bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mountain glaciers and ice caps around Antarctica make a large sea‐level rise contribution
Authors: Hock Regine , de Woul Mattias , Radić Valentina , Dyurgerov Mark
Published: April 2009

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that the sum of all contributions to sea‐level rise for the period 1961–2004 was 1.1 ± 0.5 mm a−1, leaving 0.7 ± 0.7 of the 1.8 ± 0.5 mm a−1 observed sea‐level rise unexplained. Here, we compute the global surface mass balance of all mountain glaciers and ice caps (MG&IC), and find that part of this much‐discussed gap can be attributed to a larger contribution than previously assumed from mass loss of MG&IC, especially those around the Antarctic Peninsula. We estimate global surface mass loss of all MG&IC as 0.79 ± 0.34 mm a−1 sea‐level equivalent (SLE) compared to IPCC's 0.50 ± 0.18 mm a−1. The Antarctic MG&IC contributed 28% of the global estimate due to exceptional warming around the Antarctic Peninsula and high sensitivities to temperature similar to those we find in Iceland, Patagonia and Alaska.
Modeling the effects of gravity wave momentum deposition on the general circulation above the turbopause
Authors: Yiğit Erdal , Medvedev Alexander S. , Aylward Alan D. , Hartogh Paul , Harris Matthew J.
Published: April 2009

A nonlinear spectral gravity wave (GW) drag parameterization systematically accounting for breaking and dissipation in the thermosphere developed by Yiğit et al. (2008) has been implemented into the University College London Coupled Middle Atmosphere‐Thermosphere‐2 (CMAT2) general circulation model (GCM). The dynamical role of GWs propagating upward from the lower atmosphere has been studied in a series of GCM tests for June solstice conditions. The results suggest that GW drag is not only nonnegligible above the turbopause, but that GWs propagate strongly into the upper thermosphere, and, upon their dissipation, deposit momentum comparable to that of ion drag, at least up to 180–200 km. The effects of thermospheric GW drag are particularly noticeable in the winter (southern) hemisphere, where weaker westerlies and stronger high‐latitude easterlies are simulated well, in agreement with the empirical Horizontal Wind Model (HWM93). The dynamic response in the F region is sensitive to the variations of the source spectrum. However, the spectra commonly employed in middle atmosphere GCMs reproduce the circulation both in the lower and upper thermosphere reasonably well.
On the Fate of Extracellular Hemoglobin and Heme in Brain
Authors: Lara Flavio A , Kahn Suzana A , Fonseca Anna CC da , Bahia Carlomagno P , Pinho João PC , Graca-Souza Aurélio V , Houzel Jean C , de Oliveira Pedro L , Moura-Neto Vivaldo , Oliveira Marcus F
Published: April 2009

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major cause of disability in adults worldwide. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is complex, involving both inflammatory and redox components triggered by the extravasation of blood into the cerebral parenchyma. Hemoglobin, heme, and iron released therein seem be important in the brain damage observed in ICH. However, there is a lack of information concerning hemoglobin traffic and metabolism in brain cells. Here, we investigated the fate of hemoglobin and heme in cultured neurons and astrocytes, as well as in the cortex of adult rats. Hemoglobin was made traceable by conjugation to Alexa 488, whereas a fluorescent heme analogue (tin-protoporphyrin IX) was prepared to allow heme tracking. Using fluorescence microscopy we observed that neurons were more efficient in uptake hemoglobin and heme than astrocytes. Exposure of cortical neurons to hemoglobin or heme resulted in an oxidative stress condition. Viability assays showed that neurons were more susceptible to both hemoglobin and heme toxicity than astrocytes. Together, these results show that neurons, rather than astrocytes, preferentially take up hemoglobin-derived products, indicating that these cells are actively involved in the ICH-associated brain damage.
Statistical Learning in Children With Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Evans Julia L. , Saffran Jenny R. , Robe-Torres Kathryn
Published: April 2009

Purpose

In this study, the authors examined (a) whether children with specific language impairment (SLI) can implicitly compute the probabilities of adjacent sound sequences, (b) if this ability is related to degree of exposure, (c) if it is domain specific or domain general and, (d) if it is related to vocabulary.

Method

Children with SLI and normal language controls (ages 6;5–14;4 [years;months]) listened to 21 min of a language in which transitional probabilities within words were higher than those between words. In a second study, children with SLI and Age–Nonverbal IQ matched controls (8;0–10;11) listened to the same language for 42 min and to a second 42 min “tone” language containing the identical statistical structure as the “speech” language.

Results

After 21 min, the SLI group’s performance was at chance, whereas performance for the control group was significantly greater than chance and significantly correlated with receptive and expressive vocabulary knowledge. In the 42-minute speech condition, the SLI group’s performance was significantly greater than chance and correlated with receptive vocabulary but was no different from chance in the analogous 42-minute tone condition. Performance for the control group was again significantly greater than chance in 42-minute speech and tone conditions.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that poor implicit learning may underlie aspects of the language impairments in SLI.
Role of Visual Speech in Phonological Processing by Children With Hearing Loss
Authors: Jerger Susan , Tye-Murray Nancy , Abdi Hervé
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This research assessed the influence of visual speech on phonological processing by children with hearing loss (HL).

Method

Children with HL and children with normal hearing (NH) named pictures while attempting to ignore auditory or audiovisual speech distractors whose onsets relative to the pictures were either congruent, conflicting in place of articulation, or conflicting in voicing—for example, the picture “pizza” coupled with the distractors “peach,” “teacher,” or “beast,” respectively. Speed of picture naming was measured.

Results

The conflicting conditions slowed naming, and phonological processing by children with HL displayed the age-related shift in sensitivity to visual speech seen in children with NH, although with developmental delay. Younger children with HL exhibited a disproportionately large influence of visual speech and a negligible influence of auditory speech, whereas older children with HL showed a robust influence of auditory speech with no benefit to performance from adding visual speech. The congruent conditions did not speed naming in children with HL, nor did the addition of visual speech influence performance. Unexpectedly, the /∧/-vowel congruent distractors slowed naming in children with HL and decreased articulatory proficiency.

Conclusions

Results for the conflicting conditions are consistent with the hypothesis that speech representations in children with HL (a) are initially disproportionally structured in terms of visual speech and (b) become better specified with age in terms of auditorily encoded information.
Ab initiomolecular dynamics simulations of properties of a-Al2O3 /vacuum and a-ZrO2 /vacuum vs a-Al2O3∕Ge(100)(2×1) and a-ZrO2∕Ge(100)(2×1) interfaces
Authors: Chagarov Evgueni A. , Kummel Andrew C.
Published: April 2009

The local atomic structural properties of a-Al2O3, a-ZrO2 vacuum/oxide surfaces, and a-Al2O3∕Ge(100)(2×1), a-ZrO2∕Ge(100)(2×1) oxide/semiconductor interfaces were investigated by density-functional theory (DFT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Realistic a-Al2O3 and a-ZrO2 bulk samples were generated using a hybrid classical-DFT MD approach. The interfaces were formed by annealing at 700 and 1100K with subsequent cooling and relaxation. The a-Al2O3 and a-ZrO2 vacuum/oxide interfaces have strong oxygen enrichment. The a-Al2O3∕Ge interface demonstrates strong chemical selectivity with interface bonding exclusively through Al–O–Ge bonds. The a-ZrO2∕Ge interface has roughly equal number of Zr–O–Ge and O–Zr–Ge bonds. The a-Al2O3∕Ge junction creates a much more polar interface, greater deformation in Ge substrate and interface intermixing than a-ZrO2∕Ge consistent with experimental measurements. The differences in semiconductor deformation are consistent with the differences in the relative bulk moduli and angular distribution functions of the two oxides.
From working memory to epilepsy: Dynamics of facilitation and inhibition in a cortical network
Authors: Verduzco-Flores Sergio , Ermentrout Bard , Bodner Mark
Published: April 2009

Persistent states are believed to be the correlate for short-term or working memory. Using a previously derived model for working memory, we show that disruption of the lateral inhibition can lead to a variety of pathological states. These states are analogs of reflex or pattern-sensitive epilepsy. Simulations, numerical bifurcation analysis, and fast-slow decomposition are used to explore the dynamics of this network.
Multistability, local pattern formation, and global collective firing in a small-world network of nonleaky integrate-and-fire neurons
Authors: Rothkegel Alexander , Lehnertz Klaus
Published: April 2009

We investigate numerically the collective dynamical behavior of pulse-coupled nonleaky integrate-and-fire neurons that are arranged on a two-dimensional small-world network. To ensure ongoing activity, we impose a probability for spontaneous firing for each neuron. We study network dynamics evolving from different sets of initial conditions in dependence on coupling strength and rewiring probability. Besides a homogeneous equilibrium state for low coupling strength, we observe different local patterns including cyclic waves, spiral waves, and turbulentlike patterns, which—depending on network parameters—interfere with the global collective firing of the neurons. We attribute the various network dynamics to distinct regimes in the parameter space. For the same network parameters different network dynamics can be observed depending on the set of initial conditions only. Such a multistable behavior and the interplay between local pattern formation and global collective firing may be attributable to the spatiotemporal dynamics of biological networks.
Parallel implementation of the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles method and application for radical adducts of cytosine
Authors: Kuś Tomasz , Lotrich Victor F. , Bartlett Rodney J.
Published: April 2009

The equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) method has been implemented into the massively parallel ACES III program using two alternative strategies: (1) storing the entire EOM Hamiltonian matrix prior to diagonalization and (2) recomputing the four-virtual part of the matrix from integrals in a direct mode. The second is found to be far more efficient. EOM-CC shows virtually ideal scaling from 32 to 256 processors. With basis sets as large as 552 functions, the program was applied to determine vertical excitation energies for five cytosine radical adducts of –OH and –H at three sites C5, C6, and N3. These radicals are considered to play an important role in radiation induced DNA damage. The excitation energy spectrum shows two distinct patterns for the lowest transitions distinguishing the C6–OH, C6–H, and N3–H adducts from the C5–OH and C5–H. The results indicate that the two lowest transitions of the C6–OH isomer should contribute to the experimentally observed absorption maximum at 2.88 eV, while the third and fourth transitions of C6–OH and the two lowest transitions of C5–OH contribute to the 3.65 eV absorption maximum. We also report the CCSD with noniterative triples correction [CCSD(T)] relative energies of the C5–OH and C6–OH adducts using 1000 processors.
Quasimonoenergetic proton beam from ultraintense-laser irradiation of a target with holed backside
Authors: Yu T. P. , Ma Y. Y. , Chen M. , Shao F. Q. , Yu M. Y. , Gu Y. Q. , Yin Y.
Published: April 2009

A scheme for producing quasimonoenergetic proton beams is presented. In the scheme, a thin solid target with a tiny hole on its backside is employed. The optimal hole diameter is of the order of the laser spot size so that a localized uniform sheath field can be generated in the hole. Particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that the highly localized uniform fields can produce monoenergetic target normal sheath acceleration protons in the hole. The transverse electric fields can well suppress the transverse divergence of the protons. The dependence of the proton beam quality on the focal radius and hole structure is also investigated. This special tailed target together with optimized laser parameters can serve as sources for collimated as well as quasimonoenergetic proton beams.
Effects of Lewis number on scalar transport in turbulent premixed flames
Authors: Chakraborty Nilanjan , Cant R. S.
Published: April 2009

The effects of global Lewis number on scalar transport in turbulent premixed flames are studied using direct numerical simulation. Under the same initial conditions of turbulent flow field, it is observed that flames with global Lewis numbers significantly smaller than unity tend to exhibit countergradient transport, whereas the extent of gradient transport is shown to increase with increasing global Lewis numbers. The velocity difference between reactants and products in the flame normal direction is shown to be significantly affected by the global Lewis number. The flame normal acceleration is shown to increase with decreasing Lewis number, leading to an increase in the magnitude of the mean pressure gradient in the mean direction of flame propagation. This effect is shown to be is responsible for promoting countergradient transport in low Lewis number flames. It is also shown that turbulent transport of flame surface density tends to exhibit countergradient behavior for the flames with Lewis number significantly smaller than unity.
Generalized memory associativity in a network model for the neuroses
Authors: Wedemann Roseli S. , Donangelo Raul , de Carvalho Luís A. V.
Published: April 2009

We review concepts introduced in earlier work, where a neural network mechanism describes some mental processes in neurotic pathology and psychoanalytic working-through, as associative memory functioning, according to the findings of Freud. We developed a complex network model, where modules corresponding to sensorial and symbolic memories interact, representing unconscious and conscious mental processes. The model illustrates Freud’s idea that consciousness is related to symbolic and linguistic memory activity in the brain. We have introduced a generalization of the Boltzmann machine to model memory associativity. Model behavior is illustrated with simulations and some of its properties are analyzed with methods from statistical mechanics.
Chaos of elementary cellular automata rule 42 of Wolfram’s class II
Authors: Chen Fang-Yue , Jin Wei-Feng , Chen Guan-Rong , Chen Fang-Fang , Chen Lin
Published: April 2009

In this paper, the dynamics of elementary cellular automata rule 42 is investigated in the bi-infinite symbolic sequence space. Rule 42, a member of Wolfram’s class II which was said to be simply as periodic before, actually defines a chaotic global attractor; that is, rule 42 is topologically mixing on its global attractor and possesses the positive topological entropy. Therefore, rule 42 is chaotic in the sense of both Li-Yorke and Devaney. Meanwhile, the characteristic function and the basin tree diagram of rule 42 are explored for some finite length of binary strings, which reveal its Bernoulli characteristics. The method presented in this work is also applicable to studying the dynamics of other rules, especially the 112 Bernoulli-shift rules of the elementary cellular automata.
Atomic force microscopy spring constant determination in viscous liquids
Authors: Pirzer Tobias , Hugel Thorsten
Published: April 2009

The spring constant of cantilever in atomic force microscopy (AFM) is often calibrated from thermal noise spectra. Essential for accurate implementation of this “thermal noise method” is an appropriate fitting function and procedure. Here, we survey the commonly used fitting functions and examine their applicability in a range of environments. We find that viscous liquid environments are extremely problematic due to the frequency dependent nature of the damping coefficient. The deviations from the true spring constant were sometimes more than 100% when utilizing the fit routines built into the three investigated commercial AFM instruments; similar problems can arise with homebuilt AFMs. We discuss the reasons for this problem, especially the limits of the fitting process. Finally, we present a thermal noise based procedure and an improved fit function to determine the spring constant with AFMs in fluids of various viscosities.
A PRp27 gene of Nicotiana benthamiana contributes to resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci but not to Colletotrichum destructivum or Colletotrichum orbiculare
Authors: Xie Weilong , Goodwin Paul H.
Published: April 2009

NbPRp27 from Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. is highly similar to NtPRp27, which is a secreted protein from Nicotiana tabacum L. belonging to pathogen-inducible genes comprising the PR17 family of pathogenesis-related proteins. A collection of related genes from plants in several plant families showed that their deduced amino acid sequences clustered according to plant family. Expression of NbPRp27 was not detectable in healthy leaves or stems but was expressed at high levels in roots. Expression was induced by wounding, BTH, ethylene, methyl jasmonate, ABA and NAA, but not by drought, heat or cold stress. Expression was induced by infection with the hemibiotrophic pathogens, Colletotrichum destructivum, Colletotrichum orbiculare and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. For infections with the Colletotrichum species, expression increased more slowly during biotrophy than necrotrophy, but the reverse was true for P. syringae pv. tabaci. Virus-induced silencing of NbPRp27 did not affect the lesion number produced by the Colletotrichum species but did reduce basal resistance to P. syringae pv. tabaci permitting higher bacterial populations. Based on sequence similarities, PRp27 proteins have been hypothesised to have protease activity and may contribute to resistance by exhibiting direct antimicrobial activity in the apoplast, releasing of antimicrobial compounds from the plant matrix or releasing elicitors from pathogens to induce resistance.
Induction of secondary metabolism in grape cell cultures by jasmonates
Authors: Onofrio Claudio D' , Cox Agnieszka , Davies Christopher , Boss Paul K.
Published: April 2009

The use of a genetic approach to study the biosynthetic pathways leading to the production of secondary metabolites in grapes is difficult given the long generation times and difficulty in transforming this species. In the present study, GC/MS and microarray experiments were used to identify compounds produced in grape cell cultures in response to jasmonates and to examine the expression of genes from pathways that produce these secondary metabolites. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and jasmonic acid (JA) treatments resulted in the production of at least 25 compounds with sesquiterpene-like mass spectra in the cell cultures. A significantly greater amount of proanthocyanidins was produced in the MeJA-treated cell cultures compared with controls and stilbene biosynthesis was induced in both MeJA- and JA-treated cells. Salicylic acid (SA) suppressed the MeJA-associated increase in sesquiterpenes and proanthocyanidins, but SA did not suppress the stilbene production induced by MeJA treatment. The mechanism by which jasmonates induced secondary metabolite production in cultured grape cells varied depending on the pathway. The increased production of proanthocyanidins and stilbenes was associated with the induction of all of the genes in associated biosynthesis pathways, including those involved in the production of phenylalanine, whereas increased sesquiterpene synthesis was linked to the induction of certain genes from relevant biosynthesis pathways.
Auxin regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis in the roots of pea (Pisum sativum)
Authors: Weston Diana E. , Reid James B. , Ross John J.
Published: April 2009

Auxin promotes GA biosynthesis in the aboveground parts of plants. However, it has not been demonstrated previously that this interaction occurs in roots. To understand the interactions between auxin and GAs in these organs, we treated wild-type pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots with the inhibitors of auxin action, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB) and yokonolide B (YkB), and with the auxin transport inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). These compounds generally downregulated GA synthesis genes and upregulated GA deactivation genes, and reduced the level of the bioactive GA1. These effects indicate that in pea roots, auxin at normal endogenous levels stimulates GA biosynthesis. We show also that supra-optimal levels of exogenous auxin reduce the endogenous level of bioactive GA in roots, although the effect appears too small to account for the strong growth-inhibitory effect of high auxin levels.
The declining role of primary schools in the revitalisation of Irish
Authors: Harris John
Published: April 2009

Although the vast majority of people in Ireland have at least some knowledge of Irish, only a small minority speak it as a community language (in Gaeltacht areas in the west) or in the more widely dispersed Irish-speaking households in the large English speaking area. Primary schools have had a central role in language revitalisation since the late 19th century, by transmitting a knowledge of the language to each new generation. This paper examines how well primary schools have performed in recent decades. Results of a national comparative study over a 17 year period show that there has been a long-term decline in pupil success in learning Irish (speaking and listening) in ‘ordinary’ schools. Proficiency in Irish in all-Irish immersion schools in English-speaking areas have held up well despite rapid expansion. Reasons for the decline in ordinary schools include time pressures in the curriculum, a reduction in Irish-medium teaching, changing teacher attitudes and a lack of engagement by parents. The changing role of the Department of Education and Science in relation to Irish and the rapid evolution of new educational structures, have also have had negative effects. Implications for the revitalisation of Irish are discussed.
Developments in bilingual Frisian-Dutch education in Friesland
Authors: Gorter Durk , van der Meer Cor
Published: April 2009

This paper focuses on the position and development of the Frisian language in the educational system in Friesland. It discusses the achievements and the research results of special projects in bilingual and trilingual schools. It gives an overview of the language proficiency, attitudes and the new challenges of the education system.

The Frisian language has obtained a presence on all levels of education, although marginal in most cases. Language policy by the government has emphasised the teaching of Frisian in primary schools. The developments over the last decades have not been as remarkable as in other regions. The overall attitudes seem moderately positive, more among the public at large and parents than among teachers and school directors. Research has shown repeatedly that school achievement in Dutch is not affected by bilingual programs and the outcomes for Frisian are more positive. The experiment with trilingual education was received positively, although the outcomes for Frisian and English were not as persuasive as expected.

It is concluded that the position of Frisian is rather weak compared to the other cases in this volume, although the point of departure is relatively favourable in terms of the proportion of speakers in society.
Spoken Corpora Design
Authors: Čermák František
Published: April 2009

From a linguistic point of view, spoken corpora should be primary for research but that has not been the case so far. Hence, the problem of what should be included in the corpora has hardly ever been considered. Often it would appear that anything spoken is included on an ad hoc basis. The need and scarcity of real prototypical spoken corpora points to a necessity of mapping the field in its entirety and identifying its relevant parameters. In order to do this the present paper translates the major differences between spoken and written texts into usable parameters. Ultimately this could enable the setting up of a representative spoken corpus with a clear core of real and typical spoken language, etc.
Mediation, manipulation, empowerment
Authors: Apostolou Fotini
Published: April 2009

This paper attempts a reading of the interpreter’s social and cultural role through a return to origins, to the ancient Greek god Hermes, who was, among other things, the mediator between gods and humans. Hermes’s ambivalent position and nature — conveying and at the same time manipulating the messages of the gods — are taken as a point of departure in order to highlight the complexity of the interpreting process. Interpreters, poised in the same liminal space of in-betweenness, are asked to promote communication, remaining faithful to the speaker and retaining for themselves an invisible presence (or absence?). The questions of invisibility and neutrality are further discussed in the second part of the paper, where Sydney Pollack’s film The Interpreter (2005) is taken as a case study. The lead character of the film, an interpreter, moves from perfect neutrality to full involvement in the interpreting process, and faces the consequences of this violation of an “omnipresent” ethical code that demands absence rather than presence on the part of the interpreter.
Seeking asylum and seeking identity in a mediated encounter
Authors: Merlini Raffaela
Published: April 2009

The paper explores the professional practice of “cultural mediation” in the Italian context. This activity is taken here as a vantage point from which the dynamics of identity projections can be observed, as they emerge from a real-life interaction. The analysis is carried out on a recorded and transcribed encounter involving three participants: a service provider working for a Foreigners Advice Bureau run by the municipal authorities of a major Italian city; a French-speaking asylum seeker from Cameroon; and a Moroccan mediator. The encounter is characterised by a high degree of interactional heterogeneity; triadic configurations where the mediator acts as “interpreter” alternate with parallel conversations and with long dyadic exchanges between the mediator and the service user, in the absence of the service provider. Within this changeable participation framework, the interlocutors’ discursive choices are closely examined. The theoretical framework brings together two complementary paradigms, a linguistic-interactional and a socio-psychological one. The resulting discussion, which revolves around the concepts of “role”, “discourse”, “position” and “narrative”, reveals cultural mediation as an area of instability, where competing identities are interactively constructed and reconstructed.
Closeness and distance
Authors: Luginbühl Martin
Published: April 2009

This article compares the form of TV news reporting in the American “CBS Evening News” and the Swiss “Tagesschau” from their beginning until today. It draws particular attention to the ‘culturality’ of text types — a term that will be introduced in the first part. The analysis focuses on local, temporal and emotional closeness in news packages and illustrates how the two shows stage closeness in different and changing ways. Although a partial homogenization can be observed, the notion of a continuous americanization is rejected. The results will be analysed in the perspective of the TV news shows considering factors such as the text repertoire and overall format of the show. Discussing the results I will argue that the concept of ‘journalistic culture’ is helpful to conceptualize and understand the form of news. While the analysis cannot decide to what degree single influencing factors are at work, it further develops some common assumptions (like national characteristics of text types or the influence of commercialization).
The nominative and infinitive in English and Dutch
Authors: Noël Dirk , Colleman Timothy
Published: April 2009

The nominative and infinitive (or NCI) is a syntactic pattern that has so far not been given its due in the linguistics of languages that possess structures that could go by that name. In English and Dutch these were probably introduced (or at the very least revived) into the grammar as loans from Latin. To the extent that they have received attention, the linguistics of these three languages traditionally treats them as mere passive alternates of accusative and infinitives, but in English and Dutch, and probably also in Latin, most NCI patterns can instantiate three distinct constructions: a passive NCI, a descriptive NCI and an evidential NCI. Though the latter one especially can be seen to be ‘more grammatical’ than the passive NCI, it is not the result of a grammaticalization change that has taken place inside English or Dutch. In English the evidential NCI did become a productive schematic construction that grew to be very useful in journalistic and academic discourses. In Dutch, on the other hand, the productivity of the NCI constructions has much decreased after a brief 18th-century peak. English and Dutch do have in common, however, that a couple of substantive evidential NCI patterns grammaticalized into deontic NCI constructions, which at present is the most frequent NCI construction in Dutch.
Measurement of the momentum transferred between contacting bodies during the LISA test-mass release phase—uncertainty estimation
Authors: De Cecco M , Bortoluzzi D , Baglivo L , Benedetti M , Da Lio M
Published: April 2009

The requirements for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) test-mass (TM) release phase are analysed in view of the building up of a testing facility aimed at on-Earth qualification of the release mechanism. Accordingly, the release of the TM to free-fall must provide a linear momentum transferred to the TM not exceeding 10−5 kg m s−1. In order to test this requirement, a double pendulum system has been developed. The mock-ups of the TM and the release-dedicated plunger are brought into contact and then the latter is quickly retracted. During and after release, the TM motion is measured by a laser interferometer. The transferred momentum is estimated from the free oscillations following the plunger retraction by means of a Wiener–Kolmogorov optimal filter. This work is aimed at modelling the measurement chain, taking into account procedure, instruments, mechanisms and data elaboration in order to estimate the uncertainty associated with the transferred momentum measurement by means of Monte Carlo simulation.
The French Creoles of Trinidad and the Limits of the Francophone
Authors: Munro Martin
Published: April 2009

This article is framed by the argument that, for all its justified condemnation of the closed nature of traditional French studies, the realm of Francophone studies constructs its own barriers and its own conventions of what constitutes Francophone writing. The influence of postcolonial theory on the field, it is argued, has focused interest almost exclusively on the literature of the colonized and the repressed in neocolonial and postcolonial situations. The influence of conventional French studies has, moreover, led most Francophone scholars to work on areas where France and French language retain an important presence. While not denying the necessity of this dual focus, the article proposes that attention be paid to areas where French colonial presence was interrupted or subsumed by that of another colonial power. The body of the article considers the history and cultural legacy of the French Creoles of Trinidad as an example of a Francophone group that wielded considerable influence in the nineteenth century, but which has now all but disappeared. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the study of such forgotten pockets of Francophone literature is one way of ensuring a creative discordance within the realm of Francophone studies.
The Origins of
la vie neutre
: Nicolas Caussin's Influence on the Writings of Gabrielle Suchon
Authors: Desnain Véronique
Published: April 2009

This article examines the influence of Nicolas Caussin's writing on secular celibacy (
vie neutre
) — and especially of his
Vie de Sainte Isabelle
(1643) — on Gabrielle Suchon's
Traité de la morale et de la politique
(1693) and
Du célibat volontaire, ou la vie sans engagement
(1700). I argue that this overlooked source played a considerable part in shaping Suchon's theories regarding the subordination of women and the usefulness of a celibate life in the secular world. In order to establish this source's importance, Caussin's influence is considered in relation to Suchon's other known sources as well as in the context of the
Querelle des femmes
. The similarities between the two authors' works are considered in terms of vocabulary, rhetorical issues and theological positions in order to prove that Suchon uses a number of ideas originally found in Caussin as a springboard for a far more extensive and complex argument. Unlike him, she does not take the notion of secular celibacy for granted but examines the obstacles put in the way of those who would choose it (especially women), analyses dominant discourse on the place of women in society and offers counterarguments and practical advice for potential
neutralistes
.
A genome-wide RNAi screen identifies a new transcriptional module required for self-renewal
Authors: Hu Guang , Kim Jonghwan , Xu Qikai , Leng Yumei , Orkin Stuart H. , Elledge Stephen J.
Published: April 2009

We performed a genome-wide siRNA screen in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to identify genes essential for self-renewal, and found 148 genes whose down-regulation caused differentiation. Many of the identified genes function in gene regulation and/or development, and are highly expressed in ES cells and embryonic tissues. We further identified target genes of two transcription regulators Cnot3 and Trim28. We discovered that Cnot3 and Trim28 co-occupy many putative gene promoters with c-Myc and Zfx, but not other pluripotency-associated transcription factors. They form a unique module in the self-renewal transcription network, separate from the core module formed by Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2. The transcriptional targets of this module are enriched for genes involved in cell cycle, cell death, and cancer. This supports the idea that regulatory networks controlling self-renewal in stem cells may also be active in certain cancers and may represent novel anti-cancer targets. Our screen has implicated over 100 new genes in ES cell self-renewal, and illustrates the power of RNAi and forward genetics for the systematic study of self-renewal.
An operational definition of epigenetics: Figure 1.
Authors: Berger Shelley L. , Kouzarides Tony , Shiekhattar Ramin , Shilatifard Ali
Published: April 2009

A recent meeting (December 2008) regarding chromatin-based epigenetics was hosted by the Banbury Conference Center and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The intent was to discuss aspects of epigenetic control of genomic function, and to arrive at a consensus definition of “epigenetics” to be considered by the broader community. It was evident that multiple mechanistic steps lead to the stable heritance of the epigenetic phenotype. Below we provide our view and interpretation of the proceedings at the meeting.
Isolation of Genomic DNA from Ilyanassa Snail Larvae
Authors: Gharbiah Maey , Cooley James , Leise Esther M. , Nakamoto Ayaki , Rabinowitz Jeremy S. , Lambert J. David , Nagy Lisa M.
Published: April 2009

INTRODUCTION

The marine gastropod Ilyanassa obsoleta is a long-standing and very useful model for studies of embryonic development. It is an especially important model for spiralian development, and for studies of asymmetric cell division. The embryos are amenable to classic embryological manipulation techniques as well as a growing number of molecular approaches. Ilyanassa is also an important model for studies of metamorphosis, the ecology of parasitism, the effects of environmental contaminants on morphology and sexual function, and comparative neurobiology. Ilyanassa is host to several species of parasitic trematode worms, so care must be taken to avoid contamination of Ilyanassa genomic DNA with that of the parasites. The easiest way to avoid this contamination is to isolate DNA from veliger larvae, which are not parasitized. This also avoids other problems that can be encountered when isolating DNA from adult mollusc tissues, such as the presence of large amounts of polysaccharides. This protocol describes the isolation of genomic DNA from Ilyanassa larvae.
Handling of Helobdella (Leech) Embryos
Authors: Weisblat David A. , Kuo Dian-Han
Published: April 2009

INTRODUCTION

Gravid Helobdella (leech) adults are identified by white egg masses that are visible through the ventral body wall. For convenience, gravid animals should be moved to smaller bowls so that those animals with newly laid embryos can be more readily identified. Zygotes (fertilized internally) turn pink when they are deposited into transparent cocoons on the ventral surface of the parent. A typical clutch consists of 20-100 embryos. Embryos can be collected after zygote deposition and before hatching (stage 10). This article describes how to collect and culture Helobdella embryos.
Level of major histocompatibility complex class I expression on endothelium in non-obese diabetic mice influences CD8 T cell adhesion and migration
Authors: Lozanoska-Ochser B , Peakman M
Published: April 2009

An important prerequisite for development of insulitis and β-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes is successful transmigration of autoreactive T cells across the islet endothelium. Previous work suggests that antigen presentation to T cells by endothelium, which requires endothelial cell expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, promotes tissue-specific T cell migration. We therefore tested the hypothesis that the level of endothelial MHC class I molecule expression in diabetes-prone mice directly influences autoreactive CD8 T cell migration. We investigated the immune phenotype of endothelial cells, focusing on endothelial MHC class I molecule expression in a range of different tissues and mouse strains, including non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. In addition, we examined whether the level of expression of MHC class I molecules influences autoantigen-driven CD8 T cell transmigration. Using endothelial cell lines that expressed ‘high’ (NOD mouse), medium (NOD × C3H/HeJ F1 generation mice) and no (C3H/HeJ) H-2Kd, we demonstrated in vitro that MHC levels have a profound effect on the activation, adhesion and transmigration of pathogenic, islet autoreactive CD8 T cells. The expression level of MHC class I molecules on endothelial tissues has a direct impact upon the efficiency of migration of autoreactive T cells. The immune phenotype of microvascular endothelium in NOD mice may be an additional contributory factor in disease predisposition or development, and similar phenotypes should be sought in human type 1 diabetes.
Up-regulation of CC chemokine receptor 6 on tonsillar T cells and its induction byin vitrostimulation withα-streptococciin patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris
Authors: Yoshizaki T , Bandoh N , Ueda S , Nozawa H , Goto T , Kishibe K , Takahara M , Harabuchi Y
Published: April 2009

Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP) is a tonsil-related disease; tonsillectomy is somewhat effective in treating the condition. However, the aetiological association between the tonsils and PPP has not yet been elucidated fully. Recently, some chemokines and chemokine receptors, including CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 4, CCR6 and CX chemokine receptor (CXCR) 3, have been reported to play important roles in the development of psoriasis, a disease related closely to PPP. In this study, we found that CCR6 expression on both tonsillar and peripheral blood T cells was up-regulated more intensively in PPP patients than in non-PPP patients (P < 0·001 for both), but CCR4 and CXCR3 expressions were not. In vitro stimulation with α-streptococcal antigen enhanced CCR6 expression significantly on tonsillar T cells in PPP patients (P < 0·05), but this was not observed in non-PPP patients. The chemotactic response of tonsillar T cells to the CCR6 ligand CC chemokine ligand (CCL) 20 was significantly higher in PPP patients than in non-PPP patients (P < 0·05). The percentage of CCR6-positive peripheral blood T cells decreased after tonsillectomy in PPP patients (P < 0·01); this decrease correlated with an improvement of skin lesions (P < 0·05, r = −0·63). The numbers of CCR6-positive cells and the expression of CCL20 were increased significantly in pathological lesions compared with non-pathological lesions in PPP skin (P < 0·01, P < 0·05 respectively). These results suggest that a novel immune response to α-streptococci may enhance CCR6 expression on T cells in tonsils and that CCR6-positive T cells may move to peripheral blood circulation, resulting in recruitment to target skin lesions expressing CCL20 in PPP patients. This may be one of the key roles in pathogenesis of the tonsil-related disease PPP.
Darwin, historical biogeography, and the importance of overcoming binary opposites
Authors: Crisci Jorge V. , Katinas Liliana
Published: April 2009

It is well known that Darwin and Wallace came to discover the phenomenon of evolution through a historical approach to the geographical distribution of organisms. Before Darwin, evolution was a mere speculation that could be invoked to explain some facts. Darwin’s biogeographical argument for evolution is based largely on three main explanatory hypotheses. The first is that the geographical distribution of organisms is historically informative. The second hypothesis is that long‐distance dispersal over barriers is one main force (extinction is the other) that modifies the distribution of organisms. The third of Darwin’s biogeographical hypotheses is that the factors that shape the distribution of organisms are mainly historical (large, often global and long temporal scales) rather than ecological (small spatial and short temporal scales). From the time of Darwin until now, a wide spectrum of biogeographical schools have provided new insights that challenge the central role of space, dispersal and history as the main explanatory hypotheses for the distribution of organisms, generating three binary opposites: (1) the spatial dimension of evolution: geographical distribution of organisms as historically informative vs. historically uninformative; (2) the processes that modify the geographical distribution of organisms: dispersal vs. vicariance; and (3) the explanation of geographical distribution: history vs. ecology. We analyse these three binary opposites to show that the components of each are complementary rather than antagonistic approaches to the study of biogeography.
Disordered eating attitudes in relation to body image and emotional intelligence in young women
Authors: Costarelli V. , Demerzi M. , Stamou D.
Published: April 2009

Background:  A number of different psychological factors have been implicated in the multifactorial aetiology of disordered eating (DE) attitudes and behaviours; however, the possible role of emotional intelligence in DE symptomatology has not been thoroughly investigated in the past. The present study aimed to explore the possible differences in emotional intelligence, body image and anxiety levels in young females with DE attitudes and healthy controls.

Methods:  A total of 92 Greek female university students, 18–30 years old, were recruited. Subjects completed the following questionnaires: the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT‐26), the Multidimensional Body‐Self Questionnaire (MBRSQ), the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (BarOn EQ‐I).

Results:  The EAT‐26 revealed that 23% of the subjects presented DE attitudes. Women in the DE atttitudes group had lower levels of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in comparison to the control group, particularly in factors such as emotional self‐awareness (P < 0.05), empathy (P < 0.05), interpersonal relationships (P < 0.001), stress management (P < 0.05) and happiness (P < 0.05). The MBRSQ has revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of overweight preoccupation (P < 0.001) and illlness orientation (P < 0.01). The DE atttitudes group had higher anxiety scores (STAI), although the differences were not significant. Finally, anxiety levels (STAI) were significantly correlated with levels of EI (BarOn EQ‐I) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:  The young women enrolled in the present study with DE attitudes, a potential precursor to eating disorders, appear to have significant differences in many psychometrical parameters of emotional intelligence, such as emotional self‐awareness and interpersonal relationships, which is an important finding in terms of the prevention and management of DE, and warrants further investigation.
Viability selection on prey morphology by a generalist predator
Authors: MØLLER A. P. , COUDERC G. , NIELSEN J. T.
Published: April 2009

Prey use their locomotory capacity to escape predators, and there should thus be strong viability selection on locomotory morphology of prey. We compared feather morphology of wood pigeons Columba palumbus killed by goshawks Accipiter gentilis with that of survivors to quantify directional and quadratic selection on primary and rectrix feathers. The goshawk is mainly a predator attacking by surprise, leaving wood pigeons with an ability to accelerate fast at a selective advantage. There was directional selection for light primary feathers with a narrow calamus. In addition, there was directional selection for increased area of rectrices. These patterns of natural selection were confirmed in multivariate analyses of selection that showed selection for light primary feathers with a large area and narrow calamus and for a large area of rectrix feathers. These results provide evidence of selection on different aspects of feather morphology directly related to flight performance and thus escape ability from predators.
Evolution of body condition‐dependent dispersal in metapopulations
Authors: BONTE D. , DE LA PEÑA E.
Published: April 2009

Body condition‐dependent dispersal strategies are common in nature. Although it is obvious that environmental constraints may induce a positive relationship between body condition and dispersal, it is not clear whether positive body conditional dispersal strategies may evolve as a strategy in metapopulations. We have developed an individual‐based simulation model to investigate how body condition–dispersal reaction norms evolve in metapopulations that are characterized by different levels of environmental stochasticity and dispersal mortality. In the model, body condition is related to fecundity and determined either by environmental conditions during juvenile development (adult dispersal) or by those experienced by the mother (natal dispersal). Evolutionarily stable reaction norms strongly depend on metapopulation conditions: positive body condition dependency of dispersal evolved in metapopulation conditions with low levels of dispersal mortality and high levels of environmental stochasticity. Negative body condition‐dependent dispersal evolved in metapopulations with high dispersal mortality and low environmental stochasticity. The latter strategy is responsible for higher dispersal rates under kin competition when dispersal decisions are based on body condition reached at the adult life stage. The evolution of both positive and negative body condition‐dependent dispersal strategies is consequently likely in metapopulations and depends on the prevalent environmental conditions.