bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A surgical technique with connective tissue repair for the management of subconjunctival orbital fat prolapse
Authors: Sato Ken‐ichi , Yamaguchi Toru , Yokota Harumasa 
Published: December 2006

AbstractSubconjunctival orbital fat prolapse is an uncommon benign entity. In addition to insufficient information concerning the mechanisms of the prolapse, detailed surgical methods that can be followed are uncommon in the literature. We prospectively studied six consecutive eyes in four males who were to undergo our novel surgical sequence, attempting to avoid postoperative complications by reconstructing intermuscular septa on the basis of the assumption that the spontaneous prolapsed fat at the superior temporal quadrant stemmed from intraconal fat. Intraoperative findings were in agreement with our hypothesis that the anterior part of the herniated fat is covered by both the intermuscular septum and Tenon’s capsule. All the surgeries were uneventful and cosmetic improvement without postoperative complications was obtained. Our early results indicated the safety and efficacy of this newly developed technique for spontaneous orbital fat prolapse.
Nitric oxide reductase (norB) gene sequence analysis reveals discrepancies with nitrite reductase (nir) gene phylogeny in cultivated denitrifiers
Authors: Heylen Kim , Vanparys Bram , Gevers Dirk , Wittebolle Lieven , Boon Nico , De Vos Paul 
Published: December 2006

SummaryGene sequence analysis of cnorB and qnorB, both encoding nitric oxide reductases, was performed on pure cultures of denitrifiers, for which previously nir genes were analysed. Only 30% of the 227 denitrifying strains rendered a norB amplicon. The cnorB gene was dominant in Alphaproteobacteria, and dominantly coexisted with the nirK gene, coding for the copper‐containing nitrite reductase. Both norB genes were equally present in Betaproteobacteria but no linked distributional pattern of nir and norB genes could be observed. The overall cnorB phylogeny was not congruent with the widely accepted organism phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, with strains from different bacterial classes having identical cnorB sequences. Denitrifiers and non‐denitrifiers could be distinguished through qnorB gene phylogeny, without further grouping at a higher taxonomic resolution. Comparison of nir and norB phylogeny revealed that genetic linkage of both genes is not widespread among denitrifiers. Thus, independent evolution of the genes for both nitrogen oxide reductases does also occur.
On the role of oxygen for nitrogen fixation in the marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium sp.
Authors: Staal Marc , Rabouille Sophie , Stal Lucas J. 
Published: December 2006

SummaryThe marine, non‐heterocystous, filamentous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium shows a distinct diurnal pattern of nitrogenase activity. In an attempt to reveal the factors that control this pattern, a series of measurements were carried out using online acetylene reduction assay. Light response curves of nitrogenase were recorded applying various concentrations of oxygen. The effect of oxygen depended on the irradiance applied. Above a photon irradiance of 16 μmol m−2 s−1 nitrogenase activity was highest under anoxic conditions. Below this irradiance the presence of oxygen was required to achieve highest nitrogenase activity and in the dark 5% oxygen was optimal. At any oxygen concentration a photon irradiance of 100 μmol m−2 s−1 was saturating. When Trichodesmium was incubated in the dark, nitrogenase activity gradually decreased and this decline was higher at higher levels of oxygen. The activity recovered when the cells were subsequently incubated in the light. This recovery depended on oxygenic photosynthesis because it did not occur in the presence of DCMU [3‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dimethylurea]. Recovery of nitrogenase activity in the light was faster at low oxygen concentrations. The results showed that under aerobic conditions nitrogenase activity was limited by the availability of reducing equivalents suggesting a competition for electrons between nitrogenase and respiration.
Genetic and ultrastructural analysis of different mutants of Pseudomonas putida affected in the poly‐3‐hydroxy‐n‐alkanoate gene cluster
Authors: Sandoval Ángel , Arias‐Barrau Elsa , Arcos Mario , Naharro Germán , Olivera Elías R. , Luengo José M. 
Published: December 2006

SummaryFunctional analyses of the different proteins involved in the synthesis and accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in P. putida U were performed using a mutant in which the pha locus had been deleted (PpUΔpha). These studies showed that: (i) Pha enzymes cannot be replaced by other proteins in this bacterium, (ii) the transformation of PpΔpha with a plasmid containing the locus pha fully restores the synthesis of bioplastics, (iii) the transformation of PpΔpha with a plasmid harbouring the gene encoding the polymerase PhaC1 (pMCphaC1) permits the synthesis of polyesters (even in absence of phaC2ZDFI); however, in this strain (PpUΔpha‐pMCphaC1) the number of PHAs granules was higher than in the wild type, (iv) the expression of phaF in PpUΔpha‐pMCphaC1 restores the original phenotype, showing that PhaF is involved in the coalescence of the PHAs granules. Furthermore, the deletion of the phaDFI genes in P. putida U considerably decreases (> 70%) the biosynthesis of PHAs consisting of hydroxyalkanoates with aliphatic constituents, and completely prevents the synthesis of those ones containing aromatic monomers. Additional experiments revealed that the deletion of phaD in P. putida U strongly reduces the synthesis of PHA, this effect being restored by PhaF. Moreover, the overexpression of phaF in P. putida U, or in its ΔfadBA mutant, led to the collection of PHA over‐producer strains.
A Primer on Topological Persistence
Authors: Edelsbrunner Herbert 
Published: December 2006

Abstract The idea of topological persistence is to look at homological features that persist along a nested sequence of topo‐logical spaces. As a typical example, we may take the sequence of sublevel sets of a function. The combinatorial characterization of persistence in terms of pairs of critical values and fast algorithms computing these pairs make this idea practical and useful in dealing with the pervasive phenomenon of noise in geometric and visual data. This talk will 1. recall the relatively short history of persistence and some of its older roots; 2. introduce the concept intuitively while pointing out where algebra is needed to solidify the more difficult steps; 3. discuss a few applications to give a feeling of the potential of the method in dealing with noise and scale. Besides the initial concept, the talk will touch upon recent extensions and their motivation.
Data‐driven Local Coordinate Systems for Image‐Based Rendering
Authors: Müller Gero , Sarlette Ralf , Klein Reinhard 
Published: December 2006

Abstract Image‐based representations of an object profit from known geometry. The more accurate this geometry is known, the better corresponding pixels in the different images can be aligned, which leads to less artifacts and better compression performance. For opaque objects the per‐pixel data can then be interpreted as a sampling of the BRDF at the respective surface point. In order to parameterize this sampled data a coordinate frame has to be defined. In previous work this coordinate frame was either the global frame or a local frame derived from the base geometry. Both approaches lead to misalignments between sample vectors: Features of basically very similar BRDFs will be shifted to different regions in the sample vector leading to poor compression performance. In order to improve alignment between the sampled BRDFs in image‐based rendering, we propose an optimization algorithm which determines consistent coordinate frames for every sample point on the object surface. This way we efficiently align the features even of anisotropic reflection functions and reconstruct approximate local coordinate frames without performing an explicit 3D‐reconstruction. The optimization is calculated efficiently by exploiting the Fourier‐shift theorem for spherical harmonics. In order to deal with different materials in a scene, the technique is combined with a clustering algorithm. We demonstrate the utility of our method by applying it to BTFs and 6D surface reflectance fields. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): I.3.3 [Picture/Image Generation]: Digitizing and scanning I.3.7 [Three‐Dimensional Graphics and Realism]: Color, shading, shadowing, and texture
Anisotropic Point Set Surfaces
Authors: Adamson A. , Alexa M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractPoint Set Surfaces define smooth surfaces from regular samples based on weighted averaging of the points. Because weighting is done based on a spatial scale parameter, point set surfaces apply basically only to regular samples. We suggest to attach individual weight functions to each sample rather than to the location in space. This extends Point Set Surfaces to irregular settings, including anisotropic sampling adjusting to the principal curvatures of the surface. In particular, we describe how to represent surfaces with ellipsoidal weight functions per sample. Details of deriving such a representation from typical inputs and computing points on the surface are discussed.
Monetary Integration Initiatives in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA): Sorting the Overlapping Membership*
Authors: Buigut Steven 
Published: December 2006

AbstractOverlaps in membership of monetary integration initiatives in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region is a major stumbling block to deeper integration. For example, a strict implementation of the East African Community (EAC) customs union concluded in 2004 would violate existing Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) free trade agreements. To resolve this problem the paper applies cluster analysis to assign countries to the most suitable monetary union initiative based on real and nominal convergence criteria. The results indicate that the ESA region is not converged enough for an ESA‐wide monetary union. Instead two fairly distinct clusters, one in the southern cone around South Africa and the other around the EAC, are identified. This implies that a two‐track monetary integration route is more appropriate for the region. The EAC is identified as a subgroup within COMESA, suggesting Tanzania should cede SADC membership for COMESA.
Effect of skin surface temperature on skin pigmentation during contact and intralesional cryosurgery of keloids
Authors: Har‐Shai Y , Dujovny E , Rohde E , Zouboulis CC 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground  This 15‐month study was designed to compare the effect of skin surface temperature on skin pigmentation following a single intralesional or contact cryosurgical treatment of keloids.Patients/methods  Thirty Caucasian patients with 45 keloids present for more than 6 months were included in this study. Twenty‐one keloids were treated by the contact method while the remaining 24 scars were managed using an intralesional cryosurgery technique. The skin surface temperature at the keloids was measured and recorded using a Ni/Cd thermocouple. Four variables of the thermal history were evaluated with the contact and the intralesional methods, namely cooling rate, hold time, end temperature and thawing rate. Assessment of the local hypopigmentation was performed 6 months after the treatment using a pigmentation scale.Results  Significantly slower cooling (6.09 ± 4.56 °C/min) and thawing rates (54.52 ± 32.17 °C/min) were recorded with the intralesional cryosurgery method when compared with the cooling rates (13.47 ± 9.04 °C/min) and thawing rates (89.00 ± 86.42 °C/min) of the contact method (P < 0.000001). The end temperature of the contact technique was significantly cooler (−46.77 ± 14.74 °C) when compared with that of the intralesional method (−15.55 ± 6.77 °C) (P < 0.000001). There was a trend for the hold time of intralesional cryosurgery to be longer (82.67 ± 138.03 s) than that of the contact method (16.86 ± 23.49 s) (P < 0.059). A significant difference in skin pigmentation was demonstrated between the two cryosurgical methods. In 91.7% of the keloids treated by the contact technique a significant hypopigmentation was noticed, while no marked hypopigmentation was detected in the skin surface of the keloids treated by the intralesional method (P < 0.0001).Conclusion  We hypothesize that the thermal history of the skin surface during the intralesional cryosurgery technique provides a better survival environment for the melanocytes than the contact method, thus producing a lower rate of permanent hypopigmentation and disfiguring.
Basic knowledge in psychodermatology
Authors: Poot F , Sampogna F , Onnis L 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground  The authors try to define the framework of this approach, what should be acquired by “well‐informed” dermatologists and what is required to be a pyschodermatologist.Objective  To better define the necessary knowledge to practice psychodermatology.Results  1) The first level is dermatology psychology: there is a psychotherapeutical implicit effect of the dermatological consultation with a goal that is not psychological change. This effect can be improved by acquiring better communication skills and information. The second level needs a possibility to change the emotional individual process and the relational context in a continuum between counselling and psychotherapy. To practice this level a complete psychotherapeutic education with some specificity is needed. This can be reached by a dermatologist also being a psychotherapist or by a team consisting of both dermatologist‐psychotherapist. 2) The psychodermatological patient is characterized by alexithymia. He/she needs to be understood through the body language he/she presents. This kind of patient is coming from families where the theme of loss seems to dominate the histories and be associated with deep emotional experiences of separation anxiety. These characteristics must be known together with the different psychodermatological disorders and the mind‐body interaction to handle these patients. 3) Taking all of this complexity into account, the psychodermatologist or the psychodermatological team should be able to integrate the different points and adapt attitudes to the patient's difficulty during the whole therapeutic process. 4) The evaluation of the problem should be done using psychological tools here described.Conclusion  The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) together with the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) are able to provide the specific education for dermatologist and psychotherapist. In the future, they could be responsible for the recognition of these special abilities and treatments on a governmental and European political level.
Cigarette smoking and acne in adolescents: results from a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rombouts S , Nijsten T , Lambert J 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground  Previous studies on the association between smoking and acne have reported conflicting results.Objective  To investigate the association between smoking and acne among school‐going adolescents.Methods  A cross‐sectional study was conducted. Smoking was defined as smoking > 3 cigarettes daily for 6 months or more. We defined acne as having > 20 retentional and/or inflammatory facial acne lesions. Multivariate (proportional) logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables.Results  Of the 594 participants, 36.2% had acne. Acne sufferers were less likely to smoke (18.1 vs. 23.7%, P = 0.10). In girls, smoking was significantly associated with lower prevalence of acne (adjusted OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.82). Smoking, daily cigarette consumption and duration of smoking appeared to be protective in the development of inflammatory acne in girls. No significant associations between acne and smoking variables were detected among boys. Limitations: although this study suggests a significant negative association between smoking and inflammatory acne in girls, it does not prove causality. This association did show a trend for linear relationship. Because of the unexpected differences between boys and girls, sample size may have affected our results.Conclusion  The anti‐inflammatory effects of smoking may inhibit the development of papulopustular acne in girls more than in boys. However, smoking should not be considered a therapeutic option for acne. Additional studies that consider possible differences across age, gender and type of acne are needed to clarify the association between smoking and acne.
The effect of methotrexate on the expression of cell adhesion molecules and activation molecule CD69 in psoriasis
Authors: Torres‐Álvarez B , Castanedo‐Cazares JP , Fuentes‐Ahumada C , Moncada B 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground  The mechanism of the action of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of psoriasis has not been completely elucidated.Objective  To assess the effect of MTX on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), E‐selectin, activation molecule CD69 and T‐cell phenotype in skin specimens from patients with psoriasis.Methods  We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of T‐cell phenotype and cell adhesion/activation molecules in skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis treated with a fixed dose of MTX (12.5 mg/week). To determine data on the epidermal/dermal T‐cell infiltration we carried out a manual quantification.Results  Skin samples prior to therapy showed a moderate to severe inflammatory infiltrate, mainly due to T lymphocytes with a helper/inducer (CD4) phenotype. Most of these cells also expressed ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1. Blood vessels showed expression of E‐selectin and VCAM‐1, and keratinocytes were positive for ICAM‐1 staining. The cell infiltrate was reduced after therapy, as well as the expression of cell adhesion molecules. However, we also noted the persistence of the T lymphocyte phenotype CD8+, expressing the CD69 activation molecule, after the MTX treatment.Conclusions  MTX downregulates the expression of some adhesion molecules, a phenomenon that may contribute to its anti‐inflammatory therapeutic effect in psoriasis. The infiltrating T cells post‐treatment have an activated cytotoxic phenotype, which may suggest a pathogenic role in the continuation and/or recurrence of psoriasis.
Metronidazole 0.75% gel vs. ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind study
Authors: Seckin D , Gurbuz O , Akin O 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground Recently, two placebo‐controlled studies have shown that topical metronidazole was effective in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of metronidazole 0.75% gel with that of ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.Methods A total of 60 consecutive patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis were included. Patients were randomized into two groups. One group used ketoconazole 2% cream with metronidazole gel as vehicle; the other group used metronidazole 0.75% gel with ketoconazole cream as vehicle for a 4‐week treatment period. Main outcome measures were change in clinical severity scores, patients’ and investigator's global evaluation of improvement and frequency of side‐effects.Results All the assessments were made by an investigator who was unaware of which group the patients were allocated to. Mean percentage decrease in clinical severity scores from baseline to last available visit was 63.4% (95% CI 57.7–69) and 54.4% (95% CI 47.9–61) in the ketoconazole‐ and metronidazole‐treated patients, respectively (P = 0.31). Eighty‐two per cent of patients in the ketoconazole group vs. 79% of patients in the metronidazole group rated their global improvement as significant or moderate (P > 0.05). No statistically significant difference in the frequency of side‐effects was detected between the two groups. The results of this study need to be confirmed in further studies involving large numbers of patients.Conclusion Our data demonstrated that metronidazole 0.75% gel had a comparable efficacy and safety profile with that of ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.
A SHORT NOTE ON “IS THE EMPHASIS OF CAPITAL BUDGETING THEORY MISPLACED?”
Authors: TINKER A.M. 
Published: December 2006

This note relates to Paul King's article (in the Spring 1975 JBFA), which may add little to an earlier contribution by W.W. Haynes and M.B. Solomon, Jnr. Specifically, it is based on a “misplaced” caricature of “the scientific model”. There seem to be serious questions as to the empirical status of the model, and more recent contributions to the theory of organisational decision‐making also need to be considered.Dans ce comnentaire, on s'eteńd sur l'article de Paul King paru dans le numéro de Printemps 1975 de ce journal. Son article ne semble fournir guère plus d'informations que la précédente étude présentée par W.W. Haynes et M.B. Solomon, Jnr. I1 insiste avant tout sur un aspect détourné du ‘modèle scientifique’, ce qui semble poser de sérieux problèes quant aux statuts empiriques attribues au modèle, et demande que l'on s'interroge devant de plus récentes études concernant la théorie de gestion des structures.Diese Stellungnahme bezieht sich auf die Abhandlung von Paul King (in der Frühjahrsausgabe der JBFA), die wenig zum früheren Artikel von W.W. Haynes und M.B. Solomon, Jnr., beitragen mag. Insbesondere basiert diese Abhandlung aug einer unberechtigen Karikatur des “wissenschaftlichen Modells”. Ausserdem ist der empirische Status des Modells höchst fraglich. Darüberhinaus müssen die neuen Beiträge zur Theorie des Organisationsentscheidungsprozesses berücksichtigt werden.
TEMPORAL ADDITIVITY: A PROBLEM IN ACCOUNTING MEASUREMENT
Authors: MISTER WILLIAM G. 
Published: December 2006

The currently accepted set of accounting principles and practices have been formulated such that the length of the accounting period, a non‐economic variable, has been incorporated into the accounting system as an independent variable. Accounting reports are, therefore, temporally non‐additive ‐ they will not add up over time. Interim reporting has become increasingly important in recent times. Interim reports for any period other than one year cannot articulate with the annual report unless temporal additivity is required of generally accepted accounting principles.L'ensemble des principes et des pratiques comptables généralement admis a été formulé de telle facon que la durée de la période, une variable non économique, scit intiroduite dans le système comptable en tant que variable indépendante. Les rapports comptables sont donc non additifs: ils ne se totaliserunt pas dans le temps. Les rapports comptables établis dans une période provisoire ‐ c'est‐à‐dire dans une période inférieure à 12 mois ‐ ont récement pris une importance considérable. Ils peuvent ainsi difficilement constituer un ensemble flexible compatible avec le rapport annuel, à moins que cette additivité temporelle respecte les principes comptables généralement admis.Die gegenwätigen Grundsätze und Prinzipien ordnungsmässiger Rechnungslegung sind so formuliert, dass die Dauer der Rechnungsperiode ‐ eine nicht‐ökonomische Variable ‐ als unabhängige Variable in das Rechnungssytem aufgenommen worden ist. Rechnungsberichte sind deshalb zeitlich nicht‐additiv. Vorläufige Berichterstattung ist in letzter Zeit von grGsserer Bedeutung geworden. Vorläufige Berichte für Rechnungsperioden, ausser für die Dauer ekes Jahres, können mit dem Jahresbericht nicht harmonisieren. falls nicht die zeitliche Additivität von den gegenwärtigen Rechnungsprinzipien verlangt wird.