bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Juvenile chronic arthritis profile in Greek children
Authors: Dracou Christine , Constantinidou Nikki , Constantopoulos Andreas 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Background:
Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) is the commonest autoimmune rheumatic disease in childhood and presents different clinical subtypes. Juvenile chronic arthritis is considered to be of a polygenic nature and its genetic background is still under investigation. The clinical profile of JCA in the Greek population has not been studied completely. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical and immunological features of JCA in Greek children presented between 1989 and 1994. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐positive or ‐negative associations in the different clinical subtypes were also detected. The findings of this study were correlated with those reported from other populations.
Methods and results:
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) anti‐ds DNA and anti‐extractable nuclear antigen antibodies were estimated by immunofluorescent and ELISA assays. Human leukocyte antigen typing was performed by microlymphocytotoxicity. using immunobeads. The peak ages of JCA onset were between 2 and 5 years and also between 9 and 12 years. There was a high female predominance in pauciarticular and polyarticular groups. The most common disease was pauciarticular (58.7%) followed by systemic (25%) arthritis. The incidence of eye involvement was 12.5% and presented only in the pauciarticular group. Overall, ANA positivity was 53.7%, increasing to 90% in pauciarticular cases associated with chronic uveitis. In the early‐onset (EOPA) pauciarticular subtype, positive‐HLA associations with alleles DR11 and DR8 were shown. In the late onset pauciarticular (LOPA) group only B27 allele was increased.
Conclusions:
The results of this retrospective study did not reveal major differences between JCA in Greek children compared with other Caucasian series.
A simple and efficient purification of transduced cells by using green fluorescent protein gene as a selection marker
Authors: Shimizu Takashi , Ando Kiyoshi , Kimura Minoru , Miyatake Hiroko , Inokuchi Sadaki , Takakura Iwao , Migita Makoto , Shimada Takashi , Kato Shunichi 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Background
: Simple and efficient method for the selection of transduced cells would greatly facilitate the clinical utilization of retrovirus vectors. We developed a therapeutic bicistronic retrovirus vector for Gaucher disease, MFG‐GC‐GFP, which contains the human glucocerebrosidase (GC) gene and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene of the jellyfish Aequorea victoria as a vital selection marker, and investigated its applicability as gene therapy for Gaucher disease.
Methods and Results
: A packaging cell line, GP + envAM12, was transfected with MFG‐GC‐GFP and, thus, produced a high titer recombinant virus (1.0 × 106 c.f.u./mL) in the culture supernatant. The expression level of GFP was correlated with the virus production in cells. The recombinant virus infected skin fibroblasts from a Gaucher patient and a sorted fraction of the cells expressing GFP by flow cytometry exhibited almost a six‐fold higher activity of GC than normal fibroblasts.
Conclusions
: These data indicate that MFG‐GC‐GFP enables the one‐step purification of a transduced fraction of target cells and is, therefore, considered to be a useful therapeutic vector for the experimental gene therapy of Gaucher disease.
Periodic discharge of adrenocorticotropin and vasopressin associated with focal glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Yokoyama Wakako , Fujieda Mikiya , Okada Taisuke , Maeda Haruko , Ushida Miyuki , Machida Yumiko , Naruse Keishi , Maeda Akihiko , Wakiguchi Hiroshi , Kurashige Takanobu 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWe report the first case of the syndrome of periodic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and vasopressin (ADH) discharge associated with focal glomerulosclerosis. Approximately 30 cases of this syndrome have so far been reported in Japan, but no cases associated with renal dysfunction have yet been reported. The patient, a 10‐year‐old Japanese boy, was referred to our hospital because of recurrent attacks of vomiting. He was diagnosed as having this syndrome from clinical and laboratory findings. While various drugs were tried to manage his vomiting attacks, only valproic acid appeared to be effective in reducing the frequency of the attacks. Chronic nephritis was manifested when the patient was 12 years old, which required treatment with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Valproic acid was proved to be effective in reducing the number of attacks over 4 months.
An infant with Costelio syndrome complicated with fatal hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tomita Hideshi , Fuse Shigeto , Ikeda Kazuo , Matsuda Kazuko , Chiba Shunzo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWe report a 3‐month‐old girl with Costelio syndrome complicating fatal hypertrophic obstructive cardio‐myopathy. She had typical findings of this syndrome, slight dyspnea and persistent wheezing. Doppler echocardiography revealed asymmetric septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior movement of the anterior mitral leaflet. There was grade 1 mitral regurgitation. Although once her heart failure had been controlled medically, she died suddenly following deterioration of her heart condition. Costelio syndrome can complicate fatal hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
Subclinical Sjögren's syndrome: A significant 67gallium accumulation in the orbits and parotid glands
Authors: Tanaka Hiroshi , Onodera Norio , Ito Ryosuke , Higuchi Akifumi , Suzuki Yasushi , Monma Nobuhiro , Waga Shinobu 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAn 8‐year‐old girl with hypergammaglobulinemia showed an abnormal 67gallium accumulation in the orbits and parotid glands. Although she did not have any subjective siccant complaints, reported typical histopatho‐logical and sialographs changes suggesting Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) were observed in the salivary glands. Gallium scintigram might be a valuable and non‐invasive diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of children with SjS without sicca symptoms.
Pocket Monster incident and low luminance visual stimuli: Special reference to deep red flicker stimulation
Authors: Takahashi Takeo , Tsukahara Yasuo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractOn the evening of 16 December 1997 approximately 700 people around the nation (mostly children) were rushed to hospitals and treated for seizure symptoms. The youngsters had been watching the vastly popular TV animated cartoon series Pocket Monsters (Pokemon). We designated those individuals as a main group, who presumably had simultaneous occurrence of visually induced seizures. Follow‐up studies revealed that5–10.4% of Pokemon viewers had various minor symptoms not requiring hospital treatment. We designated those as a subgroup. Due to an official report regarding the problematic TV scene as a low luminance, 12 Hz alternating red/blue stimulus, we attempted an accounting of the Pokemon incident, with regard to the main group in particular, on the basis of electroencephalographic activation by use of low luminance 15 Hz deep red flicker stimulation. In order to explain the entire Pokemon incident, including symptoms experienced by individuals of the subgroup, we considered the possibility that some healthy youngsters may have latent photosensitivity and we thought that such a sensitivity might be disclosed by use of low luminance deep red nicker stimulation which is more provocative of photoparoxysmal response than ordinary high luminance stroboscopic intermittent photic stimulation. For prevention of visually induced seizures by TV viewing, we stress that care should be taken to test not only red nicker but also flickering geometric pattern stimuli.
ADOPTING A VALUE‐ADDED TAX IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY*
Authors: Sicat Gerardo P. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThere are many decisions points to consider once a government has decided to put in place a value added tax. Some of these decisions pre‐determine other decisions.In particular, most countries have chosen this VAT to be most suitable: consumption type of VAT designed along the destination principle, and collected by the credit method. Other features tend to be more variable depending on the countries concerned. Most countries would want to adopt the comprehensive VAT, down to the retail level, but practical considerations would necessitate the introduction only of the pre‐retail VAT. The VAT may have a narrower coverage of sectors because of the limitations related to special conditions of small establishments, especially in developing countries and because of the stage of economic activity covered. When these are taken into account, through the technique of exemption, the VAT would tend to be applicable to the more formal sector of the economy that is composed of larger establishments. The simplest VAT would be conceived with a single rate, but intermediate rates may be introduced to accommodate the need to meet social considerations on the burden of the tax.Finally, although this paper dealt with the issues about the introduction of a VAT, the same issues would loom large in any improvements designed to broaden the coverage of an existing VAT. It is likely that the most basic choices will have to be committed at the point of introduction. In that respect, there is some irreversibility in the choice of the type of VAT, the principle upon which it is based, and the method of collecting it. Room for improvement will take place essentially in the coverage of the tax. For instance, this can be in terms of the following: movement towards the comprehensive VAT, in the case of a decision in favor of a pre‐retail level VAT; increase in the coverage of sectors where before the horizontal coverage is narrow; and changes in the level of the tax rate.
CAPITAL FLOWS AND EXPORT EXTERNALITIES: AN EAST ASIAN CURE FOR THE DUTCH DISEASE?*
Authors: Petri Peter A. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe analysis so far suggests several conclusions regarding policy under externalities in tradables production. It shows that conventional profit‐maximizing solutions lead to too much investment, too much “up front” consumption, high period 1 real exchange rates, and underproduction of tradables. In this setting, it is possible that an improvement in an economy's access to foreign capital will lead to welfare losses.These distortions are most efficiently corrected by a tradables output subsidy, equal to the externality. This subsidy should be increased if the economy's access to foreign capital markets improves. In the absence of such subsidies, however, incentives to reduce investment and postpone consumption may be appropriate second‐best policies. These policies, in effect, drive a wedge between rates of return on investment and foreign interest rates. Therefore the optimal policy will also require controls on foreign capital seeking to take advantage of higher interest rates at home than abroad.
LINKAGES: DO FOREIGN FIRMS BUY LOCALLY IN TAIWAN?*
Authors: Schive Chi 
Published: October 2007

SummaryLinkages are important potential impacts of DFI upon host economies. Since these potentialities are not necessarily realized, we must separate the potential (ex ante) and actual (ex post) results of these effects. Empirical data for Taiwan in the 1970s show that DFI may tend to concentrate in industries with strong backward linkages. More significantly, DFI located in EPZs or controlled by non‐Chinese investors had a clear tendency to import more and, hence, to form enclaves. However, this group of firms greatly improved its procurement policies over time. Thus, while discernible in the short run, the enclavistic phenomenon linked to DFI becomes insignificant in the long run, as shown by Taiwan's experience. Needless to say, the gradual rise of the local content rate of foreign firms is in line with successful development of the local material industries in Taiwan in the 1970s (Schive, forthcoming).In addition to the time factor, several firms specific factors such as foreign ownership structure, export propensity, status as a producer of either final or intermediate goods, status as a “neighboring” or “distant” investor, and the scale of operation all have a bearing on foreign firms' local purchasing behavior. To determine whether these findings pertain to Taiwan only, further country comparative studies are needed.
Wage Reform in Singapore
Authors: Beng Chew Soon 
Published: October 2007

Singapore attained self‐government in 1959. Her policy of relying on the MNCs to achieve industrialization has proven to be very successful. The Singapore model shows that economic strategy must be flexible to meet the changing needs of the Singapore economy. One such economic strategy is the wage system.During the period 1959–1990, the wage system in Singapore changed twice, once in 1968, and again in 1985. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we examine the need for wage reform, and secondly to discuss various patterns of flexible wage models in Singapore. The main conclusion is that Singapore's flexible wage models can benefit both the worker and the employer.
CAD For Intelligent Activity of an Autonomous Submersible System
Authors: Russell G T , Lane D M 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper describes a CAD facility for the design of automatic guidance and control strategies for an unmanned autonomous submersible. The facility utilises a three dimensional colour graphics display of the scene and vehicle trajectory, providing a man/ machine interface for the operator in addition to vehicle motion simulation with six degrees of freedom. A primary application envisaged for the CAD facility is in the design of scene analysis algorithms and the intelligent control system structure, for an autonomous submersible employing scanning sonar as its target sensor.
Displaying Random Fields
Authors: Coquillart Sabine 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper presents an algorithm for random fields generation. The main idea of the paper is an improvement of the recursive technique presented by A. Fournier, D. Fussel and L. Carpenter in [4]. In order to ensure the continuity constraints on the boundaries of the cells generated at different stages of the algorithm, we show that it is possible to store the boundary values using a dynamic data structure. Random fields have been successfully used to model height fields or to display synthetic textures. In the second part of this paper we investigate the perspective mapping and clipping stages of random fields generation and display. At the end of the paper, some synthetic skies displayed using this technique are presented.
The Graphics PARCUM* System: A 3D Memory Based Computer Architecture for Processing and Display of Solid Models
Authors: Jackel D. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe concept of a computer architecture for processing and display of spatially ordered data is presented in this paper. The central part of the architecture is a memory cube in which the objects can be processed in their real shape as a three‐dimensional data array. The development has been rendered possible at reasonable costs through the rapid progress in the realm of VLSI‐memory technology.
User Interaction with an Environment for Image Processing and Graphics
Authors: Westrup T D , Kegel W. , Gras J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe Space Telescope Faint Object Camera is one of the most exciting projects in astronomical history, and will expand the volume of the observable universe by a factor of almost one thousand. In order to process the images from this instrument a FOC Image Processing System (FIPS) has been developed at the European Space Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Holland.Amongst other features, such as means to input, display, store, retrieve and output image and graphics data, FIPS places much emphasis on the user interface. The FIPS Command Language (FCL) is based on algorithmic languages such as PASCAL, C, ALGOL, etc, rather than conventional Job Control Languages, and thus includes control statements, compound statements, functions and procedures, assignment statements, etc. These allow the user to define complex functions out of the basic commands and to process for example, sets of images and graphics files without intervention.In addition, FCL allows command parameters to be specified either by default, canonically, by means of keywords, or via prompts to take account of the experience of the user. HELP information can be invoked both at the command and parameter levels, to assist the inexperienced user. As image processing can be time consuming, certain operations (e.g. rotate an image) can be performed asynchronously to avoid delaying interactive user input.Some examples of the practical usage of FIPS are also given, and the paper concludes with an assessment of how well FIPS has met its objectives and what improvements would be beneficial.FIPS is available on a commercial basis from Dynaflow Software Systems. For further information contact J Gras at the address indicated.
A Compressed Data Structure for Surface Representation
Authors: Cottingham Marion S. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractOne of the standard methods of simplifying the task of obtaining a shaded image of a solid object is to represent it by a polyhedron. Another method is to use sculptured surface modelling which represents surfaces by collections of surface patches. Using either method the surfaces can be approximated by facets, which are simple to shade according to photometry information.To obtain a smooth image in regions of high curvature, the surface would typically be required to have hundreds or thousands of facets. Because of the large number of facets involved, it is extremely important that geometrical and topological information is stored in an efficient manner. This information must include all that is required for an unambiguous representation of the solid(s) in question.The compressed data structure (CDS) is suitable for this purpose, and is capable of defining the majority of surfaces. The structure is intended to minimise the amount of data stored, with as much information as possible being implied. The CDS can be easily generated knowing the order of the vertices defining the surface.
APEX and STRETCH: A Practical Form for the Conic Arc
Authors: Gossling T.H. , Stokes S.T.S 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper presents formulae and results from a practical implementation of a conic arc specified in terms of its end‐points and other descriptors, based on the three numeric factors, bulge, shear and squash, described in an earlier paper. The parametric form for the derivative is given, from which are found the normals from a given point to the arc, and formulae for splitting off one or more parts from it. A method of chordal approximation for plotting purposes is also presented, and the effects of applying transformations are discussed.
A Survey of Electronics R and D in the USA
Authors: Prince M.D. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper reviews the large‐scale electronics R&D activities in the United States, with emphasis on microelectronics and computer development. This review serves as useful background in discussing technology trends in computer graphics.The $245,000 million spent by U.S. computer and electronics‐related industry is discussed by categories, and the factors influencing technology development are considered. The U.S. response to the Japanese challenge is reviewed with regard to superspeed and fifth‐generation computers, VLSI chips, and CAD/CAM tools.Various industrial, university, and government activities are discussed. Included are descriptions of the Microelectronics and Computer technology Corp., Semiconductor Research Corp., Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Electronics Computer‐Aided Manufacturing, and Very High Speed Integrated Circuit programs. The VLSI manufacturing and CAD/CAM design goals of these programs for the 1985–1990 period are summarized.It is pointed out that computer graphics technology and general electronics R&D are strongly interrelated. For example. VLSI circuits are utilized for powerful geometry engines in computer graphic systems. Conversely, CAD/CAM based on computer graphics is essential for the design of VLSI circuits.Finally, computer graphics technology trends are summarized in the areas of VLSI usage, display systems, software, and system architecture.
An Edge‐Face Relational Scheme for Boundary Representations
Authors: Ansaldi S. , De Floriani K. , Falcidienc B. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWe propose a relational scheme for representing and modelling regular objects, which is based on the adjacency relations between faces and edges. In this structure, called edge‐face graph, the nodes represent the faces and the arcs the edges of the corresponding object. Other topological entities, such as vertices, loops of edges, and shells, can be obtained from this relational scheme. We give a formal description of the edge‐face graph, and the relationships between its properties and the topological entities of the object are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, a set of basic Euler operators based on the edge‐face adjacency relation is denned, which allow the incremental manipulation of boundary representations of solid objects.
GKS Programming in a PHIGS Environment
Authors: Arnold David B. , Hall Gillian , Reynolds Graham J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractGKS is an international standard for the functional interface to 2D graphics, whilst PHIGS is currently an ISO work item for 2D and 3D graphics. In addition, PHIGS allows improved control over structuring graphics data in the system. With a new work item, the upwards compatability from GKS to PHIGS is being called into question. This paper is an attempt to give direction to these discussions by listing the implications of introducing a software layer between a GKS application program and a PHIGS environment on which this application is to be run. It is intended to highlight differences between the systems and to answer questions such as, “How compatible?”, “Is it possible?”, “How much does the software layer have to do?”, etc.
Arbitrary Area Filling in a Fast Procedure
Authors: Ying Dao‐Ning , Feng Xing 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA representation for area filling is described which allows shading of an area that may have both straight lines and circular arc edges and include holes within its boundaries. For efficiency an elimination algorithm which has a waiting line list and a currently active line list is adopted. For calculating intersections, a more time saving method is used. The algorithm and some practical examples are discussed. The main features of the algorithm are execution with high speed and less storage requirement. The program is written both in BASIC and FORTRAN 77 and could be executed on a microcomputer such as APPLE II, IBM‐P/C etc. The sample outputs shown in this paper are generated by the APPLE II with high efficiency.
Polygonal Clipping of Polylines
Authors: Matthew A.J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA Fortran routine is presented for clipping a polyline to the inside or outside of a polygon, the boundary of the polygon being treated as part of the inside. There is no limitation on the number of sides of the polygon or vectors of the polyline, and no working storage is required. The polygon may have sides that intersect and vertices or sides that coincide with each other.