bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumer profiles of apparel product involvement and values
Authors: Kim Hye‐Shin
Published: June 2005

Purpose

This study sets out to explore how consumers may be segmented based on their levels of apparel product involvement using Kapferer and Laurent's consumer involvement profiles (CIP). It also seeks to examine whether consumers within each profile group could be differentiated by their personally‐held values.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were mailed to female consumers, ages 18 and over, randomly selected from a consumer database. Responses from 757 female consumers were used. The response rate based on delivered questionnaires was 30 percent. Laurent and Kapferer's CIP was used to measure consumer involvement and Kahle's list of values (LOV) was used to measure consumer values.

Findings

Five consumer involvement types were identified based on four dimensions of involvement: challenged moderate, knowledged enthusiast, indifferent moderate, challenged enthusiast, and cautious moderate. This study found that values could be used to further explain differences between the enthusiast and moderate consumer types. All nine value items showed significant relationships with dimensions perceived/sign and pleasure interest. Knowledge enthusiast and challenged enthusiast types perceived many values to be significantly more important then challenged moderate types.

Research limitations/implications

Current findings varied somewhat from prior study results using the CIP scale. Further examination of the CIP scale in terms of dimensionality, validity and reliability are suggested.

Originality/value

This research segments consumers based on their levels of product involvement and profiles each group by personally‐held values.
Opportunities and challenges: Hong Kong as Asia's fashion hub
Authors: Tam F.Y. , Chan T.S. , Chu P.W. , Lai T.C. , Wang L.L.
Published: June 2005

Purpose

To analyze the current situation of the Hong Kong textile and clothing industries; to investigate the influential factors that can assist Hong Kong to develop as Asia's fashion hub; and to plan for the future development of Hong Kong as a regional centre for fashion.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of the Hong Kong textile and clothing industries by using the SWOT analysis. Based on the findings of the analysis, some recommendations for future development are provided. The sources of this study are from the government publications, journal articles, book reviews and advice of practitioners.

Findings

The Hong Kong textile and clothing industries have their strengths and weaknesses. To be a regional centre for fashion, developing an original brand manufacturing (OBM) business is a preferred approach.

Research limitation/implication

This paper provides a general review of the Hong Kong textile and clothing industries. To gain a more in‐depth understanding of the industries and to explore some more solutions for the research problems, it is important to further investigate these issues by attempting in‐depth interviews with the Hong Kong textile and clothing industrialists.

Practical implications

This paper provides a very useful source of information and impartial advice for the Government, industry players, academic institutions and the media. The formation of Asia's fashion hub is dependent upon the cooperation and effort of these four parties.

Originality/value

This paper analyses some of the factors contributing to Hong Kong's success and draws conclusions on strategic directions for the sustainability.
Why KM projects fail: a multi‐case analysis
Authors: Chua Alton , Lam Wing
Published: June 2005

Purpose

This paper attempts to understand the reasons for knowledge management (KM) project failure.

Design/methodology/approach

Five well‐documented cases of KM project failure in the current literature are reviewed. For each case, the authors examine the circumstantial elements of the failure, including the rationale and intended objectives of the KM project, the outcomes of the project and the reasons that led to project failure.

Findings

From the review, two observations are made. First, KM failure factors fall into four distinct categories, namely, technology, culture, content, and project management. Second, KM projects can be traced along a three‐stage lifecycle, comprising initiation, implementation, and integration.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are discussed and finally synthesized into a model of KM project failure. The model serves as a starting‐point for future research in KM project implementation.

Practical implications

Practitioners may use the model as a risk identification tool for KM project implementation.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the fact that KM project failure is a reality with which both practitioners and researchers have to reckon. Additionally, it leverages on the experiences of five KM failure cases and develops a model that allows KM failure factors to be pre‐empted.
Case study on knowledge‐management gaps
Authors: Lin Chinho , Yeh Jong‐Mau , Tseng Shu‐Mei
Published: June 2005

Purpose

To propose a holistic framework for understanding the “knowledge‐management (KM) gap” – illustrating six types of gaps that might occur within KM activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The content‐analytical approach with the thematic analysis was implemented in the study. Through an in‐depth interview with the top managers of two firms, explores the causes of these gaps and fundamental approaches to bridging these gaps.

Findings

This study identifies a comprehensive set of factors that could potentially impact the magnitude and direction of these gaps and the corrective actions to enhance the success of the implementation of the KM system.

Research limitations/implications

The study has done in‐depth interviews with only two firms and five companies. The results may need to be validated by a robust survey. Reasons for these gaps and several fundamental approaches to avoid them are presented.

Practical implications

This framework is expected to provide a convenient way to audit KM gaps and, thus, enterprises can make corrections and adjustments accordingly to greatly enhance their chances of success while implementing the KM system.

Originality/value

Proposes an innovative framework of “KM gaps” to fully illustrate the management gaps that might occur during the implementation of KM. Furthermore, the actions to reduce the misfit between the capability and implementation of KM systems are also demonstrated.
An empirical study of the important factors for knowledge‐management adoption in the SME sector
Authors: Yew Wong Kuan , Aspinwall Elaine
Published: June 2005

Purpose

To investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) for adopting knowledge management (KM) in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) – an area that has, to date, received very little attention in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument comprising 11 factors and 66 elements was developed. Through a postal survey, data were sought from SMEs in the UK. A parallel one was also administered to a group of academics, consultants and practitioners in the KM field in order to provide a more holistic view of the CSFs.

Findings

The survey instrument was shown to be both reliable and valid. Pertinent statistical analyses were then performed. By integrating the results from both groups of respondents, a prioritised list of CSFs, in order of importance for implementing KM, was generated.

Research limitations/implications

The number of responses received was rather small since KM is a new and emerging discipline, and not many SMEs have formally implemented it.

Practical implications

The results of this study would help SMEs to better understand the KM discipline, to facilitate its adoption and to prioritise its practices. Academics can use the results to build models that would further expand the KM domain.

Originality/value

This study is probably the first to systematically determine the CSFs for KM implementation in the SME sector. It offers a beneficial source of information to SMEs, which are still lagging far behind when it comes to KM practices.
A knowledge‐capture report for multidisciplinary design environments
Authors: Matsumoto Isao T. , Stapleton John , Glass Jacqueline , Thorpe Tony
Published: June 2005

Purpose

Organisations must continually innovate to remain competitive. A by‐product of innovation is new knowledge. In a knowledge economy, an organisation's ability to manage its knowledge can mean the difference between commercial success and failure. A key aspect of being able to manage knowledge is the ability to identify and capture it. This paper aims to present the development of the knowledge‐capture report (KCR) and the results of its use at the third TeamWork demonstration event for collaborative working.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantifying the number of discrete pieces of knowledge captured in the KCR and categorising the type and quantity of knowledge captured demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the KCR in a dynamic multidisciplinary design team environment.

Findings

The different approaches that were observed and adopted by the participants using the KCR highlight a number of key issues that need to be considered when attempting to capture knowledge in a constantly evolving design environment.

Originality/value

The use of the KCR by a wide range of industry practitioners demonstrates a quick, effective and low‐cost approach to capturing project knowledge and events. It could be adopted easily by the engineering and construction (AEC) industry as an entry point to managing knowledge, particularly in complex, multi‐disciplinary design environments.
Backbone nuclear relaxation characteristics and calorimetric investigation of the human Grb7‐SH2/erbB2 peptide complex
Authors: Ivancic Monika , Spuches Anne M. , Guth Ethan C. , Daugherty Margaret A. , Wilcox Dean E. , Lyons Barbara A.
Published: June 2005

Grb7 is a member of the Grb7 family of proteins, which also includes Grb10 and Grb14. All three proteins have been found to be overexpressed in certain cancers and cancer cell lines. In particular, Grb7 (along with the receptor tyrosine kinase erbB2) is overexpressed in 20%–30% of breast cancers. Grb7 binds to erbB2 and may be involved in cell signaling pathways that promote the formation of metastases and inflammatory responses. In a prior study, we reported the solution structure of the Grb7‐SH2/erbB2 peptide complex. In this study, T1, T2, and steady‐state NOE measurements were performed on the Grb7‐SH2 domain, and the backbone relaxation behavior of the domain is discussed with respect to the potential function of an insert region present in all three members of this protein family. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies were completed measuring the thermodynamic parameters of the binding of a 10‐residue phosphorylated peptide representative of erbB2 to the SH2 domain. These measurements are compared to calorimetric studies performed on other SH2 domain/phosphorylated peptide complexes available in the literature.
N‐terminal acetylation and protonation of individual hemoglobin subunits: Position‐dependent effects on tetramer strength and cooperativity
Authors: Ashiuchi Makoto , Yagami Takeshi , Willey Ronald J. , Padovan Julio C. , Chait Brian T. , Popowicz Anthony , Manning Lois R. , Manning James M.
Published: June 2005

The presence of alanine (Ala) or acetyl serine (AcSer) instead of the normal Val residues at the N‐terminals of either the α‐ or the β‐subunits of human adult hemoglobin confers some novel and unexpected features on the protein. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that these substitutions were correct and that they were the only ones. Circular dichroism studies indicated no global protein conformational changes, and isoelectric focusing showed the absence of impurities. The presence of Ala at the N‐terminals of the α‐subunits of liganded hemoglobin results in a significantly increased basicity (increased pKa values) and a reduction in the strength of subunit interactions at the allosteric tetramer–dimer interface. Cooperativity in O2 binding is also decreased. Substitution of Ala at the N‐terminals of the β‐subunits gives neither of these effects. The substitution of Ser at the N terminus of either subunit leads to its complete acetylation (during expression) and a large decrease in the strength of the tetramer–dimer allosteric interface. When either Ala or AcSer is present at the N terminus of the α‐subunit, the slope of the plot of the tetramer–dimer association/dissociation constant as a function of pH is decreased by 60%. It is suggested that since the network of interactions involving the N and C termini of the α‐subunits is less extensive than that of the β‐subunits in liganded human hemoglobin disruptions there are likely to have a profound effect on hemoglobin function such as the increased basicity, the effects on tetramer strength, and on cooperativity.
On the nucleation of amyloid β‐protein monomer folding
Authors: Lazo Noel D. , Grant Marianne A. , Condron Margaret C. , Rigby Alan C. , Teplow David B.
Published: June 2005

Neurotoxic assemblies of the amyloid β‐protein (Aβ) have been linked strongly to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we sought to monitor the earliest step in Aβ assembly, the creation of a folding nucleus, from which oligomeric and fibrillar assemblies emanate. To do so, limited proteolysis/mass spectrometry was used to identify protease‐resistant segments within monomeric Aβ(1–40) and Aβ(1–42). The results revealed a 10‐residue, protease‐resistant segment, Ala21–Ala30, in both peptides. Remarkably, the homologous decapeptide, Aβ(21–30), displayed identical protease resistance, making it amenable to detailed structural study using solution‐state NMR. Structure calculations revealed a turn formed by residues Val24–Lys28. Three factors contribute to the stability of the turn, the intrinsic propensities of the Val‐Gly‐Ser‐Asn and Gly‐Ser‐Asn‐Lys sequences to form a β‐turn, long‐range Coulombic interactions between Lys28 and either Glu22 or Asp23, and hydrophobic interaction between the isopropyl and butyl side chains of Val24 and Lys28, respectively. We postulate that turn formation within the Val24–Lys28 region of Aβ nucleates the intramolecular folding of Aβ monomer, and from this step, subsequent assembly proceeds. This model provides a mechanistic basis for the pathologic effects of amino acid substitutions at Glu22 and Asp23 that are linked to familial forms of AD or cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Our studies also revealed that common C‐terminal peptide segments within Aβ(1–40) and Aβ(1–42) have distinct structures, an observation of relevance for understanding the strong disease association of increased Aβ(1–42) production. Our results suggest that therapeutic approaches targeting the Val24–Lys28 turn or the Aβ(1–42)‐specific C‐terminal fold may hold promise.
Comparison of crystal structures of human type 3 3α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase reveals an “induced‐fit” mechanism and a conserved basic motif involved in the binding of androgen
Authors: Couture Jean‐François , Pereira De Jésus‐Tran Karine , Roy Anne‐Marie , Cantin Line , Côté Pierre‐Luc , Legrand Pierre , Luu‐The Van , Labrie Fernand , Breton Rock
Published: June 2005

The aldo‐keto reductase (AKR) human type 3 3α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (h3α–HSD3, AKR1C2) plays a crucial role in the regulation of the intracellular concentrations of testosterone and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT), two steroids directly linked to the etiology and the progression of many prostate diseases and cancer. This enzyme also binds many structurally different molecules such as 4‐hydroxynonenal, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and indanone. To understand the mechanism underlying the plasticity of its substrate‐binding site, we solved the binary complex structure of h3α–HSD3‐NADP(H) at 1.9 Å resolution. During the refinement process, we found acetate and citrate molecules deeply engulfed in the steroid‐binding cavity. Superimposition of this structure with the h3α–HSD3‐NADP(H)‐testosterone/acetate ternary complex structure reveals that one of themobile loops forming the binding cavity operates a slight contraction movement against the citrate molecule while the side chains of many residues undergo numerous conformational changes, probably to create an optimal binding site for the citrate. These structural changes, which altogether cause a reduction of the substrate‐binding cavity volume (from 776 Å3 in the presence of testosterone/acetate to 704 Å3 in the acetate/citratecomplex), are reminiscent of the “induced‐fit” mechanism previously proposed for the aldose reductase, another member of the AKR superfamily. We also found that the replacement of residues Arg301 and Arg304, localized near the steroid‐binding cavity, significantly affects the 3α–HSD activity of this enzyme toward 5α‐DHT and completely abolishes its 17β–HSD activity on 4‐dione. All these results have thus been used to reevaluate the binding mode of this enzyme for androgens.
The prokaryotic enzyme DsbB may share key structural features with eukaryotic disulfide bond forming oxidoreductases
Authors: Sevier Carolyn S. , Kadokura Hiroshi , Tam Vincent C. , Beckwith Jon , Fass Deborah , Kaiser Chris A.
Published: June 2005

Three different classes of thiol‐oxidoreductases that facilitate the formation of protein disulfide bonds have been identified. They are the Ero1 and SOX/ALR family members in eukaryotic cells, and the DsbB family members in prokaryotic cells. These enzymes transfer oxidizing potential to the proteins PDI or DsbA, which are responsible for directly introducing disulfide bonds into substrate proteins during oxidative protein folding in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, respectively. A comparison of the recent X‐ray crystal structure of Ero1 with the previously solved structure of the SOX/ALR family member Erv2 reveals that, despite a lack of primary sequence homology between Ero1 and Erv2, the core catalytic domains of these two proteins share a remarkable structural similarity. Our search of the DsbB protein sequence for features found in the Ero1 and Erv2 structures leads us to propose that, in a fascinating example of structural convergence, the catalytic core of this integral membrane protein may resemble the soluble catalytic domain of Ero1 and Erv2. Our analysis of DsbB also identified two new groups of DsbB proteins that, based on sequence homology, may also possess a catalytic core similar in structure to the catalytic domains of Ero1 and Erv2.
Spectrin R16: Broad energy barrier or sequential transition states?
Authors: Scott Kathryn A. , Clarke Jane
Published: June 2005

A number of models have been proposed to account for nonlinearity in the relation between observed rate constants for folding and/or unfolding and denaturant concentration. Where curvature is seen principally in the arm of a chevron plot, three explanations are proposed: a change in the ground state at increasing concentration of urea, movement of the transition state along a broad energy barrier, and a switch between two sequential transition states separated by an on‐pathway high‐energy intermediate. Here we demonstrate that the latter two models in particular can be used to describe the data for the all‐α protein spectrin R16. Further, whatever the method of analysis, the pattern of Φ‐values seen is robust; thus we would draw the same conclusions from our data set independently of the method used for analysis. While this is not a novel observation, this is the first systematic study where a comparison has been made between Φ‐values calculated using the broad and sequential transition state models.
Structural and functional characterization of CFE88: Evidence that a conserved and essential bacterial protein is a methyltransferase
Authors: Constantine Keith L. , Krystek Stanley R. , Healy Matthew D. , Doyle Michael L. , Siemers Nathan O. , Thanassi Jane , Yan Ning , Xie Dianlin , Goldfarb Valentina , Yanchunas Joseph , Tao Li , Dougherty Brian A. , Farmer Bennett T.
Published: June 2005

CFE88 is a conserved essential gene product from Streptococcus pneumoniae. This 227‐residue protein has minimal sequence similarity to proteins of known 3Dstructure. Sequence alignment models and computational protein threading studies suggest that CFE88 is a methyltransferase. Characterization of the conformation and function of CFE88 has been performed by using several techniques. Backbone atom and limited side‐chain atom NMR resonance assignments have been obtained. The data indicate that CFE88 has two domains: an N‐terminal domain with 163 residues and a C‐terminal domain with 64 residues. The C‐terminal domain is primarily helical, while the N‐terminal domain has a mixed helical/extended (Rossmann) fold. By aligning the experimentally observed elements of secondary structure, an initial unrefined model of CFE88 has been constructed based on the X‐ray structure of ErmC′ methyltransferase (Protein Data Bank entry 1QAN). NMR and biophysical studies demonstrate binding of S‐adenosyl‐L‐homocysteine (SAH) to CFE88; these interactions have been localized by NMR to the predicted active site in the N‐terminal domain. Mutants that target this predicted active site (H26W, E46R, and E46W) have been constructed and characterized. Overall, our results both indicate that CFE88 is a methyltransferase and further suggest that the methyltransferase activity is essential for bacterial survival.
Polyarginine as a multifunctional fusion tag
Authors: Fuchs Stephen M. , Raines Ronald T.
Published: June 2005

Fusion to cationic peptides, such as nonaarginine (R9), provides a means to deliver molecular cargo into mammalian cells. Here, we provide a thorough analysis of the effect of an R9tag on the attributes of a model protein: bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A). The R9tag diminishes the conformational stability of RNase A (ΔTm=−8°C in phosphate‐buffered saline). This effect is nearly mitigated by the addition of salt. The tag does not compromise the enzymatic activity of RNase A. An R9tag facilitates the purification of RNase A by cation‐exchange chromatography and enables the adsorption of RNase A on glass slides and silica resin with the retention of enzymatic activity. The tag can be removed precisely and completely by treatment with carboxypeptidase B. Finally, the R9tag increases both the cellular uptake of RNase A and the cytotoxicity of G88R RNase A, a variant that evades the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein. Thus, we conclude that polyarginine is a versatile protein fusion tag.
Crystal structure of the protease‐resistant core domain of Yersinia pestis virulence factor YopR
Authors: Schubot Florian D. , Cherry Scott , Austin Brian P. , Tropea Joseph E. , Waugh David S.
Published: June 2005

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague, employs a type III secretion system (T3SS) to secrete and translocate virulence factors into to the cytoplasm of mammalian host cells. One of the secreted virulence factors is YopR. Little is known about the function of YopR other than that it is secreted into the extracellular milieu during the early stages of infection and that it contributes to virulence. Hoping to gain some insight into the function of YopR, we determined the crystal structure of its protease‐resistant core domain, which consists of residues 38–149 out of 165 amino acids. The core domain is composed of five α‐helices that display unexpected structural similarity with one domain of YopN, a central regulator of type III secretion in Y. pestis. This finding raises the possibility that YopR may play a role in the regulation of type III secretion.
Allergy to 3‐nitro‐p‐hydroxyethylaminophenol and 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol in a hair dye
Authors: Søsted Heidi , Menné Torkil
Published: June 2005

Contact allergy to 3‐nitro‐p‐hydroxyethylaminophenol in a hair dye is described for the first time. p‐Phenylenediamine is the most common screening allergen when allergic contact dermatitis is suspected, but sometimes the allergen is not sufficient for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis to hair dyes. A 50‐year‐old woman developed a severe scalp dermatitis and developed vesicular hand eczema for the first time in her life. Patch testing was performed with the European Standard Series. The patch testing was supplemented with a local series of cosmetic allergens and the hairdresser's series. At the initial patch testing, there was a + reaction to nickel and a +? to PPD at days 3 and 7. Further, she reacted with a +? to her own hair collected at day 3 after the hair dying which elicited the dermatitis reaction. Open exposure to the product, which had initiated the dermatitis, was negative both before and after the allergic reaction to the product. None of the screening chemicals in the hairdresser's series gave a definite positive reaction. Only by patch testing with the individual hair dye product ingredients, the patient's reactions were explained. The patient gave a positive patch test to 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol and 3‐nitro‐p‐hydroxyethylaminophenol at days 3–4 reading.
Nickel contact allergy and menstrual cycle
Authors: Bonamonte Domenico , Foti Caterina , Antelmi Anna Rita , Biscozzi Anna Maria , Naro Edoardo Di , Fanelli Margherita , Loverro Giuseppe , Angelini Gianni
Published: June 2005

According to some reports in the literature, the hormonal fluctuations which occur during the menstrual cycle may affect the clinical expression of contact allergy to a greater or lesser degree. In clinical practice, too, patient history often shows exacerbation of the contact dermatitis during the days immediately preceding menstruation. On the contrary, the follicular phase of the cycle seems to have a temporary protective role in inhibiting the eliciting phase of allergic contact dermatitis. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is of immunological type: it has been demonstrated that oestradiol induces inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity type reactions, probably by acting indirectly on cells having a regulatory function in cell‐mediated immunity. To investigate any inhibitory effect of the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle on contact sensitization, 30 selected fertile women, allergic to nickel sulfate and with a regular menstrual cycle lasting between 25 and 32 days, were enrolled. Patch tests were performed with a series of 10 serial aqueous dilutions of nickel sulfate, from 5% to 0.0013%. The 30 women were tested at 2 different times, in the ovulatory phase (demonstrated by transvaginal ultrasound) and the progestinic phase; they were subdivided into 2 groups of 15 women: in one group, the tests were made first in the ovulatory phase, and in the other, first in the progestinic phase of the menstrual cycle. There was a minimum interval of 5 weeks between the 2 test phases. The study shows that during ovulation the patch tests elicited significantly less intense responses than in the progestinic phase. These data therefore suggest that the ovulatory phase of the cycle has a significant inhibitory role on delayed hypersensitivity type reactions. For this reason, negative responses to patch tests executed in this phase could likely be false‐negatives, and after careful evaluation of the phenomenon and of the clinical condition and patient history, it may be considered advisable to repeat the tests during the progestinic phase of the menstrual cycle.
Selected oxidized fragrance terpenes are common contact allergens
Authors: Matura Mihaly , Sköld Maria , Börje Anna , Andersen Klaus E. , Bruze Magnus , Frosch Peter , Goossens An , Johansen Jeanne D. , Svedman Cecilia , White Ian R. , Karlberg Ann‐therese
Published: June 2005

Terpenes are widely used fragrance compounds in fine fragrances, but also in domestic and occupational products. Terpenes oxidize easily due to autoxidation on air exposure. Previous studies have shown that limonene, linalool and caryophyllene are not allergenic themselves but readily form allergenic products on air‐exposure. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of allergic reactions to selected oxidized fragrance terpenes other than limonene. In total 1511 consecutive dermatitis patients in 6 European dermatology centres were patch tested with oxidized fragrance terpenes and some oxidation fractions and compounds. Oxidized linalool and its hydroperoxide fraction were found to be common contact allergens. Of the patients tested, 1.3% showed a positive reaction to oxidized linalool and 1.1% to the hydroperoxide fraction. About 0.5% of the patients reacted to oxidized caryophyllene whereas 1 patient reacted to oxidized myrcene. Of the patients reacting to the oxidized terpenes, 58% had fragrance‐related contact allergy and/or a positive history for adverse reaction to fragrances. Autoxidation of fragrance terpenes contributes greatly to fragrance allergy, which emphasizes the need of testing with compounds that patients are actually exposed to and not only with the ingredients originally applied in commercial formulations.
Contact sensitivity to standard series allergens in 1038 patients with contact dermatitis in Turkey
Authors: Akyol Aynur , Boyvat Ayşe , Peksari Yavuz , Gürgey Erbak
Published: June 2005

We planned to determine the frequency of sensitivity to European standard patch test allergens in 1038 patients with contact dermatitis. From 1992 to 2004, 1038 patients with the diagnosis of contact dermatitis were patch tested with the European standard series. Seven hundred and five patients were female (67.9%) and 333 patients were male (32.1%). A total of 336 patients (32.3%) had one or more positive patch test reactions. The most common allergens were nickel (17.6%), cobalt chloride (5.3%), potassium dichromate (4.6%), neomycin (2.4%), fragrance mix (2.1%) and balsam of Peru (2.1%). Contact sensitivity to potassium dichromate and thiuram was significantly more frequent in male patients, whereas nickel and primin sensitivity was significantly more frequent in female patients. Higher sensitivity rates for potassium dichromate, neomycin, balsam of Peru, wool alcohol, fragrance mix and primin were noted in patients over 40 years of age. Sensitivity rates of the standard series allergens were all similar in atopic patients and in non‐atopic patients. Metals, neomycin and fragrances are the leading allergens in Turkey. Although fragrances are among the most important sensitizers, sensitivity rates to fragrances and also to preservatives are much lower than the rates in Europe and the US.
Multiple fixed drug eruption due to drug combination
Authors: Yokoyama A. , Hara H.
Published: June 2005

We report the case of a multiple fixed drug eruption (FDE) after taking 1 g of PL® and 100 mg of levofloxacin (Cravit®) at the same time. Patch tests with PL® alone, levofloxacin alone and the combination of PL® and levofloxacin were all negative on the involved and uninvolved sites. Lymphocytic stimulation tests were also negative for PL® alone, levofloxacin alone and the combination of PL® and levofloxacin. Oral provocation tests with PL®alone or levofloxacin alone produced no reactivation. However, we could provoke multiple erythematous plaques on the involved areas by taking a 1/10th dose of the combination of PL® and levofloxacin at the same time. Drug eruption due to a drug combination appears to be very rare. This is the first case of multiple FDE caused by taking PL®‐levofloxacin combination.
Profile of Mood States and Parental Attitudes in Motherhood: Comparing Women with Planned and Unplanned Pregnancies
Authors: Grussu Pietro , Quatraro Rosa M. , Nasta Maria T.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Background:
Despite the availability of various contraceptive options, in some Western countries most pregnancies are unplanned. The objective of this longitudinal study was to assess the influence of planned and unplanned pregnancy on women's psychological well‐being and on maternal attitude toward parenting in the first years after giving birth. Methods:A sample of 119 primiparous women (88 planned and 31 unplanned pregnancies) with normal pregnancy, uncomplicated vaginal delivery, and a healthy living baby completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) instrument in the ninth month of pregnancy, and at 1, 6, and 12 months after birth, and the Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI) 2 years after the birth. The POMS evaluates mood disturbance and the PARI assesses maternal attitudes toward parenthood in general. Results:Women with unplanned pregnancies demonstrated a significantly more disturbed mood, both in pregnancy and in the first year after the birth. However, at approximately 2 years after childbirth there was no difference between the two groups of women in their rejection of the maternal role, and repressive and punitive maternal attitudes. Conclusions: In primiparas of middle socioeconomic levels, unplanned pregnancy is a risk factor for moderate mood disturbances rather than for an inadequate parental educational role. The study findings demonstrate the need to prevent unplanned pregnancies, and to offer immediate health assistance when particular conditions arise. (BIRTH 32:2 June 2005)
Newborn Temperature During Skin‐to‐Skin Breastfeeding in Couples Having Breastfeeding Difficulties
Authors: Chiu Sheau‐Huey , Anderson Gene Cranston , Burkhammer Maria D.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Background:
Kangaroo (skin‐to‐skin contact) care facilitates the maintenance of safe temperatures in newborn infants. Concern persists that infants will become cold while breastfeeding, however, especially if in skin‐to‐skin contact with the mother. This concern might be especially realistic for infants experiencing breastfeeding difficulties. The objective was to measure temperature during a study of mothers and infants who were having breastfeeding difficulties during early postpartum and were given opportunities to experience skin‐to‐skin contact during breastfeeding. Method:Forty‐eight full‐term infants were investigated using a pretest‐test‐posttest study design. Temporal artery temperature was measured before, after, and once during 3 consecutive skin‐to‐skin breastfeeding interventions and 1 intervention 24 hours after the first intervention. Results:During skin‐to‐skin contact, most infants reached and maintained temperatures between 36.5 and 37.6 °C, the thermoneutral range, with only rare exceptions. Conclusions:The temperatures of study infants reached and remained at the thermoneutral range during breastfeeding in skin‐to‐skin contact. The data suggest that mothers may have the ability to modulate their infant's temperature during skin‐to‐skin contact if given the opportunity. Hospital staff and parents can be reassured that, with respect to their temperature, healthy newborn infants, with or without breastfeeding difficulties, may safely breastfeed in skin‐to‐skin contact with their mothers. (BIRTH 32:2 June 2005)
Women's Experiences After a Third‐Degree Obstetric Anal Sphincter Tear: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Williams Abimbola , Lavender Tina , Richmond David H. , Tincello Douglas G.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Background:
Little qualitative data are available that address the experiences of women who sustain a third‐degree obstetric anal sphincter tear during childbirth. The objective of this study was to explore the views and experiences of women in the postpartum period after sustaining a third‐degree obstetric anal sphincter tear. Methods:A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups in a large maternity hospital in the United Kingdom. Two focus groups used a purposive sample of women who had suffered a third‐degree tear. One group (n = 6) had a tear in the index pregnancy and the second group (n = 4) had a subsequent pregnancy after the tear. Results:The main themes identified included apprehension about consequences of the injury in terms of continence; body image and sexual functioning; anxiety about and lack of involvement in planning for future pregnancies; poor information exchange and communication (including both content and timing of discussions); poor emotional support from professionals and family members; physical and emotional impact; and unresolved anxieties in partners. Similarities occurred across both groups. Conclusions:A third‐degree tear causes a significant emotional and psychological impact on women's physical and emotional well‐being. We recommend that all staff receive adequate training to deal with the issues that may be raised. The provision of a dedicated, multidisciplinary team involved at an early stage to coordinate the repair and follow‐up is recommended to allow a sensitive, consistent, evidence‐based approach, particularly in terms of decision‐making for subsequent births. The experiences and needs of partners require further study. (BIRTH 32:2 June 2005)
Maternal Posture for Cephalic Version of Breech Presentation: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Founds Sandra A.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Background: Maternal posture is commonly recommended to promote cephalic version of breech presentation during pregnancy, but the few studies conducted to examine the efficacy of this obstetric practice are inconclusive. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the research evidence base for postural management of breech presentation. Methods: This review critically examined the research on maternal posture for breech presentation using guidelines from the third United States Preventive Services Task Force. Database searches were conducted of Ovid Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using the keywords “pregnancy,”“maternal posture,”“maternal position,”“postural management,”“breech,”“presentation.” Hand searches were conducted on reference citations from databases, and all research articles, commentaries, and reports of clinical cases were included. Results: Conceptual and methodological issues in the individual studies posed threats to internal validity in each study. Interpretation of the nonsignificant results in the research reports is debatable because the randomized controlled trials were underpowered, and flaws in each study challenged validity of the results. Meta‐analysis of previous findings may be inappropriate. Conclusions: Further research based on explicit theory and improved methods, including sufficient sample size, is needed to determine whether maternal posture promotes cephalic version for pregnant women with breech presentation. (BIRTH 32:2 June 2005)
Safety of the Stockholm Birth Center Study: A Critical Review
Authors: Fahy Kathleen , Colyvas Kim
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  This paper critically appraised the validity and generalizability of the safety of the Stockholm Birth Center care study to determine if it can be relied on to answer the question, “Is primiparous labor and birth in a birth center as safe for babies as standard medical care?” The retrospective cohort study is summarized, and statistical and methodological aspects are evaluated. Errors that were identified include selection bias and two forms of performance bias, both involving the independent variable. Nondefinition and lack of control of the independent variable and minor statistical errors were also noted. More serious concerns relate to the validity of an intention‐to‐treat analysis. Some methodological problems reduced validity of the study and ability to generalize the findings to other birth centers. Birth center care is a desirable and established birth option. A more useful approach to improving maternity care provision could involve comparing multiple birth center sites with each other to find best practice so that it can be analyzed and duplicated. (BIRTH 32:2 June 2005)
Relationship between phenology and life form: a test with 25 Patagonian species
Authors: Golluscio R. A. , Oesterheld M. , Aguiar M. R.
Published: June 2005

Soil resource availability varies across seasons and soil layers. Both plant phenology, i.e. the sequence of growth and developmental changes along the year, and plant life form, i.e. the life cycle, distribution of roots, and longevity of leaves, determine the ability to use resources. The phenological heterogeneity within and among life forms of a single community may reveal key features of community structure, such as temporal niche segregation within life forms or convergence of phenological and life form patterns. We described the phenological patterns of most species of a Patagonian steppe composed of four life forms: perennial grasses, shrubs, annual herbs, and perennial herbs. By applying standard multivariate analysis techniques, we classified the species into three phenological groups and analysed the variation among groups and life forms. One phenological group, composed exclusively by grasses, had higher autumn‐winter phenological activity than the other two groups. The non‐grass groups differed in the date of beginning of vegetative growth and ending of the reproductive growth, one of the groups being earlier than the other. However, the three groups coincided at the phenophase of floral buds and open flowers, which occurred around the time of the maximum rate of phenological change and maximum fraction of photosynthetically active radiation being intercepted by the entire community. Phenological groups and life forms only partially overlapped: grasses and annual herbs belonged to individual phenological groups, whereas shrubs and perennial herbs spread across two groups. Thus, some life forms of the community were strictly related to a phenological behaviour, whereas other showed high temporal niche segregation. Simultaneously, diverse life forms converged into similar phenological patterns.
Spatial utilisation of fast‐ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter
Authors: Lake Samantha , Wotherspoon Simon , Burton Harry
Published: June 2005

This study describes the distribution of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli in winter (May–September 1999) at the Vestfold Hills, in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Specifically, we describe the spatial extent of haul‐out sites in shore–fast sea‐ice, commonly referred to as fast‐ice. As winter progressed, and the fast‐ice grew thick (ca 2 m), most of the inshore holes closed over, and the seals’ distribution became restricted to ocean areas beyond land and islands. Using observations from the end of winter only, we fitted Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) to generate resource selection functions, which are models that yield values proportional to the probability of use. The models showed that seal distribution was defined mainly by distance to ice‐edge and distance to land. Distance to ice‐bergs was also selected for models of some regions. We present the results as maps of the fitted probability of seal presence, predicted by the binomial GAM for offshore regions, both with and without autocorrelation terms. The maps illustrate the expected distribution encompassing most of the observed distribution. On this basis, we hypothesise that propensity for the fast‐ice to crack is the major determinant of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Proximity to open water and pack‐ice habitats could also influence the distribution of haul‐out sites in fast‐ice areas. This is the first quantitative study of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Potential for regional variation is discussed.
Biogeographical patterns and Rapoport's rule in southeastern Pacific benthic polychaetes of the Chilean coast
Authors: Hernández Cristián E. , Moreno Rodrigo A. , Rozbaczylo Nicolás
Published: June 2005

Recently three biogeographical units were identified along the Chilean coast (the Magellanic Province, an Intermediate Area, and the Peruvian Province), however few studies have focused on the factors and dynamic processes that formed these spatial units (e.g. Rapoport's rule and its causal mechanisms). In this study we used benthic polychaetes of the Chilean coast to evaluate patterns of latitudinal distribution and species richness, and the existence of the three main biogeographical provinces described for the Chilean coast. Additionally, we evaluated the latitudinal Rapoport effects and geometric constraint as a null hypothesis explaining the species richness distribution.  We found that benthic polychaete diversity increased towards southern latitudes. The cluster and ordination (non‐metric MultiDimensional Scaling, nMDS) analyses of the distribution data, presented only two statistically significant (bootstrapping techniques) biogeographic provinces along the Chilean coast, with a break occurring between 41° and 42°S. While, our results did not support a latitudinal Rapoport effect, they did support the view that latitudinal Rapoport effects are a local phenomenon, occurring only for the Northeastern Pacific marine taxa. The relationship between latitudinal range extent and mean latitude indicated the existence of two hard boundaries at either extreme of the Chilean coast, limiting the geographical ranges of the species. However, geometric constraints tested using a Monte Carlo simulation approach showed a weak level of mid‐domain effect on species richness. Finally, we propose that geometric constraint together with the geomorphology and historical characteristics of the Chilean coast explain the biogeographical patterns of benthic polychaete taxa in Chile.
Patterns of rare fish and aquatic insects in a southwestern French river catchment in relation to simple physical variables
Authors: Santoul F. , Figuerola J. , Mastrorillo S. , Céréghino R.
Published: June 2005

Most of our current understanding of rarity has come from studies of terrestrial plants and animals, whereas freshwater habitats remain poorly documented under this topic. Here we considered the spatial distribution patterns of rarity at the river catchment scale, for five freshwater taxa (fish, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera) in southwestern France. The data were collected at 554 and 155 sampling sites for fish and aquatic insects, respectively. General Linear Modelling was used to assess the influence of some typological variables (elevation, stream order, distance from source, and reach slope) on local numbers of rare species (restricted range). The relative numbers of rare species per taxa varied from 16% (Plecoptera) to 59% (Trichoptera). GLM chiefly yielded highly significant correlations between rarity and distance from the source and/or elevation for all taxa, showing that numbers of rare stream species increase towards downstream areas within the stream system. The spatial patterns in rarity for the different study taxa were rather concordant, probably as a result of similar responses to environmental conditions. By focusing on integrative variables, we emphasized the influence of river typology on the rarity of aquatic animals. Areas which carry rare species may concentrate an important fraction of the regional biodiversity. If end‐users need geographic models (i.e. maps) to design river management frameworks, numerical patterning is needed to provide theoretical backgrounds: by predicting what the rarity should be like in a given area, we can provide explicit spatial schemes that may be useful to target further research, and to implement management options.