bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An evolutionarily conserved translation initiation mechanism regulates nuclear or mitochondrial targeting of DNA ligase 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sunderland Paul A. , West Christopher E. , Waterworth Wanda M. , Bray Clifford M. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryThe Arabidopsis DNA ligase 1 gene (AtLIG1) is indispensable for cell viability. AtLIG1 expresses one major and two minor mRNA transcripts differing only in the length of the 5′ untranslated leader sequences preceding a common ORF. Control of AtLIG1 isoform production and intracellular targeting depends upon mechanisms controlling the choice of translation initiation site within the AtLIG1 ORF. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of green fluorescent protein‐tagged AtLIG1 isoforms expressed in Arabidopsis revealed that translation of AtLIG1 mRNA transcripts from the first in‐frame start codon produces an AtLIG1 isoform that is targeted exclusively to the mitochondria. Translation initiation from the second in‐frame start codon produces an AtLIG1 isoform targeted only to the nucleus. There is no evidence for AtLIG1–GFP being targeted to chloroplasts. The mitochondrial AtLIG1 isoform possesses both an N‐terminal mitochondrial‐targeting signal and an internal bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) yet is targeted only to mitochondria, demonstrating a hierarchical dominance of the mitochondrial presequence over the NLS. The length of the 5′‐UTR and more significantly the nucleotide context around alternative start codons in the AtLIG1 transcripts affect translation initiation to ensure a balanced synthesis of both nuclear and mitochondrial AtLIG1 isoforms, probably via a context‐dependent leaky ribosome scanning mechanism.
Sampling and analysis of geothermal fluids
Authors: ARNÓRSSON S. , BJARNASON J. Ö. , GIROUD N. , GUNNARSSON I. , STEFÁNSSON A. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSampling of geothermal fluids presents some problems not encountered when sampling surface and nonthermal ground waters. Specific collection techniques are required to obtain representative samples because of the elevated temperature and boiling of these fluids, the effect of exposing them to the atmosphere and cooling of the samples. Sample treatment during collection depends on the analytical method to be used. When sampling wet‐steam wells, both the liquid and the vapour fractions should be collected at the same fluid separation pressure. When sampling fumarole steam, maximum information is obtained if the total discharge is collected into a single container without separating the gas and the steam condensate fractions. Silica polymerization affects the solution pH. The only way to obtain reliable pH measurement of a water sample supersaturated with respect to amorphous silica is to measure it on site, before the onset of polymerization. This paper provides an outline of the geothermal sampling techniques and analytical methods currently in use in Iceland. Sampling of hot‐water and wet‐steam wells is described, as is sampling of hot springs, fumaroles and gas bubbling through hot‐spring waters. Detailed procedures are given for the analysis of total carbonate carbon and total sulphide sulphur in geothermal water and steam condensate samples.
Habitat use of the endangered butterflyEuphydryas maturnaand forestry in Central Europe
Authors: Freese A. , Benes J. , Bolz R. , Cizek O. , Dolek M. , Geyer A. , Gros P. , Konvicka M. , Liegl A. , Stettmer C. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe knowledge of ecological requirements of declining butterflies of European woodlands remains limited, which hinders conservation management of their localities. This also applies for continentally threatened scarce fritillaryEuphydryas maturna. On the basis of the largest data set on its habitat use ever collected in Central Europe, we analyse habitat requirements of its populations in Austria (A), the Czech Republic (Cz) and Germany (D). All studied populations inhabit open‐canopy sites within woodlands, but larval survival decreases under full sun and preferred sites are relatively humid and sheltered. Nests of pre‐hibernation larvae occur at terminal branches ofFraxinus excelsior, 1.5–3 m above the ground. Pre‐hibernation mortality reaches 70% (Cz, D). Another limiting factor is quality of woodland vegetation: post‐hibernation larvae consume a wide range of herbs and shrubs, and adult distribution is linked to nectar availability. The butterfly thus depends on highly heterogeneous early successional stages of deciduous woods, historically maintained by coppicing (Cz, D) and forest pasture (A). Restoration of these traditional methods offers the only chance for survival ofE. maturnain Central Europe, and the butterfly may become a flagship for other threatened organisms of open‐canopy woodlands.
Legal considerations in cosmetic laser surgery
Authors: Goldberg David J 
Published: June 2006

SummaryCosmetic laser surgery is a continuously evolving field of medicine. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, over 100 million laser and light source cosmetic procedures were performed by its members. Procedures including hair removal, nonablative treatments, as well as removal of pigmented lesions, tattoos, and unwanted vascular lesions have revolutionized this field. With an increasing number of physicians and nonphysicians performing these procedures, and with the availability of increasingly powerful laser technologies, the potential for problems and their legal consequences continue to increase. This chapter will deal with the concept of negligence and the potential for a resultant medical malpractice that may arise in such a setting. An understanding of the basic principles of a cause of action in medical malpractice will likely protect a physician from losing such a case in a court of law.
Employing a teaching module improves patient satisfaction in facial rejuvenation
Authors: Freedman B M , Earley R V , Balakrishnan T P 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground and objectives  The purpose of this study was to determine whether a teaching module for facial rejuvenation improved patient satisfaction and enhanced practice growth in a cosmetic surgery office. An educational module was designed to review soft‐tissue anatomy and physiology, treatment options, and outcomes.Materials and methods  During the initial office consultation, the module was utilized in group A (50 patients) but not in group B (50 patients). Satisfaction surveys were taken from all patients following the consultation. Patients from both groups who scheduled procedures were surveyed following completion of treatment.Results  The surveys indicated a statistically significant higher level of satisfaction with the consultation, a better understanding of treatment options, and a greater percentage of treatment scheduling in group A patients (P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients in group A who underwent treatment indicated greater satisfaction with treatment outcome when compared to those treated patients in group B (P < 0.05).Conclusions  We conclude that use of a well‐designed teaching module helps patients better understand the concepts behind facial rejuvenation and leads to increased procedure scheduling and greater patient satisfaction following treatment.
A note on integumental (1→3)(1→6)β‐d‐glucan permeation, using the porcine ear skin model
Authors: Meyer Wilfried , Schönnagel Britta , Fleischer Lutz‐Günther 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBased on carbohydrate histochemical methods and the porcine ear skin model, the study demonstrates the rapid permeation of (1→3)(1→6)β‐d‐glucans from a cosmetic formulation into the mammalian epidermis.
Treatment of periungual vitiligo with Erbium‐YAG‐laser plus 5‐flurouracil: a left to right comparative study
Authors: Anbar Tag , Westerhof Weite , Abdel‐Rahman Amal , El‐Khayyat Mohamed , El‐Metwally Yasser 
Published: June 2006

SummaryDespite the multiple treatment modalities available for vitiligo, none of them gives satisfactory results in the periungual type. In this study we tried to explore and evaluate the effects of the combination treatment of erbium:YAG laser resurfacing and topical 5‐flurouracil in periungual vitiligo.Nine adult patients presenting with periungual vitiligo lesions were included in this prospective left–right comparative study. The desirable inflammation was achieved after a mean of 4.7 days of 5‐flurouracil application. The mean re‐epithelization time in the treatment sessions was 11.3 days. The patients received a mean of 3.4 sessions in a mean duration of 7.6 months. The mean overall response to therapy in the treated group was 47.8% while in the control group it was 1.1% (P < 0.0001). No side effects necessitated the stoppage of treatment.This study points to the efficacy and safety of this combination in the treatment of periungual vitiligo.
Atopic xerosis: employment of noninvasive biophysical instrumentation for the functional analyses of the mildly abnormal stratum corneum and for the efficacy assessment of skin care products
Authors: Tagami Hachiro , Kobayashi Hiromi , O’goshi Kenichiro , Kikuchi Katsuko 
Published: June 2006

SummaryThe subtle dryness of the skin surrounding the lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) is called atopic dry skin or atopic xerosis (AX). AX is more susceptible to the development of AD skin lesions under various environmental stimuli than the clinically normal skin of the people who have or have had or will have AD, which might be called normal atopic skin (NAS) that shows no functional differences as compared to the skin of normal individuals. Routine histopathologic studies of AX that involve the invasive procedures of biopsy are not so helpful in clarifying the underlying pathogenesis. Modern, noninvasive biophysical instrumentation provides rich and quantitative information about various functional aspects of skin. The stratum corneum (SC) of AX reveals not only decreased hydration but also mildly impaired barrier function demonstrable as an increase in transepidermal water loss, elevated pH values, and an increased turnover rate of the SC consisting of thick layers of smaller‐sized corneocytes. These data suggest that AX is related to mildly increased epidermal proliferation as a result of the presence of subclinical cutaneous inflammation. Although AX skin does not display any impairment in the recovery of barrier function after physical skin irritation by tape‐stripping, it produces a much more severe, long‐lasting inflammatory response together with a delay in barrier repair after chemical irritation such as that induced by sodium lauryl sulphate. The SC of AX is biochemically characterized by reduction in the amounts of ceramides, especially ceramide I, sebum lipids, and water‐soluble amino acids. None of these changes in SC functions are seen in NAS, which includes not only the normal‐looking skin of AD patients long after regression of all active lesions but also of latent atopic skin such as neonates who later develop AD. This suggests that all of the observed functional as well as biochemical abnormalities of AX are a reflection of subclinical inflammation. The presence of the underlying inflammation in AX also differentiates it from senile xerosis. The mildly impaired SC functions of AX can be improved by daily repeated applications of effective moisturizers, i.e., corneotherapy, which is effective in preventing the exacerbating progression of AX to AD resulting from inadvertent scratching of the skin that facilitates the penetration of environmental allergens into the skin. The biophysical confirmation of such efficacy of moisturizers, including cosmetic bases on the mildly impaired barrier function and decreased water‐holding capacity of the SC of AX, definitely substantiates the importance of skin care for the cosmetic skin problems that affect every individual in the cold and dry season ranging from late autumn to early spring.
Onychomycosis: beyond cosmetic distress
Authors: Lateur Nadine 
Published: June 2006

SummaryOnychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail, is the most common nail disease affecting children (although to a lesser extent) as well as adults. The distress it provokes is not only of a cosmetic kind; it may impair the quality of life.The different clinical types of onychomycosis should be differentiated from similar‐looking nail diseases. As far as therapy is concerned, the appearance of new antifungal drugs in the 1990s makes our job easier, but it does not allow us to cure 100% of the patients. Relapses still exist.The aim of this article is to help dermatologists achieve a tailor‐made treatment for their patients. The clinical type, the compulsory mycological investigations, the age of the patient, his medical history (drug intake), as well as the use of nail cosmetics, must be considered.
Development of sonic technology for the daily cleansing of the skin
Authors: Akridge Robert E , Pilcher Kenneth A 
Published: June 2006

SummaryEven though many skin cleansing products are commercially available, the cleansing of the skin is dependent upon the user's diligence, compliance, and technique, which often results in inconsistent cleansing. When the skin is inadequately or excessively cleansed, the skin becomes compromised, sometimes leading to acute or chronic conditions that may require medical attention. A sonic skincare brush was developed to enhance and provide consistent skin cleansing while preventing the skin from becoming compromised. Utilizing a technology previously used to cleanse the oral cavity, the sonic skincare brush is optimized to work with the skin's own elasticity providing rapid oscillatory flexing of the infundibular opening. By oscillating at sonic speed the net result is the inelastic comedones become loosened and detached from the infundibular wall and are then cleared from the acroinfundibulum. Although additional clinical research into the various applications of sonic skin care technology is needed, utilization of sonic technology is now available for effectively and consistently cleansing the skin.
Effects of Family Structure on Children's Use of Ambulatory Visits and Prescription Medications
Authors: Chen Alex Y. , Escarce José J. 
Published: June 2006

Objective. To examine the effects of family structure, including number of parents, number of other children, and number and type of other adults, on office visits, emergency room visits, and use of prescription medications by children.Data Source. The Household Component of the 1996–2001 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).Study Design. The study consisted of a nationally representative sample of children 0–17 years of age living in single‐mother or two‐parent families. We used negative binomial regression to model office visits and emergency room visits and logistic regression to model the likelihood of prescription medication use. Our analyses adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as measures of children's health and parental education and child‐rearing experience.Data Collection/Extraction Method. We combined 1996–2001 MEPS Full Year Consolidated Files and Medical Conditions Files.Principal Findings. Descriptive data showed that children in single‐mother families had fewer office visits than children in two‐parent families; however, the effect of number of parents in the family on children's office visits or use of prescription medications was completely explained by other explanatory variables. By contrast, children living in families with many other children had fewer total and physician office visits and a lower likelihood of using a prescription medication than children living in families with no other children even after adjusting for other explanatory variables. Children who lived with other adults in addition to their parents also had fewer office visits and a lower likelihood of using a prescription medication than children who lived only with their parents.Conclusions. Children living in families with many other children or with other adults use less ambulatory care and prescription medications than their peers. Additional research is needed to determine whether these differences in utilization affect children's health.
What's Driving the Downward Trend in Employer‐Sponsored Health Insurance?
Authors: Shen Yu‐Chu , Long Sharon K. 
Published: June 2006

Objective. We investigate the factors driving the downward trend in employer sponsored health insurance (ESI) coverage between 1999 and 2002 for low‐ and middle‐income workers, and assess their insurance options in the absence of ESI coverage.Data. We use the 1999 and 2002 rounds of the National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), supplemented with ESI premiums from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, as well as other state‐ and county‐level data from a variety of sources. The sample includes workers between the ages of 19 and 64.Study Design. We first estimate linear probability models of the probability of having an ESI offer and, for those with an offer, the probability of taking up ESI coverage, using two‐stage least square regression on the 2002 worker sample. We then use Oaxaca–Blinder regression‐based decomposition methods to identify the factors that explain the changes in ESI offer and take‐up between 1999 and 2002.Principal Findings. We find that while low‐income workers are more likely to be uninsured and are most vulnerable to the loss of ESI coverage, many middle‐income workers are also in a precarious position when faced with the loss of ESI coverage. Many low‐ and middle‐income workers have few coverage options in the absence of ESI. This is particularly problematic for low‐income workers: only 13 percent have a spouse with an ESI offer and the nongroup premium they face increased at a much higher rate than for middle‐income workers. Finally, we find that the drop in ESI offers between 1999 and 2002 was driven largely by changes in nature of the workers' jobs, while the drop in ESI take‐up was driven largely by rising ESI premiums.Conclusions. Policies that shore up the ESI system are important for both low‐ and middle‐income workers, as both are vulnerable to a loss of insurance coverage in the absence of ESI. Over time, the potential coverage options available to low‐ and middle‐income workers in the absence of ESI have narrowed as nongroup premiums have increased. While public coverage has provided some protection from that increase for low‐income workers, middle‐income workers are much less likely to have access to public protection.
Predictability in Financial Analyst Forecast Errors: Learning or Irrationality?
Authors: MARKOV STANIMIR , TAMAYO ANE 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we propose a rational learning‐based explanation for the predictability in financial analysts' earnings forecast errors documented in prior literature. In particular, we argue that the serial correlation pattern in analysts' quarterly earnings forecast errors is consistent with an environment in which analysts face parameter uncertainty and learn rationally about the parameters over time. Using simulations and real data, we show that the predictability evidence is more consistent with rational learning than with irrationality (fixation on a seasonal random walk model or some other dogmatic belief).
A feasibility study of low‐dose total body irradiation for relapsed canine lymphoma
Authors: Brown E. M. , Ruslander D. M. , Azuma C. , Moore A. S. , Bengtson A. E. , Quesenberry P. J. , Frimberger A. E. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSeven client owned dogs with confirmed relapsed lymphoma were enrolled in a prospective feasibility study investigating the effects of low‐dose total body irradiation (LDTBI) delivered in a single 1 Gy fraction. LDTBI for relapsed lymphoma was safe and well tolerated. The only major side‐effect of LDTBI was asymptomatic thrombocytopenia in all dogs. The median platelet nadir was 17 000/μL (range 4000–89 000), which occurred a median of 10 days (range 8–30) post irradiation. Three dogs had short‐term partial responses, two stable disease and two progressive disease (PD). Six dogs were euthanatized for PD, and one dog died while in partial remission. No dogs had clinical complications. Survival analysis was not performed, because the study design did not allow for evaluation of survival time. Larger studies incorporating LDTBI in the induction/consolidation phase of treatment need to be performed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of LDTBI.
Palliative radiotherapy as treatment for non‐resectable soft tissue sarcomas in the dog – a report of 15 cases
Authors: Plavec T. , Kessler M. , Kandel B. , Schwietzer A. , Roleff S. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractFifteen dogs with various non‐resectable soft tissue sarcomas were treated with a palliative protocol of Cobalt60radiation. Twelve (80%) of the 15 tumours were fibrosarcomas and haemangiopericytomas. Total tumour radiation dose was 24 Gy, given in three 8 Gy fractions, on days 0, 7, 21 or weekly. Thirteen tumours (87%) responded with stable disease; median time to progression and median survival time were 263 and 332 days, respectively. Radiation toxicity was negligible. The survival and local control with this palliative protocol are almost comparable with curative intent primary radiotherapy.
Working to Make Interdisciplinarity Work: Investing in Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
Authors: Marzano Mariella , Carss David N. , Bell Sandra 
Published: June 2006

AbstractIn this paper, we apply qualitative methodologies to explore the practice of interdisciplinary research. The UK's Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) Programme aims to advance understanding of the challenges faced by rural areas through funding interdisciplinary research to inform future policy and practice on management choices for the countryside and rural economies. Addressing the challenges faced by rural areas often requires a combination of different perspectives, involving research to address subjects that may lie beyond the skills of individual researchers. An interdisciplinary approach requires the integration of both data/information and the experiences and perspectives of different people (natural/social scientists, local people and policy‐makers). We focus here on the processes involved in making interdisciplinarity work, documenting the experiences, perceptions, ideas and concerns of researchers working in interdisciplinary projects (specifically two EU‐funded projects but also the first wave of RELU projects). A key finding from this research is that interdisciplinarity requires conscious effort, time and resources for the development of interpersonal relationships to enhance effective communication and thus successful collaboration.
Food Choice in an Interdisciplinary Context
Authors: Tiffin Richard , Bruce Traill W. , Mortimer Simon 
Published: June 2006

AbstractReform of agricultural policies, notably the continuing elimination of production‐enhancing subsidies, makes it possible for policies to respond to social issues such as the rural environment and health in future. In this paper, we draw on a Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) research project which is examining the potential for the development of healthy food chains and the implications for human health and the environment. One of the key issues to be addressed is consumers’ willingness to pay for the nutritionally enhanced food products from these new chains, but it is evident that only a partial understanding can be gained from a traditional economics approach. In the paper, we discuss how economists are beginning to incorporate views from other disciplines into their models of consumer choice.