order-specific strategies are consistent with other researchers' findings on differential processing in head-final and non-head-final languages, for example, Yamashita & Chang's (2001) ‘long-before-short’ parameterization.
Partitions with independent iterates in random dynamical systems
Authors: BEGUN BORIS , DEL JUNCO ANDRÉS
Published: September 2009

Krengel characterized weakly mixing actions (X,T) as those measure-preserving actions having a dense set of partitions of X with infinitely many jointly independent images under iterates of T. Using the tools developed in later papers—one by del Junco, Reinhold and Weiss, another by del Junco and Begun—we prove analogues of these results for weakly mixing random dynamical systems (in other words, relatively weakly mixing systems).
Continuity of the Lyapunov exponent for analytic quasiperiodic cocycles
Authors: JITOMIRSKAYA S. , KOSLOVER D. A. , SCHULTEIS M. S.
Published: September 2009

It is known that the Lyapunov exponent is not continuous at certain points in the space of continuous quasiperiodic cocycles. In this paper we show that it is continuous in the analytic category. Our corollaries include continuity of the Lyapunov exponent associated with general quasiperiodic Jacobi matrices or orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle, in various parameters, and applications to the study of quantum dynamics.
AGGREGATION OF THE RANDOM COEFFICIENT GLARCH(1,1) PROCESS
Authors: Giraitis Liudas , Leipus Remigijus , Surgailis Donatas
Published: September 2009

The paper discusses contemporaneous aggregation of the Linear ARCH (LARCH) model as defined in (1), which was introduced in Robinson (1991) and studied in Giraitis, Robinson, and Surgailis (2000) and other works. We show that the limiting aggregate of the (G)eneralized LARCH(1,1) process in (3)–(4) with random Beta distributed coefficient β exhibits long memory. In particular, we prove that squares of the limiting aggregated process have slowly decaying correlations and their partial sums converge to a self-similar process of a new type.
EXACT LOCAL WHITTLE ESTIMATION OF FRACTIONAL INTEGRATION WITH UNKNOWN MEAN AND TIME TREND
Authors: Shimotsu Katsumi
Published: September 2009

Recently, Shimotsu and Phillips (2005,Annals of Statistics33, 1890–1933) developed a new semiparametric estimator, the exact local Whittle (ELW) estimator, of the memory parameter (d) in fractionally integrated processes. The ELW estimator has been shown to be consistent, and it has the same$N(0,{\textstyle{1 \over 4}})$asymptotic distribution for all values ofd, if the optimization covers an interval of width less than 9/2 and the mean of the process is known. With the intent to provide a semiparametric estimator suitable for economic data, we extend the ELW estimator so that it accommodates an unknown mean and a polynomial time trend. We show that the two-step ELW estimator, which is based on a modified ELW objective function using a tapered local Whittle estimator in the first stage, has an$N(0,{\textstyle{1 \over 4}})$asymptotic distribution for$d \in (- {\textstyle{1 \over 2}},2)$(or$d \in (- {\textstyle{1 \over 2}},{\textstyle{7 \over 4}})$when the data have a polynomial trend). Our simulation study illustrates that the two-step ELW estimator inherits the desirable properties of the ELW estimator.
REWEIGHTED FUNCTIONAL ESTIMATION OF DIFFUSION MODELS
Authors: Xu Ke-Li
Published: September 2009

The local linear method is popular in estimating nonparametric continuous-time diffusion models, but it may produce negative results for the diffusion (or volatility) functions and thus lead to insensible inference. We demonstrate this using U.S. interest rate data. We propose a new functional estimation method of the diffusion coefficient based on reweighting the conventional Nadaraya–Watson estimator. It preserves the appealing bias properties of the local linear estimator and is guaranteed to be nonnegative in finite samples. A limit theory is developed under mild requirements (recurrence) of the data generating mechanism without assuming stationarity or ergodicity.
Fixed points of imaginary reflections on hyperbolic handlebodies
Authors: HIDALGO RUBEN A. , MASKIT BERNARD
Published: September 2009

A Klein–Schottky group is an extended Kleinian group, containing no reflections and whose orientation-preserving half is a Schottky group. A dihedral-Klein–Schottky group is an extended Kleinian group generated by two different Klein–Schottky groups, both with the same orientation-preserving half. We provide a structural description of the dihedral-Klein–Schottky groups.

Let M be a handlebody of genus g, with a Schottky structure. An imaginary reflection τ of M is an orientation-reversing homeomorphism of M, of order two, whose restriction to its interior is an hyperbolic isometry having at most isolated fixed points. It is known that the number of fixed points of τ is at most g + 1; τ is called a maximal imaginary reflection if it has g + 1 fixed points. As a consequence of the structural description of the dihedral-Klein–Schottky groups, we are able to provide upper bounds for the cardinality of the set of fixed points of two or three different imaginary reflections acting on a handlebody with a Schottky structure. In particular, we show that maximal imaginary reflections are unique.
An outbreak of Pontiac fever due toLegionella longbeachaeserogroup 2 found in potting mix in a horticultural nursery in New Zealand
Authors: CRAMP G. J. , HARTE D. , DOUGLAS N. M. , GRAHAM F. , SCHOUSBOE M. , SYKES K.
Published: September 2009

Previous outbreaks of Pontiac fever have invariably been associated with water droplet spread ofLegionellaspp. In January 2007 three workers from a horticultural nursery were admitted to hospital with non-pneumonic legionellosis. Investigations showed that a working party of ten people had been exposed to aerosolized potting mix; nine of these workers met the case definition for Pontiac fever. The presence of genetically indistinguishableLegionella longbeachaeserogroup 2 was demonstrated in clinical specimens from two hospitalized workers and in the potting mix to which they had been exposed. A further seven cases were diagnosed by serological tests. This is the first documented outbreak of Pontiac fever fromL. longbeachaeserogroup 2 confirmed from inhalation of potting mix. Pontiac fever is likely to be under-diagnosed. We advocate the introduction of an industry standard that ensures the use of face masks when handling potting mix and attaching masks and warning labels to potting mix bags sold to the public.
The psychological responses of outpatient breast cancer patients before and during first medical consultation
Authors: Okazaki Shigemi , Iwamitsu Yumi , Masaru Kuranami , Todoroki Keiko , Suzuki Shimako , Yamamoto Kenji , Hagino Masashi , Watanabe Masahiko , Miyaoka Hitoshi
Published: September 2009

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the content of the psychological responses in interviews with breast cancer outpatients receiving initial medical consultation.

Method:

The participants were 180 people who visited the breast cancer outpatient clinic at Kitasato University Hospital between November 2004 and August 2005. The remaining 176 participants (39 breast cancer patients and 137 benign tumor patients; average age ± SD: 50.7 ± 12.4 years) were analyzed. Two clinical psychologists carried out the interview, asking the participants to speak freely about their anxieties, worries, thoughts, and feelings up until the medical examination. This study used a content analysis of interviews to chronologically examine psychological response of cancer patients seeking medical consultation at three points in time.

Results:

Patients at the time of their first outpatient breast cancer consultation experience negative feelings before the examination, directly influenced by the suspicion of cancer. These include anxiety and worries, fear, evasion, depression, and impatience. These tendencies do not change at the time of consultation. However, in addition to negative feelings, some people also possess positive feelings, either simultaneously or at a different point in time. Further, many patients tend to talk at length about psychological responses before seeking treatment, understanding the process they went through to come to seek treatment as an important event.

Significance of results:

It is important for medical workers to bear in mind the psychological conflicts that patients may undergo before seeking treatment and ensure that sufficient communication takes place.
International comparison study on the primary concerns of terminally ill cancer patients in short-term life review interviews among Japanese, Koreans, and Americans
Authors: Ando Michiyo , Morita Tatsuya , Ahn Sung-Hee , Marquez-Wong Felicia , Ide Saburo
Published: September 2009

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the primary concerns of terminally ill cancer patients in a Short-Term Life Review among Japanese, Koreans, and Americans to develop intervention programs to be tailored to patients in other countries.

Method:

Twenty Japanese, 16 Korean, and 7 American terminally ill cancer patients who were in the hospice wards of general Christian hospitals in each country participated in this study. Medical staff members (nurses, social workers, clinical psychologists) performed Short-Term Life Review Interviews with each patient. Patients reviewed their lives in the first session, the interviewers made simple albums for each patient in the week following the first session, and patients and interviewers then confirmed the contents of the album. The treatment period was 1 week. Measurement instruments included the Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual (FACIT-Sp) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The contents of each interview session were transcribed, and correspondence analysis and a significance test were conducted on these data to select characteristic words or phrases.

Results:

Using the FACIT-Sp scores, the following concerns were chosen, in descending order of frequency. In Japan, primary concerns consisted of such ideas as “good human relationships and transcendence,” “achievements and satisfaction,” “good memories and important things,” and “bitter memories.” In Korea, “religious life,” “right behavior for living,” “strong consideration for children and will,” and “life for living” were primary concerns. In the United States, “love, pride, will to children,” “good, sweet memories,” and “regret and a feeling of loss” were primary concerns.

Significance of results:

We clarify the differences among the primary concerns from the Short-Term Life Reviews, arguing that we can improve the spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients by focusing on the primary concerns within each country.
A Scripture-formed Communion? Possibilities and Prospects after Lambeth, ACC, and General Convention
Authors: Wright Nicholas Thomas
Published: September 2009

The question of the authority, use and relevance of Scripture in today’s Anglican Communion needs to be addressed more thoroughly. All authority is God’s authority, and the question of Scripture’s authority needs to be reframed in that light: God is not merely providing information and instruction, but taking forward his Kingdom-project, and Scripture is not merely a witness to that but also a necessary agent, equipping God’s people for their tasks. Various questions then emerge in a new light: we need an integrated, layered, and nuanced vision of the whole Scripture, foregrounding the gospel challenge of new creation and recognizing the inadequacy of some standard slogans such as Jesus’ supposed slackening of the law. In particular, the biblical basis of ‘covenant’ needs further exploration, and the whole communion should embrace a much richer practice of Scripture reading and study to face the challenges of tomorrow’s world.
Dynamic rupture modeling on unstructured meshes using a discontinuous Galerkin method
Authors: de la Puente J. , Ampuero J.‐P. , Käser M.
Published: September 2009

We introduce the application of an arbitrary high‐order derivative (ADER) discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to simulate earthquake rupture dynamics. The ADER‐DG method uses triangles as computational cells which simplifies the process of discretization of very complex surfaces and volumes by using external automated tools. Discontinuous Galerkin methods are well suited for solving dynamic rupture problems in the velocity‐stress formulation as the variables are naturally discontinuous at the interface between two elements. Therefore, the fault has to be honored by the computational mesh. The so‐called Riemann problem can be solved to obtain well defined values of the variables at the discontinuity itself. Fault geometries of high complexity can be modeled thanks to the flexibility of unstructured meshes, which solves a major bottleneck of other high‐order numerical methods. Additionally, element refinement and coarsening are easily controlled in the meshing process to better resolve the near‐fault area of the model. The fundamental properties of the method are shown, as well as a series of validating exercises with reference solutions and a comparison with the well‐established finite difference, boundary integral, and spectral element methods, in order to test the accuracy of our formulation. An example of dynamic rupture on a nonplanar fault based upon the Landers 1992 earthquake fault system is presented to illustrate the main potentials of the new method.
On the onset of the ice phase in boundary layer Arctic clouds
Authors: Gayet Jean‐François , Treffeisen Renate , Helbig Alfred , Bareiss Jörg , Matsuki Atsushi , Herber Andreas , Schwarzenboeck Alfons
Published: September 2009

Airborne measurements in slightly supercooled Arctic boundary layer stratocumulus have been carried out in Spitsbergen on 29 May during the ASTAR 2004 campaign. Cloud measurements have been performed in both warm and cold sectors of a cold front passing the observation area. The results show a north–south gradient in freezing properties and thus evidence of significant differences in the cloud microstructure. Ahead of the front line, in the warm sector (cloud top temperature at −4°C), no ice particles were detected. The cloud formed in clean air conditions (aerosol concentration of 300 cm−3) with subsequent large effective diameter (20–26 μm) and low concentration (50 cm−3) of cloud droplets. Therefore, the collision‐coalescence process was effective, favoring the drizzle formation with concentration up to 300 L−1 (D > 50 μm). In the cold sector behind the front, with a lower cloud top temperature (−6°C), ice crystals were observed in the entire cloud layer, and no droplets larger than about 50 μm (drizzle) were detected. The observations confirm high ice particle concentrations (up to 50 L−1) even with rather warm cloud top (−6°C) compared to previous studies in Arctic clouds. The shattering of isolated drops during freezing and the ice splinter production during riming appear to be the most likely processes to explain the observations of high ice concentration in the cold sector. Analysis of back trajectories did not reveal significant differences in the origin of the air masses in the warm and cold sectors that might have contributed to the differentiation of aerosol composition and thus cloud properties. A cloud top temperature colder than −4°C appears to be required for the onset of the ice phase in this slightly supercooled stratiform cloud.