bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasmall, Well‐Dispersed, Hollow Siliceous Spheres with Enhanced Endocytosis Properties
Authors: Zhu Jie , Tang Jiawei , Zhao Lingzhi , Zhou Xufeng , Wang Yunhua , Yu Chengzhong
Published: November 2009

The synthesis of ultrasmall, well‐dispersed, hollow siliceous spheres (HSSs) by using a block copolymer as the template and tetraethoxysilane as a silica source under acidic conditions is reported. After removing the surfactant core of as‐synthesized, spherical, silica‐coated block‐copolymer micelles, HSSs with a uniform particle size of 24.7 nm, a cavity diameter of 11.7 nm, and a wall thickness of 6.5 nm are obtained. It is shown that by surface functionalization of HSSs with methyl groups during synthesis, HSSs can be further dispersed in solvents such as water or ethanol to form a stable sol. Moreover, the hollow cavities are accessible for further loading of functional components. In addition, it is demonstrated that HSSs possess superior endocytosis properties for HeLa cells compared to those of conventional mesoporous silica nanoparticles. A feasible and designable strategy for synthesizing novel well‐dispersed hollow structures with ultrasmall diameters instead of conventional ordered mesostructures is provided. It is expected that HSSs may find broad applications in bionanotechnology, such as drug carriers, cell imaging, and targeted therapy.
Morphology‐Controlled Synthesis of SnO2 Nanotubes by Using 1D Silica Mesostructures as Sacrificial Templates and Their Applications in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Ye Jianfeng , Zhang Huijuan , Yang Rong , Li Xingguo , Qi Limin
Published: November 2009

SnO2 nanotubes with controllable morphologies are successfully synthesized by using a variety of one‐dimensional (1D) silica mesostructures as effective sacrificial templates. Firstly, 1D silica mesostructures with different morphologies, such as chiral nanorods, nonchiral nanofibers, and helical nanotubes, are readily synthesized in aqueous solution by using the triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as binary templates. Subsequently, the obtained 1D silica mesostructures are used as sacrificial templates to synthesize SnO2 nanotubes with preserved morphologies via a simple hydrothermal route, resulting in the formation of well‐defined SnO2 nanotubes with different lengths and unique helical SnO2 nanotubes with a wealth of conformations. It is revealed that both of the short and long SnO2 nanotubes showed much better performance as anode materials in lithium‐ion batteries than normal SnO2 nanopowders, which might be related to the hollow structure of the nanotubes that could alleviate the volume changes and mechanical stress during charging/discharging cycling. Moreover, the capacity and cycling performance of short nanotubes, which showed a specific discharge capacity of 468 mAh g−1 after 30 cycles, are considerably better than those of long nanotubes because of the more robust structure of the short nanotubes.
Adolescent peer crowds and patterns of belief in the boundaries of personal authority
Authors: Daddis Christopher
Published: November 2009

Patterns of authority beliefs were examined among peer crowds in 598 middle school (M = 12.97 years), early high school (M = 15.10 years), and late high school adolescents (M = 18.25 years). Participants reported beliefs regarding the boundaries of personal authority across personal, prudential, conventional, moral, and multifaceted issues. As expected, analyses revealed persistent differences in belief patterns among crowds within each age group. Tough and Alternative crowds asserted personal authority across all issues, while Prep and Outcast crowds endorsed parental authority. Jock, Hip Hop, and Normal crowds presented with shared‐control patterns, but each crowd ceded and asserted authority over different issues. Discussion focused on crowds' roles in the development of group differences in the boundaries of personal authority.
101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees
Authors: Carlisle Tisa
Published: November 2009

101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees Paul Falcone 2009, AMACOM 320 $18.95 softcover
Discharge patterns of nociceptive primary afferent fibres in the rat coccygeal nerve after UVA‐light exposure
Authors: Themistocleous Andreas , Kamerman Peter , Mitchell Duncan
Published: November 2009

We have shown that administration of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine into the base of rats’ tails prevents the development of hyperalgesia induced by UVA‐light to a noxious thermal challenge, but not to noxious mechanical challenges. The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure of rats’ tails to UVA‐light altered the responses of Aδ‐ and C‐fibres innervating the tail to noxious mechanical and noxious thermal challenges. We dissected the right ventral coccygeal nerve in Sprague–Dawley rats that had their tails exposed to, or shielded from, UVA‐light 24‐h earlier. Single afferent Aδ‐ and C‐fibres receptive fields were located and the response of a fibre to noxious blunt (3.9 N bar algometer) and punctate (rat toothed forceps) mechanical challenges, as well as a noxious thermal (49 °C) challenge was measured. In rats exposed to UVA‐light, the peak firing rates and areas under the curve of post‐challenge histograms of Aδ‐ and C‐fibres evoked neural activity were increased when noxious blunt and punctate challenges were applied to the rats’ tails. However, the peak firing rate and areas under the curve of post‐challenge histograms of C‐fibre evoked neural activity, which were responsive to noxious thermal challenges, were not increased after UVA‐light exposure. We have shown that the Aδ‐ and C‐fibres that encode for noxious punctate and blunt challenges were sensitized after UVA‐light exposure, but C‐fibres responsible for encoding noxious thermal challenges were not sensitized by UVA‐light exposure.
Association of biochemical hyperandrogenism with type 2 diabetes and obesity in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Zhao Xiaomiao , Zhong Junmin , Mo Yaqin , Chen Xiaoli , Chen Yaxiao , Yang Dongzi
Published: November 2009

Objective

To evaluate the effect of hyperandrogenism on metabolic disorders among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 883 women with PCOS and 717 premenopausal controls identified from the general population.

Results

A total of 686 (77.7%) patients were classified with PCOS based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria, and 164 out of 197 (83.2%) additional patients had no hyperandrogenism. Women with normal androgen levels exhibited lower frequencies of obesity, type 2 diabetes, acanthosis nigricans, genetic history of diabetes, and elevated Matsuda index compared with hyperandrogenic patients. Hyperandrogenemia, but not hirsutism, was independently associated with the risk for type 2 diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 5.7; P = 0.028) and obesity (OR 1.7; P = 0.005) among Chinese patients with PCOS.

Conclusions

Hyperandrogenemia is associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity in Chinese women with PCOS and should be considered at first‐line management of hyperandrogenism and infertility due to PCOS.
Trends and determinants of pregnancy‐related domestic violence in a referral center in southern Nigeria
Authors: Olagbuji Biodun , Ezeanochie Michael , Ande Adedapo , Ekaete Ekop
Published: November 2009

Objective

To describe the trend and identify associated risk factors for pregnancy‐related domestic violence.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study of 502 women attending the sixth week postnatal clinic in a tertiary hospital in urban Nigeria, participants completed semi‐structured questionnaires on experience of domestic violence before and during pregnancy, and in the puerperium. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risk factors associated with experiencing violence.

Results

The prevalence of domestic violence was 43.5% during the 12 months before the pregnancy, 28.3% during the pregnancy, and 4% in the puerperium. Psychological violence was the commonest form of violence experienced. All forms of violence were least common in the puerperium. Experience of violence in the 12 months before pregnancy (P < 0.0001, odds ratio 274.34 [95% CI, 66.4–1133.8]), HIV seropositivity (P = 0.02, odds ratio 2.81 [95% CI, 1.2–6.5]), and regular alcohol intake (P < 0.0001, odds ratio 11.60 [95% CI, 3.8–35.1]) significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing domestic violence.

Conclusion

Pregnancy‐related domestic violence is an important health problem in this community in southern Nigeria. Experience of violence before the pregnancy, HIV infection, and regular alcohol consumption are risk factors.
Disparities in Outpatient and Home Health Service Utilization Following Stroke: Results of a 9‐Year Cohort Study in Northern California
Authors: Chan Leighton , Wang Hua , Terdiman Joe , Hoffman Jeanne , Ciol Marcia A. , Lattimore Bernadette Ford , Sidney Steven , Quesenberry Charles , Lu Qi , Sandel M. Elizabeth
Published: November 2009

Objective

To examine whether there are disparities in utilization of outpatient and home care services after stroke.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

The Kaiser Permanente of Northern California health care system, which provides health care for approximately 3.3 million members.

Participants

A total of 11,119 patients hospitalized for a stroke between 1996 and 2003 and followed for 1 year.

Main Outcome Measures

Receipt of outpatient rehabilitation (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or physical medicine and rehabilitation/physiatry visits), and/or home health care.

Results

There were significant differences in outpatient rehabilitation visits and home health enrollment during the year after acute care discharge for all the parameters under study. Older age and female gender were associated with less outpatient rehabilitation treatment, but these subpopulations were more likely to be enrolled in home health care. Non‐whites, patients from urban areas, those with ischemic strokes, and those with longer acute care hospital stays had relatively more outpatient rehabilitation and were also more likely to be enrolled in the home health program. In addition, patients living in geographic areas with a median household income of $80,000 or more had significantly more outpatient rehabilitation visits than did patients living in lower income areas.

Conclusions

Variations in outpatient rehabilitation visits and in home health care exist in this large integrated health system in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, residence area, type of stroke, and length of stay in an acute care hospital. The Kaiser Permanente integrated health care system seems to have outpatient stroke rehabilitation and home health programs that are providing care without disparities in relation to non‐white populations, but other disparities appear to exist that may be related to socioeconomic factors, referral patterns, family support systems, or other cultural factors that have not been identified.
Interrelated structural chemical model to predict and calculate viscosity of magmatic melts and water diffusion in a wide range of compositions and T-P parameters of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle
Authors: Persikov E.S. , Bukhtiyarov P.G.
Published: November 2009

A new physicochemical model is proposed to predict and calculate the viscosity of magmatic melts and water diffusion as functions of the following parameters: Ptot.; Pfl.; T; melt composition, including volatiles (H2O, OH−, CO2, CO32−, F−, Cl−); cation ratios: Al3+/(Si4+ + Al3+), Al3+/(Na+ + K+ + Ca2+ + Mg2+ + Fe 2+), Fe2+/(Fe2+ + Fe3+), and a volume content of crystals and bubbles (up to 0.45, as applied to magma viscosity). The new model is specified by: (1) structural chemical approach; (2) ultimate simplicity of analytical dependences; (3) high accuracy of the prediction (±30 rel.%), which is consistent with the uncertainties of the experimental data on viscosity and water diffusion, especially at high pressures. The generalized equations suggested for calculating and predicting concentration, temperature, and pressure dependences of the viscosity of magmas and water diffusion are as follows:

Viscosity:ηTP=η0exp(EXP/RT),

where η0 is a pre-exponent constant for the viscosity of liquids at T → ∞ (η0 = 10−3.5±100.1 dPa·s, or poises); T is the temperature in K; EXP is the activation energy of viscous flow (cal/mole), which is a function of melt composition, including volatile components, and pressure; R = 1.987 (cal/mole·K) is universal gas constant; and ηTP is melt viscosity at the given temperature and pressure, in dPa·s.

Water diffusivity:

log D(H2O) = –(0.69 log η + 3.74) (depolymerized melts: andesite, basalt),

log D(H2O) = –(0.29 log η + 5.35) (polymerized melts: rhyolite, obsidian, albite, dacite),

where D(H2O) is the coefficient of water diffusion in cm2/s, η is melt viscosity in dPa·s. A simple computer program developed for calculating the viscosity of magmatic melts and water diffusivity is recommended for modeling magmatic and volcanic processes as well as their dynamics.
Modification of mineral inclusions in garnet under high-pressure conditions: experimental simulation and application to the carbonate-silicate rocks of Kokchetav massif
Authors: Perchuk A.L. , Davydova V.V. , Burchard M. , Maresch W.V. , Schertl H.-P. , Yapaskurt V.O. , Safonov O.G.
Published: November 2009

Samples of poikoblastic garnets from the Escambray (Cuba), Maksyutov (Russia), and Sambagawa (Japan) eclogite complexes were heated to 700–1100 ºC at 3 to 4 GPa (30–40 kbar). Epidote, amphibole, and chlorite inclusions in the garnets underwent dehydration melting over the entire experimental PT range, which is typical of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic complexes. In the presence of aqueous fluids, carbonate minerals in the inclusions began to melt at 800 ºC and 3 GPa. Melting gave rise to new garnet, with the composition controlled by the chemistry of the primary inclusions and by PT run conditions. Garnet either grew directly from the melt or formed by replacement of host garnet walls leaving residual melt at the substitution front in the latter case. Partial melting of inclusions decreased the mechanical strength of the garnet host and led to local shearing. The experimental results were used to interpret observed features in two samples of a diamond-bearing and a diamond-free carbonate-silicate rocks from the Kumdy-Kol deposit in the Kokchetav Massif. Multiphase inclusions in both samples contain newly formed garnet with morphologies and compositions consistent with those produced experimentally under the given PT conditions. Minerals in the inclusions are compositionally similar to those in matrix, thus suggesting that melting may have occurred on a large scale.
Phlebotomus caucasicus and Phlebotomus mongolensis (Diptera: Psychodidae): indistinguishable by the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in Iran
Authors: Parvizi P. , Taherkhani H. , Ready P.D.
Published: November 2009

Diagnostic molecular markers for the females of Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) caucasicus and P. mongolensis were sought by characterizing from individual Iranian specimens a gene fragment, namely mitochondrial cytochrome b, that had previously proven useful for the taxonomy of phlebotomine sandflies. Males of both species were used as reference material because their external genitalia provide the only diagnostic morphological characters. A phylogenetic analysis of the new sequences, and those previously reported for P. grimmi, found no support for recognizing more than one species (P. caucasicus s.l.) in Iran. Most of the genetic variation was geographical. An absence of lineage sorting was demonstrated, and it is proposed that any search for species-specific molecular markers for these three taxonomic species should be continued by applied biologists only if there is better evidence for associating any one of them with phenotypes important for understanding the transmission of Leishmania species in foci of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.
High species richness of Chironomidae (Diptera) in temporary flooded wetlands associated with high species turn-over rates
Authors: Lundström J.O. , Brodin Y. , Schäfer M.L. , Vinnersten T.Z. Persson , Östman Ö.
Published: November 2009

Species richness and species turn-over of Chironomidae was studied in irregularly flooded wetlands of the River Dalälven flood-plains in central Sweden. The chironomid fauna, sampled with emergence traps in six wetlands over six summers, contained as much as 135 species, and the cumulative species curves indicated that the regional species pool contain several more species. Recurrent irregular floods may have induced this high chironomid species richness and the high species turn-over in the temporary wetlands, as the dominance between terrestrial and aquatic species shifted between years. Half of the wetlands were treated withBacillus thuringiensisvar.israelensis(Bti) against larvae of the flood-water mosquitoAedes sticticus. These treatments had no significant effect on chironomid species richness, but there was a higher species turn-over between years of primarily low abundance species in the treated wetlands. The cumulative number of species was also higher in theBti-treated experimental wetlands than in the untreated reference wetlands. Thus,Btitreatment against mosquito larvae seemed to have only small effects on chironomid species richness but seemed to increase the colonisation-extinction dynamics.
Is wood safe for its inhabitants?
Authors: Walczyńska A.
Published: November 2009

The generally accepted assumption on the low mortality pressure for inside-tree habitat was challenged in this study. To achieve this objective, the number of larval instars of xylem-feeding Aredolpona rubra (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) was determined using multidimensional statistics, and the life table was constructed based on the head-width distribution of larvae taken from the field. The mean value of natural mortality of an average larva was then compared with data available for other wood-feeding species and contrasted with insects from other feeding guilds. The results show that larvae living in wood experience lower mortality rates than those from other habitats and that, among the wood-feeders, the mortality rate of larvae decreases while development time increases further inside the tree.
EFFECTS OF A FORMAL TRAINING PROGRAMME ON CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY FROM TURKEY
Authors: KISIOGLU AHMET NESIMI , ORMECI AHMET RIFAT , USKUN ERSIN , OZTURK MUSTAFA , ONGEL KURTULUS
Published: November 2009

Consanguineous marriage is traditionally common throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. Research has suggested that it is closely linked to the sociocultural and socioeconomical status of individuals, and education plays a critical role in decreasing the number of cases. This study aimed to determine the effects of a formal training programme on consanguineous marriages on the knowledge of, and attitudes towards, consanguineous marriage of high school students (n=804) in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Seniors from three randomly selected public high schools participated in the pre-test and post-test design study. To determine the effects of the programme, students who received the training were compared with those who did not receive any formal training about the subject. After the post-tests were administered, data were collected and analysed using chi-squared and McNemar tests. The results showed significant differences in knowledge and attitudes among the students who had received the formal training programme and those who had not. In addition, the results indicated potential peer influence between the students who received training in consanguineous marriage and those who did not.
Correlation between mastitis occurrence and the count of microorganisms in bulk raw milk of bovine dairy herds in four selective culture media
Authors: Souto Luís I M , Minagawa Clarice Y , Telles Evelise O , Garbuglio Márcio A , Amaku Marcos , Melville Priscilla A , Dias Ricardo A , Sakata Sonia T , Benites Nilson R
Published: November 2009

Milk is the normal secretion of the mammary gland, practically free of colostrum and obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy animals. Mastitis is an inflammatory process of the mammary gland and it may cause alterations in the milk. The present work aimed to verify whether it is possible, by means of the counts of microorganism in the bulk raw milk in four selective culture media, to establish a correlation with the occurrence of mastitis and therefore, to monitor this disease in bovine dairy herds. The following selective culture media were used: KF Streptococcus Agar, Edwards Agar, Baird-Parker Agar, Blood Agar plus potassium tellurite. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated in order to compare the occurrence of mastitis (percentage) in each herd with respective selective culture media counts of microorganisms in bulk raw milk. Thirty-six possibilities were analysed (Tamis and CMT-positive rates were compared with the log-transformed count in four selective culture media) and there was a negative correlation between Tamis 3 and the Baird-Parker Agar plate count. The total results of microbiological tests showed that there were three correlations of the counts in selective culture media. Fifty-two possibilities were analysed and there was a negative correlation between no-bacterial-growth mastitis rates and log10 of KF Streptoccocus Agar plate count and there were two positive correlations between coagulase-positive staphylococci and log10 of Baird-Parker Agar plate count and Blood Agar plus potassium tellurite plate count.
Trapping and sedimentation of inertial particles in three-dimensional flows in a cylindrical container with exactly counter-rotating lids
Authors: ESCAURIAZA CRISTIAN , SOTIROPOULOS FOTIS
Published: November 2009

Stirring and sedimentation of solid inertial particles in low-Reynolds-number flows has acquired great relevance in multiple environmental, industrial and microfluidic systems, but few detailed numerical studies have focused on chaotically advected experimentally realizable flows. We carry out one-way coupling simulations to study the dynamics of inertial particles in the steady three-dimensional flow in a cylindrical container with exactly counter-rotating lids, which was recently studied by Lackey & Sotiropoulos (Phys. Fluids, vol. 18, 2006, paper no. 053601). We elucidate the rich Lagrangian dynamics of the flow in the vicinity of toroidal invariant regions and show that depending on the Stokes number inertial particles could get trapped for long times in different equilibrium positions inside integrable islands. In the chaotically advected region of the flow the balance between inertia and gravity forces (represented by the settling velocity) can produce a striking fractal sedimentation regime, characterized by a sequence of discrete deposition events of seemingly random number of particles separated by hiatuses of random duration. The resulting staircase-like distribution of the time series of the number of particles in suspension is shown to be a devil's staircase whose fractal dimension is equal to the 0.87 value found in multiple dissipative dynamical systems in nature. Our work sheds new light on the complex mechanisms governing the stirring and deposition of inertial particles and provides new information about the parameters that are relevant in the characterization of particle dynamics in different regions of chaotically advected flows.
Angiostomaglandicolasp. n. (Nematoda: Angiostomatidae): a parasite in the land snailMegausteniasp. from the Cat Tien Forest, Vietnam
Authors: Ivanova E.S. , Spiridonov S.E.
Published: November 2009

The nematodeAngiostoma glandicolasp. n. found parasitizingMegausteniasp. snails (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae) collected in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by its unusual host location (the digestive gland) and in having: two circles of cephalic probolae, six lips each bearing two prominent papillae, amphids situated at posterior of lips, the presence of lateral alae, an enlarged stoma, a club-shaped pharynx with cuticularized valves in the bulb, the nerve ring situated on the junction of the corpus and isthmus and the excretory pore opposite the bulb. Oviparous females have a mid-body vulva position, long reflexed ovaries and short divergent uteri, and a conical tail with a slightly triangular tip. Males have long, curved, not distinctly cephalate spicules and a small gubernaculum, nine pairs of pedunculate genital papillae (GP) incorporated into the bursa (three precloacal, six postcloacal in two groups: GP 4–7 closely behind the cloaca and GP 8–9 distanced), of which GP 5 and 8 terminate on dorsal edge of the bursa and GP 8 and 9 are fused at the base, the bursa nearly reaches the tail tip, unpaired precloacal GP and a pair of ventral circumcloacal GP not incorporated into bursa. It clearly differs from other species of the genus by having cephalic probolae vs. no cephalic probolae and the specific number and disposition of male GP. A partial sequence of D2D3 large subunit (LSU) rDNA was obtained and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Relationships within theAngiostomagenus are discussed.
Vestibular schwannoma: when to look for it?
Authors: Gimsing S
Published: November 2009

Objectives:

(1) To compare audiometric parameters in patients with vestibular schwannoma and in those with asymmetric hearing loss from other causes; and (2) to assess proposed screening criteria by comparing published protocols.

Methods:

Audiometric data from 199 vestibular schwannoma patients and 225 non-tumour patients were compared. Eight screening protocols were tested on these 424 patients.

Results:

Vestibular schwannoma and non-tumour patients with little or no hearing loss in the unaffected ear were inseparable; however, vestibular schwannoma patients with hearing loss in the unaffected ear had greater audiometric asymmetry, compared with non-tumour patients with the same pattern of hearing loss. The sensitivity of screening protocols varied from 73 to 100 per cent; parallelism was observed between sensitivity and screening rate.

Conclusion:

As regards vestibular schwannoma screening protocols, the best compromise between sensitivity and screening rate was offered by a criterion comprising either: (1) ≥20 dB asymmetry at two neighbouring frequencies, or unilateral tinnitus, or (2) ≥15 dB asymmetry at two frequencies between 2 and 8 kHz.
New treatment strategy and assessment questionnaire for external auditory canal pruritis: topical pimecrolimus therapy and Modified Itch Severity Scale
Authors: Acar B , Karabulut H , Sahin Y , Babademez M A , Karadag A S , Karasen R M
Published: November 2009

Objective:

We aimed to compare the efficacy of topical pimecrolimus versus hydrocortisone in treating external auditory canal pruritis, using the Modified Itch Severity Scale as an assessment tool.

Methods:

We included in the study 40 patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal who had not received any benefit from previous topical and systemic treatments. Topical 1 per cent pimecrolimus or topical hydrocortisone was applied to each patient's external auditory canal for three months. A Modified Itch Severity Scale was developed and used to assess treatment response.

Results:

Compared with itching scores on initial assessment, the scores of patients receiving topical pimecrolimus had decreased by 52.3 per cent by the third week of treatment and by 77.6 per cent by the third month, whereas the scores of patients receiving topical hydrocortisone had decreased by 34.4 per cent by the third week and by 64.2 per cent by the third month.

Conclusions:

Topical pimecrolimus appears to be as effective as topical hydrocortisone in relieving external auditory canal pruritis. We used a novel scoring system, the Modified Itch Severity Scale, to evaluate external auditory canal pruritus; this is the first self-reporting questionnaire for the quantification of external auditory canal pruritus severity. Further studies are needed to validate this scoring system.
Salivary gland tumours as second neoplasms: two cases and literature review
Authors: Zidar N , Gale N , Župevc A , Žargi M
Published: November 2009

Objectives:

Patients who survive malignant tumours have an increased risk of second neoplasms, including those of the salivary glands. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland is by far the most common type of second salivary gland tumour; other types have rarely been reported. We describe here two patients with a second tumour of the salivary glands.

Case reports:

The first patient was a 22-year-old woman with a low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland, which developed 21 years after completion of chemoradiotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The second patient was a 40-year-old woman with an epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the buccal mucosa, which arose 11 years after treatment for two malignant neoplasms – retroperitoneal liposarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Conclusions:

It is mandatory that survivors of cancer should be monitored carefully, so that the complications related to their previous disease and therapy are detected early and managed properly.
Value and utility of 532 nanometre pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser in endoscopic laryngeal surgery
Authors: Burns J A , Friedman A D , Lutch M J , Hillman R E , Zeitels S M
Published: November 2009

Objectives:

Recently, the 532 nm pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser has emerged as an effective angiolytic laser for treating mucosal lesions of the larynx in the operating theatre and clinic. We sought to assess the current impact of potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser on our laryngeal surgery practice.

Study design:

Retrospective review of 710 patients undergoing endoscopic laryngeal surgery over a one-year period.

Methods:

Medical records of the endoscopic laryngeal procedures were reviewed; 386/710 had been performed in the clinic and 324/710 in the operating theatre under general anaesthesia. Indications for the procedures were classified by pathology.

Results:

Pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser was used in 209/386 clinic procedures. The indications for these procedures were: dysplasia (114/209 procedures), papillomatosis (89/209), varices or ectasia (three of 209), and ‘other’ (three of 209). Pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser was used in 178/324 operating theatre endoscopic laryngeal procedures. The indications for these procedures were: cancer (54/178 procedures), dysplasia (52/178), papillomatosis (38/178), varices or ectasia (13/178), polyps (six of 178), nodules (six of 178), stenosis (five of 178), granulation (three of 178), and amyloid (one of 178).

Conclusions:

Due to its versatility, the 532 nm pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser is our most commonly utilised instrument for performing endoscopic laryngeal surgery.
The elevation gradient of lichen species richness in Nepal
Authors: BANIYA Chitra Bahadur , SOLHØY Torstein , GAUSLAA Yngvar , PALMER Michael W.
Published: November 2009

This study of elevation gradients of lichen species richness in Nepal aimed to compare distribution patterns of different life-forms, substratum affinities, photobiont types, and Nepalese endemism. Distribution patterns of lichens were compared with elevational patterns shown by a wide range of taxonomic groups of plants along the Nepalese Himalayan elevational gradient between 200–7400m. We used published data on the elevation records of 525 Nepalese lichen species to interpolate presence between the maximum and minimum recorded elevations, thereby giving estimates of lichen species richness at each 100-m elevational band. The observed patterns were compared with previously published patterns for other taxonomic groups. The total number of lichens as well as the number of endemic species (55 spp.) showed humped relationships with elevation. Their highest richness was observed between 3100–3400 and 4000–4100m, respectively. Almost 33% of the total lichens and 53% of the endemic species occurred above the treeline (>4300m). Non-endemic richness had the same response as the total richness. All growth forms showed a unimodal relationship of richness with elevation, with crustose lichens having a peak at higher elevations (4100–4200m) than fruticose and foliose lichens. Algal and cyanobacterial lichen richness, as well as corticolous lichen richness, all exhibited unimodal patterns, whereas saxicolous and terricolous lichen richness exhibited slightly bimodal relationships with elevation. The highest lichen richness at mid altitudes concurred with the highest diversity of ecological niches in terms of spatial heterogeneity in rainfall, temperature, cloud formation, as well as high phorophyte abundance and diversity implying large variation in bark roughness, moisture retention capacity, and pH. The slightly bimodal distributions of saxicolous and terricolous lichens were depressed at the elevational maximum of corticolous lichens.
Degelia cyanoloma (Schaer.) H. H. Blom & L. Lindblom comb. et stat. nov., a distinct species from western Europe
Authors: BLOM Hans H. , LINDBLOM Louise
Published: November 2009

Degelia cyanoloma (Schaer.) H. H. Blom & L. Lindblom is resurrected from synonymy and elevated from varietal rank to species. The taxon was earlier referred to D. plumbea (Lightf.) P. M. Jørg. & P. James, however, several discontinuous character states distinguish the two species. Degelia cyanoloma is characterized morphologically by having a large thallus that is pale greyish when dry, lobes that are composed of consecutive trough-shaped segments with an upper surface without squamules, no isidia or soredia, and apothecia discs that are dark reddish brown to blackish. Degelia cyanoloma has a euoceanic distribution and is known from western Europe (Norway, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain). Based on results from studies of morphology, we hypothesize that D. atlantica (Degel.) P. M. Jørg. & P. James is the closest relative of D. cyanoloma among the European species of the genus whereas D. plumbea is closely related to D. ligulata P. M. Jørg. & P. James.
A phylogenetic study of theMicarea prasinagroup shows thatMicarea micrococcaincludes three distinct lineages
Authors: CZARNOTA Paweł , GUZOW-KRZEMIŃSKA Beata
Published: November 2009

The phylogeny of theMicarea prasinagroup was investigated using mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences from 14 taxa representing this group, four other members of the genusMicarea, andPsilolechia lucidaas an outgroup. A total of 31 new mtSSU rDNA sequences were generated, including 10 from theM. micrococcacomplex. Bayesian, maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were used to analyse the data. The results show thatM. micrococcais not monophyletic and forms three strongly supported lineages: 1)M. micrococcas. str., 2)M. byssacea(Th. Fr.) Czarnota, Guzow-Krzemińska & Coppins comb. nov., and 3) a putative taxon that requires further studies.Micarea viridileprosais a sister species toM. micrococcas. str. and the recently describedM. nowakiiis a sister species toM. prasinas. str. The placement ofM. tomentosawithin theM. prasinagroup is confirmed.Micarea hedlundiiappears to be more closely related to theM. micrococcacomplex thanM. prasinas. str. Descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic remarks, distribution and habitat data forM. micrococcas. str. andM. byssaceaare provided. A lectotype forBiatora byssaceaHampe non Zwackh and a neotype forCatillaria prasinaβ [var.]byssaceaare selected.
How to minimize the sampling effort for obtaining reliable estimates of diel and annual CO2budgets in lichens
Authors: BADER Maaike Y. , ZOTZ Gerhard , LANGE Otto L.
Published: November 2009

Estimating carbon budgets for poikilohydric organisms, such as lichens and bryophytes, requires methods other than those for homoiohydric plants due to a strong dependency of carbon gain on fluctuating hydration. This paper provides guidance with respect to optimal sampling strategies for estimating annual carbon budgets of lichens and bryophytes, based on a one-year dataset of half-hourly CO2-exchange readings on the epilithic placodioid lichenLecanora muralis(syn.Protoparmeliopsis muralis) and tests the effects of reduced sampling frequencies and different temporal sampling schemes on carbon budget estimates. Both fine-scale sampling (measurements within a day) and large-scale sampling (selection of days within a year) are addressed.

Lowering the sampling frequency within a day caused large deviations for 24-h (diel) budget estimates. Averaged over a larger number of days, these errors did not necessarily cause a large deviation in the annual budget estimate. However, the occurrence of extreme deviations in diel budgets could strongly offset the annual budget estimate. To avoid this problem, frequent sampling (c. every 1·5 hours) is necessary for estimating annual budgets. For estimating diel budgets and patterns a more frequent sampling (everyc. 0·5 hours, balancing data resolution and disturbance) is often needed.

Sampling fewer than 365 days in a given year inevitably caused estimates to deviate from the ‘true’ carbon budget, i.e. the annual budget based on half-hourly measurements during 365 days. Accuracy increased with total sample frequency, and blocking days caused larger deviations than sampling randomly or regularly spaced single days. Restricting sampling to only one season led to strongly biased estimates. The sampling effort required for a reliable estimate of the annual carbon balance of lichens based on simple extrapolations of diel carbon budgets is impracticably large. For example, a relatively large sample of 52 random days yielded an estimate within 25% of the true annual budget with only 60% certainty. Supporting approaches are therefore suggested, in particular extrapolating diel budgets using ‘weather response types’, possibly aided by diel activity patterns from chlorophyll fluorescence, or modelling CO2exchange as a function of climatic conditions.
Four new species ofGraphis(Ostropales: Graphidaceae) from Brazil
Authors: DAL-FORNO Manuela , ELIASARO Sionara
Published: November 2009

Four species of the genusGraphisAdans. are described as new to science, namelyG. archeri,G. invisibilis,G. lueckingiiandG. paranaensis. These new species were found growing in restinga forest in southern Brazil.
New species ofPertusaria(lichenized Ascomycota:Pertusariaceae) from the Canary Islands
Authors: PÉREZ-VARGAS Israel , HERNANDEZ-PADRÓN Consuelo , ETAYO Javier , PÉREZ de PAZ Pedro L. , ELIX John A.
Published: November 2009

Pertusaria aceroaeandPertusaria calderaefrom the Canary Islands are described as new to science. A description of each species is given together with notes on their chemistry, distribution, ecology and taxonomy. Related lichen taxa are discussed.
Common mental disorders in late pregnancy in women who wanted or attempted an abortion
Authors: Ludermir A. B. , de Araújo T. V. Barreto , Valongueiro S. A. , Lewis G.
Published: November 2009

Background

In countries where legal abortion is restricted, many unwanted pregnancies are carried to term. Attempting an unsuccessful abortion may influence women's mental health. This study investigated the common mental disorders (CMDs) of depression and anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy in women who wanted or had attempted an abortion in a poor region of Brazil.

Method

CMDs were assessed by using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) in all pregnant women aged 18–49 years who were registered with publicly funded primary health care in Recife, Northeast Brazil.

Results

The study achieved a high response rate and 1121 (98.9%) women completed the interview. The prevalence of CMDs for the sample was 43.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 40.2–46.1], and 63.6% (95% CI 55.4–71.2) among the 13.7% of women who attempted an abortion. The association between CMDs and attempted an abortion [odds ratio (OR) 2.05, 95% CI 1.3–3.1] remained after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions

This study found that attempting an abortion in the current pregnancy was associated with CMDs. Good access to family planning programs, including access to contraceptive methods and safe abortion, should help to improve the mental health of women.
Early and late life events and salivary cortisol in older persons
Authors: Gerritsen L. , Geerlings M. I. , Beekman A. T. F. , Deeg D. J. H. , Penninx B. W. J. H. , Comijs H. C.
Published: November 2009

Background

It has been hypothesized that stressful life events are associated with changes in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation, which increases susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. We investigated the association of early and late life events with HPA axis regulation in older persons.

Method

Within the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) 1055 participants (47% male), aged 63–93 years, collected saliva within 30 min after waking and late in the evening. Early and late life events were assessed during a home interview. The associations between life events and cortisol levels were examined using linear regression and analysis of covariance with adjustments for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms.

Results

Within our sample, the median morning and evening cortisol levels were 15.0 nmol/l [interdecile range (10–90%): 7.4–27.0 nmol/l] and 2.8 nmol/l (10–90%: 1.5–6.3 nmol/l), respectively. Persons who reported early life events showed lower levels of natural log-transformed morning cortisol [B=−0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.17 to −0.04] and flattened diurnal variability of cortisol (B=−1.06, 95% CI −2.05 to −0.08). Those reporting two or more late life events showed higher levels of natural log-transformed morning cortisol (B=0.10, 95% CI 0.02–0.18) and higher diurnal variability (B=1.19, 95% CI 0.05–2.33). No associations were found with evening cortisol.

Conclusions

The results of this large population-based study of older persons suggest a differential association of early and late life events with HPA axis regulation; early life events were associated with a relative hypo-secretion of morning cortisol and flattened diurnal variability, while late life events were associated with elevated secretion of morning cortisol and high diurnal variability of cortisol.
The impact of climate change on mental health (but will mental health be discussed at Copenhagen?)
Authors: Page L. A. , Howard L. M.
Published: November 2009

Climate change will shortly be assuming centre stage when Copenhagen hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference in early December 2009. In Copenhagen, delegates will discuss the international response to climate change (i.e. the ongoing increase in the Earth's average surface temperature) and the meeting is widely viewed as the most important of its kind ever held (http://en.cop15.dk/). International agreement will be sought on a treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. At the time of writing it is not known whether agreement will be reached on the main issues of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and financing the impacts of climate change, and it appears that the impact of climate change on mental health is unlikely to be on the agenda. We discuss here how climate change could have consequences for global mental health and consider the implications for future research and policy.
Migrants, Welfare Systems and Social Citizenship in Ireland and Britain: Users or Abusers?
Authors: CORRIGAN OWEN
Published: November 2009

Public discourse on migrant interactions with state welfare systems has often assumed exploitative motivations on the part of migrants, with charges of welfare tourism a recurring theme among segments of the political spectrum. Academic research has also tended to characterise migrant welfare utilisation in simple dichotomous terms where migrants are either ‘welfare dependent’ or not. This article argues for the analytic utility of disaggregating the concept of welfare utilisation into distinct component parts, denoting usage, participation and dependency with regard to state-provided cash welfare benefits. Using EU survey data, these distinct components of welfare utilisation among migrants are assessed in comparative cross-national context, comparing welfare and labour market outcomes for similar cohorts of migrants faced with dissimilar incentive structures. The results have direct implications for policy-makers, and for migrant experiences of social citizenship, in so far as they show little support for the moral hazard view of migrant interactions with welfare systems. Migrants in Ireland's relatively more generous welfare system are seen to have no greater likelihood of welfare dependency, and in fact show a lower usage of welfare (as a proportion of total income) than similar migrants in Britain, controlling for characteristics. Intriguingly, however, the likelihood of forming a partial labour market attachment is seen to respond to increasing levels of welfare usage in Ireland, but not in Britain, suggesting that migrants may be taking an active role in how they define their position in the work-welfare nexus in response to welfare system incentives.
Inverse problems for Aharonov–Bohm rings
Authors: KURASOV P.
Published: November 2009

The inverse problem for Schrödinger operators on metric graphs is investigated in the presence of magnetic field. Graphs without loops and with Euler characteristic zero are considered. It is shown that the knowledge of the Titchmarsh–Weyl matrix function (Dirichlet-to-Neumann map) for just two values of the magnetic field allows one to reconstruct the graph and potential on it provided a certain additional no-resonance condition is satisfied.
Torelli theorem for the moduli space of framed bundles
Authors: BISWAS I. , GÓMEZ T. , MUÑOZ V.
Published: November 2009

Let X be an irreducible smooth complex projective curve of genus g ≥ 2, and let x ∈ X be a fixed point. Fix r > 1, and assume that g > 2 if r = 2. A framed bundle is a pair (E, φ), where E is coherent sheaf on X of rank r and fixed determinant ξ, and φ: Ex → r is a non–zero homomorphism. There is a notion of (semi)stability for framed bundles depending on a parameter τ > 0, which gives rise to the moduli space of τ–semistable framed bundles τ. We prove a Torelli theorem for τ, for τ > 0 small enough, meaning, the isomorphism class of the one–pointed curve (X, x), and also the integer r, are uniquely determined by the isomorphism class of the variety τ.
Alternative risk factors of HCV infection in a rural community in China
Authors: ZHANG M. , FAN J. , LI H. , CUI J. , QIAO Y. , SUNG J. , LEE S.-S.
Published: November 2009

A case-control study was conducted in Linxian, Henan Province in China to explore potential risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection unassociated with injection drug use. One hundred and ninety-two persons (41·7% male, 95·8% aged >60 years) were recruited from an earlier cohort. Of these, 48 were HCV positive and 144 HCV negative. Residence in a plain region and 3–10 injections in a health setting per year were significantly associated with HCV in both univariate and multivariate analysis (P<0·01). In rural China, the geographic distribution of HCV infection was heterogeneous and associated with injections in a health setting, a pattern which differed from the epidemics in injection drug users in urban cities.