bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Transportation Systems – Opportunities and Challenges (Intelligente Verkehrssysteme – Neue Möglichkeiten und Fragestellungen)
Authors: Busch Fritz 
Published: July 2008

Summary
Transportation systems currently undergo a significant alteration. Social changes and increased expectations towards protection of environment and resources, safety and efficiency are faced by new opportunities of information and communication technology. The emerging opportunities raise new questions to traffic behaviour, liabilities, market introduction and others.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications: Reception and Interference of Safety-Critical Messages (Fahrzeug-zu-Fahrzeug-Kommunikation: Empfang und Interferenz sicherheitskritischer Nachrichten)
Authors: Schmidt-Eisenlohr Felix , Killat Moritz 
Published: July 2008

Summary
A robust exchange of messages between vehicles via radio communication represents a key problem of vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) research. Environmental influences and the multitude of communicating nodes result in challenging communication conditions that have to be taken into account when assessing the potential benefit of VANETs for traffic safety and efficiency applications. In this paper we discuss an appropriate modeling of three influencing factors on the communication behavior to establish a basis for credible simulation results. In detail, we analyze the effects of fast-fading, capturing, and cumulative noise on vehicular communications and illustrate their considerable influence on a simulation's outcome. As a second contribution, we provide an empirical model for the probability of packet reception that is based on the proposed simulation methodology. The model thus allows to determine credible simulation results without being dependent on the complexity of detailed simulations. The saved computational effort facilitates the assessment of VANETs in large-scale scenarios and the consideration of communication specifics in the design process.
Excellence Cluster “Multimodal Computing and Interaction” – Robust, Efficient and Intelligent Processing of Text, Speech, Visual Data, and High Dimensional Representations (Exzellenzcluster “Multimodal Computing and Interaction” – Robuste, effiziente und intelligente Verarbeitung von Text, Audio, Video und Grafik)
Authors: Seidel Hans-Peter 
Published: July 2008

Summary
The past three decades have brought dramatic changes in the way we live and work. This phenomenon is widely characterized as the advent of the Information Society. Ten years ago, most digital content was textual. Today, it has expanded to include audio, video, and graphical data. The challenge is now to organize, understand, and search this multimodal information in a robust, efficient and intelligent way, and to create dependable systems that allow natural and intuitive multimodal interaction.
The Excellence Cluster on “Multimodal Computing and Interaction”, established by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the framework of the German Excellence Initiative, addresses this challenge. The term multimodal describes the different kinds of information such as text, speech, images, video, graphics, and high-dimensional data, and the way it is perceived and communicated, particularly through vision, hearing, and human expression.
The cluster comprises the Computer Science and Computational Linguistics and Phonetics departments of Saarland University, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the newly established Max Planck Institute for Software Systems.
Comparison of HER-2 and Hormone Receptor Expression in Primary Breast Cancers and Asynchronous Paired Metastases: Impact on Patient Management
Authors: Guarneri Valentina , Giovannelli Simona , Ficarra Guido , Bettelli Stefania , Maiorana Antonino , Piacentini Federico , Barbieri Elena , Dieci Maria Vittoria , D'Amico Roberto , Jovic Gordana , Conte PierFranco 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Introduction.
The assessment of hormone receptors (HRs) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 is necessary to select patients who are candidates for hormonal and anti–HER-2 therapy. The evaluation of these parameters is generally carried out in primary tumors and it is not clear if reassessment in metastatic lesions might have an impact on patient management. The primary aim of this analysis was to compare HER-2 and HR status in primary tumors versus metastatic sites in breast cancer patients.

Patients and Methods.
Seventy-five patients with available samples from primary tumors and paired metastases were included. HER-2 status was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); HR status was assessed by IHC.

Results.
Nineteen percent of primary tumors were HER-2 positive; 77% were HR positive. Sites of biopsied or resected metastases were: locoregional soft tissues (n = 30), liver (n = 20), central nervous system (n = 5), bone (n = 5), pleura (n = 4), distant soft tissues (n = 3), abdomen (stomach, colon, peritoneum) (n = 3), bronchus (n = 3), and bone marrow (n = 2). For paired metastases, the HER-2 status was unchanged in 84% of cases; two patients changed from positive to negative, while 10 patients converted from negative to positive (agreement, 84%; κ = 0.5681). A change in HR status was observed in 16 cases (21%): nine cases from positive to negative and seven cases from negative to positive (agreement, 78.7%; κ = 0.4158).

Conclusions.
Further studies are necessary to better define the level of discordance in HER-2 or HR status between primary tumors and paired metastases. However, a biopsy of metastatic disease can be recommended, if feasible with minimal invasiveness, because treatment options might change for a significant proportion of patients.
Plasma YKL-40
Authors: Nielsen Anders R. , Erikstrup Christian , Johansen Julia S. , Fischer Christian P. , Plomgaard Peter , Krogh-Madsen Rikke , Taudorf Sarah , Lindegaard Birgitte , Pedersen Bente K. 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE—YKL-40 is produced by macrophages, and plasma YKL-40 is elevated in patients with diseases characterized by inflammation. In the present study, YKL-40 was examined in relation to obesity, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Plasma YKL-40 and adipose tissue YKL-40 mRNA levels were investigated in 199 subjects who were divided into four groups depending on the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In addition, plasma YKL-40 was examined in healthy subjects during a hyperglycemic clamp, in which the plasma glucose level was kept at 15 mmol/l for 3 h, and during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.
RESULTS—Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher plasma YKL-40 (76.7 vs. 45.1 ng/ml, P = 0.0001) but not higher expression in adipose tissue YKL-40 mRNA (1.20 vs. 0.98, P = 0.2) compared with subjects with a normal glucose tolerance. Within the groups with normal glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes, obesity subgroups showed no difference with respect to either plasma YKL-40 or adipose tissue YKL-40 mRNA levels. Multivariate regression analysis showed that plasma YKL-40 was associated with fasting plasma glucose (β = 0.5, P = 0.0014) and plasma interleukin (IL)-6 (β = 0.2, P = 0.0303). Plasma YKL-40 was not related to parameters of obesity. There were no changes in plasma YKL-40 in healthy subjects during either hyperglycemic or hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps.
CONCLUSIONS—Plasma YKL-40 was identified as an obesity-independent marker of type 2 diabetes related to fasting plasma glucose and plasma IL-6 levels.
Lymphocytes of Type 2 Diabetic Women Carry a High Load of Stable Chromosomal Aberrations
Authors: Boehm Bernhard O. , Möller Peter , Högel Josef , Winkelmann Bernhard R. , Renner Wilfried , Rosinger Silke , Seelhorst Ursula , Wellnitz Britta , März Winfried , Melzner Julia , Brüderlein Silke 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE—Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of death in women. Oxidative stress due to chronic hyperglycemia leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species and loss of chromosomal integrity. To clarify whether diabetes is a premature aging syndrome, we determined telomere erosion dynamics and occurrence of structural chromosomal aberrations in women of the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) Study.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Telomere lengths and karyotypes were examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Regarding these parameters, surviving and deceased type 2 diabetic women of the LURIC study were compared with nondiabetic LURIC women with or without coronary heart disease and with healthy female control subjects.
RESULTS—Significantly enhanced telomere attrition was seen in all LURIC subjects compared with healthy control subjects. Although the average telomere-length loss is equivalent to well &gt;10 years of healthy aging, telomere erosion was not associated with outcome within the LURIC cohort. However, strikingly high numbers of stable chromosomal aberrations were found in type 2 diabetic women but not in LURIC disease control subjects or in healthy individuals. Furthermore, within the younger age- groups, deceased type 2 diabetes patients had significantly more marker chromosomes than the surviving type 2 diabetic patients.
CONCLUSIONS—All women at high risk for cardiovascular death have accelerated telomere erosion, not caused by type 2 diabetes per se but likely linked to other risk factors, including dyslipidemia. By contrast, the occurrence of marker chromosomes is associated with type 2 diabetes and is a novel risk factor for type 2 diabetes–related early death.
Lessons From the First Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Cell Cycle Control in Rodent Insulinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Cozar-Castellano Irene , Harb George , Selk Karen , Takane Karen , Vasavada Rupangi , Sicari Brian , Law Brian , Zhang Pili , Scott Donald K. , Fiaschi-Taesch Nathalie , Stewart Andrew F. 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE—Rodent insulinoma cell lines may serve as a model for designing continuously replicating human β-cell lines and provide clues as to the central cell cycle regulatory molecules in the β-cell.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We performed a comprehensive G1/S proteome analysis on the four most widely studied rodent insulinoma cell lines and defined their flow cytometric profiles and growth characteristics.
RESULTS— 1) Despite their common T-antigen–derived origins, MIN6 and BTC3 cells display markedly different G1/S expression profiles; 2) despite their common radiation origins, RINm5F and INS1 cells display striking differences in cell cycle protein profiles; 3) phosphorylation of pRb is absent in INS1 and RINm5F cells; 4) cyclin D2 is absent in RINm5F and BTC3 cells and therefore apparently dispensable for their proliferation; 5) every cell cycle inhibitor is upregulated, presumably in a futile attempt to halt proliferation; 6) among the G1/S proteome members, seven are pro-proliferation molecules: cyclin-dependent kinase-1, -2, -4, and -6 and cyclins A, E, and D3; and 7) overexpression of the combination of these seven converts arrested proliferation rates in primary rat β-cells to those in insulinoma cells. Unfortunately, this therapeutic overexpression appears to mildly attenuate β-cell differentiation and function.
CONCLUSIONS—These studies underscore the importance of characterizing the cell cycle at the protein level in rodent insulinoma cell lines. They also emphasize the hazards of interpreting data from rodent insulinoma cell lines as modeling normal cell cycle progression. Most importantly, they provide seven candidate targets for inducing proliferation in human β-cells.
Antecedent Hyperglycemia Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Neutropenic Infections During Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Derr Rachel L. , Hsiao Victoria C. , Saudek Christopher D. 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE—To use bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as a model for testing the association between hyperglycemia and infection.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This cohort study included 382 adults (6.5% with diabetes) who had no evidence of infection before neutropenia during BMT. Mean glucose was calculated from central laboratory and bedside measurements taken before neutropenia; the primary outcome was neutropenic infections.
RESULTS—Eighty-four patients (22%) developed at least one neutropenic infection, including 51 patients (13%) with bloodstream infections. In patients who did not receive glucocorticoids during neutropenia, each 10 mg/dl increase in mean preneutropenia glucose was associated with an odds ratio of 1.08 (95% CI 0.98–1.19) (P = 0.14) for any infection and 1.15 (1.03–1.28) (P = 0.01) for bloodstream infections, after adjusting for age, sex, race, year, cancer diagnosis, transplant type, and total glucocorticoid dose before neutropenia. In those who received glucocorticoids during neutropenia (n = 71), the adjusted odds ratio associated with a 10 mg/dl increase in mean glucose was 1.21 (1.09–1.34) (P &lt; 0.0001) for any infection and 1.24 (1.11–1.38) (P &lt; 0.0001) for bloodstream infections. There was no association between mean glycemia and long length of hospital stay, critical status designation, or mortality.
CONCLUSIONS—In a BMT population highly susceptible to infection, there was a continuous positive association between mean antecedent glycemia and later infection risk, particularly in patients who received glucocorticoids while neutropenic. Tight glycemic control during BMT and glucocorticoid treatment may reduce infections.
The ‘Discovery’ of the Himba: The Politics of Ethnographic Film Making
Authors: Wärnlöf Christofer 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article is concerned with the way an African ethnic group is represented in the medium of television. It is argued, first, that, in the broad spectrum of programmes, ethnographic films will never be in the top rank. Nevertheless, as part of a general range appealing to an intellectual and academic audience, ethnographic films will be competing in this market. One solution is to let ethnographic films become more attractive through a closer resemblance to fictional films. But it creates a dilemma for an ethnographic film screened on television, as it must legitimise its position by differentiating itself from fiction through establishing a certain realism while at the same time employing fictional devices to dramatise ethnographic ‘stories’. This leads to distorted and sometimes racist undertones. The second issue concerns the ambitions of the film team. Their temporary role in the locality becomes political when, as inevitably happens, they favour, and are favoured by, one section of the local community in order to fulfil their mission of producing an ethnographic film. A split in the community is caused by such external forces and justified by the fact that we are all ‘living in a global village’.
Sungusungu: State-Sponsored Village Vigilante Groups Among the Kuria of Tanzania
Authors: Fleisher Michael L. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn the mid-1990s the village vigilantism known as sungusungu emerged, for the first time, in Tarime District, in northern Tanzania, in response to high levels of cattle theft and related violence—not in the form of independently organised but co-operating village vigilante groups, as it had first manifested itself a decade and a half earlier, in west central Tanzania, among the Sukuma and Nyamwezi peoples, but under state sponsorship. This article describes the organisation and operation of this form of state-sponsored vigilantism as it unfolded in a village of the agro-pastoral Kuria people, and argues that, while it offers a number of significant benefits both to the state and to local people, it nonetheless suffers from some of the same weaknesses that plague the official law enforcement system.
Zulu Ritual Immunisation in Perspective
Authors: Jolles Frank , Jolles Stephen 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article arose out of an attempt to quantify the risk of transmitting blood-borne diseases, in particular Hepatitis B and HIV, through the practice of making incisions (umgcabo) and punctures (ukutshobha) in the skin for the purpose of introducing medication (muthi) into the human body. The intention was to examine means of containing the risk. It soon became apparent that the practice of these therapies was inextricably bound up with legal and economic issues arising out of the impact of colonialism on Zulu medicine. Any endeavour to contain them would first have to address these fundamental issues. The article takes a step in that direction by (1) examining in detail some of the practices of diviners and herbalists in their historical context and (2) showing how colonial and post-colonial legislation has affected traditional healers and their clients in rural KwaZulu/Natal.
‘Catch the Cockerel Before Dawn’: Pentecostalism and Politics in Post-Colonial Zimbabwe
Authors: Maxwell David 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe article examines relations between pentecostalism and politics in post-colonial Zimbabwe through a case study of one of Africa’s largest pentecostal movements, Zimbabwe Assemblies of God, Africa (ZAOGA). The Church’s relations with the state change considerably from the colonial to the post-colonial era. The movement began as a sectarian township-based organisation which eschewed politics but used white Rhodesian and American contacts to gain resources and modernise. In the first decade of independence the leadership embraced the dominant discourses of cultural nationalism and development but fell foul of the ruling party, ZANU/PF, because of its ‘seeming’ connections with the rebel politician Ndabiningi Sithole and the American religious right. By the 1990s ZAOGA and ZANU/PF had embraced, each drawing legitimacy from the other. However, this reciprocal assimilation of elites and the authoritarianism of ZAOGA’s leadership are in tension with the democratic egalitarian culture found in local assemblies, where the excesses of leaders are challenged. These alternative pentecostal practices are in symbiosis with radical township politics and progressive sources in civil society. Thus, while pentecostalism may renew the process of politics in Zimbabwe, it may itself be renewed by the outside forces of wider Zimbabwean society.
Ingessana and the Legacy of the Funj Sultanate: The Consequences of Turkish Conquest on the Blue Nile
Authors: Jędrej M. C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFrom a perspective based in ethnographic research this article reviews the historical evidence relating to the social organisation of the southern Funj in the Sudan during the nineteenth century. It goes beyond a characterisation of the region as one of pagan ‘tribes’ more or less successful in resisting subordination by a sophisticated Islamic state to discern a complexity of varied political relations radiating from an elite in a few regional centres and traversing all the communities of the region. The appearance of distinct ethnic groups under the colonial regime of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was preceded by a transitional geo-political division of the population into defiant highlanders and variously servile lowlanders under the Turco-Egyptian government which succeeded the Funj sultanate in the region.
State Policies, Local Prejudices and Cattle Rustling Along the Ghana-Burkina Faso Border
Authors: Tonah Steve 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article briefly discusses the various factors that gave rise to tension in northern Ghana between Fulbe pastoralists coming in from Burkina Faso and the local Kassena farmers (who have livestock of their own). The Ghanaian government's decision in 1988–89 to expel the Fulbe resulted in more problems, not least the dilemma of how to patrol effectively the permeable borderland and the gradual introduction there of modern firearms. In consequence some argue that it is not the policies of conservation that are being called into question but the government's sovereignty.
Contents and Contexts the Rhetoric of Oral Traditions in the ɔman of Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana
Authors: Boni Stefano 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article examines political oral traditions in the Sefwi (Akan) area of Ghana. Two types of narrative are studied: negotiations over the political status of stools within the kingdom and the claims to succession of matrilineal branches within stools. Narratives are analysed in relation to their claims to historicity, to the political conflicts in which they are generated and to their correspondence to legal criteria of attribution of ‘traditional’ political offices. It shows that pre‐colonial dynamic norms concerning stool status and succession turned into a fixed legal corpus in the twentieth century. Contenders’ histories have been used as evidence to judge ‘traditional’ stool disputes. Narrators have thus constructed narratives presenting ideal pasts considered worthy of legal attribution of ‘traditional’ political office. Narratives have consequently legalised narrators’ claims with reference to ancient history. The study of the context of the emergence of oral traditions—hostility between particular stool holders, national politics’ influence or conflicts over the sharing of stool revenue—shows that narratives and political conflicts have a history of their own which is carefully omitted from the narration.
Meret Shehena, ‘Brothers' Land’ S. F. Nadel's Land Tenure on the Eritrean Plateau Revisited
Authors: Tronvoll Kjetil 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article revisits S.F. Nadel's study on land tenure in highland Eritrea from the mid‐1940s, and presents the current framework of the communal land tenure system of meret shehena. Under the meret shehena system, all land under the domain of the village is perceived as the common property of the village inhabitants. To restrict outsiders access to land, habitation rights (tisha) to the villages is guided by agnatic descent, and individuals obtain usufruct rights to land through residence in the village. The article proves that since Nadel's study almost sixty years ago, descent rules defining habitation rights have been changed, in order to restrict distant descendants returning to the village and claiming their land rights. Nevertheless, the overall workings of the system that redistributes all shehena land every seventh year to the village inhabitants, shows a remarkable resemblance to the observations made by Nadel. It appears that the customary operational guidelines of the system are virtually unaffected by wars and political turbulence during the last fifty years, following the core principle that each male adult individual with habitation rights (tisha) who marries and establishes a separate household, will be entitled to an equal share (gibri) of the village land, in order to secure the livelihood of all household members.