bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Figure and texture presentation capabilities of a tactile mouse equipped with a display pad of stimulus pins
Authors: Ohka Masahiro , Koga Hiroshi , Mouri Yukihiro , Sugiura Tokuhiro , Miyaoka Tetsu , Mitsuya Yasunaga 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYTo obtain specifications for a tactile display that would be effective in virtual reality and tele-existence systems, we have developed two types of matrix-type experimental tactile displays. One is for virtual figures (display A) and the other is for virtual textures (display B). Display A's pad has a 4 × 6 array of stimulus pins, each 0.8 mm in diameter. Three pad configurations, in which distances between any two adjacent pins (pin pitch) are 1.2, 1.9, or 2.5 mm, were developed to examine the influence of distance on a human operator's determination of virtual figures. Display B has an 8 × 8 array of stimulus pins, each 0.3 mm in diameter and with 1-or 1.8-mm pin pitch, because presentation of virtual textures was presumed to require a higher pin density. To establish a design method for these matrix-type tactile displays, we performed a series of psychophysical experiments using displays A and B. By evaluating variations in the correct answer percentage and threshold caused by different pin arrays and different pin strokes, we determined under what conditions the operator could best feel the virtual figures and textures. The results revealed that the two-point threshold should be adopted as the pitch between pins in the design of the tactile display, that a pin stroke should exceed 0.25 mm, and that the adjustment method is the most appropriate to evaluate the capabilities of tactile displays. Finally, when we compared the virtual texture with the real texture, we found that the threshold for the real texture is almost 1/3rd that of the virtual texture. This result implies that it is effective to present variations in patterns caused by rotation and variation in shearing force, itself produced by relative motion between the finger surface and object surface.
Development of a compact double-disk magneto-rheological fluid brake
Authors: Zhou Wei , Chew Chee-Meng , Hong Geok-Soon 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYThis paper describes the development of a novel compact magneto-rheological (MR) fluid brake with high transmitted torque and a simple structure. The MR fluid brake has two shearing disks with an electromagnetic coil located between them. Such a structure enables the brake to have a small radial dimension and a large torque transmission capacity. In the design process, a Bingham viscoplastic model is used to predict the transmitted torque. Electromagnetic finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to assist the magnetic circuit design and structural parameters' optimization. The novel brake design is prototyped and studied. Experimental results show that a compact MR fluid brake with high transmitted torque is successfully achieved.
Linguistic failures
Authors: Qiang Niu , Wolff Martin 
Published: February 2007

Heart-felt opposition to the status and spread of English in the world at large and most particularly in China today. It can hardly be denied that England has given the world maritime law, contract law, and an international language. However, whether by accident or design, the effect of these ‘gifts’ over time has, we would argue, been the destruction of many ethnic customs, social structures, and other aspects of culture. There appears to be little or no dissent among linguists regarding the proposition that language and culture are inseparable: what affects one affects the other.This paper discusses how the global spread of English has affected – deleteriously – many languages and cultures, and currently engages too much time and too many resources in China today. Maritime and contract law may have been less problematic.
The support of pseudomeasures on
Authors: GRAHAM COLIN C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPM(E) denotes the set of pseudomeasures on $\mathbb{R}$ with support in the closed set E ⊆ $\mathbb{R}$. Then y ∈ $\mathbb{R}$ is not in E if and only if there is a neighbourhood W of y with $\lim_{N\to\infty} \int_{-N}^{N}(1-{|t|}/{N})e^{2\pi itw}\cal{F} S(t)\,dt=0$ uniformly for w ∈ W and S ∈ PM(E) with ‖S‖PM ≤ 1. This improves previous results by adding “uniformly” and its scope. The proof uses the fact that squashing the central spike of the Fejer kernel leads to A-norm convergence.
Quasicomponents in topos theory: the hyperpure, complete spread factorization
Authors: BUNGE MARTA , FUNK JONATHON 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe establish the existence and uniqueness of a factorization for geometric morphisms that generalizes the pure, complete spread factorization for geometric morphisms with a locally connected domain. A complete spread with locally connected domain over a topos is a geometric counterpart of a Lawvere distribution on the topos, and the factorization itself is of the comprehensive type. The new factorization removes the topologically restrictive local connectedness requirement by working with quasicomponents in topos theory. In the special case when the codomain topos of the geometric morphism coincides with the base topos, the factorization gives the locale of quasicomponents of the domain topos, or its ‘0-dimensional’ reflection.
The smallest subgroup whose invariants are hit by the Steenrod algebra
Authors: HƯNG NGUYỄN H. V. , LUONG TRAN DINH 
Published: February 2007

AbstractLet V be a k-dimensional ${\mathbb{F}_2}$-vector space and let W be an n-dimensional vector subspace of V. Denote by GL(n, ${\mathbb{F}_2}$) • 1k-n the subgroup of GL(V) consisting of all isomorphisms ϕ:V → V with ϕ(W) = W and ϕ(v) ≡ v (mod W) for every v ∈ V. We show that GL(3, ${\mathbb{F}_2}$) • 1k-3 is, in some sense, the smallest subgroup of GL(V)≅ GL(k, ${\mathbb{F}_2})$, whose invariants are hit by the Steenrod algebra acting on the polynomial algebra, ${\mathbb{F}_2})\cong{\mathbb{F}_2}[x_{1},\ldots,x_{k}]$. The result is some aspect of an algebraic version of the classical conjecture that the only spherical classes inQ0S0are the elements of Hopf invariant one and those of Kervaire invariant one.
Pseudo-amenable and pseudo-contractible Banach algebras
Authors: GHAHRAMANI F. , ZHANG Y. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe introduce and study two new notions of amenability for Banach algebras. In particular we compare these notions with some of those studied earlier. We show that several classes of Banach algebras, including certain Banach algebras related to locally compact groups, are responsive to these notions.
Numerical index of Banach spaces and duality
Authors: BOYKO KOSTYANTYN , KADETS VLADIMIR , MARTÍN MIGUEL , WERNER DIRK 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe present an example of a Banach space whose numerical index is strictly greater than the numerical index of its dual, giving a negative answer to a question which has been latent since the beginning of the seventies. We also show a particular case in which the numerical index of the space and the one of its dual coincide.
The fine Tate–Shafarevich group
Authors: WUTHRICH CHRISTIAN 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWithin the Tate–Shafarevich group of an elliptic curve E defined over a number field K, there is a canonical subgroup defined by imposing stronger conditions at the places above a given prime p. This group appears naturally in the Iwasawa theory for E. We propose a study of what one can say about the relation to the full Tate–Shafarevich group. Some numerical examples are included, as well as a few conjectures.
On Several types of universal invariants of framed links and 3-manifolds derived from Hopf algebras
Authors: TIAN JIANJUN PAUL 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWithout using representations of quasitriangular ribbon Hopf algebras, Hennings, Kauffman and Radford, Ohtsuki and the author gave different methods to construct invariants of links and 3-manifolds respectively. To understand these different methods and the resultant invariants, we made a comprehensive comparison study in this paper. We show the relations among the universal invariants of framed links defined by these different authors. We also figured out the relations among the resultant invariants of 3-manifolds defined by these different authors. Ignoring the difference by scalar constants and the inversion of Hopf algebras, we found that the invariants of 3-manifolds obtained by these authors are the same or equivalent to each other. Therefore, in a sense, there is only one way to construct invariants of 3-manifolds without using representation theory of Hopf algebras.
Efficient evaluation of the Brauer–Manin obstruction
Authors: BRIGHT MARTIN 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe Brauer–Manin obstruction is a concept which has been very effective in finding counter-examples to the Hasse principle, that is, sets of polynomial equations which have solutions in every completion of the rational numbers but have no rational solutions. The standard way of calculating the Brauer–Manin obstruction involves listing all thep-adic solutions to some accuracy, at finitely many primesp; this is a process which may be time-consuming. The result described in this paper shows that, at some primes, we do not need to list allp-adic solutions, but only those lying over a closed subset; and, at other primes, we need only to list solutions modulop.
HNN extensions of inverse semigroups with zero
Authors: DOMBI E. R. , GILBERT N. D. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe study a construction of an HNN extension for inverse semigroups with zero. We prove a normal form for the elements of the universal group of an inverse semigroup that is categorical at zero, and use it to establish structural results for the universal group of an HNN extension. Our main application of the HNN construction is to show that graph inverse semigroups –including the polycyclic monoids –admit HNN decompositions in a natural way, and that this leads to concise presentations for them.
Evidence for interstate transmission and increase in prevalence of bovine group B rotavirus strains with a novel VP7 genotype among diarrhoeic calves in Eastern and Northern states of India
Authors: GHOSH S. , VARGHESE V. , SINHA M. , KOBAYASHI N. , NAIK T. N. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYDuring a surveillance study (2003–2005) in a cattle market in Kolkata city, state of West Bengal, Eastern India, 34 (13·0%) of 260 calves with diarrhoea were positive for group B rotaviruses (GBR) by RNA electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Analysis of the partial VP7 gene sequence of 28 of the 34 GBR strains revealed maximum identities (97·7–99·5% at nucleotide level and 97·8–100% at amino-acid level) with the novel bovine GBR ‘Kolkata strains’ reported in an earlier surveillance study (1·5%,n=192, 2001–2002) from the same cattle market, and shared low identities of 73·7–78·9% and 80·8–89·6%; 62·6–66·2% and 59·8–65·4%; 58·9–62·2% and 48·6–54·9% at nucleotide and amino-acid level with other bovine, human, and murine GBR. The GBR-infected calves were traced to districts in neighbouring states of West Bengal. Therefore, the present study reports a rapid increase in prevalence (13·0% in 2003–2005 against 1·5% in 2001–2002) of novel GBR strains among calves with diarrhoea, and provides evidence for interstate transmission of GBR.
Influenza surveillance in Korea: establishment and first results of an epidemiological and virological surveillance scheme
Authors: LEE J.-S. , SHIN K.-C. , NA B.-K. , LEE J.-Y. , KANG C. , KIM J.-H. , PARK O. , JEONG E.-K. , LEE J.-K. , KWON J.-W. , PARK S.-C. , KIM W.-J. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYSurveillance is an important component of influenza control. This report describes the establishment and first results of the Korean Influenza Surveillance Scheme (KISS), an integrated clinical and laboratory surveillance network involving 622 public health centres (PHCs) and private clinics. Sentinel physicians reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) weekly and forwarded specimens for virus isolation and characterization. Influenza activity during the opening 2000–2001 season was milder and delayed compared with previous years. The ILI consultation rate corresponded well with the number of influenza virus isolates, both peaking in week 10 of 2001. Influenza A(H3N2) was the dominant isolate. The peak ILI consultation rate was higher in private clinics than in PHCs (5·04 vs 1·79 cases/1000 visits). An evaluation questionnaire generated potential enhancements to the scheme. KISS appears to represent the pattern of influenza activity accurately and will have a valuable role in monitoring and preventing epidemics in Korea.
The burden of parvovirus B19 infection in women of childbearing age in England and Wales
Authors: VYSE A. J. , ANDREWS N. J. , HESKETH L. M. , PEBODY R. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYA serological survey has been used to investigate the epidemiology of parvovirus B19 infection in England and Wales. A total of 2835 sera representing the complete age range were selected from a convenience collection obtained in 1996 that reflects the general population and screened for parvovirus B19-specific IgG. Antibody prevalence rose nonlinearly with age from 21% in those aged 1–4 years to >75% in adults aged ⩾45 years. Force-of-infection estimates were similar to those previously made in 1991, being highest in those aged <15 years. There was no association between evidence of previous infection and sex or region. Quantitatively strongest antibody responses were found in those aged 15–34 years and IgG levels in females were 28·5% higher than those found in males (P=0·004, 95% CI 8·2–52·6). Applying the upper 95% confidence interval for the force of infection to maternity estimates for England and Wales in 1996, parvovirus infection in pregnancy was estimated to occur on average in up to 1 in every 512 pregnancies each year. This represents 1257 maternal infections, causing up to an estimated 59 fetal deaths and 11 cases of hydrops fetalis annually. An analysis of all available laboratory-confirmed parvovirus infections found a mean of 944 infections per year in women aged 15–44 years highlighting a need for enhanced surveillance of maternal parvovirus B19 infection in England and Wales, including information on both pregnancy and outcome of pregnancy.
Genotypic characterization of rotaviruses and prevalence of serotype-specific serum antibodies in children in Kuwait
Authors: MARMASH R. W. , DALWAI A. K. , SZUCS G. , MOLLA A. M. , PACSA A. S. , AL-NAKIB W. , ALBERT M. J. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYThere are no data on the serotypes of rotaviruses prevalent in Kuwait, which has a large expatriate population and hence a focal point for transmission of pathogens. The serotype information will contribute to the fund of knowledge on the world epidemiology of rotavirus serotypes and will predict the outcome of vaccination in Kuwait. Of the 75 rotavirus-positive samples from 172 children (aged <5 years) with severe diarrhoea, 69 were genotyped. The distribution of genotypes was G1 (63·8%) followed by G9 (10·2%), G2 (7·3%), G4 (7·3%) and G3 (4·4%). Among the P types, P[8] was the most common type found across all G types. By fluorescent focus neutralization test, serum antibodies to genotypes G1 (94%), G4 (68%) and G9 (46%) were found in 120 other children. These results show that G1 is the predominant serotype in Kuwait and that a vaccine that contains G1 will be most effective.
Morbidity profiles of patients consulting during influenza and respiratory syncytial virus active periods
Authors: FLEMING D. M. , ELLIOT A. J. , CROSS K. W. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYWe compared the burden of illness due to a spectrum of respiratory diagnostic categories among persons presenting in a sentinel general practice network in England and Wales during periods of influenza and of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity. During all periods of viral activity, incidence rates of influenza-like illness, bronchitis and common cold were elevated compared to those in baseline periods. Excess rates per 100 000 of acute bronchitis were greater in children aged <1 year (median difference 2702, 95% CI 929–4867) and in children aged 1–4 years (994, 95% CI 338–1747) during RSV active periods rather than influenza; estimates for the two viruses were similar in other age groups. Excess rates of influenza-like illness in all age groups were clearly associated with influenza virus activity. For common cold the estimates of median excess rates were significantly higher in RSV active periods for the age groups <1 year (3728, 95% CI 632–5867) and 5–14 years (339, 95% CI 59–768); estimates were similar in other age groups for the two viruses. The clinical burden of disease associated with RSV is as great if not greater than influenza in patients of all ages presenting to general practitioners.
Secular trends in the epidemiology of shingles in Alberta
Authors: RUSSELL M. L. , SCHOPFLOCHER D. P. , SVENSON L. , VIRANI S. N. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYVaricella vaccine was licensed in Canada in 1998, and a publicly funded vaccination programme introduced in the province of Alberta in 2001. In theory the vaccination programme might increase the burden of disease from shingles, making it important to develop baseline data against which future comparisons can be made. The study's aim was to describe the epidemiology of non-fatal cases of shingles for which publicly funded health services were utilized for the period 1986–2002. Shingles cases were identified from the records of Alberta's universal, publicly funded health-care insurance system for 1986–2002. The earliest dated health service utilizations for ICD-9-CM codes of 053 or ICD-10-CA codes of B02 were classified as incident. Diagnostic codes at least 180 days after the first were classified as recurrent episodes. Denominators for rates were estimated using mid-year population estimates from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan Registry. Annual age- and sex-specific rates were estimated. We explored the pattern of rates for sex, age and year effects and their interactions. Shingles rates increased between 1986 and 2002. There was a sex effect and evidence of an age–sex interaction. Females had higher rates than males at every age; however, the difference between females and males was greatest for the 50–54 years age group and declined for older age groups. The increased rate of shingles in Alberta began before varicella vaccine was licensed or publicly funded in Alberta, and thus cannot be attributed to vaccination.
Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors – former orphans reunite with their parent ligands to activate multiple signalling pathways
Authors: Halls M L , van der Westhuizen E T , Bathgate R A D , Summers R J 
Published: February 2007

The relaxin family peptides, although structurally closely related to insulin, act on a group of four G protein‐coupled receptors now known as Relaxin Family Peptide (RXFP) Receptors. The leucine‐rich repeat containing RXFP1 and RXFP2 and the small peptide‐like RXFP3 and RXFP4 are the physiological targets for relaxin, insulin‐like (INSL) peptide 3, relaxin‐3 and INSL5, respectively. RXFP1 and RXFP2 have at least two binding sites – a high‐affinity site in the leucine‐rich repeat region of the ectodomain and a lower‐affinity site in an exoloop of the transmembrane region. Although they respond to peptides that are structurally similar, RXFP3 and RXFP4 demonstrate distinct binding properties with relaxin‐3 being the only peptide that can recognize these receptors in addition to RXFP1. Activation of RXFP1 or RXFP2 causes increased cAMP and the initial response for both receptors is the resultant of Gs‐mediated activation and GoB‐mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase. With RXFP1, an additional delayed increase in cAMP involves βγ subunits released from Gi3. In contrast, RXFP3 and RXFP4 inhibit adenylate cyclase and RXFP3 causes ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Drugs acting at RXFP1 have potential for the treatment of diseases involving tissue fibrosis such as cardiac and renal failure, asthma and scleroderma and may also be useful to facilitate embryo implantation. Activators of RXFP2 may be useful to treat cryptorchidism and infertility and inhibitors have potential as contraceptives. Studies of the distribution and function of RXFP3 suggest that it is a potential target for anti‐anxiety and anti‐obesity drugs.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 677–691. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707140
Nitric oxide fails to confer endogenous antiarrhythmic cardioprotection in the primate heart in vitro
Authors: Pabla R , Curtis M J 
Published: February 2007

Background and purpose:The role of nitric oxide (NO) in cardiac pathophysiology remains controversial. According to data from several studies using rat and rabbit isolated hearts, NO is an endogenous cardioprotectant against reperfusion‐induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). Thus, if cardiac NO production is abolished by perfusion with L‐NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methylester (L‐NAME) (100 μM) there is a concomittant increase in the incidence of reperfusion‐induced VF, with L‐NAME's effects on NO and VF prevented by L‐ (but not D‐) arginine co‐perfusion. To make a better estimate of the clinical relevance of these findings, 100 μM L‐NAME was tested in primate hearts under similar conditions.Experimental approach:Marmoset (Callithrix jaccus) hearts, isolated and perfused, were subjected to 60 min left regional ischaemia followed by 10 min reperfusion in vitro. The ECG was recorded and NO in coronary effluent measured by chemiluminescence.Key results:L‐NAME (100 μ
M) decreased NO in coronary effluent throughout ischaemia and reperfusion (e.g. from 3720±777 pmol min−1 g−1 in controls to 699±98 pmol min−1 g−1 after 5 min of ischaemia) and, during ischaemia, lowered coronary flow and reduced heart rate, actions identical to those seen in rat and rabbit hearts. However, the incidence of reperfusion‐induced VF was unchanged (20%, with or without L‐NAME).Conclusions and implications:A species difference exists in the effectiveness of endogenous NO to protect hearts against reperfusion‐induced VF. The present primate data, which presumably take precedence over rat and rabbit data, cast doubt on the clinical relevance of NO as an endogenous, antiarrhythmic, cardioprotectant.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 893–898. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707143
Effects of natural and novel synthetic jasmonates in experimental metastatic melanoma
Authors: Reischer D , Heyfets A , Shimony S , Nordenberg J , Kashman Y , Flescher E 
Published: February 2007

Background and purpose:No current treatment reliably affects the course of metastatic melanoma. Consequently, novel approaches to the control of metastasis are actively sought. The overall goal of the present study was to identify new anti‐metastatic agents active against melanoma cells.Experimental approach:Two directions were taken: 1. To determine whether the natural plant hormone methyl jasmonate, which kills cancer cells selectively, can suppress the characteristic metastatic behavior of B16‐F10 melanoma cells; 2. To synthesize and identify novel jasmonate derivatives with better cytotoxic and anti‐metastatic activities than methyl jasmonate.Key results:We found that methyl jasmonate suppressed B16‐F10 cell motility and inhibited the development of experimental lung metastases of these cells. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate suppressed the motility of a sub‐clone of these cells over‐expressing P‐glycoprotein and exhibiting multidrug resistance. The synthetic derivative Compound I (5,7,9,10‐tetrabromo derivative of methyl jasmonate, the most active derivative) had greater cytotoxic potency (IC50, 0.04mM) than methyl jasmonate (IC50, 2.6mM). Compound I prevented B16‐F10 cell adhesion efficiently and inhibited the development of lung metastases at a much lower dose than methyl jasmonate.Conclusions and Implications:Natural and synthetic jasmonates have anti‐metastatic actions. Further development of these agents for the suppression of metastasis in melanoma and other types of cancer is warranted.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 738–749. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707146