bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fucoidan Stimulates Monocyte Migration via ERK/p38 Signaling Pathways and MMP9 Secretion
Authors: Sapharikas Elene , Lokajczyk Anna , Fischer Anne-Marie , Boisson-Vidal Catherine
Published: June 2015

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) induces the secretion of paracrine signals, leading to monocyte recruitment and thereby contributing to the initiation of angiogenesis and tissue healing. We have previously demonstrated that fucoidan, an antithrombotic polysaccharide, promotes the formation of new blood vessels in a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia. We examined the effect of fucoidan on the capacity of peripheral blood monocytes to adhere and migrate. Monocytes negatively isolated with magnetic beads from peripheral blood of healthy donors were treated with fucoidan. Fucoidan induced a 1.5-fold increase in monocyte adhesion to gelatin (p < 0.05) and a five-fold increase in chemotaxis in Boyden chambers (p < 0.05). Fucoidan also enhanced migration 2.5-fold in a transmigration assay (p < 0.05). MMP9 activity in monocyte supernatants was significantly enhanced by fucoidan (p < 0.05). Finally, Western blot analysis of fucoidan-treated monocytes showed upregulation of ERK/p38 phosphorylation. Inhibition of ERK/p38 phosphorylation abrogated fucoidan enhancement of migration (p < 0.01). Fucoidan displays striking biological effects, notably promoting monocyte adhesion and migration. These effects involve the ERK and p38 pathways, and increased MMP9 activity. Fucoidan could improve critical limb ischemia by promoting monocyte recruitment.
An Integrated Glucose Sensor with an All-Solid-State Sodium Ion-Selective Electrode for a Minimally Invasive Glucose Monitoring System
Authors: Kojima Junko , Hosoya Samiko , Suminaka Chihiro , Hori Nobuyasu , Sato Toshiyuki
Published: June 2015

We developed a minimally invasive glucose monitoring system that uses a microneedle to permeate the skin surface and a small hydrogel to accumulate interstitial fluid glucose. The measurement of glucose and sodium ion levels in the hydrogel is required for estimating glucose levels in blood; therefore, we developed a small, enzyme-fixed glucose sensor with a high-selectivity, all-solid-state, sodium ion-selective electrode (ISE) integrated into its design. The glucose sensor immobilized glucose oxidase showed a good correlation between the glucose levels in the hydrogels and the reference glucose levels (r > 0.99), and exhibited a good precision (coefficient of variation = 2.9%, 0.6 mg/dL). In the design of the sodium ISEs, we used the insertion material Na0.33MnO2 as the inner contact layer and DD16C5 exhibiting high Na+/K+ selectivity as the ionophore. The developed sodium ISE exhibited high selectivity (\( \log \,k^{pot}_{Na,K} = -2.8\)) and good potential stability. The sodium ISE could measure 0.4 mM (10−3.4 M) sodium ion levels in the hydrogels containing 268 mM (10−0.57 M) KCl. The small integrated sensor (ϕ < 10 mm) detected glucose and sodium ions in hydrogels simultaneously within 1 min, and it exhibited sufficient performance for use as a minimally invasive glucose monitoring system.
Nanotoxicity: An Interplay of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Cell Death
Authors: Khanna Puja , Ong Cynthia , Bay Boon , Baeg Gyeong
Published: June 2015

Nanoparticles are emerging as a useful tool for a wide variety of biomedical, consumer and instrumental applications that include drug delivery systems, biosensors and environmental sensors. In particular, nanoparticles have been shown to offer greater specificity with enhanced bioavailability and less detrimental side effects as compared to the existing conventional therapies in nanomedicine. Hence, bionanotechnology has been receiving immense attention in recent years. However, despite the extensive use of nanoparticles today, there is still a limited understanding of nanoparticle-mediated toxicity. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that nanoparticles are closely associated with toxicity by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and/or the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. The homeostatic redox state of the host becomes disrupted upon ROS induction by nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are also known to up-regulate the transcription of various pro-inflammatory genes, including tumor necrosis factor-α and IL (interleukins)-1, IL-6 and IL-8, by activating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. These sequential molecular and cellular events are known to cause oxidative stress, followed by severe cellular genotoxicity and then programmed cell death. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying nanotoxicity are not fully understood. This lack of knowledge is a significant impediment in the use of nanoparticles in vivo. In this review, we will provide an assessment of signaling pathways that are involved in the nanoparticle- induced oxidative stress and propose possible strategies to circumvent nanotoxicity.
Food Reformulation, Responsive Regulation, and “Regulatory Scaffolding”: Strengthening Performance of Salt Reduction Programs in Australia and the United Kingdom
Authors: Magnusson Roger , Reeve Belinda
Published: June 2015

Strategies to reduce excess salt consumption play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease, which is the largest contributor to global mortality from non-communicable diseases. In many countries, voluntary food reformulation programs seek to reduce salt levels across selected product categories, guided by aspirational targets to be achieved progressively over time. This paper evaluates the industry-led salt reduction programs that operate in the United Kingdom and Australia. Drawing on theoretical concepts from the field of regulatory studies, we propose a step-wise or “responsive” approach that introduces regulatory “scaffolds” to progressively increase levels of government oversight and control in response to industry inaction or under-performance. Our model makes full use of the food industry’s willingness to reduce salt levels in products to meet reformulation targets, but recognizes that governments remain accountable for addressing major diet-related health risks. Creative regulatory strategies can assist governments to fulfill their public health obligations, including in circumstances where there are political barriers to direct, statutory regulation of the food industry.
Ellagic Acid Prevents L-NAME-Induced Hypertension via Restoration of eNOS and p47phox Expression in Rats
Authors: Berkban Thewarid , Boonprom Pattanapong , Bunbupha Sarawoot , Welbat Jariya , Kukongviriyapan Upa , Kukongviriyapan Veerapol , Pakdeechote Poungrat , Prachaney Parichat
Published: June 2015

The effect of ellagic acid on oxidative stress and hypertension induced by Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administrated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) for five weeks. L-NAME induced high systolic blood pressure (SBP) and increased heart rate (HR), hindlimb vascular resistance (HVR) and oxidative stress. Concurrent treatment with ellagic acid (7.5 or 15 mg/kg) prevented these alterations. Co-treatment with ellagic acid was associated with up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein production and alleviation of oxidative stress as indicated by decreased superoxide production in the vascular tissue, reduced plasma malondialdehyde levels, reduced NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox expression and increased plasma nitrate/nitrite levels. Our results indicate that ellagic acid attenuates hypertension by reducing NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox expression, which prevents oxidative stress and restores NO bioavailability.
Mapping Forest Canopy Height over Continental China Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Ni Xiliang , Zhou Yuke , Cao Chunxiang , Wang Xuejun , Shi Yuli , Park Taejin , Choi Sungho , Myneni Ranga
Published: June 2015

Spatially-detailed forest height data are useful to monitor local, regional and global carbon cycle. LiDAR remote sensing can measure three-dimensional forest features but generating spatially-contiguous forest height maps at a large scale (e.g., continental and global) is problematic because existing LiDAR instruments are still data-limited and expensive. This paper proposes a new approach based on an artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling of forest canopy heights over the China continent. Our model ingests spaceborne LiDAR metrics and multiple geospatial predictors including climatic variables (temperature and precipitation), forest type, tree cover percent and land surface reflectance. The spaceborne LiDAR instrument used in the study is the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), which can provide within-footprint forest canopy heights. The ANN was trained with pairs between spatially discrete LiDAR metrics and full gridded geo-predictors. This generates valid conjugations to predict heights over the China continent. The ANN modeled heights were evaluated with three different reference data. First, field measured tree heights from three experiment sites were used to validate the ANN model predictions. The observed tree heights at the site-scale agreed well with the modeled forest heights (R = 0.827, and RMSE = 4.15 m). Second, spatially discrete GLAS observations and a continuous map from the interpolation of GLAS-derived tree heights were separately used to evaluate the ANN model. We obtained R of 0.725 and RMSE of 7.86 m and R of 0.759 and RMSE of 8.85 m, respectively. Further, inter-comparisons were also performed with two existing forest height maps. Our model granted a moderate agreement with the existing satellite-based forest height maps (R = 0.738, and RMSE = 7.65 m (R2 = 0.52, and RMSE = 8.99 m). Our results showed that the ANN model developed in this paper is capable of estimating forest heights over the China continent with a satisfactory accuracy. Forth coming research on our model will focus on extending the model to the estimation of woody biomass.
Development of a Framework for Sustainable Outsourcing: Analytic Balanced Scorecard Method (A-BSC)
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Petrillo Antonella , Autorino Claudio
Published: June 2015

Nowadays, many enterprises choose to outsource its non-core business to other enterprises to reduce cost and increase the efficiency. Many enterprises choose to outsource their supply chain management (SCM) and leave it to a third-party organization in order to improve their services. The paper proposes an integrated and multicriteria tool useful to monitor and to improve performance in an outsourced supply chain. The Analytic Balanced Scorecard method (A-BSC) is proposed as an effective method useful to analyze strategic performance within an outsourced supply chain. The aim of the paper is to present the integration of two methodologies: Balanced Scorecard, a multiple perspective framework for performance assessment, and Analytic Hierarchy Process, a decision-making tool used to prioritize multiple performance perspectives and to generate a unified metric. The development of the framework is aimed to provide a performance analysis to achieve better sustainability performance of supply chain. A real case study concerning a typical value chain is presented.
Climate Change Impacts in Agricultural Communities in Rural Areas of Coastal Bangladesh: A Tale of Many Stories
Authors: Huq Nazmul , Hugé Jean , Boon Emmanuel , Gain Animesh
Published: June 2015

This paper identifies and analyses climate change impacts, their cascading consequences and the livelihood implications of these impacts on smallholder agricultural communities of coastal Bangladesh. Six physically and socio-economically vulnerable communities of south-western coastal regions were studied. Primary data was collected through focus group discussions, a seasonal calendar, and historical transect analysis. Three orders of impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers are identified and described. The first order impacts involve increasing erosion of the capacity of local communities to mitigate vulnerability to climate change impacts. This situation led to the second order impacts, which significantly transformed the agricultural landscape and production patterns. The cumulative effects of the first and second order impacts sparked the third order impacts in the form of worsening community livelihood assets and conditions. The findings of this paper can contribute to the formulation of sustainable adaptation policies and programs to manage the vulnerability of local communities to climate change impacts in the country effectively.
Culture-Independent Study of the Late-Stage of a Bloom of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata: Preliminary Findings Suggest Genetic Differences at the Sub-Species Level and Allow ITS2 Structure Characterization
Authors: Ramos Vitor , Salvi Daniele , Machado João , Vale Micaela , Azevedo Joana , Vasconcelos Vitor
Published: June 2015

Available genomic data for the toxic, bloom-forming, benthic Ostreopsis spp. are traditionally obtained from isolates rather than from individuals originally present in environmental samples. Samples from the final phase of the first reported Ostreopsis bloom in European North Atlantic waters (Algarve, south coast of Portugal) were studied and characterized, using a culture-independent approach. In the first instance, a microscopy-based analysis revealed the intricate complexity of the samples. Then, we evaluated the adequacy of commonly used molecular tools (i.e., primers and nuclear ribosomal markers) for the study of Ostreopsis diversity in natural samples. A PCR-based methodology previously developed to identify/detect common Ostreopsis species was tested, including one new combination of existing PCR primers. Two sets of environmental rRNA sequences were obtained, one of them (1052 bp) with the newly tested primer set. These latter sequences encompass both the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene, leading us to an accurate identification of ITS2. In turn, this allowed us to predict and show for the first time the ITS2 secondary structure of Ostreopsis. With 92 bp in length and a two-helix structure, the ITS2 of this genus revealed to be unique among the dinoflagellates. Both the PCR approach as the phylogenetic analyses allowed to place the Ostreopsis cells observed in the samples within the O. cf. ovata phylospecies’ complex, discarding the presence of O. cf. siamensis. The (phylo)genetic results point out a certain level of nucleotide sequence divergence, but were inconclusive in relation to a possible geographic origin of the O. cf. ovata population from the Algarve’s bloom.
Le littoral des secteurs dunaires et son aménagement (The coasts of dune areas)
Authors: Bousquet Bernard
Published: June 2015

Résumé. - Le littoral des secteurs dunaires est un rivage instable, d'autant plus lorsqu'il devient une limite d'aménagement pour l'oekoumène.
Evaluation des risques naturels dans les Hautes-Alpes et la Savoie. Le recours aux documents d'archives et aux enquêtes (Natural hazards in western french Alps. The importance of historical records and socio-economical investigation)
Authors: Fanthou Thierry , Kaiser Brigitte
Published: June 2015

Abstract. - The authors present some methodological aspects and preliminary results of a research on natural hazards and disaster events in two mountainous districts of western french Alps, "Hautes-Alpes" and "Savoie". From historical documents preserved in several offices (among which the "Restauration des Terrains en Montagne" established late 19th century) a data-base including floods, snow-avalanches, landslides and mud-flows has been created. It records about 1 500 disaster events in "Hautes-Alpes", spreading from the middle-age to nowadays, and 1 400 events in Savoie for contemporary period. Then sociological and economical importance of natural hazards and disaster events are presented by two examples : the perception of risks shared by mayors and deputies of the Hautes-Alpes district and the cost evaluation of the 1987 July and August flood disasters in Pralognan (Savoie).
Nouveaux bourgeois et métiers à Amiens au XVe siècle
Authors: Desportes Pierre
Published: June 2015

The data on the new «bourgeois» of Amiens in the XVth century which can be gathered from the municipal accounts, provide us mostly with information on the trades, their situation in the local political life and on the respective importance of each of them in the urban economy.

The ancient link between citizenship and belonging to a trade was progressively transformed at the end of the Middle Ages into a link between mastership and «bourgeois» right as the professional communities organised themselves on a corporative basis.

The informations gathered enable us to catch a glimpse at the major sectors of activity among which the professional man-power was scattered. One sees that the town was not merely animated by the textile industry but that it also found important ressources in the leather and metal crafts.
Les abandons d'enfants à Amiens vers la fin de l'Ancien Régime
Authors: Engrand Charles
Published: June 2015

Le problème des enfants abandonnés prit à Amiens une ampleur nouvelle après l'arrêt du Conseil du Roi du 10 janvier 1779 qui interdisait de les transférer à Paris et qui obligeait les hôpitaux locaux à les accueillir. En dix ans, de 1780 à 1789, un millier de garçons et de filles, en proportion presque égale, furent recueillis par l'Hôpital général de la ville. La simplicité des formalités rendit à peu près caduque l'exposition dans les rues et accrut peut-être la fréquence des abandons. Les apports extérieurs étaient limités par l'existence, en Picardie même, d'autres établissements de secours. Aussi, 85% des admis étaient-ils nés dans la ville, parfois de filles-mères étrangères à la cité, venues soit y chercher du travail comme domestique ou ouvrière du textile, soit y cacher leur grossesse. Le plus souvent, sauf chez les enfants légitimes qui représentaient 1/4 du total, il s'agissait de nouveau-nés abandonnés dès les premiers jours de leur vie. Le manque de ressources des filles-mères ou des familles apparaît comme la cause principale du placement des enfants à l'Hôpital. La nouvelle politique d'assistance comportait des faiblesses : la mortalité des enfants abandonnés demeurait fort élevée puisque les 2/3 n'atteignaient pas l'âge de 5 ans et les avortements et les infanticides n'avaient pas, semble-t-il, radicalement disparu.
Are D-manno-configured Amadori products ligands of the bacterial lectin FimH?
Authors: Gloe Tobias-Elias , Stamer Insa , Hojnik Cornelia , Wrodnigg Tanja M , Lindhorst Thisbe K
Published: June 2015

The Amadori rearrangement was employed for the synthesis of C-glycosyl-type D-mannoside analogues, namely 1-propargylamino- and 1-phenylamino-1-deoxy-α-D-manno-heptopyranose. They were investigated as ligands of type 1-fimbriated E. coli bacteria by means of molecular docking and bacterial adhesion studies. It turns out that Amadori rearrangement products have a limited activity as inhibitors of bacterial adhesion because the β-C-glycosidically linked aglycone considerably hampers complexation within the carbohydrate binding site of the type 1-fimbrial lectin FimH.
Greek Apocope – A Rule That Plans Ahead
Authors: Kaisse Ellen
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 257-265
Homonymic Ambiguity, Pronominal Systems and The Clitic-lem in Modular Linguistics
Authors: Costandi Abu-Sleman John Josef
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 100-122
Isolating Semantic Units
Authors: Sloat Clarence
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 393-402
N+V Compound Nouns in Thai
Authors: Warutamasintop Worawut
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 445-459
The Acoustics of Tonogenesis
Authors: Purcell E. , Young S. , Villegas G. , Cromshaw J. , Smith R.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 366-378
The Perception of Contour Tones
Authors: Hombert Jean-Marie
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 221-232
The ‘Acute’ Problem of Tonogenesis
Authors: Smith R. D.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 410-418
Tonal Accents in Low German
Authors: Grundt Alice Wyland
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1975), pp. 160-169
Antipassivization: A Functional Typology
Authors: Heath Jeffrey
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1976), pp. 202-211
Clause Reduction in Spanish
Authors: Aissen Judith , Perlmutter David M.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1976), pp. 1-30
Strategies in Loan Phonology
Authors: Byarushengo Ernest Rugwa
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1976), pp. 78-88
The Shift from Postposition to Preposition: Evidence from Early Greek
Authors: Holland Gary B.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1976), pp. 413-425
Health to Our Mouths: Formulaic Expressions in Turkish and Greek
Authors: Tannen Deborah , Öztek Piyale Cömert
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1977), pp. 516-534
Towards a Phonetic Explanation for Universal Preferences in Implosives and Ejectives
Authors: Javkin Hector
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1977), pp. 557-565
On Panoan Sibilants
Authors: Hamp Eric P.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 427-445
Southern Bantu vs. the World: The Case of Palatalization of Labials
Authors: Ohala John J.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 370-386
Speech Aerodynamics and Phonological Universals
Authors: Jaeger Jeri J.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 312-329
Speech Minus Spectrum Equals Time – Or What the Left Hemisphere is For
Authors: Divenyi Pierre L.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 500-511
Subject/Direct Object Raising in Niuean
Authors: Seiter William J.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 211-222
The Demise of the Whorf Hypothesis (A Major Revision in the History of Linguistics)
Authors: Alford Danny K. H.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 485-499
The Evolution of Certain Cochimí Aspectuals and the Cochimí-Yuman Hypothesis
Authors: Mixco Mauricio J.
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1979), pp. 484-488
The Ilokano Causative in Universal Grammar
Authors: Silva-Corvalán Carmen
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 223-238
The Passive Analog in Lango
Authors: Noonan Michael , Woock Edith Bavin
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1978), pp. 128-139
On the Non-Optionality of Certain Modifiers
Authors: McConnell-Ginet Sally
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Directionality in numeral quanti?ers: the case of "up to"
Authors: Nouwen Rick
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Epistemics with Attitude
Authors: Anand Pranav , Hacquard Valentine
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Indeterminate NPIs and Scope
Authors: Shimoyama Junko
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Infinitivals With "too": Degree Operator Scope and Parasitic Gaps
Authors: Nissenbaum Jon , Schwarz Bernhard
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Negative Adjectives and Transformation Values
Authors: Sassoon Galit Weidman
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Possession of a Controlled Substantive: Light ‘have’ and Other Verbs of Possession
Authors: Beavers John , Ponvert Elias , Wechsler Stephen
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Pronouns, Presuppositions, and Semantic Variation
Authors: Matthewson Lisa
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Hungarian focus is not exhausted
Authors: Onea Edgar , Beaver David
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Revisiting Connectivity in Copular Sentences
Authors: Sharvit Yael
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
'Nothing' Compares to You
Authors: Eckardt Regine
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Fastidious distributivity
Authors: Dotlacil Jakub
Published: June 2015

I argue that nominal predicates cannot be interpreted distributively if the subject is not a distributive quantifier. This is surprising and problematic for the current theories of distributivity. I offer a novel analysis of distributivity, fastidious distributivity, in which only arguments can be interpreted distributively and formalize fastidious distributivity using team logic.
Generalised quantifiers and the semantics of the same
Authors: Zuber Richard
Published: June 2015

The notions of the nominative case extension of a type <1> quantifier and of the dual of type <1> quantifier are used to present the semantics of various, structurally different, expressions containing the same
Indefinites in Comparatives
Authors: Aloni Maria Daria , Roelofsen Floris
Published: June 2015

The goal of this paper is to explain the meaning and distribution of indefinites in comparatives, focusing on the case of English 'some' and 'any' and German 'irgend'-indefinites. We combine three competing theories of comparatives with an alternative semantics of 'some' and 'any', and a novel account of stressed 'irgend'-indefinites. One of the resulting theories, based on Heim's (2006) analysis of comparatives, predicts all the relevant differences in quantificational force, and explains why free choice indefinites are licensed in comparatives.
Presuppositions and Antipresuppositions in Conditionals
Authors: Leahy Brian
Published: June 2015

Utterances of counterfactual conditionals are typically attended by the information that their antecedents are false. But there is as yet no account of the source of this information that is both detailed and complete. This paper describes the problem of counterfactual antecedent falsity and argues that the problem can be addressed by appeal to an adequate account of the presuppositions of various competing conditional constructions. It argues that indicative conditionals presuppose that their antecedents are epistemically possible, while subjunctive conditionals bear no presupposition. Given this arrangement, utterance of the counterfactual results in an antipresupposition, that is, a scalar implicature generated from the presuppositions of competing alternatives rather than from the at-issue content of competing alternatives. The content of the antipresupposition is the negation of the presupposition of the competing indicative, i.e., that the antecedent of the conditional is known to be false by the speaker.
The problem of counterfactual de re attitudes
Authors: Yanovich Igor
Published: June 2015

The problem of counterfactual attitudes de re was identified by Ninan (2008) as a challenge for standard theories of de re. I show that once counterfactual non-de re attitudes are properly analyzed, trivial composition of such an analysis for them with the analysis of doxastic de re provides the solution to the problem. Thus there is no independent phenomenon of counterfactual attitudes de re, and therefore no problem as such.
Conjunction is Parallel Computation
Authors: Paperno Denis
Published: June 2015

This paper proposes a new, game theoretical, analysis of conjunction which provides a single logical translation of AND in its sentential, predicate, and NP uses, including both Boolean and non-Boolean cases. In essence it analyzes conjunction as parallel composition, based on game-theoretic semantics and logical syntax by Abramsky (2007).
Experimenting with Degree
Authors: Solt Stephanie , Gotzner Nicole
Published: June 2015

Semantic theories differ in the role they assume for degrees in the interpretation of gradable adjectives, and in the assumptions they make about the nature of degrees and the structure of the scales they comprise. We report on two experiments investigating speakers' use of gradable adjectives across varying contexts, with the goal of gaining insight into the nature of the degree ontology underlying their semantics. We find that the truth conditions for the positive form must be stated in terms of degrees rather than rankings of individuals, and further that the relevant scale structure is one where distances between scale points are meaningful, and not an ordinal scale derived from an ordering relation on a comparison class. We also find no evidence that scale structure depends on the presence or absence of a corresponding system of numerical measures.
Front matter
Authors: Chereches Anca
Published: June 2015

Proceedings of the 22nd Semantics and Linguistic Theory Conference, held at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, May 18 - May 20, 2012.
Not a light negation
Authors: Zeijlstra Hedde
Published: June 2015

In languages like Dutch and German, certain instances of negation, such as negated indefinites, are ruled out in out-of-the-blue contexts, i.e. with the unmarked reading where negation outscopes an unfocused indefinite (*Er kann nicht eine Fremdsprache ('He speaks not a foreign language')). Such instances are, however, fine in NPI licensing contexts. Schwarz (2004) and Bhatt & Schwarz (2006) argue that in such cases the negative marker is not a plain negation, but rather a homophonous marker of light negation, which they take to be an NPI. In this paper I argue, though, that this phenomenon can be explained by adopting standard pragmatic assumptions. In short, I argue that such instances of negation are bad due to the existence of some alternative expression that only conveys the unmarked reading (in this example an expression containing a negative indefinite: er kann keine Fremdsparache (‘he speaks no foreign language’)). Uttering a less simple construction, such as the example above with the negated indefinite, will give rise to an implicature that states that the speaker does not intend such utterances with their unmarked readings, since the unmarked reading could have been conveyed in a simpler manner. This implicature, then, is suppressed in NPI licensing contexts.
Measure semantics and qualitative semantics for epistemic modals
Authors: Holliday Wesley H. , Icard, III Thomas F.
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we explore semantics for comparative epistemic modals that avoid the entailment problems shown by Yalcin (2006, 2009, 2010) to result from Kratzer’s (1991) semantics. In contrast to the alternative semantics presented by Yalcin and Lassiter (2010, 2011) based on finitely additive measures, we introduce semantics based on qualitatively additive measures, as well as semantics based on purely qualitative orderings, including orderings on propositions derived from orderings on worlds in the tradition of Kratzer (1991, 2012). All of these semantics avoid the entailment problems that result from Kratzer’s semantics. Our discussion focuses on methodological issues concerning the choice between different semantics.
Reflexive anaphors and association with focus
Authors: Spathas Giorgos
Published: June 2015

This paper investigates the behavior of the reflexive anaphor herself in English in conditions of narrow focus and argues in favor of (i) a theory of focus that is based around the notion of Current Question, and (ii) a theory of association with focus that assumes that some, but not all, focus associating operators exhibit conventional association; i.e. some, but not all, focus associating operators have lexical semantics that directly encode association with focus. The argument is based on the independently motivated observation that there exist asymmetries with regard to disjoint reference effects between subject and object wh-questions.
There is no neutral aspect
Authors: Altshuler Daniel Gordon
Published: June 2015

This paper considers the Hindi "–yaa" and the Russian "–yva", which share many properties that are characteristic of so-called "neutral aspect"—an aspect whose meaning generalizes across the perfective and imperfective. Proponents of neutral aspect assume that (im)perfectivity is defined in terms of reference to an event’s completion. This paper refines this idea, distinguishing between an event that culminated and one that ceased to develop further. The latter notion comes from Landman’s (1992) analysis of the progressive, which denotes a function from a set of events in the extension of the VP that it combines with to a set of event stages that develop into VP events according to a particular recipe. Building on Landman’s analysis, I propose that a perfective operator is one that requires a maximal stage of a VP-event; an imperfective operator is one that requires a VP-event stage, but this stage need not be maximal. I show how this analysis allows us to analyze the Hindi "–yaa" and the Russian "–yva" as being perfective and imperfective respectively, without any reference to neutrality.
Syncategorematic Conjunction and Structured Meanings
Authors: Winter Yoad
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Adnominal Conditionals
Authors: Lasersohn Peter
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Information Packaging: From Cards To Boxes
Authors: Hendriks Herman
Published: June 2015

In his work on information packaging-i.e., the structuring of propositional content in function of the speaker's assumptions about the hearer's information state­ Vallduví (1992, 1993, 1994) identifies the informational primitives focus, link and tail, which are adapted from the traditional focus/ground and topic/comment ap­proaches, and argues that the exploitation of information states of hearers by the information-packaging strategies of speakers reveals that these states have at least the internal structure of a system of Heimian file cards: links, which correspond to what are traditionally known as topics, say where-on what file card-the focal information goes, and tails indicate how it fits there. Since there are various reasons for not believing this, the present paper proposes to model information states as Kampian discourse representation structures, without locations. This requires and leads to a different perspective on the function of links. They signal non-monotone anaphora: their discourse referent Y is anaphoric to an antecedent discourse marker X such that X ? Y. This idea will be shown to subsume 'non-identity' anaphora, contrastive stress, pronoun referent resolution, and restrictiveness of relatives and adjectives.
On the Representation of Context
Authors: Stalnaker Robert
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
The Locality of Interpretation: The Case of Binding and Coordination
Authors: Jacobson Pauline
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Twigs, Sequences and the Temporal Constitution of Predicates
Authors: Zucchi Sandro , White Michael
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Achievements in an Event Semantics
Authors: Piñón Christopher
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
A Semantic Characterization of Locative PPs
Authors: Zwarts Joost , Winter Yoad
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Identity, Modality, and the Candidate Behind the Wall
Authors: Büring Daniel
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Support for a Unique Theory of Definiteness
Authors: Abbott Barbara
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Tense, Attitudes and Subjects
Authors: Giorgi Alessandra , Pianesi Fabio
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Declarative Questions
Authors: Gunlogson Christine
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Is a Possible-Worlds Semantics of Modality Possible? A Problem for Kratzer's Semantics
Authors: Zvolenszky Zsófia
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Two Types of Quantificational Modalized Genericity, and the Interpretation of Bare Plural and Indefinite Singular NPs
Authors: Greenberg Yael
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Varieties of Indefinites
Authors: Farkas Donka F.
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Who Gives a Damn about Minimizers in Questions?
Authors: Abels Klaus
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
A Modal Account of the English Present Perfect Puzzle
Authors: Katz Graham
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Shifty Operators in Changing Contexts
Authors: Anand Pranav , Nevins Andrew
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Context Shift and Indexical Variables in Sign Languages
Authors: Quer Josep
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Scalar Implicatures with Alternative Semantics
Authors: Keshet Ezra
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
An Analysis of Existential Anankastics: How to Get There from Here
Authors: Werner Tom
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Dream Report Pronouns, Local Binding, and Attitudes 'De Se'
Authors: Anand Pranav
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Non-Existential Inde?nites and Semantic Incorporation of PP Complements
Authors: Mador-Haim Sela , Winter Yoad
Published: June 2015

No abstract.
Alternatives as sources of semantic dependency
Authors: Falaus Anamaria
Published: June 2015

This paper focuses on the properties of the Romanian determiner 'vreun', and has two objectives. First, it seeks to provide an adequate description of its restricted distribution. Refining previous observations in the literature (Farkas 2002, 2006), I argue that the occurrence of 'vreun' in intensional contexts is sensitive to epistemic alternatives, and put forward a generalization that captures its use (‘the epistemic constraint’). Second, we aim to provide an explanation for the observed pattern, in a way that situates 'vreun' in a broader typology of dependent indefinites. The proposed account is couched in a unified, alternative-based approach to polarity-sensitivity, due to Chierchia (2006 et seq). In line with this theory, we reduce the differences between 'vreun' and other dependent indefinites to essentially two factors: (i) the types of alternatives these items activate and (ii) the way these alternatives are factored into meaning by alternative-sensitive operators. The present paper can be regarded as part of a more general research program which aims to understand the parameters of variation among dependent indefinites and to seek a principled explanation for the attested diversity.
Conversational backoff
Authors: Rawlins Kyle
Published: June 2015

I explore and analyze a phenomenon ("conversational backoff") where, instead of accepting an assertion in the normal way, a speaker challenges its exhaustiveness, but not its content. The result is that speakers publicly back off of the exhaustivity of the claim. These challenges are typically triggered by special questions of a conditional type, and I focus in particular on the case of "what if" questions, developing a detailed analysis of their semantics and dynamics.
Focus on reflexive anaphors
Authors: Spathas Giorgos
Published: June 2015

Focus related phenomena have long been used to draw conclusions about the syntax and semantics of anaphora. I use examples in which focus is the result of information-structural considerations to argue for a semantics of reflexive anaphors. I show that a theory that treats reflexive anaphors as reflexivizing functions is empirically superior to theories that interpret them like variables. The discussion also leads to some interesting conclusions about focus theory. It is argued that the domain of application of the relevant information-structural notion should be limited to verb phrases and sentences and that the relevant economy condition should be localized accordingly.
Development and Validation of a Portable Hearing Self-Testing System Based on a Notebook Personal Computer
Authors: Liu Yan , Yang Dong , Xiong Fen , Yu Lan , Ji Fei , Wang Qiu-Ju
Published: June 2015

Background:Hearing loss affects more than 27 million people in mainland China. It would be helpful to develop a portable and self-testing audiometer for the timely detection of hearing loss so that the optimal clinical therapeutic schedule can be determined.Purpose:The
objective of this study was to develop a software-based hearing self-testing system.Research Design:The software-based self-testing system consisted of a notebook computer, an external sound card, and a pair of 10-Ω insert earphones. The system could be used to test the hearing
thresholds by individuals themselves in an interactive manner using software. The reliability and validity of the system at octave frequencies of 0.25 Hz to 8.0 kHz were analyzed in three series of experiments.Study Sample:Thirty-seven normal-hearing particpants (74 ears) were enrolled
in experiment 1. Forty individuals (80 ears) with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) participated in experiment 2. Thirteen normal-hearing participants (26 ears) and 37 participants (74 ears) with SNHL were enrolled in experiment 3. Each participant was enrolled in only one of the three experiments.Data
Collection and Analysis:In all experiments, pure-tone audiometry in a sound insulation room (standard test) was regarded as the gold standard. SPSS for Windows, version 17.0, was used for statistical analysis. The paired t-test was used to compare the hearing thresholds between
the standard test and software-based self-testing (self-test) in experiments 1 and 2. In experiment 3 (main study), one-way analysis of variance and post hoc comparisons were used to compare the hearing thresholds among the standard test and two rounds of the self-test. Linear correlation
analysis was carried out for the self-tests performed twice. The concordance was analyzed between the standard test and the self-test using the kappa method. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Experiments 1 and 2: The hearing thresholds determined by
the two methods were not significantly different at frequencies of 250, 500, or 8000 Hz (p > 0.05) but were significantly different at frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (p < 0.05), except for 1000 Hz in the right ear in experiment 2. Experiment 3: The hearing thresholds
determined by the standard test and self-tests repeated twice were not significantly different at any frequency (p > 0.05). The overall sensitivity of the self-test method was 97.6%, and the specificity was 98.3%. The sensitivity was 97.6% and the specificity was 97% for the patients
with SNHL. The self-test had significant concordance with the standard test (kappa value = 0.848, p < 0.001).Conclusions:This portable hearing self-testing system based on a notebook personal computer is a reliable and sensitive method for hearing threshold assessment and
monitoring.
EFFECT OF CNG IN A FUEL DOSE ON THE COMBUSTION PROCESS OF A COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINE
Authors: Mikulski Maciej , Wierzbicki Sławomir
Published: June 2015

Currently, one of the major trends in the research of contemporary combustion engines involves the potential use of alternative fuels. Considerable attention has been devoted to methane, which is the main component of Natural Gas (NG) and can also be obtained by purification of biogas. In compression-ignition engines fired with methane or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), it is necessary to apply a dual-fuel feeding system. This paper presents the effect of the proportion of CNG in a fuel dose on the process of combustion. The recorded time series of pressure in a combustion chamber was used to determine the repeatability of the combustion process and the change of fuel compression-ignition delay in the combustion chamber. It has been showed that NG does not burn completely in a dual-fuel engine. The best conditions for combustion are ensured with higher concentrations of gaseous fuel. NG ignition does not take place simultaneously with diesel oil ignition. Moreover, if a divided dose of diesel is injected, NG ignition probably takes place at two points, as diesel oil.
AN APPLICATION OF FUZZY LOGIC TO ASSESS SERVICE QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN LOGISTICS INDUSTRY
Authors: Esmaeili Ahmad , Kahnali Reza Ahmadi , Rostamzadeh Reza , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Ghoddami Babak
Published: June 2015

Differentiation, growing competitive advantage, and excellence has been proved to be the result of service quality. At the same time, measuring attributes of service quality and customer satisfaction is fuzzy and ambiguous, and methods available for their measurement are generally classical. This paper proposes a fuzzy method to identify the service quality attributes. This approach was developed using crisp assessment methods in a logistics company. Applying the proposed fuzzy approach, service quality attributes and indicators are identified and then organized into 8 categories, to see the uncertainty level of each. The proposed method was successfully conducted in a real logistics company. The results show the membership degree of each indicator, suggesting customer expectations regarding quality. Also, the membership degrees of the service quality attributes suggest the ability of each to describe service quality in logistics industry.
QUALITY OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT WEBSITES ACCORDING TO EXTENT OF PROVIDED INFORMATION
Authors: Bulíček Josef , Drdla Pavel
Published: June 2015

This paper is based on the analysis of websites of Urban Public Transport (UPT) made in different states. The paper proposes a standard of ‘minimal information websites content’ named as ‘Passenger Friendly Web’. Information content is divided into a set of elements. Their weights are determined by expert evaluation with the support of mathematics, especially of Saaty’s Method. Possibilities for future research are also regarded. Results can be applied to all Internet websites of UPT.
THE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF A WHEEL FLAT OF A RAILWAY VEHICLE AND RAIL IRREGULARITIES
Authors: Bogdevičius Marijonas , Žygienė Rasa , Dailydka Stasys , Bartulis Vilius , Skrickij Viktor , Pukalskas Saugirdas
Published: June 2015

The article examines a mathematical model for the system ‘Railway Vehicle Wheel–Track’ that allows examining the interaction between a wheel flat and a rail in the vertical plane. The dynamics of the railway track is described using the finite element method while that of the soil and vehicle is expressed applying discrete elements. The model is used for assessing physical and mechanical properties, the roughness of the wheel, rail surface and their geometry. The analysis of the dynamic system ‘Railway Vehicle Wheel–Track’ has been conducted. In accordance with the revised method, forces arising from contact between the wheel flat and the rail are possible to be determined in a more precise way. The article presents and analyses the results of a mathematical experiment on this system.