bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electricity Subsidies in Low-Cost Jurisdictions: The Case of British Columbia
Authors: Pineau Pierre-Olivier
Published: November 2008

Les subventions à la consommation d’énergie (par le biais de programmes de bas tarifs réglementés) incitent à consommer plus d’énergie et contribuent à la détérioration de l’environnement. De telles subventions, courantes dans les pays industrialisés – où la consommation d’énergie est déjà relativement élevée –, tendent aussi à favoriser les ménages à revenus élevés. Dans cet article, j’analyse le concept de subventions à la consommation d’énergie, et j’évalue l’importance de ces subventions accordées aux consommateurs résidentiels en Colombie-Britannique; j’évalue également la répartition des subventions selon les différentes catégories de revenus. Les résultats indiquent que les ménages à revenus élevés, qui consomment plus d’électricité que les ménages à faibles revenus, reçoivent plus de 500 $ par année en subventions; les ménages à faibles revenus reçoivent pour leur part environ 200 $. Au total, ces subventions équivalent à environ 489 millions de dollars par année en Colombie-Britannique. Si les tarifs résidentiels d’électricité s’établissaient aux alentours du prix d’exportation régional, cela générerait des revenus supplémentaires de 432 millions de dollars, même avec la mise sur pied d’un programme de transfert qui ciblerait les ménages à faibles revenus pour compenser la hausse des tarifs. De plus, la consommation d’électricité dans la province diminuerait alors de 25%.
Growth inhibition and chemosensitization of exogenous nitric oxide released from NONOates in glioma cells in vitro
Authors: Weyerbrock Astrid , Baumer Brunhilde , Papazoglou Anna
Published: November 2008

Object

Exogenous nitric oxide (NO) from NO donors has cytotoxic, chemosensitizing, and radiosensitizing effects, and increases vascular permeability and blood flow in tumors. Yet little is known about whether these cytotoxic and chemosensitizing effects can be observed in glioma cells at doses that alter tumor physiological characteristics in vivo and whether these effects are tumor selective.

Methods

The effect of NO released from proline NONOate, diethylamine NONOate, spermine NONOate, and sodium nitrite on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity to carboplatin of cultured glioma cells was studied in C6, U87 glioma cells, human glioblastoma cells, and human astrocytes and fibroblasts.

Results

Although proline NONOate failed to induce cell death, the other NO donors induced growth arrest when present in high concentrations (10−2 M) in all cell lines. Chemosensitization was observed after concomitant incubation with spermine NONOate and carboplatin in C6 and human glioblastoma cells. There is strong evidence that cell death occurs primarily by necrosis and to a lesser degree by apoptosis. The NO doses, which altered tumor physiology in vivo, were not cytotoxic, indicating that NO alters vascular permeability and cell viability in vivo by different mechanisms.

Conclusions

The authors found that NO-generating agents at high concentrations are potent growth inhibitors and might also be useful as chemosensitizers in glioma cells. These data corroborate the theory that the use of NOgenerating agents may play a role in the multimodal treatment of malignant gliomas but that the NO release must be targeted more specifically to tumor cells to improve selectivity and efficacy.
Effect of Ammonia on the Gas-Phase Hydration of the Common Atmospheric Ion HSO4-
Authors: Nadykto Alexey B. , Yu Fangqun , Herb Jason
Published: November 2008

Hydration directly affects the mobility, thermodynamic properties, lifetime and nucleation rates of atmospheric ions. In the present study, the role of ammonia on the formation of hydrogen bonded complexes of the common atmospheric hydrogensulfate (HSO4-) ion with water has been investigated using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). Our findings rule out the stabilizing effect of ammonia on the formation of negatively charged cluster hydrates and show clearly that the conventional (classical) treatment of ionic clusters as presumably more stable compared to neutrals may not be applicable to pre-nucleation clusters. These considerations lead us to conclude that not only quantitative but also qualitative assessment of the relative thermodynamic stability of atmospheric clusters requires a quantum-chemical treatment.
A New Phloroglucinol Diglycoside Derivative from Hypericum japonicum Thunb.
Authors: Wang Xiao  Wei , Mao Yu , Wang Nai-Li , Yao Xin  Sheng
Published: November 2008

A new phloroglucinol diglycoside 1, together with eight known compounds, were isolated from Hypericum japonicum Thunb. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods to be 4,6-dimethyl-5-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl] multifidol. Different solvent extracts of Hypericum japonicum Thunb. were tested for in vivo antihypoxic activity using mice, with the EtOAc extract showing better activity.
Surface modification and metallization of polyimide using gold colloids as a seed layer
Authors: Kong Yong , Shao Jianqun , Wang Wenchang , Chen Zhidong , Chu Haixia
Published: November 2008

Herein we report on metallization of Cu on to surface‐modified polyimide resin, the method of which relies on potassium hydroxide‐induced modification of the polyimide surface to introduce carboxylic acid groups and incorporation of gold colloids as a seed layer through reduction of chloroauric acid. The contact angle of modified polyimide surface with water changed from 70 to 35° due to the hydrolysis of polyimide. Secondary amine group on the surface was detected with attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry, suggesting that tertiary amine group has turned into secondary group. In addition, on the basis of hydrophilic behavior, we succeeded in depositing gold colloids on the chemically modified surface. SEM image of copper electroless plated on polyimide surface indicated that copper particles were compact and about ∼ 300 nm in diameter. It showed that gold colloids provide an excellent conductive layer to catalyze the electroless plating of Cu on polyimide surface. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Kinetics of serum parathyroid hormone during and after thyroid surgery
Authors: Hermann M , Ott J , Promberger R , Kober F , Karik M , Freissmuth M
Published: November 2008

Background

Hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy is thought to result from surgical damage to the parathyroid glands. This study analysed postoperative outcomes related to perioperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.

Methods

Some 402 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery were studied prospectively to monitor perioperative changes in serum PTH and Ca2+ levels, and clinical symptoms of hypocalcaemia.

Results

Transient symptomatic hypocalcaemia and persistent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 61 (15 per cent) and six (1·5 per cent) of 402 patients respectively. The intraoperative decline in PTH was 20·2 per cent; the trough (63·8 per cent of preoperative value) was reached 3 h after surgery. Before surgery, PTH levels were correlated inversely with serum Ca2+ concentration. The correlation remained positive from 3 h after surgery until postoperative day 14. Thus, PTH secretion was reduced, but remained sufficient to prevent symptomatic hypocalcaemia in most patients. A low serum PTH level was predictive of persistent hypoparathyroidism (sensitivity and negative predictive value 100 per cent, but poor specificity of 54·1 per cent).

Conclusion

Thyroid surgery impairs hormone secretion by the parathyroid glands resulting in postoperative latent parathyroid insufficiency. Normal PTH levels 3 h after surgery and a normal serum calcium level on the first postoperative day rule out persistent hypoparathyroidism.
Long-term outcome and risk of oesophageal cancer after surgery for achalasia
Authors: Zaninotto G , Rizzetto C , Zambon P , Guzzinati S , Finotti E , Costantini M
Published: November 2008

Background

Few studies have reported very long-term results after surgery for oesophageal achalasia. The aim of the present study was to assess long-term subjective outcomes after cardiomyotomy and partial fundoplication, focusing specifically on the risk of oesophageal cancer.

Methods

Clinical and demographic information from 228 consecutive patients who had surgery between 1980 and 1992 was extracted from hospital files. Survival status and dates of death were obtained from census offices. Causes of death were obtained from public registries and compared with those of the general population. Symptoms were assessed by means of a questionnaire and endoscopy results were scrutinized.

Results

Among 226 patients who could be traced, 182 of 184 survivors were contacted and the cause of death established for 41 of 42 patients. At a median follow-up of 18·3 years, almost 90 per cent of patients were satisfied with the treatment. Four had developed squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma 2, 8, 13 and 18 years after surgery, one of whom was still alive. The standardized mortality ratio for oesophageal carcinoma was significantly higher than expected in men.

Conclusion

Cardiomyotomy and partial fundoplication is an excellent long-term treatment for achalasia. Men with achalasia have an increased risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
Arthritogenic dsRNA is present in synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis patients with an erosive disease course
Authors: Bokarewa Maria , Tarkowski Andrej , Lind Magnus , Dahlberg Leif , Magnusson Mattias
Published: November 2008

Viruses may be part of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a prototypic viral conformation of nucleic acid that is highly arthritogenic in mice. Therefore, we developed an ELISA to detect dsRNA in sera and synovial fluids (SF) in RA patients and in osteoarthritic controls. The developed ELISA recognizes picogram levels of viral or synthetic dsRNA but shows no reactivity against DNA, synthetic ssRNA, or total RNA prepared from mammalian cells. Before analysis by ELISA, each sample was subjected to RNA precipitation. The RA patients had significantly higher levels of dsRNA than the osteoarthritis patients in SF and in sera. In 7 of 17 RA patients, EBV was present in SF and in all but one of these this was accompanied by the presence of dsRNA. No parvovirus, cytomegalovirus, or polyomavirus was detected. The anti‐viral cytokine IFN‐α was detected in SF in 10 of 21 RA patients, but in none of the osteoarthritis patients. Notably, RA patients with erosive disease course had significantly higher levels of dsRNA in SF than non‐erosive patients, but no correlation between dsRNA levels and the presence of RF or levels of C‐reactive protein, IL‐6, or IFN‐α was observed.
FCRL6 distinguishes mature cytotoxic lymphocytes and is upregulated in patients with B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Schreeder Daniel M. , Pan Jicun , Li Fu Jun , Vivier Eric , Davis Randall S.
Published: November 2008

Fc receptor‐like 6 (FCRL6), the most recently characterized member of the FCRL family, is a cell surface glycoprotein with tyrosine‐based regulatory potential. An extensive survey of human hematopoietic tissues disclosed that FCRL6 expression by NK‐ and T‐cell subpopulations increases as a function of differentiation and is remarkably restricted to mature lymphocytes with cytotoxic capability. In particular, FCRL6 distinguishes perforin‐expressing CD56dim NK cells, Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ γδ T cells, effector and effector memory CD8+ T cells, and rare cytotoxic CD4+ T cells in adult tissues. Analysis of this receptor in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was also performed. FCRL6 was found to mark significantly expanded populations of cytotoxic CD8+ T, CD4+ T, and NK cells in patients with CLL. Despite sequence homology with the known Fc receptors for IgG and IgE, FCRL6 did not bind Ig. Although FCRL6 can be tyrosine‐phosphorylated, its antibody‐mediated ligation was unable to influence cellular activation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that FCRL6 is a distinct indicator of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes that is upregulated in diseases characterized by chronic immune stimulation.
Ni2+ removal from aqueous solutions using conditioned clinoptilolites: Kinetic and isotherm studies
Authors: Çoruh Semra , Ergun Osman Nuri
Published: November 2008

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of conditioning with NaCl and HCl solutions on removal of Ni2+ ions from aqueous solutions using natural clinoptilolite. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the effects of various parameters such as chemically conditioning, adsorbent amount, contact time, initial pH of the solution, mixing temperature, and initial metal ions. The results clearly showed that the conditioning improved both the exchange capacity and the removal efficiency. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin‐Kaganer‐Radushkevich (DKR) isotherm models were adopted to describe the adsorption isotherms. Adsorption isotherms of Ni2+ ions could be best modeled by Langmuir equation. Three simplified models including pseudo‐second‐order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich were used to test the adsorption kinetics. These results indicate a significant potential for the natural and conditioned clinoptilolites as an adsorbent/ion‐exchange material for heavy metal removal. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009
Preparation of carbon‐14 labeled (3R)‐7‐hydroxy‐N‐(1S)‐1‐{[(3R,4R)‐4‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3,4‐dimethyl‐1‐piperidinyl]methyl}‐2‐methylpropyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolinecarboxamide (JDTic)
Authors: Berrang Bertold D. , Lewin Anita H. , Carroll F. Ivy
Published: November 2008

Starting with [14C]‐D‐tyrosine, carbon‐14 labeled JDTic dihydrochloride with specific activity 15 mCi/mol was prepared in 5% radiochemical yield. Separation of the (3R)‐ and (3S)‐diastereomers was carried out via the 3‐phenyl‐2,3,10,10a‐tetrahydro‐5H‐imidazo[1,5‐b]isoquinolin‐1‐ones formed by reaction with benzaldehyde. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The alchemy of Jargon: Etymologies of urologic neologisms: Number 1—introduction to the series
Authors: Shelfer Lochlan F. , Isaacs John T.
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND

As the scientific community is increasingly severed from the study of linguistics, once an imperative for all scholars, the underlying significance of their common technical words is becoming blurred. This series of notes will focus on the etymologies of technical scientific terms pertinent to the biomedical sciences in general and to urology in particular.

METHODS

These notes will give a detailed background of the history of each technical term, including how it came into being, whence it was derived, and how it impacted the scientific community through the ages.

RESULTS

In this installment, the following terms will by analyzed: Jargon, Neologism, Nonce, Doctorate, Medicine, Graduate, Philosophy, and Philology.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of the history and significance of scientific terms common to the urological community works towards a fortification of their power by offering a reminder of their origins. Prostate 69:225–227, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Alchemy of Jargon: Etymologies of Urologic Neologisms. Number 3: The genesis of steroid terminology
Authors: Shelfer Lochlan
Published: November 2008

Background

As the scientific community is increasingly severed from the study of linguistics, the underlying significance of their common technical words is becoming blurred. This article will focus on the genesis of terminology in the field of sexual steroids.

Methods

These notes will give a detailed background of the history of technical terms, including how they came into being, whence they were derived, and how they impacted the scientific community through the ages.

Results

In this installment, following terms are analyzed: Steroid, Cholesterol, Estrogen, Estrous, Progesterone, Estradiol, Androgen, and Testosterone.

Conclusions

This analysis of the history and significance of scientific terms common to the urological community works towards a fortification of their power by offering a reminder of their origins. Prostate 69:228–230, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cellular internalization of arginine‐rich peptides into tobacco suspension cells: a structure–activity relationship study
Authors: Mizuno Takashi , Miyashita Masahiro , Miyagawa Hisashi
Published: November 2008

Translocation of several fluorescently labeled arginine‐rich peptides into intact plant cells was quantitatively examined in order to investigate the structural factors required for efficient cellular internalization, and thereby, to evaluate the potential of arginine‐rich peptides as intracellular delivery vectors in plants. Cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) such as arginine‐rich peptides permit the direct introduction of biologically active macromolecules into plant cytoplasm to manipulate various intracellular processes. While a significant level of adsorption of applied arginine‐rich peptides was observed in the cell walls rich in negative charges, removal of adsorbed peptides by trypsin treatment allowed determination of the amount of internalized peptides in a quantitative manner using spectrofluorometric analysis. The internalization of arginine‐rich peptides depended on the number of arginine residues, and the peptide containing eight arginine residues showed most effective internalization. Besides, the position of small cargoes attached to the arginine‐rich peptides markedly affected the internalization efficiency. The results obtained in this study provide useful information for the development of efficient intracellular delivery tools in plant science. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inference by eye: Reading the overlap of independent confidence intervals
Authors: Cumming Geoff
Published: November 2008

When 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) on independent means do not overlap, the two‐tailed p‐value is less than 0.05 and there is a statistically significant difference between the means. However, p for non‐overlapping 95 per cent CIs is actually considerably smaller than 0.05: If the two CIs just touch, p is about 0.01, and the intervals can overlap by as much as about half the length of one CI arm before p becomes as large as 0.05. Keeping in mind this rule—that overlap of half the length of one arm corresponds approximately to statistical significance at p = 0.05—can be helpful for a quick appreciation of figures that display CIs, especially if precise p‐values are not reported. The author investigated the robustness of this and similar rules, and found them sufficiently accurate when sample sizes are at least 10, and the two intervals do not differ in width by more than a factor of 2. The author reviewed previous discussions of CI overlap and extended the investigation to p‐values other than 0.05 and 0.01. He also studied 95 per cent CIs on two proportions, and on two Pearson correlations, and found similar rules apply to overlap of these asymmetric CIs, for a very broad range of cases. Wider use of figures with 95 per cent CIs is desirable, and these rules may assist easy and appropriate understanding of such figures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The transformation of social customs in Ming Dynasty Fujian
Authors: Hong Hsu
Published: November 2008

Under the stimulus of developing commercial economy and overseas trade, the social customs characterized by prevailing luxury and extravagance was gradually formed in Fujian Province from the mid-Ming Dynasty on. The transformation started from the material culture and later spread to people’s mental attitudes including the public ethics and human relations. Compared with what happened in the Jiangnan area (the Yangtze River Delta), the change in Fujian Province was less profound and thorough, but it highly surpassed the North China society, where many sub-prefectures and counties remained unchanged till the end of the Ming Dynasty. However, there were also some coastal or interior regions in Fujian which continuously maintained a simple and unspoiled social atmosphere for the unbalanced economic development.
Phytosterol‐Enriched Yogurt Increases LDL Affinity and Reduces CD36 Expression in Polygenic Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Ruiu Gianluca , Pinach Silvia , Veglia Fabrizio , Gambino Roberto , Marena Saverio , Uberti Barbara , Alemanno Natalina , Burt Davina , Pagano Gianfranco , Cassader Maurizio
Published: November 2008

Dietary enrichment with phytosterols (plant sterols similar to cholesterol) is able to reduce plasma cholesterol levels due to reduced intestinal absorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phytosterol‐enriched yogurt consumption on the major serum lipid parameters, low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity, LDL‐receptor affinity, and CD36 expression in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fifteen patients affected by polygenic hypercholesterolemia were evaluated in a single‐blind randomized crossover study after a 4 weeks treatment with a phytosterol‐enriched yogurt containing 1.6 g esterefied phytosterols (equivalent to 1.0 g free phytosterol). Lipid parameters were compared with a phytosterol‐free placebo‐controlled diet. The effect of the two treatments on each variable, measured as percentage change, was compared by paired samples t test and covariance analysis. The treatment induced a modest but significant decrease in LDL‐cholesterol levels (4.3%, P = 0.03) and a significant increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) 3‐cholesterol (17.1%, P = 0.01). Phytosterol consumption had no effect on LDL‐receptor activity whereas patient LDL‐receptor affinity significantly increased (9.7%, P = 0.01) and CD36 expression showed a marked significant decrease (18.2%, P = 0.01) in the phytosterol‐enriched yoghurt patients. Our data show that the oral administration of a phytosterol‐enriched yogurt has modest but significant effects on commonly measured lipid parameters. The improvement of LDL‐receptor affinity and the reduction in CD36 expression may reflect an important antiatherogenic effect.
Introduction: The Conservative Turn in Postwar United States Working-Class History
Authors: Cowie Jefferson
Published: November 2008

The topic of working-class conservatism in the postwar United States might seem a particularly narrow and nationally-specific theme for a journal that stakes its reputation on the broader terrain of comparative and transnational history. Yet, in so many ways, the United States—despite its recently diminished role both economically and militarily around the world—continues to be the center of the globe's economic and military power structure. To risk overstatement, the domestic politics of the United States are a central part of international politics. At the core of a nation's political culture, it might be added, are its working people, whether in dying industrial towns or burgeoning big box retail centers. Readers outside the United States might have some sympathy for the plea of British rocker Billy Bragg who included a note to his American fans in his 1988 release. “I have no vote in your Presidential election,” Bragg explained as the Reagan years wound to a close, “yet its outcome will directly affect my future and the future of millions of other people around the world. Forgive me for putting this immense responsibility on your shoulders… . Remember, when you elect a President, you are electing a President for all of us. Please be more careful this time.”
Continuing debates over the native speaker: a report on a symposium on English in India and Indian English
Authors: Agnihotri R K
Published: November 2008

The Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, India organized a symposium/dialogue on English in India and Indian English held during January 4–6, 2007 at the The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, India. It was devoted to a discussion of the issues addressed in the keynote paper by Rajendra Singh, which some 23 scholars from throughout the world had been invited to respond to. Although a few of the invited scholars were not able to attend, they were kind enough to send their papers and we had a very productive and lively discussion in which the academic staff of CIIL and local journalists, students, and educationists also participated. This report is organized as follows: in section 1, we summarize the keynote address and all the full-length responses to it; in section 2, we summarize the brief comments and observations that were presented or tabled by the invited respondents; in section 3, we offer concluding remarks and a brief summary of Singh's responses to the interventions summarized in sections 1 and 2.
The effect of light, seed size and biomass removal on cotyledon reserve use and root mass allocation inGustavia superbaseedlings
Authors: Barberis Ignacio M. , Dalling James W.
Published: November 2008

Some large-seeded tree species have cotyledonary reserves that persist for months after seedling establishment. We carried out two screened growing-house experiments with seedlings ofGustavia superba(Lecythidaceae) to test hypotheses proposed to explain why cotyledons are retained. We grew seedlings from large and small seeds in sun and shade to determine if cotyledon reserves supplement photosynthetic carbon gain, and in a second experiment applied defoliation and shoot removal treatments to determine if reserves are allocated to resprout tissue. In each experiment we tracked cotyledonary resource use over time and measured the fraction of seedling biomass allocated to roots and shoots. We found no evidence that light environment, seed size or damage treatment affected the rate of cotyledon resource usage; 20% of the cotyledonary mass remained 9 wk after leaves were fully developed in both sun and shade and 25–30% of the cotyledonary mass remained 6 wk after leaf or shoot removal. Instead, cotyledon reserves appear to be slowly translocated to roots regardless of light environment or seedling damage. Once seedlings are established, lost tissue is replaced using reserves stored in roots; in high light, damaged seedlings had a lower root mass fraction (0.42) than undamaged ones (0.56) when considering the mass of tissue removed and resprout tissue combined. We conclude that cotyledon reserves are important for resprouting during early seedling emergence and establishment, but do not directly contribute to seedling growth or biomass recovery from herbivores at the post-establishment stage. Persistence of cotyledons may ultimately depend on the development of sufficient root mass for reserve reallocation.
Community structure and topographic distribution of lianas in a watershed on Okinawa, south-western Japan
Authors: Kusumoto Buntarou , Enoki Tsutomu , Watanabe Yasushi
Published: November 2008

We investigated spatial distribution of lianas, and examined relationships between distribution and topography in a secondary forest on the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, south-west Japan. All lianas with a stem diameter exceeding 2 cm at a point 1.3 m from the root were inventoried, and stem diameter and root position were measured within a small watershed (16.0625 ha). Geographical information systems (GIS) were used to divide the watershed into 257 cells in total, each cell being 25 m × 25 m. Three topographic parameters were measured in each cell: slope angle, slope aspect and relief. In total, 930 stems from 20 species of lianas were recorded. Distribution of all liana stems and 14 of 15 species analysed were biased toward concave sites. Abundance of total lianas was higher in concave sites than in convex sites. Our results suggest that distribution and abundance of lianas are strongly affected by topography, and that lianas tend to be distributed in sites with more water and nutrients, which are formed by relief in the Okinawa forest. Factors affecting stem density differed among species.
Flowering as a key factor in ant–Philodendron interactions
Authors: Gibernau Marc , Orivel Jérome , Dejean Alain , Delabie Jacques , Barabé Denis
Published: November 2008

With the spread of angiosperms some lineages of ants, originally ground-dwellers and predators, adapted to arboreal life. Ground-nesting worker ants probably constituted the first case of biotic plant protection through their predatory activity while foraging on plant foliage. Then, ants developed tight evolutionary bonds with plants varying from facultative diffuse relationships to obligatory specific associations, necessary to the survival of both partners. In diffuse relationships plants induce different ant species to patrol their foliage by producing energy-rich food rewards such as extra-floral nectar (EFN) and/or food bodies (FBs) (Dejean et al. 2007, Heil 2008, Heil & McKey 2003). First described by Janzen (1966), myrmecophytes, or plants that provide specialized plant-ants a nesting place in hollow structures called domatia, represent a good example of a strict association as, in return, they are protected from several kinds of enemies, particularly defoliating insects (Heil & McKey 2003, Hölldobler & Wilson 1990).
Optimalizing Interlanguage Feedback to the Foreign Language Learner
Authors: Smith Mike Sharwood
Published: November 2008

The term “interlanguage” is generally used in connection with the performance of second language learners in naturalistic learning situations, that is, outside the classroom and in situations where message CONTENT rather than message FORM is in focus. This is a reflection of the generally healthy separation that has taken place between investigations into learning and research into teaching or instruction. It remains true, however, that teaching methods and techniques can hardly be formulated without taking into account our current knowledge of what goes on or what seems to go on in learning. This, of course, has to be done with all due caution, that is, with a full appreciation of the limited nature of this current knowledge (Tarone et al. 1976). Seeing teaching from a learner's point of view is, in itself, a desirable attitude and one which is likely to be fostered if one searches through the literature on acquisition for possible insights, pointers, and even techniques of relevance to language instruction. Over the past four years, instructional techniques for teaching writing to advanced learners of English as a foreign language have been developed at the English Department, Utrecht University. These techniques are directly inspired by research into learning and have in turn proved to be of value for such research even though their primary aim is instructional. This paper will concentrate on the instructional aspects.
Linguistic Systems and Linguistic Change in an Interlanguage
Authors: Huebner Thom
Published: November 2008

The question central to interlanguage research, and all language acquisition research, is ‘How do acquirers internalize linguistic patterns of the target language?’ Much research addressing this question is based on the hypothesis that the language of the second language acquirers represents a systematic linguistic continuum. The interlanguage hypothesis suggests two questions which are prerequisite to answering the central question cited above: 1) What are the form-function relationships of the interlanguage? and 2) How do those form-function relationships change as the acquirer revises the interlanguage?

The current paper reports on a one-year longitudinal analysis of the interlanguage of an adult acquiring English without formal instruction (Huebner 1983). It presents observations of the form-function relationships in the early interlanguage and of the ways these relationships change over the twelve months of the study.

It describes features of the early interlanguage related to presupposed-asserted information, topic-comment organization of information, and referentiality, which express both pragmatic/discourse functions and semantico-grammatical case functions (Pfaff 1982) in the interlanguage, and examines the changing functions of these forms with attention to the role of set phrases, quasi-spontaneous speech, and processes of neutralization in the changing interlanguage system. The paper concludes by proposing two ways in which hypotheses may be neutralized and speculates that these two processes are reciprocally linked.
‘Simple Codes’ and the Source of the Second Language Learner's Initial Heuristic Hypothesis
Authors: Corder S. P.
Published: November 2008

Linguistic theory must be sufficiently rich and comprehensive to be able to account for the structure of the most complex or elaborate manifestation of language. In consequence any structurally less complex verbal behaviour is typically explained as a use of some ‘reduced’ or ‘simplified’ code or register. Many languages, if not all, are said to possess such reduced registers and it is said to be part of a native speaker's competence to be able to use such ‘reduced registers’ where appropriate. It is part of his total communicative competence to know when it is appropriate to use such registers. These reduced or simplified registers are associated with more or less well defined situations of language use or types of discourse. Telegraphese is obviously restricted by the medium of transmission as well as the restricted range of communicative functions it is used for, e.g. orders, reports and announcements of plans. Technical description in botanical and ornithological reference books have a purely referential function, while the so-called language of instructions has clearly restricted rhetorical functions.
Skill Theory and Language Teaching
Authors: Levelt W. J. M.
Published: November 2008

If one would ask me as a regular, though not systematic reader in applied linguistics to mention a major theoretical issue in this field of study, I would choose for the controversy about “behavioristic” audiolingual learning versus “mentalistic” cognitive code learning. This dichotomy is apparent in many theoretical papers, and starting point of various research programs.
Applied Linguistics and the Psychology of Instruction – A Case for Transfusion?
Authors: Smith M. A. Sharwood
Published: November 2008

It has become increasingly evident in recent years that what is by convention termed ‘applied linguistics’, in that it has to do with foreign language learning and instruction, should be as much applied PSYCHOLOGY as applied linguistics to say nothing of other possible types of application. Still, it is by no means unfortunate that linguistics has established itself as the primary discipline since it is, after all, LANGUAGE that is being taught and learned. It is admittedly symptomatic of this, dare one say, historical bias in applied linguistics that a good theory of language applied with a minimal knowledge of psychological theory (plus, one hopes a large amount of common sense) is probably more generally regarded as acceptable than a way of working based on a sound knowledge of psychology and only a brief acquaintance with linguistics. However it would be extremely unwise to presume that by applying just linguistics to problems of second language instruction or learning one had all that one needed as far as sources (content and techniques) are concerned. This would be to ignore all past and present theorising and experimentation within the field of instructional and learning psychology. The bias needs to be corrected.
Les problemes de l'elaboration de materiaux specifiques a l'apprentissage autodirige
Authors: Abe D. , Gremmo M.J. , Regent O.
Published: November 2008

En 1974, le CRAPEL a commencé à mettre en place un système d'apprentissage autodirigé avec soutien pour des adultes souhaitant apprendre l'anglais, (voir Henner Stanchina 1975;76). Un des problèmes les plus difficiles à résoudre reste celui des matériaux à offrir aux apprenants. Au début, faute de temps pour élaborer des matériaux spécifiques, nous avons proposé des matériaux traités pour l'enseignement et adaptés en vue d'une utilisation autodirigée. L'inadéquation de ce type de matériel s'est vite révélée, en particulier son manque de souplesse d'utilisation dû à la progression préétablie. Il semblait donc urgent d'envisager la création de matériaux spécifiques à l'utilisation autodirigée. Voici quelques problèmes soulevés par la contradiction apparente entre ces deux notions: apprentissage autodirigé et matériaux communs à plusieurs types d'apprenants préstructurés par le conseiller.
Age and Sensitivity to Gender in French
Authors: Magnan Sally Sieloff
Published: November 2008

This study presents research on the affective reactions of native French speakers to 15 types of grammatical error made by an American speaking French. The native French judges are divided into three age groups, C.E.S. students, lycée students, and adults, and an error hierarchy is provided for each. Results show a continuum by age as to how these judges react to gender errors, that is errors of non-agreement with definite articles and adjectives with nouns. The younger, C.E.S. students are most sensitive to gender errors, lycée students slightly less sensitive, and adults the least irritated of the three, to the point that, for the adults, the five gender errors are rated as the five least serious errors in the error hierarchy. Possible explanations for this difference in error sensitivity are offered, with special attention to the possible influence of socioeconomic status. These results are compared to findings in English, French, German, and Spanish, with particular focus on results obtained in German by Politzer (1978) and Delisle (1982).
Markedness, Discoursal Modes, and Relative Clause Formation in a Formal and an Informal Context
Authors: Pavesi Maria
Published: November 2008

Typological markedness has been suggested as a possible explanation or a means of predicting the development of Interlanguage (IL) syntax (Eckman, 1977; Hyltenstam, 1978, 1984; Rutherford, 1982). More specifically, the Accessibility Hierarchy (AH) (Keenan & Comrie, 1977, 1979) has been used to predict the acquisitional order of relative clauses in a second language (Hyltenstam, 1984). No research, however, has been conducted to investigate the possible influence of learning context on relative clause (RC) formation. In this study, English relative clauses were elicited from two groups of Italian learners. The first group was composed of 48 formal learners and the second group of 38 informal learners. It was hypothesized that the order as predicted by the AH would be yielded by both groups with the formal group's IL exhibiting more marked structures than the informal group's. The type of discourse—planned versus unplanned—to which learners were mostly exposed was thought to have an effect on the level of linguistic elaboration achieved.
Neurobiological Differentiation of Primary and Secondary Language Acquisition
Authors: Jacobs Bob
Published: November 2008

This paper examines language as amultimodal sensory enhancement system, integrating recent neuroanatomical and neurophysiological findings on the ontogenesis of neuronal structures with the generative concept of Universal Grammar (UG) for determination of fundamental differences between primary (PLA) and secondary (SLA) language acquisition. Substantial attention is given to general neurobiological principles such as experience expectant/dependent synaptogenesis, formational/organizational versus associational/reactive plasticity, characteristics of modular cortical organization, and general epigenetic qualities (e.g., intra- and interhemispheric competition, selective neuronal preservation, etc.) of the developing brain. Special emphasis is placed on neurobiological specializations relative to language (e.g., interhemispheric differences in dendritic arborization in Broca's area). The assumed innateness of UG is critically examined, with the neurobiological evidence indicating (a) the first language (L1) does not equal the second language (L2) neurobiologically, and (b) epigenetic factors contributing to PLA are often underestimated. The relevance of these conclusions for SLA is also briefly discussed.
The Effects of Time-Compressed Speech on Native and Efl Listening Comprehension
Authors: Conrad Linda
Published: November 2008

The experiment reported here used time-compressed speech to handicap the process of listening comprehension in an attempt to observe aural processing strategy differences among groups of native English speakers and high- and medium-level skill groups learning the language. The participants were asked to immediately recall 5 time-compressed recordings each of 16 simple English sentences; the 5 replays represented decreasing rates of time-compression ranging from 40% to 90% normal playing time. Group performances were compared for the 5 rates of compression with regard to overall sentence recall as well as to the recall of specific parts of speech. Results showed both quantitative and qualitative differences among the three test groups. Overall recall of the time-compressed sentences decreased with decreasing proficiency in the language. Furthermore, whereas native listeners demonstrated a strategy of concentrating on key content words in the stimulus, both learner groups tended to recall more words they had heard in initial or final sentence position.
Comprehensible Output as an Outcome of Linguistic Demands on the Learner
Authors: Pica Teresa , Holliday Lloyd , Lewis Nora , Morgenthaler Lynelle
Published: November 2008

In view of the theoretical claim that comprehensible input is not sufficient for successful second language acquisition, but that opportunities for nonnative speakers (NNSs) to produce comprehensible output are also necessary (Swain, 1985), the present study sought to describe how second language learners responded linguistically when native speakers signaled difficulty in understanding them and to compare types and frequencies of the learners' responses in relation to different native-speaker (NS) signal types and different communication tasks.

The NS signals differed in the extent to which they offered nonnative speakers an open-ended request for clarification or a model to repeat or acknowledge. The tasks differed in the degree of control they gave to NSs and NNSs over the preciseness and relative quantity of information needed to carry them out, and were as follows: (a) an “information-gap” task, in which the NNSs drew their own original picture and then described it to the NSs, who had to reproduce the picture solely on the basis of the NNSs' description; (b) a “jigsaw” task, in which the NNSs and NSs were required to reproduce an unseen sequence of pictures by exchanging their own uniquely held portions of the sequence; and (c) a discussion, in which the NNSs and NSs were told to share their views on the language-learning contributions of the other two communication tasks. Each task was carried out by 10 NNS–NS dyads.

Results of the study provided empirical validation for the theoretical construct of comprehensible output and revealed the extent to which its production by NNSs was influenced by the linguistic demands of NS signals of comprehension difficulty and communication tasks. Additional analyses of data indicated that the gender of participants in each dyad played an important role in these results.
Discourse Markedness and Structural Markedness
Authors: Chaudron Craig , Parker Kate
Published: November 2008

This study investigates second language acquisition of English noun phrases in discourse, examining the effect of discourse markedness and structural markedness on the development of noun phrase use. English L2 noun phrase forms are examined within three universal discourse contexts: current, known, and new reference to topics. The targeted noun phrases forms include ø anaphora, pronouns and nouns with markers of definiteness and indefiniteness, including left dislocation and existential phrases. Based on expectedness within discourse, the least marked discourse context is reference to a current topic, and the most marked context is the introduction of a new referent as topic. Based on formal complexity, ø anaphora is the least marked structural form, and left-dislocated and existential noun phrases are the most marked. Free production and elicited imitation recall tasks, involving picture sequences that manipulated the three discourse contexts, were used to test Japanese learners' acquisition of noun phrase forms. They were evaluated by comparison with NS production. The results support predictions that L2 learners distinguish between discourse contexts, acquiring more targetlike forms in the least marked context first, and that they acquire the least marked structural forms earlier than the more marked ones.
The Comparative Study of First and Second Language Development
Authors: Clahsen Harald
Published: November 2008

This article discusses the relationship of first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition. First, different approaches to comparing L1 and L2 development are summarized. Then, I argue for a particular version of the fundamental difference hypothesis. Finally, I illustrate the hypothesis with some evidence from the acquisition of German syntax. It is claimed that the Universal Grammar (UG) approach provides a theoretical framework to explain differences between L1 and (adult) L2 development. In particular I argue that the observed L1/L2 differences can be accounted for by assuming that adult L2 learners cannot use principles of UG as a learning device in the same way as L1 learners use them.
Grammaticality Judgments
Authors: Schachter Jacquelyn , Yip Virginia
Published: November 2008

Grammaticality judgments reflect a compound product of both grammatical and processing factors. But because they interact in a symbiotic way, very often grammatical and processing constraints are difficult to separate. According to generally accepted grammatical theory, (a) Who do you think John told Mary he fell in love with? and (b) Who do you think John told Mary fell in love with Sue? are equally grammatical. We have observed, however, that native speakers strongly accept sentences like (a) as grammatical but react quite variably to sentences like (b). A possible explanation is that native English speakers exhibit a processing preference, in searching for the extraction site for the wh- word, for object position over subject position. Proficient nonnative judgmental data offer additional support for a processing account. Nonnatives whose L1 grammars do not bias them toward objects also show preferences similar to those of natives. We provide a processing account based on Frazier's Minimal Attachment principle.
An Instrumental Motivation In Language Study
Authors: Gardner R. C. , MacIntyre P. D.
Published: November 2008

The major purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of integrative motivation and instrumental motivation on the learning of French/English vocabulary. Integrative motivation was defined in terms of a median split on scores obtained on subtests from the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery, while instrumental motivation was situationally determined in terms of monetary reward for doing well. The results demonstrated that both integrative motivation and instrumental motivation facilitated learning. Other results indicated that instrumentally motivated students studied longer than noninstrumentally motivated students when there was an opportunity to profit from learning, but this distinction disappeared when the incentive was removed. Both integratively and instrumentally motivated students spent more time thinking about the correct answer than those not so motivated, suggesting that both elements have an energizing effect. A secondary purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of computer administration of the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery. In this respect the results were most encouraging. Computer administration appeared not to detract from the internal consistency reliability of the subscales used, and moreover there was an indication that an index of reaction time to individual items might provide a way of identifying social desirability responding