bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cliff Richard’s self-presentation as a redeemer
Authors: LÖBERT ANJA 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAlthough tremendously popular, Great Britain’s long-term icon Cliff Richard has been widely neglected by popular music studies. This article aims to correct this omission by introducing an argument that claims that Cliff Richard portrays himself to a considerable degree as a saviour figure. Evidence for this thesis will be drawn from three meaningful dimensions in popular music: song lyrics, pictorial self-representations, and image components. These three areas can be shown to be semantically concordant in presenting Cliff Richard as a redeemer. While the promise of redemption by the singer persona is a recurring motif in his song lyrics, this assurance gets repeated in pictorial representations that make allusions to Jesus Christ (through posture, lighting, and elevation) and is further reinforced by a number of components of Richard’s image such as the (apparently) incorruptible body, the asexuality, and the demonstrative benevolence towards the sick and poor. The combination of these sign-complexes creates a meaningful pattern around the singer that sets him apart as a surrogate saviour.
From market to non-market: An autonomous agent approach to central planning
Authors: GREENWOOD DAN 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn the longstanding debate in political economy about the feasibility of socialism, the Austrian School of Economists have argued that markets are an indispensable means of evaluating goods, hence a prerequisite for productive efficiency. Socialist models for non-market economic calculation have been strongly influenced by the equilibrium model of neoclassical economics. The Austrians contend that these models overlook the essence of the calculation problem by assuming the availability of knowledge that can be acquired only through the market process itself. But the debate in political economy has not yet considered the recent emergence of agent-based systems and their applications to resource allocation problems. Agent-based simulations of market exchange offer a promising approach to fulfilling the dynamic functions of knowledge encapsulation and discovery that the Austrians show to be performed by markets. Further research is needed in order to develop an agent-based approach to the calculation problem, as it is formulated by the Austrians. Given that the macro-level objectives of agent-based systems can be easily engineered, they could even become a desirable alternative to the real markets that the Austrians favour.
Text-based domain ontology building using Tf-Idf and metric clusters techniques
Authors: REZGUI YACINE 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe paper describes the methodology used to develop a construction domain ontology, taking into account the wealth of existing semantic resources in the sector ranging from dictionaries to thesauri. Given the characteristics and settings of the construction industry, a modular, architecture-centric approach was adopted to structure and develop the ontology. The paper argues that taxonomies provide an ideal backbone for any ontology project. Therefore, a construction industry standard taxonomy was used to provide the seeds of the ontology, enriched and expanded with additional concepts extracted from large discipline-oriented document bases using information retrieval (IR) techniques.
The usability of semantic search tools: a review
Authors: UREN VICTORIA , LEI YUANGUI , LOPEZ VANESSA , LIU HAIMING , MOTTA ENRICO , GIORDANINO MARINA 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe goal of semantic search is to improve on traditional search methods by exploiting the semantic metadata. In this paper, we argue that supporting iterative and exploratory search modes is important to the usability of all search systems. We also identify the types of semantic queries the users need to make, the issues concerning the search environment and the problems that are intrinsic to semantic search in particular. We then review the four modes of user interaction in existing semantic search systems, namely keyword-based, form-based, view-based and natural language-based systems. Future development should focus on multimodal search systems, which exploit the advantages of more than one mode of interaction, and on developing the search systems that can search heterogeneous semantic metadata on the open semantic Web.
Kinetic analysis of butyrate transport in human colon adenocarcinoma cells reveals two different carrier-mediated mechanisms
Authors: Lecona Emilio , Olmo Nieves , Turnay Javier , Santiago-Gómez Angélica , López de Silanes Isabel , Gorospe Myriam , Lizarbe M. Antonia 
Published: December 2007

Butyrate has antitumorigenic effects on colon cancer cells, inhibits cell growth and promotes differentiation and apoptosis. These effects depend on its intracellular concentration, which is regulated by its transport. We have analysed butyrate uptake kinetics in human colon adenocarcinoma cells sensitive to the apoptotic effects of butyrate (BCS-TC2, Caco-2 and HT-29), in butyrate-resistant cells (BCS-TC2.BR2) and in normal colonic cells (FHC). The properties of transport were analysed with structural analogues, specific inhibitors and different bicarbonate and sodium concentrations. Two carrier-mediated mechanisms were detected: a low-affinity/high-capacity (Km=109±16 mM in BCS-TC2 cells) anion exchanger and a high-affinity/low-capacity (Km=17.9±4.0 μM in BCS-TC2 cells) proton–monocarboxylate co-transporter that was energy-dependent and activated via PKCδ (protein kinase Cδ). All adenocarcinoma cells analysed express MCT (monocarboxylate transporter) 1, MCT4, ancillary protein CD147 and AE2 (anion exchanger 2). Silencing experiments show that MCT1, whose expression increases with butyrate treatment in butyrate-sensitive cells, plays a key role in high-affinity transport. Low-affinity uptake was mediated by a butyrate/bicarbonate antiporter along with a possible contribution of AE2 and MCT4. Butyrate treatment increased uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner in butyrate-sensitive but not in butyrate-resistant cells. The two butyrate-uptake activities in human colon adenocarcinoma cells enable butyrate transport at different physiological conditions to maintain cell functionality. The high-affinity/low-capacity transport functions under low butyrate concentrations and may be relevant for the survival of carcinoma cells in tumour regions with low glucose and butyrate availability as well as for the normal physiology of colonocytes.
Selective inhibition of binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin to cadherin-like and aminopeptidase proteins in brush-border membranes and dissociated epithelial cells from Bombyx mori
Authors: Ibiza-Palacios M. Sales , Ferré Juan , Higurashi Satoshi , Miyamoto Kazuhisa , Sato Ryoichi , Escriche Baltasar 
Published: December 2007

Binding analyses with denatured epithelial membrane proteins from Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) demonstrated at least two kinds of proteins, APNs (aminopeptidases N) and cadherin-like proteins, as possible receptors for the Cry1A class of Bt toxins. Two alternative models have been proposed, both based on initial toxin binding to a cadherin-like protein, but one involving APN and the other not. We have used two Bombyx mori strains (J65 and Kin), which are highly susceptible to Cry1Ab, to study the role of these two types of receptors on Cry1Ab toxin binding and cytotoxicity by means of the inhibitory effect of antibodies. BBMVs (brush-border membrane vesicles) of strain J65 incubated with labelled 125I-Cry1Ab revealed a marked reduction in reversible and irreversible binding when anti-BtR175 (a cadherin-like protein) was used for BBMV pre-treatment. By contrast, the anti-APN1 antibody specifically affected the irreversible binding, while the reversible binding component was not affected. This is the first time that binding of Cry1Ab to APN1 and to a cadherin-like protein from BBMVs in solution has been shown. Dissociated epithelial cells from the Kin strain were used to test the inhibitory effect of the antibodies on the cytotoxicity of Cry1Ab. Pre-incubation of the cells with the anti-BtR175 antibody conferred protection against Cry1Ab, but not the anti-APN1 antibody. Therefore our results seem to support the two models of the mode of action of Cry1Ab in Lepidoptera, depending on whether BBMVs or intact dissociated cells are used, suggesting that both pathways may co-operate for the toxicity of Cry1A toxins in vivo.
Characterization of a new family of protein kinases from Arabidopsis containing phosphoinositide 3/4-kinase and ubiquitin-like domains
Authors: Galvão Rafaelo M. , Kota Uma , Soderblom Erik J. , Goshe Michael B. , Boss Wendy F. 
Published: December 2007

At least two of the genes predicted to encode type II PI4K (phosphoinositide 4-kinase) in Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress), namely AtPI4Kγ4 and AtPI4Kγ7, encode enzymes with catalytic properties similar to those of members of the PIKK (phosphoinositide kinase-related kinase) family. AtPI4Kγ4 and AtPI4Kγ7 undergo autophosphorylation and phosphorylate serine/threonine residues of protein substrates, but have no detectable lipid kinase activity. AtPI4Kγ4 and AtPI4Kγ7 are members of a subset of five putative AtPI4Ks that contain N-terminal UBL (ubiquitin-like) domains. In vitro analysis of AtPI4Kγ4 indicates that it interacts directly with, and phosphorylates, two proteins involved in the ubiquitin–proteasome system, namely UFD1 (ubiquitin fusion degradation 1) and RPN10 (regulatory particle non-ATPase 10). On the basis of the present results, we propose that AtPI4Kγ4 and AtPI4Kγ7 should be designated UbDKγ4 and UbDKγ7 (ubiquitin-like domain kinases γ4 and γ7). These UBL-domain-containing AtPI4Ks correspond to a new PIKK subfamily of protein kinases. Furthermore, UFD1 and RPN10 phosphorylation represents an additional mechanism by which their function can be regulated.
Voltammetric characterization of the aerobic energy-dissipating nitrate reductase of Paracoccus pantotrophus: exploring the activity of a redox-balancing enzyme as a function of electrochemical potential
Authors: Gates Andrew J. , Richardson David J. , Butt Julea N. 
Published: December 2007

Paracoccus pantotrophus expresses two nitrate reductases associated with respiratory electron transport, termed NapABC and NarGHI. Both enzymes derive electrons from ubiquinol to reduce nitrate to nitrite. However, while NarGHI harnesses the energy of the quinol/nitrate couple to generate a transmembrane proton gradient, NapABC dissipates the energy associated with these reducing equivalents. In the present paper we explore the nitrate reductase activity of purified NapAB as a function of electrochemical potential, substrate concentration and pH using protein film voltammetry. Nitrate reduction by NapAB is shown to occur at potentials below approx. 0.1 V at pH 7. These are lower potentials than required for NarGH nitrate reduction. The potentials required for Nap nitrate reduction are also likely to require ubiquinol/ubiquinone ratios higher than are needed to activate the H+-pumping oxidases expressed during aerobic growth where Nap levels are maximal. Thus the operational potentials of P. pantotrophus NapAB are consistent with a productive role in redox balancing. A Michaelis constant (KM) of approx. 45 μM was determined for NapAB nitrate reduction at pH 7. This is in line with studies on intact cells where nitrate reduction by Nap was described by a Monod constant (KS) of less than 15 μM. The voltammetric studies also disclosed maximal NapAB activity in a narrow window of potential. This behaviour is resistant to change of pH, nitrate concentration and inhibitor concentration and its possible mechanistic origins are discussed.
Atrial natriuretic peptide gene promoter polymorphism is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension
Authors: Xue Hao , Wang Shuxia , Wang Hu , Sun Kai , Song Xiaodong , Zhang Weili , Fu Chunyan , Han Yunfeng , Hui Rutai 
Published: December 2007

Recent studies suggest that the ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide)/NPRA (type A natriuretic peptide receptor) system modulates ventricular remodelling and cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension in Western populations. In the present study, we tested for any association between two SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the ANP gene (one in the promoter and one exonic) with cardiac hypertrophy. We tested the hypothesis in 2118 hypertensive patients, including 945 with LVH [LV (left ventricular) hypertrophy] and 1173 without LVH, as well as 816 healthy control subjects. All subjects were genotyped for the −A2843G and A188G polymorphisms. We found that the GG genotype at position −2843 conferred a 2.2-fold risk for LVH compared with the AA or AG genotypes, including septal wall thickness (11.8±1.4 mm for GG compared with 10.9±1.4 and 10.7±1.3 mm for AA and AG respectively; P&lt;0.01), posterior wall thickness (11.8±2.8 mm for GG compared with 10.6±1.2 and 10.6±1.4 mm for AA and AG respectively; P&lt;0.01), LV mass index (62.7±13.6 g/m2.7 for GG compared with 57.9±8.6 and 57.8±8.4 g/m2.7 for AA and AG respectively; P&lt;0.05) and relative wall thickness (50.7±10.8% for GG compared with 44.3±7.3 and 43.5±6.8% for AA and AG respectively; P&lt;0.05). Plasma levels of ANP were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients with LVH carrying the GG genotypes compared with those carrying the AA or AG genotypes (P&lt;0.01). No association of GG genotype with echocardiographic variables and plasma ANP levels was identified in hypertensive patients without LVH and in control subjects (P&gt;0.05). No significant association between the A188G genotype and echocardiographic variables was found in either hypertensive patients or controls (P&gt;0.05). In conclusion, our findings indicate that the −A2843G polymorphism in the ANP gene promoter might be a genetic risk factor for the development of LVH in patients with hypertension.
Arterial stiffness and haemodynamic response to vasoactive medication in subjects with insulin-resistance syndrome
Authors: Brillante Divina G. , O'Sullivan Anthony J. , Johnstone Martina T. , Howes Laurence G. 
Published: December 2007

INSR (insulin-resistance syndrome) affects 25% of the Australian population and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In the present study, we postulated that early cardiovascular changes in these individuals may be associated with an activated RAS (renin–angiotensin system). We studied 26 subjects: 13 with INSR [waist circumference, 99±6 cm; HOMA (homoeostasis model assessment) score, 2.5±0.3] and 13 NCs (normals controls; waist circumference, 77±2 cm; HOMA score, 1.4±0.2). All received intravenous GTN (glyceryl trinitrate; 10, 20 and 40 μg/min), L-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine; 3 mg/kg of body weight), AngII (angiotensin II; 8 and 16 ng/min), the selective AT2R (AngII type 2 receptor) inhibitor PD123319 (10 and 20 μg/min) and AngII (16 ng/min)+PD123319 (20 μg/min). At the end of each infusion, arterial stiffness indices [SI (stiffness index) and RI (reflection index)] and haemodynamic parameters were measured. There was a significantly higher RI response to AngII (P=0.0004 for both 8 and 16 ng/min doses) and to PD123319 (P=0.004 and P=0.03 for 10 and 20 μg/min doses respectively) in subjects with INSR compared with NCs. Co-infusion of AngII and PD123319 did not lead to additive changes in RI. RI responses to L-NMMA and GTN were not significantly different in both groups. No significant differences in SI and haemodynamic responses were detected. In conclusion, AT1R (AngII type 1 receptor) and AT2R activity produce arterial stiffness changes in subjects with INSR. Evidence of increased AT1R- and AT2R-mediated responses in small-to-medium-sized arteries in INSR was found, and may play an early role in the pathogenesis of vascular changes in INSR before haemodynamic changes become apparent.
Use of multiple fluorophores for evaluating microvascular permeability in control rats and rats with sepsis
Authors: Assaly Ragheb A. , Habib Robert H. , Azizi Mustafa , Shapiro Joseph I. , Dignam J. David 
Published: December 2007

Capillary leak accompanying systemic inflammatory response conditions is a significant clinical problem. In the present study, we describe and verify a method for studying capillary leak that is based on the injection of proteins that differ significantly in size and have spectrally distinguishable fluorophores. Control (n=11) and post-CLP (caecal ligation and puncture; n=14) Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with tracer amounts of albumin and PEG–Alb [albumin covalently linked to methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)] labelled with fluorescein and Texas Red. Blood samples were withdrawn between 5 min and 144 h, and the fluorescence of the labelled proteins was determined. The relative retention of the PEG–Alb and albumin was assessed via measurement of the TER (transcapillary escape rate; in %/h) and the t50% estimate, defined as the time when the actual concentration reached 50% of its baseline. The concentration–time trends for both albumin and PEG–Alb tracers exhibited two-compartmental behaviour and were analysed using bi-exponential modelling. Retention times were significantly greater for PEG–Alb in both control and CLP rats. TERPEG-Alb was significantly lower than TERalbumin for both control (8.1±5.6 compared with 14.8±7.1 %/h respectively; P&lt;0.01) and CLP (14.8±6.6 compared with 22.5±7.3 %/h respectively; P&lt;0.001) rats. The t50%[PEG–Alb] was substantially greater than the corresponding t50%[albumin] for both control (29.8±9.8 compared with 7.2±2.0 h respectively; P&lt;0.001) and CLP (12.9±5.6 compared with 5.1±1.6 h respectively; P&lt;0.001) rats. The result was similar irrespective of the fluorophore–protein combination, validating the multifluorophore technique. In conclusion, the double-fluorophore approach described in the present study may provide the future basis for a method to quantify capillary leak in disease.
Impairment of respiratory muscle function in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Kabitz Hans-Joachim , Schwoerer Anja , Bremer Hinrich-Cordt , Sonntag Florian , Walterspacher Stephan , Walker David , Schaefer Vanessa , Ehlken Nicola , Staehler Gerd , Halank Michael , Klose Hans , Ghofrani Hossein A. , Hoeper Marius M. , Gruenig Ekkehard , Windisch Wolfram 
Published: December 2007

It has been suggested that impaired respiratory muscle function occurs in patients with PH (pulmonary hypertension); however, comprehensive investigations of respiratory muscle function, including the application of non-volitional tests, needed to verify impairment of respiratory muscle strength in patients with PH have not yet been performed. In the present study, respiratory muscle function was assessed in 31 patients with PH (20 females and 11 males; mean pulmonary artery pressure, 51±20 mmHg; median World Health Organization class 3.0±0.5; 25 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and six patients with chronic thromboembolic PH) and in 31 control subjects (20 females and 11 males) well-matched for gender, age and BMI (body mass index). A 6-min walking test was performed to determine exercise capacity. Volitionally assessed maximal inspiratory (7.5±2.1 compared with 6.2±2.8 kPa; P=0.04) and expiratory (13.3±4.2 compared with 9.9±3.4 kPa; P&lt;0.001) mouth pressures, sniff nasal (8.3±1.9 compared with 6.6±2.2 kPa; P=0.002) and transdiaphragmatic (11.3±2.5 compared with 8.7±2.5 kPa; P&lt;0.001) pressures, non-volitionally assessed twitch mouth (1.46±0.43 compared with 0.97±0.41 kPa; P&lt;0.001) and transdiaphragmatic (2.08±0.55 compared with 1.47±0.72 kPa; P=0.001) pressures during bilateral anterior magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation were markedly lower in patients with PH compared with control subjects. Maximal inspiratory mouth (r=0.58, P&lt;0.001) and sniff transdiaphragmatic (r=0.43, P=0.02) pressures were correlated with the 6-min walking distance in patients with PH. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence that respiratory muscle strength is reduced in patients with PH compared with well-matched control subjects. Furthermore, the 6-min walking distance is significantly linked to parameters assessing inspiratory muscle strength.
Non-HDL cholesterol and apoB in dyslipidaemia
Authors: Sniderman Allan D. , Hogue Jean-Charles , Bergeron Jean , Gagné Claude , Couture Patrick 
Published: December 2007

On the basis of a high correlation, non-HDL-C (non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and apoB (apolipoprotein B) have been suggested to be of equivalent value for clinical practice; however, the strength of this relationship has not been examined in detail in patients with dyslipidaemia. The present study examines the variance of non-HDL-C compared with apoB in 1771 consecutive patients evaluated in a lipid clinic. These patients were divided into normolipidaemic subjects (n=407), type I hyperlipoproteinaemia (n=16), type IIa (n=736) and IIb (n=231) hyperlipoproteinaemia, type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (n=38), type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia (n=509) and type V hyperlipoproteinaemia (n=101). The relationship between non-HDL-C and apoB was examined both in terms of correlation and concordance. Correlation was high, but concordance was only moderate in the normolipidaemic subjects and in those with type IIa and type IIb hyperlipoproteinaemia. Correlation and concordance were both low in the subgroups with type III and type V hyperlipoproteinaemia. In those with type IV hyper-lipoproteinaemia, correlation was moderately high (r=0.74), but concordance was only fair. In conclusion, our results indicate that there is substantial variance of apoB for given values of non-HDL-C in many dyslipidaemic subjects. It follows that correlation is not adequate as a sole judge of equivalence of laboratory parameters.
A comparative study of the reported performance of
ab initio
protein structure prediction algorithms
Authors: Helles Glennie 
Published: December 2007

Protein structure prediction is one of the major challenges in bioinformatics today. Throughout the past five decades, many different algorithmic approaches have been attempted, and although progress has been made the problem remains unsolvable even for many small proteins. While the general objective is to predict the three-dimensional structure from primary sequence, our current knowledge and computational power are simply insufficient to solve a problem of such high complexity.
Some prediction algorithms do, however, appear to perform better than others, although it is not always obvious which ones they are and it is perhaps even less obvious why that is. In this review, the reported performance results from 18 different recently published prediction algorithms are compared. Furthermore, the general algorithmic settings most likely responsible for the difference in the reported performance are identified, and the specific settings of each of the 18 prediction algorithms are also compared.
The average normalized r.m.s.d. scores reported range from 11.17 to 3.48. With a performance measure including both r.m.s.d. scores and CPU time, the currently best-performing prediction algorithm is identified to be the I-TASSER algorithm. Two of the algorithmic settings—protein representation and fragment assembly—were found to have definite positive influence on the running time and the predicted structures, respectively. There thus appears to be a clear benefit from incorporating this knowledge in the design of new prediction algorithms.