bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Livelihoods after Land Reform in Zimbabwe: Understanding Processes of Rural Differentiation
Authors: SCOONES IAN , MARONGWE NELSON , MAVEDZENGE BLASIO , MURIMBARIMBA FELIX , MAHENEHENE JACOB , SUKUME CHRISPEN
Published: September 2012

This paper explores the consequences of Zimbabwe's land reform for the dynamics of differentiation in Zimbabwe's countryside, reporting on the results from a 10‐year study from Masvingo province. Based on a detailed analysis of livelihoods across 400 households at 16 sites, the paper offers a detailed typology of livelihood strategies, linked to a class‐based analysis of emerging agrarian dynamics. The paper identifies a significant and successful ‘middle farmer’ group, reliant on ‘accumulation from below’ through petty commodity production, existing alongside other worker‐peasants and the semi‐peasantry, whose livelihoods remain vulnerable, with prospects for accumulation currently limited. In addition, there are others who are ‘accumulating from above’, through patronage and corruption. While small in number, this group has significant political and economic influence, and is embedded in powerful alliances that have fundamental impacts on the wider political–economic dynamics. To conclude, the economic, social and political implications of the emerging patterns of differentiation in Zimbabwe's countryside are discussed.
Changing Land Rights Means Changing Society: The Sociopolitical Effects of Agrarian Reforms under the Government of Evo Morales
Authors: BOTTAZZI PATRICK , RIST STEPHAN
Published: September 2012

Agrarian reform cannot be limited to a linear process of land distribution. It involves a societal restructuration that affects power relations, multi‐level governance structures, the (re)spatialization of juridical legitimacy and symbolic boundaries between sociocultural groups (ethnicity). This paper analyses the consequences of the major Bolivian agrarian reforms of 1953, 1996 and 2006 for the current process of setting up the ‘plurinational’ state under the government of Evo Morales. Using a historical and sociopolitical approach, we show that the ethnically differentiated devolution of individual and collective tenure rights has resulted in an institutional segmentation along ethnic boundaries that gives rise to a growing polarization between the two socially constructed categories of indigenous people and peasants. This institutional segmentation is not limited to agrarian questions but also affects other domains, such as political processes related to territorial autonomies. The current government is trying to maintain a neutral position by giving priority to large‐scale national programmes of economic development.
Effectiveness of Rural Microfinance: What We Know and What We Need to Know
Authors: MARR ANA
Published: September 2012

The effectiveness of rural microfinance in improving livelihoods among people living in rural communities remains uncertain. This is not only because of weaknesses in the design and implementation of microfinance, but perhaps more critically because of constraints in the rural financial environment. Despite the existence of limited rigorous studies, this paper presents state‐of‐the‐art evidence on the impact of microfinance on beneficiaries, with particular emphasis on issues of rural finance, and argues that for microfinance to be more effective, not only do new impact methodologies and more diverse types of financial services need to be developed, but also, primarily, risks and operating costs need to be reduced to make rural clients more attractive to financial intermediaries.
The Role of Microfinance in Contemporary Rural Development Finance Policy and Practice: Imposing Neoliberalism as ‘Best Practice’
Authors: BATEMAN MILFORD
Published: September 2012

Microcredit emerged in the 1970s as a mechanism whereby virtually all poor individuals could supposedly escape their poverty through self‐help and individual entrepreneurship. Crucially, neoliberal policy‐makers found the microcredit concept ideologically compelling, and the international development community soon began to provide massive support to establish and expand the microfinance movement. Today, however, even long‐standing microfinance advocates now reluctantly accept that microcredit has actually had no positive impact upon poverty or ‘bottom‐up’ rural development. In fact, those rural communities most exposed to microcredit have been severely damaged in a number of ways, especially through sub‐prime‐style ‘boom‐to‐bust’ episodes. Largely because of its supreme ideological usefulness, the microfinance movement nonetheless still retains some support in the major neoliberal‐oriented international development institutions, pro‐globalization think‐tanks, and in a number of Western governments.
The Antinomies of ‘Financial Inclusion’: Debt, Distress and the Workings of Indian Microfinance
Authors: TAYLOR MARCUS
Published: September 2012

The concept of ‘financial inclusion’ has become a central trope that legitimates a wide range of contemporary development practices. By constructing a new object of development – the ‘financially excluded’ – it facilitates the expansion of an increasingly corporatized microfinance technocracy. The present paper problematizes the underlying binaries of inclusion/exclusion and formal/informal finance upon which this narrative is based. Through an examination of the 2010 Andhra Pradesh microfinance crisis, it demonstrates key contradictions within the discourse and practices of commercial microfinance. In so doing, it demonstrates why the narrative of financial inclusion and its correlate notion of ‘consumption smoothing’ are inadequate tools with which to conceptualize the political economy of contemporary agrarian change.
ARE FIRM‐ AND COUNTRY‐SPECIFIC GOVERNANCE SUBSTITUTES? EVIDENCE FROM FINANCIAL CONTRACTS IN EMERGING MARKETS
Authors: Francis Bill , Hasan Iftekhar , Song Liang
Published: September 2012

We investigate how borrowers’ corporate governance influences bank loan contracting terms in emerging markets and how this relation varies across countries with different country‐level governance. We find that borrowers with stronger corporate governance obtain favorable contracting terms with respect to loan amount, maturity, collateral requirements, and spread. Firm‐level and country‐level corporate governance are substitutes in writing and enforcing financial contracts. We also find that the distinctiveness of borrowers’ characteristics affect the relation between firm‐level corporate governance and loan contracting terms. Our findings are robust, irrespective of types of regression methods and specifications.
INVESTOR REACTION TO MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM UK DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Authors: Keswani Aneel , Stolin David
Published: September 2012

Existing work on the flow–performance relation in mutual funds focuses on the average U.S. investor, obscuring the contributions of different clienteles. We analyze UK data on monthly fund sales and purchases made via seven distinct distribution channels. We show that there exist marked differences in the reaction to fund performance between different types of retail and institutional investors. These differences can be understood by considering the incentives of parties involved in each channel. Our analysis indicates that the well‐documented aggregate net flow–performance convexity in mutual funds is driven by the extreme reaction of retail inflows to favorable performance, particularly from independently advised investors.
DOES BOARD INDEPENDENCE MATTER FOR CORPORATE INSURANCE HEDGING?
Authors: Zou Hong , Adams Mike , Xiao Jason Zezhong
Published: September 2012

We test the effect of board independence on corporate purchases of property insurance. We find that board independence increases the incidence of property insurance use but does not have a significant effect on the extent of property insurance use given that a firm decides to insure its assets. These findings are consistent with the argument that: (1) more independent boards view it necessary to have property insurance to manage asset‐loss risks and (2) excessive insurance or insurance purchases induced by managerial risk aversion and/or self‐interest does not benefit shareholders and so may not be supported by independent boards.
Qualitative impacts of Senna spectabilis on distribution of welfare: A household survey of dependent communities in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda
Authors: Mungatana Eric , Ahimbisibwe Peter Beine
Published: September 2012

This paper presents the results of a household survey designed to qualitatively evaluate the impacts of the invasive alien species Senna spectabilis on the distribution of welfare across dependent communities in the Budongo Forest Reserve (BFR) in Uganda. The BFR is the largest forest reserve in Uganda, with globally significant conservation values. The study establishes that households in the BFR have high levels of knowledge as to its conservation values; they are aware of the invasiveness of S. spectabilis and its potential to compromise the conservation values of the BFR, and that S. spectabilis confers tangible benefits to dependent households, whose levels significantly vary with proximity to the reserve. The study concludes by evaluating strategies that are designed to manage the spread of S. spectabilis in the BFR and which consider its demonstrated socio‐economic impacts.
Effects of economic growth on biodiversity in the United States
Authors: Czech Brian , Mills Busa Julianne H. , Brown Roger M.
Published: September 2012

For many citizens and policymakers, the empirical relationship between economic growth and biodiversity conservation has not been sufficiently established for purposes of identifying the types of economic policies amenable to biodiversity conservation. Some think economic growth conflicts with biodiversity conservation; others think economic growth conduces biodiversity conservation. With panel data from 1997‐2011, encompassing US continental states, we developed a series of statistical models to investigate the relationships among species endangerment, human population, and economic growth as indicated by GDP and per capita GDP. Species endangerment is highly correlated with population and GDP, and per capita GDP is a significant regressor of species endangerment. Across US continental states, competitive exclusion of non‐human species occurs via human economic growth and population growth.
A clinical pattern‐based etiological diagnostic strategy for sensory neuronopathies: a French collaborative study
Authors: Camdessanché Jean‐Philippe , Jousserand Guillemette , Franques Jérôme , Pouget Jean , Delmont Emilien , Créange Alain , Kuntzer Thierry , Maisonobe Thierry , Abba Karima , Antoine Jean‐Christophe ,   the French CIDP study group
Published: September 2012

Sensory neuronopathies (SNNs) encompass paraneoplastic, infectious, dysimmune, toxic, inherited, and idiopathic disorders. Recently described diagnostic criteria allow SNN to be differentiated from other forms of sensory neuropathy, but there is no validated strategy based on routine clinical investigations for the etiological diagnosis of SNN. In a multicenter study, the clinical, biological, and electrophysiological characteristics of 148 patients with SNN were analyzed. Multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression were used to identify patterns differentiating between forms of SNNs with different etiologies. Models were constructed using a study population of 88 patients and checked using a test population of 60 cases. Four patterns were identified. Pattern A, with an acute or subacute onset in the four limbs or arms, early pain, and frequently affecting males over 60 years of age, identified mainly paraneoplastic, toxic, and infectious SNN. Pattern B identified patients with progressive SNN and was divided into patterns C and D, the former corresponding to patients with inherited or slowly progressive idiopathic SNN with severe ataxia and electrophysiological abnormalities and the latter to patients with idiopathic, dysimmune, and sometimes paraneoplastic SNN with a more rapid course than in pattern C. The diagnostic strategy based on these patterns correctly identified 84/88 and 58/60 patients in the study and test populations, respectively.
Genetic axonal neuropathies and neuronopathies of pre‐natal and infantile onset
Authors: Yiu Eppie M. , Ryan Monique M.
Published: September 2012

The infantile‐onset axonal neuropathies and neuronopathies are an uncommon and heterogeneous group of conditions causing weakness, wasting, and developmental delay in early childhood. Many are associated with central nervous system or other systemic manifestations and cause early mortality. We review the axonal Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth subtypes with onset in infancy, spinal muscular atrophy, and related syndromes of early infancy, giant axonal neuropathy, infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with agenesis of the corpus callosum, early‐onset neuropathies associated with mitochondrial disorders, and other less well‐delineated clinical entities. Useful clinical and neuropathologic features in the diagnostic work‐up of these conditions are also presented.
Exogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) reduces synaptic depression during repetitive stimulation
Authors: Garcia Neus , Santafé Manel M. , Tomàs Marta , Priego Mercedes , Obis Teresa , Lanuza Maria A. , Besalduch Nuria , Tomàs Josep
Published: September 2012

It has been shown that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has trophic and maintenance effects on several types of peripheral and central neurons, glia, and cells outside the nervous system. Both CNTF and its receptor, CNTF‐Rα, are expressed in the muscle. We use confocal immunocytochemistry to show that the trophic cytokine and its receptor are present in the pre‐ and post‐synaptic sites of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Applied CNTF (7.5–200 ng/ml, 60 min–3 h) does not acutely affect spontaneous potentials (size or frequency) or quantal content of the evoked acetylcholine release from post‐natal (in weak or strong axonal inputs on dually innervated end plates or in the most mature singly innervated synapses at P6) or adult (P30) NMJ of Levator auris longus muscle of the mice. However, CNTF reduces roughly 50% the depression produced by repetitive stimulation (40 Hz, 2 min) on the adult NMJs. Our findings indicate that, unlike neurotrophins, exogenous CNTF does not acutely modulate transmitter release locally at the mammalian neuromuscular synapse but can protect mature end plates from activity‐induced synaptic depression.
Early Onset of Drinking and Risk of Heavy Drinking in Young Adulthood—A 13‐Year Prospective Study
Authors: Rossow Ingeborg , Kuntsche Emmanuel
Published: September 2012

Background

Prevention programs often aim at preventing early onset of drinking (EOD) on the grounds that this may curb heavy drinking in adulthood. While many studies have shown an association between EOD and adult alcohol use disorders, these findings could be inflated by retrospective reports or insufficient control for confounders. This study examined the association between EOD behavior assessed in early adolescence and heavy drinking in adulthood, controlling for deviant behavior and parental heavy drinking.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively over a 13‐year period from 1,311 Norwegian school students. At t1 (ages 13 to 14 years), onset of drinking behavior (any drinking and heavy episodic drinking), conduct problems (CP), other problem behaviors, and parental heavy drinking were assessed. At t2 (ages 26 to 27 years), heavy drinking behavior was assessed in terms of heavy episodic drinking frequency and AUDIT score.

Results

EOD behavior was associated with CP, other problem behaviors, and parental heavy drinking in early adolescence. A higher risk of heavy drinking in adulthood was found among those with EOD behavior, yet after control for CP, this association became small and statistically nonsignificant. Among low‐risk individuals (i.e., those with no CP at t1), there was no association between EOD behavior and heavy drinking in adulthood, while there was a significant association among those with CP.

Conclusions

EOD behavior appears not per se responsible for heavy drinking in adulthood unless being part of a broader array of problem behaviors.
Sensitivity and Specificity of a Brief Personality Screening Instrument in Predicting Future Substance Use, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems: 18‐Month Predictive Validity of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale
Authors: Castellanos‐Ryan Natalie , O'Leary‐Barrett Maeve , Sully Laura , Conrod Patricia
Published: September 2012

Background

This study assessed the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), a measure of personality risk factors for substance use and other behavioral problems in adolescence.

Methods

The concurrent and predictive validity of the SURPS was tested in a sample of 1,162 adolescents (mean age: 13.7 years) using linear and logistic regressions, while its sensitivity and specificity were examined using the receiver operating characteristics curve analyses.

Results

Concurrent and predictive validity tests showed that all 4 brief scales—hopelessness (H), anxiety sensitivity (AS), impulsivity (IMP), and sensation seeking (SS)—were related, in theoretically expected ways, to measures of substance use and other behavioral and emotional problems. Results also showed that when using the 4 SURPS subscales to identify adolescents “at risk,” one can identify a high number of those who developed problems (high sensitivity scores ranging from 72 to 91%). And, as predicted, because each scale is related to specific substance and mental health problems, good specificity was obtained when using the individual personality subscales (e.g., most adolescents identified at high risk by the IMP scale developed conduct or drug use problems within the next 18 months [a high specificity score of 70 to 80%]).

Conclusions

The SURPS is a valuable tool for identifying adolescents at high risk for substance misuse and other emotional and behavioral problems. Implications of findings for the use of this measure in future research and prevention interventions are discussed.
The Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Psychopathology and Behavior
Authors: Ware Ashley L. , O'Brien Jessica W. , Crocker Nicole , Deweese Benjamin N. , Roesch Scott C. , Coles Claire D. , Kable Julie A. , May Philip A. , Kalberg Wendy O. , Sowell Elizabeth R. , Jones Kenneth Lyons , Riley Edward P. , Mattson Sarah N.
Published: September 2012

Background

This study examined prevalence of psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems in children with and without prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

Primary caregivers of 344 children (8 to 16 years, M = 12.28) completed the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children‐IV (C‐DISC‐4.0) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Subjects comprised 4 groups: AE with ADHD (AE+, n = 85) and without ADHD (AE−, n = 52), and nonexposed with ADHD (ADHD, n = 74) and without ADHD (CON, n = 133). The frequency of specific psychiatric disorders, number of psychiatric disorders (comorbidity), and CBCL behavioral scores were examined using chi‐square and analysis of covariance techniques.

Results

Clinical groups had greater frequency of all psychiatric disorders, except for anxiety, where the AE‐ and CON groups did not differ. There was a combined effect of AE and ADHD on conduct disorder. For comorbidity, children with ADHD had increased psychiatric disorders regardless of AE, which did not have an independent effect on comorbidity. For CBCL scores, there were significant main effects of AE and ADHD on all scores and significant AE × ADHD interactions for Withdrawn/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Attention, and all Summary scores. There was a combined effect of AE and ADHD on Externalizing, Total Problems, and Attention Problems.

Conclusions

Findings indicate that ADHD diagnosis elevates children's risk of psychiatric diagnoses, regardless of AE, but suggest an exacerbated relation between AE and ADHD on conduct disorder and externalizing behavioral problems in children. Findings affirm a poorer behavioral prognosis for alcohol‐exposed children with ADHD and suggest that more than 1 neurobehavioral profile may exist for individuals with AE.
Resting Metabolic Rate in Old‐Old Women with and without Frailty: Variability and Estimation of Energy Requirements
Authors: Weiss Carlos O. , Cappola Anne R. , Varadhan Ravi , Fried Linda P.
Published: September 2012

Objectives

To measure resting metabolic rate (RMR) in old‐old adults living in the community and examine the association between measured RMR and frailty status and compare it with expected RMR generated by a predictive equation.

Design

Physiological substudy conducted as a home visit within an observational cohort study.

Setting

Baltimore City and County, Maryland.

Participants

Seventy‐seven women aged 83 to 93 enrolled in the Women's Health and Aging Study II.

Measurements

Resting metabolic rate with indirect calorimetry, frailty status, fat‐free mass, ambient and body temperature, expected RMR according to the Mifflin‐St. Jeor equation.

Results

Average RMR was 1,119 ± 205 kcal/d (range 595–1,560 kcal/d). Agreement between observed and expected RMR was biased and poor (between‐subject coefficient of variation 38.0%, 95% confidence interval = 35.1–40.8). Variability of RMR was greater in frail individuals (heteroscedasticity F‐test P = .02). Low and high RMR were associated with being frail (odds ratio 5.4, P = .04) and slower self‐selected walking speed (P < .001) after adjustment for covariates.

Conclusion

Equations to predict RMR that are not validated in old‐old adults appear to correlate poorly with measured RMR. RMR is highly variable in old‐old women, with deviations from the mean predicting clinical frailty. These exploratory findings suggest a pathway to clinical frailty through high or low RMR.
Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation in Older Adults: Literature Review and Proposal of a Conceptual Framework
Authors: Clark James H. , Yeagle Jennifer , Arbaje Alicia I. , Lin Frank R. , Niparko John K. , Francis Howard W.
Published: September 2012

Objectives

To review studies investigating cochlear implant (CI) outcomes in older adults, and to develop a conceptual framework demonstrating important interactions between characteristics of hearing disability, aging, and the CI intervention.

Design

Review of English literature with titles containing the words “cochlear implant” and generic term referring to older adults or numerical value for age greater than 65.

Results

Hearing loss is a prevalent consequence of aging and poses special challenges for older adults. Particularly when superimposed on other age‐related conditions, presbycusis (age‐related hearing loss) places older adults at risk for social isolation and associated psychological and general health sequelae. The increasing cognitive demand of verbal communication and the diminished sense of social and physical connectedness can contribute to a feeling of vulnerability and poor health that worsens with advancing presbycusis. This cascade of downstream effects of hearing loss has implications for the self‐assessment of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and resulting estimates of associated costs. There is accumulating evidence of a potential role for CI in older adults with poor word understanding despite conventional hearing aid use. This review of the literature provides strong evidence of the benefits of restoring communication capacity in the deaf and hard‐of‐hearing geriatric population. There is, however, a lack of attention to communication performance in the real world and HRQoL outcomes, and significant gaps in knowledge regarding how CI rehabilitation interacts with changing psychosocial and functional status with aging.

Conclusion

A broader conceptual framework than is currently available for the role of CI rehabilitation in the management of severe‐to‐profound hearing loss in older adults is proposed. It is posited that the use of such a model in future investigations is needed to guide multidisciplinary investigations into the unique challenges of hearing loss in older adults and may open new opportunities for innovation.
Legal issues with volunteered geographic information
Authors: Scassa Teresa
Published: September 2012

Volunteered geographic information (VGI) is a relatively new and rapidly developing activity with varying degrees of organization and legal sophistication that involves host sites, contributors, and users. VGI related activities raise a variety of legal issues, from intellectual property to liability, defamation, and privacy. These issues may affect the rights and obligations of all those who use or participate in VGI activities. This article provides an overview of some of these legal considerations from the perspectives of the host, contributor, and user respectively.
Fabrication and Formation Mechanism of B4C–TiB2 Composite by Reactive Spark Plasma Sintering Using Unmilled and Mechanically Activated Reactants
Authors: Nikzad Leila , Orrù Roberto , Licheri Roberta , Cao Giacomo
Published: September 2012

The fabrication of dense submicrometer grained B4C–TiB2 composite (molar ratio equal to 1:1) is investigated in this work through the combination of mechanical (Ball Milling) and electric current (spark plasma sintering or SPS) activation of Ti, B, and graphite reactants. The full conversion of 8 h milled powders is obtained at much lower temperature (about 1200°C), as compared with simply blended reactants (>1600°C). The formation of TiB2 generally precedes that of B4C. In addition, regardless of the milling treatment, an increase in the heating rate during SPS is found to produce a transition of the mechanism governing the formation of TiB2 and B4C, from gradual solid–solid to rapid combustion‐type behavior. Nevertheless, when unmilled powders are used, not negligible amounts of unreacted and intermediate species are still present in the product resulting after the combustion synthesis event. In contrast, ball milled powders reacted completely under combustion regime, even when relatively milder heating rate conditions are adopted. As a consequence of the mechanical treatment, SPS product density increases from about 82% to 94% of the theoretical value (I = 1100 A). Correspondingly, a material with homogeneous phase distribution and grain size down to 100–200 nm is obtained. In this regard, when a combustion synthesis regime is established, a slight coarsening in product microstructure (1–2 μm) is observed. A further improvement of product density (higher than 96.5%) is obtained, at the expenses of a certain grain growth, when the applied current intensity is augmented to 1200 A.
Archetypes: Toward a Jungian Anthropology of Consciousness
Authors: Laughlin Charles D. , Tiberia Vincenza A.
Published: September 2012

It is very curious that C.G. Jung has had so little influence upon the anthropology of consciousness. In this paper, the reasons for this oversight are given. The archetypal psychology of Jung is summarized and shown to be more complex and useful than extreme constructivist accounts would acknowledge. Jung's thinking about consciousness fits very well with a modern neuroscience view of the psyche and acts as a corrective to relativist notions of consciousness and its relation to the self.
Rosuvastatin‐attenuated heart failure in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats via PKCα/β2 signal pathway
Authors: Qiu Zhaohui , Zhang Wenbin , Fan Fan , Li Hua , Wu Chaoneng , Ye Yong , Du Qijun , Li Zheng , Hu Xiaona , Zhao Gang , Sun Aijun , Bao Zhijun , Ge Junbo
Published: September 2012

There are controversies concerning the capacity of Rosuvastatin to attenuate heart failure in end‐stage hypertension. The aim of the study was to show whether the Rosuvastatin might be effective or not for the heart failure treatment. Twenty‐one spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) aged 52 weeks with heart failure were randomly divided into three groups: two receiving Rosuvastatin at 20 and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively, and the third, placebo for comparison with seven Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKYs) as controls. After an 8‐week treatment, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and echocardiographic features were evaluated; mRNA level of B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and plasma NT‐proBNP concentration were measured; the heart tissues were observed under electron microscope (EM); myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (SERCA‐2) activity and mitochondria cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) activity were measured; the expressions of SERCA‐2a, phospholamban (PLB), ryanodine receptor2 (RyR2), sodium–calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and protein phosphatase inhibitor‐1 (PPI‐1) were detected by Western blot and RT‐qPCR; and the total and phosphorylation of protein kinase Cα/β (PKCα/β) were measured. Aged SHRs with heart failure was characterized by significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening, enhanced left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter and LV Volume, accompanied by increased plasma NT‐proBNP and elevated BNP gene expression. Damaged myofibrils, vacuolated mitochondria and swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum were observed by EM. Myocardium mitochondria CCO and SERCA‐2 activity decreased. The expressions of PLB and NCX1 increased significantly with up‐regulation of PPI‐1 and down‐regulation of CaMKII, whereas that of RyR2 decreased. Rosuvastatin was found to ameliorate the heart failure in aged SHRs and to improve changes in SERCA‐2a, PLB, RyR2, NCX1, CaMKII and PPI‐1; PKCα/β2 signal pathway to be suppressed; the protective effect of Rosuvastatin to be dose dependent. In conclusion, the heart failure of aged SHRs that was developed during the end stage of hypertension could be ameliorated by Rosuvastatin.
Malignant transformation of adenomyoepithelioma of the breast by a monophasic population: a report of two cases and review of literature
Authors: Marian Cristina , Boila Adela , Soanca Daniela , Malau Minerva , Podeanu Daniela Maria , Resetkova Erika , Stolnicu Simona
Published: September 2012

Two cases of adenomyoepithelioma of the breast with malignant transformation by monophasic population of cells are presented. The underlying benign adenomyoepithelioma with typical biphasic architectural pattern was identified and represented at least 30% of the tumor in each case. In both cases, malignant portion of tumor was composed of relatively uniform monophasic population of highly atypical cells. The malignant component in case 1 was positive for pan cytokeratin, myoepithelial markers, and basal‐type cytokeratins and also focally positive for luminal‐type of cytokeratins, but negative for hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone) and HER‐2/neu protein overexpression. The malignant component in case 2 was positive for spectrum of myoepithelial markers but negative for luminal cytokeratins, hormone receptors and HER‐2/neu protein overexpression. The bilinear immunophenotype in the case 1 suggests that the malignant tumor may have developed from precursor multipotent cells that can differentiate into both luminal epithelial and myoepithelial cells, although malignant component in case 2 appears to be the of pure myoepithelial phenotype.
From the bottle to the skin: challenges in evaluating antioxidants
Authors: Chen Lucy L. , Wang Steven Q.
Published: September 2012

Endogenous production and ultraviolet‐generated free radicals in the skin can lead to photoaging and even skin cancer. Topical antioxidants have been found to provide benefits against ultraviolet damage and these ingredients have been incorporated into various cosmetic products and claimed to have substantial effects. Currently, there is a lack in a standardized rating system to measure the concentration and activity levels of antioxidants in these products. As a result, it is difficult for consumers and clinicians to evaluate and select commercial products based on readily accessible evidence. In this review, we will describe four assays which have been used to measure antioxidants in various products, and the strengths and weaknesses of each test will be detailed. We will highlight key considerations for clinicians when interpreting the results of antioxidant tests when evaluating commercial products containing antioxidants.
Ciprofloxacin‐induced phototoxicity in an adult cystic fibrosis population
Authors: Tolland Julia P. , Murphy Bryan P. , Boyle Julie , Hall Valerie , McKenna Kevin E. , Elborn J. Stuart
Published: September 2012

The incidence of phototoxicity as a side effect of ciprofloxacin appears to be increased in patients with cystic fibrosis compared to the general population (approximately 2.4%). We used an interview‐based questionnaire to determine the incidence of such phototoxic skin reactions in cystic fibrosis patients. Results from 105 respondents revealed the incidence of ciprofloxacin‐induced phototoxicity in the adult cystic fibrosis population in Northern Ireland to be 48.4% with only 66% of the patients recalling being given sun care information beforehand. We concluded that the incidence of phototoxicity is increased in patients with cystic fibrosis and that it is important for all to receive good sun care information prior to taking ciprofloxacin given the high risk of developing phototoxic rash.
Ambulatory photodynamic therapy using low irradiance inorganic light‐emitting diodes for the treatment of non‐melanoma skin cancer: an open study
Authors: Ibbotson Sally Helen , Ferguson James
Published: September 2012

Background/Purpose

Conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. We studied low irradiance PDT using an ambulatory inorganic light‐emitting diode.

Methods

Fifty‐three patients with 61 lesions [superficial basal cell carcinoma (n = 30), Bowen's disease (n = 30), and actinic keratosis (AK; n = 1)] were studied. Two treatments of ambulatory PDT were undertaken 1 week apart (one treatment for AK). Clinical response was determined at 3 months, and the treatment cycle was repeated if there was residual disease. The endpoints assessed were pain during treatment (numerical rating scale (NRS); 0–10) and outcome at 1 year. Twenty‐three of these patients also received conventional PDT to separate lesions.

Results

The median NRS pain scores during first and second treatment were 2 (range 0–9) and 4 (0–9), respectively. Lesion clearance rate at 1 year after ambulatory PDT was 84% (21/25 lesions in 22 patients). Of the twenty‐three patients treated with both ambulatory and conventional PDT, the median NRS was 1 (0–7) and 5 (1.5–9), respectively, with most patients preferring ambulatory PDT.

Conclusion

Ambulatory PDT is effective for superficial non‐melanoma skin cancer, with 1 year clearance rates comparative to conventional PDT. Low irradiance ambulatory PDT may be less painful and more convenient than conventional PDT.
Narrowband UVB as an effective substitute for psoralen plus UVA: lessons from a psoralen shortage
Authors: Drucker Aaron M. , Baibergenova Akerke , Rosen Cheryl F. , Shear Neil H.
Published: September 2012

From March to August 2010, there was a shortage of encapsulated liquid 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP), the psoralen used for bath psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) in Toronto, Canada. Patients were forced to discontinue bath PUVA treatment and were transitioned to other therapeutic modalities, including narrowband UVB (nbUVB). A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who discontinued bath PUVA due to the unavailability of 8‐MOP, with a focus on those who were switched to nbUVB. Sixty‐three patients discontinued PUVA, 39 of whom were switched to nbUVB. Fifteen of 17 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) who were switched to nbUVB improved, and patients with earlier‐stage disease were more likely to improve. Ten of 13 (77%) psoriasis patients improved with nbUVB, including two patients whose psoriasis cleared completely. All three small‐plaque parapsoriasis patients who switched to nbUVB had complete clearance of their lesions. In conclusion, nbUVB may be a suitable alternative for patients with MF, small‐plaque parapsoriasis and psoriasis who cannot access PUVA therapy.
Is the pain of topical photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate any different from that with 5‐aminolaevulinic acid?
Authors: Ibbotson Sally H. , Valentine Ronan , Hearn Ross
Published: September 2012

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) or methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is widely used in dermatology. It is commonly stated that MAL PDT is less painful than ALA PDT, although published data are conflicting. We report our experience of the use of ALA (4–6 h) (n = 20) and MAL (3 h) (n = 20) in 40 consecutive patients with Bowen's disease or superficial basal cell carcinoma, treated with PDT using an identical irradiation regime. Although there was a trend to higher pain scores with ALA PDT [visual analogue scale (VAS)score, median 4.50], this was not significantly different from that of MAL PDT (VAS score, median 3.55; P = 0.98), nor considered to be clinically important. Importantly, both ALA and MAL PDT regimes were fairly well tolerated in this patient cohort, supporting the use of these prodrugs in dermatological PDT.
Genetic study in a Singaporean patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria
Authors: Chuah Sai Yee , Tee Shang‐Ian , Pramono Zacharias Aloysius Dwi , Theng Colin Thiam Seng
Published: September 2012

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of haem biosynthesis resulting from a partial decrease in ferrochelatase (FECH) activity which leads to the excessive accumulation of protoporphyrin in blood, erythrocytes and tissues. Cutaneous manifestations of photosensitivity usually appear in early infancy upon the first sun exposures. This normally requires the co‐inheritance of a common hypomorphic FECH allele and a deleterious FECH mutation. Here, we report the first Singaporean Chinese patient with EPP characterized at the molecular level.
Broad band UVA: a possible reliable alternative to PUVA in the treatment of early‐stage mycosis fungoides
Authors: El Mofty Medhat , Ramadan Shahira , Fawzy Marwa M. , Hegazy Rehab A. , Sayed Safinaz
Published: September 2012

UVA1 phototherapy was found to induce marked improvement in skin lesions of patients with stages IA and IB mycosis fungoides (MF). Broad band UVA (BB‐UVA) is composed of 80.1% UVA1, with similar mechanisms of action. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of BB‐UVA in the treatment of early‐stage MF. Thirty patients with early stage MF were included. They were divided into two equal groups receiving either BB‐UVA at 20 J/cm2/ session or PUVA three times/week for 40 sessions. Clinical and histopathological evaluations were performed before and after therapy in addition to immunohistochemical measurement of CD4+ cells and Bcl‐2. Patients were followed up for an average duration of 36 months. Comparable clinical and histopathological improvement was noted in MF patients in both groups. Clinical improvement graded ‘Excellent’ was achieved in 33% of patients in the BB‐UVA versus 13.3% in the psoralen and UVA (PUVA) group. Long‐term follow‐up indicated superiority of BB‐UVA over PUVA. BB‐UVA group showed a more rapid clearance rate, shorter time to achieve complete clearance, a longer disease‐free interval and lower relapse rate. The use of BB‐UVA in the treatment of early‐stage MF is comparable or even superior to PUVA regarding efficacy and remission periods.
History of the Dental Trauma Guide
Authors: Andreasen Jens Ove , Ahrensburg Søren Steno
Published: September 2012

Abstract –  The history of the Dental Trauma Guide dates back to 1965, where guidelines were developed for trauma records and treatment of various trauma entities at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital in Copenhagen. In 1972, a unique possibility came up at the Serum Institute in Copenhagen to test various dental trauma procedures in monkeys, which served as kidney donors in the polio vaccine production. Over the years, 40 000 dental trauma patients were treated at the Trauma Centre according to established guidelines, and 4000 of these have been enrolled in long‐term follow‐up of various trauma entities. This has resulted in 79 clinical studies, and 64 studies in monkeys have examined the effect of various treatment procedures and the aetiology of most healing complications.
Sexual Desire and Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women. Introduction and Overview. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP Part 1)
Authors: Bitzer Johannes , Giraldi Annamaria , Pfaus Jim
Published: September 2012

Introduction

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition as persistent or recurrent deficiency (or absence) of sexual fantasies/thoughts, and/or desire for or receptivity to sexual activity, which causes personal distress. As a largely subjective experience, sexual desire may or may not be accompanied by externally observable changes in sexual behavior.

Aim

Describe the models of understanding HSDD and the contributing factors to provide the basis for a diagnostic interview and guidance for care for healthcare professionals as a standard operating procedure method. Review of the literature.

Results

There are several models which have been developed to describe sexual desire, although there is still no universally accepted definition or description of it. The models are generally divided into more general twofactor models (e.g., excitation–inhibition, appetitive–consummatory) or more specific multifactorial models (in which the differentcomponents of sexual activity and their interaction are delineated). The etiology of the disorder is generally considered as multifactorial. Biomedical factors like diseases, drugs, and hormones, and psychological factors like life events, sexual biography, affective state, etc., as well as interpersonal factors like partner satisfaction, communication, duration of the relationship, and sociocultural factors interact with each other and contribute to the individualexperience of desire or lack or absence of desire. In analogy to the multifactorial pathogenesis the therapeutic approach is usually multidimensional and includes basic counseling, individual and couple psychotherapy, hormonal and psychopharmacological treatment.

Conclusion

The standard operation procedure for HSDD in women must be based on a biopsychosocial, multidimensional, and integrative perspective.
Satellite‐based Studies on Large‐Scale Vegetation Changes in ChinaF
Authors: Zhao Xia , Zhou Daojing , Fang Jingyun
Published: September 2012

Remotely‐sensed vegetation indices, which indicate the density and photosynthetic capacity of vegetation, have been widely used to monitor vegetation dynamics over broad areas. In this paper, we reviewed satellite‐based studies on vegetation cover changes, biomass and productivity variations, phenological dynamics, desertification, and grassland degradation in China that occurred over the past 2–3 decades. Our review shows that the satellite‐derived index (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) during growing season and the vegetation net primary productivity in major terrestrial ecosystems (for example forests, grasslands, shrubs, and croplands) have significantly increased, while the number of fresh lakes and vegetation coverage in urban regions have experienced a substantial decline. The start of the growing season continually advanced in China's temperate regions until the 1990s, with a large spatial heterogeneity. We also found that the coverage of sparsely‐vegetated areas declined, and the NDVI per unit in vegetated areas increased in arid and semi‐arid regions because of increased vegetation activity in grassland and oasis areas. However, these results depend strongly not only on the periods chosen for investigation, but also on factors such as data sources, changes in detection methods, and geospatial heterogeneity. Therefore, we should be cautious when applying remote sensing techniques to monitor vegetation structures, functions, and changes.

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[ Jingyun Fang (Corresponding author)]
Clinical Effects of Pulse High‐Volume Hemofiltration on Severe Acute Pancreatitis Complicated With Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
Authors: Chu La‐Ping , Zhou Jun‐Jing , Yu Ya‐Fen , Huang Yang , Dong Wen‐Xia
Published: September 2012

To evaluate the effects of pulse high‐volume hemofiltration (PHVHF) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Thirty patients were divided into two groups: PHVHF group and continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) group. They were evaluated in terms of clinical symptoms, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, simplified acute physiology (SAPS) II score and biochemical changes. The levels of IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α in plasma were assessed by ELISA before and after treatment. The doses of dopamine used in shock patients were also analyzed. In the two groups, symptoms were markedly improved after treatment. Body temperature (BT), breath rate (BR), heart rate (HR), APACHE II score, SOFA score, SAPS II score, serum amylase, white blood cell count and C‐reactive protein were decreased after hemofiltration (P < 0.05). The PHVHF group was superior to the CVVH group, especially in APACHE II score, CRP (P < 0.01), HR, temperature, SOFA score and SAPS II score (P < 0.05). The doses of dopamine for shock patients were also decreased in the two groups (P < 0.05), with more reduction in the PHVHF group than the CVVH group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α decreased (P < 0.05) in the PHVHF group more significantly than the CVVH group (P < 0.01). PHVHF appears to be superior to CVVH in the treatment of SAP with MODS.
An ultraviolet flux drop preceding the X-ray hard-to-soft state transition during the 2010 outburst of GX 339–4
Authors: Yan Zhen , Yu Wenfei
Published: September 2012

The black hole X-ray transient GX 339−4 was observed with the Swift satellite across the hard-to-soft state transition during its 2010 outburst. The ultraviolet (UV) flux measured with the filter UVW2 of the Swift/UVOT started to decrease nearly 10 days before the drop in the hard X-ray flux when the hard-to-soft state transition started. The UV flux, FUV, correlated with the X-ray flux, FX, as FUV0.50±0.04X before the drop in the UV flux. During the UV drop lasting about 16 days, the X-ray flux in 0.4–10 keV was increasing. The drop in the UV flux indicates that the jet started to quench 10 days before the hard-to-soft state transition seen in X-rays, which is unexpected.
Using Stormwater Hysteresis to Characterize Karst Spring Discharge
Authors: Toran Laura , Reisch Chad E.
Published: September 2012

Discharge from karst springs contains a mixture of conduit and matrix water, but the variations in groundwater mixing are poorly known. Storm events present an opportunity to try to map flow components because water entering during storms is more dilute and provides a tracer as it mixes with pre‐event water along the flowpath from the recharge area to discharge at a spring. We used hysteresis plots of Mg/Ca ratios in a spring in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania to map conduit (higher Ca) vs. diffuse (higher Mg) sources of recharge. We observed two types of temporal heterogeneity: within a storm event and from storm to storm. The timing of the variation in Mg/Ca suggested sources of mixing waters. An increase in the Mg/Ca ratio at the beginning of some storms while conductivity declined suggested diffuse recharge through the epikarst. The rapid changes in Mg/Ca ratios for low‐intensity events probably occurred as the rainfall waxed and waned and illustrate that a variety of flowpaths are available at this spring because additional flushing of Mg occurred. In contrast, the conductivity hysteresis began with dilute water initially and rotation was similar from storm to storm. Hysteresis plots of the Mg/Ca ratio have the potential of revealing more of the complexity in discharge than conductivity alone. A better understanding of flow components in karst is needed to protect these aquifers as a groundwater resource.