bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A randomized, observer-blinded, comparison of combined 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium–aluminium–garnet laser plus 30% glycolic acid peel vs. laser monotherapy to treat melasma
Authors: Park K. Y. , Kim D. H. , Kim H. K. , Li K. , Seo S. J. , Hong C. K. 
Published: October 2011

Summary
Background. Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder that poses therapeutic challenges. Mixed-type melasma usually does not respond to conventional monotherapy.
Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium–aluminium–garnet laser (1064 QNYL) and 30% glycolic acid (GA) peel in the treatment of melasma.
Methods. This was a split-face study, in which 16 patients were treated with 1064 QNYL (6-mm spot size, 2.0–2.3 J/cm2 fluence) for six sessions at 1-week intervals to the entire face, and with GA for three sessions at 2-week intervals to the experimental side of the face. Clinical evaluations, measurements on a pigment measuring device (Mexameter), and assessment of patient satisfaction and adverse events were performed at baseline and every visit.
Results. After treatment, significant improvements from baseline were seen in Mexameter and modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) on both sides of the face. The combined therapy side achieved an average 32.6% improvement in Mexameter readings and 37.4% improvement in mMASI, compared with 22% and 16.7%, respectively, on the side treated with laser only (P ≤ 0.05). Both the physician and patient assessments correlated with the Mexameter results and mMASI.
Conclusion. Combined 1064 QNYL and GA seems to be superior to 1064 QNYL alone in the treatment of mixed-type melasma.
Audit committee characteristics and firm performance during the global financial crisis
Authors: Aldamen Husam , Duncan Keith , Kelly Simone , McNamara Ray , Nagel Stephan 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe address the question ‘do governance enhancing audit committee (AC) characteristics mitigate the firm performance impact of significant‐adverse‐economic events such as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)?’ Our analysis reveals that smaller audit committees with more experience and financial expertise are more likely to be associated with positive firm performance in the market. We also find that longer serving chairs of audit committees negatively impacts accounting performance. However, accounting performance is positively impacted where ACs include blockholder representation, the chair of the board, whose members have more external directorships and whose chair has more years of managerial experience. We contribute to the growing body of research on the impact of audit committee governance attributes on performance during times of financial distress.
AN ULTIMATUM WAGE BARGAINING EXPERIMENT ON TRADE UNION EFFICIENCY
Authors: Andreou Adamos , Andreou Sofia N. , García‐Gallego Aurora , Georgantzís Nikolaos 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTWe present an ultimatum wage bargaining experiment showing that a trade union facilitating non‐binding communication among workers, raises wages by simultaneously increasing employers’ posted offers and toughening the bargaining position of employees, without reducing overall market efficiency.
Perceptions of Self‐Esteem in a Welfare‐To‐Wellness‐To‐Work Program
Authors: Martin Carolyn Thompson , Keswick Judith L. , Crayton Diane , LeVeck Paula 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT Objective: The study investigates welfare recipients' perceptions of personal self‐esteem in relationship with their participation in a welfare‐to‐wellness‐to‐work program.
Design and Sample: The cross‐sectional, mixed‐methods design examined a convenience sample of 33 participants who attended a welfare‐to‐wellness‐to‐work program called Work Wellness: The Basics that is based in an agency called Wellness Works!.
Measures: A demographic survey, Rosenberg's Self‐Esteem scale, and qualitative interviews were used.
Results: Even with normal self‐esteem scores, the participants credited the program with decreasing negative thoughts and improving self‐esteem. The themes identified include program, self‐esteem, mental health, and domestic violence.
Conclusion: Information about the benefits of a holistic wellness program and its relationship with self‐reported enhanced self‐esteem can be used to assist with health promotion, policy, and the development of innovative programs that assist with transition from public assistance.
Screening of Neurodevelopmental Delays in Four Communities of Mexico and Cuba
Authors: Guadarrama‐Celaya Francia , Otero‐Ojeda Gloria A. , Bernardo Pliego‐Rivero F. , del Rosario Porcayo‐Mercado María , Ricardo‐Garcell Josefina , Cecilia Pérez‐Ábalo María 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObjectiveNursing personnel applied a computerized evaluation instrument, Neuropediatric Development (NPED), and compared the prevalence of deviations from normal neurodevelopment in four communities of two Latin American countries, Mexico and Cuba. At the same time the feasibility of introducing this tool into Mexican local health centers was assessed.Design and SampleThe NPED screening tool was applied to 400 children 1–60 months old from two suburban and one urban communities of Mexico and one urban community of Cuba.MeasuresThe NPED instrument was developed at the Neurosciences Centre of Cuba (Santos, & Pérez‐Ábalo, 2011; Santos, Pérez‐Abalo, & Álvarez, 2007), and explores three neurodevelopmental areas: language/communication, psychomotor, and sensory maturation (hearing/vision).ResultsGlobal (21.5%), language (16.5%), psychomotor (5.8%), and sensory (vision/audition; 2.3%/7%) failures were observed. Among Mexican communities, apart from the hearing test in which the urban community showed a significantly higher percentage of failures (p < .001), there were no other significant differences. When compared, the Cuban community showed a significantly higher proportion of audition failures in relation to the Mexican communities.ConclusionsThe prevalence of deviations from normal neurodevelopment was highly similar between both countries, and the NPED system fulfils the necessary requisites for mass screening to be applied by nursing staff at a primary care level.
Barriers toward epilepsy surgery. A survey among practicing neurologists
Authors: Erba Giuseppe , Moja Lorenzo , Beghi Ettore , Messina Paolo , Pupillo Elisabetta 
Published: October 2011

SummaryPurpose:  Guidelines for refractory epilepsy recommend timely referral of potential surgical candidates to an epilepsy center for evaluation. However, this approach is seldom a priority for treating neurologists, possibly because of inertia of previous practice and personal attitudes, leading to a buildup of psychosocial disabilities and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy surgery among practicing neurologists and identify the barriers that delay the treatment.Methods:  We surveyed 183 Italian adult and child neurologists with an ad hoc questionnaire exploring physicians’ willingness to refer patients for epilepsy surgery when such treatment may be indicated. Thirteen of 14 questions had graded answers ranging from 1 (unfavorable to surgery) to 10 (favorable). We compared the overall scores and per‐question scores of the neurologists versus a group of academic and clinical leaders in the field.Key Findings:  The neurologists gave responses characterized by extreme variability (i.e., wide response interquartile range) around intermediate scores. Experts had higher and less variable scores favoring surgery. The two groups differed significantly on issues such as how long to pursue pharmacologic treatment and information about indications and outcome of surgery. Multivariate analysis indicated that neurologists’ attitudes correlated with the number of patients referred for surgery (p < 0.01) and the geographical region where specialty was attained (p < 0.01). Other variables such as years in practice, number of patients treated for epilepsy, or type of specialty had no predictive value on physicians’ behavior.Significance:  The majority of Italian neurologists have highly variable attitudes toward epilepsy surgery, reflecting ambivalence and uncertainty toward this type of treatment. About two thirds of responders are nonaligned with the opinion leaders, mainly due to differences in handling pharmacologic treatment and information regarding epilepsy surgery, which affect their attitudes and ultimately patient management. Strategies that may solve the lack of agreement include reinforcing the concept of pharmacoresistance and associated risks, as opposed to the safety and potential benefits of surgery, the use of epilepsy quality measures during follow‐up, and the adoption of structured referral sheets and greater involvement of patients in decision making. These measures should facilitate the referral of potential candidates for surgical evaluation and improve overall quality of care.
The Contact Hypothesis and Attitudes Toward Latinos in the United States
Authors: Ellison Christopher G. , Shin Heeju , Leal David L. 
Published: October 2011

ObjectivesAlthough the contact hypothesis occupies an important place in the study of intergroup relations, several important questions remain understudied. We contribute to the literature by examining the associations between multiple aspects of contact with Latinos and several types of attitudes toward U.S. Latinos, including attitudes toward immigration restrictions.MethodsWe use OLS and logistic regression techniques to analyze the opinions of Anglo (non‐Hispanic white) and African‐American respondents from the 2000 NORC General Social Survey (GSS), which contained a special module on attitudes regarding ethnicity and diversity issues.ResultsOur findings reveal a clear association between close nonkin Latino ties, that is, friendship, and more favorable or empathetic attitudes toward Latinos as well as less restrictive or punitive views concerning immigration policy. Having Latino relatives is also linked with several of these attitudes. Most other dimensions of contact (e.g., attending high schools with significant Latino populations, having Latino acquaintances, Spanish‐language fluency, and residing in areas with relatively high Latino populations) have at least some association with the attitudes under study, although for most of these contact measures the significance of the effects is inconsistent across outcomes.ConclusionsThe findings reinforce the significance of intergroup friendships and underscore the importance of understanding their social origins, patterning, and consequences for diverse groups. It is also important to probe the differential effects of specific types and arenas of intergroup contact on specific attitudinal and policy outcomes.
U.S. State Governments Are Not Leviathans: Evidence from the Economic Freedom Index
Authors: Campbell Noel D. , Mitchell David T. 
Published: October 2011

ObjectiveDoes increasing a political party's power lead to Leviathan state governments? The evidence is mixed. We use the Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) Index to measure governmental activity to study the impact of political parties on government outcomes.MethodsWe employ instrumental‐variable, panel data methods to regress states’ EFNA scores on median voter and differentiated‐party variables.ResultsParty effects are negligible, but a simple median voter explanation emerges.ConclusionAs political power is consolidated in either party, economic freedom increases. This is consistent with a model wherein the median voter has effective agency control with positive monitoring costs and prefers a particular level of so‐called economic freedom. These results are inconsistent with Leviathan models of state legislatures.
Human versus porcine mesenchymal stromal cells: phenotype, differentiation potential, immunomodulation and cardiac improvement after transplantation
Authors: Noort W. A. , Oerlemans M. I. F. J. , Rozemuller H. , Feyen D. , Jaksani S. , Stecher D. , Naaijkens B. , Martens A. C. , Bühring H. J. , Doevendans P. A. , Sluijter J. P. G. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAlthough mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been applied clinically to treat cardiac diseases, it is unclear how and to which extent transplanted MSCs exert their beneficial effects. To address these questions, pre‐clinical MSC administrations are needed for which pigs appear to be the species of choice. This requires the use of porcine cells to prevent immune rejection. However, it is currently unknown to what extent porcine MSCs (pMSCs) resemble human MSCs (hMSCs). Aim of this study was to compare MSC from porcine bone marrow (BM) with human cells for phenotype, multi‐lineage differentiation potential, immune‐modulatory capacity and the effect on cardiac function after transplantation in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that pMSC expressed surface antigens also found on hMSC, including CD90, MSCA‐1 (TNAP/W8B2 antigen), CD44, CD29 and SLA class I. Clonogenic outgrowth was significantly enriched following selection of CD271+ cells from BM of human and pig (129 ± 29 and 1961 ± 485 fold, respectively). hMSC and pMSC differentiated comparably into the adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages, although pMSC formed fat much faster than hMSC. Immuno‐modulation, an important feature of hMSC, was clearly demonstrated for pMSC when co‐cultured with porcine peripheral blood cells stimulated with PMA and pIL‐2. Finally, pMSC transplantation after myocardial infarction attenuated adverse remodelling to a similar extent as hMSC when compared to control saline injection. These findings demonstrate that pMSCs have comparable characteristics and functionality with hMSCs, making reliable extrapolation of pre‐clinical pMSC studies into a clinical setting very well possible.
Age‐related changes in the contractile and passive arterial properties of murine mesenteric small arteries are altered by caveolin‐1 knockout
Authors: Hausman Natasha , Martin Julie , Taggart Michael J. , Austin Clare 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCaveolin‐1, an integral protein of caveolae, is associated with multiple cardiovascular signalling pathways. Caveolin‐1 knockout (KO) mice have a reduced lifespan. As changes in artery structure and function are associated with ageing we have investigated the role of caveolin‐1 ablation on age‐related changes of small artery contractility and passive mechanical properties. Mesenteric small arteries isolated from 3 and 12‐month wild‐type (WT) and caveolin‐1 KO mice were mounted on a pressure myograph and changes in passive and functional arterial properties were continuously monitored. In WT mice ageing was associated with a reduction in arterial contractility to noradrenaline which was reversed by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L‐NNA. Similarly, in 3‐month‐old mice, caveolin‐1 KO reduced contractility to noradrenaline by an L‐NNA‐sensitive mechanism. However, ageing in caveolin‐1 KO mice was not associated with any further change in contractility. In WT mice ageing was associated with an increased passive arterial diameter and cross‐sectional area (CSA), consistent with outward remodelling of the arterial wall, and a reduced arterial distensibility. Caveolin‐1 ablation at 3 months of age resulted in similar changes in passive arterial properties to those observed with ageing in WT animals. However, ageing in caveolin‐1 KO mice resulted in a reduced arterial CSA indicating different effects on passive structural characteristics from that observed in WT mice. Thus, caveolin‐1 mice show abnormalities of small mesenteric artery function and passive mechanical characteristics indicative of premature vascular ageing. Moreover, caveolin‐1 ablation modulates the age‐related changes usually observed in mesenteric arteries of WT mice.
Pharmaceutical regulation of telomerase and its clinical potential
Authors: Sprouse Alyssa A. , Steding Catherine E. , Herbert Brittney‐Shea 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Telomerase inhibitors
Telomerase activators
Conclusions and perspectives
Telomeres serve the dual function of protecting chromosomes from genomic instability as well as protecting the ends of chromosomes from DNA damage machinery. The enzyme responsible for telomere maintenance is telomerase, an enzyme capable of reverse transcription. Telomerase activity is typically limited to specific cell types. However, telomerase activation in somatic cells serves as a key step toward cell immortalization and cancer. Targeting telomerase serves as a potential cancer treatment with significant therapeutic benefits. Beyond targeting cancers by inhibiting telomerase, manipulating the regulation of telomerase may also provide therapeutic benefit to other ailments, such as those related to aging. This review will introduce human telomeres and telomerase and discuss pharmacological regulation of telomerase, including telomerase inhibitors and activators, and their use in human diseases.
Immediate and delayed allergic hypersensitivity to corticosteroids: practical guidelines
Authors: Baeck Marie , Goossens An 
Published: October 2011

Background. Corticosteroids (CS), anti‐inflammatory drugs also widely used to treat various allergic diseases, may themselves give rise to immediate and delayed allergic hypersensitivity reactions.Objectives. To realise an appropriate diagnostic work‐up in order to determine the CS‐allergic patient's sensitization/tolerance profile and define the potential replacement agents that can still be tolerated.Methods. Analysis of the patch test results and concomitant (cross‐) reaction patterns obtained with 315 corticosteroid‐allergic patients, as well as molecular modelling of molecules.Results. Proposal of a simplified classification of corticosteroids as to their allergenic properties into 3 groups, determination of two patient profiles according to steric and electrostatic properties of the molecules.Conclusion. Practical information to the medical profession in order to detect and manage such reactions is provided.
Quantification of p‐phenylenediamine and 2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone in henna tattoos
Authors: Almeida Pablo J. , Borrego Leopoldo , Pulido‐Melián Elisenda , González‐Díaz Oscar 
Published: October 2011

Background. Very few studies are available in which the components of henna products used by tattoo artists have been analysed.Objective. The aim of this study was to quantify the amounts of lawsone (2‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone, the active ingredient in henna) and p‐phenylenediamine (PPD) in products used by tattoo artists and in commercial henna preparations used as hair dyes or to create temporary tattoos.Methods. We used high‐performance liquid chromatography to detect and quantify lawsone and PPD concentrations in three products used by henna tattoo artists, 11 commercially available henna preparations, and a batch of henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis).Results. The henna leaves contained 1.85–1.87% lawsone. Only one of the three preparations used by tattoo artists contained lawsone (0.21–0.35%), and all three were adulterated with PPD (1–64%). Of the 11 commercial henna preparations analysed, nine contained lawsone (1–2%) and two contained PPD (2% and 12%).Conclusions. Products purporting to be henna, but that in fact contain no henna, are being offered. Moreover, these products may contain PPD, which is associated with health risks, especially severe allergic reactions.
SENSORY ACCEPTANCE OF JUICE FROM FCOJ PROCESSING STEPS
Authors: JANZANTTI N.S. , MACHADO T.V. , MONTEIRO M. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTThe acceptance of orange juice from the frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) processing steps was evaluated by 101 consumers for color, overall impression, aroma, flavor and texture. The juice from the extraction, filtration, concentration, cooling and blend steps was collected at the beginning and the end of the 2009 harvest period. The juice from the extraction and filtration steps showed higher acceptance means for overall impression, aroma and flavor, while the juice from the concentration, cooling and blend steps had acceptance lower than the cutoff score. The internal preference mapping showed that color discriminated the juice from the collection periods while texture allowed discrimination between the steps of extraction and of filtration. The acceptance of the orange juice was driven by the aroma and flavor. The sensory acceptance was successfully applied to evaluate change during the process and the difference between the orange juice from different steps of the FCOJ processing.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis work intended to evaluate the consumer's acceptance of the orange juice from the steps of the processing of the frozen concentrated orange juice, with the aim to identify the steps when changes occur in appearance, aroma, flavor and texture that affect the sensory quality of the juice. The work is also intended to point out what are the attributes that are most important to the juice acceptance and which, therefore, should be targeted by product developers.
IS A CONSUMER PANEL ABLE TO RELIABLY EVALUATE THE TEXTURE OF DAIRY DESSERTS USING UNSTRUCTURED INTENSITY SCALES? EVALUATION OF GLOBAL AND INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Authors: ARES GASTÓN , BRUZZONE FERNANDA , GIMÉNEZ ANA 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTIn the last decade, consumer panels have been claimed capable of evaluating the intensity of sensory attributes of food products using intensity scales, providing similar results than trained assessors. In this context, the present study deals with the evaluation of the performance of a consumer panel for texture evaluation of milk desserts, based on global and individual performance, and the comparison with a panel of trained assessor panel. Four milk desserts with different texture characteristics were evaluated by 86 consumers and by a trained panel. Both panels evaluated five texture attributes using unstructured intensity scales. Consumers and trained assessors showed very similar discriminative capacity and reproducibility for all the evaluated texture characteristics. However, the consumer panel showed lack of consensus in its evaluations and individual scores for most consumers were not able to significantly discriminate between samples.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSResults from the present work show that although average data for attribute intensity from a consumer panel might be valid and comparable with data from a quantitative descriptive analysis performed by a panel of trained assessors, high variability among consumers exists. Therefore, care must be taken when using intensity scales to study consumers' perception of the sensory characteristics of food products, which suggests that more appropriate methodologies should be developed.