bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary neuroblastoma: a rare cause of a retropharyngeal mass in a neonate
Authors: Jonas Nicolaas E , Thandar Mohammed , Pitcher Richard , Fagan Johannes J
Published: January 2006

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid malignancy in children and the most common tumour occurring during infancy. This tumour arises from undifferentiated precursor cells of the sympathetic nervous system. The abdomen (65 per cent) is the most common site for these tumours, followed by the throat (15 per cent), pelvis (5 per cent) and cervical region (5 per cent).

We report a case of primary retropharyngeal neuroblastoma in a three-week-old baby boy presenting with upper airway obstruction
An unusual case of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the muscles of facial expression
Authors: Liapi A , Dhanasekar G , Hock Y L , East D M
Published: January 2006

Primary extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the skeletal muscles is a well recognized entity although such occurrences are not very common. Presentation in the muscles of the face has only rarely been described. We present a case of primary extra-nodal NHL in a non-immunocompromised patient involving only the muscles of facial expression and not extending to the oral cavity or sinonasal tract. The patient was subsequently treated with chemotherapy and at the time of writing remained in remission. We suggest that lymphoma should be considered among the causes for malignant infiltration of the muscles of the face.
The modal gap: the objective problem of Lessing's ditch(es) and Kierkegaard's subjective reply
Authors: BENTON MATTHEW A.
Published: January 2006

This essay expands upon the suggestion that Lessing's infamous ‘ditch’ is actually three ditches: temporal, metaphysical, and existential gaps. It examines the complex problems these ditches raise, and then proposes that Kierkegaard's Fragments and Postscript exhibit a similar triadic organizational structure, which may signal a deliberate attempt to engage and respond to Lessing's three gaps. Viewing the Climacean project in this way offers an enhanced understanding of the intricacies of Lessing's rationalist approach to both religion and historical truth, and illuminates Climacus's subjective response to Lessing.
Open theism: does God risk or hope?
Authors: RISSLER JAMES D.
Published: January 2006

Open theists have generally affirmed that God exercises general sovereignty, seeking to achieve an overall providential goal related to our freely choosing to love Him, though the path to that goal is uncertain. This understanding of God's relationship to the world has the implication that God risks failure in achieving His purpose, since His success ultimately depends upon our free choices. In this paper, I first outline some concerns about the risks involved in God's exercising general sovereignty, and then explain how an alternative ‘hopeful’ view alleviates these concerns. I conclude that the hopeful view is a promising alternative that deserves further exploration.
The complexity of history and evil: a reply to Trakakis
Authors: DURSTON KIRK
Published: January 2006

I have presented an argument from the consequential complexity of history against certain types of evidential arguments from evil; ‘The consequential complexity of history and gratuitous evil’ Religious Studies, 36 (2000), 65–80. Nick Trakakis has responded with two objections; ‘Evil and the complexity of history: a response to Durston’ Religious Studies, 39 (2003), 451–458. He argues that the consideration of future consequences to the end of actual history may be irrelevant and, also, that one does not need detailed knowledge about possible worlds to conclude that there are better worlds. In this paper I show that, given the complexity of history, both of his objections fail to move us out of the state of agnosticism regarding what God should or should not permit. Thus, my original argument remains intact.
Preferred answer sets for ordered logic programs
Authors: VAN NIEUWENBORGH DAVY , VERMEIR DIRK
Published: January 2006

We extend answer set semantics to deal with inconsistent programs (containing classical negation), by finding a “best” answer set. Within the context of inconsistent programs, it is natural to have a partial order on rules, representing a preference for satisfying certain rules, possibly at the cost of violating less important ones. We show that such a rule order induces a natural order on extended answer sets, the minimal elements of which we call preferred answer sets. We characterize the expressiveness of the resulting semantics and show that it can simulate negation as failure, disjunction and some other formalisms such as logic programs with ordered disjunction. The approach is shown to be useful in several application areas, e.g. repairing database, where minimal repairs correspond to preferred answer sets.
Graphs and colorings for answer set programming
Authors: KONCZAK KATHRIN , LINKE THOMAS , SCHAUB TORSTEN
Published: January 2006

We investigate the usage of rule dependency graphs and their colorings for characterizing and computing answer sets of logic programs. This approach provides us with insights into the interplay between rules when inducing answer sets. We start with different characterizations of answer sets in terms of totally colored dependency graphs that differ in graph-theoretical aspects. We then develop a series of operational characterizations of answer sets in terms of operators on partial colorings. In analogy to the notion of a derivation in proof theory, our operational characterizations are expressed as (non-deterministically formed) sequences of colorings, turning an uncolored graph into a totally colored one. In this way, we obtain an operational framework in which different combinations of operators result in different formal properties. Among others, we identify the basic strategy employed by the noMoRe system and justify its algorithmic approach. Furthermore, we distinguish operations corresponding to Fitting's operator as well as to well-founded semantics.
Optimal union-find in Constraint Handling Rules
Authors: SCHRIJVERS TOM , FRÜHWIRTH THOM
Published: January 2006

Constraint Handling Rules (CHR) is a committed-choice rule-based language that was originally intended for writing constraint solvers. In this paper we show that it is also possible to write the classic union-find algorithm and variants in CHR. The programs neither compromise in declarativeness nor efficiency. We study the time complexity of our programs: they match the almost-linear complexity of the best known imperative implementations. This fact is illustrated with experimental results.
Towards automated integration of guess and check programs in answer set programming: a meta-interpreter and applications
Authors: EITER THOMAS , POLLERES AXEL
Published: January 2006

Answer set programming (ASP) with disjunction offers a powerful tool for declaratively representing and solving hard problems. Many NP-complete problems can be encoded in the answer set semantics of logic programs in a very concise and intuitive way, where the encoding reflects the typical “guess and check” nature of NP problems: The property is encoded in a way such that polynomial size certificates for it correspond to stable models of a program. However, the problem-solving capacity of full disjunctive logic programs (DLPs) is beyond NP, and captures a class of problems at the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. While these problems also have a clear “guess and check” structure, finding an encoding in a DLP reflecting this structure may sometimes be a non-obvious task, in particular if the “check” itself is a co-NP-complete problem; usually, such problems are solved by interleaving separate guess and check programs, where the check is expressed by inconsistency of the check program. In this paper, we present general transformations of head-cycle free (extended) disjunctive logic programs into stratified and positive (extended) disjunctive logic programs based on meta-interpretation techniques. The answer sets of the original and the transformed program are in simple correspondence, and, moreover, inconsistency of the original program is indicated by a designated answer set of the transformed program. Our transformations facilitate the integration of separate “guess” and “check” programs, which are often easy to obtain, automatically into a single disjunctive logic program. Our results complement recent results on meta-interpretation in ASP, and extend methods and techniques for a declarative “guess and check” problem solving paradigm through ASP.
On the existence of stable models of non-stratified logic programs
Authors: COSTANTINI STEFANIA
Published: January 2006

In this paper we analyze the relationship between cyclic definitions and consistency in Gelfond-Lifschitz's answer sets semantics (originally defined as ‘stable model semantics’). This paper introduces a fundamental result, which is relevant for Answer Set programming, and planning. For the first time since the definition of the stable model semantics, the class of logic programs for which a stable model exists is given a syntactic characterization. This condition may have a practical importance both for defining new algorithms for checking consistency and computing answer sets, and for improving the existing systems. The approach of this paper is to introduce a new canonical form (to which any logic program can be reduced to), to focus the attention on cyclic dependencies. The technical result is then given in terms of programs in canonical form (canonical programs), without loss of generality: the stable models of any general logic program coincide (up to the language) to those of the corresponding canonical program. The result is based on identifying the cycles contained in the program, showing that stable models of the overall program are composed of stable models of suitable sub-programs, corresponding to the cycles, and on defining the Cycle Graph. Each vertex of this graph corresponds to one cycle, and each edge corresponds to one handle, which is a literal containing an atom that, occurring in both cycles, actually determines a connection between them. In fact, the truth value of the handle in the cycle where it appears as the head of a rule, influences the truth value of the atoms of the cycle(s) where it occurs in the body. We can therefore introduce the concept of a handle path, connecting different cycles. Cycles can be even, if they consist of an even number of rules, or vice versa they can be odd. Problems for consistency, as it is well-known, originate in the odd cycles. If for every odd cycle we can find a handle path with certain properties, then the existence of stable model is guaranteed. We will show that based on this results new classes of consistent programs can be defined, and that cycles and cycle graphs can be generalized to components and component graphs.
Comparison between lidar and nephelometer measurements of aerosol hygroscopicity at the Southern Great Plains Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site
Authors: Pahlow M. , Feingold G. , Jefferson A. , Andrews E. , Ogren J. A. , Wang J. , Lee Y.‐N. , Ferrare R. A. , Turner D. D.
Published: January 2006

Aerosol hygroscopicity has a significant effect on radiative properties of aerosols. Here a lidar method, applicable to cloud‐capped, well‐mixed atmospheric boundary layers, is employed to determine the hygroscopic growth factor f(RH) under unperturbed, ambient atmospheric conditions. The data used for the analysis were collected under a wide range of atmospheric aerosol levels during both routine measurement periods and during the intensive operations period (IOP) in May 2003 at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) Climate Research Facility in Oklahoma, USA, as part of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. There is a good correlation (∼0.7) between a lidar‐derived growth factor (measured over the range 85% RH to 96% RH) with a nephelometer‐derived growth factor measured over the RH range 40% to 85%. For these RH ranges, the slope of the lidar‐derived growth curve is much steeper than that of the nephelometer‐derived growth curve, reflecting the rapid increase in particle size with increasing RH. The results are corroborated by aerosol model calculations of lidar backscatter and nephelometer equivalent f(RH) based on in situ aerosol size and composition measurements during the IOP. It is suggested that the lidar method can provide useful measurements of the dependence of aerosol optical properties on relative humidity and under conditions closer to saturation than can currently be achieved with humidified nephelometers.
Uncertainty in continental‐scale temperature predictions
Authors: Stott Peter A. , Kettleborough Jamie A. , Allen Myles R.
Published: January 2006

Anthropogenic climate change has been detected on continental‐scale regions on all inhabited continents of the World. From knowledge of the relative contributions of greenhouse gases and other forcings to observed temperature change it is possible to infer the likely rates of future warming, consistent with past observed temperature changes. Probabilistic forecasts of future warming rates in six continental‐scale regions have been calculated by assuming that there is a linear relationship between past and future fractional error in temperature change on these spatial scales. All regions are expected to warm over the next century with the largest uncertainty in future warming rates being in North America and Europe. More tightly constrained predictions are obtained if it is assumed that fractional errors in global mean temperature change scale the regional projections.
Multidecadal variations and decline in spring discharge in the Canadian middle Arctic since 1550 AD
Authors: Lamoureux Scott F. , Stewart Kailey A. , Forbes Andrew C. , Fortin David
Published: January 2006

Annually laminated (varved) sediments from Sanagak Lake in the Canadian middle Arctic were used to reconstruct past spring discharge. Two years of sediment transport observations demonstrate that sediment delivery in this nival regime is limited primarily to the short period of maximum discharge. Interannual variability in catchment snow water equivalence (SWE) was the primary control over the length of the peak discharge period, resulting in substantially increased sediment transport and deposition in the lake in years with higher SWE. Analysis of annual sediment accumulation reveals high interannual variability with a persistent 64–80 year frequency as well as a prominent decline, particularly since 1820 AD. These spectral results suggest a linkage between the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and snowfall conditions through persistence of the characteristic frequency since 1550 AD.
Evidence for atmospheric control of sea‐ice motion through Nares Strait
Authors: Samelson R. M. , Agnew T. , Melling H. , Münchow A.
Published: January 2006

Satellite observations of ice motion are combined with model estimates of low‐level winds and surface wind stress to provide evidence for atmospheric control of sea‐ice motion through Nares Strait, between Ellesmere Island and Greenland, during two periods in 2004. The results suggest that ice flux through the strait, and its shutdown through the formation of a landfast ice mass in the strait, can be controlled by wind stress and atmospheric cooling. Analysis of the model results during these two periods also suggest that the intense, low‐level, along‐strait winds are strongly ageostrophic, and may be usefully estimated from pressure differences along the Strait.
InSAR constraints on the source parameters of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake
Authors: Schmidt D. A. , Bürgmann R.
Published: January 2006

We present InSAR results of the coseismic displacement field for the January 2001 Bhuj earthquake. Using InSAR data along multiple tracks, we determine the optimal source parameters of the earthquake. The deformation pattern is first modeled assuming uniform slip on an elastic dislocation. A grid search is used to constrain the source location and finiteness assuming a strike, rake, and dip consistent with seismic studies. An inversion for the distributed slip places oblique reverse slip at depth with strike‐slip motion resolved at shallower depths. The estimated size of the event is Mw 7.6. Results also suggest that the postseismic response is minimal.
A quality control procedure for GPS radio occultation data
Authors: Zou X. , Zeng Zhen
Published: January 2006

A quality control (QC) procedure is applied to the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) level‐2 Global Position System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) data provided by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) Data Analysis and Archival Center (CDAAC). It consists of a range check removing negative values, a biweight check removing data which deviate from the biweight mean by more than four times the biweight standard deviation, another biweight check removing data with large deviations to the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) analysis, and finally a symmetric check removing the negative bias of GPS observations in the low troposphere below 4 km. These four QC checks are applied sequentially to identify outliers in GPS bending angle and refractivity data at each vertical level using data primarily in the month of March 2004. Having removed 5.5% outlier data, the GPS RO observations compared much more favorably with the NCEP analyses than the original data without QC, resulting in an improved spatial consistency, a more symmetric probability distribution, significantly reduced error variances, and a nearly diagonal vertical error correlation matrix. The effectiveness of the proposed QC procedure is further confirmed by showing that most RO profiles removed by the QC procedure proposed in this study have those characteristic physical parameter values indicating poor quality of RO data. Similar results are obtained when the same QC procedure is applied to CHAMP data in July 2002, which shows the robustness of the proposed GPS QC procedure.
Assessing source areas of pollutants from studies of fly ash, charcoal, and pollen from Svalbard snow and ice
Authors: Hicks Sheila , Isaksson Elisabeth
Published: January 2006

Temporal variations in the quantities of pollen, charcoal, and SCP (spheroidal carbonaceous particles) contained in the Lomonosovfonna ice core from Svalbard and in the surface snow of the ice cap are presented. The abundance of these microparticles is illustrated for the period A.D. 1850–1997 from the ice core, together with detailed snow pit stratigraphies for summer 2001 to spring 2002. Viewing SCP and pollen together is a new approach with relevance for tracing the possible origin of contaminants. The SCP are related to the pollution source while the pollen gives an indication of the vegetation at the point of origin. The deposition of SCP on the ice is also compared with deposition of SCP in northern Fennoscandia for the period A.D. 1982–1997. The quantity of pollen and the pollen types recorded suggest an origin in Fennoscandia rather than in North America. The temporal pattern of both SCP and charcoal deposition reflects that of Europe but may also contains a local signal.
ILAS data processing for stratospheric gas and aerosol retrievals with aerosol physical modeling: Methodology and validation of gas retrievals
Authors: Oshchepkov Sergey , Sasano Yasuhiro , Yokota Tatsuya , Nakajima Hideaki , Uemura Nobuyuki , Saitoh Naoko , Sugita Takafumi , Matsuda Hisashi
Published: January 2006

This paper presents initial results of simultaneous gas and aerosol retrievals from Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer (ILAS) observations taken between November 1996 and June 1997. The solar occultation measurements were processed by an inversion method that included aerosol physical modeling and permitted simultaneous retrieval of O3, HNO3, CH4, H2O, NO2, N2O, N2O5, ClONO2, CFC‐11, and CFC‐12 trace species and particle volume size distributions for key aerosol/polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) components such as liquid ternary solution, nitric acid trihydrate, nitric acid dihydrate, and water ice. The retrieval method was designed for the version 7.0 ILAS data processing algorithm. Gas retrieval results for the entire ILAS data set were compared to results from the earlier version 6.0 retrieval algorithm that was based on aerosol/PSC contribution estimates in the gas window channel. Gas data from nearby balloon‐borne validation measurements and new data on the aerosol retrievals helped explain discrepancies between the two algorithms. The new version 7.0 methodology proved effective for simultaneous retrievals of all trace gases and showed a significant advantage when retrieving CH4, H2O, NO2, N2O, and CFC‐12 from PSC observations.
First directly retrieved global distribution of tropospheric column ozone from GOME: Comparison with the GEOS‐CHEM model
Authors: Liu Xiong , Chance Kelly , Sioris Christopher E. , Kurosu Thomas P. , Spurr Robert J. D. , Martin Randall V. , Fu Tzung‐May , Logan Jennifer A. , Jacob Daniel J. , Palmer Paul I. , Newchurch Michael J. , Megretskaia Inna A. , Chatfield Robert B.
Published: January 2006

We present the first directly retrieved global distribution of tropospheric column ozone from Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) ultraviolet measurements during December 1996 to November 1997. The retrievals clearly show signals due to convection, biomass burning, stratospheric influence, pollution, and transport. They are capable of capturing the spatiotemporal evolution of tropospheric column ozone in response to regional or short time‐scale events such as the 1997–1998 El Niño event and a 10–20 DU change within a few days. The global distribution of tropospheric column ozone displays the well‐known wave‐1 pattern in the tropics, nearly zonal bands of enhanced tropospheric column ozone of 36–48 DU at 20°S–30°S during the austral spring and at 25°N–45°N during the boreal spring and summer, low tropospheric column ozone of <30 DU uniformly distributed south of 35°S during all seasons, and relatively high tropospheric column ozone of >33 DU at some northern high‐latitudes during the spring. Simulation from a chemical transport model corroborates most of the above structures, with small biases of <±5 DU and consistent seasonal cycles in most regions, especially in the southern hemisphere. However, significant positive biases of 5–20 DU occur in some northern tropical and subtropical regions such as the Middle East during summer. Comparison of GOME with monthly‐averaged Measurement of Ozone and Water Vapor by Airbus in‐service Aircraft (MOZAIC) tropospheric column ozone for these regions usually shows good consistency within 1σ standard deviations and retrieval uncertainties. Some biases can be accounted for by inadequate sensitivity to lower tropospheric ozone, the different spatiotemporal sampling and the spatiotemporal variations in tropospheric column ozone.
A role for fibronectin‐leucine‐rich transmembrane cell‐surface proteins in homotypic cell adhesion
Authors: Karaulanov Emil E , Böttcher Ralph T , Niehrs Christof
Published: January 2006

The fibronectin‐leucine‐rich transmembrane (FLRT) family of leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) proteins is implicated in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling, early embryonic development and neurite outgrowth. Here, we have analysed whether FLRTs may also function in cell adhesion. We find that FLRT proteins can physically interact and that FLRT‐transfected cultured cells sort out from non‐transfected cells, suggesting a change in adhesive properties. A similar sorting effect is also observed in Xenopus embryos and tissue aggregates. FLRT‐mediated cell sorting is calcium dependent and substrate independent. Deletion analysis indicates that cell sorting requires the LRR domains, which are dispensable for FLRT‐mediated FGF signalling. Conversely, sorting is independent of the cytoplasmic domain, which is essential for FLRT‐induced signalling. Therefore, FLRT‐mediated FGF signal transduction and homotypic cell sorting can be molecularly uncoupled. The results indicate that FLRT proteins have a dual role, promoting FGF signalling and modulating homotypic cell adhesion.
Self‐refinement of Notch activity through the transmembrane protein Crumbs: modulation of γ‐Secretase activity
Authors: Herranz Héctor , Stamataki Evaggelia , Feiguin Fabián , Milán Marco
Published: January 2006

Cell interactions mediated by Notch family receptors have been implicated in the specification of tissue boundaries. Tightly localized activation of Notch is crucial for the formation of sharp boundaries. In the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, the Notch receptor is expressed in all cells. However, Notch activity is limited to a narrow stripe of cells along the dorsal–ventral compartment boundary, where it induces the expression of target genes. How a widely expressed protein becomes tightly regulated at the dorsal–ventral boundary in the Drosophila wing is not completely understood. Here, we show that the transmembrane protein Crumbs is involved in a feedback mechanism used by Notch to refine its own activation domain at the Drosophila wing margin. Crumbs reduces the activity of the γ‐Secretase complex, which mediates the proteolytic intracellular processing of Notch. These results indicate a novel molecular mechanism of the regulation of Notch signal, and also that defects in Crumbs might be involved in similar abnormal γ‐Secretase complex activity observed in Alzheimer's disease.
Two internal ribosome entry sites mediate the translation of p53 isoforms
Authors: Ray Partho Sarothi , Grover Richa , Das Saumitra
Published: January 2006

The p53 tumour suppressor protein has a crucial role in cell‐cycle arrest and apoptosis. Previous reports show that the p53 messenger RNA is translated to produce an amino‐terminal‐deleted isoform (ΔN‐p53) from an internal initiation codon, which acts as a dominant‐negative inhibitor of full‐length p53. Here, we show that two internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) mediate the translation of both full‐length and ΔN‐p53 isoforms. The IRES directing the translation of full‐length p53 is in the 5′‐untranslated region of the mRNA, whereas the IRES mediating the translation of ΔN‐p53 extends into the protein‐coding region. The two IRESs show distinct cell‐cycle phase‐dependent activity, with the IRES for full‐length p53 being active at the G2–M transition and the IRES for ΔN‐p53 showing highest activity at the G1–S transition. These results indicate a novel translational control of p53 gene expression and activity.
The functional role of Cdc6 in S–G2/M in mammalian cells
Authors: Lau Eric , Zhu Changjun , Abraham Robert T , Jiang Wei
Published: January 2006

The Cdc6 protein is required for licensing of replication origins before the onset of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. Here, we examined whether Cdc6 has other roles in mammalian cell‐cycle progression from S to G2/M phase. Using RNA interference, we showed that depletion of Cdc6 in synchronous G1 cells blocks G1 to S transition, confirming the essential role of Cdc6 in the initiation of DNA replication. In contrast, depletion of Cdc6 in synchronous S‐phase cells slowed DNA replication and led to mitotic lethality. The Cdc6‐depleted S‐phase cells showed fewer newly fired origins; however, established replication forks remained active, even during chromatin condensation. Despite such DNA replication abnormalities, loss of Cdc6 failed to activate Chk1 kinase. These results show that Cdc6 is not only required for G1 origin licensing, but is also crucial for proper S‐phase DNA replication that is essential for DNA segregation during mitosis.
Cleavage of the siRNA passenger strand during RISC assembly in human cells
Authors: Leuschner Philipp J F , Ameres Stefan L , Kueng Stephanie , Martinez Javier
Published: January 2006

A crucial step in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway involves the assembly of RISC, the RNA‐induced silencing complex. RISC initially recognizes a double‐stranded short interfering RNA (siRNA), but only one strand is finally retained in the functional ribonucleoprotein complex. The non‐incorporated strand, or ‘passenger’ strand, is removed during the assembly process and most probably degraded thereafter. In this report, we show that the passenger strand is cleaved during the course of RISC assembly following the same rules established for the siRNA‐guided cleavage of a target RNA. Chemical modifications impairing the cleavage of the passenger strand also impair the cleavage of a target RNA in vitro as well as the silencing of a reporter gene in vivo, suggesting that passenger strand removal is facilitated by its cleavage during RISC assembly. Interestingly, target RNA cleavage can be rescued if an otherwise non‐cleavable passenger strand shows a nick at the scissile phosphodiester bond, which further indicates that the cleavage event per se is not essential.
E-Healthcare in ABC County Health Department (ABCCHD)1: Trade-offs Analysis and Evaluation
Authors: Siau Keng , Kam Hwee-Joo
Published: January 2006

The issue of privacy stirred a tumultuous uproar when the ABC County Health Department (ABCCHD) was planning for an e-Healthcare system that utilized information technology to streamline the administration process of patients. ABCCHD had hired a software vendor, Info-Health, a company that specialized in information system development for the healthcare industry to help in the project. The privacy of patients with Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Human Immunity System was a thorny issue in the implementation of the e-Healthcare system. A trade-off between privacy and cost was discussed and debated. Three alternatives, with varying degrees of privacy and cost, were considered.
Molecular dynamics in n-alkanes: Premelting phenomena and rotator phases
Authors: Marbeuf Alain , Brown Ross
Published: January 2006

Molecular dynamics simulations of the n-alkanes C18H38, C19H40, and C20H42 are reported for temperatures just below the melting point. Besides thermodynamic and average structural data for the ordered phase, we discuss the molecular motions initiating the rotator phases observed in spontaneous phase transitions in isothermal, isostress simulations. The RI phase of C19H40 is initiated by particular cork-screw-like jumps combining a quarter turn about the long molecular axis and a half-chain-period translation along the axis. This motion occurs between the minimum-energy conformation of the ordered crystal and a secondary minimum. Transient analogs of the RI and RII phases of the odd alkanes are found on melting C18H38 and C20H42. Collective motions within lamellae of molecules are prominent in the dynamics.
Compact in-place gate valve for molecular-beam experiments
Authors: Küpper Jochen , Haak Henrik , Wohlfart Kirstin , Meijer Gerard
Published: January 2006

A high-vacuum gate valve for skimmed molecular-beam experiments is described. It is designed with a very short extent of only 10 mm along the molecular-beam axis to minimize the distance between the molecular-beam source and the experiment to provide the maximum molecular flux to the experiment. At the same time it provides free space on both sides of the skimmer to not disturb the supersonic expansion in front of the skimmer, to give optical access to the full distance between beam source and skimmer, and to allow for placing electrostatic devices very close behind the skimmer. The gate valve allows to maintain high-vacuum conditions (10−8mbar) in the experimental chamber while the source chamber is brought up to atmospheric pressure for modifications or maintenance. The valve can be operated from outside the vacuum chamber while maintaining vacuum conditions in all chambers.
Friction control using ultrasonic oscillation for rolling-element linear-motion guide
Authors: Oiwa Takaaki
Published: January 2006

This article reports a friction-control method for rolling-element linear-motion guides used for precision positioning. In general, static friction greater than dynamic friction generates stick-slip motion and diminishes the positioning accuracy. Two ultrasonic actuators excite both the rail and the carriage of the guide to give relative displacements to bearing surfaces. In order to effectively propagate the vibration over the entire rail without damping, the actuator drives at that frequency with a half wavelength corresponding to the distances between the rail mounting bolts. This also minimizes undesirable vibration of the machine structure. Moreover, the bearing surfaces of the carriage are resonated by a second ultrasonic actuator. The experiments using a force sensor showed that the static and dynamic friction forces were reduced by approximately 25% at any place on the 600-mm-long rail. Moreover, excitation only at very low velocity decreased the static friction peak.
Realization of optical periodic quasicrystals using holographic lithography
Authors: Wang Xia , Xu Jun , Lee Jeffrey Chi Wai , Pang Yee Kwong , Tam Wing Yim , Chan C. T. , Sheng Ping
Published: January 2006

We have fabricated three-dimensional periodic quasicrystals exhibiting quasiperiodicity of the Penrose structure in the x-y plane and periodic along the z axis using ten-beam visible light holographic lithography. The quasicrystals show photonic band gaps in the visible range. The band gaps are found to follow a simple relation as a function of periodicity and polymeric volume fraction, in accord with the Bragg’s diffraction relation.
Two-dimensional nanotriangle and nanoring arrays on silicon wafer
Authors: Jia Dongdong , Goonewardene Anura
Published: January 2006

Gold and tungsten were deposited on silicon wafer and/or glass substrates by using random incidence sputtering deposition and thermal vapor deposition techniques. Two-dimensional tungsten nanotriangle and gold nanoring arrays were obtained on the silicon wafer substrate and examined using scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope analysis. The size of the equal tungsten nanotriangles is within 100 nm per side and 210 nm apart from each other. The size of gold nanorings is 220 nm diameter, 40 nm wide, 10 nm thick, and 560 nm apart from each other. No nanorings were found on the glass substrate. Mechanisms for the formation of nanoring arrays are discussed.
Monolithic fiber-top sensor for critical environments and standard applications
Authors: Iannuzzi D. , Deladi S. , Gadgil V. J. , Sanders R. G. P. , Schreuders H. , Elwenspoek M. C.
Published: January 2006

We present a monolithic device obtained by carving a cantilever on the top of a single-mode optical fiber. We show that the vertical position of the cantilever can be determined with accuracy comparable to atomic force microscopes and other commonly used scientific instruments. The device does not require any alignment procedure and can be used in critical environments as well as in standard applications.
Cycle-by-cycle observation of single-domain-to-vortex transitions in magnetic nanodisks
Authors: Jausovec Ana-Vanessa , Xiong Gang , Cowburn Russell P.
Published: January 2006

The switching behavior of permalloy (Ni81Fe19) disks with dimensions close to the experimentally determined phase boundary separating the single domain and vortex ground states was investigated. The disks fabricated with electron beam lithography and thermal evaporation were 97 nm wide and 26 nm thick. The remanence curve, measured with a magneto-optical Kerr magnetometer, shows the presence of three different remanence states in different magnetic field regimes; vortex state at fields below 110 Oe, metastable state at fields 110Oe<H<520Oe, and single domain state at fields above 520 Oe. High sensitivity magneto-optical measurements combined with an advanced applied field sequence allowed a cycle-by-cycle observation of the collapse of the single domain state into the vortex ground state via a partially remanent metastable state.
C/EBPβ is a critical mediator of steroid hormone-regulated cell proliferation and differentiation in the uterine epithelium and stroma
Authors: Mantena Srinivasa Raju , Kannan Athilakshmi , Cheon Yong-Pil , Li Quanxi , Johnson Peter F. , Bagchi Indrani C. , Bagchi Milan K.
Published: January 2006

During early pregnancy, steroid hormones estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) regulate a complex series of interactions between the implanting embryo and the uterus by controlling the proliferation and differentiation of uterine epithelium and stroma in a timely manner. To identify the steroid-regulated genes that control these functions, we performed messenger RNA profiling of mouse uterine tissues at the time of implantation. Our analysis revealed that the expression of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is rapidly induced in the pregnant uterus at the time of blastocyst attachment. The expression of C/EBPβ increased further during the decidualization phase of pregnancy and was localized in the proliferating as well as the decidualized stromal cells surrounding the implanted embryo. Administration of E or P to ovariectomized females induced C/EBPβ expression in both uterine epithelium and stroma, showing a dual regulation of this gene by these hormones. The female C/EBPβ-null mice are infertile. We, therefore, assessed steroid-hormone-dependent responses in the uteri of these mice. We observed that E-induced proliferation of uterine epithelial cells is markedly compromised in the absence of C/EBPβ. Most strikingly, there was a complete lack of response of the C/EBPβ-deficient uteri to an artificial deciduogenic stimulus, indicating a critical role of this transcription factor in regulating the decidualization program. Further analysis revealed defects in steroid-induced stromal cell proliferation and differentiation in C/EBPβ-null uteri. Collectively, our studies established that C/EBPβ is a key mediator of steroid responsiveness of the epithelium and stroma in the mouse uterus.
Multiple events on single molecules: Unbiased estimation in single-molecule biophysics
Authors: Koster Daniel A. , Wiggins Chris H. , Dekker Nynke H.
Published: January 2006

Most analyses of single-molecule experiments consist of binning experimental outcomes into a histogram and finding the parameters that optimize the fit of this histogram to a given data model. Here we show that such an approach can introduce biases in the estimation of the parameters, thus great care must be taken in the estimation of model parameters from the experimental data. The bias can be particularly large when the observations themselves are not statistically independent and are subjected to global constraints, as, for example, when the iterated steps of a motor protein acting on a single molecule must not exceed the total molecule length. We have developed a maximum-likelihood analysis, respecting the experimental constraints, which allows for a robust and unbiased estimation of the parameters, even when the bias well exceeds 100%. We demonstrate the potential of the method for a number of single-molecule experiments, focusing on the removal of DNA supercoils by topoisomerase IB, and validate the method by numerical simulation of the experiment.
HaptenDB: a comprehensive database of haptens, carrier proteins and anti-hapten antibodies
Authors: Singh Mahender Kumar , Srivastava Shilpy , Raghava G.P.S. , Varshney Grish C.
Published: January 2006

The key requirement for successful immunochemical assay is the availability of antibodies with high specificity and desired affinity. Small molecules, when used as haptens, are not immunogenic. However, on conjugating with carrier molecule they elicit antibody response. The production of anti-hapten antibodies of desired specificity largely depends on the hapten design (preserving greatly the chemical structure and spatial conformation of target compound), selection of the appropriate carrier protein and the conjugation method. This manuscript describes a curated database HaptenDB, where information is collected from published literature and web resources. The current version of the database has 2021 entries for 1087 haptens and 25 carrier proteins, where each entry provides comprehensive details about (1) nature of the hapten, (2) 2D and 3D structures of haptens, (3) carrier proteins, (4) coupling method, (5) method of anti-hapten antibody production, (6) assay method (used for characterization) and (7) specificities of antibodies. The current version of HaptenDB covers a wide array of haptens including pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, drugs, vitamins, steroids, hormones, toxins, dyes, explosives, etc. It provides internal and external links to various databases/resources to obtain further information about the nature of haptens, carriers and respective antibodies. For structure similarity comparison of haptens, the database also integrates tools like JME Editor and JMOL for sketching, displaying and manipulating hapten 2D/3D structures online. So the database would be of great help in identifying functional group(s) in smaller molecules using antibodies as well as for the development of immunodiagnostics/therapeutics by providing data and procedures available so far for the generation of specific or cross-reactive antibodies.

Availability: HaptenDB is available on and (Mirror site).

Contact:  grish@imtech.res.in
The Rebellious Body as Parody:
Baise-moi
by Virginie Despentes
Authors: Fayard Nicole
Published: January 2006

When her debut novel
Baise-moi
was published in 1993, Virginie Despentes was hailed as the pioneer of a new genre of feminist literature. The boldness of the novel's plot, its angry depiction of female sexual pleasure and gratuitous violence, and its explicit criticism of contemporary Western society have earned this ambiguous work a reputation for subversion. This article argues that the novel's apparent subversiveness and its popular success are the result of Despentes's parodic reworking of the conventions of the noir thriller, and in particular of her critical revisiting of the topos of the
femme fatale
. Reappropriating and challenging traditional canons and representations,
Baise-moi
attacks phallocentrism through the exploration of female pleasure and the intervention of the female body. The text thus becomes highly disturbing and critical of the structures that contain women's autonomy. It also explores ideas that remain central to contemporary feminism with regard to women's sexual identity; remaining taboos about the body; the relationship between women and the sexual industry, and sexual oppression. Helping to release women's bodies from existing representations and to question categories,
Baise-moi
might indeed reclaim a voice for women.
Dessins et écriture dans le manuscrit des
Travailleurs de la mer
de Victor Hugo
Authors: Montier Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2006

Le manuscrit du roman de Victor Hugo,
Les Travailleurs de la mer
, fut relié à sa demande, et il y fit insérer des dessins de son cru. Pierre Georgel les a analysés de façon remarquable. L'on se propose ici d'interoger le singulier rapport de Victor Hugo face aux composantes matérielles de I'écriture, sous le double aspect graphique et littéraire. Apparaı̂t alors une puissante ‘poétique du manuscrit’ (selon l'expression de Meschonnic), qui remet en perspective la double identité de Hugo, dessinateur et écrivain, excédant dialectiquement les limites de l'un et l'autre.
Les Logogrammes de Christian Dotremont
Authors: Aubert Nathalie
Published: January 2006

A l'origine de cet article, il y a la découverte des logogrammes de Christian Dotremont et leur façon singulière d'adresser les problèmes du rapport entre le texte et l'image. Sortes d'arabesques exécutées à l'encre de Chine évoquant la calligraphie orientale, elles sont accompagnées d'un texte d'une longueur variable qui en semble la ‘traduction’. Peintures-poèmes, les logogrammes n'exhibent cependant ni les signes extérieurs de la beauté (comme dans la calligraphie par exemple) ni ceux de la spontanéité (avec ses bavures et ses ratures). Ce que cet article vise à démontrer, c'est qu'ils sont lieu d'une aventure
autre
. Le texte ne ‘commente’ pas le graphisme, et le encres n'‘illustrent’ pas le texte. Texte et ‘images’, dans leurs entrelacs, assurent plutôt la circulation, l'échange des signifiants. Dans l'engagement physique que se livrent le texte et l'image, à travers le corps de Dotremont qui peint debout, c'est l'aventure de l'affrontement entre graphème et phonème qui s'exposent dans une démarche qui remet en cause les rôles assignés au signifiant et au signifié.
Increased serum thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine and cutaneous T cell‐attracting chemokine levels in children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Song T. W. , Sohn M. H. , Kim E. S. , Kim K. W. , Kim K.‐E.
Published: January 2006

Background
Thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC) and cutaneous T cell‐attracting chemokine (CTACK) are responsible for the trafficking of T helper type 2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation.

Objective
We tested whether these cytokines are useful markers for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), and evaluated age‐related differences in the levels of these chemokines.

Methods
Serum TARC and CTACK levels, total serum IgE levels, total eosinophil counts, and specific IgE levels were measured in 401 children. The patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (n=157), non‐atopic eczema (n=107), or as healthy control subjects (n=137).

Results
Both TARC and CTACK levels in children with AD were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects. Serum TARC and CTACK levels significantly correlated with disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and in children with non‐atopic eczema. Serum TARC levels in children with AD significantly correlated with their serum CTACK levels. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.

Conclusion
Serum TARC and CTACK levels might be useful markers for disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and with non‐atopic eczema. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.
Immunological characteristics of subjects with asymptomatic skin sensitization to birch and grass pollen
Authors: Assing K. , Nielsen C. H. , Poulsen L. K.
Published: January 2006

Background
Asymptomatic skin sensitization (AS) has been shown to be a risk factor for respiratory allergic disease.

Objective
We investigated allergen and recall antigen‐driven T cell proliferation, cytokine production and T cell expression of the chemokine receptor CCR4, in cultures derived from symptomatic atopics (SA), subjects with AS and healthy controls (HC). Numbers of allergen‐specific precursor T cells in all three groups were also estimated.

Methods
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the three groups were isolated and stimulated with allergen and tetanus toxoid. Proliferation, cytokine production and CCR4 expression were measured by flow cytometry.

Results
A significantly increased proportion of CD4+ memory T cells proliferated in response to allergen in SA as compared with subjects with AS (P<0.001) and HC (P<0.001). Only in SA was expansion of CD4+CCR4+ T cells, after allergen stimulation observed. SA had higher frequencies of allergen‐specific T cells than subjects with AS and HC (P=0.02, for both). With regard to allergen‐induced production of T‐helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines, subjects with AS and HC resembled each other, while differing significantly from SA.

Conclusion
We conclude, that subjects with AS, although clearly IgE sensitized, have significant diminished numbers of allergen‐specific T cells as well as decreased allergen‐induced CD4+ memory T cell proliferation as compared with SA. To a large extent, our findings are capable of explaining the immunological characteristics associated with AS. Our findings may serve as better prognostic markers for subsequent allergic progression, than previously described clinical and paraclinical characteristics.