bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structures of coincidence symmetry groups
Authors: Zou Yi Ming
Published: February 2006

The structure of the coincidence symmetry group of an arbitrary n-dimensional lattice in the n-dimensional Euclidean space is considered by describing a set of generators. Particular attention is given to the coincidence isometry subgroup (the subgroup formed by those coincidence symmetries that are elements of the orthogonal group). Conditions under which the coincidence isometry group can be generated by reflections defined by vectors of the lattice are discussed and an algorithm to decompose an arbitrary element of the coincidence isometry group in terms of reflections defined by vectors of the lattice is given.
Quartz aggregates revisited
Authors: Grimmer Hans
Published: February 2006

Quartz aggregates that formed by coalescence of quartz crystals in the magma or in hydrothermal solution are considered. If the individuals have rhombohedral faces in contact, there will be two special cases: parallel intergrowths and intergrowths that agree in orientation and contact plane with Esterel twins grown from a twinned nucleus. For all other known cases, i.e. when the relative orientation satisfies the Japan, Sardinian, Tiflis, Zyndel-A or Samshvildo law, both individuals have exactly coinciding short symmetry translations in only one direction in the contact plane (monoperiodic twins). If a rhombohedral face is in contact with a prism face, monoperiodic twins will occur if the relative orientation satisfies the Zinnwald, Disentis or a proposed hypothetic law. The orientation of the two lattices can be expressed by a 180° rotation about an axis with low indices independent of c/a in the case of the Esterel, Japan and Sardinian laws. The same is true for the Tiflis and Zyndel-A laws only if they are redefined, and not at all in the case of the Samshvildo, Zinnwald, Disentis and hypothetic laws. When the two individuals have rhombohedral faces in contact, there will even be exact two-dimensional coincidence (multiplicity σ) in the contact plane and exact three-dimensional coincidence (multiplicity Σ) in space if the square of the axial ratio c/a is rational. Indications are found that (despite their high values) these multiplicities may be related to the frequency of occurrence of intergrowths in low- and high-quartz.
Informational entropy of Fourier maps
Authors: Menéndez-Velázquez Amador , García-Granda Santiago
Published: February 2006

An analysis on what is known as the interpretation of Fourier maps has been done from the information theory point of view: determining the nature of the peaks in the map (in order to assign them a suitable scattering factor) and allocating bonds between some of the possible peak pairs. Before interpreting the map, a quantitatively measurable entropy (uncertainty, unknowingness) relating to the molecular structure is known. After the interpretation, this entropy becomes amount of information. This analysis allows us, for the first time in crystallography, to quantify these parameters and analyse the contributions of the different information sources.
Some algebraic properties of crystallographic sublattices
Authors: Rutherford John S.
Published: February 2006

In this article, a number of the results relevant to the concept of sublattices of a basic crystallographic lattice are reviewed, emphasizing particularly previously unpublished work on the algebraic aspects. A three-dimensional geometric lattice
L
can be considered as an infinite Abelian group under addition. A sublattice
S
of
L
, which is also three-dimensional, is a subgroup of
L
such that the finite quotient group, G \simeq {\bi L} / {\bi S}, is an Abelian group of order the index of
S
in
L
. The sublattice itself in its standard form is represented by an upper triangular matrix. The index of the sublattice is given by the determinant of this matrix. It is first noted that a sublattice described by an arbitrary basis set in
L
may be converted to this standard form. Next the sublattice is expressed as the intersection of a set of sublattices of individual index a power of a distinct prime, i.e. {\bi S} (n = p_1^a p_2^b\ldots) = {\bi S}_1 (p_1^a) \cap{\bi S}_2 (p_2^b) \cap \ldots = \bigcap\limits_i {{\bf S}_i (p_i^{\alpha _i })}, where p
1, p
2
etc. are prime numbers and n = \prod_i {p_i^\alpha } is the Euclidean factorization of n. This decomposition is important because it corresponds to the Sylow decomposition of the corresponding quotient group G \cong \mathop \otimes \limits_i A_{p_i }. It is also useful to be able to carry out two commutative binary operations on sublattices of
L
; these are to find their common sublattice of lowest index in
L
, which is their intersection {\bi S}_\cap = {\bi S}_a (m) \cap {\bi S}_b (n) and their common superlattice of highest index in
L
, given by {\bi S}_{\lt\gt} = \langle{\bi S}_a (m),{\bi S}_b (n)\rangle, where <> indicates the span of the sublattices.
Bilbao Crystallographic Server. II. Representations of crystallographic point groups and space groups
Authors: Aroyo Mois I. , Kirov Asen , Capillas Cesar , Perez-Mato J. M. , Wondratschek Hans
Published: February 2006

The Bilbao Crystallographic Server is a web site with crystallographic programs and databases freely available on-line (http://www.cryst.ehu.es). The server gives access to general information related to crystallographic symmetry groups (generators, general and special positions, maximal subgroups, Brillouin zones etc.). Apart from the simple tools for retrieving the stored data, there are programs for the analysis of group–subgroup relations between space groups (subgroups and supergroups, Wyckoff-position splitting schemes etc.). There are also software packages studying specific problems of solid-state physics, structural chemistry and crystallography. This article reports on the programs treating representations of point and space groups. There are tools for the construction of irreducible representations, for the study of the correlations between representations of group–subgroup pairs of space groups and for the decompositions of Kronecker products of representations.
Unified system of Hermann–Mauguin symbols for groups of material physics. 1. Groups with decomposable lattices
Authors: Kopský Vojtěch
Published: February 2006

The system of Hermann–Mauguin symbols for space and subperiodic Euclidean groups in two and three dimensions is extended to groups with continuous and semicontinuous translation subgroups (lattices). An interpretation of these symbols is proposed in which each symbol defines a quite specific Euclidean group with reference to a crystallographic basis, including the location of the group in space. Symbols of subperiodic (layer and rod) groups are strongly correlated with symbols of decomposable space groups on the basis of the factorization theorem. Introduction of groups with continuous and semicontinuous lattices is connected with a proposal for several new terms that describe the properties of these groups and with a proposal to amend the meaning of space groups and of crystallographic groups. Charts of plane, layer and space groups describe variants of these groups with the same reducible point group but various types of lattices. Examples of such charts are given for plane, layer and space groups to illustrate the unification principle for groups with decomposable lattices.
Application of modern tensor calculus to engineered domain structures. 1. Calculation of tensorial covariants
Authors: Kopský Vojtěch
Published: February 2006

This article is a roadmap to a systematic calculation and tabulation of tensorial covariants for the point groups of material physics. The following are the essential steps in the described approach to tensor calculus. (i) An exact specification of the considered point groups by their embellished Hermann–Mauguin and Schoenflies symbols. (ii) Introduction of oriented Laue classes of magnetic point groups. (iii) An exact specification of matrix ireps (irreducible representations). (iv) Introduction of so-called typical (standard) bases and variables – typical invariants, relative invariants or components of the typical covariants. (v) Introduction of Clebsch–Gordan products of the typical variables. (vi) Calculation of tensorial covariants of ascending ranks with consecutive use of tables of Clebsch–Gordan products. (vii) Opechowski's magic relations between tensorial decompositions. These steps are illustrated for groups of the tetragonal oriented Laue class D
4z
− 4
z
2
x
2
xy
of magnetic point groups and for tensors up to fourth rank.
Application of modern tensor calculus to engineered domain structures. 2. Tensor distinction of domain states
Authors: Kopský Vojtěch
Published: February 2006

The theory of domain states is reviewed as a prerequisite for consideration of tensorial distinction of domain states. It is then shown that the parameters of the first domain in a ferroic phase transition from a set of isomorphic groups of the same oriented Laue class can be systematically and suitably represented in terms of typical variables. On replacing these variables by actual tensor components according to the previous paper [Kopský (2006), Acta Cryst. A62, 47–64], we can reveal the tensorial parameters associated with each particular symmetry descent. Parameters are distinguished by the ireps to which they belong and this can be used to determine which of them are the principal parameters that distinguish all domain states, in contrast to secondary parameters which are common to several domain states. In general, the parameters are expressed as the covariant components of the tensors. A general procedure is described which is designed to transform the results to Cartesian components. It consists of two parts: the first, called the labelling of covariants, and its inverse, called the conversion equations. Transformation of parameters from the first domain state to other states is now reduced to irreducible subspaces whose maximal dimension is three in contrast with higher dimensions of tensor spaces. With this method, we can explicitly calculate tensor parameters for all domain states. To find the distinction of pairs of domain states, it is suitable to use the concept of the twinning group which is briefly described.
Growth and gonadal development of gynogenetic diploid Scophthalmus maximus
Authors: Cal R. M. , Vidal S. , Martínez P. , Álvarez‐Blázquez B. , Gómez C. , Piferrer F.
Published: February 2006

The survival, growth, gonadal development and sex ratios of gynogenetic diploid turbot Scophthalmus maximus between 9 and 36 months of age were investigated. Gynogenesis was induced by activation of freshly collected eggs with diluted (1 : 10 with Ringer) and UV‐irradiated (30000 erg mm−2) sperm, followed by a cold shock at −1 to 0° C for 25 min, starting at 6·5 min after fertilization. The exclusive maternal inheritance of the resulting gynogenetic diploids was confirmed in all individuals used in the experiment by microsatellite markers. Mean total length and mass throughout the experiment was higher in the controls than in the gynogenetics. The gonadal development in gynogenetic males proceeded normally, and in gynogenetic females it was delayed during the first sexual maturation but was normal during the second one. The sex ratio was 1 male (M) : 1 female (F) in the controls, as expected, but 1 M : 3 F in the gynogenetics. In a second, independent experiment, carried out with fish originating from different broodstock, however, the sex ratio was 1 M : 1 F in the controls and 0 M : 1 F (i.e. 100% females) in the gynogenetics. Together, these results suggested that the main sex‐determining genetic component in turbot fits well to female homogamety, in accordance with data from other flatfishes. These results indicate that it will be possible to obtain near or all‐female turbot stocks through induced gynogenesis or by crosses involving hormonally sex‐reversed fish.
Shape variation in surface and cave populations of the armoured catfishes Ancistrus(Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the São Domingos karst area, upper Tocantins River, Brazil
Authors: Reis R. E. , Trajano E. , Hingst‐Zaher E.
Published: February 2006

Body shape of four distinct populations of Ancistrus cryptophthalmus from different caves in the São Domingos karst area and the local epigean (surface)Ancistrus species were compared using geometric morphometrics. Angélica and Bezerra catfishes were closer to each other and successively to the studied sample of epigean catfishes than to Passa Três and São Vicente I catfishes. Greater similarity between catfishes from the Angélica‐Bezerra cave system to epigean catfishes than to other cave catfishes may represent a plesiomorphic feature. On the other hand, the present analyses allowed the distinction between Passa Três and São Vicente I catfishes, which inhabited the same cave system. Topographic isolation due to the presence of several waterfalls interposed between the stream reaches where these catfishes live may explain such morphological differentiation. Also, the presence of a waterfall downstream of the reach where the Angélica sample was obtained may have contributed to the partial isolation of these catfishes from those living in Bezerra Cave. Differences in population sizes probably influenced the degrees of morphological differentiation observed among the cave populations. The mosaic distribution of character states indicated that the four populations of A. cryptophthalmus have evolved rather independently, but the continuous variation suggests a recent connection between these populations, perhaps with a limited gene flow. Considering other features such as reduction of eyes and pigmentation, and changes in body shape, a separate species status for the epigean and hypogean Ancistrus species from the São Domingos karst area has been maintained.
The survival of semi‐wild, wild and hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon smolts of the Simojoki River in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Jokikokko E. , Kallio‐Nyberg I. , Saloniemi I. , Jutila E.
Published: February 2006

The recapture rate and survival of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar stocked as 1 year‐old parr (semi‐wild) with that of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon stocked as 2 year‐old smolts and wild smolts of Atlantic salmon in the northern Baltic Sea were compared. This was done through tagging experiments carried out in 1986–1988 and 1992. The recapture rate of the semi‐wild groups varied from 1·0 to 13·1%, being similar in 3 tagging years and lower in 1 year than that of the wild groups (1·7–17·0%). The recapture rate of the semi‐wild groups was similar (in 2 years) or higher (in 2 years) than that of the hatchery‐reared groups stocked as smolts (1·3–6·3%). The survival of semi‐wild smolts during the sea migration was as high as that of wild Atlantic salmon of an equal size and two to three times higher than hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon stocked as smolts. The survival rate was positively associated with smolt size. The suitability of hatchery‐reared parr and smolts in the management of reduced Atlantic salmon stocks is compared.
A direct assay of female choice in cichlids: all the eggs in one basket
Authors: Kidd M. R. , Danley P. D. , Kocher T. D.
Published: February 2006

A novel testing apparatus is presented which affords the researcher maximum control over the testing environment, but allows for the scoring of actual spawning events. Female Metriaclima zebra and Metriaclima benetos chose the appropriate conspecific mate in every mating trial performed. This apparatus provides support for a critical assumption of many cichlid speciation models: that female cichlids use visual cues to recognize conspecifics. These results demonstrate that females are able to identify conspecific mates using only visual cues, and provide further support for the importance of sexual selection in the speciation of these fishes.
Marbled lungfish growth rates in Lake Baringo, Kenya, estimated by mark‐recapture
Authors: Dunbrack R. , Green J. M. , Mlewa C. M.
Published: February 2006

Mark‐recapture was used to quantify the relationship between body mass (MT) and individual growth rates of sub‐adult marbled lungfishProtopterus aethiopicusin Lake Baringo, Kenya. Specific growth rate (in mass) was found to be a well defined and decreasing function ofMTover the size range of recaptured fish. Growth trajectories based on this function indicated that Lake Baringo African lungfish reached maturity at an age ofc. 3 years and had a low reproductive effort.
First record of Chromogobius britoi(Teleostei: Gobiidae) on the mainland European coast
Authors: Beldade R. , Van Tassell J. L. , Gonçalves E. J.
Published: February 2006

Chromogobius britoi is a recently described and poorly studied goby currently known only from the Macaronesian islands of Madeira and the Canarian archipelago. This species was captured for the first time on the Atlantic mainland coast of Europe (at Arrábida Marine Park, Portugal). The habitat, depth preferences and morphological characters of the species are revised.
A freshwater‐feeding Lampetra fluviatilis L. population in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland
Authors: Goodwin C. E. , Griffiths D. , Dick J. T. A. , Elwood R. W.
Published: February 2006

Pollan Coregonus autumnalis, caught in the fresh waters of Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, were scarred by river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis and adult river lamprey were found for much of the year with full guts, indicating a freshwater‐feeding population.
An alternative method for the preservation of tropical fish larvae
Authors: Gagliano M. , Kowalewsky S. , McCormick M. I.
Published: February 2006

Preservation of newly hatched fish larvae in a 30% ethanol freshwater solution kept at −19° C allowed accurate measurement of morphology and otolith dimensions with minimal error due to shrinkage compared to other concentrations of ethanol or gluteraldehyde.
Regional variation in the microhardness and mineralization of vertebrae from brown and rainbow trout
Authors: Paxton H. , Bonser R. H. C. , Winwood K.
Published: February 2006

Regional variation in properties of vertebral bone from brown Salmo trutta and rainbow trout Oncorhychus mykiss were explored by using microhardness tests. Statistically‐significant positive correlations were identified between the microhardness of bone and its mineral content. In both brown and rainbow trout, the vertebrae from the caudal region were harder than those of the trunk region. There was a significant difference between the species; microhardness of bone from vertebrae of rainbow trout was greater than those from brown trout.
Age, growth, and sexual maturity of the yellownose skate Dipturus chilensis in the south‐eastern Pacific
Authors: Licandeo R. R. , Lamilla J. G. , Rubilar P. G. , Vega R. M.
Published: February 2006

The age and growth parameters of Dipturus chilensis were estimated by counting growth rings from thin sections of vertebral centra from 400 fish (246 females and 154 males), ranging from 23 to 124 cm total length (LT), and backcalculating fish lengths at previous ages. Marginal increment analysis lent support to the hypothesis of annual deposition of band‐pairs, which formed during the winter months. The oldest female D. chilensis aged in this study was 21 years and 117 cm LT, whereas the oldest male was 18 years and 93 cm LT. A 4·7% index of average per cent error (IAPE) suggested that this is a precise method for calculating the age of D. chilensis. Observed LT were lower than backcalculated LT, which implies the influence of Lee's phenomenon. The von Bertalanffy growth equations, based on mean length‐at‐age data, were estimated as Lt = 128·3 (1 − e−0·112 (t + 0·514)) for females and Lt = 107·8 (1 − e−0·134 (t + 0·862)) for males where t is age (years). Growth was significantly different between sexes: females reached a larger adult size. Ages and lengths at 50% maturity were estimated at 14 years of age and 106 cm LT for females and 11 years of age and 86 cm LT for males. At c. 14 years, there was a decline in growth rates in females. The factor most likely responsible for this was sexual maturity, which caused a discontinuity in growth of female fish. These results show that this species is slow‐growing, long‐lived, relatively large and of delayed maturity, characteristics that make it vulnerable to exploitation.
First evidence of attraction of adult river lamprey in the migratory phase to larval odour
Authors: Gaudron S. M. , Lucas M. C.
Published: February 2006

Sexually immature, adult river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis in the upstream migratory phase, were shown to be attracted to water conditioned with ammocoete larvae when tested using a two‐choice flume. Although preliminary, the data suggest that migrating adult river lamprey may be attracted to larval putative pheromone as recorded in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus.
Feeding pattern and diet of first feeding brown trout fry under natural conditions
Authors: Skoglund H. , Barlaup B. T.
Published: February 2006

The feeding habits of brown troutSalmo truttafry were studied during the critical first feeding period in a natural spawning and nursery stream. A low proportion of the fry initiated exogenous feeding before emergence from the gravel, and while having nearly 30% of the yolk sac remaining. This probably reflected low feeding motivation or limited feeding opportunities within the gravel environment. The majority of the fry started feeding after emergence, and after most or all yolk was absorbed. Some fry emerged with large amounts of yolk remaining, while others emerged after yolk exhaustion. The degree of stomach fullness revealed that feeding was more efficient after a territory had been acquired. The diets of the young fry were dominated by chironomid larvae, followed by zooplankton and Plecoptera larvae. Fry dispersing downstream and out of the nursery area were significantly smaller than resident fry, indicating displacement due to competition for territories. The majority of the downstream dispersing fry had initiated feeding, and there was at this point no evidence of starvation in any of the fry. It therefore appeared that the later emerging fry actively migrated out of the overpopulated nursery area to find available territories further downstream.
Brain morphology in large pelagic fishes: a comparison between sharks and teleosts
Authors: Lisney T. J. , Collin S. P.
Published: February 2006

A quantitative comparison was made of both relative brain size (encephalization) and the relative development of five brain area of pelagic sharks and teleosts. Two integration areas (the telencephalon and the corpus cerebellum) and three sensory brain areas (the olfactory bulbs, optic tectum and octavolateralis area, which receive primary projections from the olfactory epithelium, eye and octavolateralis senses, respectively), in four species of pelagic shark and six species of pelagic teleost were investigated. The relative proportions of the three sensory brain areas were assessed as a proportion of the total ‘sensory brain’, while the two integration areas were assessed relative to the sensory brain. The allometric analysis of relative brain size revealed that pelagic sharks had larger brains than pelagic teleosts. The volume of the telencephalon was significantly larger in the sharks, while the corpus cerebellum was also larger and more heavily foliated in these animals. There were also significant differences in the relative development of the sensory brain areas between the two groups, with the sharks having larger olfactory bulbs and octavolateralis areas, whilst the teleosts had larger optic tecta. Cluster analysis performed on the sensory brain areas data confirmed the differences in the composition of the sensory brain in sharks and teleosts and indicated that these two groups of pelagic fishes had evolved different sensory strategies to cope with the demands of life in the open ocean.
Seasonal and interannual variation in the energetic condition of adult male Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Hoffmayer E. R. , Parsons G. R. , Horton J.
Published: February 2006

One hundred and thirty Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae livers were collected from April 1999 to October 2001 from inshore waters of the Mississippi Sound to investigate seasonal and inter‐annual variation in their energetic condition. A decline in the hepato‐somatic index (IH) was observed from 1999 to 2001. In addition, IH, liver specific energy content and total energy content were lowest during the summer and highest during the spring and autumn, while liver water content was highest during the summer and lowest during the spring and autumn.
Distribution and dietary relationships of the Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles with two contrasting copepod assemblages in estuarine nursery grounds in the Ariake Sea, Japan
Authors: Islam M. S. , Hibino M. , Tanaka M.
Published: February 2006

Early juvenile Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus samples were collected during four cruises to study the spatial and temporal patterns of distribution and feeding habits of the fish in Chikugo estuary, Ariake Sea, Japan. Gut contents were studied by separating, identifying and counting the prey organisms. Plankton samples were collected during each cruise to study the numerical abundance of copepods in the water. Copepod dry biomass and gut content dry mass were estimated. Juveniles were distributed over wide estuarine areas in salinities ranging from as low as 0·37 to as high as 28·81. Considerable spatial and temporal variations were observed in the copepod distribution in the environment and in the food habits of the fish. Two distinctly different copepod assemblages were identified along the estuary: one in the upper river, dominated by a single species Sinocalanus sinensis, and the other a multi‐specific assemblage in the lower estuary dominated by common coastal copepods such as Acartia omorii, Oithona davisae, Paracalanus parvus and Calanus sinicus. The gut content composition corresponded strongly with the copepod composition in the environment, i.e. a single species (S. sinensis) dietary habit at the upper river and a multi‐specific dietary habit dominated by the common coastal copepods in the lower estuary. Ivlev's electivity index showed that the fish strongly preferred larger copepods and avoided smaller ones. Higher dry biomass of copepods in the water as well as higher dry masses of the gut contents were recorded in the low‐to‐medium saline upper river areas, indicating that these areas are of particular importance as nursery grounds for the juvenile Japanese temperate bass. It was speculated that ascending to the upstream nursery areas to utilize S. sinensis, which is the single dominant copepod in these areas, is one of the most important survival strategies of the Japanese temperate bass juveniles in the Chikugo estuary.
Severe allergic hair dye reactions in 8 children
Authors: Sosted Heidi , Johansen Jeanne Duus , Andersen Klaus Ejner , Menné Torkil
Published: February 2006

Serious adverse skin reactions to permanent hair dyes and temporary black tattoos have been reported. As temporary tattoos have become fashionable among adolescents, the risk profile for p‐phenylenediamine (PPD) sensitization of the population has changed simultaneously with an increasing use of hair dyes in this age group. This investigation reports PPD sensitization in children with regard to cause of sensitization, clinical presentation and consequences. Clinical history and patch test results for consecutive children below 16 years of age with suspected hair dye allergic reactions and positive patch tests to PPD were collected over 2 years in 2 Danish dermatology clinics. 8 children aged 12–15 years were collected, and they all reacted to several hair dye ingredients. 5 of the patients were hospitalized, 1 in the intensive care unit. 6 of the patients gave a history of prior reaction to temporary black tattoos. These children showed simultaneous positive patch reactions to N‐isopropyl‐N‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine and local anaesthetics, while such reaction patterns were not seen in children with hair dye reactions only. The clinical consequences of these reactions are unknown. A re‐evaluation of the risk assessment/risk management for hair dyes is required.
Systemic contact dermatitis after oral exposure to nickel: a review with a modified meta‐analysis
Authors: Jensen Christian Stab , Menné Torkil , Duus Johansen Jeanne
Published: February 2006

Systemic contact dermatitis can be elicited experimentally in nickel‐sensitive individuals by oral nickel exposure. A crucial point interpreting such experiments has been the relevance of nickel exposure from drinking water and diet. The aim of this meta‐analysis study on former nickel‐exposure investigations was to provide the best possible estimation of threshold values of nickel doses that may cause systemic contact dermatitis in nickel‐sensitive patients. 17 relevant investigations were identified, and statistical analyses were performed in a stepwise procedure. 9 studies were included in the final dose–response analysis, which divided the studies into a homogenous middle group of 5 studies and 2 groups of 2 studies with a higher and lower response frequency, respectively, described by logistic dose–response curves shifted in parallel. On the basis of these curves, calculations were made of the doses that, theoretically, would cause systemic contact dermatitis in exposed nickel‐sensitive patients. The results from the 2 most sensitive groups show that 1% of these individuals may react with systemic contact dermatitis at normal daily nickel exposure from drinking water and diet, i.e. 0.22–0.35 mg nickel.
Knowledge of skin hazards and the use of gloves by Australian hairdressing students and practising hairdressers
Authors: Nixon Rosemary , Roberts Hugh , Frowen Kathryn , Sim Malcolm
Published: February 2006

Occupational contact dermatitis is common amongst hairdressers. In this population‐based study, 193 trainee hairdressers and 184 practising hairdressers completed a questionnaire detailing their knowledge of skin hazards, the skills they practised and the frequency of glove use. Knowledge of skin hazards was poor in both groups. While up to 70% of participants correctly identified hairdressing chemicals as potential skin hazards, less than 15% correctly identified the role of wet work. Only a small proportion recognized that hairdressing chemicals could cause allergy. Contrary to findings elsewhere, less‐experienced hairdressers often handled chemicals, particularly hair dyes containing p‐phenylene diamine. The use of gloves was inadequate, particularly when performing work at the basin, which both junior and senior hairdressers did on a regular basis. Recommended strategies for the prevention of hand dermatitis in hairdressers include improved student education, appropriate glove use and the application of after‐work moisturizing creams.
Erythema multiforme‐like generalized allergic contact dermatitis caused by Alpinia galanga
Authors: Hong Song Jen , Chang Chung Hsing
Published: February 2006

This study reports a case of localized contact dermatitis and subsequently generalized erythema multiforme‐like eruptions after topical application of herbal remedies. Patch tests showed there was an allergen in fresh and dried Alpinia galanga, which is also a popular spice in Southeast Asian cuisines.
Contact dermatitis around a tracheostoma due to salbutamol sulfate and Aldecin®
Authors: Tsuruta Daisuke , Sowa Junko , Kobayashi Hiromi , Ishii Masamitsu
Published: February 2006

Contact dermatitis around a tracheostoma is quite rare. So far, there have been only 2 reports about this in medical literature. We, in this study, report herewith contact dermatitis in a 61‐year‐old Japanese man around a tracheostoma due to salbutamol sulfate and Aldecin®. The patient used inhaled Sultanol® and Aldecin® for the treatment for allergic asthma. On examination, it was found that there was lichenified, exudative erythema with pigmentation around the tracheostoma. Patch testing with 1% aq. Sultanol® and Aldecin® revealed a positive reaction. Furthermore, patch testing for salbutamol sulfate 1% pet. also showed positive reaction. Although the contact allergen of our patient has not been fully determined (beclomethasone or other ingredients), this must be the first reported case of double contact dermatitis around a tracheostoma from salbutamol and Aldecin®.
Dangerous People, Dangerous Places: The Nature and Location of Young People's Victimisation and Fear
Authors: Deakin Jo
Published: February 2006

Research focusing on the victimisation of young people outside the home has paid insufficient attention to less criminal forms of victimisation such as harassment and their relationship to fear expressed by children. Based on survey data of 2420 children aged 9–16 years from The Children and Young People's Safety Survey, this study focuses on the personal characteristics of offenders and victims, the types of victimisation experienced in specific locations, and the range of fears expressed by the children and young people. The study revealed a significant link between experiences of victimisation and higher levels of fear that appear to be gender‐specific and bear a strong relationship to age. The results of the study have important theoretical and practical implications for preventing victimisation and reducing fears and anxieties. Copyright © 2006 The Author(s).
The Area and Community Components of Children's Well‐being
Authors: Jack Gordon
Published: February 2006

Until recently, mainstream services for children in the UK have largely relied upon individual and reactive approaches to safeguarding children's welfare. However, recent legislative and policy reforms require the development of a more preventive orientation, capable of promoting the well‐being of all children. This will require that agencies responsible for the integrated delivery of children's services develop strategies that, for the first time, take full account of the area and community components of children's well‐being. The challenges presented by these reforms, to existing organisational and professional cultures and ways of working, are examined in the light of recent research evidence. Copyright © 2006 The Author(s).
Using a capture–recapture method to assess the frequency of adverse drug reactions in a French university hospital
Authors: Lugardon Stephanie , Desboeuf Karine , Fernet Pierre , Montastruc Jean‐Louis , Lapeyre‐Mestre Maryse
Published: February 2006

Aims

There is evidence that different methods used to identify and quantify adverse drug reactions (ADR) in hospitals are not exhaustive (spontaneous reporting or computerized medical databases). The combination of these different sources of data could improve knowledge about ADR frequency in hospitals. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of serious ADRs handled in medical wards of a French university hospital using data from the Programme de Medicalization des Systemes d’Information (PMSI) and spontaneous reports recorded in the French Pharmacovigilance Database.

Methods

The study period was the first semester of 2001. From PMSI, all hospitalization summaries including an ICD‐10th code related to a potential ADR were selected. From the French Pharmacovigilance Database, all serious ADRs which occurred during the study period and were reported by physicians working in the University Hospital were collected. After identification of common cases, the capture–recapture method was applied in order to estimate the real number of ADRs occurring during the first semester of 2001.

Results

From PMSI, we identified 274 different hospital stays related to an ADR. Out of 241 reports selected from the French Pharmacovigilance Database, we retained 151 ADRs for analysis. Fifty‐two ADRs were common in the two databases, giving an estimated number of serious ADRs of 796 [95% confidence interval (CI) 638, 954], corresponding to 2.9% of inpatients (95% CI 2.3, 3.5).

Conclusions

This study shows the lack of exhaustiveness of ADR reporting whatever the sources of data and underlines the interest of merging data from different databases to identify fully the real impact of ADR in hospitals.
Prescribing behaviour according to Dutch and European guidelines on the management of hypercholesterolaemia (1992–1999)
Authors: Mantel‐Teeuwisse Aukje K. , Klungel Olaf H. , Hofman Albert , Verschuren W. M. Monique , Trienekens Paul H. , Porsius Arijan J. , Stricker Bruno H. CH. , De Boer Anthonius
Published: February 2006

Background

The success of the full implementation of a new guideline may depend on the observed discrepancy between daily medical practice developed before the release of the guideline and new treatment recommendations issued by the guideline.

Aim

To assess whether the initiation of statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in an elderly population was in agreement with guidelines.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population‐based cohort study consisting of 7983 subjects aged ≥ 55 years. In the period 1992–1999, all patients starting statins for primary prevention were selected. Treatment eligibility was established according to Dutch guidelines based on considerations of cost effectiveness (1998) and European guidelines based on clinical effectiveness (1998 and 2003).

Results

Only 5.7%[95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1, 8.3] of the 299 subjects starting statins for primary prevention met the eligibility criteria of the Dutch guidelines. Most patients (92.0%, 95% CI 88.9, 95.1) met the criteria of the 2003 European guidelines. Patients who did not meet any eligibility criteria were female and had one or less cardiovascular risk factor, except for two patients with total cholesterol levels < 5 mmol l−1 prior to start of statin therapy.

Conclusions

The use of statins was in agreement with the most recent European guidelines in over 90% of elderly patients who started statins for primary prevention, but in only 6% of these patients according to the Dutch guidelines. As long as existing guidelines are as discrepant as they are now, variation in agreement between physicians’ prescribing and guideline recommendations is unavoidable.
Characteristics of baled silage made from first and second harvests of wilted and severely wilted forages
Authors: Han K. J. , Collins M. , Vanzant E. S. , Dougherty C. T.
Published: February 2006

First and second harvests of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture [80 or 144 g kg−1 dry matter (DM) of ryegrass] at the first and second harvests were cut and conditioned, wilted to 500 or 700 g DM kg−1 then baled and stretch‐wrapped for silage on the same dates. Lucerne bales were denser (411 kg m−3) than bales of perennial ryegrass (331 kg m−3) (P < 0·05). After an 8‐month storage period, silage made from high DM‐content forage had a higher concentration of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) and was less digestible than that made from low DM‐content forage. Daily DM intakes by beef steers, when the silages of the second harvest were fed ad libitum, were 31·2, 31·2 and 22·3 g kg−1 live weight for lucerne, lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture and perennial ryegrass silages, respectively (P < 0·01), when the herbage had been wilted to 500 g kg−1. In vivo digestibility of NDF in the lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture silage (0·587) was significantly lower than that of perennial ryegrass silage (0·763) but higher than lucerne silage (0·518). Higher intakes of baled lucerne silage tended to offset its lower digestibility values. Lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture silage had a higher DM and NDF digestibility than lucerne silage, indicating perhaps the presence of associative effects.
The use of pasture reflectance characteristics and arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization to predict pasture characteristics of tallgrass prairie grazed by cattle and bison
Authors: Villarreal M. , Cochran R. C. , Johnson D. E. , Towne E. G. , Wilson G. W. T. , Hartnett D. C. , Goodin D. G.
Published: February 2006

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential for using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization and pasture reflectance characteristics as indicators of changes in tallgrass prairie vegetation resulting from differences in grazing history. The experiment was conducted within the context of a separate long‐term experiment in which eight 4·9‐ha pastures were grazed by either bison or cattle for nine consecutive years. Two separate ungrazed pastures were selected for comparison with grazed areas on the basis of similarity in burning regime, vegetation, soil and topographic characteristics. Four 45 m‐long transects were located in the upland sites within each pasture, and four plots were clipped to ground level along each transect. Reflectance readings were taken with a hand‐held radiometer at each sampling location and a soil core was collected within each plot for analysis of AMF root colonization. Reflectance readings at sixteen different wavelengths were used directly as inputs during multiple regression development or were transformed into each of three vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, soil‐adjusted vegetation index and wide‐dynamic‐range vegetation index) and used in simple linear regressions. Ungrazed pastures were characterized by higher (P < 0·01) grass biomass, total biomass and canopy height than grazed pastures, but had a lower proportional abundance of forbs (P < 0·01) and amounts of forb biomass (P = 0·04). Species of herbivore did not significantly influence above‐ground characteristics that were measured. In general, AMF root colonization was relatively small and was not significantly affected by treatment and, accordingly, the variation was insufficient to test its potential as an indicator of grazing effects on vegetation or its potential relationship with pasture reflectance. Multiple regression equations based on individual wavelength reflectance values explained significantly more of the variation in above‐ground vegetation characteristics than did simple regressions using vegetation indices as predictor variables (r2 values from 0·36 to 0·46 vs. 0·11 to 0·27) and have the potential to predict above‐ground vegetation characteristics in heterogeneous rangelands.
Changes in plant densities in a mesic species‐rich grassland after imposing different grazing management treatments
Authors: Pavlů V. , Hejcman M. , Pavlů L. , Gaisler J. , Hejcmanová‐Nežerková P. , Meneses L.
Published: February 2006

Changes in plant density were evaluated monthly in the first three vegetation seasons after imposing different grazing management treatments on abandoned semi‐natural grassland in the Czech Republic. There was no agricultural management in the 5 years before the start of the experiment in 1998. A completely randomized block experiment was established with the following five treatments: unmanaged control, intensive continuous grazing, extensive continuous grazing and a harvest in June followed by either intensive or extensive continuous grazing for the rest of the growing season. The sward was maintained at a target height of 5 and 10 cm under the intensive and extensive grazing managements respectively. An almost immediate increase in the densities of all sward components, especially grass tillers, occurred after the introduction of grazing on the previously abandoned grassland in comparison with the unmanaged control treatment. Trifolium repens was able to colonize and increase the number of its stolon growing‐points in all managed treatments, particularly in intensively grazed patches during the second and third experimental seasons. Delay to defoliation in both treatments containing a harvest in June resulted in an increase in the number of forb plants, particularly in the number of Taraxacum spp. plants, most probably due to an enabling of its seed production. It is evident that increases in plant density as a function of intensive defoliation are not restricted to the frequently documented effect on grass tillers but also can occur in many legume and forb species in species‐rich grasslands.
Increased concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation
Authors: Moorby J. M. , Evans R. T. , Scollan N. D. , MacRae J. C. , Theodorou M. K.
Published: February 2006

Twelve multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows in early lactation were used to investigate the potential of using perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a high concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) to increase the efficiency of milk production. Ad libitum access to one of two varieties of zero‐grazed herbage was given continuously for 3 weeks: treatment High Sugar (HS), an experimental perennial ryegrass variety (Ba11353) bred to contain a high concentration of WSC, harvested in the afternoon; or Control, a standard variety of perennial ryegrass (cv. AberElan), harvested in the morning. All dairy cows also received 4 kg d−1 of a standard dairy concentrate. Dairy cows given the HS diet treatment consumed 2·8 kg dry matter (DM) d−1 more than Control dairy cows (P < 0·01), and the DM digestibility of the diet on the HS treatment was significantly greater than that of the diet on the Control treatment (0·75 vs. 0·72; s.e.d. 0·010; P < 0·05). Excretion of urinary purine derivatives (PD) tended (P < 0·1) to be higher from dairy cows on the HS treatment, implying increased microbial protein flow to the duodenum, although there was no significant difference in the apparent efficiency of rumen fermentation of either dietary nitrogen (N) or DM expressed as a ratio to urinary PD. Milk yields and milk composition were not significantly affected by dietary treatment, although true protein yields of milk were higher (P < 0·05) from dairy cows given the HS treatment. The proportion of dietary N excreted in urine was significantly lower from HS cows, although the values were low for both treatments (0·20 g g−1 vs. 0·27 g g−1; s.e.d. 0·020; P < 0·05). It is concluded that increased DM intakes by dairy cows given the HS treatment led to increased milk protein outputs. With a proportional decrease in urinary N excretion, the use of perennial ryegrass with a high WSC concentration, in the context of the harvesting regime used in this study, may help to reduce N pollution from dairy systems into which it is incorporated.