Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:The receptor for advanced glycation end products—RAGE— is a multi-ligand molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (Neeper et al. 1992; Schmidt et al. 1992, 1994; Thornalley 1998; Baynes 2003).
Category: