bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kinematic analysis and path planning of a new kinematically redundant planar parallel manipulator
Authors: Ebrahimi Iman , Carretero Juan A. , Boudreau Roger 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIn this work, the 3-RPRR, a new kinematically redundant planar parallel manipulator with six-degrees-of-freedom, is presented. First, the manipulator is introduced and its inverse displacement problem discussed. Then, all types of singularities of the 3-RPRR manipulator are analysed and demonstrated. Thereafter, the dexterous workspace is geometrically obtained and compared with the non-redundant 3-PRR planar parallel manipulator. Finally, based on a geometrical measure of proximity to singular configurations and the condition number of the manipulators' Jacobian matrices, actuation schemes for the manipulators are obtained. Different actuation schemes for a given path are obtained and the quality of their actuation schemes are compared. It is shown that the proposed manipulator is capable of following a path while avoiding the singularities.
Semantically routing queries in peer-based systems: the H-Link approach
Authors: MONTANELLI STEFANO , CASTANO SILVANA 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA challenging issue to advance the existing P2P semantic routing protocols is related to the capability of developing mechanisms for focused selection of the query recipients by taking into account a semantically rich description of the context of each peer. In this article, we present the H-Link semantic routing approach designed to exploit the results of an ontology matchmaking process for providing a semantic overlay network where peers having similar contexts are recognized and interlinked as semantic neighbors. In particular, H-Linkaims at advancing the existing semantic routing protocols by combining ontology-based peer context descriptions and ontology matching techniques for providing query forwarding on a real semantic basis, in a completely decentralized way.
A context-sensitive framework for lexical ontologies
Authors: VEALE TONY , HAO YANFEN 
Published: March 2008

AbstractHuman categorization is neither a binary nor a context-free process. Rather, the criteria that govern the use and recognition of certain concepts may be satisfied to different degrees in different contexts. In light of this reality, the idealized, static structure of a lexical-ontology like WordNet appears both excessively rigid and unduly fragile when faced with real texts that draw upon different contexts to communicate different world-views. In this paper we describe a syntagmatic, corpus-based approach to redefining the concepts of a lexical-ontology like WordNet in a functional, gradable and context-sensitive fashion. We describe how the most diagnostic properties of concepts, on which these functional definitions are based, can be automatically acquired from the Web, and demonstrate how these properties are more predictive of how concepts are actually used and perceived than properties derived from other sources (such as WordNet itself).
Breakfast skipping is associated with differences in meal patterns, macronutrient intakes and overweight among pre-school children
Authors: Dubois Lise , Girard Manon , Potvin Kent Monique , Farmer Anna , Tatone-Tokuda Fabiola 
Published: March 2008

AbstractObjectivesTo examine the association between skipping breakfast, daily energy, macronutrients and food intakes, and BMI in pre-school children.DesignA cross-sectional study using information on children’s food consumption and measured height and weight. Energy and macronutrient intakes of the children were derived from parent/day-care attendant’s responses to 24 h recall interviews and eating behaviour questionnaires.SettingData obtained from a representative sample (n2103) of children born in Quebec (Canada) in 1998.SubjectsOne thousand five hundred and forty-nine children, with a mean age of 49 (sd3·12) months.ResultsTen per cent of children ate breakfast on fewer than 7 days per week. This behaviour was associated with a lower diet quality and concentrated energy intakes through higher protein intakes at lunch and the consumption of snacks higher in energy and carbohydrate in the afternoon and evening; yet total daily energy intakes were not significantly different from those of pre-school children who ate breakfast every day. Breakfast skippers’ mean BMI increased as intake of energy, carbohydrates or servings of grain products increased; however, this was not the case for breakfast eaters. When Cole’s cut-off for overweight/obesity was used, overweight/obesity in breakfast skippers was related to the dinner-time consumption of approximately 3000 kJ (700 kcal) or more for energy intake, approximately 100 g or more of carbohydrates, or approximately 3 servings or more of grain products.ConclusionsEating breakfast every day is associated with having a healthy body weight, likely due to a more even distribution of energy intake across meals throughout the day.
Gender and Conditional Support for Torture in the War on Terror
Authors: Haider-Markel Donald P. , Vieux Andrea 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe events of September 11 have clearly changed the way that Americans think about politics and policy and may have changed attitudes about the treatment of America's perceived enemies. At the same time, revelations about American interrogation techniques in the war on terror have forced a national dialogue on human rights during a time of war. Americans do tend to oppose a variety of harsh interrogation techniques, but opposition appears to be conditioned by gender, partisanship, and the context in which an interrogation might take place. We explore how conditions shape attitudes on interrogation techniques in the war on terror, with a particular focus on gender and contextual framing. We analyze data from a unique 2004 national survey of American adults to test several hypotheses. Our results suggest that gender strongly shapes opposition to harsh interrogation techniques, but contextual framing also shapes opposition. Partisanship and contextual framing also mediate the influence of gender on attitudes.
Sports Talk: How Gender Shapes Discursive Framing of Title IX
Authors: Rosenthal Cindy Simon 
Published: March 2008

AbstractExisting scholarship has shown that the media and interest groups play an important role in the shaping of the public's perception of reality and in establishing the quality of democratic discourse on public policy questions. In turn, interest group actors employ different media and grassroots strategies in hopes of exploiting discursive opportunities that advance their cause. This study explores recent public policy debates over Title IX to illustrate how gender undergirds the discursive framing choices made by interest groups and presented in the media coverage. I find that framing, especially in the media, reinforces enduring cultural aspects of masculinity in sports.
Celestial3D: a novel method for 3D visualization of familial data
Authors: Loh Angeline M. , Wiltshire Steven , Emery Jon , Carter Kim W. , Palmer Lyle J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Summary: Traditional two-dimensional (2D) software programs for drawing pedigrees are limited when dealing with extended pedigrees. In successive generations, the number of individuals grows exponentially, leading to an unworkable amount of space required in the horizontal direction for 2D displays. In addition, it is not always possible to place closely related individuals near each other due to the lack of space in 2Ds. To address these issues we have developed three-dimensional (3D) pedigree drawing techniques to enable clearer visualization of extended pedigrees. Currently no other methods are available for displaying extended pedigrees in 3Ds. We have made freely available a software tool—‘Celestial3D’—that implements these novel techniques.
Availability: Freely available to non-commercial users
Contact: celestial3d@genepi.org.au
Supplementary information: www.genepi.org.au/celestial3d
Going against the flow: how marine invasions spread and persist in the face of advection1
Authors: Byers James E. , Pringle James M. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Byers J. E., and Pringle J. M. 2008. Going against the flow: how marine invasions spread and persist in the face of advection. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 723–724.
Refractory Anaemia with Excess of Myeloblasts in the Bone Marrow: a Clinical Trial of Androgens in 90 Patients
Authors: Najean Y. , Pecking A. 
Published: March 2008

Summary. In a cooperative trial, 90 patients with refractory anaemia with an excess of blast cells in the marrow were evaluated and treated with androgens.The clinical presentation was very similar to previously published observations: features of medullary insufficiency were less marked than in primary aplastic anaemia; bone marrow blastic infiltration varied from case to case, and remained stable until death or until an acute leukaemic change.All the patients were treated with high doses of androgens as for aplastic anaemia. The efficacy of this therapy was poor. The average life expectancy was 13 months, 64% of deaths being associated with a change to acute myeloid leukaemia. A severe bone marrow deficiency foreshadowed early death, but myeloblastic transformation was observed whatever the initial degree of blastic infiltration of the bone marrow.A comparison with the literature suggests that androgen therapy may accelerate the change to acute leukaemia.
IgG4 Autoantibodies against Erythrocytes, without Increased Haemolysis: a Case Report
Authors: von dem Borne A. E. G. Kr , Beckers Do , van der Meulen F. W. , Engelfriet C. P. 
Published: March 2008

Summary. A patient is described who, notwithstanding a strongly positive direct antiglobulin test with anti‐IgG serum, apparently did not suffer from haemolytic anaemia. The survival of the patient's red cells, measured with 51Cr, was only slightly decreased. In vitro, the sensitized cells of the patient showed only a minimal tendency to adhere to monocytes. The patient's spleen functioned normally, since 51Cr‐labelled donor erythrocytes, either sensitized with IgG‐anti‐D or damaged by heating, were eliminated rapidly from the circulation and sequestered in the spleen.These apparently contradictory findings could be explained by the fact that the patient's red cells were sensitized with autoantibodies, mainly belonging to the IgG4 subclass. Only weak IgGi and IgG3 autoantibodies were detectable. Since previously the patient had suffered from a severe haemolytic anaemia, it is postulated that a switch has occurred from ‘active’ to ‘inactive’ IgG autoantibodies, perhaps induced by prednisone therapy.
Infection with the roundworm Toxocara canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Pinelli E. , Brandes S. , Dormans J. , Gremmer E. , Van Loveren H. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryBackground
Epidemiological studies performed in developing as well as in western countries suggest that infection with Toxocara canis contributes to the development of atopic diseases.Objectives
To investigate the association between infection with this helminth and allergy, we examined the effect of T. canis infection on experimental allergic airway inflammation.Methods
BALB/c mice were infected by oral administration with 500 embryonated T. canis eggs followed by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce allergic airway inflammation.Results
Infection with T. canis in combination with OVA treatment leads to exacerbation of pulmonary inflammation, eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, OVA specific and total IgE. Relative quantification of cytokine expression in the lungs of these mice showed increased expression of IL‐4 compared with mice that were only T. canis infected or OVA treated. Increased expression of IL‐5 and IL‐10 was measured in the lungs of T. canis‐infected or OVA‐treated mice compared with controls; however, combining infection and OVA treatment did not significantly change the expression of these cytokines.Conclusion
A previous infection with T. canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation. These results have important consequences for findings on the helminths–allergy association. Several factors, including parasite species, infection of definitive vs. accidental host, parasite load and timing of infection, may influence whether an infection with helminths protects one from or enhances allergic manifestations.
CALCITONIN IN BREAST AND LUNG CANCER
Authors: HILLYARD CARMEL J. , COOMBES R. C. , GREENBERG P. B. , GALANTE LEONORA S. , MacINTYRE I. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYImmunoreactive calcitonin was found in extracts of seven out of eight consecutive breast carcinomas and four selected lung carcinomas, but not in extracts of benign breast lesions or normal tissues.This suggests that the high plasma calcitonin levels observed in patients with a wide variety of cancers reflect ectopic production of calcitonin by cancer tissue, and that the radioimmunoassay for calcitonin could prove to be of value in the detection and management of malignant disease, particularly breast cancer.
DELAYED ADJUSTMENT OF THE PITUITARY RESPONSE TO VARIATIONS IN CIRCULATING THYROID HORMONES IN A CASE OF SUBACUTE THYROIDITIS
Authors: DEMEESTER‐MIRKINE N. , BRAUMAN H. , CORVILAIN J. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIn a case of subacute de Quervain thyroiditis characterized by a period of pronouced hypermetabolism followed by hypometabolism, levels of T4, T3 and the TSH response to TRH were repeatedly measured.As expected, the response to TRH was absent or low during the hypermetabolic phase, high during the hypometabolic phase and returned to normal with recovery. However, at the beginning and at the end of the hypometabolic phase, while circulating levels of T3 and T4 both lay in the subnormal range, two periods of inadequate response to TRH could be demonstrated. During the first period, the response to TRH was zero or very small; during the second period, stimulation by TRH was exaggerated.The response to TRH thus depends not only on the level of circulating thyroid hormones but on other factors such as the previous state of pituitary stimulation or inhibition.
TOTAL BODY POTASSIUM CONTENT IN MALES WITH X AND Y CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES
Authors: EAST BRIAN W. , BODDY KEITH , PRICE W. H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYTotal body potassium has been measured in chromatin positive males (Klinefelter's syndrome) and males with a 47,XYY karyotype. In patients with an extra X chromosome the level of potassium was very significantly less than in normal males. Its concentration referred to lean body mass, estimated from the patient's height and weight, was also greatly reduced and not significantly different from values found in normal women.In 47, XYY males individual values were low but there was no reduction in the mean value for the group if allowance was made for the obesity of some XYY subjects. The significance of these findings, however, is difficult to assess as ther height frequently exceeded that of the controls on which the predicted potassium values were based.From these findings it would seem taht when characteristics which are normally associated with the female sex occur in males, as in Klinefelter's syndrome, there is also a reduction in body potassium either in the total content or the lean tissue concentration, or in both.By comparison, 47, XYY males appear to be more normal in these respects but further normal data is requird in order to interpret the results.The possibility that abnormal androgen production in the chromatin positive men may be influencing the potassium levels is the subject of further investigation.
INHIBITORY EFFECT OF SEROTONIN ANTAGONISTS ON GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE IN ACROMEGALIC PATIENTS
Authors: FELDMAN JEROME M. , PLONK JAMES W. , BIVENS CARL H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYWe evaluated the effect of the serotonin antagonists cyproheptadine (Cypro) and methysergide (Methy) on growth hormone secretion in six patients with acromegaly. Two days administration of Cypro deceased the plasma GH concentration during oral glucose tolerance tests in four of the six patients evaluated; 2 days administration of Methy reduced the plasma GH levels of only one of the four patients evaluated. The one patient whose palsma GH concentration was lowered by Methy, did not have a decerase in plasma GH concentration after Cypro administration. Acromegalic patients have normal serum serotonin concentration and normal 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion. If Cypro lowers plasma GH by antagonizing serotonin, our data would suggest that serotoninergic neruonal pathways are important in the regulation of pituitary GH secretion in some patients with acromegaly.
APPLICATION OF MASS SPECTROMETERY TO THE SEQUENCING OF PROTEINS
Authors: WILLIAMS DUDLEY H. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYMass spectrometry is now established as a viable method for determing the sequence of amino acids in proteins. The approach involves chemical and enzymic digestion of the protein (as in classical methods) to small peptides (ten residues) which are then chemically modified to increase their volatility. The chemical modifications are (i) acetylation of basic nitrogen sites and (ii) Permethylation. The derivatives so obtained may be sequenced in the mass spectrometer as mixtures of several peptides. This is achieved by a temperature gradient in the mass spectrometer source, which effects partial, or total separation of the derivatized peptides according to their volatilities. In this way, much tedious separation work (sometimes the rate‐determining factor in classical approaches) may be avoided. The sequencing process is carried out from the N‐terminal residue, utilizing the preferential cleavage of the ionized petide at the amide bonds; each amino acid is associated with a characteristic mass increment and thus the sequence can be determined. Mass spectrometry is especially useful in the detection and characterization of novel amino acids which might otherwise be difficult to identify. Although almost all work to date has used electron impact mass spectrometery, in the future it is possible that newer methods of ionization, such as field desorption and chemical ionization, might be profitably used.
MODE OF ACTION OF PEPTIDE HORMONES
Authors: NEHER ROBERT , MILANI ALFRED 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe mode of action is discussed of the peptide hormones which trigger neosynthesis of a specific product in their target cells without being involved in any release step. Particular attention is paid to the early events elicited by ACTH in isolated adrenocortical cells. It is shown that extracellular calcium ions at physiological concentrations can serve as first messenger activating steroidogenesis if the isolated cells are pretreated in an appropriate ionic environment. Among other factors the extracellular calcium/phosphate ratio seems to be of importance. A model is proposed where calcium serves as direct messenger in the physiological activation by ACTH, cyclic AMP being a subserving factor maintaining full steroidogenesis.
THE MESSAGE SEQUENCE OF α‐MELANOTROPIN: DEMONSTRATION OF TWO ACTIVE SITES
Authors: EBERLE ALEX , SCHWYZER ROBERT 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the biological significance of lysine11 and of the tripeptide sequence ‐Lys‐Pro‐Val‐NH2 for the biological activity of α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone. To this end the in vitro melanotropic activities of twenty‐four synthetic peptides related to the hormone were determined. Extension or reduction of the length of the lysine11 side chain results in a marked decrease of the melanotropic potency of the respective analogue. The C‐terminal tripeptide (11‐13), the tetrapeptide (10‐13), and the pentapeptide (9‐13) were found to be hormonally active in the same order of magnitude as the central hexapeptide (5‐10). The following conclusion was drawn: α‐MSH possesses (in contrast to ACTH) two message sequences (active sites), (i) ‐Glu‐His‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp‐, and (ii) ‐Gly‐Lys‐Pro‐Val‐NH2 which are capable of independently triggering the hormone receptor responsible for melanin dispersion. Thus, despite the close structural similarity of the two hormones, α‐MSH and ACTH appear to react with their respective target cell receptors by quite different chemical mechanisms, implying different receptor structures.
REGULATION OF VITAMIN D: AN EVOLUTIONARY VIEW
Authors: MacINTYRE I. , COLSTON KAY W. , EVANS IMOGEN M. A. , LOPEZ EVELYNE , MacAULEY S. J. , PIEGNOUX‐DEVILLE JACQUELINE , SPANOS E. , SZELKE M. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe regulation of vitamin D metabolism by the kidney is now known to be multifactorial. Three regulatory factors are discussed: 1,25(OH)2D3 itself; parathyroid hormone, and phospate. The influence of 1,25(OH)2D3 probably depends on new protein synthesis, while the mode of action of phosphate is unknown. Parathyroid hormone is not essential for regulation but may have an important biological role. The direction of its effect varies, perhaps due to a complex inter‐relation of changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and the level of kidney adenyl cyclase activity.
RECENT ADVANCES IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE METABOLISM OF VITAMIN D AND ITS REGULATION
Authors: DeLUCA HECTOR F. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYPotent new methods of separation of vitamin D metabolites and analogues have been developed using high pressure liquid chromatography and silica gel columns. Utility of this new method in the further study of vitamin D metabolism has been demonstrated. With this technique it has been possible to demonstrate that the natural product, 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25‐(OH)2D3), has its hydroxyl in the R configuration. With 3H‐1α‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (1α‐OH‐D3), which has been recently synthesized in this laboratory, it has been possible to show that it is rapidly converted to 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25‐(OH)2D3) predominantly by liver and that this conversion occurs in ample time to account for its biological activity. Chick intestine possesses some 25‐hydroxylating ability whereas rat intestine does not. It seems likely that 1α‐OH‐D3 is biologically active almost entirely by virtue of its conversion to 1,25‐(OH)2D3.The 24R,24,25‐(OH)2D3 is almost as biologically active as 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25‐OH‐D3) in the rat, but has low activity in the chick. The S isomer is essentially without activity in either species except for intestinal calcium transport in the rat. Radioactive 24,25‐(OH)2D3 has been used to demonstrate that in the chick it is rapidly metabolized and excreted suggesting that the 24‐hydroxylation in the chick is an important biological inactivation mechanism. In the rat it is possible that the 24‐hydroxylation has functional significance.Finally, the 1α‐hydroxylase of 25‐OH‐D3 in chick kidney has been successfully solubilized and the cytochrome P‐450 as well as the renal ferredoxin has been isolated and recombined with beef adrenal flavoprotein to produce a reconstructed 25‐OH‐D3‐1α‐hydroxylase system with very high specificity and high enzymatic activity. The results show conclusively that the 1‐hydroxylase system requires NADPH to reduce a flavoprotein which in turn reduces a renal ferredoxin which in turn reduces the cytochrome P‐450. The cytochrome P‐450 carries out the hydroxylation using molecular oxygen and 25‐OH‐D3.