Greek and Romance unagreement in Calabria

The term ‘unagreement’ describes configurations with an apparent person-mismatch between a typically definite plural subject and non-third person verbal agreement found in several null subject languages. Previous works have suggested that languages which have an obligatory definite article in adnominal pronoun constructions (APCs) allow unagreement (cf. standard modern Greek emeis oi glossologoi “we (the) linguists”), while languages that rule out definite articles in APCs do not allow unagreement constructions (cf. standard Italian noi (*i) linguisti). This article presents new evidence from Calabrian Greek (Greko), which corresponds to the predictions for other varieties of Greek, and two southern Italian Romance varieties (northern and southern Calabrese): these varieties exhibit Italian-type apcs but still allow unagreement, contrary to expectations. We discuss how the Romance data may be accommodated by extending a previous account of unagreement and propose that the hybrid pattern observed in the Italo-Romance varieties is a result of historical contact with local Greek varieties.Georg Höhn acknowledges funding from the European Research Council Advanced Grant No. 269752 “Rethinking Comparative Syntax” for part of this research. Giuseppina Silvestri acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme-funded project “Fading voices in southern Italy: investigating languag

Karotten von der Saat bis zum Teller - Einfluss von Sorte Standort, Jahr und Anbauweise auf den Mineralstoffgehalt

Wie wertvoll sind Karotten für unsere Ernährung? Die Fachwelt ist sich einig, dass der tägliche Konsum von Früchten und Gemüse erhöht werden soll. Es gibt jedoch Presseberichte, die den ernährungsphysiologischen Wert von heutigem Gemüse hinterfragen. Die Rolle der Karotte als Mineralstoffquelle wird durchleuchtet

Quantitative and qualitative biogenic silicon analyses combining modern microscopical and spectroscopical methods

Numerous organisms comprising pro- and eukaryotes are evolutionarily adapted to synthesize siliceous structures (biosilicification). In terrestrial biogeosystems biogenic silicon (BSi) accumulation of phytogenic (BSi synthesized by plants), protistic (diatoms and testate amoeba), microbial (bacteria and fungi) and zoogenic (sponges) origin results in formation of corresponding BSi pools. Accumulation and recycling of BSi in terrestrial ecosystems influence fluxes of dissolved Si from the continents to the oceans, thus act as a filter in the global Si cycle. Although the biogenic control mechanism especially of phytogenic Si pools (phytoliths) has been generally recognized since decades quantitative information on other terrestrial BSi pools is rare. Additionally, information on physicochemical properties of the various siliceous structures are needed to better understand their dissolution kinetics. We used modern microscopical (laser scanning microscopy, LSM; Scanning electron microscopy with coupled energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, SEM-EDX) and spectroscopical (micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-FTIR) methods for quantitative and qualitative analyses of BSi structures. LSM was used to measure volumes and surface areas of BSi structures and corresponding surface-area-to-volume ratios (A:V ratios) were calculated as an indicator for the resistibility of these siliceous structures against dissolution. Volume measurements were also used for the quantification of BSi pools by multiplication of corresponding volumes with BSi density. SEM-EDX analyses provided information on the elemental composition of different BSi structures and with the help of micro-FTIR we were able to gain specific information about chemical bonding and molecular structures of BSi. These information will help us to understand in detail dissolution kinetics of various siliceous structures, thus their role in Si cycling

Spectral Orbits and Peak-to-Average Power Ratio of Boolean Functions with respect to the {I,H,N}^n Transform

We enumerate the inequivalent self-dual additive codes over GF(4) of blocklength n, thereby extending the sequence A090899 in The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences from n = 9 to n = 12. These codes have a well-known interpretation as quantum codes. They can also be represented by graphs, where a simple graph operation generates the orbits of equivalent codes. We highlight the regularity and structure of some graphs that correspond to codes with high distance. The codes can also be interpreted as quadratic Boolean functions, where inequivalence takes on a spectral meaning. In this context we define PAR_IHN, peak-to-average power ratio with respect to the {I,H,N}^n transform set. We prove that PAR_IHN of a Boolean function is equivalent to the the size of the maximum independent set over the associated orbit of graphs. Finally we propose a construction technique to generate Boolean functions with low PAR_IHN and algebraic degree higher than 2.Comment: Presented at Sequences and Their Applications, SETA'04, Seoul, South Korea, October 2004. 17 pages, 10 figure

On Exceptional Vertex Operator (Super) Algebras

We consider exceptional vertex operator algebras and vertex operator superalgebras with the property that particular Casimir vectors constructed from the primary vectors of lowest conformal weight are Virasoro descendents of the vacuum. We show that the genus one partition function and characters for simple ordinary modules must satisfy modular linear differential equations. We show the rationality of the central charge and module lowest weights, modularity of solutions, the dimension of each graded space is a rational function of the central charge and that the lowest weight primaries generate the algebra. We also discuss conditions on the reducibility of the lowest weight primary vectors as a module for the automorphism group. Finally we analyse solutions for exceptional vertex operator algebras with primary vectors of lowest weight up to 9 and for vertex operator superalgebras with primary vectors of lowest weight up to 17/2. Most solutions can be identified with simple ordinary modules for known algebras but there are also four conjectured algebras generated by weight two primaries and three conjectured extremal vertex operator algebras generated by primaries of weight 3, 4 and 6 respectively.Comment: 37 page

Karotten von der Saat bis zum Teller - Einfluss von Sorte, Standort, Jahr, Anbauweise und Lagerung auf den Carotingehalt

Karotten sind ergiebige Quellen an a- und ß-Carotin und weiterer sekundärer Pflanzenstoffe (SPS). Es ist bekannt, dass viele SPS auch für Geschmack, Aroma und Farbe eine Rolle spielen. Der Einfluss von Vorernte- und Nacherntefaktoren auf den Gehalt an SPS gewinnt deshalb zunehmend an Bedeutung. Für die Entwicklung eines Qualitätssicherungskonzepts sind die Kenntnisse über die Auswirkung dieser Faktoren unumgänglich

Effective relational dynamics

We provide a synopsis of an effective approach to the problem of time in the semiclassical regime. The essential features of this new approach to evaluating relational quantum dynamics in constrained systems are illustrated by means of a simple toy model.Comment: 4 pages, based on a talk given at Loops '11 in Madrid, to appear in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS

Effective approach to the problem of time: general features and examples

The effective approach to quantum dynamics allows a reformulation of the Dirac quantization procedure for constrained systems in terms of an infinite-dimensional constrained system of classical type. For semiclassical approximations, the quantum constrained system can be truncated to finite size and solved by the reduced phase space or gauge-fixing methods. In particular, the classical feasibility of local internal times is directly generalized to quantum systems, overcoming the main difficulties associated with the general problem of time in the semiclassical realm. The key features of local internal times and the procedure of patching global solutions using overlapping intervals of local internal times are described and illustrated by two quantum mechanical examples. Relational evolution in a given choice of internal time is most conveniently described and interpreted in a corresponding choice of gauge at the effective level and changing the internal clock is, therefore, essentially achieved by a gauge transformation. This article complements the conceptual discussion in arXiv:1009.5953.Comment: 42 pages, 9 figures; v2: streamlined discussions, more compact manuscrip

Spinning around or stagnation - what do osteoblasts and chondroblasts really like?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The influcence of cytomechanical forces in cellular migration, proliferation and differentation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is still poorly understood in detail.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human MSCs were isolated and cultivated onto the surface of a 3 × 3 mm porcine collagen I/III carrier. After incubation, cell cultures were transfered to the different cutures systems: regular static tissue flasks (group I), spinner flasks (group II) and rotating wall vessels (group III). Following standard protocols cells were stimulated lineage specific towards the osteogenic and chondrogenic lines. To evaluate the effects of applied cytomechanical forces towards cellular differentiation distinct parameters were measured (morphology, antigen and antigen expression) after a total cultivation period of 21 days in vitro.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Depending on the cultivation technique we found significant differences in both gen and protein expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cytomechanical forces with rotational components strongly influence the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation.</p