This dissertation examines the Malayic varieties spoken in Kelantan and Terengganu, two Malaysian states located on the northeast coast of the Malay Peninsula. It focuses on three varieties, namely... Show moreThis dissertation examines the Malayic varieties spoken in Kelantan and Terengganu, two Malaysian states located on the northeast coast of the Malay Peninsula. It focuses on three varieties, namely Kelantan Malay, Coastal Terengganu Malay and Inland Terengganu Malay, all belonging to the Malayic subgroup within the Austronesian language family. On the basis of data gathered through linguistic fieldwork undertaken by the author, this dissertation provides the most comprehensive description of these languages to date and offers an analysis of their historical developments.The three Malayic varieties under investigation display notable similarities in their phonological and morphosyntactic patterns, characterised by significant phonological and morphological reduction. Despite these common features, however, it is concluded that these varieties do not form a discrete subgroup within the Malayic languages. The common changes observed in their consonant systems must have followed distinct developments in the vowel systems. Furthermore, the morphological reduction was primarily driven by internal phonological changes, and no clear traces of substrate influences have been found.It is proposed that Inland Terengganu Malay represents a separate variety, distinct from Kelantan Malay and Coastal Terengganu Malay. A two-wave migration pattern is suggested: speakers of Inland Terengganu Malay likely arrived in the region earlier, whereas the speakers of Kelantan Malay and Coastal Terengganu Malay arrived at a later stage. Show less
Tin electrodeposition applications have rapidly evolved in the past 25 years. Usage of tin coatings has advanced from being mainly used for corrosion protection and decorative purposes, to being... Show moreTin electrodeposition applications have rapidly evolved in the past 25 years. Usage of tin coatings has advanced from being mainly used for corrosion protection and decorative purposes, to being used in modern technology such in electronic devices, photovoltaic cells and Li-ion batteries. The new tin coating applications have also come with challenges that require the production of nanostructured deposits, multilayers coatings and composites. Furthermore, the need to reduce energy and source consumptions, and the implementation of more environment-friendly processes, require detailed and fundamental knowledge of the electrodeposition process.The emphasis throughout this thesis is therefore to obtain detailed mechanistic information of tin electrodeposition process.The experimental and theoretical work presented in this thesis attempts to understand the mechanism of tin electrodeposition, and the effect of electrolyte anions and naphthalene-based additives, during the early and subsequent stages of the process. Show less
Morphometric and morphological differences have been used extensively in the past to study domestication of the wolf and the origin of dogs. Certainly before genetic testing was performed, these... Show moreMorphometric and morphological differences have been used extensively in the past to study domestication of the wolf and the origin of dogs. Certainly before genetic testing was performed, these methods were the only means to diverge both groups. But still now, when aDNA cannot be extracted, morphometry and morphology are still important study methods to discern between wolves and dogs.Many of the historically claimed differences were based on studying rather low numbers of Specimens, and on comparisons with genetically isolated groups of dogs or breeds that had anatomical variants which diverge from the mean. This led to several claimed differences that needed rigorous re-evaluated, by investigating larger groups of specimens, both dogs and wolves, and more importantly, and if possible, Pleistocene wolves and the oldest archaeological dogs.We re-evaluated all important morphological and morphometric criteria published in the literature. Most are related to oral, mandibular and skull differences, but also difference in stature was reported. From all criteria we re-tested very few proved to be valuable. And those that show a difference, can often only be used to a limited extend, as only the extremes of these criteria are non-overlapping between groups. Show less
Streptomyces are multicellular, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum of actinobacteria which produce a high amount of bioactive natural products of which the expression is tightly coordinated with... Show moreStreptomyces are multicellular, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum of actinobacteria which produce a high amount of bioactive natural products of which the expression is tightly coordinated with the life cycle. This thesis shows the identification of S. roseifaciens, a novel species with an uncommon, verticillate spore morphology and a unique household of SsgA-like proteins. Analyses of the peptidoglycan composition show that S. coelicolor show a pattern of 3-3 cross-linking befitting a tip-growing organism and change in composition between vegetative mycelium and spores. Kitasatosporae carry meso-DAP in the peptidoglycan of vegetative mycelium and LL-DAP in the peptidoglycan of spores. In line with this difference, the peptidoglycan architecture of these two growth stages undergoes such radical changes that they would seem to be from different species. S. coelicolor is naturally vancomycin resistant, but the addition of D-alanine and disruption in a single gene increases vancomycin sensitivity by a thousandfold. A knockout mutant of the alanine racemase, alr, requires exogenous addition of D-alanine. The Alr crystal structure of S. coelicolor and the D-cycloserine producer S. lavendulae were compared as to look for possible mechanisms for D-cycloserine resistance. Show less
Streptomyces are multicellular bacteria that grow as branched filaments and are best known for producing the majority of our antibiotics, many immunosuppressant and anticancer compounds.... Show moreStreptomyces are multicellular bacteria that grow as branched filaments and are best known for producing the majority of our antibiotics, many immunosuppressant and anticancer compounds. Unfortunately their multicellular life style creates many problems for efficient industrial production. In a bioreactor, depending on the environment and the genetics, it can grow quickly as dispersed mycelia or aggregate in slow growing pellets. Either morphology has advantages and disadvantages, which can be product specific. For my thesis I studied the mechanism by which these filaments can aggregate into dense pellets. I found a small gene cluster that produces poly-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine, a bacterial glue which binds neighboring cells and required for pellet formation in S. coelicolor. Subsequently we can use these genes to control the morphology of streptomycetes in a liquid environment, tailoring it for production. My work has given us new insights in the mechanims through which streptomycetes aggregate, but also has the potential to make streptomycetes a more favorable host for industial production. Show less
Streptomyces are Gram-positive, soil dwelling bacteria that raised interest in the last 50 years for their high potential in antibiotic and protein production. Thanks to their saprophytic nature,... Show moreStreptomyces are Gram-positive, soil dwelling bacteria that raised interest in the last 50 years for their high potential in antibiotic and protein production. Thanks to their saprophytic nature, streptomycetes secrete a massive amount of industrial enzymes. They have a relatively low level of endogenous extracellular proteolytic activity when compared to other expression hosts (e.g. Bacillus), they are generally more suited to produce proteins encoded by high G+C actinomycete genes in their native form, coupled to efficient secretion so as to avoid that the proteins end up in inclusion bodies (often a problem when using e.g. E. coli) and making downstream processes easier. Despite their attractive potential, Streptomyces present several constraints which so far limit their application in industry. The first constraint is morphology: by growing as a network of hyphae, they produce dense pellets in liquid cultures that hold Streptomyces back from being one of the first choice cell factories in large scale fermentations. In addition, the limited availability of efficient expression systems for high-level transcription/translation and subsequent secretion is a further bottleneck. This thesis presents the work done to address these issues for the optimization of Streptomyces lividans for future industrial applications and enzyme production. Show less
This book presents a description of Konso, a Cushitic language spoken by about 250,000 speakers in South-West Ethiopia. It presents analyses of the phonology, morphology and syntax of the language.... Show moreThis book presents a description of Konso, a Cushitic language spoken by about 250,000 speakers in South-West Ethiopia. It presents analyses of the phonology, morphology and syntax of the language. Aspects of pragmatics including greetings and leave-taking expressions, interjections and ideophones as well as the link between naming of week days and how these relate to the distribution ofbig markets in the Konso area are discussed. A sample of two texts and a list of singular-plural pairs of nouns with their corresponding gender values is included.The data underlying the analyses are based on the author’s native speaker intuition and fieldwork in Konso area where other native speakers are consulted.Konso phonology is characterised by having a full set of labial, alveolar, palatal and uvular implosives but no ejectives which contrasts with what is observed in geographically and some genetically related languages. The language has a rich morphology as evidenced in its nominal and verbal inflection. The work accounts the intricate link between gender and number marking in nominals,it explicates variation in number- and person-marking in affirmative and negative verb paradigms and presents analyses of nominal and verbal derivation.Various clause-linking strategies and the way these relate to person markingof the subject are examined. Word order in simple as well as complex clausesis discussed.A Grammar of Konso is of interest to specialists in Cushitic and Afroasiatic languages for historical-comparative purposes. It will be a valuable source for typological comparison and for testing theoretical claims Show less
This book presents a description of Sandawe, a Khoisan language spoken by approximately 60 000 speakers in Dodoma Region, Tanzania. The study presents an analysis of the phonology, morphology, and... Show moreThis book presents a description of Sandawe, a Khoisan language spoken by approximately 60 000 speakers in Dodoma Region, Tanzania. The study presents an analysis of the phonology, morphology, and syntax of the language, as well as a sample of four texts. The data for this dissertation were gathered by the author during fieldwork in the area where the language is spoken. The language has a rich phonology, with sets of lateral fricatives and affricates, ejectives, and fifteen clicks. The nominal domain is characterized by the absence of regular number marking. The verbal domain, on the other hand, shows various ways of number marking, which can express participant plurality and pluractionality. The study further provides a comprehensive description of the morphology and semantics of verbal derivation, such as iterative, factitive, causative and middle stems, and verbal case markers that introduce an additional pronominal object. Sandawe has various types of clitics, notably subject/modality markers and mediative clitics, which have a variable position in the clause. A grammar of Sandawe is of relevance to specialists in Khoisan studies as well as to general linguists and typologists interested in number marking, verbal derivation, and clitics. Show less
Merels in de stad blijken te verschillen van soortgenoten in naburige bossen ten aanzien van lichaamsbouw, zang, en genetica. Nederlandse stadsmerels zijn zwaarder dan hun soortgenoten in het bos.... Show moreMerels in de stad blijken te verschillen van soortgenoten in naburige bossen ten aanzien van lichaamsbouw, zang, en genetica. Nederlandse stadsmerels zijn zwaarder dan hun soortgenoten in het bos. Daarnaast zingen stadsmerels met een hogere frequentie dan bosmerels wat de hoorbaarheid bij laagtonig verkeerslawaai ten goede komt. Merelmannen merken zelf daadwerkelijk de verschillen op tussen de zang van stads- en bosmerels, zo blijkt uit experimenten waarbij de zang werd afgespeeld in merelterritoria in stad en bos. Stadsmerels reageren namelijk sterker op hogere zang en bosmerels juist meer op lagere. Variatie in zang en reactie op zang kan mogelijk de onderlinge uitwisseling tussen stad- en bospopulaties be_nvloeden. Dit wordt ondersteund door de bevinding dat populaties uit steden en naburige bossen inderdaad genetisch anders zijn. De gevonden verschillen zijn opmerkelijk omdat de studiepopulaties in stad en bos slechts 5 _ 10 km uit elkaar liggen. Het onderzoek toont dus aan dat een stedelijke omgeving invloed kan hebben op belangrijke soortskenmerken waarbij het echter nog maar de vraag is of deze evolutie ooit zal leiden tot het ontstaan van twee gescheiden merelsoorten. Show less
The Dutch prefix ge- in historical perspective gives first of all a general account of the development of the word formation processes involving ge- in which special attention is paid to the... Show moreThe Dutch prefix ge- in historical perspective gives first of all a general account of the development of the word formation processes involving ge- in which special attention is paid to the participial ge-. The main point of the book is a comprehensive analysis of the ‘ge-+verb stem’ derivation of the type geblaf. The diachrony of these ge-derivations, which are very productive in modern Dutch has hardly been investigated up to now. The research focuses on the development of this type of ge-derivation in the period 1200-1900. Three different sources are used: contemporary grammars, dictionaries and a digital text corpus composed for this purpose. This varied approach provides a clear picture of the development of this ge-derivation in the history of Dutch and of the factors which have played an important role therein. Show less
Caecilians, or Gymnophiona, constitute one of the three extant orders of the Recent Amphibia and are the least known, major living tetrapod clade. Compared to frogs and salamanders, caecilians have... Show moreCaecilians, or Gymnophiona, constitute one of the three extant orders of the Recent Amphibia and are the least known, major living tetrapod clade. Compared to frogs and salamanders, caecilians have an unusual skull morphology. Earlier reports of an unusually high number of individual skull ossifications in Hypogeophis rostratus are addressed and found to be erroneous. Changes in skull morphology and myology at metamorphoses are investigated in representatives of all taxa possessing free-living larvae. It is argued that caecilians are derived from gymno- or zygokrotaphic ancestors and that stegokrotaphy evolved within Recent caecilians. The influence of different life-histories on postembryonic skull development was studied in two direct-developing species. The direct-developing Boulengerula taitanus is characterized by very immature hatchlings, which is correlated with an extended period of post-hatching parental care in this species, during which juveniles feed on the modified skin of their mothers. Direct development in caecilians is characterized by ontogenetic repatterning and heterochronic shifts in certain developmental events. The ontogeny of Scolecomorphus kirkii was studied as a representative of a viviparous form. The emerging picture of available published information, together with observations presented here, suggest a previously unsuspected degree of developmental diversity among caecilians. It is further argued that caecilians are lissamphibians with temnospondyl affinities rather than closely related to lepospondyl microsaurs. Show less
The thesis focuses on the tropical plant genus Mallotus. This genus belongs to the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family), and comprises c. 110 species. These species are mainly found in (sub)tropical Asia... Show moreThe thesis focuses on the tropical plant genus Mallotus. This genus belongs to the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family), and comprises c. 110 species. These species are mainly found in (sub)tropical Asia and the West Pacific, with only two species in Africa and Madagascar. Mallotus and its sister genus Macaranga are important components of the forest vegetation of Southeast Asia and show a large variety of life-history strategies (both pioneer and climax). Most Mallotus species are shrubs or trees, seldom climbers. The variable morphology of these species has resulted in three main subgeneric classifications, of which the latest recognizes eight sections. The study presented here was part of a large project involving ecological, revisional and phylogenetic work on Mallotus. Five of the eight sections of the genus Mallotus were revised in the framework of the Flora Malesiana project, hereby provisionally accepting the sectional division of Airy Shaw (1968). The remaining three sections were already revised in a previous study. The monophyly of all eight sections and their evolutionary relationships were analyzed using morphological and molecular data (the chloropast gene matK and the nuclear gene gpd). Finally, the phylogenetic significance of the morphological characters used in the classification by Airy Shaw was evaluated. Show less
Waar mensen zijn vindt nutriënten-verrijking van het water plaats. In de zomer kunnen algen hierdoor goed groeien. Dode algen en andere resten zakken naar de bodem waarna door rottingsprocessen de... Show moreWaar mensen zijn vindt nutriënten-verrijking van het water plaats. In de zomer kunnen algen hierdoor goed groeien. Dode algen en andere resten zakken naar de bodem waarna door rottingsprocessen de zuurstofconcentratie in het water sterk kan dalen. Het water wordt hierdoor onleefbaar voor vissen en andere organismen. In het Victoriameer in Afrika is het altijd zomer en grote gebieden zijn hier de laatste decennia zuurstofarm geworden. Men kan aannemen dat dit zeer slecht is voor de visstand. Toch blijken Victoriameervissen beter te kunnen overleven dan men dacht. In ons laboratorium in Leiden zagen we drie weken oude Victoriameervisjes (cichlidensoorten) zeer snel konden wennen aan zuurstofarme omstandigheden. Zij bleken zelfs met tien keer minder zuurstof (0,8 mg per liter) net zo hard te groeien als nestgenoten die onder normale omstandigheden leefden. Volwassen vissen gaan dood of overleven dit slechts tijdelijk. Jonge visjes kunnen zo goed overleven omdat zij tot 80% grotere kieuwen krijgen en continue een veel hogere ademactiviteit hebben. De aanleg van deze superkieuwen kost zoveel ruimte dat zelfs hun kop van vorm veranderde. Het bloed dat door de kieuwen stroomt bleek meer en beter zuurstof te kunnen binden terwijl een soort meerdere nieuwe typen hemoglobine bleek te produceren. Dit is een unieke eigenschap die bij andere dieren alleen optreedt bij geboorte of bijvoorbeeld transformaties van water naar land bij amfibieën. Het waterpeil in het Victoriameer was 14.000 jaar geleden extreem laag en mogelijkerwijs heeft een voorouder van deze soort deze truc destijds onder de knie gekregen die in het zuurstofarme water van nu weer van pas komt. Show less
Verbal compounds abound in Hausa (a Chadic language). A very broad definition of Hausa verbal compounds (henceforth: VC) is “a compound with a verb”. Four types of verbal compound are analysed: V... Show moreVerbal compounds abound in Hausa (a Chadic language). A very broad definition of Hausa verbal compounds (henceforth: VC) is “a compound with a verb”. Four types of verbal compound are analysed: V[erb]+X compounds, PAC+V compounds (a PAC is a pronoun complex indicating TAM), VCs with a ma prefix (both singular and, unusually, plural) as well as VCs with a nominalised verb (VNCs). In chapters 2 and 3 phonological and morphological features of Hausa VCs are discussed. Two such features affect the tone of the verb (Hausa is a tone language), one affects the final vowel of the noun direct object in V+X compounds (under conditions described). Some V+X compounds, all PAC+V compounds as well as VNCs are unmarked. In chapter 4 the functions of phonological and morphological features are critically analysed. The discussion in chapter 5 centres on a particular kind of verb (the ‘grade 2’ verb) and an explanation is offered for the idiosyncracies of grade 2 verbs in V+X compounds. Chapter 6 focusses on the literal and lexical meanings of Hausa VCs, i.e. on the generally opaque lexical meanings. The various kinds of relationship between the two meanings are systematically described in terms of metonymy, metaphor and other rhetorical devices. Show less
This work sets out to investigate the form and function of the imperative in the Rigveda. The morphology (and, where relevant, etymology), syntax and semantics of the imperative are covered.The... Show moreThis work sets out to investigate the form and function of the imperative in the Rigveda. The morphology (and, where relevant, etymology), syntax and semantics of the imperative are covered.The work is divided into the following major parts:Introduction: The place of the imperative within the Rigvedic verbal system is discussed. A section is devoted to the addressees of the second and third person imperatives. Particular attention is paid to the meaning of the latter. The relationship between the imperative and the optative is also investigated, since on the face of it, some of the functions of the imperative - those which do not denote commands but rather wishes and entreaties - are shared between the two. Owing to the extreme rarity of the third-person optative - with the single exception of the form syāt - the conclusion of this section is that the imperative is the usual method of expressing not only commands, but also wishes and aspirations.The morphology of the imperative: All of the forms of the imperative are considered. There is a comprehensive section on stem-ablaut, on accentuation, as well as an individual treatment of each verb ending, and their contact forms in the case of the athematic stems. The imperatives in –tāt and –si are given special consideration, as well as a group of analogically created imperatives in -i such as yódhi.Aorist versus present imperative: This section discusses the relationship between the present and aorist imperatives. It shows that the aorist imperative is a moribund archaism at the time of the Rigveda - more so in the late tenth book - and that it functions as a metrical variant of the present imperative, with no functional difference existing between the two forms. An exception to this is in fixed formulae, in which the ancient, pre-Vedic difference between these forms is preserved.Index of attested forms: A treatment of every attested imperative form in the Rigveda. All attested imperative forms are noted, their grammatical classification, and their frequency. Many verbs are discussed in detail, and copious examples from the text are given. Show less
The thesis describes the design and evolution of echolocation in the South and Southeast Asian Swiftlets. It starts explaining the molecular phylogenetics of Swiftlets, which is used in subsequent... Show moreThe thesis describes the design and evolution of echolocation in the South and Southeast Asian Swiftlets. It starts explaining the molecular phylogenetics of Swiftlets, which is used in subsequent chapters. Echolocation calls and social vocalisations of Swifts are compared between species and with non-echolocating Swifts and Swiftlets. The following chapters treat potential morphological adaptations in the echolocation system, i.e. in the syrinx, ear, and brain. The final chapters discuss the biogeography of the Swiftlets and integrate the results into an overall hypothesis on the evolution of Swiftlets and their echolocation system. Show less
In Dutch dialects, verbs and complementizers can bear different morphological affixes depending on which nominal element they agree with in their local syntactic domain. For instance, in a dialect... Show moreIn Dutch dialects, verbs and complementizers can bear different morphological affixes depending on which nominal element they agree with in their local syntactic domain. For instance, in a dialect such as tegelen Dutch, the complementizer agrees with the first conjunct of a coordinated subject, while in Lapscheure Dutch, the complementizer agrees with the coordinated subject as a whole. Using a vast array of new data on complementizer agreement, first conjunct agreement, agreement with pronouns, verbal agreement and subject doubling in Dutch dialects, this study argues that the interplay between syntax and morphology is more intricate than has hitherto been assumed. More precisely, it is shown that the syntactic component determines which local nominal elements qualify for agreement with the verb or complementizer, depending on the specificity of the affix. The analysis is extended to similar syntactic contexts in typologically different languages such as Irish, Hebrew, Finnish, Tsez and Arabic. Show less
