bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicaments of secularism: Muslim identities and politics in Mumbai
Authors: Hansen Thomas Blom
Published: September 2010

Most of the debate about secularism and the secular state in India has remained at a general level, leaving a great many gaps in our knowledge of the actual meanings and practices associated with secularism in India. This article argues that secularism in India is premised on an unstable separation of a realm of politics from a supposedly unpolitical realm of culture, where communities have been represented in rather static and undifferentiated terms. Discussing ethnographic material from Muslim neighbourhoods in Mumbai the author shows how the separation between ‘pure’ culture and ‘dirty’ politics is breaking down in the face of a new political assertiveness among ordinary, low‐status Muslims. This challenges the position of religious leaders and it also questions widely held assumptions of the relative coherence of the Muslim community.
Cosmic reproduction, economics and politics among the Kulina of Southwest Amazonia
Authors: Lorrain Claire
Published: September 2010

Kulina cosmology legitimates the monopoly of the mystical means of reproduction by male shamans and leaders. This control is accompanied by a degree of manipulation of female sexuality and reproduction by shamanic and other means. It is also correlated with a hierarchical division of labour in which men are primary providers, and leaders are paradigmatic providers. This calls into question the commonly angelic or neo‐Rousseauist vision of the indigenous societies of the Amazon as egalitarian.
A bundle of sticks: the debate over Yolngu clans
Authors: Keen Ian
Published: September 2010

A critique of the clan model as applied in northeast Arnhem Land ethnography has, in turn, drawn a number of critical responses. This article defends the original critique, and takes up points raised in the responses. According to that critique a mismatch between elements of the clan model and Yolngu constructs related to identity, country, and ancestors has generated anomalies. An account of metaphors and other tropes both in Yolngu constructs and anthropological concepts and models supported this contention. This article discusses key points at issue: enclosure and boundaries of groups, descent, the homology of segments, taxonomic levels, corporateness, sets, and networks, the enduring nature of patrifilial identities, and the power of processual models to deal with anomalies. The debate has implications for related models in other regions, and for the nature of anthropological description, translation, and generalization.
Sorcery’s the curse: modernity, envy and the flow of sociality in a Melanesian society
Authors: Eves Richard
Published: September 2010

This article examines the widely reported phenomenon of the efflorescence of magical beliefs and practices, often explained as a response by some societies to their incorporation into the cash and market economy. Rather than accepting this view that the phenomenon is a generalizable response to modernity, I seek to understand it in its own terms as a singular response to the introduction of new forms of wealth into a specific cultural framework. Taking the example of a particular society, the Lelet of Papua New Guinea, I show how the expansion of forms of wealth has led to a loss of control over the processes by which sociality was previously regulated. This discussion proceeds through consideration of Lelet management of valuables and desire, and the importance of visuality in this.
From the body to the wallet: conceptualizing Akan witchcraft at home and abroad
Authors: Parish Jane
Published: September 2010

This article focuses on the way that Akan witchcraft invokes imagery of new forms of modernity, especially a feature of the post‐colonial monetary economy, the credit card. Credit card spending encodes relations within a technological monetary network, and it affects personal relations at home and abroad. The article is based on fieldwork carried out in 1990‐1 at anti‐witchcraft shrines in the Brong‐Ahafo region of Ghana. It looks at young entrepreneurs who work in the large commercial cities, and who visit shrines in the Dormaa‐Ahenkro district in order to buy protection from witchcraft. These young businessmen distinguish between two types of witchcraft and explain how a witch at home, as opposed to a witch abroad, does not have the business acumen or technological knowledge to harm their finances.
Vajra Brother, Vajra Sister: Renunciation, Individualism and the Household in Tibetan Buddhist Monasticism
Authors: Mills Martin A.
Published: September 2010

This article challenges two connected notions in the study of Tibetan Buddhism: that Buddhist monasticism is characterized by a pronounced move towards individualism, systematically detaching monks from relational social life; and that Tibetan Buddhist doctrines of karma represent an alternative mode of identity to those constructed within household life. By comparing the ritual practices and inheritance patterns associated with household groups in Ladakh with tantric ritual forms in local Buddhist (Gelukpa) monasteries, it is argued that they demonstrate pronounced structural similarities, centred on the shared symbolic construct of the household/temple as the source of socialized agency. An analysis of the meditative disciplines of Gelukpa monasticism is used to show how such training serves not to renounce kinship and household values, but to transform them into modes of religious authority, essential to the social position of monks (trapa) and incarnate lamas (tulku) in Tibetan Buddhism.
Risk, Ritual and Performance
Authors: Howe Leo
Published: September 2010

Performance approaches to the interpretation of ritual highlight process, presence, strategy and uniqueness. They are often favourably contrasted to textual approaches said to emphasize meaning, structure and stability. However, this sharp distinction can be maintained only by ignoring the notion of inscription, which is central to text. Inscription is a political process which involves risk, strategy and struggle. Moreover, commonly performance approaches neglect questions of risk in ritual action. Ritual is often seen as suppressing risk, but many rituals are events involving high risk. This article considers various Balinese rituals in which risk is a prominent feature, and suggests ways in which a focus on risk may aid our understanding of ritual.
‘GOVERNING CONSUMPTION’: BUYER‐SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS IN THE INDONESIAN RETAILING BUSINESS
Authors: Hassler Markus
Published: September 2010

The increasing consolidation and concentration of retailing in developed countries has been a major theme within the commodity chain literature. In particular, the emergence of buyer‐driven commodity chains was predominantly linked to the increasing market power of retailers and brand‐name companies in countries such as the United States, the UK, France and Germany. However, the market and retailing structures of developing countries has so far been largely neglected in the commodity chain literature. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the structural components of clothing retailing in Indonesia and to unravel the governance and inter‐firm relationships within the clothing commodity chain of the Indonesian domestic market.
AIRLINE COMPETITION AT EUROPEAN AIRPORTS
Authors: Frenken Koen , Van Terwisga Siebren , Verburg Thijs , Burghouwt Guillaume
Published: September 2010

Hub‐and‐spoke networks of airlines create entry barriers at large hub airports. As a result, deregulation does not necessary lead to more competition. In this paper, airline competition at European airports in the 1990s is analysed. Results show important differences between airports, which are related to size and geography. At most airports, competition increased with the successful entrance of new competitors. Yet, competition decreased at hub airports and at airports in the northern periphery in Europe.
MUTUAL SPECIALISATION, SEAPORTS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF AUTOMOBILE IMPORTS
Authors: Hall Peter V.
Published: September 2010

This paper argues for a more actor‐centred approach in freight transportation studies, one that includes freight shippers and public authorities, as well as carriers, and that pays close attention to the relationships between these actors. One advantage of this approach is that it focuses on the conditions under which global logistics flows may become relatively fixed in particular localities. The perspective is illustrated through a discussion of the geography of port usage by importers of automobiles to the US since 1980. The need to secure space at or near marine terminals for vehicle processing activities is a driving factor in port selection. While the overall trade in automobiles has not become concentrated in fewer ports over the last 20 years, individual firms are concentrating the bulk of their import operations in fewer ports. This mutual specialisation involves a process of interpenetration between actors that is only visible in a disaggregated analysis.
Go for broke or play it safe? Dynamic competition with choice of variance
Authors: Anderson Axel , Cabral Luís M. B.
Published: September 2010

We consider a differential game in which the joint choices of the two players influence the variance, but not the mean, of the one‐dimensional state variable. We show that a pure strategy perfect equilibrium in stationary Markov strategies (ME) exists and has the property that patient players choose to play it safe when sufficiently ahead and to take risks when sufficiently behind. We also provide a simple condition that implies both players choose risky strategies when neither one is too far ahead, a situation that ensures a dominant player emerges “quickly.”
Do investors forecast fat firms? Evidence from the gold‐mining industry
Authors: Borenstein Severin , Farrell Joseph
Published: September 2010

Conventional economic theory assumes that firms minimize costs given output, but news articles and managers indicate that firms cut costs when they are in economic distress and grow fat when they are relatively wealthy. Under conventional theory, firm value is convex in the price of a competitively supplied input or output, but we find that the stock values of many gold‐mining companies are concave in the price of gold. We show that this is consistent with fat accumulation when a firm grows wealthy. We then address alternative explanations and discuss where fat in these companies might reside.
Making a difference
Authors: Francois Patrick
Published: September 2010

Despite the potential for free‐riding, workers motivated by “making a difference” to the mission or output of an establishment may donate labor to it. When the establishment uses performance‐related compensation (PRC), these labor donations closely resemble a standard private provision of public goods problem, and are not rational in large labor pools. Without PRC, however, the problem differs significantly from a standard private provision of public goods situation. Specifically, in equilibrium, there need not be free‐riding, decisions are non‐monotonic in valuations, and contribution incentives are significant even in large populations. When PRC is not used, the establishment tends to favor setting low wages, which helps to select a labor force driven by concern for the firm's output. Expected output can actually fall with the wage in this situation. When wages are optimally set, the introduction of PRC, even if perfect and costless, may lower expected output and firm profits in comparison to the non‐PRC outcome.
Collusion with (almost) no information
Authors: Hörner Johannes , Jamison Julian
Published: September 2010

We analyze noncooperative collusion in an infinitely repeated Bertrand game, where each of the n firms receives a privately observed, i.i.d. cost shock in each period and firms only (and privately) observe whether they have “won” the unit mass of consumers. No other information is available and no communication is allowed. We prove that there exist equilibria in private strategies approximating first‐best profits when firms are sufficiently patient. In particular, productive efficiency obtains in the limit.
End‐of‐Life and Other Ethical Issues Related to Pacemaker and Defibrillator Use in the Elderly
Authors: Basta Lofty L.
Published: September 2010

In the past decade, the rate of implantation of pacemakers and cardioverter‐defibrillators in the elderly with cardiac impairment has soared. As patients near the end of life, interventions become more complicated and expensive, and less effective. In this context, “informed consent” requires consideration of issues different from those faced in more routine settings. Informed consent requires full disclosure, patient competence, and free exercise of will—but in practice, few patients or their families are in a position to make fully informed decisions about highly complex treatments at the end of life. Physicians continue to bear the responsibility of advising patients about sophisticated interventions or, alternatively, palliative care. Physician training, with its narrow focus on the treatment of disease with drugs and technology, has not prepared physicians to advise patients on issues arising from the availability of multiple interventions at the end of life. Professional societies can fill a gap by developing programs and materials to help physicians treat their dying patients in a high‐technology era.
Derivation and characterization of embryonic stem‐like cells of Indian major carp Catla catla
Authors: Dash C. , Routray P. , Tripathy S. , Verma D. K. , Guru B. C. , Meher P. K. , Nandi S. , Eknath A. E.
Published: September 2010

Embryonic stem (ES)‐like cells were derived from mid‐blastula stage embryos of a freshwater fish, catla Catla catla, under feeder‐free condition and designated as CCES cells. The conditioned media was optimized with 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS), fish embryo extract (FEE) having 100 µg ml−1 protein concentration, 15 ng ml−1 basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and basic media containing Leibovitz‐15, DMEM with 4·5 g l−1 glucose and Ham's F12 (LDF) in 2:1:1 ratio using a primary culture of CCES cells. Cells attached to gelatin‐coated plates after 24 h of seeding and ES‐like colonies were obtained at day 5 onwards. A stable cell culture was obtained after passage 10 and further maintained up to passage 44. These cells were characterized by their typical morphology, high alkaline phosphatase activity, positive expression of cell‐surface antigen SSEA‐1, transcription factor Oct4, germ cell marker vasa and consistent karyotype up to extended periods. The undifferentiated state was confirmed by their ability to form embryoid bodies and their differentiation potential.
Prevalence of photodermatosis in four regions at different altitudes in Yunnan province, China
Authors: DENG Danqi , HANG Yuntao , CHEN Hao , LI Hanying
Published: September 2010

Idiopathic photodermatoses are common diseases in dermatology clinics that are associated with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The group includes a few dermatoses such as polymorphous light eruption (PLE) and chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD). The prevalence of PLE and CAD in China has not been previously reported. To investigate the population‐based prevalence of polymorphous light eruption (PLE) and chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) in six minority groups living in four regions with significantly different altitudes in the Yunnan province, a questionnaire survey was administered to 4899 residents of random villages in Yuanjiang county (Dai and Hani minorities), Kunming city (Han people and Yi minority), Lijiang county (Naxi minority), and Shangri‐La county (Zang minority). The altitudes of these counties are 380 m, 1870 m, 2410 m and 3280 m a.s.l., respectively. The results showed that, first, there were 2400 males (49.0%) and 2499 females (51.0%). The prevalence of PLE was 0.65% (32/4899), and the prevalence of CAD was 0.18% (9/4899). PLE was higher among females than males (3.8 vs 1, P < 0.01). The CAD prevalence was not significantly different between males and females (1.6 vs 1, P > 0.05). Second, the prevalence of PLE was increased in higher elevations regions compared to lower elevations (P < 0.01). However, the prevalence of CAD was not significantly different among the four regions (P > 0.05). Third, the mean times of sun exposure for PLE and CAD were 6.0 and 6.5 h/day, respectively. The mean durations of PLE and CAD were 5.8 years, and 6.6 years, respectively. The study demonstrated that the prevalence of PLE is higher than that of CAD in Yunnan, and that the prevalence of PLE is correlated with altitude.
Interactions between epiplakin and intermediate filaments
Authors: WANG Wenqing , SUMIYOSHI Hideaki , YOSHIOKA Hidekatsu , FUJIWARA Sakuhei
Published: September 2010

Epiplakin, a cytoskeletal linker protein, was originally identified as an autoantigen in a serum specimen obtained from a patient with subepidermal blistering disease. To examine the binding ability of epiplakin with intermediate filaments (IF), we performed slot‐blot assays using fusion proteins that included various domains and subdomains of epiplakin. At least two of the 4.6 copies in the B domains of epiplakin were necessary for the binding of fusion proteins to keratin. The repeated structures of linker domains also played an important role in the binding of epiplakin to keratin in these assays while also increasing the repeated structure in the linker domain of epiplakin which is involved in the increased binding to IF. A similar but weaker binding to vimentin and desmin was also detected. These observations indicated that the highly repeated structures of epiplakin in both the B and the linker domains, which is the unique feature of this molecule in the plakin family, play an essential role in the functioning of this molecule.
A case of impetigo herpetiformis associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Authors: FAN Pingshen , GAO Tianwen , LI Miao , LIAO Wenjun , FU Meng , LIU Yufeng , IKEDA Shigaku
Published: September 2010

We herein reported a 26‐year‐old primigravida with impetigo herpetiformis and intrahepatic cholestasis of gestation. She was in gestation for 34 weeks. She had a 5‐month history of pustules on the trunk and limbs that had exacerbated from 1 month before. The jaundice had also emerged lately with increased levels of serous transaminase, bilirubin and bile acid. The histopathology of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of impetigo herpetiformis. After cesarean section and administration of glucocorticoid, the patient totally recovered.
Pressure cutaneous ulcer over a pacemaker successfully treated with left subcostal transplantation in an extremely thin patient
Authors: HAMADA Manabu , KAYASHIMA Miki , URYU Miki , MOROI Yoichi , URABE Kazunori , FURUE Masutaka
Published: September 2010

Implantation of a permanent cardiac pacemaker is becoming common with the increase in the elderly population. A cutaneous ulcer over the pacemaker is a rare complication. Most such cases previously reported demonstrate non‐specific granuloma histologically, negative patch testing of materials used in the device, and no growth in the bacterial culture taken from the generator pocket. To date, the conventional treatments often result in a disap‐pointing outcome. We describe an extremely thin 79‐year‐old Japanese male with a pressure cutaneous ulcer caused by the presence of a pacemaker device. This patient was referred to us with a 1‐month history of repeated cutaneous ulcer and exposure of the cardiac pacemaker in the left pectoral area. Conservative treatment was not effective. Treatment with left subcostal implantation of a new pacemaker, which was not wrapped, and disposition of the electrodes in the subcutaneous tissue of the thorax was successful. Cutaneous manifestations have not recurred for 5 years. Considering the poor condition of the patient, subcostal translocation of the pacemaker was a simple and acceptable treatment for pressure cutaneous ulcer over the pacemaker.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation offers partial relief in notalgia paresthetica patients with a relevant spinal pathology
Authors: ŞAVK Ekin , ŞAVK Öner , ŞENDUR Faruk
Published: September 2010

There is yet no established mode of curative treatment for notalgia paresthetica (NP). We had previously shown a correlation of NP localization with relevant spinal changes which led us to speculate on the possible role of spinal nerve impingement in the pathogenesis of this entity. Based on these findings we aimed to investigate the possible effect of physical therapy in selected cases of NP. Fifteen NP patients with a relevant spinal pathology (four men and 11 women) were included in the study. The mean age was 52.80 ± 8.83 years (± SD; range, 39–73). NP duration was 8.9 ± 8.13 years (range, 1.5–30). All patients received 10 conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) sessions in the symptomatic area of 20 min duration and high frequency (50–100 Hz). From an initial pruritus score of 10, the mean score by the end of first week was 7.67 ± 2.02 (range, 5–10) and by the end of second week it was 6.80 ± 2.73 (range, 4–11). The differences between the pretreatment and post‐treatment scores were statistically significant. There was no correlation of therapeutic benefit with age or disease duration. We believe that the partial therapeutic benefit of TENS in NP patients is of importance and further research on the effects of various physical therapeutic modalities would be worthwhile.
Successful treatment with cyclosporin administration for persistent benign migratory glossitis
Authors: ABE Masatoshi , SOGABE Yoko , SYUTO Tomoko , ISHIBUCHI Hirohisa , YOKOYAMA Yoko , ISHIKAWA Osamu
Published: September 2010

We herein describe a 54 year‐old female patient with a 5‐year history of persistent and painful benign migratory glossitis (BMG), which was remarkably improved by systemic administration of cyclosporin. She had noted some white patches leaving smooth denuded red areas with whitish elevated borders on the dorsum of her tongue, and finally felt strong pain. The lesion was refractory to the previous treatment with topical corticosteroid treatment for the last 2 years. Because clinicopathological findings were compatible with BMG, systemic administration of 20 mg/day prednisolone and topical 0.1% dexamethasone application were started, however, she suffered a severe relapse after tapering the dosage of predonisolone to 10 mg/day. Because some investigations have suggested that BMG is an oral manifestation of psoriasis, we introduced cyclosporin administration. The systemic treatment of cyclosporin microemulsion pre‐concentrate, 3 mg/kg/day, resulted in a satisfactory improvement. Two months later, we could reduce cyclosporin microemulsion pre‐concentrate dosage to 1.5 mg/kg/day for maintenance therapy, and the disease has been well controlled so far.
Isolated double herpes zoster paresis involving the left facial nerve and the right peroneal nerve following disseminated herpes zoster
Authors: TAKAHAMA Hideto , TSUKAHARA Nanako , HIRAYAMA Masatoshi , ITO Satoshi , SAKURAMOTO Chieko
Published: September 2010

A 72‐year‐old Japanese male developed disseminated herpes zoster and could not easily walk due to right drop foot and pain. He soon developed numbness and pain on the left side of his face, and noticed difficulty closing his left eye. The left angle of his mouth drooped. The patient was diagnosed as having a double mononeuropathy (a left facial nerve paresis and a right peroneal nerve paresis) following disseminated herpes zoster. Given that the patient was elderly and had diabetes mellitus, the patient appeared to be an immunocompromised host. We also describe other rare complications of herpes zoster from the published work.
Nodular malignant melanoma with Spitz nevus‐like pathological features finally confirmed by the pathological feature of the sentinel lymph node
Authors: MURAKAMI Masamoto , WADA Takashi , KASHIWAGI Takayuki , ISHIDA‐YAMAMOTO Akemi , IIZUKA Hajime
Published: September 2010

The clinical and histopathological similarities of nodular melanoma and Spitz nevus currently still make a definitive diagnosis difficult. We report here a case of nodular melanoma that was extremely difficult to diagnose both clinically and histopathologically. The primary tumor was a blackish nodule on the scalp and biopsy was performed for pathological diagnosis. Although our first impression was malignant melanoma, we asked two dermatopathologists for second opinions; however, one diagnosed a melanoma and the other a Spitz nevus. Faced with this clinical dilemma, an operation was performed with sentinel node biopsy. Only one sentinel node suggested a metastasis. Histopathological diagnosis to establish whether it was a melanoma metastasis or nodal nevi was also difficult, and we again asked for second opinions from another dermatopathologist in the USA. According to its clinical course and the histopathology of the sentinel lymph node with additional immunohistochemistry, this case was finally diagnosed as a nodular melanoma (T4aN1aM0, stage IIIA). To date, the patient has been given five courses of chemotherapy at 6‐month intervals, with no local recurrence or distant metastases so far.
Sanitary napkin contact dermatitis of the vulva: Location‐dependent differences in skin surface conditions may play a role in negative patch test results
Authors: WAKASHIN Kazuhiro
Published: September 2010

I herein report six Japanese female patients with sanitary napkin contact dermatitis of the vulva. This condition may not be uncommon, although only a few reports have been published in Europe and the USA and none from Asia. Routine patch test with a saline‐soaked fragment of their sanitary napkins conducted on the flexor surface of the upper arm gave negative results in all the patients, although pruritic dermatitis was clinically reproducible, developing in a delayed fashion, 2–4 days after the use of any brands of sanitary napkin. Moreover, this dermatitis could be avoided by using a tampon together with wearing cotton shorts. These observations suggest that it is a kind of irritant dermatitis that is induced by the wet local conditions as well as by friction caused by wearing a sanitary napkin rather than that due to sanitary napkin components. Resistance of the skin against external irritant stimuli is variable among different body sites and the genital skin, which is covered by thin stratum corneum, is thought to have low resistance against various external irritating and mechanical stimuli induced by wearing a sanitary napkin. Moreover, it is reasonable to presume that the proliferation of the resident microorganisms of the genital skin that takes place under the wet conditions produced by the use of the napkin also plays a role in the induction of such a unique contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, the commonly employed patch testing method performed on the skin of the upper limb or back cannot simulate the local situation occurring on the vulva under the sanitary napkin. We are urgently in need of a modification in patch testing method that is suited to reproduce similar dermatitis in other body locations.
Coincidental association of mycosis fungoides and occupational systemic sclerosis?
Authors: YASUDA Masahito , AMANO Hiroo , YAMANAKA Masayoshi , TAMURA Atsushi , ISHIKAWA Osamu
Published: September 2010

We report a 58‐year‐old man with mycosis fungoides (MF) and occupational systemic sclerosis (SSc) induced by silica exposure. He was engaged in tunnel construction from the age of 18 to 33 years. He developed MF at the age of 30. Diagnosis of silicosis was made at the age of 52 and SSc at the age of 58. Physical examinations revealed sclerotic skin changes on his forearms and fingers and poikiloderma on the left popliteal fossa and inguinal region. Both antinuclear antibody and antitopoisomerase‐I antibody were positive. We could find no apparent difference between his clinical features and those of idiopathic SSc except for the presence of silicosis and MF. Systemic therapy with interferon‐γ for MF did not improve the skin sclerosis. We discuss the relationship of silica exposure to both MF and SSc.
Giant epidermal cyst extending from sole to dorsum of the foot by penetrating the interosseous muscles
Authors: OZAWA Toshiyuki , HARADA Teruichi , ISHII Masamitsu
Published: September 2010

We present a 65‐year‐old man with a giant epidermal cyst extending from sole to dorsum of the foot by penetrating the interosseous muscles. This epidermal cyst extending from the sole to the dorsum of the foot was big and an extremely rare lesion.
Nodular melanomas: Analysis of the casistic and relationship with thick melanomas and diagnostic delay
Authors: BETTI Roberto , MARTINO Patrizia , VERGANI Raffaella , GUALANDRI Lorenzo , CROSTI Carlo
Published: September 2010

The present study aimed to: (i) define thick melanomas related to nodular melanomas and other melanoma subgroups; and (ii) establish diagnostic delay in relation to the biological behavior of these melanomas and prevention programs. Cutaneous primary melanomas were studied. Nodular melanoma (NM), lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) were selected. A further category named vertical growth melanoma (VGM) was also utilized. Analysis for sex, age, different values of thickness (1–2 mm, >2 mm; 1–3 mm, >3 mm; >4 mm), delay to diagnosis and patterns of detection were performed in all of the different subtypes. Eighty‐seven patients with melanomas more than 1 mm of Breslow's thickness out of 506 melanoma were collected. Twenty‐six were nodular cases, 39 SSM, five LMM and 17 VGM. Of those patients with NM, 42% had a thickness of more than 1–2 mm, 34% of 2–4 mm, 23% of more than 4 mm; and 54% with 1–3, 46% with more than 3 mm; and 58% with more than 2 mm. Even considering different values of thickness of more than 1 mm, a delay to diagnosis was significantly lower in NM (4.79 months) than in other subgroups. The value of more than 1 mm of Breslow's thickness may be sufficient to consider a melanoma to be thick. The lower diagnostic delay of NM suggests that they represent faster growing lesions probably with a different biological behavior than other melanoma subtypes. VGM should not be confused with NM, having a longer delay and different clinical features compared with the latter. They represent an area of diagnostic carelessness than potentially be improved.
Scleredema diabeticorum successfully treated with ultraviolet A1 phototherapy
Authors: THUMPIMUKVATANA Narumol , WONGPRAPARUT Chanisada , LIM Henry W.
Published: September 2010

Scleredema diabeticorum is an uncommon condition. It is one of the cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus that mainly occurs in obese middle‐aged men with insulin‐resistant diabetes. This condition is generally recalcitrant to therapy. Various treatments have been tried with inconsistent results. Here, we describe two cases of scleredema diabeticorum with substantial clinical improvement from a course of medium dose (60 J/cm2) ultraviolet A1 radiation therapy.
Quality versus quantity: acquisition of coping skills following computerized cognitive–behavioral therapy for substance use disorders
Authors: Kiluk Brian D. , Nich Charla , Babuscio Theresa , Carroll Kathleen M.
Published: September 2010

Aims  To evaluate the changes over time in quality and quantity of coping skills acquired following cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and examine potential mediating effects on substance use outcomes.

Design  A randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of a computerized version of CBT (CBT4CBT) as an adjunct to standard out‐patient treatment over an 8‐week period.

Setting  Data were collected from individuals seeking treatment for substance dependence in an out‐patient community setting.

Participants  Fifty‐two substance abusing individuals (50% African American), with an average age of 42 years, and a majority reporting cocaine as their primary drug of choice.

Measurements  Participants' responses to behavioral role‐plays of situations associated with high risk for drug and alcohol use were audio‐taped and rated independently to assess their coping responses.

Findings  There were statistically significant increases in mean ratings of the quality of participants' coping responses for those assigned to CBT4CBT compared to treatment as usual, and these differences remained significant 3 months after treatment completion. Moreover, quality of coping responses mediated the effect of treatment on participants' duration of abstinence during the follow‐up period.

Conclusions  These findings suggest that assignment to the computerized CBT program improved participants' coping skills, as measured by independent ratings of a role‐playing task. It is also the first study to test and support quality of coping skills acquired as a mediator of the effect of CBT for substance use.
Harsh physical punishment as a specific childhood adversity linked to adult drinking consequences: evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Hui G. , Anthony James C. , Huang Yueqin
Published: September 2010

Aims  The aim of the current study is to estimate the association between childhood physical punishment (CPP) and level of alcohol use disorder (AUD), using two different approaches to take other childhood adversities into account.

Design and setting  Population survey using face‐to‐face interviews to a representative sample of non‐institutionalized adult residents of Beijing and Shanghai, China.

Participants  A total of 5201 participants aged 18–70 years.

Measurements  A version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used. Standardized assessments covered early life experiences of childhood physical punishment, other childhood adversities, parental drinking problems, childhood conduct problems and clinical features of AUD.

Findings  A robust association linking CPP and level of AUD was found, holding other childhood adversities constant (probit coefficient = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.40, 1.00) via covariate terms in structural equations modeling. Furthermore, there was evidence that CPP might exert an additional influence on level of AUD over and above a generally noxious family environment (probit coefficient = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.38).

Conclusions  There appears to be a robust association between reports of harsh punishment in childhood and alcohol dependence in adulthood adjusting for a range of possible confounding factors. Whether the association is causal or whether both are related to a common underlying factor or recall bias needs to be investigated further.
Pathological gambling recovery in the absence of abstinence
Authors: Slutske Wendy S. , Piasecki Thomas M. , Blaszczynski Alex , Martin Nicholas G.
Published: September 2010

Aims  To examine the role of abstinence from gambling versus controlled gambling in recovery from pathological gambling (PG) in a community‐based survey.

Design  Individuals with a life‐time history of PG identified in a community‐based survey were divided into three groups based on their current levels of PG symptoms. These three groups were compared to each other on their past‐year gambling involvement.

Setting  National general population twin survey conducted in Australia.

Participants  Overall, there were 4764 participants in the community‐based survey (mean age 37.7 years, 57.2% women). Among these were 104 participants with a life‐time history of PG; of the 104 with a life‐time diagnosis of PG, 28 had a past‐year diagnosis of PG, 32 had past‐year problem gambling and 44 had no symptoms of PG in the past year (‘recovery’).

Measurements  The measure of PG was based on the NODS (NORC DSM‐IV Screen for Gambling Problems). Past‐year participation in 11 different gambling activities was assessed, as well as the following composite indicators: any gambling, gambling versatility, the number of days and hours spent gambling and the proportion of household income spent on gambling.

Findings  Ninety per cent of those in the recovery group participated in some form of gambling in the past year.

Conclusions  In this general population survey, nearly all the PG recoveries were achieved in the absence of abstinence. Controlled gambling appears to be a popular road to recovery in the community.
The self‐reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users
Authors: Dietze Paul , Stoové Mark , Miller Peter , Kinner Stuart , Bruno Raimondo , Alati Rosa , Burns Lucy
Published: September 2010

Aims  To examine the self‐reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users (IDU) using a standardized instrument and determine the key correlates of variations in self‐reported personal wellbeing.

Design, setting and participants  Cross‐sectional survey of 881 Australian IDU.

Measurements  Self‐reported personal wellbeing collected using the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI).

Findings  IDU scored significantly lower than the general Australian population on the PWI and all subscales. Lower PWI scores were associated with a range of socio‐demographic, drug use and other health and social characteristics. Across all PWI subscales, lower personal wellbeing scores were associated with unemployment, past 6‐month mental health problems and more frequent injecting (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions  The PWI is sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between IDU and the general population, and to identify key correlates of PWI among IDU. Some domains canvassed within the scale, such as health, standard of living and life achievements, are well within the scope of current intervention strategies, such as pharmacotherapy maintenance treatment and housing and employment support services. This suggests that the PWI could be useful in clinical settings by allowing structured identification of the areas of a person's life to be addressed as a part of a treatment regimen. In order to inform targeted prevention and intervention efforts, longitudinal studies of PWI and its correlates among IDU are required.
Reference values for B cell subpopulations from infancy to adulthood
Authors: Morbach H , Eichhorn E M , Liese J G , Girschick H J
Published: September 2010

The composition of the peripheral blood lymphocyte compartment underlies developmental changes during ontogeny. Recently, several new B cell populations have been characterized which were suggested to develop in an age-dependent manner. However, age-dependent reference values for distinct B cell populations have rarely been reported. Therefore, we have characterized developmental changes in peripheral B cell populations from infancy to adulthood in order to define age-dependent reference values. Using a flow cytometric approach we analysed the frequencies as well as the absolute counts of naive, switched and non-switched memory B cells, CD27-negative memory B cells, transitional B cells as well as CD21lowCD38low B cells from neonates up to the age of 50 years. Most of the B cell subsets showed age-dependent developmental changes: while the peripheral B cell pool during infancy is characterized predominantly by transitional and naive B cells, the fraction of switched and non-switched memory B cells increases gradually with age. CD21lowCD38low B cells as well as plasmablasts do not exhibit developmental changes. In summary, we could demonstrate particular changes in the peripheral blood B cell compartment during ontogeny. This study provides reference values of different B cell subpopulations offering comparability for studies addressing disturbed peripheral B cell development in immunodeficiency, autoimmunity or B cell reconstitution following cell-depleting therapies.
Phosphorus exchange properties of European soils and sediments derived from them
Authors: Hartikainen H. , Rasa K. , Withers P. J. A.
Published: September 2010

The sorption and desorption of phosphorus (P) from eroding soil particles in land runoff are important processes contributing to agriculturally‐driven eutrophication. We investigated the P‐exchange properties and related chemical characteristics of contrasting European agricultural soils and sediment material eroded from them under indoor (small‐scale) and outdoor (larger‐scale) rainfall simulations. Quantity‐intensity (Q/I) relationships revealed large variation in equilibrium P concentrations at zero net P sorption (EPC0) (0–10.3 mg l−1) and instantly labile P (−Q0, the amount of P to be desorbed to obtain a P equilibrium concentration of 0 mg l−1) (2–75 mg kg−1), both correlating closely with Al‐bound P and the P saturation degree of Al oxides (DPSAlox). Maximum P sorption (Qmax) (43–515 mg kg−1) also correlated most closely with Alox. The indoor and outdoor rainfall simulations produced sediments with different P sorption properties: in the indoor simulation (less kinetic energy, constant slope), the sediments had larger EPC0 values, and usually larger −Q0 values, than the sediments in the outdoor simulation (greater kinetic energy, variable slopes). Furthermore, the P exchange properties of the sediments differed from those of the bulk soil depending on the enrichment of soil P‐sorption components (Fe/Al oxides, clay). The outdoor simulation indicated that sites with gentle slopes produced sediments that were more enriched with Alox, Feox, Mnox and organic C than those with steeper slopes. In this study, when the bulk soil had an initial EPC0 greater than 1.3 mg l−1, the outdoor rainfall simulation produced sediment with smaller EPC0 and vice versa, indicating that, depending on the P status of the bulk soil, the sediment material was acting as source or sink for P during transport. However, on the basis of their EPC0 values, most eroding sediments might be expected to desorb, rather than adsorb, P when entering surface water.
Preliminary assessment of shallow water fish in three small intermittently open estuaries in southeastern Australia
Authors: GRIFFITHS S. P. , WEST R. J.
Published: September 2010

Abstract Small and juvenile fish from three intermittently open estuaries in south‐eastern Australia were sampled with a seine net to investigate species richness and the effect of estuary openings on assemblages. A total of 7285 fish were captured, representing 29 species. The most numerous fish were hardyhead, Atherinosoma microstoma Günther, flathead gudgeon, Philypnodon grandiceps Krefft, and non‐native mosquito fish, Gambusia holbrooki Girard. Economic species included sand whiting, Sillago ciliata Cuvier, and sand mullet, Myxus elongatus Günther. Significant differences in the numbers of species and the numbers of individuals were found between estuaries, but were not observed for individual estuaries before and after opening. However, fish assemblages changed after opening, with several species recruiting from the ocean. Small, intermittently open estuaries present a complex management problem. These waterbodies are easily degraded in terms of water quality and sedimentation, and are often opened mechanically as a result of flooding or health concerns. The importance of these areas as fish habitats and the recorded changes in fish assemblages after opening suggest that careful management is required, including improved assessment of the impact of entrance manipulation.
Management of haemophilia in developing countries: an Indian experience
Authors: CHOUDHRY V. P. , KASHYAP R. , SAXENA R.
Published: September 2010

Haemophilia A and B remain the most common hereditary bleeding disorders in India, with 58% of the patients being below 10 years of age. CNS haemorrhage was observed in 5.8% and HIV infection was present in 8.7% of the patients. The main source of factor replacement therapy was fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate. Only 48% of the patients with mild to moderate bleeding episodes received adequate factor therapy (more than 80% of the required factor level). Inadequate availability of fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate and the prohibitive cost of commercial concentrate preparation are the chief limiting factors for adequate factor replacement therapy in India.
Pharmacokinetic properties of two factor VIII concentrates with single and double viral inactivation
Authors: SCHULMAN S. , BRACKMANN H.‐H. , SULTAN Y. , MARTINOWITZ U.
Published: September 2010

In order to assess whether addition of a modified pasteurization step to the manufacture of a solvent/detergent‐treated factor VIII concentrate of high purity has affected its properties, three sets of pharmacokinetic studies were performed. In an open, controlled study with seven patients and a double‐blind cross‐over study with nine patients, the pharmacokinetic parameters of the double virus‐inactivated preparation were compared with those of a mono‐inactivated product, using a one‐stage clotting assay. In a longitudinal study comparison was made between baseline and 8 months after treatment with the double virus‐inactivated product in six patients, using three different factor VIII assays. There were no differences in recovery, clearance or half‐life between the single‐ and double‐inactivated products. After 8 months of treatment, the half‐life and mean residence time were longer with the one‐stage clotting assay, whereas the chromogenic assay showed a lower recovery, a faster cleareance and smaller area under the curve with the double virus‐inactivated product. All differences were small and none was consistent in all three methods. In conclusion, the double virus inactivation does not appear to have affected the pharmacokinetic characteristics of this factor VIII preparation.
Morphology of the root canal wall and arrangement of underlying dentinal tubules
Authors: WAKABAYASHI H. , MATSUMOTO K. , NAKAMURA Y. , SHERASUKA T.
Published: September 2010

The morphology of the root canal wall and the arrangement of the dentinal tubules underlying it were investigated in this study. Fifty clinically sound singlerooted human teeth were cut for longitudinal and transverse sections. After dissolving the organic components and removing the smear layer, the specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. In the upper root level, semiglobular calcospherites were present on the canal wall and a convergent arrangement of the dentinal tubules was found on the transverse sections. At the mid root level, an irregular area of calification comprising of campressed calcospherites began to appear on the proximal wall and increased towards the apex. The transverse sections showed the crowding and convoluted arrangement of the dentinal tubules near the canal wall, in the proximal area. A correlation was noticed between the irregular calcification on the wall. These features were common in most of the specimens. This irregular secondary dentine does not appear to be pathological but physiological: associated with the normal ageing of the root.