Gradience is a concept that lies at the heart of phonetic and phonological variation change. This paper explores phenomenon nasalisation, process takes its origin in coarticulation that, as happened French, may lead to gradual development phonemic nasal vowels. We will discuss stages which this unfolded history French then zoom on Poitevin-Saintongeais region, where ancient vowel [ɛ̃jn] was reta...

In this paper, I analyze the role of equity and debt linked contracts in a monopoly setting. I show that the equity contract dominates the debt linked contracts because it attracts higher ability entrepreneurs and provides more profit to the monopolist. I also show that the social welfare that results from the equity contract exceeds those derived from debt financial instruments. ∗I thank Josh ...

Hubei Province, along with four other provinces in the central and eastern China where schistosomiasis is endemic (Anhui, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi), is located in the lake and marshland regions along the Yangtze River. High population density, large numbers of farm cattle, and huge areas of snail habitat are the main characteristics that maintain the persistence of the disease and the transm...

The transmission dynamics of Schistosoma japonicum remain poorly understood, as over forty species of mammals are suspected of serving as reservoir hosts. However, knowledge of the population genetic structure and of the full-sibship structuring of parasites at two larval stages will be useful in defining and tracking the transmission pattern between intermediate and definitive hosts. S. japoni...

BACKGROUND Sindbis virus (SINV) is an arthropod-borne alphavirus that causes rash and arthritis. In Finland, epidemics occur cyclically, but factors associated with clinical SINV infection are largely unknown. We conducted a population-based case-control study during the epidemic year 2002. METHODS SINV cases were serologically confirmed and reported to the National Infectious Disease Registr...