Constructions and headedness in derivation and compounding

The ??traditional?? distinction of compounds into endocentric (Eng. doorknob) and exocentric (pickpocket) is based on the presence or absence of a head constituent (Bloomfield, Language, Holt, New York, 1933); since the early eighties, the syntactic notion of ??head?? has been extended also to derivation, claiming that English derivational suffixes, as e.g. -ness, are heads, either in an absolute sense or in a categorial sense (see Williams Linguist Inq 12:245?C274, 1981; Lieber On the organization of the lexicon, Indiana university Linguistics Club, Bloomington, 1981; Lieber, in Yearbook of morphology 1989, Foris, Dordrecht, 1989; among others). In this paper, we shall first review some key issues in the morphological notion of head, illustrating well-known problematic cases, and then we shall discuss the Construction Morphology approach to headedness in derivation and compounding (Booij in The Oxford handbook of compounding, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2009; Booij, in Cross-disciplinary issues in compounding, John Benjamins, Amsterdam, 2010a, 2010 Booij, Construction morphology, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010b). The stipulation of a hierarchical lexicon with subschemas expressing intermediate generalizations is a powerful theoretical device in accounting for a phenomenon as headedness variation, as we shall show with a Vietnamese case study; also, inconsistencies in word-class assignment in derivation will be dealt with in a constructionist perspective. Moreover, we shall discuss the consequences of a constructionist approach to the distinction between compounding and derivation.     

The (Paleo)Geography of Evolution: Making Sense of Changing Biology and Changing Continents

During the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, Charles Darwin quickly realized that geographic isolation led to significant changes in the adaptation of local flora and fauna (Darwin 1859). Genetic isolation is one of the well-known mechanisms by which adaptation (allopatric speciation) can occur (Palumbi, Annu Rev Ecol Syst 25:547?C72, 1994; Ricklefs, J Avian Biol 33:207?C11, 2002; Burns et al., Evolution 56:1240?C52, 2002; Hendry et al., Science 290:516?C8, 2009). Evolutionary changes can also occur when landmasses converge or are ??bridged.?? An important and relatively recent (Pliocene Epoch) example known as the ??Great American Biotic Interchange?? allowed for the migration of previously isolated species into new ecological niches between North and South America (Webb 1985, Ann Mo Bot Gard 93:245?C57, 2006; Kirby and MacFadden, Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 228:193?C202, 2005). Geographic isolation (vicariance) or geographic merging (geodispersal) can occur for a variety of reasons (sea level rise, splitting of continents, mountain building). In addition, the growth of a large supercontinent (or breakup) may change the climatic zonation on the globe and form a different type of barrier for species migration. This short review paper focuses on changing paleogeography throughout the Phanerozoic and the close ties between paleogeography and the evolutionary history of life on Earth.     

Insects from the Buntsandstein of Lower Franconia and Thuringia

Upper Buntsandstein deposits (mainly Myophoria beds, R?t Formation, Early Anisian) in Lower Franconia and Thuringia have yielded a rather rich insect fauna comprising ca. 300 insect specimens assigned to ten orders: Archaeognatha (Dasyleptidae), Ephemeroptera, Blattodea, Grylloblattida, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Glosselytrodea, Coleoptera, Mecoptera and Diptera. The systematic list of recorded insects is provided. Two species are identified as Triassodotes vogesiacus Sinitshenkova, Marchal-Papier, Grauvogel-Stamm et Gall, 2005 (Ephemeroptera: Misthodotidae) and Pseudopolycentropus triasicus Papier, Nel et Grauvogel-Stamm, 1996 (Mecoptera), which were previously described from the ??Grès à Voltzia?? Formation of the Vosges, the stratigraphically closest insect fauna. All grylloblattid specimens are identified as Chauliodites picteti Heer, 1864 (Chaulioditidae), known previously from the Middle Buntsandstein of G?dewitz, Saxony-Anhalt. The new genus and species Hammephemera pulchra Sinitshenkova, gen. et sp. n. (Ephemeroptera: Sharephemeridae) is described.     

Neither touch nor vision: sensory substitution as artificial synaesthesia?

Block (Trends Cogn Sci 7:285–286, 2003) and Prinz (PSYCHE 12:1–19, 2006) have defended the idea that SSD perception remains in the substituting modality (auditory or tactile). Hurley and Noë (Biol Philos 18:131–168, 2003) instead argued that after substantial training with the device, the perceptual experience that the SSD user enjoys undergoes a change, switching from tactile/auditory to visual. This debate has unfolded in something like a stalemate where, I will argue, it has become difficult to determine whether the perception acquired through the coupling with an SSD remains in the substituting or the substituted modality. Within this puzzling deadlock two new approaches have been recently suggested. Ward and Meijer (Conscious Cogn 19:492–500, 2010) describe SSD perception as visual-like but characterize it as a kind of artificially induced synaesthesia. Auvray et al. (Perception 36:416–430, 2007) and Auvray and Myin (Cogn Sci 33:1036–1058, 2009) suggest that SSDs let their users experience a new kind of perception. Deroy and Auvray (forthcoming) refine this position, and argue that this new kind of perception depends on pre-existing senses without entirely aligning with any of them. So, they have talked about perceptual experience in SSDs as going "beyond vision". In a similar vein, MacPherson (Oxford University Press, New York, 2011a) claims that “if the subjects (SSD users) have experiences with both vision-like and touch-like representational characteristics then perhaps they have a sense that ordinary humans do not” (MacPherson in Oxford University Press, New York, 2011a, p. 139).     

Two ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen, Germany, with a nomenclatural note on the genus Camponotites

Two species of the genus Camponotites (Formicidae, Formicinae) are described from the Late Pliocene deposits of Willershausen, Lower Saxony, northern Germany: C. silvestris Steinbach, 1967, and C. steinbachi n. sp. The generic name Camponotites has been established for fossil (Tertiary) ants independently by Steinbach (Bericht der Naturhistorischen Gesellschaft zu Hannover 111:95–102, 1967) and by Dlussky (Trudy paleontologi?eskogo instituta, akademiâ nauk SSSR, 1981), each for materials of different stratigraphical and geographical origin. Though poorly described, Camponotites Steinbach, 1967, and the single included (type) species C. silvestris Steinbach, 1967 (a monotypic species from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen), were based upon indication in the sense of the ICZN. Therefore, both the generic and specific names are valid and available. Camponotites Dlussky, 1981 (and its type species C. macropterus Dlussky, 1981) were certainly introduced correctly and are therefore available, too; but due to its homonymy the generic name is not valid. The revision shows that in this rare case both generic names are not only homonyms but also synonyms.     

Taxonomic review of Kyphosus (Pisces: Kyphosidae) in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans

The taxonomy of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific species of Kyphosus is reviewed with K. bosquii (Lacepède 1802), K. incisor (Cuvier 1831), K. analogus (Gill 1862) and K. elegans (Peters 1869) considered valid, and K. atlanticus sp. nov. newly described. Kyphosus bosquii and K. atlanticus are both characterized by 12 dorsal- and 11 anal-fin soft rays, but differ in the number of longitudinal scale rows along the midbody (61–66, mode 63 vs. 50–56, mode 54). Kyphosus incisor and K. analogus, characterized by 14 dorsal- and 13 anal-fin soft rays, similarly differ from each other in midbody longitudinal scale row counts (57–64, mode 60 vs. 68–74, mode 70 or 72). Kyphosus elegans is characterized by 13 dorsal- and 12 anal-fin soft rays, and 51–57 midbody longitudinal scale rows. Kyphosus bosquii, K. atlanticus and K. incisor are distributed in the Atlantic Ocean, K. analogus and K. elegans occurring in the Eastern Pacific. The holotype of Pimelepterus flavolineatus Poey 1866, here regarded as a junior synonym of K. incisor, was located within a collection of Cuban fishes donated to the Smithsonian Institution by Poey in 1873. A neotype is designated here for K. analogus. Pimelepterus gallveii Cunningham 1910, Kyphosus palpebrosus Miranda-Ribeiro 1919 and K. metzelaari Jordan and Evermann 1927 are recognized as junior synonyms of K. bosquii. Pimelepterus sandwicensis Sauvage 1880 is a junior synonym of K. elegans. Perca saltatrix Linnaeus 1758, together with the replacement name Perca sectatrix Linnaeus 1766, is regarded as nomina dubia.     

Comment on: “root orientation can affect detection accuracy of ground-penetrating radar”

Introduction

In a recent paper, Tanikawa et al. Plant Soil 373:317–327, (2013) reported a considerable impact of root orientation on the accuracy of root detection and root diameter estimation by ground-penetrating radar (GPR).

Methods

In Tanikawa et al. Plant Soil 373:317–327, (2013), buried root samples in a sand box were scanned from multiple cross angles between root orientation and GPR transecting line under controlled conditions. Changes in radar waveform parameter of roots to different cross angles were investigated.

Results

Tanikawa et al. Plant Soil 373:317–327, (2013) clarified that 1) the variation in amplitude area (a signal strength related waveform parameter) to different cross angles fitted a sinusoidal waveform; and 2) the impact of root orientation on root diameter estimation by GPR could be mathematically corrected by applying a grid transect survey. However, we found that the quantitative relationship established in Tanikawa et al. Plant Soil 373:317–327, (2013) between amplitude area and cross angle was incorrect, and the application of a grid transect survey still underestimated root diameter.

Conclusion

The change in amplitude area to cross angle between transecting line and root orientation fits a sinusoidal waveform but different to that reported in Tanikawa et al. Plant Soil 373:317–327, (2013). The polarization of GPR wave may explain such sinusoidal variation in amplitude area to cross angle. The effect of root orientation on GPR-based root diameter estimation remains to be calibrated.     

Establishment and characterization of METON myoepithelioma cell line derived from human palatal myoepithelioma: apical reference to the diverse differentiation potential

Myoepithelioma is an extremely rare condition that accounts for 1–1.5 % of salivary gland tumors. It was formerly regarded as a subtype of pleomorphic adenoma, in which myoepithelial structural components predominated, but was listed as a separate disease entity in the 1991 World Health Organization classification (Seifert in Histological typing of salivary gland tumours. Springer, Berlin, 1991). Its histology is highly varied and recurrence is frequent (El-Naggar et al. in J Larygol Otol 103:1192–1197, 1989), with cases of malignant transformation having been reported (Seifert in Histological typing of salivary gland tumours. Springer, Berlin, 1991; Barnes et al. in Pathology and Genetics of head and neck tumours. IARC Press, Lyon, 2005), making this a difficult tumor to control in many cases. This is thought to be due to the multiple differentiation potential of myoepithelial cells, but the details are unknown. There have been a number of reports of the establishment of cell lines (Shirasuna et al. Cancer. 45:297–305, 1980; Jaeger et al. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 84:663–667, 1997), but numerous points remain unclear. We established a myoepithelial cell line designated METON, and investigated its characteristics. METON consists of cells with two different morphologies: spindle-shaped cells and epithelial-like cells. Then. we also used single-cell cloning method to establish various subclones (epithelial-like, spindle-like, and mixed epithelial-like/spindle-like cell lines). Among these, pluripotency markers were expressed by the mixed epithelial-like/spindle-like cell lines. The newly established cell line expressing these pluripotency markers will be extremely useful for elucidating the diverse histologies of salivary gland tumors.     

Stukalinia, a new substitute generic name for fossil crinoid Lobocrinus Stukalina non Wachsmuth and Springer 1897 (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

A new generic name, Stukalinia nom. nov., is proposed for a fossil Ordoviacian crinoid that currently has the preoccupied fossil generic name Lobocrinus Stukalina 1982 non Wachsmuth and Springer (1897), along with a new family name, Stukaliniidae nom. nov., instead of the illegitimate family name Lobocrinidae Stukalina (1982).     

Missense mutations in the APOL1 gene are highly associated with end stage kidney disease risk previously attributed to the MYH9 gene

MYH9 has been proposed as a major genetic risk locus for a spectrum of nondiabetic end stage kidney disease (ESKD). We use recently released sequences from the 1000 Genomes Project to identify two western African-specific missense mutations (S342G and I384M) in the neighboring APOL1 gene, and demonstrate that these are more strongly associated with ESKD than previously reported MYH9 variants. The APOL1 gene product, apolipoprotein L-1, has been studied for its roles in trypanosomal lysis, autophagic cell death, lipid metabolism, as well as vascular and other biological activities. We also show that the distribution of these newly identified APOL1 risk variants in African populations is consistent with the pattern of African ancestry ESKD risk previously attributed to MYH9. Mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium (MALD) localized an interval on chromosome 22, in a region that includes the MYH9 gene, which was shown to contain African ancestry risk variants associated with certain forms of ESKD (Kao et al. 2008; Kopp et al. 2008). MYH9 encodes nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIa, a major cytoskeletal nanomotor protein expressed in many cell types, including podocyte cells of the renal glomerulus. Moreover, 39 different coding region mutations in MYH9 have been identified in patients with a group of rare syndromes, collectively termed the Giant Platelet Syndromes, with clear autosomal dominant inheritance, and various clinical manifestations, sometimes also including glomerular pathology and chronic kidney disease (Kopp 2010; Sekine et al. 2010). Accordingly, MYH9 was further explored in these studies as the leading candidate gene responsible for the MALD signal. Dense mapping of MYH9 identified individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sets of such SNPs grouped as haplotypes that were found to be highly associated with a large and important group of ESKD risk phenotypes, which as a consequence were designated as MYH9-associated nephropathies (Bostrom and Freedman 2010). These included HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), primary nonmonogenic forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and hypertension affiliated chronic kidney disease not attributed to other etiologies (Bostrom and Freedman 2010). The MYH9 SNP and haplotype associations observed with these forms of ESKD yielded the largest odds ratios (OR) reported to date for the association of common variants with common disease risk (Winkler et al. 2010). Two specific MYH9 variants (rs5750250 of S-haplotype and rs11912763 of F-haplotype) were designated as most strongly predictive on the basis of Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis (Nelson et al. 2010). These MYH9 association studies were then also extended to earlier stage and related kidney disease phenotypes and to population groups with varying degrees of recent African ancestry admixture (Behar et al. 2010; Freedman et al. 2009a, b; Nelson et al. 2010), and led to the expectation of finding a functional African ancestry causative variant within MYH9. However, despite intensive efforts including re-sequencing of the MYH9 gene no suggested functional mutation has been identified (Nelson et al. 2010; Winkler et al. 2010). This led us to re-examine the interval surrounding MYH9 and to the detection of novel missense mutations with predicted functional effects in the neighboring APOL1 gene, which are significantly more associated with ESKD than all previously reported SNPs in MYH9.     

Heckerocrinus, a new substitute generic name for fossil crinoid Bockia Hecker 1940 (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) non Reisinger 1924 (Vermes: Turbellaria)

Heckerocrinus nom. nov., a new generic name of fossil Ordovician crinoid, is proposed for preoccupied fossil generic name Bockia Hecker 1940 non Reisinger 1924 [Vermes: Turbellaria??Typhloplanidae-Protoplanellinae]. Illegitimate family name Bockiidae Ubaghs 1972 is replaced with a new valid family name Heckerocrinidae nom. nov.     

Leucothoid and Maerid Amphipods (Crustacea) from deep regions of the North Atlantic

From amphipod collections from the deep Norwegian Sea, three species are here redescribed: Maera loveni (Bruzelius 1859) (Maeridae), Leucothoe aff. spinicarpa (Abildgaard, 1789) and L. uschakovi Gurjanova, 1951 (Leucothoidae). A key to all Atlantic and Mediterranean Leucothoe species (males only) is provided.     

Metalloproteins and the Pyrite-based Origin of Life: A Critical Assessment

We critically examine the proposal by Wächtershäuser (Prokaryotes 1:275?C283, 2006a, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361: 787?C1808, 2006b) that putative transition metal binding sites in protein components of the translation machinery of hyperthermophiles provide evidence of a direct relationship with the FeS clusters of pyrite and thus indicate an autotrophic origin of life in volcanic environments. Analysis of completely sequenced cellular genomes of Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya does not support the suggestion by Wächtershäuser (Prokaryotes 1:275?C283, 2006a, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361: 787?C1808, 2006b) that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and ribosomal proteins bear sequence signatures typical of strong covalent metal bonding whose absence in mesophilic species reveals a process of adaptation towards less extreme environments.     

Anther structure and pollen ontogeny of Hosta Tratt. and its systematic significance

Anther structure and pollen ontogeny of six species of Hosta Tratt. was studied to provide additional data for its classification. Microscopic observation found that their male gametogenesis has the following structural characteristics: (1) the four microsporangia are linearly arranged on introrse side of anther connective tissue; (2) mature anther wall is composed of an epidermis, endothecium, middle layer(s), and tapetum; (3) microsporogenesis is successive; (4) mature pollen grains are three-celled at anthesis, with a vegetative cell filled with large amounts of starch grains; (5) pollen ontogeny is obviously asynchronous; (6) each tepal has about 9?C13 vascular traces in cross-section view. The above observations suggest that genus H. Tratt. should be classified as family Hostaceae, in agreement with Dahlgren and Clifford (1982), Takhtajan (1997), and Wu et?al. (2003).     

Involvement of apoptosis and proliferation of acinar cells in atrophy of rat parotid glands induced by liquid diet

Parotid glands of experimental animals fed a liquid diet are reported to show atrophy (Hall and Schneyer 1964; Wilborn and Schneyer 1970; Hand and Ho 1981; Scott et al. 1990; Scott and Gunn 1991). To clarify whether apoptosis and proliferation of acinar cells participate in atrophy of rat parotid glands induced by liquid diet, rats were fed a liquid diet and compared to pellet-fed controls. Parotid glands were removed at 3, 7, 14 or 21?days, weighed, and examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and studied immunohistochemically for cleaved-caspase-3 (Casp-3), a marker of apoptotic cells, and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU), a marker for proliferating cells. Body weights of experimental rats fed liquid diets were not significantly different from controls fed pellet diets; however weights of experimental parotid glands were smaller than those of controls. In the experimental parotid glands, structures like apoptotic bodies were histologically observed in acini at each time point; more Casp-3-positive acinar cells were identified in experimental parotid glands than in the controls on days 3, 7, and 14. Experimental glands showed fewer BrdU-positive acinar cells at each time point. TEM confirmed typical apoptotic acinar cells in the atrophic glands. These findings suggest that increased acinar cell apoptosis and reduced acinar cell proliferation occur in atrophic parotid glands of rats fed a liquid diet.     

Icriocarcinidae: a family of portunoid crabs from the Upper Cretaceous of North America

Icriocarcininae ?tev?i?, 2005, an extinct North American subfamily of portunoid decapods, is elevated to family level to contain two Late Cretaceous genera—Icriocarcinus Bishop, 1988, from the Pacific Coast, and Branchiocarcinus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast Plain. The family is centered on Icriocarcinus xestos Bishop, 1988, described from the Late Campanian of Baja California. Closely allied with this species are: “Eryma” flecta Rathbun, 1926, originally described from the latest Campanian of Tennessee and now known to occur throughout the Maastrichtian of the adjoining Mississippi; Branchiocarcinus cornatus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Maastrichtian of San Luis Potosí, Mexico; and undescribed material from the latest Maastrichtian of New Jersey. The Gulf and Atlantic populations compose a single new species—Branchiocarcinus flectus (Rathbun). Provisionally regarded as a lobster, on the basis of a single, eroded chela, B. flectus is now known from complete bodies found at several locations in the eastern US. The additional material also clarifies the identity of B. cornatus, which is based on a distorted external mold of a lone dorsal carapace. Members of the family lack the typical portunoid flattened fifth pereiopod but share other characters that enable placement within the Portunoidea.     

Leges sine moribus vanae: does language make moral thinking possible?

Does language make moral cognition possible? Some authors like Andy Clark have argued for a positive answer whereby language and the ways people use it mark a fundamental divide between humans and all other animals with respect to moral thinking (Clark, Mind and morals: essays on cognitive science and ethics. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996; Moral Epistemol Nat Can J Philos Suppl XXVI, 2000a; Moral Epistemol Nat Can J Philos Suppl XXVI, 2000b; Philosophy of mental representation. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 37–43 and discussion, 44–61, 2002). I take issue with Clark’s view and argue that language is probably unnecessary for the emergence of moral cognition. I acknowledge, however, that humans unlike other animals seem to posses what Haugeland in Philosophy of mental representation. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2002) terms ‘norm-hungriness’: an idiosyncratic need or desire to create and abide by a multitude of norms. Our peculiar norm-hungriness, I suggest, depends on what can be called florid control rather than on language.     

The Macamide N-3-Methoxybenzyl-Linoleamide Is a Time-Dependent Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibitor

The Peruvian plant Lepidium meyenii (Maca) has been shown to possess neuroprotective activity both in vitro and in vivo [1–3]. Previous studies have also demonstrated the activity of the pentane extract and its macamides, the most representative lipophilic constituents of Maca, in the endocannabinoid system as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. One of the most active macamides, N-3-methoxybenzyl-linoleamide [4, 5], was studied to determine its mechanism of interaction with FAAH and whether it has inhibitory activity on mono-acyl glycerol lipase (MAGL), the second enzyme responsible for endocannabinoid degradation [6]. Macamide concentrations from 1 to 100 μM were tested using FAAH and MAGL inhibitor assay methods and showed no effect on MAGL. Tests with other conditions were performed in order to characterize the inhibitory mechanism of FAAH inhibition. N-3-methoxybenzyl-linoleamide displayed significant time-dependent and dose-dependent FAAH inhibitory activity. The mechanism of inhibition was most likely irreversible or slowly reversible. These results suggest the potential application of macamides isolated from Maca as FAAH inhibitors, as they might act on the central nervous system to provide analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or neuroprotective effects, by modulating the release of neurotransmitters.     

Plant biotechnology for food security and bioeconomy

This year is a special year for plant biotechnology. It was 30 years ago, on January 18 1983, one of the most important dates in the history of plant biotechnology, that three independent groups described Agrobacterium tumefaciens—mediated genetic transformation at the Miami Winter Symposium, leading to the production of normal, fertile transgenic plants (Bevan et al. in Nature 304:184–187, 1983; Fraley et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80:4803–4807, 1983; Herrera-Estrella et al. in EMBO J 2:987–995, 1983; Vasil in Plant Cell Rep 27:1432–1440, 2008). Since then, plant biotechnology has rapidly advanced into a useful and valuable tool and has made a significant impact on crop production, development of a biotech industry and the bio-based economy worldwide.