bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On boundaries in linguistic continua
Authors: Jørgensen J. Normann , Kristensen Kjeld
Published: November 2008

This article discusses the notion of regional standards of a language with regard to modern Danish. A regional standard is defined relative to a spectrum of varieties ranging from the national standard to the classical local dialects. We define the national standard, in accordance with Brink (1988), as the variety which has no localizable features. A local dialect is defined, in accordance with Danish dialectological tradition, as a combination of features which are inherent and not derived from the national standard. With evidence from studies of Danish regional variation we show that, for a geographical entity, a statistically determined boundary can be established in the range between these two extremes. On the scale of varieties between the two, the regional standard is posited as the range closest to the national standard. Local varieties that are not strictly classical dialects may no longer be active in some areas — a phenomenon illustrated by the variation in an area relatively close to Copenhagen, the center of gravity of new national standard developments. The development of features is described in terms of Bailey's wave model (1973).
Orphan categories in bilingual discourse: Adjectivization strategies in Wolof-French and Fongbe-French
Authors: Meechan Marjory , Poplack Shana
Published: November 2008

When one language has a grammatical category that is rare or lacking in another, this “orphan” category may constrain the types of structures employed when the two languages are combined in bilingual discourse. We systematically examine the effect of categorial nonequivalence on language mixture in two corpora of spontaneous bilingual speech—Wolof—French and Fongbe—French—exhibiting different typological contrasts in adjectival modification structures. Focusing on lone French-origin items in otherwise Wolof or Fongbe discourse, the most frequent, if the most contentious, type of intrasentential language mixture, our method reveals that superficially identical items pattern in markedly different ways in each corpus. In Wolof, their patterns are consistent with Wolof adjectival elements (i.e., verbs), revealing them to be loanwords, while in Fongbe, they pattern with code-switches. We show that this difference is linked to the degree of categorial mismatch in the languages involved. Where categorial equivalence exists (Fongbe-French), code-switches involving French adjectives may occur, as long as structural equivalence between the two languages is maintained at the switch site. Where categorial equivalence is lacking (Wolof–French), code-switching is inhibited, and language mixture is effected via borrowing. This illustrates how, at code-switch sites, both structural and categorial equivalence are maintained.
The third dialect of English: Some Canadian evidence
Authors: Clarke Sandra , Elms Ford , Youssef Amani
Published: November 2008

Whereas Labov (1991) made a case for the existence of three major dialects of English, this article offers Canadian evience that runs counter to the idea of a relatively homogeneous North American third dialect area in which vowel systems remain fairly stable. It shows that the lax vowels of Canadian English are undergoing a substantial shift, the pivot for which is suggested to be vowel merger in theCot/Caughtsets. This shift is to some degree conditioned by the voicing properties and the manner of articulation of a following consonant; gender differences prove significant as well. The article also examines back vowel fronting in Candian English and its relationship to the shift affecting the front lax vowels, as well as to the general principles of vowel chain shifting articulated by Labov (1994). The Canadian Shift raises the issue of internal versus external motivation of vowel change; in addition, it brings, macrosociolinguistic evidence to bear on the purely microsociolinguistic interpretation of similar patterns of vowel shifting as symbols of local group identity (Eckert, 1991b).
Variation and change in Old English clause structure
Authors: Pintzuk Susan
Published: November 2008

In most recent analyses of Old English syntax, the position of the finite verb is derived by different processes in main clauses (verb seconding) than in subordinate clauses (postposition, verb raising, verb projection raising). In this article, it is argued on the basis of distributional evidence that the position of the finite verb in Old English clauses reflects synchronic variation in underlying structure, INFL-medial versusinfl-final, and that the syntax of main and subordinate clauses is the same. Quantitative analysis of the data shows that the frequency ofinfl-medial structure increases at the expense ofinfl-final structure during the Old English period, and that the rate of change is the same in both clause types. This result supports the structural analysis and provides further evidence for the Constant Rate Hypothesis of Kroch (1989, 1995).
Quantitative areal analysis of dialect features
Authors: Kretszchmar William A.
Published: November 2008

Traditional notions of dialect are qualitative, and perceived dialects are difficult to reconcile with the evidence of actual production of dialect feature. Traditional dialect boundaries are similarly tied to qualitative judgements. More recently, various quantitative approaches have been attempted to try to capture dialect boundaries, each with its won problems. We have achieved some success with an objective quantitative analysis of separate dialect features from the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States (LAMSAS). Our findings suggest that a mathematical modeling of areal variation of dialect features, combined with a reassessment of traditional notions of dialect, could contribute to our knowledge of language, as well as document regional differences at the time of the LAMSAS survey.
Null objects in English recipes
Authors: Culy Christopher
Published: November 2008

Recipes exhibit a phenomenon that does not exist in other varieties that are commonaly studied (e.g., narrative, sentences in isolation, conversational discourse, etc.)—namely, zero anaphors as direct objects, as inBeat[ø]until stiff. The two goals of this article are to examine this phenomenon in both contemporary recipes and across time and to explore its consequences for linguistic theroy. It is found that stylistic, semantic, and discourse factors are the most important in the phenomenon, with syntax and morphology playing relatively minor roles. Furthermore, these zero anaphors pattern like overt pronouns and have in fact replaced overt pronouns over time. A preliminary model of register variation and its consequences for the synactic analysis of recipes are also presented.
Infinitival relative clauses in spoken discourse
Authors: Geisler Christer
Published: November 2008

This article concerns infinitival relative clauses, such asMary is the person to ask, and their distribution in spoken English. It analyzes the correlation between the function of the antecedent in the relative clause and the function of the whole postmodified NP (the relative complex) in the matrix clause. On the basis of a quantitative analysis of a corpus of spoken British English, I show that the grammatical function of the antecedent in the infinitival relative clause depends on the function of the antecedent in the matrix clause. I argue that the distribution of antecedent functions in the matrix clause can be explained in terms of thematic properties and information structure of the clauses in which the infinitival relatives occur. A key notion is that speakers center their discourse around information that they assume to be important for the communicative event.
A variable syntax of speech, gesture, and sound effect: Direct quotations in Spanish
Authors: Cameron Richard
Published: November 2008

A variationist account of how direct quotations are framed in spoken Spanish requires definition of the variable and the envelope of variation followed by investigation of linguistic, stylistic, and social constraints. The variable is defined as a set of three strategies for directly quoting the speech, gestures, and sound effects of people, animals, or things in the natural world, real or imagined, faithfully or not. These strategies involve verbs of direct report, a bare noun phrase (Y yo, “¡¿Ay qué hago?!” ‘And I, “Oh, what should I do?’), and freestanding quotation with no frame. Investigation of linguistic constraints finds influence both from within and above the sentence. These include clause type, person, number, animacy of speaker, quotation content, switch reference, and a “birds of a feather” effect. Data on stylistic constraints provide evidence for style as a function of attention to form. Social constraints reveal complicated, yet familiar influences of age, sex, and class, with teenagers showing parallels to Eckert's work on gender and variation. Evidence also emerges for both age grading and a change in progress.
The development of the progressive in 19th century English: A quantitative survey
Authors: Arnaud René
Published: November 2008

The prodigious expansion of the progressive (be + ingperiphrastic form, wherebeis at the same time the copula and a statement of existence) was a major feature of the modernization of the English verb system in the 19th century, when its frequency quadrupled. A survey (1787–1880) of the collections of private letters from 22 people, most of them famous writers, reveals that linguistic factors played a relatively small quantitative role in this development, whereas a clear correlation is found with two sociolinguistic factors: gender and intimacy. Frequencies are consistently higher for women than for men, and they increase with more intimate correspondents. Some parallels with biographical and literary data suggest that the Romantic vision, in a wide sense, may have contributed to the rise of this concrete, expressive, warmer existential form.
The birth of a variant: Evidence for a tripartite negative past be paradigm
Authors: Hazen Kirk
Published: November 2008

In the study of past be, most researchers have assumed a two variant distinction for negative forms (i.e., wasn't and weren't). In Warren County, North Carolina, evidence suggests a three variant distinction (i.e., wasn't, weren't, and wont). Throughout the history of sociolinguistic investigation, two types of variants have been noted: a sociolinguistic variant and a linguistic variant. In Warren County, wont functions as both types, as demonstrated through acoustic, morphophonological, and sociolinguistic evidence. Through the analysis of negative past be, guidelines are suggested for determining a particular form as a separate linguistic and sociolinguistic variant.
Let's tink about dat: Interdental fricatives in Cajun English
Authors: Dubois Sylvie , Horvath Barbara M.
Published: November 2008

The English of bilingual Cajuns living in southern Louisiana has been pejoratively depicted as an accented English; foremost among the stereotypes of Cajun English is the use of tink and dat for think and that. We present a variationist study of /θ/ and /ð/ in the speech of bilingual Cajuns in St. Landry Parish. The results show a complex interrelationship of age, gender, and social network. One of the major findings is a v-shaped age pattern rather than the regular generational model that is expected. The older generation use more of the dental variants [t, d] than all others, the middle-aged dramatically decrease their use, but the young show a level of usage closer to the old generation. The change is attributed to both language attrition and the blossoming of the Cajun cultural renaissance. Interestingly, neither young men in open networks nor women of all ages in open networks follow the v-shaped age pattern. In addition, they show opposite directions of change: men in open networks lead the change to [d], whereas women in open networks drop the dental variants of [t, d] almost entirely.
From a small Swedish town to a Finnish city
Authors: Paunonen Heikki
Published: November 2008

The development of language conditions in Helsinki makes it possible to observe many processes of sociolinguistic interest. By European standards, the beginning itself is exceptional. Helsinki was originally founded in the middle of a Swedish-speaking area, which means that it lacked all natural connections with any basis of Finnish dialect from which urban colloquial language and standard spoken Finnish might have emerged. However, throughout the 20th century Helsinki has been the most important Finnish-speaking city, and its colloquial Finnish has served as a model for the evolution of colloquial Finnish throughout the country. One may well wonder how colloquial Helsinki Finnish came into existence in the course of only a few decades and consolidated its position as the model for everyday Finnish.
Filling syntactic boundaries in spoken Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Tarallo Fernando , Kato Mary A.
Published: November 2008

We present results on the grammar of spoken Brazilian Portuguese, focusing on the syntactic boundaries of the main constituents of an utterance. The purpose of examining such sites is twofold: (1) to provide evidence as to the relationship (or mutual exclusion) between boundary and type of filler, and (2) to determine the relationship between boundary and frequency of filling. We find major differences both in the distribution of filling by syntactic adjuncts versus discourse elements and in the susceptibility of different syntactic boundaries to be filled. We discuss the lack of demographic conditioning on the rate of filling.
Anaphoric reference in creoles and noncreoles
Authors: Escure Geneviève
Published: November 2008

Anaphoric referential mechanisms are comparatively analyzed in a creole-related set of varieties (the Belizean continuum) and a noncreole language variety (formal and informal styles of American English), with the intent to evaluate the claim that creole languages display linguistic systems distinct from those of other languages. Three categories of topic referents (nominal, pronominal, and periphrastic) are identified in 27 Belizean texts and 12 American texts, and the effect on referent choice of two variables (topic number and stylistic/lectal context) are investigated. Some of the resulting findings inclued: (1) Singl-topic samples display consistent referential strategies in all Belizean lects, whereas multitopic texts indicate lect-linked variations; and (2) Belizean lects are strikingly similar to spontaneous styles of American English, whereas formal American English is markedly distinct in its use of referents, both from Belizean (including acrolects) and from casual English.
The rate of phrase structure change in the history of Yiddish
Authors: Santorini Beatrice
Published: November 2008

The postion of inflected verbs in early Yiddish varies between second position and positions later in the clause. Standard distributional tests establish that this reflects variation in the underlying position of infl, and that Yiddish phrase structure changed from infl-final to infl-medial. Based on clauses containing the relevant structural diagnostics, we can estimate the rate of this change. We cannot, however, determine the phrase structure of structurally ambiguous clauses (i.e., those superficially consistent with either of the phrase structures) with certainty. Nevertheless, we can use quantitative methods to estimate the likelihood of such clauses being infl-medial, and we can then use these likelihoods to provide an additional estimate of the rate of the change. Comparing both estimates reveals that they do not differ significantly. The implications of this result are briefly examined in conclusion.
Ambiguous agreement, functional compensation, and nonspecifictúin the Spanish of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Madrid, Spain
Authors: Cameron Richard
Published: November 2008

Richness of subject-verb agreement is implicit in the functional compensation interpretation of variable second person /-s/ in Puerto Rican Spanish (PRS). Because /-s/ is not variable in Madrid Spanish (MS), richer agreement is assumed, and a lower rate of pronominal expression is expected. Central to this interpretation are effects associated with ambiguous marking of person on finite singular verbs. Although an increase of pronominal expression correlates to ambiguous marking for PRS speakers, a similar result has not been reported for MS speakers. Nonetheless, avarbrulanalysis yields similar weights for this constraint in both dialects. Moreover, ambiguity effects are best understood as constraints on null subject variation that interact with switch reference. Identity ofvarbrulweights for constraints on pronominal and null subject variation in PRS and MS also supports the Constant Rate Hypothesis. However, the two dialects do show a diametrically opposed effect associated with nonspecifictú.
“The black men has wives and Sweet harts [and third person plural -s] Jest like the white men”: Evidence for verbal -s from written documents on 19th-century African American speech
Authors: Montgomery Michael , Fuller Janet M. , DeMarse Sharon
Published: November 2008

The analysis of letters written by 19th-century African Americans shows constraints on verbal -s marking which parallel those found in the writing of Scotch-Irish immigrants in the same time period and region, specifically a subject type constraint and a proximity to subject constraint. This correlation is highly suggestive for the study of the development of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). This study finds no support for a basis from a creole or from Standard English for AAVE in verbal concord and concludes that some, perhaps many, African Americans used varieties of English with little or no creole influence. Earlier studies have assumed that standard dialects of English constituted the superstrate in colonial and antebellum America; this analysis makes it clear that we must examine the features of the local varieties, black and white, before making any claims about the influences of language contact on a given variety. Further, the consistent patterns of inflections found in this study show that written documents, in particular letters written by semiliterate African Americans, are a good source for further linguistic study of 19th-century language.
Some patterns of linguistic diffusion
Authors: Bailey Guy , Wikle Tom , Tillery Jan , Sand Lori
Published: November 2008

Although variationists have explored the diffusion of linguistic changes from one social group to another and from one linguistic environment to another in some detail, they have done much less work on the spatial diffusion of changes. In fact, Trudgill's (1974, 1975) use of Hagerstrand's gravity model to explain in hierarchical diffusion of innovations in East Anglia and Norway was the only systematic account of spatial diffusion in the literature. This article uses data from the random sample telephone survey portion of a Survey of Oklahoma Dialects (SOD) to explore the spatial diffusion of linguistic innovations in Oklahoma. It analyzes that data using a variety of techniques of computer cartography and the General Linear Models procedure in SAS. The data clearly show that, whereas some linguistic innovations diffuse hierarchically (as linguists have long contended), others diffuse contrahierarchically, while still others diffuse in complex patterns that show characteristics of both contagious and hierarchical diffusion. An analysis of the barriers to and amplifiers of diffusion suggests that these different types of diffusion are a consequence of the different social meanings that linguistic forms carry.
The change from SOV to SVO in Ancient Greek
Authors: Taylor Ann
Published: November 2008

Although the order of major sentence constituents at all stages of Ancient Greek is quite free, the distribution of clause types is not random over time, but changes from predominantly verb-final to predominantly verb-medial, suggesting a change in progress. Using the paradigm of Kroch (1989), in which it is assumed that syntactic change involves competition between grammatical systems, two models are constructed, one for the verb-final grammar of the Homeric period (pre-800 B.C.) and one for the verb-medial grammar of the Hellenistic Koiné (c. 100 A.D.). The language of an intermediate stage (Herodotus, c. 450 B.C.) is shown to pattern in part like Homer and in part like the Koiné. More strikingly, the ratio of verb-final to verb-medial structure that best fits the distribution of clause types found in Herodotus is extremely close to an independent measure of this ratio obtained from the distribution of weak pronouns and clitics.
Modeling lexical borrowability
Authors: van Hout Roeland , Muysken Pieter
Published: November 2008

In this article, we develop analytical techniques to determine borrowability – that is, the ease with which a lexical item or a category of lexical items can be borrowed. The analysis is based on two assumptions: (1) the distribution of items in both the host and donor language should be taken into account to explain why certain items are, and others are not, borrowed; (2) the borrowability of a lexical category may result from a set of (underlying) operative factors or constraints. Our analysis is applied to Spanish borrowings in Bolivian Quechua on the basis of a set of bilingual texts.
Diachronic change of object markers in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Xing Janet Zhiqun
Published: November 2008

This article is a quantitative diachronic study of the object markersba˘andjiāngin Chinese. Traditionally, it has been claimed (Chao, 1968; Li & Thompson, 1981; Lü, 1955; Wang, 1943–44; among others) thatba˘andJi¯nghave undergone the same process of grammaticalization and have acquired the same function over time, so that they have become interchangeable. The present article challenges this view and provides evidence showing that, in the texts where both are used, each has its own distinctive functions. In the early stage of their grammaticalization, the major difference between them is the direction of motion relative to the agent:ba˘tends to express motion toward the agent, whereasJiāngtends to express motion away from the agent. Later, when bothba˘andJiāngbecome object markers,ba˘is more likely to be used in informal texts, whereasJiāngis more likely to be used in formal texts. I argue that it is this difference that led to the disappearance ofJiāngin written texts of modern times.
Evaluation of two hypotheses about the alternation between aquí and acá in a corpus of present-day Spanish
Authors: Sedano Mercedes
Published: November 2008

Spanish grammarians used to say that the demonstrative adverbs aquí ‘here’ and acá ‘here’ can alternate in some contexts. They attempt to explain the alternation by appealing to one of two hypotheses, which can be identified as the movement-to-a-goal hypothesis and the delimitation hypothesis. The former states that acá is associated with movement directed to a goal, whereas aquí is associated with all other possibilities. The latter states that the place denoted by aquí is less limited and defined than the place denoted by acá The present article evaluates both hypotheses in a corpus of Venezuelan Spanish. The evaluation takes into account the kind of place denoted by aquí and acá (goal of movement, source of movement, place of transit, and location) and also the prepositions and verbs used when the adverbs denote the goal of movement. The results of the quantitative analysis prove the validity of the delimitation hypothesis.
Glottal stops and Tyneside glottalization: Competing patterns of variation and change in British English
Authors: Milroy James , Milroy Lesley , Hartley Sue , Walshaw David
Published: November 2008

Glottalization and glottal replacement (particularly of /t/ in British English) have traditionally been assumed to be variants characteristic of male, lower-class speakers. Both phenomena have been heavily stigmatized, but are spreading rapidly. Recent studies in various parts of the British Isles (including Tyneside) have suggested that glottal replacement of /t/ is led by middle-class and/or female speakers. A fuller understanding of the nature of this linguistic change depends on treating glottalization of /p, t, k/ (a more localized Tyneside feature) and glottal replacement as independent phenomena, rather than as points on a lenition scale corresponding to a social continuum (e.g., casual to careful style). The studies of Tyneside glottalization reported here show that, while females lead in the use of glottal replacement, males prefer glottalization. This pattern is interpreted in terms of a preference of males for localized variants, whereas females lead in adopting supra-local norms.
Erosion threshold of saturated natural cohesive sediments: Modeling and experiments
Authors: Ternat F. , Boyer P. , Anselmet F. , Amielh M.
Published: November 2008

Predicting the erosion resistance of saturated natural sediments requires taking into account cohesion, which results from interactions between clay particles. The current paper describes a combined experimental and theoretical examination of the threshold conditions for a mixture of clays and sands. Erosion threshold measured values are larger than those predicted from noncohesive models. Beyond the usual dependence on grain size, a significant correlation between erosion threshold and porosity measurements is confirmed for heterogenous mixtures of grains with particle Reynolds number lower than 5, for pH values in the range of 6–8, and under freshwater conditions. A model of the erosion criterion is proposed. First, a cohesion force between two spherical particles is introduced into the usual erosion criterion. This reveals a specific function of the cohesion force, called cohesion function. The force we consider is the long‐range van der Waals interaction. Then, multiple interactions between one particle and those surrounding it are counted and modeled on the basis of both the coordination number and the porosity. Finally, the overall erosion threshold for the sediment bed is inferred from the average of the multiple interactions over the grain size distribution. The model highlights that cohesion comes from clay particles (about 2 10−6 m) and can affect the entire grain size range (from clays to sands) by means of coordination. The model relevance is assessed by comparison with experimental thresholds obtained from resuspension campaigns. The results show that the proposed cohesion model offers good agreement with experimental data.
Diurnal‐seasonal and weather‐related variations of land surface temperature observed from geostationary satellites
Authors: Vinnikov Konstantin Y. , Yu Yunyue , Rama Varma Raja M. K. , Tarpley Dan , Goldberg Mitchell D.
Published: November 2008

The time series of clear‐sky Land Surface Temperatures (LST) for one year, 2001, obtained from pyrgeometric observations at five selected US surface radiation (SURFRAD) stations and independently retrieved for the locations of these stations from Infrared Imager hourly observations of two geostationary satellites, GOES‐8 and GOES‐10, are presented as a sum of time‐dependent expected value (diurnal and seasonal cycles), and weather‐related anomalies. The availability of three independent observations is used to assess random and systematic errors in LST data. Temporal variation of the expected value is approximated as a superposition of the first two annual and diurnal Fourier harmonics. This component of temporal variations of LST absorbs all systematic errors; which themselves are often a subject of diurnal and seasonal variations. The results revealed that the weather‐related temporal variation of LST is much smaller than the temporal variations of the expected value, but much larger than the random errors of observation. Scale of temporal autocorrelation of weather‐related component of clear‐sky LST variations is about 3 days.
Influence of the prescribed solar spectrum on calculations of atmospheric temperature
Authors: Zhong Wenyi , Osprey Scott M. , Gray Lesley J. , Haigh Joanna D.
Published: November 2008

Significant differences in heating rates are found when two solar irradiance spectra are used in a line‐by‐line radiative transfer code. Compared with a spectrum of recent satellite data an older theoretical spectrum gives 20–40% more heating in the ozone Hartley band, important in the upper stratosphere. The spectra are implemented in a broad‐band radiation code to which some improvements are also made to the ozone absorption parameterization. A widely‐used spectrum of ground‐based data from 1960s gives somewhat lower heating rates. The effects of the changes in the spectrum, and the broad‐band scheme, on the temperatures simulated by a middle atmosphere GCM are investigated. The model has previously shown a warm bias, compared with climatology, around the stratopause but this is significantly reduced when the former spectrum is substituted for the latter, and the new ozone parameterization incorporated. The change in spectrum accounts for two‐thirds of the improvement.
Plasmoids in reconnecting current sheets: Solar and terrestrial contexts compared
Authors: Lin J. , Cranmer S. R. , Farrugia C. J.
Published: November 2008

Magnetic reconnection plays a crucial role in violent energy conversion occurring in the environments of high electrical conductivity, such as the solar atmosphere, magnetosphere, and fusion devices. We focus on the morphological features of the process in two different environments, the solar atmosphere and the geomagnetic tail. In addition to indirect evidence that indicates reconnection in progress or having just taken place, such as auroral manifestations in the magnetosphere and the flare loop system in the solar atmosphere, more direct evidence of reconnection in the solar and terrestrial environments is being collected. Such evidence includes the reconnection inflow near the reconnecting current sheet and the outflow along the sheet characterized by a sequence of plasmoids. Both turbulent and unsteady Petschek‐type reconnection processes could account for the observations. We also discuss other relevant observational consequences of both mechanisms in these two settings. While on face value, these are two completely different physical environments, there emerge many commonalities, for example, an Alfvén speed of the same order of magnitude, a key parameter determining the reconnection rate. This comparative study is meant as a contribution to current efforts aimed at isolating similarities in processes occurring in very different contexts in the heliosphere and even in the universe.
Comparison of upper tropospheric water vapor observations from the Microwave Limb Sounder and Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
Authors: Fetzer Eric J. , Read William G. , Waliser Duane , Kahn Brian H. , Tian Baijun , Vömel Holger , Irion Fredrick W. , Su Hui , Eldering Annmarie , de la Torre Juarez Manuel , Jiang Jonathan , Dang Van
Published: November 2008

We compare matched retrievals of upper tropospheric water vapor (UTWV) mixing ratios from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the Aura satellite, and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on the Aqua satellite. Because each instrument's sampling is affected by tropical conditions, about half of mutually observed scenes in the tropics yield simultaneous successful retrievals from both systems. The fraction of mutually retrieved scenes drops to 30% at higher latitudes where clouds significantly inhibit AIRS sounding. Essentially all scenes observed by MLS in extratropical and polar regions yield successful retrievals. At 250 hPa in the tropics, measurements from the two instruments are highly correlated, the differences of their means (q) are smaller than 10%, and the standard deviations of their differences (σq) are 30% or less. At 300 hPa, MLS means are drier by 10–15%, and σq is 40–60%, indicating that responses of MLS and AIRS to UTWV perturbations are not one‐to‐one. Root mean square agreement is also poorer over the poles at 300 hPa and at 200 and 150 hPa at lower latitudes. In these regions, ∣q∣ = 10% or more, and σq = 40–70%. Correlations between the two data sets are 0.7–0.9 at 300 and 250 hPa globally and at 200 hPa in the tropics. This high correlation indicates that σq of 50% or greater comes mainly from systematic differences in sensitivity of the two instruments, especially for small and large UTWV amounts; larger values of σq are generally not due to large random errors from either instrument. An AIRS low‐end sensitivity threshold of 15–20 ppmv leads to poorer agreement under the driest conditions. Disagreement at 300 hPa likely comes from overestimation by MLS for the wettest conditions of >400 ppmv. While MLS is biased slightly dry overall at 300 hPa, it is biased wet in the wettest regions, particularly those associated with deep convection. These sensitivity differences explain nonunity slopes of linear fits to the two data sets. MLS everywhere has a greater dynamic range than AIRS, with larger maxima and smaller minima. Good agreement at 250 hPa suggests AIRS uncertainties of 25% up to the reported 250–200 hPa layer in the tropics and extratropics, consistent with previous comparisons with balloon‐ and aircraft‐borne instruments. The agreement at 250 hPa also indicates that MLS is reliable from its reported 215‐hPa level upward in altitude.
Compositional diversity and stratification of the Martian crust: Inferences from crystallization experiments on the picrobasalt Humphrey from Gusev Crater, Mars
Authors: McCubbin Francis M. , Nekvasil Hanna , Harrington Andrea D. , Elardo Stephen M. , Lindsley Donald H.
Published: November 2008

Phase equilibrium experiments on a liquid composition of the Gusev Crater rock Humphrey (with added F and Cl) with 0.07 wt% and 1.67 wt% water have revealed the range in compositional diversity of lavas that could arise from fractionation at the base of a thick martian crust. Humphrey composition melts with 0.07 wt% water produce ne‐normative alkalic residual melts at 9.3 kbar; silica progressively decreases with increasing degree of fractionation. This decrease in silica is accompanied by Fe‐, Ti‐, and P‐enrichment. With 1.67 wt% bulk water content, Humphrey‐like melts instead crystallize to produce residual melts that show progressive silica‐enrichment, Al‐enrichment, and Fe‐depletion, progressing from mildly alkalic hy‐normative basalt to trachyandesite. Coupled with the production of such residual liquids by fractionation is the formation of ultramafic to mafic cumulus lithologies that would remain at the base of the Martian crust. This process would lead to significant compositional stratigraphy of the crust that contains elements of both trends, as early hydrous primary magmas gave way to drier more depleted primary magmas upon dehydration of the magma source regions by repeated episodes of partial melting. The possibility of significant contribution of late silica‐poor, Fe‐enriched basalt, residual to fractionation at depth, to the present martian surface, makes it difficult to reliably use surface lithologies to constrain the compositional characteristics of the mantle magmatic source regions and the primary melts produced from them.
Cellular and molecular effects ofn−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on adipose tissue biology and metabolism
Authors: Flachs Pavel , Rossmeisl Martin , Bryhn Morten , Kopecky Jan
Published: November 2008

Adipose tissue and its secreted products, adipokines, have a major role in the development of obesity-associated metabolic derangements including Type 2 diabetes. Conversely, obesity and its metabolic sequelae may be counteracted by modulating metabolism and secretory functions of adipose tissue. LC-PUFAs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) of the n−3 series, namely DHA (docosahexaenoic acid; C22:6n−3) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid; C20:5n−3), exert numerous beneficial effects, such as improvements in lipid metabolism and prevention of obesity and diabetes, which partially result from the metabolic action of n−3 LC-PUFAs in adipose tissue. Recent studies highlight the importance of mitochondria in adipose tissue for the maintenance of systemic insulin sensitivity. For instance, both n−3 LC-PUFAs and the antidiabetic drugs TZDs (thiazolidinediones) induce mitochondrial biogenesis and β-oxidation. The activation of this ‘metabolic switch’ in adipocytes leads to a decrease in adiposity. Both n−3 LC-PUFAs and TZDs ameliorate a low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue associated with obesity and induce changes in the pattern of secreted adipokines, resulting in improved systemic insulin sensitivity. In contrast with TZDs, which act as agonists of PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ) and promote differentiation of adipocytes and adipose tissue growth, n−3 LC-PUFAs affect fat cells by different mechanisms, including the transcription factors PPARα and PPARδ. Some of the effects of n−3 LC-PUFAs on adipose tissue depend on their active metabolites, especially eicosanoids. Thus treatments affecting adipose tissue by multiple mechanisms, such as combining n−3 LC-PUFAs with either caloric restriction or antidiabetic/anti-obesity drugs, should be explored.
Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1/Nkx2.1/TITF1) gene regulation in the lung
Authors: Boggaram Vijay
Published: November 2008

TTF-1 [thyroid transcription factor-1; also known as Nkx2.1, T/EBP (thyroid-specific-enhancer-binding protein) or TITF1] is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor essential for the morphogenesis and differentiation of the thyroid, lung and ventral forebrain. TTF-1 controls the expression of select genes in the thyroid, lung and the central nervous system. In the lung, TTF-1 controls the expression of surfactant proteins that are essential for lung stability and lung host defence. Human TTF-1 is encoded by a single gene located on chromosome 14 and is organized into two/three exons and one/two introns. Multiple transcription start sites and alternative splicing produce mRNAs with heterogeneity at the 5′ end. The 3′ end of the TTF-1 mRNA is characterized by a rather long untranslated region. The amino acid sequences of TTF-1 from human, rat, mouse and other species are very similar, indicating a high degree of sequence conservation. TTF-1 promoter activity is maintained by the combinatorial or co-operative actions of HNF-3 [hepatocyte nuclear factor-3; also known as FOXA (forkhead box A)], Sp (specificity protein) 1, Sp3, GATA-6 and HOXB3 (homeobox B3) transcription factors. There is limited information on the regulation of TTF-1 gene expression by hormones, cytokines and other biological agents. Glucocorticoids, cAMP and TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) have stimulatory effects on TTF-1 expression, whereas TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α) and ceramide have inhibitory effects on TTF-1 DNA-binding activity in lung cells. Haplo-insufficiency of TTF-1 in humans causes hypothyroidism, respiratory dysfunction and recurring pulmonary infections, underlining the importance of optimal TTF-1 levels for the maintenance of thyroid and lung function. Recent studies have implicated TTF-1 as a lineage-specific proto-oncogene for lung cancer.
Modeling Consumers' Purchase and Delivery Choices in the Face of the Information Age
Authors: Rotem-Mindali Orit , Salomon Ilan
Published: November 2008

A major trend, recently drawing much attention, is the employment of new technologies in retailing. This involves a shift from some aspects of the traditional store format towards the introduction of electronic means of performing retail activities. E-retail encompasses three main activities—specifically, a product search activity (often referred to as a product-evaluation or information-gathering facility), an online purchase function, and the product delivery capability. Early studies have asserted that information technology would generate a revolution in the retail sector, owing to the potential of the web to reduce the costs of transaction, transportation, and searching. Yet the proportion of virtual shopping is significantly smaller than that of traditional shopping. An understanding of this difference can be obtained by modeling consumer choices. This paper will examine the different shopping activities, by modeling both purchase and delivery choices. Identifying the reasons that consumers use virtual (electronic) modes is crucial in order to influence the share of electronic shopping and to understand the potential impacts. Modeling the probability of using e-shopping should reveal the significant variables that may encourage or discourage the use of this mode of shopping.
Exploring Recreational Cyclists' Environmental Preferences and Satisfaction: Experimental Study in Hsinchu Technopolis
Authors: Chang Hsin-Li , Chang Hsin-Wen
Published: November 2008

This study investigates two groups of recreational cyclists' environmental preferences for, and satisfaction with, existing cycling facilities in a technopolis. An in-depth examination of between-group differences in demand for recreational cycling was carried out on the basis of personal characteristics, cycling experiences, and cycling resources. An omnibus test was conducted to examine whether there were any differences between the two groups of workers in terms of their environmental preferences for cycling facilities. Additional analyses were conducted to examine the importance that the cyclists placed on environmental factors, as well as their levels of satisfaction. Significant between-group differences were found regarding the environmental preferences and significant within-group differences were also found regarding the importance ratings of the environmental components, as well as their ratings of satisfaction with those components. The results provide valuable information for evaluating the efficiency of governmental-resource allocations and, by extension, providing guidelines for an appropriate cycling policy when constructing recreational cycling facilities.
Canonical Views in Haptic Object Perception
Authors: Woods Andrew T , Moore Allison , Newell Fiona N
Published: November 2008

Previous investigations of visual object recognition have found that some views of both familiar and unfamiliar objects promote more efficient recognition performance than other views. These views are considered as canonical and are often the views that present the most information about an object's 3-D structure and features in the image. Although objects can also be efficiently recognised with touch alone, little is known whether some views promote more efficient recognition than others. This may seem unlikely, given that the object structure and features are readily available to the hand during object exploration. We conducted two experiments to investigate whether canonical views existed in haptic object recognition. In the first, participants were required to position each object in a way that would present the best view for learning the object with touch alone. We found a large degree of consistency of viewpoint position across participants for both familiar and unfamiliar objects. In a second experiment, we found that these consistent, or canonical, views promoted better haptic recognition performance than other random views of the objects. Interestingly, these haptic canonical views were not necessarily the same as the canonical views normally found in visual perception. Nevertheless, our findings provide support for the idea that both the visual and the tactile systems are functionally equivalent in terms of how objects are represented in memory and subsequently recognised.
A Small Step on the Long Road to Understanding the R Stars: CNO Cycling in Candidate R Star Progenitors
Authors: Angelou G. , Lattanzio J.
Published: November 2008

Recent work has proposed that a merger event between a red-giant and a He white dwarf may be responsible for the production of R stars (Izzard, Jeffery & Lattanzio 2007). We investigate the proposed evolution and nucleosynthesis of such a model. We simulate the hypothesized late ignition of the core flash by increasing neutrino losses until ignition occurs sufficiently far from the centre that the subsequent evolution produces carbon dredge-up to the extent that the post-flash object is a carbon star. Detailed nucleosynthesis is performed within this approximation and we show that the overall properties are broadly consistent with the observations. Details will depend on the dynamics of the merger event.
Are Dumbbell Brightest Cluster Members Signposts to Galaxy Cluster Activity?
Authors: Pimbblet K. A.
Published: November 2008

We assemble a sample of galaxy clusters whose brightest members are dumbbell galaxies and compare them with a control sample in order to investigate if they are the result of recent mergers. We show that the dumbbell sample is no more likely than other clusters to exhibit subclustering. However, they are much more likely to have at least one dumbbell component possessing a significant peculiar velocity with respect to the parent cluster than a non-dumbbell brightest cluster member. We interpret this in the context of seeing the clusters at various stages of post-merger relaxation.
Studies comparing screen-film mammography and full-field digital mammography in breast cancer screening: Updated review
Authors: Skaane P.
Published: November 2008

Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) has several potential benefits as compared with screen-film mammography (SFM) in mammography screening. Digital technology also opens for implementation of advanced applications, including computer-aided detection (CAD) and tomosynthesis. Phantom studies and experimental clinical studies have shown that FFDM is equal or slightly superior to SFM for detection and characterization of mammographic abnormalities. Despite obvious advantages, the conversion to digital mammography has been slower than anticipated, and not only due to higher costs. Until very recently, some countries did not even permit the use of digital mammography in breast cancer screening. The reason for this reluctant attitude was concern about lower spatial resolution and about using soft-copy reading. Furthermore, there was a lack of data supporting improved diagnostic accuracy using FFDM in a screening setting, since two pioneer trials both showed nonsignificantly lower cancer detection rate at FFDM. The 10 studies comparing FFDM and SFM in mammography screening published so far have shown divergent and rather conflicting results. Nevertheless, there is a rapid conversion to digital mammography in breast cancer screening in many western countries. The aim of this article is to give an updated review of these studies, discuss the conflicting findings, and draw some conclusions from the results.