bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acanthosis nigricans in a plaque of scleredema on the back of a diabetic patient: A case report
Authors: Lamba Sumedha , Krishtul Anna , Tan Mei‐Heng , Lebwohl Mark G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAcanthosis nigricans (AN) and scleredema are two skin conditions that have been reported in association with diabetes mellitus. Few cases associating scleredema and AN have been reported. A literature search did not reveal any reports of diabetic patients developing AN on top of a scleredema plaque. Here we report a patient with diabetes mellitus who developed AN within the same indurated scleredema plaque.
Use of pimecrolimus cream 1% (Elidel®) in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in infants and children: the effects of ethnic origin and baseline disease severity on treatment outcome
Authors: Eichenfield Lawrence F. , Lucky Anne W. , Langley Richard G. B. , Lynde Charles , Kaufmann Roland , Todd Gail , Lindsley Linda , Barbier Nathalie , Felser James M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Pimecrolimus cream 1%, a cell‐selective inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines, has been shown to be effective in treating atopic dermatitis (AD). This report examines the effect of ethnic origin and baseline disease severity on treatment outcomes in pediatric patients with AD treated with pimecrolimus cream 1%.Methods  The analysis included 589 patients aged 3 months to 17 years from three 6‐week, randomized, multicenter studies of similar design. Patients were treated with pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle twice daily. Efficacy, safety and tolerability in Caucasian and non‐Caucasian groups were compared. In addition, the effect of baseline disease severity on treatment outcome was investigated.Results  A total of 321 Caucasian and 268 non‐Caucasian patients [Blacks, Asians and others (including Hispanics)] with mild, moderate or severe disease at baseline were included. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the pimecrolimus and vehicle control groups and between Caucasian and non‐Caucasian groups. Significantly higher efficacy [measured by Investigators’ Global Assessment and Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores] was achieved in the pimecrolimus‐treated group, compared with the vehicle group, irrespective of ethnic origin. Baseline disease severity had no effect on treatment outcome: patients with both mild and moderate AD responded well to pimecrolimus (absolute change from baseline in EASI score −2.60 and −5.48, respectively; both P < 0.001). Pimecrolimus cream 1% was safe and well tolerated in all ethnic groups and at all levels of disease severity.Conclusions  Ethnic origin and baseline disease severity had no effect on treatment outcome with pimecrolimus cream 1% in patients with AD.
Prevalence of different skin conditions in an outpatients’ setting in north‐western Nigeria
Authors: Onayemi Olaniyi , Isezuo Simeon A. , Njoku Chibueze H. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Information on skin diseases in north‐western Nigeria is scanty. We therefore conducted a prospective survey of 2611 new patients seen between August 1999 and July 2001 at the consultant medical/dermatology clinics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.Methods  The personal bio‐data of all consecutive patients with skin diseases were documented. They were examined and the diagnoses, which were based on the history of presentation and physical examination, were recorded. Bacteriologic, mycologic, and histologic confirmations were obtained as appropriate.Results  Seven hundred and forty‐six patients (28.6%) had skin diseases. There were 407 male and 339 female patients aged between 0.17 and 90 years; the median age was 27 years. The median ages for male and female patients were 28 and 25 years, respectively. There were 900 skin diseases seen in the 746 patients. The majority of skin diseases were found amongst the younger age group, which represented over 85% of the patients. Infectious and parasitic skin diseases accounted for 44.4% of cases; eczema, acne, papulosquamous, and pigmentary skin disorders were observed in 14.1%, 7.0%, 6.4%, and 6.0% of cases, respectively.Conclusions  Preventable skin diseases are common in north‐western Nigeria and predominantly affect individuals in the highly productive age group. Health education is therefore necessary to curb their spread, reduce the associated morbidity, and improve the health status of the population. A concerted effort should be made to train health workers in the diagnosis and treatment of the more common dermatologic conditions.
Pierre Marie–Bamberger syndrome (secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy)
Authors: Cannavò Serafinella P. , Guarneri Claudio , Borgia Francesco , Vaccaro Mario 
Published: December 2004

A 55‐year‐old man presented to our Department with a 10‐year history of coarsening of the facial features. The soft tissue of the forehead had become progressively thickened and corrugated, resulting in marked, hard‐elastic asymmetrical convolutions involving the underlying eyelids, with partial reduction of the visual field (Fig. 1a,b). The patient also exhibited moderately prominent nasolabial folds, pachydermia of the hands and feet without nail changes, significant seborrhoea and palmo‐plantar hyperhydrosis.(a) Normal aspect of the face (before pulmonary disease); (b) definitive changes in the face: asymmetrical convolutions of the forehead, hypertrophy of the eyelids and prominent nasolabial foldsimageA 20‐year history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, recently complicated by chronic cor pulmonale, and obesity were present. No family history of similar disorders was reported.Routine blood tests, including full blood count, serum urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and electrolyte concentrations and tests of liver function, were normal. Hormonal investigations for testosterone, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and growth hormone (GH) responses to stimulation and suppression tests were within normal limits, as was the evaluation of bone metabolism.Haematoxylin‐eosin‐stained microsections prepared from a biopsy of the frontal region showed hypertrophic sebaceous glands, with a perifollicular nodule of fibrovascular hyperplasia, and hypertrophy of collagen; another specimen, obtained from the finger, displayed hyper‐orthokeratotic epidermis with few elastic fibers in the dermis, and a mild perivascular inflammatory infiltrate.A radiological examination of the arms (Fig. 2) and legs revealed a tubular shape of the diaphysis of the long bones, with marked diffuse subperiostal new bone formation, resulting in cortical thickening of the distal ends. Soft tissue thickening around the joints was also evident.Periostosis in bone diaphysisimage
Contrasts in mantle structure beneath Australia: relation to Tasman Lines?
Authors: KENNETT B. L. N. , FISHWICK S. , READING A. M. , RAWLINSON N. 
Published: December 2004

Surface‐wave tomography for the Australian region, using data mostly from portable seismic recorders, reveals a very strong contrast in seismic shear‐wave speed beneath central and western Australia and the east of the continent. Shear‐wave speeds faster than the continental average extend to at least 200 km depth in the cratonic zone to the west of 140°E. Along an approximately north–south line there is then an eastward step to thinner lithosphere (∼150 km thick) but still with fast shear‐wave speeds. A further more irregular transition to the east marks the transition to lowered shear‐wave speeds. The eastern transition at 75 km depth is in close agreement with the original Tasman Line, whereas the two more westerly transitions do not bear a simple relation to the more recent group of Tasman Lines defined from crustal information (outcrop and inferred geophysical trends). The westward transition to the thickest coherent lithosphere (near 140°E) may well mark the edge of the ancient core of the continent, but the current mantle structures must bear the scars of the breakups and reassembly that have created the current Australian continent.
Proterozoic cooling and exhumation of the northern central Halls Creek Orogen, Western Australia: constraints from a reconnaissance 40Ar/39Ar study
Authors: BODORKOS S. , REDDY S. M. 
Published: December 2004

The Palaeoproterozoic Halls Creek Orogen preserves the most complete record of Barramundi (1880–1820 Ma) tectonism in northern Australia, but appears unaffected by the 1750–1500 Ma tectono‐magmatic activity that pervades other parts of the North Australian Craton. However, reliable geochronological data in the Halls Creek Orogen are largely restricted to U–Pb zircon and monazite determinations, and the history of post‐tectonic cooling in the crystalline basement remains poorly understood. A reconnaissance 40Ar/39Ar study has been undertaken in the northern central part of the orogen, where 1850–1845 Ma high‐grade metamorphism pre‐dated 1835–1825 Ma emplacement of the Mabel Downs Tonalite, and the subsequent development of the Highway Shear Zone under greenschist‐facies conditions. Hornblende and biotite 40Ar/39Ar results from the Mabel Downs Tonalite yield plateau ages of 1705 ± 5 Ma and 1546 ± 19 Ma, respectively, interpreted to record cooling through the temperatures 540 ± 40°C and 315 ± 45°C, respectively. These values yield slow time‐averaged cooling rates of 1.5 ± 0.5°C/106 years (1845–1705 Ma) and 1.4 ± 0.4°C/106 years (1705–1545 Ma). Variably discordant muscovite and biotite 40Ar/39Ar analyses from sheared leucogneiss and retrogressed pelitic migmatite in the Highway Shear Zone are difficult to interpret, although none record Palaeoproterozoic isotopic closure and most preserve evidence for resetting during Neoproterozoic (900–800 Ma) recrystallisation. In the absence of a reliable minimum age for the Yampi Orogeny (previously published pre‐1000 Ma K–Ar ages may be affected by unrecognised excess argon), the present 40Ar/39Ar data may reflect deformation associated with reactivation of the Highway Shear Zone during this event.
Crack initiation from micro surface holes in bearings under rolling contact fatigue
Authors: KIDA K. , YAMAZAKI T. , SHIBATA M. , OGUMA N. , HARADA H. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTInvestigations concerning surface crack growth are necessary for understanding the mechanism of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of bearings because the surface defects cause flaking failures. In the present work, micro holes were artificially made prior to the RCF tests and the initiation of the surface cracks from the micro holes was observed in order to find the key factors for understanding their features. Crack initiation directions were compared to the stress intensity factors calculated by a simple method based on the theory. The extent to which ‘contact pressure (wedge effect)’ and ‘contact stresses’ are applicable for understanding the correlations between the crack initiation directions and stress intensity factors is discussed. The crack initiation directions are strongly correlated to the stress intensity factors caused by the contact stresses alone. We concluded that the crack growth and initiation are dominated by stress intensity factors caused by contact stresses rather than the wedge effect.
On the Ekberg, Kabo and Andersson calculation of the Dang Van high cycle fatigue limit for rolling contact fatigue
Authors: CIAVARELLA M. , MAITOURNAM H. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTRecently, various methods have been proposed to assess the risk of rolling contact fatigue failure by Ekberg, Kabo and Andersson, and in particular, the Dang Van multiaxial fatigue criterion has been suggested in a simple approximate formulation. In this note, it is found that the approximation implied can be very significant; the calculation is improved and corrected, and focused on the study of plane problems but for a complete range of possible friction coefficients. It is found that predicted fatigue limit could be much higher than that under standard uniaxial tension/compression for ‘hard materials’ than for ‘ductile materials.’ This is in qualitative agreement, for example, with gears' design standards, but in quantitative terms, particularly for frictionless condition, the predicted limit seems possibly too high, indicating the need for careful comparison with experimental results. Some comments are devoted to the interplay of shakedown and fatigue.
Slip behaviour near a grain boundary in high‐cycle fatigue of poly‐crystal copper
Authors: SUMIGAWA T. , KITAMURA T. , OHISHI K. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the characteristic slip behaviour near a grain boundary in high‐cycle fatigue, a high‐cycle fatigue test is carried out using a copper poly‐crystal specimen, which consists of several tens of grains. Seventeen persistent slip bands (PSBs) are observed along the grain boundaries. Their location and the activated slip system are different from those expected by the Schmid factor. After the fatigue test, the crystalline orientation and the three‐dimensional shape of each grain are specified by the repetition of polishing and observation by means of an orientation‐imaging microscope (OIM). A finite‐element method (FEM) analysis is also conducted for the specimen with the same orientation and shape of grains taking into account the anisotropy. This analysis reveals that the shear stress concentrates near the grain boundaries where the PSBs are formed. The activated slip systems predicted by the maximum resolved shear stress agree well with those observed in the fatigue experiment. Thus, the characteristic slip near the grain boundary in the poly‐crystal is governed by the concentrated resolved shear stress on the specific slip system due to the deformation constraint by neighbouring crystals.
Validation of procedures for fatigue life assessment of a steel pressure vessel
Authors: DE JESUS A. M. P. , RIBEIRO A. S. , FERNANDES A. A. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTA full‐size pressure vessel, made of steel plate P355NL1 (EN 10028‐3), was tested under repeated internal pressure until its failure was observed. Also, four representative structural details of the tested pressure vessel were fatigue tested under load control with a stress ratio of R= 0. These structural details are basically two seam‐welded joints, namely a butt‐welded joint and a joggle‐welded joint, one plate attachment using fillet‐welded joints and a nozzle‐to‐plate connection. S–N curves were generated for these details based on both nominal and structural stresses. These curves are critically compared with those proposed in pressure vessel design codes like the ASME VIII – Division 2, the PD 5500 and the recently approved EN procedures, the EN 13445 standard. Finally, predictions of the fatigue life of the pressure vessel, obtained using the previously referred procedures and the experimentally derived design curves are critically compared with the observed life of the vessel.
The effect of bi‐modal and lamellar microstructures of Ti‐6Al‐4V on the behaviour of fatigue cracks emanating from edge‐notches
Authors: BENEDETTI M. , FONTANARI V. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThis paper is aimed at evaluating the influence of bi‐modal and lamellar microstructures on the behaviour of small cracks emanating from notches in α+β titanium Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy. Pulsating four point bending tests were performed at a nominal stress ratio of 0.1 and a frequency of 15 Hz on double‐edge‐notched specimens. The conditions of initiation and early propagation of fatigue cracks were investigated at two relatively high nominal stress levels corresponding to 88 and 58% of the 0.2% material yield stress. Crack closure effects were measured by an extensometric technique and discussed. Variations in crack aspect ratio were determined and considered in the ΔK calculation. Corresponding results were discussed by considering the effect of the yielded region at the notch tip calculated by elastic–plastic finite element modelling of the fatigue tests. The importance of the bi‐modal and lamellar microstructures on the material damage was highlighted and correlated to the observed oscillations in the crack growth rate. The crack growth rate data obtained were compared with those measured using standard C(T) specimens (long crack).
Metapopulation ecology in the sea: from Levins' model to marine ecology and fisheries science
Authors: Kritzer Jacob P , Sale Peter F 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMarine and fisheries scientists are increasingly using metapopulation concepts to better understand and model their focal systems. Consequently, they are considering what defines a metapopulation. One perspective on this question emphasizes the importance of extinction probability in local populations. This view probably stems from the focus on extinction in Levins' original metapopulation model, but places unnecessary emphasis on extinction–recolonization dynamics. Metapopulation models with more complex structure than Levins' patch‐occupancy model and its variants allow a broader range of population phenomena to be examined, such as changes in population size, age structure and genetic structure. Analyses along these lines are critical in fisheries science, where presence–absence resolution is far too coarse to understand stock dynamics in a meaningful way. These more detailed investigations can, but need not, aim to assess extinction risk or deal with extinction‐prone local populations. Therefore, we emphasize the coupling of spatial scales as the defining feature of metapopulations. It is the degree of demographic connectivity that characterizes metapopulations, with the dynamics of local populations strongly dependent upon local demographic processes, but also influenced by a nontrivial element of external replenishment. Therefore, estimating rates of interpopulation exchange must be a research priority. We contrast metapopulations with other spatially structured populations that differ in the degree of local closure of their component populations. We conclude with consideration of the implications of metapopulation structure for spatially explicit management, particularly the design of marine protected area networks.
Mapping global fisheries: sharpening our focus
Authors: Watson Reg , Kitchingman Adrian , Gelchu Ahmed , Pauly Daniel 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMapping global landings is an important prerequisite for examining causal relationships between fishing and ecological change. Landing statistics, typically provided with poor spatial precision, can be disaggregated into a grid system of spatial cells (30 min ×30 min) using a rule‐based approach and ancillary data about distributions of fished taxa and fishing access of reporting countries. Presentation of time series catch composition is then possible for many types of marine areas including biogeochemical provinces, large marine ecosystems and exclusive economic zones.
Density‐dependent habitat selection and the ideal free distribution in marine fish spatial dynamics: considerations and cautions
Authors: Shepherd Travis D , Litvak Matthew K 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCurrent methods and theory used in the study of the spatial dynamics of marine fish are problematic. Positive relationships between population abundance and occupied area are typically interpreted as evidence of density‐dependent habitat selection. However, both abundance and area may co‐vary with an un‐parameterized variable, such as a density‐independent effect. In addition, if density‐dependent habitat selection is present, population growth rates in optimal habitats would be expected to be lower than in marginal habitats. This same pattern can also evolve from a large‐scale, spatially autocorrelated change in a density‐independent factor. The theory underlying density‐dependent habitat selection, the ideal free distribution, can be tautological when no a priori information of how habitat suitability changes with density is known. In this case, an ideal free distribution can be defined for any pattern of habitat‐specific population growth rates. However, these problems are not insurmountable and solutions may be found by considering spatial variation in proxies of fitness and explicitly allowing for the relative importance of habitat selection (density dependent) and environmental (density independent) effects to vary with spatial scale.
Testing hypotheses about fecundity, body size and maternal condition in fishes
Authors: Koops Marten A. , Hutchings Jeffrey A. , McIntyre Tara M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractRecent research suggests that maternal condition positively influences the number of eggs spawned in fishes. These studies commonly choose a priori to use body length rather than weight as an explanatory variable of offspring production, even though weight is usually the better predictor of fecundity. We are concerned that consistent exclusion of body weight as a predictor of egg production inflates the variance in fecundity attributable to maternal condition. By analysing data on three populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae) and 10 populations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, Salmonidae), we illustrate the need for a statistically defensible method of model selection to distinguish the effects of maternal condition on egg production from the effects of body size alone. Forward stepwise regression and null model analyses reveal how length‐based regressions can significantly over‐estimate correlations between condition and fecundity, leading us to conclude that the effect of condition on egg productivity may not be as ubiquitous or as biologically important as previously thought. Our work underscores the need for greater statistical clarity in analyses of the effects of maternal condition on reproductive productivity in fishes.
Links between social and linguistic processing of speech in preschool children with autism: behavioral and electrophysiological measures
Authors: Kuhl Patricia K. , Coffey‐Corina Sharon , Padden Denise , Dawson Geraldine 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Data on typically developing children suggest a link between social interaction and language learning, a finding of interest both to theories of language and theories of autism. In this study, we examined social and linguistic processing of speech in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing chronologically matched (TDCA) and mental age matched (TDMA) children. The social measure was an auditory preference test that pitted ‘motherese’ speech samples against non‐speech analogs of the same signals. The linguistic measure was phonetic discrimination assessed with mismatch negativity (MMN), an event‐related potential (ERP). As a group, children with ASD differed from controls by: (a) demonstrating a preference for the non‐speech analog signals, and (b) failing to show a significant MMN in response to a syllable change. When ASD children were divided into subgroups based on auditory preference, and the ERP data reanalyzed, ASD children who preferred non‐speech still failed to show an MMN, whereas ASD children who preferred motherese did not differ from the controls. The data support the hypothesis of an association between social and linguistic processing in children with ASD.