bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CONSTRUCTING AVATIME: QUESTIONS OF HISTORY AND IDENTITY IN A WEST AFRICAN POLITY,c. 1690s TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Authors: BRYDON LYNNE 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTSmall-scale societies, like Avatime in eastern Ghana, established, maintained and developed themselves in a range of ways, in spaces between large, centralized states, in West Africa in the precolonial era. This essay demonstrates the inclusivity and initiative (in terms of both economic entrepreneurship andbricolage) of this small group before its effective destruction by Asante in about 1870, and looks at the ways in which Avatime was reconstructed in the last third of the nineteenth century. In addition, issues of ethnicity and identity are broadly addressed, comparing Avatime's inclusivity with tropes of difference discussed in recent studies of small-scale societies in this journal.
THE STATE OF THE SUBJECT: A GUINEAN EDUCATOR'S ODYSSEY IN THE POSTCOLONIAL FOREST, 1960–2001
Authors: STRAKER JAY 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTRecent research on twentieth-century Africa has been marked by a surge of interest in autobiographical narrative. While this development is generally praiseworthy, the knowledge it has produced has been uneven, in temporal as well as spatial terms. This article channels the current interest in personal experience and narrative to a place and time where resonances of the ‘common’ voice have been rather weak: the Republic of Guinea, across the final decades of the twentieth century. Foregrounding the autobiographical reflections of a local teacher in the country's southeastern forest region, it forges new perspectives on political subjectivity in Guinea's understudied provinces.
Adult cystic hygroma: successful use of OK-432 (Picibanil®)
Authors: Woolley S L , Smith D R K , Quine S 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective:We report an adult case of cystic lymphangioma treated with OK-432 (Picibanil®).Method:A case report and review of the literature concerning the use of OK-432 to treat cystic lymphangioma is presented.Results:A 31-year-old woman developed a cystic lymphangioma four weeks post-partum. This was treated initially by aspiration, for diagnostic purposes. Investigation suggested that surgery would be challenging. A review of the literature demonstrated success with OK-432 in the treatment of this condition, although primarily in the paediatric population. This patient was successfully treated thus, and at the time of writing remained symptom free. A suggested management plan is outlined.Conclusion:Treatment with OK-432 is useful in the management of cystic lymphangiomas in adults and should be considered as first line treatment.
Diphtheria: a case report
Authors: Khodaei I , Sinha A , Dingle A 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective:We report a case of diphtheria in an elderly patient, with a fatal outcome.Method:Case report and a review of the literature concerning the current recommended guidelines on detection of, and response to, diphtheria.Results:Although still rare, cases of diphtheria are being reported with increasing frequency in the UK, possibly as a result of immigration and travel. A high index of suspicion, rapid detection of carriers, and instigation of treatment and vaccination are the mainstays of management.Conclusion:Diphtheria can mimic other forms of acute upper airway obstruction and can lead to a fatal outcome. Otorhinolaryngological surgeons need to consider this re-emergent disease as a potential diagnosis in patients with an unusual presentation of airway obstruction.
Implosion symmetry of laser-irradiated cylindrical targets
Authors: Ramis R. , Ramírez J. , Schurtz G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe consider the symmetry of cylindrical implosions of laser targets with parameters corresponding to experiments proposed for the LIL laser facility at Bordeaux: eight laser beams in octahedrical configuration, delivering a total of 50 kJ of 0.35 µm laser light in 5 ns, impinging on 1.26 mm diameter polystyrene cylindrical shells filled with deuterium at 30 bar and 5.35 mg cm−3; this configuration allows to place diagnostics along the symmetry axis to evaluate directly the uniformity of implosion. Numerical studies have been carried out by using the hydrodynamic computer codes MULTI and CHIC, including one-dimensional, and two-dimensional R–Z and R–θ simulations. Deuterium is compressed into a 1 mm long and 50 µm diameter filament, with density ranging from 2 to 6 g cm−3 and temperatures above 1000 eV. In spite of the reduced numbers of beams, a good symmetry can be achieved with a careful choice of the irradiation pattern. The heat transport smoothing between laser absorption zone and ablation layer plays a fundamental role in the attenuation of residual non-uniformities. Also, it has been found that the radiation transport determines the radial structure of the compressed filament.
Uncoupled actuation of overconstrained 3T-1R hybrid parallel manipulators
Authors: Lee Chung-Ching , Hervé Jacques M. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYBased on the Lie-group-algebraic properties of the displacement set and intrinsic coordinate-free geometry, several novel 4-dof overconstrained hybrid parallel manipulators (HPMs) with uncoupled actuation of three spatial translations and one rotation (3T-1R) are proposed. In these HPMs, three limbs are those of Cartesian translational parallel mechanisms (CTPMs) and the fourth limb includes an Oldham-type constant velocity shaft coupling (CVSC). The Lie subgroup of Schoenflies (X) displacements of the displacement Lie group and its mechanical generators with nine categories of their general architectures are recalled. A comprehensive enumeration of all possible Oldham-type CVSC limbs is derived fromX-motion generators. Their constant velocity (CV) transmissions are verified by group-algebraic approach. Then, combining one CTPM and one CVSC, we synthesize a lot of uncoupled 3T-1R overconstrained HPMs, which are classified into nine distinct classes of general architectures. In addition, all possible architectures with at least one hinged parallelogram or with one cylindrical pair are disclosed too. At last, related non-overconstrained HPMs are attained by the addition of one idle pair in each limb of the previous HPMs.
Generating basic skills reports for low-skilled readers
Authors: WILLIAMS SANDRA , REITER EHUD 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe describe SkillSum, a Natural Language Generation (NLG) system that generates a personalised feedback report for someone who has just completed a screening assessment of their basic literacy and numeracy skills. Because many SkillSum users have limited literacy, the generated reports must be easily comprehended by people with limited reading skills; this is the most novel aspect of SkillSum, and the focus of this paper. We used two approaches to maximise readability. First, for determining content and structure (document planning), we did not explicitly model readability, but rather followed a pragmatic approach of repeatedly revising content and structure following pilot experiments and interviews with domain experts. Second, for choosing linguistic expressions (microplanning), we attempted to formulate explicitly the choices that enhanced readability, using a constraints approach and preference rules; our constraints were based on corpus analysis and our preference rules were based on psycholinguistic findings. Evaluation of the SkillSum system was twofold: it compared the usefulness of NLG technology to that of canned text output, and it assessed the effectiveness of the readability model. Results showed that NLG was more effective than canned text at enhancing users' knowledge of their skills, and also suggested that the empirical ‘revise based on experiments and interviews’ approach made a substantial contribution to readability as well as our explicit psycholinguistically inspired models of readability choices.
Enzymic Thin Film Coatings for Bioactive Materials
Authors: Tong Xiaodong , Trivedi Archana , Jia Hongfei , Zhang Minjuan , Wang Ping 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBioactive materials have been explored for a broad range of applications including biocatalysts, biosensors, antifouling membranes and other functional and smart materials. We report herein a unique method for preparation of bioactive materials through a spin coating process. Specifically, we investigated the preparation of protease Subtilisin Carlsberg‐coated plastic films and examined their activities for hydrolysis of chicken egg albumin (CEA). The process generated enzymic coatings with a typical loading of 13 μg/cm2, retaining 46% of the enzyme activity for hydrolysis of CEA in aqueous solutions. Interestingly, the surface‐coated protease thin film not only catalyzed the hydrolysis of CEA in aqueous solutions, but also showed good activity for solid‐state CEA that was coated on top of the enzyme thin film.
Muscle‐associated Triglyceride Measured by Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Larson‐Meyer D. Enette , Smith Steven R. , Heilbronn Leonie K. , Kelley David E. , Ravussin Eric , Newcomer Bradley R. ,   The Look AHEAD Adipose Research Group
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Muscle triglyceride can be assessed in vivo using computed tomography (CT) and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), two techniques that are based on entirely different biophysical principles. Little is known, however, about the cross‐correlation between these techniques and their test—retest reliability.Research Methods and Procedures: We compared mean muscle attenuation (MA) in soleus and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles measured by CT with intra‐ and extramyocellular lipids (IMCL and EMCL, respectively) measured by MRS in 51 volunteers (26 to 72 years of age, BMI = 25.5 to 39.3 kg/m2). MA of midthighs was also measured in a subset (n = 19). Test—retest measurements were performed by CT (n = 6) and MRS (n = 10) in separate sets of volunteers.Results: MA of soleus was significantly associated with IMCL (r = −0.64) and EMCL, which by multiple regression analysis was explained mostly by IMCL (p < 0.001) rather than EMCL (β = −0.010, p = 0.94). Muscle triglyc‐eride was lower in TA than in soleus, and MA of TA was significantly correlated with EMCL (r = −0.40) but not IMCL (r = −0.16). By CT, MA of midthighs was correlated with MA in soleus (r = 0.40, p = 0.07) and whole calf (r = 0.62, p < 0.05). Finally, both MA and IMCL were highly reliable in soleus (coefficient of variation = <2% and 6.7%, respectively) and less reliable in TA (4% and 10%, respectively).Discussion: These results support the use of both CT and MRS as reliable methods for assessing skeletal muscle lipid.
Lifetime Weight Patterns in Male Physicians: The Effects of Cohort and Selective Survival
Authors: Barone Bethany B. , Clark Jeanne M. , Wang Nae‐Yuh , Meoni Lucy A. , Klag Michael J. , Brancati Frederick L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The natural history of lifetime weight change is not well understood because of conflicting evidence from cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies. Cross‐sectional analyses find that adult weight is highest at ∼60 years of age and lower thereafter. Longitudinal analyses have not found this pattern. Our objective was to test whether cohort effects and selective survival may explain the differences observed between cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies.Research Methods and Procedures: We analyzed data on white men from the Johns Hopkins Precursors Study (n = 1197). Weight and height were measured at enrollment during medical school. The Precursors Study collected subsequent weight measurements by self‐report and follows all participants for mortality.Results: In preliminary analyses that ignored cohort and survival effects, average weight increased 0.16 kg/yr to age 65 (p < 0.001) and declined 0.10 kg/yr thereafter (p = 0.002). When controlling for differing rates of weight change by cohort and survival group, the apparent decline after 65 years of age was mostly explained.Discussion: These data suggest that, in white men, weight increases steadily until age 65 and then plateaus. These findings emphasize the necessity of longitudinal rather than cross‐sectional data to describe lifetime weight patterns.
Federal Communication about Obesity in the Dietary Guidelines and Checkoff Programs
Authors: Wilde Parke E. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe new Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on obesity prevention. They recommend increased consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and low‐fat dairy products, within a balanced diet whose total calories have been moderately reduced. Meanwhile, other well‐known and well‐funded federally sponsored consumer communications promote increased total consumption of beef, pork, and dairy products, including energy dense foods such as bacon cheeseburgers, barbecue pork ribs, pizza, and butter. These latter communications are sponsored by the federal government's commodity promotion programs, known as “checkoff” programs. The programs are established by Congress, approved by a majority of the commodity's producers, managed jointly by a producer board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and funded through a tax on the producers. The federal government enforces the collection of more than $600 million annually in mandatory assessments, approves the advertising and marketing programs, and defends checkoff communication in court as the federal government's own message—in legal jargon, as its own “government speech.” Federal support for promoting fruits and vegetables is small by comparison. The checkoff programs recently have become more clearly identified as federal programs. After a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of the checkoff programs, calls for consistency with the Dietary Guidelines may get louder. The current inconsistencies in federal communication undermine the effectiveness of the Dietary Guidelines as an antidote to the shortcomings of the private sector market for information about weight and obesity.
Adipose Gene Expression Response of Lean and Obese Mice to Short‐term Dietary Restriction
Authors: van Schothorst Evert M. , Keijer Jaap , Pennings Jeroen L. A. , Opperhuizen Antoon , van, Den Brom Charissa E. , Kohl Thomas , Hal Nicole L. W. Franssen‐van , Hoebee Barbara 
Published: April 2008

AbstractOverweight and obesity lead to higher morbidity risks, which are alleviated even by mild weight loss. To gain insight in the molecular effects of weight loss in adipose tissue, we analyzed the effects of short‐term dietary restriction (DR) on mice fed a low‐fat diet (lean mice) or a high‐fat diet (obese mice). Female C57Bl6/J mice on both diets were on DR until an average body weight loss of 20%, which was achieved in 8 to 12 days depending on body weight at the start of DR. Plasma free fatty acids and blood glucose levels decreased significantly on DR. In the (restricted) low‐fat diet groups, gene expression analysis using adipose‐enriched cDNA microarrays revealed only two transcripts to be significant differentially expressed by DR: up‐regulation of malic enzyme (Mod1) and down‐regulation of major urinary protein 1 (Mup1). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed these findings and showed, for the high‐fat diet groups, an identical expression pattern for Mup1, whereas Mod1 showed an opposed gene expression pattern for the high‐fat diet groups. In conclusion, initial weight loss induces transcriptional changes only in a very small number of adipose genes, which also depends on the (restricted) diet used.
HIV Protease Inhibitor‐Specific Alterations in Human Adipocyte Differentiation and Metabolism
Authors: Kim Roy J. , Wilson Camella G. , Wabitsch Martin , Lazar Mitchell A. , Steppan Claire M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients on antiretroviral regimens frequently develop a syndrome of abnormal fat distribution, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. This lipodystrophic syndrome has been most closely linked to the use of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs). Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain these adverse effects of PIs, based largely on studies of rodent adipocytes. Intriguingly, atazanavir, a newer PI equally effective against HIV, is associated with fewer signs of lipodystrophy. We hypothesized that the less deleterious clinical effects of atazanavir would be reflected in physiological differences observed in PI‐treated adipocytes.Research Methods and Procedures: We compared the effects of atazanavir and an older PI associated with lipodystrophy, ritonavir, on differentiation, gene expression, adipocytokine secretion, and insulin signaling in a human adipocyte cell line.Results: Ritonavir inhibited human adipocyte differentiation and induced apoptosis to a greater extent than atazanavir. Treatment of mature adipocytes with ritonavir, but not atazanavir, also selectively decreased insulin signaling. Moreover, ritonavir also selectively decreased expression of adiponectin, an insulin‐sensitizing adipocytokine, while inducing interleukin‐6, a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in insulin resistance.Discussion: These data suggest that the distinct metabolic side effect profiles of these PIs could be a consequence of their differential effects on adipocyte physiology.
Ethnic Differences in Body Composition and Other Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Study in Matched Haitian and White Subjects from Quebec
Authors: Désilets Marie‐Claude , Garrel Dominique , Couillard Charles , Tremblay Angelo , Després Jean‐Pierre , Bouchard Claude , Delisle Hélène 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectives: People of African descent may be at greater risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) compared with whites. We examined the associations among MS markers, body composition, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in black Haitians and in white subjects living in Quebec, Canada.Research Methods and Procedures: Forty randomly selected Haitians were matched with 40 white subjects for age, sex, and BMI. Glycemic status and insulin resistance were assessed based on a 3‐hour glucose tolerance test. Blood lipids, blood pressure, abdominal fat (computed tomography), and waist circumference (WC) were measured. RMR was estimated by indirect calorimetry.Results: Triglycerides were significantly correlated with blood pressure only in Haitians and with the area under the curve for insulin only in whites. Haitians had significantly (p < 0.05) lower triglycerides and higher high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol concentrations but higher blood pressure than whites at any given WC value. General linear models showed that Haitians had less visceral adipose tissue than whites for the same WC. RMR was lower among Haitians for any given value of BMI or WC than in whites. Also, WC was more strongly associated with glucose area under the curve and to log‐homeostasis model assessment in white than in Haitian subjects.Discussion: The MS may be ethnospecific in its features and etiology. The standard anthropometric indices of obesity may not be as effective in populations of African descent compared with whites, unless appropriate cut‐off values are defined.
Trends in Overweight from 1980 through 2001 among Preschool‐Aged Children Enrolled in a Health Maintenance Organization
Authors: Kim Juhee , Peterson Karen E. , Scanlon Kelley S. , Fitzmaurice Garrett M. , Must Aviva , Oken Emily , Rifas‐Shiman Sheryl L. , Rich‐Edwards Janet W. , Gillman Matthew W. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To examine overweight trends over a 22‐year period among preschool‐aged children from primarily middle‐income families enrolled in a health maintenance organization.Research Methods and Procedures: From well‐child care visits to a Massachusetts health maintenance organization, we randomly selected one visit per child per calendar year, yielding a study sample of 120,680 children seen at 366,109 visits from 1980 through 2001. Using multivariate logistic regression models accounting for repeated observations of individual children across years, we estimated trends in prevalence of overweight (weight‐for‐length/height ≥ 95th percentile) and at‐risk‐for‐overweight (85th to 95th percentile).Results: Over the 22‐year study period, the observed prevalence of overweight increased from 6.3% to 10.0% and at‐risk‐for‐overweight increased from 11.1% to 14.4%. These increases were evident among all groups of children including infants < 6 months of age. Overall, the adjusted odds ratios were 1.21 per decade (95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 1.25) for overweight and 1.06 per decade (95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.08) for at‐risk‐for‐overweight.Discussion: Rates of overweight are increasing in very young children, even infants, from primarily middle‐class families.
Effect of Circulatory Congestion on the Components of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity in Morbid Obesity
Authors: Oppenheimer Beno W. , Berger Kenneth I. , Rennert Douglas A. , Pierson Richard N. , Norman Robert G. , Rapoport David M. , Kral John G. , Goldring Roberta M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Obese patients without clinically apparent heart disease may have a high output state and elevated total and central blood volumes. Central circulatory congestion should result in elevated pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO) and capillary blood volume (Vc) reflecting pulmonary capillary recruitment; however, the effect on membrane diffusion (Dm) is uncertain. We examined DLCO and its partition into Vc and Dm in 13 severely obese subjects (BMI = 51 ± 14 kg/m2) without manifest cardiopulmonary disease before and after surgically induced weight loss.Research Methods and Procedures: DLCO and its partition into Vc and Dm [referenced to alveolar volume (VA)] as described by Roughton and Forster, total body water by tritiated water, and fat distribution by waist‐to‐hip ratio were performed.Results: Despite normal DLCO (mean 98 ± 16% predicted), Vc/VA was increased (mean 118 ± 30% predicted), and Dm/VA was reduced (mean 77 ± 34% predicted). Nine of 13 subjects were restudied after weight loss (mean 52 ± 43 kg); Vc/VA decreased to 89 ± 18% predicted (p = 0.01), and Dm/VA increased to 139 ± 30% predicted (p < 0.01). Increasing total body water was associated with both increasing Vc (r = 0.74, p = 0.01) and increasing waist‐to‐hip ratio (r = 0.65, p = 0.02), indicating that circulatory congestion increases with increasing central obesity.Discussion: Severely obese subjects without manifest cardiopulmonary disease may have increased Vc indicating central circulatory congestion and reduced Dm suggesting associated alveolar capillary leak, despite normal DLCO. Reversibility with weight loss is in accord with reversibility of the hemodynamic abnormalities of obesity.