bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil nitrogen dynamics three years after a severe Araucaria–Nothofagus forest fire
Authors: RIVAS Y. , HUYGENS D. , KNICKER H. , GODOY R. , MATUS F. , BOECKX P.
Published: April 2011

Wildfires have shaped the biogeography of south Chilean Araucaria–Nothofagus rainforest vegetation patterns, but their impact on soil properties and associated nutrient cycling remains unclear. Nitrogen (N) availability shows a site‐specific response to wildfire events indicating the need for an increased understanding of underlying mechanisms that drive changes in soil N cycling. In this study, we selected unburned and burned sites in a large area of the National Park Tolhuaca that was affected by a stand‐replacing wildfire in February 2002. We conducted net N cycling flux measurements (net ammonification, net nitrification and net N mineralization assays) on soils sampled 3 years after fire. In addition, samples were physically fractionated and natural abundance of C and N, and 13C‐NMR analyses were performed. Results indicated that standing inorganic N pools were greater in the burned soil, but that no main differences in net N cycling fluxes were observed between unburned and burned sites. In both sites, net ammonification and net nitrification fluxes were low or negative, indicating N immobilization. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that soil N cycling could largely be explained by two parameters: light fraction (LF) soil organic matter N content and aromatic Chemical Oxidation Resistant Carbon (CORECarom), a relative measure for char. The LF fraction, a strong NH4+ sink, decreased as a result of fire, while CORECarom increased in the burned soil profile and stimulated NO3‐ production. The absence of increased total net nitrification might relate to a decrease in heterotrophic nitrification after wildfire. We conclude that (i) wildfire induced a shift in N transformation pathways, but not in total net N mineralization, and (ii) stable isotope measurements are a useful tool to assess post‐fire soil organic matter dynamics.
Lessons for pediatric anesthesia from audit and incident reporting
Authors: Bell Graham
Published: April 2011

This review will attempt to put the various systems that allow clinicians to assess errors, omissions, or avoidable incidents into context and where possible, look for areas that deserve more or less attention and resource specifically for those of us who practice pediatric anesthesia. Different approaches will be contrasted with respect to their outputs in terms of positive impact on the practice of anesthesia. These approaches include audits by governmental organizations, national representative bodies, specialist societies, commissioned boards of inquiry, medicolegal sources, and police force investigations. Implementation strategies are considered alongside the reports as the reports cannot be considered end points themselves. Specific areas where pediatric anesthetics has failed to address recurring risk through any currently available tools will be highlighted.
Canine conjunctival mast cell tumors: a retrospective study
Authors: Fife Matthew , Blocker Tiffany , Fife Tina , Dubielzig Richard R. , Dunn Karen
Published: April 2011

Objective To describe signalment, clinical presentation, treatment, recurrence rate, and outcome of canine conjunctival mast cell tumors (MCTs).

Design Retrospective study.

Procedures Canine cases were selected from the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin, Eye Path Lab of the UK, and California Eye Care for Animals. Thirty‐two canine patients were identified as having a MCT presumed to be arising primarily from the conjunctiva. Data were collected from pathology submission request forms; additional information was collected by means of a questionnaire distributed to the veterinary ophthalmologist or veterinarian who performed the surgery. Data collected included age, gender, breed, location of tumor, dimensions of tumor, duration and growth rate, additional diagnostics, surgical descriptions, adjunctive treatment, histologic description, special stains, number of recurrences, and final outcome.

Results Thirty‐two dogs with 33 conjunctival MCTs meeting search criteria were identified. All dogs underwent surgical excision as the primary treatment. Surgical margins were evaluated for 30 tumors and were reported as: incomplete margins in 25 cases, narrow in four cases and complete in one case. Histologic grade was provided for 33 of 33 MCTs and included 10 low (30%), 18 intermediate (55%) and five high‐grade (15%) tumors. Follow up information was received for 25 dogs. Four died of unrelated causes, two had local recurrence, 15 were currently disease free (mean 21.4 months postoperatively) and four were reported to be disease free at the reported rechecks but were lost to long term follow up (mean 13 months postoperatively). No dogs in the study were identified that died of MCT related disease.
Choroidal melanocytoma in a cat
Authors: Semin Marie O. , Serra Fabienne , Mahe Vincent , Deviers Alexandra , Regnier Alain , Raymond‐Letron Isabelle
Published: April 2011

An 11‐year‐old male, neutered European cat was presented for anisocoria due to pupillary dilation in the right eye. Ophthalmic findings were restricted to this eye and consisted of a raised, darkly pigmented, retrolental mass associated with retinal detachment. Ultrasonography identified the mass lesion protruding into the vitreous cavity from the posterior pole of the eyeball and confirmed the detachment of the retina. A tentative diagnosis of an intraocular tumor was made. Radiographic evaluation and retromandibular lymph node cytology did not reveal evidence of distant metastasis. Orbital exenteration of the affected eye was performed and the tumor was diagnosed as a choroidal melanocytic tumor with no criteria of malignancy (melanocytoma). The cat died 5 months later from renal lymphoma, and necropsy did not detect metastasis of the melanocytic tumor. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of feline choroidal melanocytoma.
Evaluation of the ocular penetration of topical alpha‐luminol (Galavit®/GVT®)
Authors: da Silva Enry G. , Gionfriddo Juliet R. , Hudachek Susan F. , Gustafson Daniel L. , Olea‐Popelka Francisco J. , Scofield Virgina L. , Powell Cynthia C. , Hill Ashley E.
Published: April 2011

Purpose  Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. It has also been implicated as part of the pathogenic mechanisms in the development of glaucoma. Alpha‐luminol has shown profound anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects in both experimental animal and human clinical studies. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate for the first time the ocular penetration of topical alpha‐luminol.

Methods  Nine animals were divided into three treated groups (three animals each; one drop OU/n = 18), each group receiving a different concentration of the eyedrop (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%). Aqueous humor and peripheral blood samples were obtained from each rabbit at three different timepoints (20 min, 4 h and 12 h). Samples were analyzed by means of high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry; median values were compared.

Results  Alpha‐luminol was found in the aqueous humor in all treated groups at all timepoints. At the 2nd and 3rd timepoints (4 h and 12 h), aqueous humor levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for two of the three dosages tested and it was not detectable in some eyes. The highest aqueous humor concentration of the drug was 272 ng/mL after 20 min (0.0217% of one drop, 2.5% group). Alpha‐luminol was found in the vitreous in two animals, one in the 1.5% and another in the 2.5% group (16.4 and 21.5 ng/mL, respectively), at 12 h.

Conclusions  Topically administered alpha‐luminol readily penetrates into the anterior chamber and can penetrate into the vitreous chamber. Further investigation is warranted to better understand the intraocular pharmacokinetics of alpha‐luminol.
Conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora in healthy horses in the UK
Authors: Johns Imogen C. , Baxter Katherine , Booler Helen , Hicks Charlotte , Menzies‐Gow Nicola
Published: April 2011

Objectives  To describe the bacterial and fungal flora of the normal conjunctiva of horses in the UK; to determine the effect of horse age, sex, geographic location, and housing on this flora; and to determine the most appropriate antimicrobial drug(s) for prophylactic treatment of corneal ulcers.

Animal studied  A total of 60 adult healthy horses were studied.

Procedure  Swabs of the conjunctiva were obtained from 60 horses housed in two locations within the UK. Specimens were cultured for aerobic bacteria and fungi, and sensitivity against six ophthalmic antimicrobials assessed. The effect of age, sex, location and housing on the frequency of microbial isolation was evaluated.

Results  Fifty‐four bacterial isolates, representing thirteen genera of bacteria were cultured from 31 (52%) horses. The most frequently isolated bacterial species was Acinetobacter sp (17/32 horses). The majority of isolates (28/54: 52%) were gram‐positive. Three genera of fungi (Mucor, Absidia and Aspergillus spp) were isolated from eight (13%) horses. There was no significant effect of geographic location, sex, age or housing on frequency of microbial isolation. Horses from which gram‐negative bacteria were isolated were significantly older than horses from which gram‐positive bacteria were isolated. High efficacy (greater than 90% of isolates sensitive in vitro) was displayed by chloramphenicol, gentamicin and tetracycline.

Conclusions  The microbial species isolated are comparable with studies performed in other countries, although the frequency of Acinetobacter isolation was higher which may reflect a geographic difference. The topical antimicrobials gentamicin and chloramphenicol are appropriate first line antimicrobials for empirical treatment of corneal ulcers in the UK.
Post‐traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidality in inpatients with substance use disorders
Authors: DORE GLENYS , MILLS KATHERINE , MURRAY ROBIN , TEESSON MAREE , FARRUGIA PHILIPPA
Published: April 2011

Introduction and Aims. The international literature suggests that traumatic events are common for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), and are often associated with the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric comorbidities. However, limited research has been conducted among Australian SUD patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of these disorders in a group of Australian patients admitted for detoxification.

Design and Methods. Data were collected from 253 inpatients using a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, the 10‐item Trauma Screening Questionnaire, the Zung Self‐rating Depression Scale and questions from the PsyCheck.

Results. Approximately 20% of inpatients experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 37% had a lifetime history of self‐harm or attempted suicide. Approximately 80% of patients had experienced at least one traumatic event, most experiencing multiple traumas. The mean age of first trauma was 14 years. Almost 45% of patients screened positive for current PTSD symptoms. Women were nine times more likely to have been raped and five times more likely to have been sexually molested than men. PTSD symptoms were associated with greater trauma exposure, younger age of first trauma, specific trauma types, moderate to severe depressive symptoms and a history of self‐harm or attempted suicide. Despite their difficulties, patients with PTSD symptoms had high rates of retention in treatment.

Discussion and Conclusions. Patients entering treatment for SUDs should be assessed for PTSD, depression and suicidality. These conditions impact significantly on treatment outcomes, and require the development of appropriate treatment strategies.[Dore G, Mills K, Murray R, Teesson M, Farrugia P. Post‐traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidality in inpatients with substance use disorders. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:294–302]
Body mass index, waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: which is the better discriminator of cardiovascular disease mortality risk? Evidence from an individual‐participant meta‐analysis of 82 864 participants from nine cohort studies
Authors: Czernichow S. , Kengne A.‐P. , Stamatakis E. , Hamer M. , Batty G. D.
Published: April 2011

Few studies have examined both the relative magnitude of association and the discriminative capability of multiple indicators of obesity with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk. We conducted an individual‐participant meta‐analysis of nine cohort studies of men and women drawn from the British general population resulting in sample of 82 864 individuals. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) were measured directly. There were 6641 deaths (1998 CVD) during a mean of 8.1 years of follow‐up. After adjustment, a one SD higher in WHR and WC was related to a higher risk of CVD mortality (hazard ratio [95% CI]): 1.15 (1.05–1.25) and 1.15 (1.04–1.27), respectively. The risk of CVD mortality also increased linearly across quintiles of both these abdominal obesity markers with a 66% increased risk in the highest quintile of WHR. In age‐ and sex‐adjusted models only, BMI was related to CVD mortality but not in any other analyses. No major differences were revealed in the discrimination capabilities of models with BMI, WC or WHR for cardiovascular or total mortality outcomes. In conclusion, measures of abdominal adiposity, but not BMI, were related to an increased risk of CVD mortality. No difference was observed in discrimination capacities between adiposity markers.
Dairy consumption and overweight and obesity: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Louie J. C. Y. , Flood V. M. , Hector D. J. , Rangan A. M. , Gill T. P.
Published: April 2011

A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to examine the relationship between dairy consumption and overweight/obesity in prospective cohort studies. A literature search from 1980 through to April 2010 was conducted. Nineteen cohort studies met all the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Of the 19 cohort studies, 10 were among children and adolescents (aged 2 to 14 years, n = 53 to 12 829, follow‐up 8 months to 10 years) and nine among adults (aged 18 to 75 years, n = 248 to 42 696, follow‐up 2 years to 12 years). A range of dairy food exposure measures were used. Eight studies (three out of 10 studies involving children and five out of nine studies involving adults) showed a protective association against increasing weight gain (measured in various ways); one reported a significant protective association only among men who were initially overweight; seven reported no effect; one reported an increased risk (among children), and two reported both a decreased and increased risk, depending on the dairy food type. The evidence from prospective cohort studies for a protective effect of dairy consumption on risk of overweight and obesity is suggestive but not consistent, making firm conclusions difficult.
The role of parents in pre‐adolescent and adolescent overweight and obesity treatment: a systematic review of clinical recommendations
Authors: Shrewsbury V. A. , Steinbeck K. S. , Torvaldsen S. , Baur L. A.
Published: April 2011

The study aims to describe clinical recommendations (i) on the role of parents in both pre‐adolescent and adolescent overweight and obesity treatment; (ii) to health professionals on how to involve parents in paediatric overweight and obesity treatment and (iii) to identify deficiencies in the associated literature. A systematic literature review was conducted in March 2010 to identify clinical practice guidelines, position or consensus statements on clinical management of paediatric overweight or obesity, developed by a national or international health professional association or government agency, and endorsed for current use. Relevant clinical recommendations in these documents were identified via a screen for the words ‘parent’, ‘family’ and synonyms. Twenty documents were included. Most documents emphasized the importance of involving parents or the family in paediatric overweight and obesity treatment with approximately a third of documents providing separate recommendations on the role of parents/family for pre‐adolescents and adolescents. The documents varied markedly with regard to the presence of recommendations on parent/family involvement in the various components of lifestyle interventions or bariatric surgery. Almost half of the documents contained recommendations to health professionals regarding interactions with parents. High‐quality research is needed on age‐specific techniques to optimize the involvement of parents and family members in paediatric overweight and obesity treatment.
THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS OF REASONS
Authors: SOFAER NEEMA , STRECH DANIEL
Published: April 2011

There are many ethical decisions in the practice of health research and care, and in the creation of policy and guidelines. We argue that those charged with making such decisions need a new genre of review. The new genre is an application of the systematic review, which was developed over decades to inform medical decision‐makers about what the totality of studies that investigate links between smoking and cancer, for example, implies about whether smoking causes cancer. We argue that there is a need for similarly inclusive and rigorous reviews of reason‐based bioethics, which uses reasoning to address ethical questions. After presenting a brief history of the systematic review, we reject the only existing model for writing a systematic review of reason‐based bioethics, which holds that such a review should address an ethical question. We argue that such a systematic review may mislead decision‐makers when a literature is incomplete, or when there are mutually incompatible but individually reasonable answers to the ethical question. Furthermore, such a review can be written without identifying all the reasons given when the ethical questions are discussed, their alleged implications for the ethical question, and the attitudes taken to the reasons. The reviews we propose address instead the empirical question of which reasons have been given when addressing a specified ethical question, and present such detailed information on the reasons. We argue that this information is likely to improve decision‐making, both directly and indirectly, and also the academic literature. We explain the limitations of our alternative model for systematic reviews.
The Role and Functioning of Cultural Scripts in Farming and Agriculture
Authors: Vanclay Frank , Enticott Gareth
Published: April 2011

We advocate an increased utilisation of script theory in rural social research and suggest this will enhance understandings of the social life of farmers and other rural residents. We define a script as a culturally shared expression, story or common line of argument, or an expected unfolding of events, that is deemed to be appropriate or expected in a particular socially defined context, and that provides a rationale or justification for a particular issue or course of action. We suggest there are four types of script: (1) a socially perceived routine or expected sequence of events; (2) a catch‐phrase, metaphor or allegory that is frequently recited in response to a particular issue or situation; (3) a mini‐story, narrative or parable; and (4) a commonly used line of argument that is widely invoked in response to a particular issue or situation. Using examples from our work with farmers in the UK and Australia relating to animal health and biosecurity, and specifically bovine tuberculosis, we demonstrate how scripts affect the perceived management options of farmers in particular circumstances. We suggest that scripts have implications for policymakers and those seeking to promote practice change such as agricultural extension staff and agricultural veterinarians.
Simplified Asymptotic Solutions of Differential Equations Having Two Turning Points, with an Application to Legendre Functions
Authors: Dunster T. M.
Published: April 2011

Asymptotic approximations of differential equations of the form are obtained, for the case , uniformly valid for real or complex values of x lying in bounded or unbounded intervals or regions. Here, , and have no singularities inside the interval or region under consideration, and does not vanish except at a critical point where it has a double zero. By an appropriate Liouville transformation, along with a perturbation of the new independent variable, uniform asymptotic approximations involving parabolic cylinder functions are obtained. These approximations are accompanied by strict and realistic error bounds, and the new theory is applied to obtain a uniform asymptotic approximation for the associated Legendre function with m and n large, with positive and bounded.
New Bilinear Bäcklund Transformation and Lax Pair for the Supersymmetric Two‐Boson Equation
Authors: Fan E.
Published: April 2011

In this paper, I introduce a class of super Bell polynomials, which are found to play an important role in the characterization of super supersymmetric equations. An effective approach based on the use of the super Bell polynomials is developed to systematically investigate the bilinearization, Bäcklund transformation, and Lax pair for supersymmetric equations. I take a supersymmetric two‐boson equation to illustrate this procedure. A new bilinear Bäcklund transformation and a Lax pair with both fermionic and bosonic parameters are given. In addition, a kind of exact solitons for the equation are further constructed with the help of the bilinear Bäcklund transformation.
Global Existence and Uniform Decay of Solutions for a Coupled System of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Wave Equations with Not Necessarily Differentiable Relaxation Functions
Authors: Liu W. , Yu J.
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we consider the initial boundary value problem for a coupled system of nonlinear viscoelastic wave equations with source terms. By using the Faedo–Galerkin method, potential well theory and perturbed energy technique, we establish the global existence and exponential decay of solutions under weaker conditions on the relaxation functions that are not necessarily differentiable.
Impact of ustekinumab on health‐related quality of life and sexual difficulties associated with psoriasis: results from two phase III clinical trials
Authors: Guenther L. , Han C. , Szapary P. , Schenkel B. , Poulin Y. , Bourcier M. , Ortonne J.P. , Sofen H.L.
Published: April 2011

Background  Ustekinumab, a human anti‐interleukin‐12/23 monoclonal antibody, has been shown to effectively treat moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis which significantly affects health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), including patients’ sexual lives.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to determine if sexual difficulties associated with psoriasis are related to disease severity and whether sexual difficulties improve with skin disease during ustekinumab treatment.

Methods  In phase III PHOENIX 1 and 2 trials, psoriasis patients were randomized to ustekinumab (n = 1334) at weeks 0 and 4 and q12 weeks thereafter or placebo (n = 662) at weeks 0 and 4 with crossover to ustekinumab at week 12. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were used to assess psoriasis severity and patient‐reported HRQoL respectively. Based on DLQI Question #9, impaired sexual function was defined as ‘very much’ or ‘a lot’ of sexual difficulties.

Results  At baseline, mean DLQI was 12.0, indicating a very large negative effect on patients’ lives. Impaired sexual function was reported by 22.6% (women = 27.1%; men = 20.8%) and was significantly associated with increased psoriasis severity. At week 12, ustekinumab‐treated patients had a greater mean improvement in DLQI (−9.13 vs. −0.53 with placebo, P < 0.001) and the proportion of patients with impaired sexual function decreased from 22.4% to 2.7% compared with no change with placebo (P < 0.001). Patients with greater PASI improvement experienced a greater reduction of sexual difficulties due to psoriasis. A similar pattern of improved sexual function was observed at weeks 24–28 in placebo crossover patients.

Conclusions  Ustekinumab treatment is associated with significant improvement in HRQoL and sexual difficulties due to psoriasis.
Association of thyroid autoimmunity with acne in adult women
Authors: Vergou T. , Mantzou E. , Tseke P. , Moustou A.E , Katsambas A. , Alevizaki M. , Antoniou C.
Published: April 2011

Background  During the last decades an increase has been observed regarding acne in adults and especially women.

Objective  To evaluate the association between thyroid disorder and the presence of post‐adolescent acne in adult women, comparing with healthy controls.

Methods  107 adult women with post–adolescent acne and 60 healthy controls were included. Complete blood count and standard biochemical profile of C‐Reactive Protein (CRP) and levels of thyroid hormones and antibodies [triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4), antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti‐TG) and anti‐thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti‐TPO)] were determined in all subjects of both the acne and control groups. A thyroid ultrasound was also performed.

Results  There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.008) in the prevalence of positive anti‐TG antibodies, with 25.2% of the acne group and 8.3% of the control group having elevated (> 40 U/mL) anti‐TG levels, respectively. Adult women with acne had a statistically significant increased relative risk to have high levels of anti‐TG in comparison with healthy controls (odds ratio 3.89, P = 0.011). This association was independent of age. Values for TSH, FT4, FT3, T4 and anti‐TPO did not significantly differ between the two groups. No significant difference was found regarding the thyroid ultrasound findings. Although there was no significant difference between cases and controls regarding CRP levels, it is interesting that we observed a significant elevation in CRP in those acne patients who had positive antithyroglobulin antibodies.

Conclusions  It is likely that thyroid autoimmunity might be more frequent in the adult acne patients and this should be kept in mind when screening women with post‐adolescent acne.
Split‐face study of melasma patients treated with non‐ablative fractionated photothermolysis (1540 nm)
Authors: Barysch M.J. , Rümmelein B. , Kolm I. , Karpova M.B. , Schönewolf N. , Bogdan Allemann I. , Dummer R.
Published: April 2011

Background  Melasma treatment remains challenging despite various laser systems available, because of potential side‐effects and high recurrence rates.

Objective  Non‐ablative fractionated photothermolysis (FP) is a promising therapeutic method, long‐time results comparing treated vs. non‐treated site are lacking.

Methods  A total of 14 patients were treated with FP in a split‐face mode with standardized adjustments in three sessions (weeks 0, 3–4, 6–8, follow‐up: 26–28). At each consultation, improvement was evaluated by patients and physicians. Objective assessment was performed using digital photographs and the pigment imaging tool SIAscope®.

Results  Melasma improvement was registered in 83% and 75% of the cases 26–28 weeks after the first treatment based on two evaluations: by patient and by physician, respectively. Digital photography and SIAscope® revealed improvement in 54% and 85% after the first, 61% and 85% after the second, 41% and 58% after the third treatment, accordingly, mostly due to reduction of the outline sharpness. Patients with lighter skin complexions revealed significant improvement ranged from slight to moderate (P = 0.03). Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation occurred in two cases with skin types III and IV.

Conclusion  Non‐ablative FP can be considered as a valuable treatment option with short‐term improvement in terms of mild reduction and softening the edges of melasma in patients with skin types I/II, if prior topical therapies failed. Treatment of patients with skin types III+ should be critically questioned.
Seasonal variations in vitamin D levels in melanoma patients: a single‐centre prospective pilot comparative study
Authors: Failla V. , Cavalier E. , El Hayderi L. , Paurobally D. , Chapelle J.P. , Dezfoulian B. , Nikkels A.F.
Published: April 2011

Background  More than 90% of vitamin D synthesis is dependent on UV exposure. Photosensitive disorders such as lupus erythematosus, protoporphyria and xeroderma require strict sun avoidance, and vitamin D deficiency has been demonstrated in these patients. Melanoma patients are also instructed to avoid sun exposure and may hence be expected to be vitamin D deficient.

Materials and methods  Winter and summer vitamin D levels were compared in a group of melanoma patients (n = 61) and age‐ and phototype‐matched controls (n = 53) without photosensitive disorders.

Results  Oral supplementary vitamin D intake was reported in 32.7% of the melanoma patients and in 15.1% in the control group. Despite oral supplementation, only 25% of the melanoma patients and the controls presented with vitamin D levels of 30 ng/mL or higher. In non‐supplemented subjects in the melanoma and control groups, respectively, mean winter vitamin D levels were below the recommended threshold at 12.6 ng/mL vs. 13.2 ng/mL, respectively, but not statistically different. These values increased significantly in both groups during the summer to 24.6 and 23.8 ng/mL respectively.

Conclusion  Unexpected, significant increases in vitamin D levels were seen in melanoma patients during summer, suggesting non‐adherence with photoprotective measures and reflecting a heliophilic behaviour. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended in melanoma patients during both winter and summer.
Hair regrowth with topical triiodothyronine ointment in patients with alopecia areata: a double‐blind, randomized pilot clinical trial of efficacy
Authors: Nasiri S. , Haghpanah V. , Taheri E. , Heshmat R. , Larijani B. , Saeedi M.
Published: April 2011

Background  Thyroid hormone receptors are expressed in hair follicles and it is known that thyroid hormones can have a positive effect on hair growth, i.e. process which is disrupted in alopecia areata.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of topical triiodothyronine in patients with patchy alopecia areata.

Methods  Ten patients with patchy alopecia areata were treated with triiodothyronine and placebo applied twice daily to either of two bilaterally symmetrical patches for 12 weeks. The two sides were randomly assigned following simple randomization procedure to one of the two treatment groups. The patients and the investigator were blinded to the content of the tubes. Hair regrowth was evaluated every 4 weeks. Blood samples for measurements of complete blood count along with thyroid function (T3, T4 and TSH) and liver function tests were taken at the baseline and at the end of study.

Results  After 12 weeks of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference between the outcome in terms of reduction of the patch size and hair regrowth. No adverse effects were noted.

Conclusion  Triiodothyronine in the studied dosage and formulation was safe but not more effective than placebo. However, newer thyroid hormone analogues might be more effective and evaluating their effects probably warrants further consideration.
MPK6, sphinganine and the LCB2a gene from serine palmitoyltransferase are required in the signaling pathway that mediates cell death induced by long chain bases in Arabidopsis
Authors: Saucedo‐García Mariana , Guevara‐García Arturo , González‐Solís Ariadna , Cruz‐García Felipe , Vázquez‐Santana Sonia , Markham Jonathan E. , Lozano‐Rosas M. Guadalupe , Dietrich Charles R. , Ramos‐Vega Maricela , Cahoon Edgar B. , Gavilanes‐Ruíz Marina
Published: April 2011

See also the Commentary by Michaelson
Dissociation of Pe and ERN/Ne in the conscious recognition of an error
Authors: Hewig Johannes , Coles Michael G. H. , Trippe Ralf H. , Hecht Holger , Miltner Wolfgang H. R.
Published: April 2011

We evaluated the relationship between conscious awareness and the ERN/Ne and Pe in a digit entering task. On each trial, participants rated the accuracy of their responses on a three‐point scale (incorrect, unsure, correct). The ERN/Ne was present on incorrect trials judged as incorrect. The Pe was evident on the same trials but also on correct and incorrect trials judged as unsure. We propose that the ERN/Ne occurs when there is an incorrect execution of a correct motor plan and the representation of the correct response is available for comparison with the actual response. The mismatch information that results from this comparison can be transferred to the Pe process and conscious awareness. However, the Pe process and conscious awareness do not only depend on this transfer of information from the ERN/Ne process. The Pe also occurs when there is uncertainty about the correctness of the motor plan, whether or not the plan is, in fact, correct.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor‐dependent induction of apoptosis by 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin in cerebellar granule cells from mouse
Authors: Sánchez‐Martín Francisco J. , Fernández‐Salguero Pedro M. , Merino Jaime M.
Published: April 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2011.07291.x

2,3,7,8‐Tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) is a prototypical environmental contaminant with neurotoxic properties that alters neurodevelopment and behavior. TCDD is a ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which is a key signaling molecule to fully understand the toxic and carcinogenic properties of dioxin. Much effort is underway to unravel the molecular mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved in TCDD‐induced neurotoxicity, and to define its molecular targets in neurons. We have used cerebellar granule cells (CGC) from wild‐type (AhR+/+) and AhR‐null (AhR−/−) mice to characterize the cell death that takes place in neurons after TCDD toxicity. TCDD induced cell death in CGC cultures from wild‐type mice with an EC50 of 127 ± 21 nM. On the contrary, when CGC neurons from AhR‐null mice were treated with TCDD no significant cell death was observed. The role of AhR in TCDD‐induced death was further assessed by using the antagonists resveratrol and α‐naphtoflavone, which readily protected against TCDD toxicity in AhR+/+ CGC cultures. AhR+/+ CGC cultures treated with TCDD showed nuclear fragmentation, DNA laddering, and increased caspase 3 activity, similarly to what was found by the use of staurosporine, a well‐established inducer of apoptosis. Finally, the AhR pathway was active in CGC because TCDD could induce the expression of the target gene cytochrome P450 1A2 in AhR+/+ CGC cultures. All together these results support the hypothesis that TCDD toxicity in CGC neurons involves the AhR and that it takes place mainly through an apoptotic process. AhR could be then considered a novel target in neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration whose down‐modulation could block certain xenobiotic‐related adverse effects in CNS.
Rereading Lucretia in the Angoysses douloureuses qui procedent d'amours (1538)
Authors: BROMILOW POLLIE
Published: April 2011

This article examines the multiple resonances of the Lucretia narrative in the 1538 romance penned by Hélisenne de Crenne, the Angoysses douloureuses qui procedent d’amours. Although the work is famous for its representation of female love as sensual, irrational and tragic (qualities shared by the example of Dido) the references to Lucretia enabled readers to activate moralizing and sententious discourses that supplemented and in some cases modified the meaning of the text. Whilst certain comparisons between the protagonist and Lucretia seek to foreground the differences between sinful desire and exemplary conduct, other references to the exemplar extend beyond authorial intention, demonstrating the mulitple extra‐textual agents which create meaning in early modern books. This is true of a woodcut of Lucretia possibly reused from an unrelated work, which explicitly represents the exemplar's suicide where the text itself avoids this aspect of her story that was not recommended to the contemporary female readership. Although their primary function may have been to act as a ‘moral yardstick’ by which the reader judged the actions of the female protagonist, the inclusions of Lucretia ultimately permit alternative readings of the work as a celebration rather than a condemnation of adulterous love.
Performing Political Domination in Yemen. Narratives and Practices of Power in the General People's Congress
Authors: Poirier Marine
Published: April 2011

As a heterogeneous organisation characterised by a loose ideology and historically based on inclusion and dialogue, the General People's Congress (GPC), in power since its establishment in 1982, may have momentarily achieved a certain balance of power, participating to a broader formula of stability in Yemen based on political integration rather than violent confrontation with potential rivals. However, challenged since the 2000s by a unified opposition, rising regional conflicts and the leadership's uneasy partnership with the USA in the Global War on Terror, the GPC seems increasingly less capable of appeasing and mediating political, economic, social and religious divides. Even more so, it appears that the ruling party's strategy of inclusion has paradoxically played a significant role in the erosion of institutional pluralism in Yemen, encouraging the development of large co‐optation mechanisms and generating various forms of violent political exclusion. The aim of this article is to explore how the ruling party has progressively imposed a constrictive framework for political expression, allowing it to maintain its domination. Thoroughly investigating the schemes of domination produced and performed by the GPC, this study further questions the extent to which they account for structural violence in contemporary Yemen.
Multiscale Patterns of Riparian Plant Diversity and Implications for Restoration
Authors: Viers Joshua H. , Fremier Alexander K. , Hutchinson Rachel A. , Quinn James F. , Thorne James H. , Vaghti Mehrey G.
Published: April 2011

Planning riparian restoration to resemble historic reference conditions requires an understanding of both local and regional patterns of plant species diversity. Thus, understanding species distributions at multiple spatial scales is essential to improve restoration planting success, to enhance long‐term ecosystem functioning, and to match restoration planting designs with historic biogeographic distributions. To inform restoration planning, we examined the biogeographic patterns of riparian plant diversity at local and regional scales within a major western U.S.A. drainage, California's Sacramento—San Joaquin Valley. We analyzed patterns of species richness and complementarity (β‐diversity) across two scales: the watershed scale and the floodplain scale. At the watershed scale, spatial patterns of native riparian richness were driven by herbaceous species, whereas woody species were largely cosmopolitan across the nearly 38,000 km2 study area. At the floodplain scale, riparian floras reflected species richness and dissimilarity patterns related to hydrological and disturbance‐driven successional sequences. These findings reinforce the importance of concurrently evaluating both local and regional processes that promote species diversity and distribution of native riparian flora. Furthermore, as restoration activities become more prevalent across the landscape, strategies for restoration outcomes should emulate the patterns of species diversity and biogeographic distributions found at regional scales.
Chronic Ethanol Consumption in Mice Alters Hepatocyte Lipid Droplet Properties
Authors: Orlicky David J. , Roede James R. , Bales Elise , Greenwood Carrie , Greenberg Andrew , Petersen Dennis , McManaman James L.
Published: April 2011

Background:  Hepatosteatosis is a common pathological feature of impaired hepatic metabolism following chronic alcohol consumption. Although often benign and reversible, it is widely believed that steatosis is a risk factor for development of advanced liver pathologies, including steatohepatitis and fibrosis. The hepatocyte alterations accompanying the initiation of steatosis are not yet clearly defined.

Methods:  Induction of hepatosteatosis by chronic ethanol consumption was investigated using the Lieber‐DeCarli (LD) high fat diet model. Effects were assessed by immunohistochemistry and blood and tissue enzymatic assays. Cell culture models were employed for mechanistic studies.

Results:  Pair feeding mice ethanol (LD‐Et) or isocaloric control (LD‐Co) diets for 6 weeks progressively increased hepatocyte triglyceride accumulation in morphological, biochemical, and zonally distinct cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLD). The LD‐Et diet induced zone 2‐specific triglyceride accumulation in large CLD coated with perilipin, adipophilin (ADPH), and TIP47. In LD‐Co‐fed mice, CLD were significantly smaller than those in LD‐Et‐fed mice and lacked perilipin. A direct role of perilipin in formation of large CLD was further suggested by cell culture studies showing that perilipin‐coated CLD were significantly larger than those coated with ADPH or TIP47. LD‐Co‐ and LD‐Et‐fed animals also differed in hepatic metabolic stress responses. In LD‐Et but not LD‐Co‐fed mice, inductions were observed in the following: microsomal ethanol‐oxidizing system [cytochrome P‐4502E1 (CYP2E1)], hypoxia response pathway (hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha, HIF1α), endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway (calreticulin), and synthesis of lipid peroxidation products [4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE)]. CYP2E1 and HIF1 α immunostaining localized to zone 3 and did not correlate with accumulation of large CLD. In contrast, calreticulin and 4‐HNE immunostaining closely correlated with large CLD accumulation. Importantly, 4‐HNE staining significantly colocalized with ADPH and perilipin on the CLD surface.

Conclusions:  These data suggest that ethanol contributes to macrosteatosis by both altering CLD protein composition and inducing lipid peroxide adduction of CLD‐associated proteins.
Corrosion of Structural Ceramics Under Subcritical Conditions in Aqueous Sodium Chloride Solution and in Deionized Water. Part I: Dissolution of Si3N4‐Based Ceramics
Authors: Galusková Dagmar , Hnatko Miroslav , Galusek Dušan , Šajgalík Pavol
Published: April 2011

The results presented in this paper compare the behavior of silicon nitride prepared with the addition of yttria as sintering additive, and of a sialon ceramic in contact with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) at T≤290°C. Both studied ceramics dissolved by preferential attack of Si–N bonds in the matrix accompanied by the release of ammonia and formation of protective, mostly oxide layer of corrosion products at the surface. Increase of dissolution rate of sialon in aqueous NaCl solution at 290°C was observed in comparison to dissolution in deionized water, achieving the value 27 mmol·(m2·h)−1. Penetration of chloride anions through protective layer of corrosion products is proposed to contribute to destruction of the passivation layer and renewal of the exposure of vulnerable material surface to corrosion medium.
Hybrid Materials to Expand the Boundaries of Material‐Property Space
Authors: Ashby Mike
Published: April 2011

The materials we use today for mechanical design are the outcome of at least 3000 years of development, much of it empirical but much the outcome of systematic science. Both approaches have been motivated by the desire for stiffer, stronger, more durable, and lighter structures, progressively populating material property “space”. We first examine the extent to which this space is now filled and estimate the ultimate constraints on this filling. Strategies for expanding the filled regions further include hybrid material design—making materials by combining two or more monolithic materials in chosen configurations and connectivity. Here we explore two classes of hybrid—lattice materials and sandwich structures—developing ways of comparing their properties with those of conventional monolithic materials. The comparison reveals the potential of hybrids. This paper builds on ideas that have grown from a long and rewarding collaboration with Tony Evans with whom it has been a privilege to have worked.
Laser Melting of Zirconium Carbide: Determination of Phase Transitions in Refractory Ceramic Systems
Authors: Jackson Heather F. , Jayaseelan Daniel D. , Manara Dario , Casoni Carlo Perinetti , Lee William E.
Published: April 2011

Pulsed laser heating and optical pyrometry were used to generate time–temperature thermogram data suitable for the determination of extremely high‐temperature (>3000 K) solidus, liquidus, and eutectic transitions for ceramics in the Zr–C system. Transition temperatures correlated well with phase boundaries and individual measurements published previously. Microstructural and diffraction analysis of melted specimens confirmed that ZrC existed in the liquid phase and resolidified to ZrC or a ZrC+graphite eutectic. Transition temperatures were insensitive to laser pulse timescale and repeated melting, and microstructures of melted surfaces were consistent with the phase diagram, indicating the local attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium. Subsurface nonequilibrium microstructures were attributed to thermal gradients with depth and solute partitioning during freezing. The present work indicates that pulsed laser heating is a viable technique for producing equilibrium microstructures in ZrC as a prerequisite for precision measurement of phase transition temperatures. The main source of uncertainty in reported temperatures was the estimation of ZrC emittance. A consistently observed discontinuous temperature decrease upon the solid–liquid phase transition indicated a decrease in the emittance of liquid ZrC with respect to solid ZrC. Based on an estimated emittance of solid ZrC of 0.6, emittance of liquid ZrC was estimated at 0.44–0.58.
Effect of Uniaxial Compressive Prestress on the Electromechanical Behavior of Lanthanum Modified Lead Zirconate Titanate Stannate Ceramic
Authors: Xu Yonghao , Feng Yujun , Zhang Na
Published: April 2011

The antiferroelectric ceramics are often subjected to mechanical loading in transducer and high‐strain actuator applications. How the electromechanical behavior changes under different load conditions is therefore very crucial for design. The electromechanical behavior of La‐modified antiferroelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate stannate (PLZST) under uniaxial compressive prestress is observed at stress up to 100 MPa using a homebuilt experimental setup in conjunction with a modified Sawyer–Tower circuit. The PLZST ceramic researched in this paper is near the ferroelectric—antiferroelectric phase boundary, and it has a lower forward phase transition electric field and slimmer electric hysteresis loop than conventional antiferroelectric ceramics. The results reveal that the area of the double hysteresis (P–E) loops, the saturation polarization (Psat), the longitudinal strain (S), and the remanent polarization (Pr) decrease with increasing compressive prestress, while the forward phase transition field increases as the compressive prestress increases. Meanwhile the applied prestress virtually does not affect the transition field hysteresis (ΔE) and the coercive field (Ec). These results are interpreted through the non‐180° domain switching processes and the stress induced decrease in the switchable part of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric domains under electric field.