764 research outputs found
Deriving the Cartography of the Japanese Right Periphery: The Case of Sentence-Final Discourse Particles
The cartographic structure of the Japanese right periphery has
been investigated extensively over recent years. (See, for example, Inoue
2007, Ueda 2007, Saito 2009, Endo 2010, and the references cited there.) This
paper examines the distributions of the sentence-final discourse particles
and presents an account in terms of their lexical properties. We argue,
following Endo (2010), that the particles, wa, yo, ne and na, indeed instantiate
a cartographic structure in the right periphery. Then, we examine the lexical
properties of each of those particles, and show that they explain the
observed hierarchy. More specifically, we argue that the selectional
requirement of wa and the specific speech acts the four particles are
associated with yield the hierarchy wa < yo < ne/na. This conclusion implies
that the cartographic structure of the Japanese sentence-final discourse
particles can be considered a consequence of the Merge operation that
reflects the lexical properties of those particles.La estructura cartográfica de la periferia oracional derecha del
japonés ha sido objeto de amplias investigaciones a lo largo de los últimos
años (ver, por ejemplo, Inoue 2007, Ueda 2007, Saito 2009, Endo 2010, y las referencias allí citadas). Este artículo examina la distribución de las
partículas discursivas en posición final de la oración y presenta una
explicación que atiende a sus propiedades léxicas. Argüimos, en la línea de
Endo (2010), que las partículas wa, yo, ne y na generan en sí una estructura
cartográfica en la periferia oracional derecha. Procedemos seguidamente a
examinar las propiedades léxicas de cada una de estas partículas, y
demostramos que ilustran la jerarquía mencionada. En particular, argüimos
que el requisito de selección para wa y para los actos de habla específicos con
los que se vincula a las cuatro partículas producen la jerarquía wa < yo <
ne/na. Esta conclusión implica que la estructura cartográfica de las partículas
discursivas en posición final en la oración en japonés puede considerarse
una consecuencia de la operación de Ensamble (Merge) que refleja las
propiedades léxicas de dichas partículas.Nos últimos anos, a estrutura cartográfica da periferia direita em
japonês tem sido amplamente investigada. (Veja-se, por exemplo, Inoue 2007,
Ueda 2007, Saito 2009, Endo 2010, e as referências aí citadas). Este artigo
analisa a distribuição das partículas discursivas em final frase e apresenta
uma proposta considerando as suas propriedades lexicais. Argumentamos,
seguindo Endo (2010), que as partículas wa, yo, ne e na instanciam uma
estrutura cartográfica na periferia direita. Neste sentido, observamos as
propriedades lexicais de cada uma destas partículas e mostramos que eles
explicam a hierarquia observada. Mais especificamente, argumentamos que
a necessidade de seleção de wa e os atos de fala específicos associados a estas
quatro partículas geram a hierarquia wa < yo < ne/na. Esta conclusão implica
que a estrutura cartográfica das partículas discursivas em final de frase do
japonês pode ser considerada como uma consequência da operação Compor
(Merge), que reflete as propriedades lexicais destas partículas
Spin effects in single-electron transport through carbon nanotube quantum dots
We investigate the total spin in an individual single-wall carbon nanotube
quantum dot with various numbers of electrons in a shell by using the ratio of
the saturation currents of the first steps of Coulomb staircases for positive
and negative biases. The current ratio reflects the total-spin transition that
is increased or decreased when the dot is connected to strongly asymmetric
tunnel barriers. Our results indicate that total spin states with and without
magnetic fields can be traced by this method.Comment: 5pages, 5figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Indoor Air Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds and Evaluation of Their Emission from Various Building Materials and Common Products by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Systemic Lymphadenectomy Cannot Be Recommended for Low-Risk Corpus Cancer
Objective. The objective of this study is to ascertain whether omission of lymphadenectomy could be possible when uterine corpus cancer is considered low-risk based on intraoperative pathologic indicators. Patient and Methods. Between 1998 and 2007, a total of 83 patients with low risk corpus cancer (endometrioid type, grade 1 or 2, myometrial invasion ≦50%, and no intraoperative evidence of macroscopic extrauterine spread, including pelvic and paraaortic lymph node swelling and adnexal metastasis) underwent the total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy. A retrospective review of the medical records was performed, and the disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), peri- and postoperative morbidities and complications were evaluated. Results. The 5-year DFS rates and the 5-year OS rates were 97.6% and 98.8%, respectively. No patient presented postoperative leg lymphedema and deep venous thrombosis. Conclusion. Omission of lymphadenectomy did not worsen the DFS or OS. The present findings suggest that systemic lymphadenectomy could be omitted in low-risk endometrial carcinoma
Methyl Mercury Exposure at Niigata, Japan: Results of Neurological Examinations of 103 Adults
Background. Large-scale poisonings caused by methyl mercury (MeHg) have occurred in Japan (Minamata in the 1950s and Niigata in the 1960s) and Iraq (in the 1970s). The current WHO neurological risk standard for adult exposure (hair level: 50 μg/g) was based partly on evidence from Niigata which did not consider any cases who were diagnosed later and/or exposed to low level of MeHg (hair mercury level less than 50 μg/g). Methods. Early in the Niigata epidemic in June 1965 there were two extensive surveys. From these two surveys, we examined 103 adults with hair mercury measurement who consulted two medical institutions. We compared the prevalence and the distribution of neurological signs related to MeHg poisoning between exposure categories. Result. We found 48 subjects with neurological signs related to MeHg poisoning who had hair mercury concentration less than 50 μg/g. Among the neurological signs, sensory disturbance of the bilateral distal extremities was observed more frequently, followed by disequilibrium, hearing impairment, and ataxia, in groups with hair MeHg concentration both below 50 μg/g and over 50 μg/g. Conclusion. The present study suggests the possibility that exposure to MeHg at levels below the current WHO limits could cause neurologic signs, in particular, sensory disturbance
A patient with repeated syncopal attacks after using isosorbide dinitrate
The case of a patient with repeated attacks of collapse induced by sublingual isosorbide dinitrate is reported. The patient was an 81 year-old female who was admitted to Yura Hospital because of attacks of precordial pain. Several minutes after the sublingual administration of isosorbide dinitrate (10 mg) for an anginal attack, she developed a sensation of general weakness, and thereafter because unconscious. Arterial blood pressure fell and became unmeasurable. Electrocardiograms recorded during the syncopal attack showed sinus tachycardia and significant elevation of ST-segment in right precordial leads. In response to a drip infusion of noradrenaline, arterial blood pressure returned to normal with recovery of consciousness. Two similar syncopal attacks induced by sublingual isosorbide dinitrate occurred in the next three days. These attacks were not due to augmentation of the vagal reflex. Decrease of venous return probably was the primary etiological factor.</p
Characterization of highly efficient heavy-ion mutagenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heavy-ion mutagenesis is recognised as a powerful technology to generate new mutants, especially in higher plants. Heavy-ion beams show high linear energy transfer (LET) and thus more effectively induce DNA double-strand breaks than other mutagenic techniques. Previously, we determined the most effective heavy-ion LET (LET<sub>max</sub>: 30.0 keV μm<sup>-1</sup>) for <it>Arabidopsis </it>mutagenesis by analysing the effect of LET on mutation induction. However, the molecular structure of mutated DNA induced by heavy ions with LET<sub>max </sub>remains unclear. Knowledge of the structure of mutated DNA will contribute to the effective exploitation of heavy-ion beam mutagenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Dry <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>seeds were irradiated with carbon (C) ions with LET<sub>max </sub>at a dose of 400 Gy and with LET of 22.5 keV μm<sup>-1 </sup>at doses of 250 Gy or 450 Gy. The effects on mutation frequency and alteration of DNA structure were compared. To characterise the structure of mutated DNA, we screened the well-characterised mutants <it>elongated hypocotyls </it>(<it>hy</it>) and <it>glabrous </it>(<it>gl</it>) and identified mutated DNA among the resulting mutants by high-resolution melting curve, PCR and sequencing analyses. The mutation frequency induced by C ions with LET<sub>max </sub>was two-fold higher than that with 22.5 keV μm<sup>-1 </sup>and similar to the mutation frequency previously induced by ethyl methane sulfonate. We identified the structure of 22 mutated DNAs. Over 80% of the mutations caused by C ions with both LETs were base substitutions or deletions/insertions of less than 100 bp. The other mutations involved large rearrangements.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The C ions with LET<sub>max </sub>showed high mutation efficiency and predominantly induced base substitutions or small deletions/insertions, most of which were null mutations. These small alterations can be determined by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection systems. Therefore, C ions with LET<sub>max </sub>might be useful as a highly efficient reverse genetic system in conjunction with SNP detection systems, and will be beneficial for forward genetics and plant breeding.</p
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