bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skin color of Koreans: statistical evaluation of affecting factors
Authors: Han Kihwan , Choi Taehyun , Son Daegu 
Published: July 2006

Background: The L*a*b* three‐dimensional coordinate system is the most popular system used to measure skin color. The purpose of this study was to collect standard quantified data on Korean skin color using a chromameter CR‐300, and to investigate the relationships among skin color and the general and individual factors that affect it.Methods: The 600 subjects used in this study were selected using a three‐stage proportionate stratified and quota sampling method. We examined the color of 12 body parts of each subject and calculated the E* value (total color difference between two objects). This study also analyzed factors that may affect skin color.Results: The average L*a*b* values for the 12 body parts were 61.7462, 9.5618 and 17.0778, respectively. The site of lightest skin was the medial arm (L=63.9249), whereas the darkest was on the forehead (L=58.0044). Redness was highest on the cheek (a=11.8694) and lowest on the medial arm (a=8.1844). Skin color was lighter and more yellow in females than in males, whereas redness was higher in males. In the case of total color difference between two specific sites, the medial upper arm and forearm were the most similar (E=3.23), and the forehead and medial upper arm were the most different in color (E=7.99).Conclusion: The factors that significantly (P<0.01) influenced L*L* were sex, work place and sunbathing, factors that influenced a* were sex, work place and smoking; and the factors that influenced b* were sunbathing and age.
Viscoelastic properties of acid‐ and alkaline‐treated human dermis: a correlation between total surface charge and elastic modulus
Authors: Seehra Gurinder P. , Silver Frederick H. 
Published: July 2006

Background: One of the major mechanical functions of collagenous tissues is the storage, transmission and dissipation of elastic energy during mechanical deformation. In skin, mechanical energy is stored during loading and then is transmitted and dissipated, which protects skin from mechanical failure. Thus energy storage (elastic properties) and dissipation (viscous properties) are important characteristics of extracellular matrices.Methods: A uniaxial incremental stress relaxation test method has been used to characterize the time‐dependent (viscous) and time‐independent (elastic) properties of human dermis. Viscoelasticity was investigated in processed human dermis that was equilibrated at pHs of 3.0, 7.4 and 11.0 in an effort to study the link between electrostatic interactions within the collagen matrix and macroscopic tissue properties.Results: Our results show that the solution pH and the charge on collagen significantly affected the high‐strain elastic behavior of dermis; the elastic behavior of skin has previously been shown to be directly correlated with axial stretching of the collagen triple helix in crosslinked collagen fibrils. A positive linear correlation existed between the high‐strain elastic modulus and both pH (R2=0.96) and the total number of charged residues on collagen (R2=0.93). These results provide in vitro/ex vivo evidence that charged groups on the surface of collagen molecules in processed human skin influence the high‐strain elastic properties of dermis and are likely to be involved in elastic energy storage.Conclusion: It is proposed that the pH and charged residue dependency of the elastic modulus suggests that charged pair interactions and repulsions within and between collagen molecules are involved in elastic energy storage during stretching at high strains. It is hypothesized that elastic energy storage is associated with the stretching of pairs of charged amino acid residues that are found primarily in the flexible regions of collagen molecules.
Butterfly species richness and abundance in the Katavi ecosystem of western Tanzania
Authors: Fitzherbert Emily , Gardner Toby , Davenport Tim R. B. , Caro Tim 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWe sampled butterflies in six different habitat types in and around Katavi National Park, a remote reserve consisting primarily of miombo woodland and seasonal lakes in western Tanzania. Blendon traps set for 531 trap days and 143 h of butterfly netting at 35 sites yielded 186 species from five families over a 4‐month period during the wet season. Eight of these species constituted possible range extensions. Butterfly abundance and species richness were low in cultivated habitats but high in open riverine habitats; many butterfly species were found only in seasonally flooded grassland. This study constitutes the first butterfly species inventory from this poorly‐known national park, shows that protection of dry season water sources provides an important conservation service for invertebrates as well as large mammals, and that increased cultivation outside miombo parks can reduce local butterfly diversity.
Assessing the educational achievements of adults who were formerly placed in family foster care
Authors: Pecora Peter J. , Williams Jason , Kessler Ronald C. , Hiripi Eva , O’Brien Kirk , Emerson John , Herrick Mary A. , Torres Dan 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTCase records and interviews concerning educational achievements of 1087 foster care alumni are presented. Youth were served by a voluntary agency in 23 communities across the USA between 1966 and 1998. Because the alumni were older than most foster care follow‐up studies, a more extensive picture of educational achievement was possible. High school graduation and college enrolment rates were comparable to or even greater than those of the general population, but the number of alumni completing high school with a Graduate Equivalency Diploma and the college dropout rates were a concern. Predictors of high school completion while in foster care, such as fewer placement changes, extracurricular activities and independent living training, are presented, along with recommendations for improving educational and vocational preparation.
Early outcomes for young adults transitioning from out‐of‐home care in the USA
Authors: Courtney Mark E. , Dworsky Amy 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the well‐being of participants in the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth (n = 603), a study of youth leaving out‐of‐home care in the USA, at the point where they have been ‘young adults’ for about 1 year. Although some of these young adults are in stable situations and either moving forward with their education or employed in promising jobs, more of them are having significant difficulties during the early stages of the transition to adulthood. Too many are neither employed nor in school, have children that they are not able to parent, suffer from persistent mental illness or substance use disorders, find themselves without basic necessities, become homeless, or end up involved with the criminal justice system. They are doing worse than other young adults across a number of important dimensions. Most of these young adults continue to maintain relations with members of their family of origin, with many finding themselves living with family at age 19. Importantly, those young people who chose to remain under the care and supervision of the child welfare system experienced better outcomes than those who either chose to or were forced to leave care.
Total soil C and N sequestration in a grassland following 10 years of free air CO2 enrichment
Authors: VAN KESSEL CHRIS , BOOTS BAS , DE GRAAFF MARIE‐ANNE , HARRIS DAVID , BLUM HERBERT , SIX JOHAN 
Published: July 2006

AbstractSoil C sequestration may mitigate rising levels of atmospheric CO2. However, it has yet to be determined whether net soil C sequestration occurs in N‐rich grasslands exposed to long‐term elevated CO2. This study examined whether N‐fertilized grasslands exposed to elevated CO2 sequestered additional C. For 10 years, Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, and the mixture of L. perenne/T. repens grasslands were exposed to ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations (35 and 60 Pa pCO2). The applied CO2 was depleted in δ13C and the grasslands received low (140 kg ha−1) and high (560 kg ha−1) rates of 15N‐labeled fertilizer. Annually collected soil samples from the top 10 cm of the grassland soils allowed us to follow the sequestration of new C in the surface soil layer. For the first time, we were able to collect dual‐labeled soil samples to a depth of 75 cm after 10 years of elevated CO2 and determine the total amount of new soil C and N sequestered in the whole soil profile. Elevated CO2, N‐fertilization rate, and species had no significant effect on total soil C. On average 9.4 Mg new C ha−1 was sequestered, which corresponds to 26.5% of the total C. The mean residence time of the C present in the 0–10 cm soil depth was calculated at 4.6±1.5 and 3.1±1.1 years for L. perenne and T. repens soil, respectively. After 10 years, total soil N and C in the 0–75 cm soil depth was unaffected by CO2 concentration, N‐fertilization rate and plant species. The total amount of 15N‐fertilizer sequestered in the 0–75 cm soil depth was also unaffected by CO2 concentration, but significantly more 15N was sequestered in the L. perenne compared with the T. repens swards: 620 vs. 452 kg ha−1 at the high rate and 234 vs. 133 kg ha−1 at the low rate of N fertilization. Intermediate values of 15N recovery were found in the mixture. The fertilizer derived N amounted to 2.8% of total N for the low rate and increased to 8.6% for the high rate of N application. On average, 13.9% of the applied 15N‐fertilizer was recovered in the 0–75 cm soil depth in soil organic matter in the L. perenne sward, whereas 8.8% was recovered under the T. repens swards, indicating that the N2‐fixing T. repens system was less effective in sequestering applied N than the non‐N2‐fixing L. perenne system. Prolonged elevated CO2 did not lead to an increase in whole soil profile C and N in these fertilized pastures. The potential use of fertilized and regular cut pastures as a net soil C sink under long‐term elevated CO2 appears to be limited and will likely not significantly contribute to the mitigation of anthropogenic C emissions.
The possible role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the aetiology of cryptorchidism and hypospadias: a population‐based case–control study in rural Sicily
Authors: Carbone P. , Giordano F. , Nori F. , Mantovani A. , Taruscio D. , Lauria L. , Figà‐Talamanca I. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis was an open case–control study of the possible association between parental occupational and domestic exposures to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) assessed by questionnaire and cryptorchidism and hypospadias in their offspring in the agricultural area of Ragusa. Cases of infants born between 1998 and 2002 with either of these two malformations (n = 90), and controls (n = 203), were recruited through the paediatric services (for cases) and a random sample of healthy infants attending the same services born in the same period of time (for controls). Data on occupational and environmental exposures of parents prior to and during the index case (or control), were collected through interviews with both parents. Concerning occupational exposures, we did not find a statistically significant increase in risk among parents directly involved in agricultural work. We did find a non‐statistically significant increase in risk for cryptorchidism in mothers employed in agriculture [adjusted odds ratios (OR) 2.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–11.47] and with probable exposure to pesticides (adjusted OR 2.74; 95% CI 0.72–10.42). Fathers who had indirect contact with agricultural products (transport and retail) had an increased risk (not statistically significant) for cryptorchidism (adjusted OR 2.45; 95% CI 0.63–9.59) and hypospadias and cryptorchidism combined (adjusted OR 2.24; 95% CI 0.67–7.48). Increases in risk of the two malformations pooled were also observed in relation to the mother's age below 25 (adjusted OR 1.99; 95% CI 0.97–4.09), to the presence of genital disease of the father (adjusted OR 2.41; 95%C I0.94–6.17), and the mother (adjusted OR 3.47;95% CI1.34–8.99), to low birth weight of the infant (adjusted OR 4.49; 95% CI 1.23–16.31). Increased risk was also observed for mothers consuming alcohol during pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.09; 95% CI 0.98–9.66), and for couples who conceived while using condoms (adjusted OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.02–4.41). The study therefore provides only limited support to the hypothesis of a possible association between the risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias and the occupational exposure to EDC and agricultural work.
Elucidating genomic regions determining enhanced leaf growth and delayed senescence in elevated CO2
Authors: RAE A. M. , FERRIS RACHEL , TALLIS M. J. , TAYLOR GAIL 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTLimited information is available on the genetic variation and control for plant growth response to elevated CO2 (e[CO2]). Such information is necessary to understand plant adaptation and evolution in future rising CO2. Here, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for leaf growth, development, quality and leaf senescence were determined in a tree pedigree – an F2 hybrid of Populus trichocarpa T. & G and Populus deltoides Marsh, following season‐long exposure to either current day ambient carbon dioxide (a[CO2]) or e[CO2] at 600 µL L−1. Leaf growth and development differed between the grandparents such that P. trichocarpa showed greater response to e[CO2]. In the F2 generation, leaf development and quality traits including leaf area, leaf shape, epidermal cell area, and stomatal number, specific leaf area (SLA), and the phenology trait, canopy senescence index, were sensitive to e[CO2]. Sixty‐nine QTL were mapped for the 19 traits of plants in a[CO2] while 60 QTL were mapped for plants in e[CO2]. The results suggest that although many QTL mapped to common positions in a[CO2] and e[CO2], confirming their importance in determining growth, there was also differential genetic control for a number of traits including leaf senescence. Candidate genes were shown to collocate to regions where response QTL mapped. This study is the first to identify candidate genes that may be important in determining plant adaptation to future high‐CO2 world.
Insecticide‐treated bednets for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cambodia: a cluster‐randomized trial
Authors: Sochantha T. , Hewitt S. , Nguon C. , Okell L. , Alexander N. , Yeung S. , Vannara H. , Rowland M. , Socheat D. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryObjectives  To validate and quantify the impact of insecticide‐treated bednets (ITN) on malaria morbidity and mortality in Cambodia.Methods  A paired, cluster‐randomized trial of ITN was conducted in Rattanakiri, North East Cambodia. Thirty‐four villages with a total population of 10 726 were randomized to receive deltamethrin‐impregnated bednets or to control (no net provision). Cross‐sectional surveys measured Plasmodium falciparum prevalence at baseline and 10 months after ITN distribution. Village malaria volunteers in control and intervention villages treated dipstick‐positive P. falciparum cases with artesunate and mefloquine. The resulting passive surveillance data were used as an estimate of the incidence of clinical P. falciparum infections.Results  There was a protective efficacy of 28% in P. falciparum incidence (adjusted rate ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.47–1.08) and 9% in P. falciparum prevalence (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.65–1.28) in ITN relative to control villages; however, neither of these estimates reached statistical significance. Individual‐level analysis indicated a greater reduction in P. falciparum prevalence among under 5‐year‐olds (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.26–1.53) compared to older individuals (interaction P = 0.042). The protective efficacy of 35% (95% CI –28, 67%) with respect to clinical P. falciparum incidence in under 5‐year‐olds was more pronounced than the corresponding estimates for prevalence but was again not significant.Conclusions  Lack of statistical significance in the results is likely to be due to a lack of power. The analysis provides further evidence for ITN effectiveness in South East Asia, particularly among individuals under 5 years of age.
Burning and logging differentially affect endemic vs. widely distributed butterfly species in Borneo
Authors: Cleary Daniel F. R. , Mooers Arne Ø. 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTWe assess the differential impact of logging and ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation)‐induced disturbance on the relative butterfly abundance and species richness of range‐restricted and widespread species within the island of Borneo. Relative abundance and species richness were assessed using rarefaction and species accumulation curves in unburned isolates surrounded by burned forest, the burned forest itself, and continuous forest unaffected by ENSO‐induced disturbance in addition to logged and unlogged landscapes in unburned forest. The relative abundance of endemics was significantly higher in unlogged forest than logged forest and significantly higher in unburned forest than burned forest. Rarefied species richness of range categories was similar (Bornean endemics) or higher (other categories) in selectively logged than unlogged forest. In contrast, rarefied species richness of range‐restricted species was highest in continuous forest, intermediate in unburned isolates, and lowest in burned forest. Only two individuals of a single Bornean endemic species were found in all the burned forest. Although species richness was higher in all range categories in continuous forest than in unburned isolates and in burned forest, the difference was most pronounced for range‐restricted species. Logging and ENSO‐induced fires thus have contrasting effects on range‐restricted species. While both increase the relative abundance of widely distributed species at the expense of range‐restricted species, only ENSO‐induced disturbance lowers the rarefied number of restricted range species. Our research highlights the threat that severe ENSO events pose to geographically restricted classes of biodiversity.
Noninvasive ventilation in a child affected by achondroplasia respiratory difficulty syndrome
Authors: OTTONELLO GIANCARLO , VILLA GIOVANNA , MOSCATELLI ANDREA , DIANA MARIA CRISTINA , PAVANELLO MARCO 
Published: July 2006

SummaryAchondroplasia can result in respiratory difficulty in early infancy, from anatomical abnormalities such as mid‐facial hypoplasia and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy, leading to obstructive apnea, or to pathophysiological changes occurring in nasopharyngeal or glossal muscle tone, related to neurological abnormalities (foramen magnum and/or hypoglossal canal problems, hydrocephalus), leading to central apnea. More often, the two respiratory components (central and obstructive) are both evident in mixed apnea. Polysomnographic recording should be used during preoperative and postoperative assessment of achondroplastic children and in the subsequent follow‐up to assess the adequacy of continuing home respiratory support, including supplemental oxygen, bilevel positive airway pressure, or assisted ventilation.
Aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophs in the Black Sea water column
Authors: Schubert Carsten J. , Coolen Marco J. L. , Neretin Lev N. , Schippers Axel , Abbas Ben , Durisch‐Kaiser Edith , Wehrli Bernhard , Hopmans Ellen C. , Damsté Jaap S. Sinninghe , Wakeham Stuart , Kuypers Marcel M. M. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryInputs of CH4 from sediments, including methane seeps on the continental margin and methane‐rich mud volcanoes on the abyssal plain, make the Black Sea the world’s largest surface water reservoir of dissolved methane and drive a high rate of aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of methane in the water column. Here we present the first combined organic geochemical and molecular ecology data on a water column profile of the western Black Sea. We show that aerobic methanotrophs type I are responsible for methane oxidation in the oxic water column and ANME‐1‐ and ANME‐2‐related organisms for anaerobic methane oxidation. The occurrence of methanotrophs type I cells in the anoxic zone suggests that inactive cells settle to deeper waters. Molecular and biomarker results suggest that a clear distinction between the occurrence of ANME‐1‐ and ANME‐2‐related lineages exists, i.e. ANME‐1‐related organisms are responsible for anaerobic methane oxidation below 600 m water depth, whereas ANME‐2‐related organisms are responsible for this process in the anoxic water column above approximately 600 m water depth.
Skeletal muscle uncoupling protein‐3 restores upon intervention in the prediabetic and diabetic state: implications for diabetes pathogenesis?
Authors: Mensink M. , Hesselink M. K. C. , Borghouts L. B. , Keizer H. , Moonen‐Kornips E. , Schaart G. , Blaak E. E. , Schrauwen P. 
Published: July 2006

Aim:  Skeletal muscle uncoupling protein‐3 (UCP3) is reduced in type 2 diabetes, and in the pre‐diabetic condition of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Here we examined whether intervention programs known to improve insulin sensitivity are paralleled by an increase in skeletal muscle UCP3 protein levels.Methods:  Skeletal muscle UCP3 protein content was measured before and after one year of an exercise intervention in muscle biopsies of eight diabetic subjects. In addition, UCP3 was measured in IGT subjects before and after 1 year of following a lifestyle‐intervention program or serving as control.Results:  In the diabetic patients a significant increase of ∼75% in UCP3 protein was found after 1 year of exercise training (P < 0.05). In IGT subjects UCP3 protein increased in the intervention group (P = 0.02), while UCP3 remained unaltered in the control group (P = 0.64).Conclusion:  Both, exercise training and a lifestyle‐intervention program increase UCP3 protein content in skeletal muscle of subjects with reduced glycaemic control, indicating a restoration towards normal UCP3 levels. These data support the idea that UCP3 has a role in the aetiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Apofrontonia dohrni sp. n. and the phylogenetic relationships within Peniculia (Protista, Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea)
Authors: Fokin Sergei , Andreoli Ilaria , Verni Franco , Petroni Giulio 
Published: July 2006

Apofrontonia dohrni, a new peniculine ciliate, was discovered in a slightly brackish water sample from Mediterranean coastline puddle in Naples, Italy. Its morphology was studied in vivo, in silver‐ and Feulgen‐stained preparations, as well as at the scanning electron microscope; 18S rRNA gene sequence was also determined. The species is characterized by a medium cell size (118 × 61 µm — fixed cell) and an oval‐extended body, flattened dorsoventrally; a very long sausage‐like macronucleus rolled up into almost a ring; a comparatively large compact micronucleus; relatively small number of vestibular kineties (4) and a peculiar structure of 3 peniculi, consisting of 5‐6, 4‐5 and 3 ciliary rows, respectively. The ciliate always has about 20 contractile vacuoles distributed beneath its entire body surface. Using these features, A. dohrni, definitely, can be easily discriminated from the two other species of the genus: Apofrontonia lametschwandtneri and Apofrontonia obtusa. The general re‐analysis of morphological characters of Apofrontonia spp. allowed us to remove this genus from family Frontoniidae, where it was put in the first description (Foissner & Song 2002). We provisionally consider genus Apofrontonia as incertae sedis within the order Peniculida due to (i) the limited number of morphological characters joining Apofrontonia to already described Peniculida families and (ii) the absence of molecular data for most representatives of Peniculida families. Frontonia leucas 18S rRNA gene was also characterized to increase the balance among represented taxa. According to the present analysis, Apofrontonia so far appears more closely related to Paramecium than to Frontonia.