bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preventing irritant contact dermatitis with protective creams: influence of the application dose
Authors: Schliemann Sibylle , Petri Maximilian , Elsner Peter 
Published: July 2013

SummaryBackgroundSkin protection creams (PC)s are used in the occupational setting to help prevent irritant hand dermatitis. The actual amounts of PC applied and the resulting dose per unit area on hands at work are lower than recommended.ObjectivesTo assess the influence of the applied dose on the efficacy of PCs in the prevention of irritant contact dermatitis.MethodsExperimental cumulative irritant contact dermatitis was induced by twice daily application of 0.5% NaOH or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for 4 days on the backs of 20 healthy volunteers. Test areas were left unprotected or were pretreated with three different PCs applied at a low dose (2 mg/cm2) or a high dose (20 mg/cm2) before irritation. Irritant responses were assessed by visual scoring and measurement of transepidermal water loss, chromametry, and corneometry.ResultsAlthough cumulative irritant dermatitis developed in all unprotected test sites, irritation was significantly reduced in a dose‐dependent manner on PC‐protected sites. The higher doses of all PCs provided significant protection against irritation. However, the lower dose of one product did not significantly protect against SLS‐induced irritation.ConclusionsThe protective efficacy of PCs depends on the amount of product applied per unit skin surface area. Some products may show no protective efficacy when used at doses close to those practically applied at workplaces. Future efficacy studies of PCs should be performed with doses not higher than 2 mg/cm2, to avoid overestimation of their protective efficacy.
Impact of radiotherapy on surgical repair and outcome in patients with rectourethral fistula
Authors: Beddy D. , Poskus T. , Umbreit E. , Larson D. W. , Elliott D. S. , Dozois E. J. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractAimMost patients presenting with rectourethral fistula acquire it as a complication of radiotherapy for prostate cancer, as a result of injury to the rectum during prostatectomy, through trauma or from Crohn's disease. This study examined whether choice of operation and results of surgery for rectourethral fistula are influenced by prior radiotherapy.MethodMale patients undergoing surgery for rectourethral fistula were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Data regarding aetiology, surgical treatment and outcomes were analysed.ResultsFifty patients (median age = 65.5 years) were identified. Radiation was received by 29 patients for prostate or rectal cancer, and 21 patients developed a fistula following prostatectomy, Crohn's disease or pelvic fracture (without radiation). Prior to definitive surgery, 30 patients underwent fecal diversion and 37 underwent urinary diversion. In total, 57 repairs were performed (44 patients had one repair, five patients had two and one patient had three). Definitive surgery was approached predominantly abdominally in radiated patients (90.6 vs 9.3%, P < 0.001) and perineally in nonradiated patients (80 vs 20%, P < 0.001). Successful primary fistula repair was more frequent in the nonradiated group compared with the radiated group (80.9 vs 0%, P < 0.001). Permanent colostomy and urinary diversion were more often required in radiated patients than in nonradiated patients (colostomy: 83 vs 0%, P < 0.001; urorostomy: 100 vs 19%, P < 0.001).ConclusionFew patients with radiation‐induced rectourethral fistula avoid permanent colostomy and urostomy. In contrast, most patients with nonradiation‐related fistulae undergo successful perineal repair without permanent faecal and urinary diversion.
Evidence for the Role of Shape in Mental Representations of Similes
Authors: van Weelden Lisanne , Schilperoord Joost , Maes Alfons 
Published: July 2013

AbstractPeople mentally represent the shapes of objects. For instance, the mental representation of an eagle is different when one thinks about a flying or resting eagle. This study examined the role of shape in mental representations of similes (i.e., metaphoric comparisons). We tested the prediction that when people process a simile they will mentally represent the entities of the comparison as having a similar shape. We conducted two experiments in which participants read sentences that either did (experimental sentences) or did not (control sentences) invite comparing two entities. For the experimental sentences, the ground of the comparison was explicit in Experiment 1 (“X has the ability to Z, just like Y”) and implicit in Experiment 2 (“X is like Y”). After having read the sentence, participants were presented with line drawings of the two objects, which were either similarly or dissimilarly shaped. They judged whether both objects were mentioned in the preceding sentence. For the experimental sentences, recognition latencies were shorter for similarly shaped objects than for dissimilarly shaped objects. For the control sentences, we did not find such an effect of similarity in shape. These findings suggest that a perceptual symbol of shape is activated when processing similes.
Striatal dopamine transmission is reduced after chronic nicotine with a decrease in α6‐nicotinic receptor control in nucleus accumbens
Authors: Exley Richard , Clements Michael A. , Hartung Henrike , McIntosh J. Michael , Franklin Michael , Bermudez Isabel , Cragg Stephanie J. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractNicotine directly regulates striatal dopamine (DA) neurotransmission via presynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that are α6β2 and/or α4β2 subunit‐containing, depending on region. Chronic nicotine exposure in smokers upregulates striatal nAChR density, with some reports suggesting differential impact on α6‐ or α4‐containing nAChRs. Here, we explored whether chronic nicotine exposure modifies striatal DA transmission, whether the effects of acute nicotine on DA release probability persist and whether there are modifications to the regulation of DA release by α6‐subunit‐containing (*) relative to non‐α6* nAChRs in nucleus accumbens (NAc) and in caudate‐putamen (CPu). We detected electrically evoked DA release at carbon‐fiber microelectrodes in striatal slices from mice exposed for 4–8 weeks to nicotine (200 μg/mL in saccharin‐sweetened drinking water) or a control saccharin solution. Chronic nicotine exposure subtly reduced striatal DA release evoked by single electrical pulses, and in NAc enhanced the range of DA release evoked by different frequencies. Effects of acute nicotine (500 nm) on DA release probability and its sensitivity to activity were apparent. However, in NAc there was downregulation of the functional dominance of α6‐nAChRs (α6α4β2β3), and an emergence in function of non‐α6* nAChRs. In CPu, there was no change in the control of DA release by its α6 nAChRs (α6β2β3) relative to non‐α6. These data suggest that chronic nicotine subtly modifies the regulation of DA transmission, which, in NAc, is through downregulation of function of a susceptible population of α6α4β2β3 nAChRs. This imbalance in function of α6:non‐α6 nAChRs might contribute to DA dysregulation in nicotine addiction.
The interaction of gelsolin with tropomyosin modulates actin dynamics
Authors: Khaitlina Sofia , Fitz Helene , Hinssen Horst 
Published: July 2013

We have investigated the interactions between the actin‐binding proteins gelsolin and tropomyosin, with special respect to any effects on the functional properties of gelsolin. Limited proteolysis indicated that the loop connecting the gelsolin domains G3 and G4 is involved in tropomyosin binding. Under nonpolymerizing conditions, binding of tropomyosin neither prevented the formation of a 2 : 1 actin–gelsolin complex, nor did it affect the nucleating activity of gelsolin in actin polymerization, likely as a result of competitive displacement of tropomyosin from gelsolin. To evaluate the effect of tropomyosin on the actin filament severing activity of gelsolin, we measured both filamentous actin (F‐actin) viscosity and the relative number concentrations of filaments after fragmentation, either by gelsolin alone or by gelsolin–tropomyosin complexes. The interaction of gelsolin with tropomyosin caused a reduction in F‐actin severing activity of up to 80% compared to gelsolin alone. Thus, being bound to gelsolin, tropomyosin prevented gelsolin from severing actin filaments. By contrast, the severing activity of gelsolin for F‐actin/tropomyosin was similar to that for F‐actin alone even at a tropomyosin : actin saturation ratio of 1 : 7. Thus, when bound to actin filaments, tropomyosin did not significantly inhibit the severing of filaments by gelsolin. The interaction between gelsolin and tropomyosin was largely independent of the muscle actin and tropomyosin isoforms investigated. The results obtained in the present study suggest that tropomyosin is involved in the modulation of actin dynamics not via the protection of filaments against severing, but rather by binding gelsolin in solution to prevent it from severing and to promote the formation of new actin filaments.
Managing European cormorant‐fisheries conflicts: problems, practicalities and policy
Authors: Marzano M. , Carss D. N. , Cheyne I. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis article focuses on transboundary conflicts between great cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo L., and European fisheries interests. Two races of this species commonly occur in Europe; the ‘Atlantic’ Phalacrocorax carbo carbo and the ‘Continental’ P. c. sinensis. This migratory fish‐eating bird has steadily expanded its European range and many consider this a nature conservation success. However, fishery representatives see the birds as harmful to their business and way of life, considering European Union (EU) legislation to be blocking the most intuitive and effective solution to the cormorant problem, namely co‐ordinated, pan‐European population reduction. This article argues that cormorant‐fisheries conflicts and their resolution and management cannot be characterised as, or reduced to, a simplistic ‘pan‐European’ vs ‘local’ argument. The nature of cormorant‐fisheries conflicts is explored, key issues of cormorant ecology examined, and consideration is given to how impacts on fisheries might be measured. Discussions then focus on whether current policy prevents balanced and constructive solutions or whether better use of available instruments at local‐national levels could actually be a vital step to a sustainable management solution.
Oral health intervention among community‐dwelling older people: a randomised 2‐year intervention study
Authors: Komulainen Kaija , Ylöstalo Pekka , Syrjälä Anna‐Maija , Ruoppi Piia , Knuuttila Matti , Sulkava Raimo , Hartikainen Sirpa 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 2‐year oral‐health‐promoting intervention on oral health behaviour and oral health among people aged 75 years or older.Materials and methodsIn a 2‐year randomised intervention study, 279 community‐dwelling older people completed the study: 145 persons in an intervention group and 134 in a control group. Interviews and clinical oral examinations were performed at the beginning of the study and at a 2‐year follow‐up. Changes in oral health behaviour and oral health were used as outcomes.InterventionOral health intervention included individually tailored instructions for oral and/or denture hygiene, relief of dry mouth symptoms, decrease of sugar‐use frequency, use of fluoride, xylitol or antimicrobial products, and professional tooth cleaning.ResultsMore participants in both the intervention and control groups had better dental and denture hygiene and were free of oral diseases or symptoms at the 2‐year follow‐up than at the baseline. The differences in changes in outcomes between the intervention and control groups were not statistically significant.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that oral health of community‐dwelling older people could be improved. Oral health improved in both groups, more among the participants in the intervention group compared with control group, but the effect attributed to oral‐health‐promoting intervention remained small.
Functional decline over 2 years in older Spanish adults: Evidence from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
Authors: Rodríguez López Santiago , Montero Pilar , Carmenate Margarita , Avendano Mauricio 
Published: July 2013

AimTo evaluate the social, educational, health and behavioral predictors of physical functional decline in older Spanish adults.MethodsA 2‐year longitudinal study based on 699 community‐dwelling Spanish adults aged over 65 years participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe was carried out. Several predictors of a combined measure of functional disability were examined using logistic regressions.ResultsA decline in function was experienced by 166 individuals. Functional decline in men was associated with an increased number of chronic diseases (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.21–4.19) and depressive symptoms (OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.42–10.54) over a 2‐year period, whereas among women it was associated with decreased numeracy score (OR 1.88, 95%CI 1.05–3.34).ConclusionsLongitudinal changes in predictors are strongly associated with longitudinal changes in function between baseline and a 2‐year follow up, most clearly among men. A decrease in cognitive functioning and increased depressive symptoms are associated with a decline in physical functioning, and can serve as useful clinical predictors to prevent disability in older Spanish adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 403–412.
Comorbidity of Migraine and Psychiatric Disorders Among Substance‐Dependent Inpatients
Authors: McDermott Michael J. , Tull Matthew T. , Gratz Kim L. , Houle Timothy T. , Smitherman Todd A. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundLimited and conflicting data exist regarding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly substance use disorders (SUDs), among migraineurs in inpatient clinical settings.MethodsAs part of a larger cross‐sectional study, 181 substance‐dependent inpatients completed a structured psychiatric interview and measures of psychiatric symptoms and migraine. Standardized mean differences were used to quantify differences between inpatients with and without migraine across 4 domains of predictors (demographic variables, non‐SUD psychiatric diagnoses, specific SUDs, and self‐reported psychiatric symptoms). The predictors within each domain that best discriminated between the migraine and no‐migraine groups were identified using a classification tree approach with Bonferroni corrections. These candidate predictors were subsequently entered into a multivariate logistic regression to predict migraine status, which was then replicated using bootstrapping of 500 samples. Associations between migraine status and SUD treatment dropout were also examined.ResultsForty‐four of the 181 (24.3%) participants met criteria for migraine. Migraineurs were more likely to be female (34.8% vs 18.3%) and reported higher levels of current anxiety symptoms (mean [standard deviation]: 19.7 [11.0] vs 11.3 [10.3]). Having a lifetime diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (56.8% vs 27%, odds ratio 3.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39‐10.58) or a current diagnosis of alcohol dependence (45.5% vs 24.1%, odds ratio 3.79, 95% CI 1.63‐13.62) was associated with more than a 3‐fold risk of migraine. These 4 variables in combination were forced into the final multivariate model, which differentiated well between those with and without migraine (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.81; 95% CI 0.73‐0.88). Migraine was not differentially associated with increased risk for SUD treatment dropout (13.6% vs 16.1% dropout among those without migraine).DiscussionA history of generalized anxiety disorder, high levels of current anxiety symptoms, and current alcohol dependence are the strongest psychiatric predictors of migraine status among substance‐dependent inpatients. However, migraine status is not associated with SUD treatment dropout.
Solid‐phase extraction of lead and copper on a polyhydroxybutyrate‐b‐polydimethyl siloxane (PHB‐b‐PDMS) block copolymer disc and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of them in water and food samples
Authors: Tuzen Mustafa , Unsal Yunus Emre , Soylak Mustafa , Akkirman Zeynep , Hazer Baki 
Published: July 2013

SummaryA separation and preconcentration procedure based on solid‐phase extraction of Cu(II) and Pb(II) as their Sudan III chelates on polyhydroxybutyrate‐b‐polydimethyl siloxane (PHB‐b‐PDMS) block copolymer disc has been established. Various analytical parameters including pH, amount of Sudan III, eluent type and volume, sample volume, flow rates were optimised. The effects of concomitant ions on the retentions of the analyte ions on PHB‐b‐PDMS disc were also examined. The detection limits for Cu(II) and Pb(II) were found to be 2.3 and 4.9 μgL−1, respectively. Preconcentration factor was found to be sixty. Relative standard deviation was found to be 5%. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysing certified reference materials (TMDA 54.4 fortified lake water and NIST 1515 Apple leaves). Optimised method was applied to determine the analyte ions in various water and food samples from Turkey.
Degradation kinetics of rebaudioside A in various buffer solutions
Authors: Gong Qianyun , Bell Leonard N. 
Published: July 2013

SummaryRebaudioside A is a noncaloric high‐intensity sweetener extracted from Stevia rebaudiana. For it to be used in foods, rebaudioside A needs to be stable during processing and storage. This study evaluated the kinetics of rebaudioside A degradation in 0.02 and 0.1 m citrate and phosphate buffer solutions at pH 3, 5 and 7 stored at 20, 30 and 40 °C for 9 months. At pH 3 and temperatures less than 30 °C, degradation was slow (i.e. less than 6% loss in 6 months) and not affected by buffer type or buffer concentration. At pH 7, the degradation of rebaudioside A increased dramatically in phosphate buffer (losses of up to 25% in 6 months at 30 °C), while remaining relatively slow in citrate buffer (less than 5% loss). The degradation rates at pH 7 increased 2.6 times as the concentration of phosphate buffer increased. For optimum stability of beverages containing rebaudioside A, formulations with lower concentrations of citrate buffer stored at lower temperatures are recommended.
Role of a gamma‐aminobutryic acid (GABA) receptor mutation in the evolution and spread of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera resistance to cyclodiene insecticides
Authors: Wang H. , Coates B. S. , Chen H. , Sappington T. W. , Guillemaud T. , Siegfried B. D. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is a damaging pest of cultivated corn that was controlled by applications of cyclodiene insecticides from the late 1940s until resistance evolved ∼10 years later. Range expansion from the western plains into eastern USA coincides with resistance development. An alanine to serine amino acid substitution within the Rdl subunit of the gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor confers resistance to cyclodiene insecticides in many species. We found that the non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G/T at the GABA receptor cDNA position 838 (G/T838) of D. v. virgifera resulted in the alanine to serine change, and the codominant SNP allele T838 was genetically linked to survival of beetles in aldrin bioassays. A phenotypic gradient of decreasing susceptibility from west to east was correlated with higher frequencies of the resistance‐conferring T838 allele in the eastern‐most populations. This pattern exists in opposition to perceived selective pressures since the more eastern and most resistant populations probably experienced reduced exposure. The reasons for the observed distribution are uncertain, but historical records of the range expansion combined with the distribution of susceptible and resistant phenotypes and genotypes provide an opportunity to better understand factors affecting the species' range expansion.
Practical aspects of telehealth: financial considerations
Authors: Loh P. K. , Sabesan S. , Allen D. , Caldwell P. , Mozer R. , Komesaroff P. A. , Talman P. , Williams M. , Shaheen N. , Grabinski O. , Withnall D. ,   The Royal Australasian College of Physicians Telehealth Working Group
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe second in a series of articles about the practical aspects of telehealth, this paper includes information and a case history on the cost‐benefits for patients and practitioners using telehealth. The case history demonstrates that telehealth can save travel time for patients, carers and specialists, and can reduce out‐of‐pocket expenses. The practical aspects of telehealth article series considers the contextual, clinical, technical and ethical components of online video consultations.
Living With Ambiguity: Pricing Mortality‐Linked Securities With Smooth Ambiguity Preferences
Authors: Chen Hua , Sherris Michael , Sun Tao , Zhu Wenge 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTMortality is a stochastic process. We have imprecise knowledge about the probability distribution of mortality rates in the future. Mortality risk, therefore, can be defined in a broader term of ambiguity. In this article, we investigate the effects of ambiguity and ambiguity aversion on prices of mortality‐linked securities. Ambiguity may arise from parameter uncertainty due to a finite sample of data and inaccurate old‐age mortality rates. We compare the price of a mortality bond in three scenarios: (1) no parameter uncertainty, (2) parameter uncertainty with Bayesian updates, and (3) parameter uncertainty with the smooth ambiguity preference. We use the indifference pricing approach to derive the minimum ask price and the maximum bid price, and adopt the economic pricing method to compute the equilibrium price that clears the market. We reveal the connection between the indifference pricing approach and the economic pricing approach and find that ambiguity aversion has a much smaller effect on prices of mortality‐linked securities than risk aversion in our example.
FRAMING AND CLAIMING: HOW INFORMATION‐FRAMING AFFECTS EXPECTED SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIMING BEHAVIOR
Authors: Brown Jeffrey R. , Kapteyn Arie , Mitchell Olivia S. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis article provides evidence that Social Security benefit claiming decisions are strongly affected by framing and are thus inconsistent with expected utility theory. Using a randomized experiment that controls for both observable and unobservable differences across individuals, we find that the use of a “breakeven analysis” encourages early claiming. Respondents are more likely to delay when later claiming is framed as a gain, and the claiming age is anchored at older ages. Additionally, the financially less literate, individuals with credit card debt, and those with lower earnings are more influenced by framing than others.
El impacto de la crisis económica en los mercados laborales de la Unión Europea: una perspectiva comparada
Authors: TRIDICO Pasquale 
Published: July 2013

Resumen.Mediante un «índice de gestión de la crisis», el autor clasifica a los 27 miembros de la Unión Europea según el desempeño de su PIB y su mercado laboral de 2007 a 2011. Tras un análisis por correlaciones empíricas y regresiones, concluye que los países de mejor desempeño comparten un modelo de economía de mercado coordinada, caracterizado por una combinación de políticas económicas e instituciones sociales –como mecanismos de coordinación y reglamentación financiera más estricta– que contribuyeron a estabilizar sus niveles de consumo y de demanda agregada. Además, la ausencia de flexibilidad laboral les permitió mantener la estabilidad del empleo.