bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Voice Onset Time for Korean Stops
Authors: Silva David J.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Acoustic data elicited from 34 native speakers of Korean living in the United States pro-vide evidence for diachronic change in the voice onset time (VOT) of phrase-initial aspirated and lax stop phonemes. While older speakers produce aspirated and lax stops with clearly differentiated average VOT values, many younger speakers appear to have neutralized this difference, producing VOTs for aspirated stops that are substantially shorter than those of older speakers, and comparable to those for corresponding lax stops. The data further indicate that, within each age group, older speakers manifest sex-based differences in VOT while younger speakers do not. Despite this appar-ent shift in VOT values, the acoustic evidence suggests that all speakers in this study, regardless of age, continue to mark underlying differences between aspirated and lax stops in terms of stop closure and the fundamental frequency of the following vowel. It is concluded that the data point to a recent phonetic shift in the language, whereby VOT no longer serves as the primary cue to differentiate between lax and aspirated stops. There is not, however, evidence of any reorganization of the lan-guage as the phonemic level: the language's underlying lax ~ aspirated ~ tense contrasts endure.
The Contrastive Topic as a Focus Inducer
Authors: Kim Joung-Ran
Published: February 2014

Abstract. There are three different -nun phrases in Korean: topic, contrastive, and matching. The contrastive and the matching differ in that the matching is always followed by a focus phrase, while the former never is. Following J.-R. Kim (2004b) and Y.-B. Kim (2004), this article shows that the contrastive -nun phrase can be analyzed as a focus phrase, which is incompatible with the traditional belief that -nun is a topic marker. However, it is found that there are good reasons to believe there is a hidden focus AFFIRMATION/DENIAL following the -nun phrase in the contrastive sentence. Then, the foremost difference between the matching and the contrastive disappears: both of them are always followed by a focus phrase. We can collapse them, then, into the single category the contras-tive topic. The same LF structure involved in contrastive and the matching sentences suggests that one way to look at the contrastive topic is as a focus inducer, in the sense that the contrastive topic is always followed by a focus structure.
Honorification in Korean as Expressive Meaning
Authors: Sells Peter , Kim Jong-Bok
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Honorification in Korean elevates the social status of a participant in a clause with respect to the subject and/or the hearer. Honorific marking may occur as a nominal suffix, a special honor-ific form of a noun, an honorific case particle, an honorific marker on a verb, or a special honorific form of a verb. Previous accounts have proposed a specification [HON +], with unmarked forms typically being [HON -]. Our key idea is that honorific forms introduce a dimension of meaning, the expressive meaning of Potts (2005), which is privative, and hence simply absent from all non-honorific forms.
All previous accounts fail with regard to three types of fact: first, the different expressions of 'honor-ification' do not mean exactly the same thing. Second, multiple expressions of honorific marking within the same clause progressively elevates the social status of the referent: the effect is cumula-tive. Third, under the traditional analysis, some nouns have to be given a spurious and ultimately inconsistent ambiguity. We further argue that it is mistaken to consider honorific marking to be 'agreement' between, say, a subject and a verb. This position puts us in contrast with all of the syn-tactic literature on Korean (and Japanese), and some of the semantic and pragmatic literature.
What do Japanese and Korean Have in Common?
Authors: Martin Samuel E.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Many of the verb endings of modern Japanese and Korean have been created by contracting structures that consist of the stem + attached strings of particles and auxiliaries. Most of the auxiliaries have been taken from free verb stems that were grammaticalized for special purposes. Though the paradigmatic systems grew independently in the two languages, many of the ingredients go back to a common source that we can reconstruct on the basis of their shapes and meanings. Korean and Japanese share certain configurations of meaning and grammar, such as the well-known marking of focus, that are realized by markers which are not directly cognate in these structures but can be seen as cognate with forms in other structures within each language. These two languages have much more in common with each other than either has with any other language. This is why we think it is possible to reconstruct a prehistoric ancestor that can be called proto Korean-Japanese.
Two Japanese Vegetable Names Borrowed From Korean
Authors: Unger J. Marshall
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Neither J suzuna 'turnip' nor suzusiro 'radish' has a good J-internal etymology. But suzuna is similar in form to OK *swuy 'turnip' + *s + *no 'greens'. Likewise, suzusiro resembles OK *swuy + *s + *silay 'radish' (cf. silayki 'dried radish leaves'). Since turnips and radishes in China go back only about 2500 years and are known to have originated farther west, J suzuna and suzusiro are likely to be phrases borrowed into Japanese from Korean in proto-historic times.
Korean accent
Authors: Ito Chiyuki
Published: February 2014

This paper examines the accent systems of Middle Korean (MK) and the contemporary Korean dialects (North/South Kyengsang, Hamkyeng/Yanbian) both synchronically and diachronically, focusing on native simplex nouns. In an analysis of the MK accent system, we clarify correlations between a syllable’s segmental shape and the accent class of the stem, and propose that in Proto-Korean native nouns did not have a distinctive pitch accent. We also show that MK (as well as Proto-Korean) had a right-to-left iambic prominence system in which the unaccented stem class had an underlying floating H tone reflecting an apocopated syllable from an earlier stage of the language. We then examine the regular accentual correspondences between MK and the contemporary dialects and hypothesize that the accent retraction found in the Kyengsang dialects (“Kyengsang accent shift”) took place after the introduction of Sino-Korean vocabulary. Finally, based on an Optimality Theoretic analysis, we show that all dialects including MK tend to avoid a lapse in accent at the right edge of the word, which is accomplished by different repair strategies.
The Scope of some Inflectional Elements in Korean Coordination
Authors: Lee Sung-Bum
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the scope of some inflectional categories in coordinate constructions in Korean. The inflectional elements to be investigated here include tense, aspect, and modality morphemes.
Constraints in Verbal Compounding
Authors: Ahn Sang-Cheol
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this paper is two fold. First, I will examine the internal structure of the N-V-i construction, in terms of the constraints on argument linking. I will incorporate the major concepts in current morphological studies (Sproat 1985, Di Sciullo &1 Williams 1987, and Grimshaw 1990). As for the related issues in Korean, I will reexamine the earlier studies of Ahn (1985), Sohn (1987), H.-Y. Kim (1990), Yu-Cho (1994), and Shi (1993, 1995). Then, I will provide a new categorization of compounds in terms of morpho-lexical and semantic consideration. I will test this categorization phonologically.
Second, I will examine several constraints on the selection of a proper nominalizing suffixal form. For this part, I will employ the framework of the Optimality Theory by Prince & Smolensky (1993) and McCarthy & Prince (1993, 1994). Here I will propose five major constraints and their dominance hierarchy and show how these constraints and the dominance relation can account for the optimal selection of the surface form.
A Survey of Morphological Issues in Korean
Authors: Chae Hee-Rahk , No Yongkyoon
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this research is to critically review major works on morphological phenomena in Korean and, if possible, to provide a perspective on the study of Korean morphology. We will focus on those issues illustrating interactions between morphology and syntax. Morphology comprises inflection and word formation (i.e., derivation and compounding). Perhaps, some aspects of derivational morphology and compounds are relevant syntactically. They do not seem to be significant, however, in Korean. Therefore, after providing a brief introduction of the literature dealing with morphology and/or syntax, we will zero in on an appropriate treatment of syntactically relevant "little elements". Correct identification of these elements is essential for establishing a solid basis for proper syntactic analyses.
Self-Addressed Questions and Quantifier Interpretation
Authors: Jang Youngjun , Kim Il-Kon
Published: February 2014

In this article we offer an analysis of the internal structure of the so-called indefinite/existential quantifiers in Korean. For this purpose, we will first try to establish the existence of the hitherto unidentified question marker in Korean, namely, the "self-addressed" question marker -ka. Second, we will argue, on the basis of the analysis, that the indefinite/existential quantifiers in Korean are actually composed of a wh-expression plus a self-addressed question marker at some level of representation. We will provide supporting evidence from Middle Korean and Kyengnam dialect as well as from Modern Standard Korean.
In the first part of this paper, we will identify a new type of question marker -ka, which marks a question addressed to the speaker him/herself as opposed to one directed to the hearer. In the second part of this paper, we will argue that the indefinite quantifiers in Korean are actually composed of a wh-word plus a self-addressed question marker -ka.
The position proper of the adjective in Middle English
Authors: Trips Carola
Published: February 2014

This paper discusses grammatical replication as a possible explanation for the rise of postposed rhematic adjectives in Middle English (ME) times. It will be shown that this phenomenon, which is described by Fischer (2006) as a violation of the Old English pattern, has the potential to have been borrowed from Old French (OF) during the time when language contact between the two languages was most intense. A corpus-based study of OF will confirm that rhematic post-posed adjectives were the marked option and occurred in distinctive and highlighting contexts. This finding will be compared with findings from a corpus-based study of ME. It will reveal that the same pattern suddenly increases between 1250 and 1350, and that the postposition of adjectives correlates with the so-called French plural (marking) in texts which are based on Latin and/or French. Other sources like full texts of direct translations of French texts and mixed texts will be integrated into the study to provide as comprehensive a picture as possible about the contact situation. Although the results cannot be conclusive at present, this investigation shows that grammatical replication cannot be excluded as an explanation of the rise of this (and other) grammatical patterns during ME times.
The resilient nature of adjectival inflection in Dutch
Authors: Van de Velde Freek , Weerman Fred
Published: February 2014

The rich Germanic adjectival inflection dramatically eroded in the history of Dutch as part of a general process of deflection. At present, Dutch is left with what appears to be a vestigial structure: an alternation between an inflected form in schwa and an uninflected form, the distribution of which is semantically ill-motivated. As a consequence, one might expect that the inflection is moribund and that Dutch will follow its West Germanic neighbor English in doing away with this dysfunctional piece of morphology. This is not what is happening, though. Dutch adjectival inflection is remarkably resilient. In this article it is argued that this resilience is due to refunctionalization. The inflectional schwa is turning into a transparent marker of attributive adjectives, and comes to function as a watershed between the modification and determination zone in the noun phrase. This account explains many erratic inflectional patterns in non-standard language. The whole reanalysis is a long-term process, which has not yet come to completion, but the existence of the process is supported by a detailed investigation of corpus data.
The mixed categorial behavior of cel + participle in Romanian
Authors: Niculescu Dana
Published: February 2014

The traditional distinction between verbal and adjectival participles has been fine-grained in the last decades. Recently, Sleeman (2011) brought evidence that Germanic languages display two types of verbal participles: the fully eventive and the less fully eventive one. Using evidence from the Romanian present participle in modifier position, this paper argues that these two types of verbal participles also exist in Romance languages. Next to the fully eventive verbal participle, Romanian displays a less fully eventive structure, containing a verbal present participle preceded by the determiner cel, which typically selects adjectives. Evidence for the lower eventivity of the cel-verbal participle configuration will come from lexical aspect.
Cross-linguistic variation in agreement on Germanic predicate adjectives
Authors: Schoorlemmer Erik
Published: February 2014

The Germanic languages display cross-linguistic variation with respect to whether predicative adjectives agree. This paper attempts to determine which component of the grammar is responsible for this variation. In order to do so, it examines three different options: the variation has a lexical source, a syntactic source, or is due to an interaction between syntax and morphology. The conclusion the paper reaches is that the variation is either situated in the lexicon or has a morphosyntactic source. A purely syntactic source will, however, be excluded.
Why ‘we’?
Authors: Duszak Anna
Published: February 2014

The paper addresses changes in relational functions of ‘we’ in contemporary Polish and in the underlying models of culturally dominant ‘we’-group concepts. After some orientation to the ethnogrammar and ethnopragmatics of ‘we’ (Polish my), it focuses on a pragmatic analysis of a ‘we’ example taken from a semi-institutional context. Ultimately, it locates the discussion in a wider context of social and discursive change observable in contemporary Polish society. It demonstrates that the historical bifurcation of style into a T-based model of solidarity and a V-based model of deference is being eroded, and that cultural and communicative values are redefined along new priorities and demands. Emergent ‘we’-group concepts press for new patterns of address and mode of participant interaction.
Conceptual metaphors of anger in popularized scientific texts
Authors: Constantinou Maria
Published: February 2014

Metaphors conceptualizing emotions represent a well-researched area within the framework of a cognitive theory of metaphor. However, very few studies focus on emotion metaphors from a discursive and cross-linguistic perspective. The present paper sets out to investigate from a cognitive and discursive point of view conceptual metaphors in the target domain of ANGER in English, French, and Greek. The research is based on comparable corpora written by experts in psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy that are freely available on the Internet. The analysis of the corpora points out that conceptual metaphors are a powerful tool for experts who try to offer their readership a new and scientific perspective on the abstract concept of ANGER, while bringing out both differences and similarities, as identified in the three sub corpora.
Verbal aggressiveness or cooperative support?
Authors: Mrowa-Hopkins Colette , Strambi Antonella
Published: February 2014

This chapter discusses some preliminary results obtained as part of a broader investigation, which examines whether and how the communication of emotion differs in relation to three cultural groups (French, Italian and Anglo-Australian), with implications for intercultural communication. In particular, we focus here on how conflict talk operates in business meetings in Italian and French companies. Strategies of adjustment and control mechanisms between participants normally ensure that a meeting unfolds with respect to certain interactional rules and cultural norms that members of a given culture implicitly adopt. While anecdotal evidence abounds on the differences in conversational styles among the three groups we consider, empirical research exploring the deployment of affect in conflict discourse from a cross-cultural perspective is scarce.This paper illustrates instances of verbal conflict arising from challenges to the Chair’ s authority and power struggle, as manifested by interruptions and topic management sequences. This investigation of the pragmatic significance of interruptions in conflict talk contributes to research on emotional speech from a multidisciplinary (Mozziconacci 2002) and cross-cultural perspective (Scherer et al. 2001a; Rilliard et al. 2009).
Defining patterns in Translation Studies
Authors: Hebenstreit Gernot
Published: February 2014

A definition can be seen as a central working tool for researchers, since it leads to a new conceptual construction. At the same time a multitude of definitions, especially if competing with each other, is quite often perceived as a typical symptom of fields of research that have not yet developed their theories to the necessary level of sophistication. A relatively young field of research, Translation Studies and its proponents have repeatedly been the target of criticism in that respect, i.e. working with concepts whose definitions do not comply with commonly accepted standards of definition. That kind of critique serves as the starting point for this paper, which tries to analyze definitions in two seminal publications in the history of German Übersetzungswissenschaft, representing two opposing approaches to translation, namely Zufall und Gesetzmäßigkeit in der Übersetzung by Otto Kade (1968) and Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie by Hans J. Vermeer and Katharina Reiß (1984). The paper gives an account of standards of definition, commonly found in philosophy of science and terminology, addresses central aspects of scientific concepts (theoryboundness, types of concepts, determinacy, vagueness) and presents the findings of a study focusing on defining patterns.
The terminology of translation
Authors: Marco Josep
Published: February 2014

This article focuses on three kinds of problems besetting the terminology of translation. Firstly, the weak epistemological status of Translation Studies as a discipline does not favour consensus among specialists. Secondly, conceptual difficulties arise from the fact that the relationship between concepts and terms is far from univocal: conceptual similarities are clouded by terminological differences, and conceptual differences lurk beneath apparent synonymy. Thirdly, both conceptual and terminological practices are often rooted in different national traditions and may be school-specific. These three sets of problems are interrelated, and they are shown at work in a concept that has often been referred to as technique or shift. They have not only inward—academic and theoretical—but also outward—social and professional—consequences, as the social projection of professional translators vis-à-vis other professions may depend to a certain extent on their ability to use an acknowledged terminology. The same may be true of the translation scholar community.
Natural and directional equivalence in theories of translation
Authors: Pym Anthony
Published: February 2014

Equivalence was a key word in the linguistics-based translation theories of the 1960s and 1970s, although its basic mode of thought may be traced back to Cicero and later to the Renaissance theories that began to presuppose languages of equal status. Close inspection reveals that some theories assume pre-existing equivalents and are thus concerned with a search for “natural” equivalence. Other theories allow that translators actively create equivalents, and are thus concerned with “directional” equivalence. The first kind of equivalence is concerned with what languages ideally do prior to translation; the other deals with what they can do. These two approaches are often intertwined, giving rise to many misunderstandings and unfair criticisms of the underlying concept. The historical undoing of the equivalence paradigm came when the directional use of the term allowed that equivalence need be no more a belief or expectation at the moment of reception, which need not be substantiated on the level of linguistic forms. At the same time, source texts became less stable and languages have been returning to more visibly hierarchical relations, further undermining the concept. Contemporary localization projects may nevertheless fruitfully be interrogated from the perspective of natural and directional equivalence, since the presumptions are being used by contemporary technology precisely at the moment when the terms themselves have been dropped from critical and exploratory metalanguage.
In defence of fuzziness
Authors: Pokorn Nike K.
Published: February 2014

In Translation Studies the definitions of the concepts native speaker and mother tongue have been uncritically adopted from linguistics and are regarded as defined and clarified as far as their meaning is concerned, despite the fact that neither linguistics nor translation theory can offer an objective and water-tight definition of the terms. A similar desire for univocal terms can also be detected in the claims for the need of one, universally accepted term for the same phenomenon where various competing terms already exist and are in use.

Although some linguists have already expressed their doubts in the justification of some of the fundamental linguistic concepts, as Rajogopalan has observed, a lot of them are still happy working with such discreet entities thus making linguistics perhaps the most “19th century” of the academic disciplines taught in universities today. Unfortunately, this could also be stated for some currents in Translation Studies, despite the fact that translation research can and should provide the most suitable field where such axiomatic truths are challenged. The article questions this desire for the univocal and argues that it is high time we all learn to live with more fuzzy definitions.
The metalanguage of localization
Authors: Mazur Iwona
Published: February 2014

In recent years localization has become a popular concept in both translation practice and theory. It has developed a language of its own, which, however, still seems to be little known among translation scholars. What is more, being primarily an industry-based discourse, the terms related to localization are very fluid, which makes theorizing about it difficult. Therefore, the aim of this article is, first of all, to explain the basic terms of the metalanguage of localization, as they are used by both localization practitioners and scholars, and, secondly, to make this metalanguage more consistent by proposing some general definitions that cover the basic concepts in localization. This, in turn, should, on the one hand, facilitate scholar-to-practitioner communication and vice versa and, on the other, should result in concept standardization for training purposes. In the conclusions I link the present discussion of the metalanguage of localization to a more general debate on metalanguage(s) in Translation Studies and propose that in the future we might witness the emergence of a new discipline called Localization Studies.
The metalanguage of translation
Authors: Tang Jun
Published: February 2014

This paper provides a brief introduction to the metalanguage of translation in China. It also gives an account of the recent domestic anxiety about the uncritical acceptance of Western metalanguages and the discontinuity of traditional metadiscourses. The author contends that mutual understanding between scholars from different academic backgrounds will contribute to a new global academic order that accommodates and incorporates local knowledge of different cultures and marginal metalanguages of various academic communities.
Translation terminology and its offshoots
Authors: Gambier Yves
Published: February 2014

We have today a number of versions in different languages of Terminologie de la traduction / Translation terminology, originally compiled in four languages by Jean Delisle, Hannelore Lee-Jahnke and Monique C. Cormier (1999). To assess how these versions were prepared, nine editors have been contacted by e-mail and asked to respond to a series of questions: How did they proceed to select the terms, to write their definitions, to insert the examples? In a paradoxical way, the answers do not seem to reflect a clear and thorough methodology. The metalanguage of translation is far from enjoying consensus and the way to reach an agreement is all but simple.
Simulating disc galaxy bulges that are consistent with observed scaling relations
Authors: Christensen C. R. , Brooks A. M. , Fisher D. B. , Governato F. , McCleary J. , Quinn T. R. , Shen S. , Wadsley J.
Published: February 2014

We present a detailed comparison between the photometric properties of the bulges of two simulated galaxies and those of a uniform sample of observed galaxies. This analysis shows that the simulated galaxies have bulges with realistic surface brightnesses for their sizes and magnitude. These two field disc galaxies have rotational velocities ∼100 km s−1 and were integrated to a redshift of zero in a fully cosmological Λ cold dark matter context as part of high-resolution smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations. We performed bulge–disc decompositions of the galaxies using artificial observations, in order to conduct a fair comparison to observations. We also dynamically decomposed the galaxies and compared the star formation histories of the bulges to those of the entire galaxies. These star formation histories showed that the bulges were primarily formed before z = 1 and during periods of rapid star formation. Both galaxies have large amounts of early star formation, which is likely related to the relatively high bulge-to-disc ratios also measured for them. Unlike almost all previous cosmological simulations, the realistically concentrated bulges of these galaxies do not lead to unphysically high rotational velocities, causing them to naturally lie along the observed Tully–Fisher relation.
Reference map and comparative proteomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae displaying high resistance against spectinomycin
Authors: Nabu Sunanta , Lawung Ratana , Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya Patcharee , Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya Chartchalerm , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Prachayasittikul Virapong
Published: February 2014

A proteome reference map ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaewas successfully established using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry. This map was further applied to compare protein expression profiles of high-level spectinomycin-resistant (clinical isolate) and -susceptible (reference strain)N. gonorrhoeaefollowing treatment with subminimal inhibitory concentrations (subMICs) of spectinomycin. Approximately 200 protein spots were visualized by Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 staining and 66 spots representing 58 unique proteins were subsequently identified. Most of the identified proteins were analysed as cytoplasmic proteins and belonged to the class of energy metabolism. Comparative proteomic analysis of whole protein expression of susceptible and resistant gonococci showed up to 96 % similarity while eight proteins were found to be differentially expressed in the resistant strain. In the presence of subMICs of spectinomycin, it was found that 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12, an essential component for ribosomal translocation, was upregulated in both strains, ranging from 1.5- to 3.5-fold, suggesting compensatory mechanisms ofN. gonorrhoeaein response to antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis. Moreover, the differential expression of proteins involved in energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and the cell envelope was noticeably detected, indicating significant cellular responses and adaptation against antibiotic stress. Such knowledge provides valuable data, not only fundamental proteomic data, but also knowledge of the mode of action of antibiotic and secondary target proteins implicated in adaptation and compensatory mechanisms.
Population diversification in a yeast metabolic program promotes anticipation of environmental shifts
Authors: Venturelli Ophelia S. , Zuleta Ignacio , Murray Richard M. , El-Samad Hana
Published: February 2014

Delineating the strategies by which cells contend with combinatorial changing environments is crucial for understanding cellular regulatory organization. When presented with two carbon sources, microorganisms first consume the carbon substrate that supports the highest growth rate (e.g. glucose) and then switch to the secondary carbon source (e.g. galactose), a paradigm known as the Monod model. Sequential sugar utilization has been attributed to transcriptional repression of the secondary metabolic pathway, followed by activation of this pathway upon depletion of the preferred carbon source. In this work, we challenge this notion. AlthoughSaccharomyces cerevisiaecells consume glucose before galactose, we demonstrate that the galactose regulatory pathway is activated in a fraction of the cell population hours before glucose is fully consumed. This early activation reduces the time required for the population to transition between the two metabolic programs and provides a fitness advantage that might be crucial in competitive environments. Importantly, these findings define a new paradigm for the response of microbial populations to combinatorial carbon sources.
Photoperiodic Control of Carbon Distribution during the Floral Transition inArabidopsis
Authors: Ortiz-Marchena M. Isabel , Albi Tomás , Lucas-Reina Eva , Said Fatima E. , Romero-Campero Francisco J. , Cano Beatriz , Ruiz M. Teresa , Romero José M. , Valverde Federico
Published: February 2014

Flowering is a crucial process that demands substantial resources. Carbon metabolism must be coordinated with development through a control mechanism that optimizes fitness for any physiological need and growth stage of the plant. However, how sugar allocation is controlled during the floral transition is unknown. Recently, the role of a CONSTANS (CO) ortholog (Cr-CO) in the control of the photoperiod response in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its influence on starch metabolism was demonstrated. In this work, we show that transitory starch accumulation and glycan composition during the floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana are regulated by photoperiod. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate a role for CO in regulating the level and timing of expression of the GRANULE BOUND STARCH SYNTHASE (GBSS) gene. Furthermore, we provide a detailed characterization of a GBSS mutant involved in transitory starch synthesis and analyze its flowering time phenotype in relation to its altered capacity to synthesize amylose and to modify the plant free sugar content. Photoperiod modification of starch homeostasis by CO may be crucial for increasing the sugar mobilization demanded by the floral transition. This finding contributes to our understanding of the flowering process.
Treatment of ingrown nail with a special device composed of shape‐memory alloy
Authors: Park Se‐Won , Park Ji‐Ho , Lee Jong‐Hee , Lee Dong‐Youn , Lee Joo‐Heung , Yang Jun‐Mo
Published: February 2014

Ingrown nail is a common nail problem resulting in pain and disability in daily life. Recently, a new treatment modality for an ingrown nail was reported that used a device composed of shape‐memory alloy, K‐D. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy, recurrence rate and complications of K‐D. Between June 2010 and September 2012, 24 patients (31 nails) underwent treatment of symptomatic incurved nails with a K‐D. Patients were evaluated at pretreatment and during every visit. The mean age of the patients involved was 43.4 years. The mean period of follow up was 161 days. The mean maintenance period was 41 days. The right first toenail was the most common site. Almost ingrown nails healed and the nail deformity was corrected after the procedure. Among the 31 nails, seven of the ingrown nails recurred during follow up (22.6% recurrence rate). The recurrence rate of the patients with stage 1, 2 and 3 ingrown nails was 22.2%, 33.3% and 14.2%, respectively. The majority of patients were very satisfied. There were no side‐effects in most patients except loss of nail in one patient. K‐D has some advantages such as simple application steps, no deformity after the procedure, high patient satisfaction and obvious effect compared to other non‐invasive and invasive methods.
Differential sensitivities of grassland structural components to changes in precipitation mediate productivity response in a desert ecosystem
Authors: Reichmann Lara G. , Sala Osvaldo E.
Published: February 2014

In arid and semi‐arid ecosystems, there are legacies of previous‐year precipitation on current‐year above‐ground net primary production. We hypothesized that legacies of past precipitation occur through changes in tiller density, stolon density, tiller growth, axillary bud density and percentage of viable axillary buds. We examined the sensitivity to current‐ and previous‐year precipitation of these grassland structural components in Bouteloua eriopoda, the dominant grass in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

We conducted a rainfall manipulation experiment consisting in −80% reduced precipitation, ambient, +80% increased precipitation treatments that were subjected to one of five precipitation levels in the previous two years (−80% and −50% reduced precipitation, ambient, +50% and +80% increased precipitation). The first two years preconditioned the experimental plots for year three, in which we created wet‐to‐dry and dry‐to‐wet transitions. Measurements were taken in year 3.

We found that stolon density was the most sensitive to changes in precipitation and that percent‐active buds were insensitive.

We also found that past precipitation had a significant legacy on grassland structural components regardless of the precipitation received in the current year, and that the legacy occurs mostly through changes in stolon density.

Here, we showed that there is a differential sensitivity of structural components to current and past precipitation and supported previous findings that vegetation structure is one of the controls of productivity during precipitation transitions.
Is there a ‘browse trap’? Dynamics of herbivore impacts on trees and grasses in an African savanna
Authors: Staver Ann Carla , Bond William J.
Published: February 2014

Despite widespread acknowledgement that large mammal herbivory can strongly affect vegetation structure in savanna, we still lack a theoretical and practical understanding of savanna dynamics in response to herbivory.

Like fire, browsing may impose height‐structured recruitment limitations on trees (i.e. a ‘browse trap’), but the demographics of herbivore effects have rarely been considered explicitly. Evidence that cohorts of trees in savannas may establish during herbivore population crashes and persist long term in savanna landscapes is anecdotal.

Here, we use an experimental approach in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in South Africa, examining the response of grass biomass and tree populations to 10 years of graduated herbivore exclusion, and their subsequent response when exclosures were removed.

We found that grazer exclusion increased grass biomass and that, despite presumable increases in fire intensity and grass competition, herbivore – especially mesoherbivore, including impala and nyala – exclusion resulted in increases in tree size. After herbivore reintroduction, grazers reduced grass biomass over short time‐scales, but tree release from browsing persisted, regardless of tree size.

Synthesis. This work provides the first experimental evidence that release from browsing trumps grazer–grass–fire interactions to result in increases in tree size that persist even after browser reintroduction. Escape from the ‘browse trap’ may be incremental and not strictly episodic, but, over longer time‐scales, reductions in browsing pressure may lead to tree establishment events in savanna that persist even during periods of intense browsing. Explicitly considering the temporal demographic effects of browsing will be the key for a much‐needed evaluation of the potential global extent of herbivore impacts in savanna.
Multi‐century reconstruction of fire activity in Northern European boreal forest suggests differences in regional fire regimes and their sensitivity to climate
Authors: Drobyshev Igor , Granström Anders , Linderholm Hans W. , Hellberg Erik , Bergeron Yves , Niklasson Mats
Published: February 2014

Forest fires are one of the main disturbance agents in boreal and temperate ecosystems. To decipher large‐scale temporal and spatial patterns of past fire activity in Scandinavia, we analysed the synchronicity of dendrochoronologically reconstructed fire events in a large network of sites (n = 62; 3296 samples, 392 individual fire years) covering a wide geographical gradient (56.5–67.0° N and 9.3–20.5° E) over AD 1400–1900. We identified large fire years (LFY) as years with regionally increased forest fire activity and located the geographical centres of climatic anomalies associated with synchronous LFY occurrence across the region, termed LFY centroids.

The spatial pattern of LFY centroids indicated the presence of two regions with climatically mediated synchronicity of fire occurrence, located south and north from 60° N. The return intervals of LFYs in Scandinavia followed a Weibull distribution in both regions. Intervals, however, differed: a period of 40 years would carry a 0.93 probability of LFY occurrence in the southern region, but only a 0.48 probability of LFY occurrence in the northern region.

Over 1420–1759, the northern region was characterized by significantly higher temporal variability in LFY occurrence than the southern region. Temporal correlation of LFYs with reconstructed average summer temperature and total precipitation was evident mainly for the northern region. LFYs in this region were associated with positive temperature and negative precipitation anomalies over Scandinavia and with colder and wetter conditions in more southern parts of the European subcontinent.

Synthesis. Historical patterns of the occurrence of large fire years (LFY) in Scandinavia point towards the presence of two well‐defined zones with characteristic fire activity, with the geographical division at approximately 60° N. The northern and mid‐boreal forests, although exhibiting lower LFY frequencies, appeared to be more sensitive to past summer climate, as compared to the southern boreal forests. This would imply that fire regimes across Scandinavia may show an asynchronous response to future climate changes.
Management and outcomes for elderly women with vulvar cancer over time
Authors: Rauh‐Hain JA , Clemmer J , Clark RM , Bradford LS , Growdon WB , Goodman A , Boruta DM , Dizon DS , Schorge JO , del Carmen MG
Published: February 2014

Objective

To examine changes over time in survival and treatment for women diagnosed with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

USA, data obtained from the SEER Program for 1988–2009.

Population

Women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

Women were stratified by age: <50, 50–64, 65–79, and ≥80 years. Differences in survival and treatment patterns were analysed between age groups. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to examine treatment patterns. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards survival methods were used to assess survival.

Main outcome measures

Vital status from the date of diagnosis until death, censoring or last follow‐up.

Results

The final study group consisted of 8553 women, 1806 (21.12%) <50 years, 2141 (25.03%) 50–64 years, 2585 (30.22%) 65–79 years, and 2021 (23.63%) >80 years old. After adjusting for patient and tumour characteristics, older women were less likely to have surgery and more likely to receive radiotherapy. Compared with women under 50 years, women 50–64 had a two‐fold higher risk of death (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.55–2.34); those 65–79 years had a four‐fold higher risk of death (HR 4.01, 95% CI 3.32–4.82), and those ≥80 years had a seven‐fold higher risk of death (HR 6.98, 95% CI 5.77–8.46). These trends stayed relatively constant over the time periods studied.

Conclusions

Women over 50 years are at a higher risk of vulvar cancer‐specific mortality, which increases with age. These trends stayed relatively constant over the time periods studied.
Cannabis use during pregnancy in France in 2010
Authors: Saurel‐Cubizolles M‐J , Prunet C , Blondel B
Published: February 2014

Objective

The aim was to estimate the proportion of women who reported cannabis use during pregnancy, to analyse the demographic and social characteristics of users, and the link between cannabis use and either preterm or small‐for‐gestational‐age birth.

Design

Data were obtained from interviews of a representative sample of women giving birth in France in 2010 in the days after delivery, and from their medical records.

Setting

All maternity units in France.

Sample

The analysis includes women with live singleton births in metropolitan France who responded to the question about cannabis use during pregnancy: in total, 13 545 women.

Methods

The percentage of cannabis users during pregnancy was estimated, and variations according to social characteristics were described. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate any associations between cannabis use and preterm birth or small‐for‐gestational‐age status.

Main outcome measures

Percentage of cannabis use, preterm birth rate, and small‐for‐gestational‐age rate.

Results

In all, 1.2% of women reported having used cannabis during pregnancy. This percentage was higher among younger women, women living alone, or women who had a low level of education or low income. It was also associated with tobacco use and drinking alcohol. Cannabis users had higher rates of spontaneous preterm births: 6.4 versus 2.8%, for an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.15 (95% CI 1.10–4.18). The corresponding aOR was 2.64 (95% CI 1.12–6.22) among tobacco smokers and 1.22 (95% CI 0.29–5.06) among non‐tobacco smokers.

Conclusions

Although the reported rate of cannabis use during pregnancy in France is low, efforts should be continued to inform women and healthcare providers about the potential consequences of its use.
Risk and the Arborist in the Remaking of the Australian Urban Forest
Authors: DAVISON AIDAN , KIRKPATRICK JAMES BARRIE
Published: February 2014

The emerging profession of arboriculture has influenced Australian urban landscapes over the past decade. Arborists manage the urban forest as a core component of urban sustainability. We analyse qualitative interviews with 53 professionals involved in tree management in six eastern Australian cities to determine the ways in which a concern with risk management has shaped both the urban forest and the professional status and role of arborists. We found tree‐related risk has, in part, worked against urban greening by reducing tree size. However, an emerging risk culture has encouraged the development of the profession of arboriculture, which, in turn, has pioneered sophisticated ways, familiar to neither engineers nor ecologists, of ensuring the cohabitation of people and trees.
Recent Change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population and Housing Geographies
Authors: BIDDLE NICHOLAS , PROUT SARAH
Published: February 2014

The intercensal period (2006–2011) was a time of significant policy and population change in Indigenous affairs. The aim of this paper is to document the changing distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and housing geographies over that period. We use the Indigenous Region structure developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to show that Indigenous Australians grew at a rate that significantly outstrips the non‐Indigenous population with an increasing concentration of the Indigenous population on the urban eastern seaboard and particularly among older people. We present results that show that for certain measures, the housing situation of the Indigenous population in 2011 had improved relative to the Indigenous population in 2006. A smaller proportion of Indigenous households were estimated to live in an overcrowded dwelling compared with Indigenous households in 2006. There were also significant increases in the per cent of Indigenous households that owned or were purchasing their own home. Other results might be seen as less positive with community housing (a tenure type identified as having benefits in both qualitative and quantitative analysis) declining in importance. In net terms though, Indigenous households continue to experience a high degree of housing need. Compared with other households, they were 3.7 times as likely to live in an overcrowded dwelling.
CRIMINAL GROUP EMBEDDEDNESS AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ARRESTING A GANG'S LEADER: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY
Authors: VARGAS ROBERT
Published: February 2014

Although law enforcement agencies arrest criminal group leaders to dismantle organized crime, few studies have assessed whether such interventions produce adverse effects. Through a mixed‐method comparative case study of the Latin Kings and 22 Boys street gangs in Chicago, this article examines the consequences of arresting a gang's leader. Using violent crime data, I show that a spike in violent crime took place in the first month after the arrest of the 22 Boys gang leader. In contrast, the arrest of the Latin Kings gang leader produced no change in violent crime. Using several qualitative data sources, I show that the arrest of the 22 Boys gang leader temporarily led to the gang's withdrawal from its territory, which spurred violent aggression from rival gangs in adjacent territories. In contrast, the Latin Kings gang continued its operations because the gang's prison leaders quickly appointed new leadership. The results suggest that criminal group embeddedness (or the social relations between criminal groups) can contribute to adverse effects in interventions targeting gang or other criminal group leaders.
Embryo Selection for Cognitive Enhancement: Curiosity or Game‐changer?
Authors: Shulman Carl , Bostrom Nick
Published: February 2014

Human capital is an important determinant of individual and aggregate economic outcomes, and a major input to scientific progress. It has been suggested that advances in genomics may open up new avenues to enhance human intellectual abilities genetically, complementing environmental interventions such as education and nutrition. One way to do this would be via embryo selection in the context of in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this article, we analyze the feasibility, timescale, and possible societal impacts of embryo selection for cognitive enhancement. We find that embryo selection, on its own, may have significant (but likely not drastic) impacts over the next 50 years, though large effects could accumulate over multiple generations. However, there is a complementary technology – stem cell‐derived gametes – which has been making rapid progress and which could amplify the impact of embryo selection, enabling very large changes if successfully applied to humans.