bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Female Emigration on Families and the Welfare State in Countries of Origin: The Case of Romania
Authors: Piperno Flavia 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe heavy reliance on foreign labour in the care sector by Western countries (particularly those in southern Europe) is fuelling a growing feminization of migration in many emigration countries. This migration has a new impact on the countries of origin: it adds the problem of “care drain” to the better known “skill drain” problem ‐‐ which has already been extensively examined in the literature. In this article, we investigate how this phenomenon is taking place in Romania. In particular, the article explores the compensatory strategies put in place by Romanian families and local welfare states to limit the impact of care drain. Furthermore, it considers the persistence of a “care shortage” problem, which constrains both individuals and local institutions in Romania and requires the establishment of new social and cooperation policies.The research is based on the results of qualitative interviews conducted between the winter and spring of 2006 with 30 Romanian female care‐workers living in Turin and Rome, and with 40 family members of female care‐workers (often belonging to the same family units as the women interviewed in Italy) in Romania. With a view to gaining a more comprehensive overview of the phenomenon, more than 35 privileged observers were also interviewed in both countries in which the field work was carried out.
Preparation and characterization of carnauba wax nanostructured lipid carriers containing benzophenone‐3
Authors: Lacerda S. P. , Cerize N. N. P. , Ré M. I. 
Published: February 2011

SynopsisNanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are potential active delivery systems based on mixtures of solid lipids and liquid oil. In this paper, aqueous dispersions of NLCs were prepared by a hot high‐pressure homogenization technique using carnauba wax as the solid lipid and isodecyl oleate as the liquid oil. The preparation and stability parameters of benzophenone‐3‐loaded NLCs have been investigated concerning particle size, zeta potential and loading capacity to encapsulate benzophenone‐3, a molecular sunscreen. The current investigation illustrates the effect of the composition of the lipid mixture on the entrapment efficiency, in vitro release and stability of benzophenone‐3‐loaded in these NLCs. A loading capacity of approximately 5% of benzophenone‐3 (mBZ‐3/mlipids) was characteristic of these systems.
Relation between facial morphology, personality and the functions of facial make‐up in women
Authors: Korichi R. , Pelle‐de‐Queral D. , Gazano G. , Aubert A. 
Published: February 2011

SynopsisOur external appearance plays a key role in everyday life’s social interactions. Hence, taking care of our appearance allows us to adjust and protect ourselves, as well as communicate emotional disposition (i.e. sympathy or aversion) and social information (i.e. values, status). However, some discrete body parts or characteristics appear to be more salient than others in contributing to global body image. For example, authors showed that facial attractiveness is one of the best predictors of overall physical attractiveness and represent one of the primary factors influencing global self‐esteem. Make‐up is therefore ought to play a major influence in these parameters. Moreover, in a previous study whose subject was to explain the reasons that motivate women to make‐up, we showed a high implication of specific psychological traits in correlation with two make‐up functions (i.e. psycho‐behavioural profiles ‘Seduction’ and ‘Camouflage’; group S and group C, respectively). The purpose of this study was to assess the possible relation between our two psycho‐behavioural profiles and some morphological parameters know to be involved in facial attraction (i.e. facial asymmetry and skin visual quality). First of all, our study revealed for women from the group C a greater asymmetry of the lower face (i.e. mouth area) that could be related to a possible larger amount of negative emotional experiences. Concerning make‐up behaviour, women from the group S more extensively manipulated their relative facial attractiveness, by using a large range of colours, but also through a significantly longer make‐up process used to adjust their visual asymmetry and therefore increase their potential of attractiveness. On the overall, our results suggest that make‐up is used differentially, according to stable psychological profiles of women, to manipulate specific visual/morphological facial features involved in attractiveness.
Sex difference in human fingertip recognition of micron‐level randomness as unpleasant
Authors: Nakatani M. , Kawasoe T. , Denda M. 
Published: February 2011

SynopsisWe investigated sex difference in evaluation, using the human fingertip, of the tactile impressions of three different micron‐scale patterns laser‐engraved on plastic plates. There were two ordered (periodical) patterns consisting of ripples on a scale of a few micrometres and one pseudo‐random (non‐periodical) pattern; these patterns were considered to mimic the surface geometry of healthy and damaged human hair, respectively. In the first experiment, 10 women and 10 men ran a fingertip over each surface and determined which of the three plates felt most unpleasant. All 10 female participants reported the random pattern, but not the ordered patterns, as unpleasant, whereas the majority of the male participants did not. In the second experiment, 9 of 10 female participants continued to report the pseudo‐random pattern as unpleasant even after their fingertip had been coated with a collodion membrane. In the third experiment, participants were asked to evaluate the magnitude of the tactile impression for each pattern. The results again indicated that female participants tend to report a greater magnitude of unpleasantness than male participants. Our findings indicate that the female participants could readily detect microgeometric surface characteristics and that they evaluated the random pattern as more unpleasant. Possible physical and perceptual mechanisms involved are discussed.
Standardized extract of Syzygium aqueum: a safe cosmetic ingredient
Authors: Palanisamy U. D. , Ling L. T. , Manaharan T. , Sivapalan V. , Subramaniam T. , Helme M. H. , Masilamani T. 
Published: February 2011

Synopsis Syzygium aqueum, a species in the Myrtaceae family, commonly called the water jambu is native to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is well documented as a medicinal plant, and various parts of the tree have been used in traditional medicine, for instance as an antibiotic. In this study, we show S. aqueum leaf extracts to have a significant composition of phenolic compounds, protective activity against free radicals as well as low pro‐oxidant capability. Its ethanolic extract, in particular, is characterized by its excellent radical scavenging activity of EC50 of 133 μg mL−1 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH), 65 μg mL−1 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 71 μg mL−1 (Galvinoxyl), low pro‐oxidant capabilities and a phenolic content of 585–670 mg GAE g−1 extract. The extract also displayed other activities, deeming it an ideal cosmetic ingredient. A substantial tyrosinase inhibition activity with an IC50 of about 60 μg mL−1 was observed. In addition, the extract was also found to have anti‐cellulite activity tested for its ability to cause 98% activation of lipolysis of adipocytes (fat cells) at a concentration of 25 μg mL−1. In addition, the extract was not cytotoxic to Vero cell lines up to a concentration of 600 μg mL−1. Although various parts of this plant have been used in traditional medicine, this is the first time it has been shown to have cosmeceutical properties. Therefore, the use of this extract, alone or in combination with other active principles, is of interest to the cosmetic industry.
Mechanisms in allergic skin disorders
Authors: Degreef Hugo 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground Allergic skin disorders are initiated and maintained through the action and interaction between resident tissue cells, infiltrating leucocytes and mediators.Review The major cellular components of the skin immune system are keratinocytes, dendritic cells such as epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells, mast cells and fibroblasts. Following an allergenic stimulus, inflammatory and immunocompetent cells accumulate in the epidermis and dermis, giving rise to specific clinical and histological manifestations. Leucocytes which accumulate in the inflammatory focus attract more leucocytes and stimulate the resident cell population. Primary mediators, released by resident cells upon stimulation, play a vital role in initiating and controlling inflammation. The mediators induce vascular endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules, which mediate migration of leucocytes into the dermis, where chemotactic factors attract them to the inflammatory focus. Activation of trapped T‐lymphocytes by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) is followed by the release of inflammatory cytokines. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) depends on the activation of specifically sensitised T‐cells, and epidermal LCs are the primary APCs. Most contact allergens are small, chemically reactive moleculed and CD4+ Th1 type T‐cells are the target cells. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic eczematous condition, involving antibody IgE, LCs and dermal dendritic cells as the APCs, with Th2 T‐lymphocytes as the target cells. Urticaria comprises a heterogeneous group of conditions, characterised by a wheal and flare reaction. Mast cells are the principal source of mediators involved and histamine is the most important of these.
Therapy of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Cerio Rino 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground Appropriate management of patients with atopic dermatitis must depend primarily on early, accurate diagnosis and allergen avoidance in infants. Patients with less typical lesions, such as extensor involvement, may be misdiagnosed.Aim Dermatologists should try to ensure that correct management is initiated in the primary care setting and maintained by patients and parents. Guidelines for the management of both paediatric and adult patients with atopic dermatitis have been drawn up by an international panel of dermatologists. For patients with mild disease, elaborate investigations to identify the trigger factors are unnecessary. Management should include general measures (skin hydration, irritant and allergen avoidance), provision of information to parents and intermittent use of low potency topical corticosteroids when necessary. For patients with mild to moderate disease, investigations may require assessment of food allergies in paediatric cases and of contact allergens and irritants in adult cases. Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus secondary infection is also important.Conclusions General measures remain important in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, with appropriate education and support for parents. Topical corticosteroids play an important role, possibly with antihistamines to help alleviate the pruritus. In certain situations, systemic treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids and other agents may be indicated.
Therapy of acute and chronic urticaria
Authors: Monroe Eugene 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground The drug management of chronic urticaria can be divided into three approaches: (i) blockade of released histamine at the receptor sites; (ii) blockade of histamine release from mast cells; and (iii) blockade of other mediators and possible inflammatory and cellular components. The first approach is the most successful and widely used. It primarily involves the use of H1‐antihistamines, although tricyclic antidepressants and H2‐antihistamines also have a place.Treatments The usefulness of classic H1‐antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine, may be limited by side‐effects (most notably, sedation). The four most widely used of the newer antihistamines are loratadine, terfenadine, astemizole and cetirizine. These antihistamines are significantly superior to placebo and have similar efficacies comparable with hydroxyzine. Novel agents and methods, including nifedipine, sulphasalazine and plasmapheresis have been tried with some success in refractory patients.Guidelines If acute cases are inadequately controlled, short‐term oral corticosteroids may be added. Systemic corticosteroids are occasionally indicated for the management of severe acute urticaria, severe serum sickness, pressure urticaria or urticarial vasculitis, or to break the cycle of a resistant case, but have no place in regular therapy for chronic urticaria. For those with severe acute urticaria with signs of respiratory distress, possible treatments include subcutaneous epinephrine, systemic corticosteroids and intramuscular H1‐antihistamines. Patients with chronic urticaria inadequately controlled on H1‐antihistamines alone may benefit from the addition of a classic antihistamine, a tricyclic antidepressant or an H2‐antihistamine. A short course of systemic corticosteroids may help those with severe chronic refractory disease.
Comparing latitudinal and upstream–downstream gradients: life history traits of invasive mosquitofish
Authors: Carmona‐Catot Gerard , Benito Josep , García‐Berthou Emili 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAim  Variation of life history traits along spatial gradients is poorly understood in invasive species and particularly in freshwater fish. We aimed to examine life history variation in a highly invasive fish (Gambusia holbrooki) along latitudinal and upstream–downstream river gradients and to assess the effects of age on this variation. We hypothesized similar responses in populations inhabiting environments more favourable to this species (lower latitudes and lower reaches of rivers).Location  European rivers from southern Spain to southern France.Methods  We sampled mosquitofish from the lowest reaches of ten river basins along 6° of latitude in the Mediterranean region and seven sites along the upstream–downstream gradient in three of the rivers. We examined abundance, population structure, size‐at‐age and other life history traits along these gradients.Results  As hypothesized, lower reaches and lower latitudes both resulted in higher reproductive effort and lower body condition of mosquitofish. However, these patterns explained low per cent variation, were nonlinear and strongly depended on fish age. Independently of fish size, age groups differed in reproductive effort, in the gonadal weight–size relationship and its variation along spatial gradients. Mean size‐at‐age (or overall body size) did not vary with latitude (so the intra‐specific version of Bergmann’s rule or its converse does not apply) and in contrast increased upstream in rivers.Main conclusions  Our findings suggest that for life history traits of freshwater organisms, river longitudinal variation plays a role as important as climate, with often differential effects. Our results also illustrate the poor knowledge of spatial variation of many life history traits, which precludes the understanding and prediction of biological invasions in a rapidly changing world.
Spatial and temporal trends in soil salinity for identifying perched and deep groundwater systems
Authors: Thomas M. , Fitzpatrick R. W. , Heinson G. S. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractCharacterization of spatial and temporal variability in water flow and solute transport to foster better land management in salt‐affected landscapes requires direct hydrological observation, for example using suites of nested piezometers and dip wells. Such methods are costly to install and produce data with low spatial density, so are not ideal for supporting within‐field scale land management decisions. We present a new methodology to characterize water‐flow systems in salt‐affected landscapes using trends in shallow (<1 m) down‐profile soil salinity based on electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract (ECse) and salts (that is the water extractable major ions of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cl and S mg/kg) from a range of topographic settings. This involved coupling seasonal (late winter and late summer) salinity trends with clay percent (for soil morphology) and terrain patterns to understand the connectivity between perched and deep groundwater systems in a 120 ha catchment in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. From investigations at 19 sites in the catchment comprising toposequences or paired sites (in close proximity, but in different topographic settings), soil salinity trends revealed four hydro‐pedological systems: (i) a perched freshwater system with no hydraulic connectivity to the deep groundwater in upper slopes, (ii) an intermediate system comprising perched freshwater connected to a deep groundwater system in mid and upper slopes, (iii) a deep groundwater system in upper slopes, and (iv) a deep groundwater system in lower slopes. Although most of the 19 sites proved non‐saline, seasonal changes in ECse and ion concentration along with topography and soil morphology were sufficient to characterize the hydro‐pedological systems. We assigned these systems to a newly developed salinity classification based on dominant soil‐regolith‐hydrological processes and designed to support land management decisions. Conceptual hydro‐pedological models for each system were constructed to illustrate and explain the important interactions in each and how these relate to the new salinity classification. We propose that the methodology based on seasonal monitoring offers a new approach to landscape‐based hydro‐pedological characterization without reliance on the traditional groundwater monitoring methods. The new method offers wider access to catchment hydro‐pedological information to support better land management decisions in sloping landscapes subject to salinity.
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 genotype is associated with nonanastomotic biliary strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation
Authors: Ten Hove W. Rogier , Korkmaz Kerem S. , op den Dries Sanna , de Rooij Bert‐Jan F. , van Hoek Bart , Porte Robert J. , van der Reijden Johan J. , Coenraad Minneke J. , Dubbeld Jeroen , Hommes Daniel W. , Verspaget Hein W. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground: Nonanastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) are a serious complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in connective tissue remodelling in chronic liver disease and complications after OLT.Aim: To evaluate the relationship between MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 gene polymorphisms and NAS.Methods: MMP‐2 (−1306 C/T) and MMP‐9 (−1562 C/T) gene promoter polymorphisms were analysed in 314 recipient–donor combinations. Serum levels of these MMPs were determined in subgroups of patients as well. NAS were identified with various radiological imaging studies performed within 4 years after OLT and defined as any stricture, dilation or irregularity of the intra‐ or extrahepatic bile ducts of the liver graft followed by an intervention, after exclusion of hepatic artery thrombosis and anastomotic strictures.Results: The average incidence of NAS was 15%. The major clinical risk factor for the development of NAS was PSC in the recipient. The presence of the MMP‐2 CT genotype in donor and/or recipient was associated with a significantly higher incidence of NAS, up to 29% when both donor and recipient had the MMP‐2 CT genotype (P=0.003). In the multivariate analyses, pre‐OLT PSC (hazard ratio 2.1, P=0.02) and MMP‐2 CT genotype (hazard ratio 3.5, P=0.003) were found to be independent risk factors for the development of NAS after OLT. No obvious association was found between NAS and the MMP‐9 genotype and serum levels of the MMPs.Conclusion: MMP‐2 CT genotype of donor and recipient is an independent risk factor, in addition to PSC, for the development of NAS after OLT.
Percutaneous Closure of Coronary Artery Fistulae in Adults with Intermediate Term Follow‐Up Results
Authors: OTO ALİ , AYTEMIR KUDRET , ÇIL BARBAROS , PEYNIRCIOĞLU BORA , YORGUN HIKMET , CANPOLAT UĞUR , KAYA ERGÜN BARIŞ 
Published: February 2011

Objective: Percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF) has become an alternative method to surgery. But there are limited data about intermediate and long‐term results. In this manuscript, we aimed to review our experience about the closure of CAF with several percutaneous methods in our center.
Methods: Seven patients who admitted to our hospital, either symptomatic or having complications attributable to CAF, were analyzed. The immediate closure results and clinical follow‐up were reviewed.
Results: Five patients were male (71%) and mean age was 58.3 ± 13.3 years. Five of the CAF were draining into pulmonary artery and 2 of them were draining into the right atrium. Closure of CAF was performed with coil embolization in 5 patients, detachable balloon in 1 patient, and a combination of coil embolization and glue in the remaining 1 patient. In the early follow‐up, 1 patient had atrial fibrillation and 1 patient had chest pain immediately after the closure procedure; other patients discharged from hospital uneventfully. Intermediate term follow‐up results (32–83 months; median, 54 months) revealed that the procedure was clinically successful in all of the patients, despite the complaint of chest pain in 3 patients and minimal flow in 1 of these patients.
Conclusion: Percutaneous closure of CAF is feasible and safe in anatomically suitable vessels with good results at intermediate term follow‐up. (J Interven Cardiol 2011;24:216–222)
Age‐related changes in skin mechanical properties: a quantitative evaluation of 120 female subjects
Authors: Krueger Nils , Luebberding Stefanie , Oltmer Mareike , Streker Meike , Kerscher Martina 
Published: February 2011

Background/purpose: The most commonly used method to determine the mechanical ability of skin is the creep test using suction chamber devices. Until now, there is no scientific consensus upon which skin deformation parameters and which body sites are particularly suitable to describe age‐related changes in human skin mechanics. The aim of this study was to find those mechanical skin parameters best representing influence of aging at five different body sites.Methods: A total of 120 healthy women aged 18–65, divided into four similar age groups, were included in this study. The biomechanical properties of the skin were measured using the Cutometer® MPA 580 on five body sites: cheek, neck, cleavage, volar forearm and back of the hand. In order to analyze parameters referred to 1 mm skin thickness, we also used 20 MHz sonography (DUB 20).Results: A high average correlation with age was found for the parameters Ua/Uf, Ur/Ue, Ur, Ur/Uf and Ua. Only low correlation with age was found for the parameters Uv/Ue, Uf‐Ua, Uf5/Uf, Ud/Uf and Ua5. The localizations cheek, forearm and neck showed the highest correlation with age, while cleavage showed only low correlation.Conclusion: According to the results of our study, we recommend the parameter ratio of elastic recovery to distensibility (Ur/Uf) as well as the gross elasticity (Ua/Uf) for evaluation of aging effects on the mechanical properties of skin. Their high correlation with age makes them particularly applicable to represent the influence of aging onto skin mechanical properties. Most suitable localizations to evaluate skin aging are cheek, forearm and neck.