Exploiting microvariation: How to make the best of your incomplete data

n this article we discuss the use of big corpuses or databases as a first step for qualitative analysis of linguistic data. We concentrate on ASIt, the Syntactic Atlas of Italy, and take into consideration the different types of dialectal data that can be collected from similar corpora and databases. We analyze all the methodological problems derived from the necessary compromise between the strict requirements imposed by a scientific inquiry and the management of big amounts of data. As a possible solution, we propose that the type of variation is per se a tool to derive meaningful generalizations. To implement this idea, we examine three different types of variation patterns that can be used in the study of morpho-syntax: the geographical distribution of properties (and their total or partial overlapping, or complementary distribution), the so-called leopard spots variation, and the lexical variation index, which can be used to determine the internal complexity of functional items

Le espressioni assiali in russo

In this paper I discuss Russian prepositional phrases introduced by axial part lexical prepositions (i.e. AxParts). Russian AxPart items are morphologically complex: they are formed by a functional preposition and a nominal element with different case markers, depending on the interpretation (stative or directional) of the locative expression. I analyze the internal structure of Russian AxPart items following the universal structure of locative expressions proposed by Cinque, focusing in particular on the impossibility of expressing an additional complement in directional AxPart PPs. I discuss, in addition, the nominal nature of the axial elements in relation to the hypothesis of the presence of a silent nominal element (PLACE) embedded in the syntactic structure of locative PPs

On Preverbal Negation in Sicilian and Syntactic Parasitism

In this paper the authors describe two different cases of CP negation in Sicilian dialects. The first element is a left periphery adverb that is derived from a grammaticalized negative cleft. The second one is a negative head that is lexicalized when a higher functional projection is activated. While the two items display a set of relevant differences, it is argued that they exemplify two possible cases of syntactic parasitism. The term is used to indicate that either the position of the parasitic element is "borrowed" from another type of category (in the present case it is Focus) or the presence of a given head (a negative morpheme in this case) is licensed by the presence of a different item in a proximate structural position. The existence of similar phenomena is potentially very interesting for the theoretical definition of the syntactic architecture and its economy and design principles

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in Tiber River and Estuary: Occurrence, distribution and ecological risk

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. 32 PCBs and 17 OCPs (aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, lindane, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor) were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment samples. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 0.54 to 74.75ngL-1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 3.73 to 79.30ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples; while the concentrations of total OCPs collected in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.07 to 7.04ngL-1 and from 0.66 to 10.02ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples. Contaminant discharges into the sea were calculated in about 227.08kgyear-1 for PCBs and 24.91kgyear-1 for OCPs, showing that this river should account as one of the main contribution sources of PCBs and OCPs to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ∑TEQPCB from the sediment samples ranged from 0.0006 to 0.37ngg-1 with an average level of 0.13ngg-1. Based on Sediments Quality Guidelines, biological adverse effects on aquatic ecosystem were rare to occasional for PCB and OCP levels in Tiber water syste

Distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediments from Tiber River and estuary, Italy

The concentration, source and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. The 16 priority PAHs were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments collected from 21 sites in four different seasons. Total concentrations of PAHs ranged from 10.3 to 951.6ngL-1 and from 36.2 to 545.6ngg-1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and in sediment samples, respectively. The compositions of PAHs showed that 2- to 4-ring PAHs were abundant in DP, 4- to 6-ring PAHs were predominant in SPM samples, and 4- to 5-ring PAHs were abundant in sediments. The diagnostic ratio analysis indicated that the PAHs mainly had a pyrolytic source. The toxic equivalent concentration of carcinogenic PAHs was 45.3ngTEQg-1, suggesting low carcinogenic risk for Tiber River. Total PAHs loads into the sea were calculated in about 3161.7kgyear-1 showing that this river is one of the main contribution sources of these contaminants to the Tyrrhenian Sea

Estimates of Tiber River organophosphate pesticide loads to the Tyrrhenian Sea and ecological risk

The organophosphate pesticides pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. Eight selected organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, dimethoate, malathion, chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos-methyl, fenitrothion, methidathion, tolclofos-methyl) were determined in the water dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter and sediment samples collected from 21 sites in different seasons. Total organophosphate pesticides concentrations ranged from 0.40 to 224.48 ng L-1 in water (as the sum of the water dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter) and from 1.42 to 68.46 ng g(-1) in sediment samples. Contaminant discharges of organophosphate pesticides into the sea were calculated in about 545.36 kg year(-1) showing that this river should be consider as one of the main contribution sources of organophosphate pesticides to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In relation to the eco-toxicological assessment, the concentrations of most OPPs in the water and sediments from the Tiber River and its estuary were lower than guideline values

Some considerations on the syntax of expletive subjects in Old Venetan and the emergence of subject clitics

Old Venetan varieties display different forms of third person subject pronouns. In particular, the reduced monosyllabic and asyllabic forms are stronglyrelated to the expletive subject function. Even if the reduced forms do not have the same distribution of subject clitics in Modern Venetan, it can be argued that these forms have become clitics before the other pronouns. The article takes into consideration the syntax of expletive subjects in Old Venetan in relation to the rise of subject clitics in these varieties

Pod and stem blight of soybeans: the relative importance of seed-borne and soil-borne inoculum

During the 1979 and 1980 growing seasons, field experiments were conducted near Ames, Iowa, to determine the relative importance of seed, soil, and crop residue as sources of inoculum for Phomopsis sp., the causal agent of pod and stem blight of soybeans (Glycine max). Soybean seedlots with Phomopsis seed-borne infection levels ranging from 0.0-10.0% and 0.0-77.0% were planted in 1979 and 1980, respectively, in fields with continuous soybean, corn-soybean, or continuous corn rotation histories. Progression of Phomopsis infection throughout both growing seasons showed that the severity of disease on stems, pod, and seeds was greater in the continuous soybean, less in the corn-soybean, and least in the continuous corn rotations. No relationship between seed-borne inoculum and disease severity was detected in either growing season, thus providing circumstantial evidence that soil-borne inoculum was the major source of inoculum for the disease. Pattern of infection on plants and relationships between lodging and pod infection further substantiated this conclusion. Differences in soil potassium levels between the fields did not influence seed infection by Phomopsis in either growing season;In a 1980 field experiment, in which Phomopsis-free and artificially inoculated viable infected and nonviable infested seed were planted in the continuous soybean and continuous corn fields, disease progression was similar for all seed treatments in the continuous soybean field, but more disease developed in the continuous corn field in plots containing viable infected seed. These results further emphasized the importance of soil-borne inoculum, but also suggested that viable infected seed may be a significant source of inoculum if there is concern about introducing the pathogen into an area previously free of the disease;Direct evidence that crop residue could act as a source of inoculum was obtained in a greenhouse experiment in which extensive seedling infection occurred in autoclaved soil infested with soybean crop residue, but not in noninfested soil. Results of a bio-assay to quantify soil-borne inoculum in both crop residue and soil fractions showed that soil-borne inoculum was primarily located in soybean crop residues, although some was found in soil particles. Sensitivity of the bio-assay was improved by including the severity of seedling infection from only soybean crop residues and the amount of crop residue in the sampled field into a bio-assay index

West Flemish verb-based discourse markers and the articulation of the Speech Act layer

This paper focuses on the West Flemish discourse markers located at the edge of the clause. After a brief survey of the distribution of discourse markers in WF, the paper proposes a syntactic analysis of the discourse markers ne and we. Based on the distribution of these discourse markers, of vocatives and of dislocated DPs, an articulated speech act layer is elaborated which corroborates the proposals in Hill (). It is postulated that there is a syntactic relation between particles used as discourse markers and vocatives. The paper offers further support for the grammaticalization of pragmatic features at the interface between syntax and discourse and for the hypothesis that the relevant computation at the interface is of the same nature as that in Narrow Syntax