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Evidence to inform assessment of needs of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in health settings is limited. A Swiss hospital-based medico-legal consultation for adult victims of violence also detects children's exposure to IPV and refers cases to the Pediatrics Child Abuse and Neglect Team. Based on a conceptual ecological framework, this study examined the nature and circumstances of children's exposure to IPV described in accounts collected by nurses in consultations with adult IPV victims. From 2011 to 2014, 438 parents (88% female) of 668 children aged 0 to 18 sought medico-legal care from the Violence Medical Unit in Lausanne Switzerland following assaults by intimate partners (85% male). As part of the consultation, nurses completed a semi-structured questionnaire with victimized parents, recording their answers in the patient file. Victims' statements about the abuse, their personal, family and social contexts, and their children's exposure to IPV were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic content analyses were conducted to identify, from the victimized parents' accounts, elements useful to understand the nature and circumstances of children's exposure and involvement during violent events. Parent statements on specific violent events described children being present in 75% of the cases. Children were said to be exposed to, and responded to, severe physical violence, serious threats and insults, in the context of repeated assaults and coercive control. Families, especially mothers, were often coping with additional socio-economic vulnerabilities. Implications for further developing assessments of children living with IPV, especially in health settings were identified., Author(s): Jacqueline De Puy [sup.1] , Lorraine Radford [sup.2] , Virginie Le Fort [sup.1] , Nathalie Romain-Glassey [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0001 0423 4662, grid.8515.9, Violence Medical Unit, University [...]

This study analyzes the modal functions of the adverb ya in three contact varieties of Spanish: Basque Spanish in the Basque Autonomous Community, Andean Spanish in contact with Quechua in [...]

Purpose Inflammation-induced anemia is frequent among critically ill patients and can be aggravated by true iron deficiency (ID) resulting from blood losses. The serum hepcidin level controls the availability of iron for erythropoiesis, and its determination offers new perspectives for the diagnosis of ID in the presence of inflammation. We conducted a prospective observational study to determine the cutoff value and diagnostic accuracy of hepcidin levels for detecting ID in critically ill anemic patients. Methods Patients suffering from anemia (hemoglobin Results Of 51 patients (36 male/15 female), 5 had ID at inclusion, while 8 developed ID during their stay. A total of 128 iron profiles were analyzed. Median hepcidin levels were 80.5 (0.05-548.3) and 526.6 (246.7-891.4) [micro]g/l for ID and non-ID profiles, respectively. The onset of ID during the ICU stay led to a progressive decline in hepcidin levels, whereas a persistent inflammatory profile remained associated with high hepcidin concentrations. The optimal threshold for serum hepcidin for ID diagnosis was assessed by building 100 ROC curves using a resampling method and found at 129.5 [micro]g/l [95% CI = (115.5-143.4)]. Conclusions Hepcidin levels may be suppressed by ID even in case of inflammation. Serum hepcidin of 129.5 [micro]g/l was the most accurate threshold for ID diagnosis in critically ill patients with anemia., Author(s): Sigismond Lasocki [sup.1] [sup.2], Gabriel Baron [sup.3], Fathi Driss [sup.2] [sup.4], Mark Westerman [sup.5], Hervé Puy [sup.2] [sup.6], Isabelle Boutron [sup.3], Carole Beaumont [sup.2], Philippe Montravers [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2009.05.003 Byline: Gema Fruhbeck (1)(2)(3), Sara Becerril (2)(3), Neira Sainz (2)(3), Puy Garrastachu (4), Maria Jose Garcia-Velloso (4) Abstract: Two types of adipose tissue can be distinguished histologically and functionally: white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Whereas BAT is specialized in the production of heat, WAT stores excess energy as triacylglycerols. BAT is present throughout life in rodents, whereas in humans it was thought to involute rapidly postnatally, having essentially disappeared within the first years after birth. However, positron emission tomography has provided evidence that adults retain metabolically active BAT depots that can be induced in response to cold and sympathetic nervous system activation. These findings together with the recent identification of specific molecular determinants (PRDM16 and BMP7) activating brown adipogenesis highlights BAT as a potential relevant target for pharmacological and gene expression manipulation to combat human obesity. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Endocrinology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Avda. Pio XII, 36, 31008 Pamplona, Spain (2) Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain (3) CIBER Fisiopatologia de la Obesidad y Nutricion (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (4) Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Avda. Pio XII, 36, 31008 Pamplona, Spain

Several prokaryotic expression studies are conducted to explain the impact of ALAS2 gene deletions in different families. Results prove that the C-terminal deletions of the gene lead to the gain of function, which then leads to X-linked dominant protoporphyria without anemia or iron overload in humans.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2006.11.002 Byline: M. Socorro Puy Keywords: Tiebout economy; Redistribution; Sophisticated voting; Majority rule; Skill distribution Abstract: We study the extent to which, in a Tiebout economy, the exogenous distribution of skill across agents affects the compatibility between the redistributive policy and the residential decision. We propose a two-region economy where (i) each region's redistributive policy is elected by majority rule (where both cases, myopic and sophisticated voters, are considered), and (ii) each region's wage is endogenously determined by separated labor markets. We find that mobility and redistribution are compatible when either there is a low-skilled region where the median skilled agent is below the mean skill of the region, and/or when there is a high-skilled region where the median skilled agent is above the mean skill of the region. We provide examples of commonly used distribution functions that satisfy, or that fail to satisfy, the above properties. Author Affiliation: Universidad de Malaga, Spain Article History: Received 20 June 2006; Accepted 6 November 2006

Erythropoietic protoporphyria is an inherited disorder of heme biosynthesis caused by partial ferrochelatase deficiency, resulting in protoporphyrin (PP) overproduction by erythrocytes. In humans, it is responsible for painful skin photosensitivity and, occasionally, liver failure due to accumulation of PP in the liver. The ferrochelatase deficiency mouse mutation is the best animal model available for human erythropoietic protoporphyria. The original description, based on mice with a BALB/cByJCrl genetic background, reported a disease resembling the severe form of the human disease, with anemia, jaundice, and liver failure. Using congenic strains, we investigated the effect of genetic background on the severity of the phenotype. Compared with BALB/cByJCrl, C57BL/6JCrl mice developed moderate but increasing anemia and intense liver accumulation of PP with severe hepatocyte damage and loss. Bile excretory function was not affected, and bilirubin remained low. Despite the highest PP concentration in erythrocytes, anemia was mild and there were few PP deposits in the liver in SJL/JOrlCrl homozygotes. Discriminant analysis using six hematologic and biochemical parameters showed that homozygotes of the three genetic backgrounds could be clustered in three well-separated groups. These three congenic strains provide strong evidence for independent genetic control of bone marrow contribution of PP overproduction to development of liver disease and biliary PP excretion. They provide a tool to investigate the physiological mechanisms involved in these phenotypic differences and to identify modifying genes. protoporphyrin: bilirubin; chronic hepatitis; ferrochelatase: congenic strains

We present a two-dimensional lithospheric thermal and density model along a transect running from the southwestern Iberian Peninsula to the northwestern Sahara. The main goal is to investigate the lithosphere structure underneath the Gulf of Cadiz and the Atlas Mountains. The model is based on the assumption of topography in local isostatic equilibrium and is constrained by surface heat flow, gravity anomalies, geoid, and topography data. The crustal structure has been constrained by seismic and geological data where available. Mantle density is supposed to vary linearly with temperature, providing the link between thermal and density-related data. The lithospheric thickness varies strongly along the profile, going from near 100 km under the Iberian Peninsula to at least 160-190 km tinder the Gulf of Cadiz and the Gharb foreland basin in Morocco and to 70 km underneath the Atlas Mountains, coinciding with a region of Neogene volcanism. The thickening of the lithosphere is interpreted as a SW trending lithospheric slab extending from the western Betics to the Gulf of Cadiz and the Gharb Basin, whereas the thin lithosphere underneath the Atlas may be interpreted as plume-like asthenospheric upwelling similar to those observed in the west European Alpine foreland or as a side effect of a slab penetrating the less viscous asthenosphere. doi:10.1029/2004TC001639.

A previous study with aortic segments isolated from rats fed a fish oil-rich diet indicated an increase in acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide (*NO)-mediated relaxation. However, it remained to be elucidated whether a fish oil-rich diet affects the vascular activity per se and the point of the NO-cGMP pathway at which fish oil acts. For this purpose, two groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a semipurified diet containing 5% lipids, either corn oil (CO) or menhaden oil (MO), for 8 wk. We studied the mRNA and protein levels of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and NOS activity. The bioavailability of vascular *NO was assessed directly by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The levels of cGMP, L-arginine, and L-citrulline were also evaluated in homogenates. Superoxide anion ([O.sub.2.sup.-]*) production and related antioxidant activities were also studied in aortic segments. The aortic content of eNOS mRNA was increased in rats ted the MO-rich diet. This resulted in increases in both eNOS protein levels (70% relative to the rats fed the CO-rich diet) and NOS activity (102%); *NO production increased by 90%, cGMP levels increased by 100%, and u-arginine decreased by 30%. No change in aortic [O.sub.2.sup.-]* production was caused by dietary MO. The upregulation of the eNOS-cGMP pathway induced by dietary MO may contribute to the maintenance of vascular homeostasis and explain its beneficial effect in the prevention of arterial diseases. polyunsaturated fatty acids; endothelium; nitric oxide; superoxide anion; free radicals

Voltammetric techniques are used to study heterogeneous complex systems at any metal-to-ligand ratio, and the data is output into its corresponding binding curve. Humic matter is instrumental in regulating metal ions and pollutants in the environment.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) has been studied in 29 EPP patients, French and Swiss in origin. In 26 of them mutations have been found. Study has led to a significant increase in the mutation information on the ferrochelatase (FECH) gene. All of the patients, those with liver complications included, were seen to be heterozygous for the mutations seen in the FECH gene. There is new information about heredity and EPP, which is an hereditary disorder that comes from partial deficiency of the last enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway. EPP can be and is in most cases autosomal dominant with low clinical penetrance or autosomal recessive.

The Estudio Sismico de la Corteza Iberica Norte Project involves the examination of the Northwestern Iberian Variscan Belt using an offshore vertical incidence reflection seismic method and on-land wide-angle recording. Two important sedimentary basins were identified in the marine seismic section's shallow part. A low continental crust model also shows that the deepest of the two controversial highly reflective subhorizontal bads observed may be the remnants of a crustal root during the late Paleozoic period.

Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) formalism used to calculate Langmuirian affinity has been found to have a stronger resolution power than other numerical techniques. MaxEnt evaluations show that the relatively good resolution of the affinity spectrum is obtained and that any a priori assumption about the number of site types or the character of the affinity spectrum is not required. Evaluations also show that MaxEnt formalism does not require the computation of derivatives from the experimental data.

The effects of the alpha-Me3N+ andalpha-PyN+ groups on equilibrium acidities were determined, specifically their effects on carbon-acid substrates such as acetone, diethyl malonate, fluorene, 2-(phenyl-sulfonyl)fluorene, toluene, p-(phenylsulfonyl)toluene and others. Thetrimethylammonium and pyridinium groups had acidifying effects on the adjacent C-H bonds associated with coulombic stabilization of the negative charge by positive charges on the nitrogen atom. Pyridinium groups had opposite effects on adjacent radicals because they caused destabilization.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a proliferation of cells that most often begins in the skin and eventually spreads to other body sites. It is frequently found in immunocompromised states, such as AIDS. Kaposi's sarcoma has been reported, albeit much less frequently, in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for other conditions. It is extremely rare in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for Crohn's disease, also known as regional ileitis. This condition is an inflammatory disease afflicting the small intestine, and is thought to have an immune component. A case is reported of a 36-year-old European woman who had been suffering from Crohn's disease for over 15 years. Treatment with sulfasalazine (a poorly absorbed sulfonamide drug used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases) had been effective during the first nine months of the disease; corticosteroid therapy had been prescribed since then. Periodic episodes of nasogastric tube feeding had been necessary to maintain nutrition. In June 1988, treatment with azathioprine was begun; the result was a complete remission of the Crohn's disease symptoms. During the 10th month of treatment, the patient was hospitalized due to diarrhea and weight loss. Endoscopy (viewing the interior of the intestinal tract with a flexible fiberoptic device) and biopsies resulted in a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma. Repeated tests for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, the agent responsible for AIDS) infection were negative. The azathioprine therapy was discontinued, with subsequent remission of the Kaposi's sarcoma and relapse of the Crohn's disease. Five months later, the patient is receiving methotrexate therapy; the Kaposi's sarcoma is still in remission. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

A novel method of synthesizing hydrochlorofluorocarbon CF3CH2CCl2CH2CF3 was developed through a selective Cl-F exchange in a saturated system. The design featured the preparation with vinylidene chloride as starting material. Vapor phase dehydrochlorination of CF3CH2CCl2CH2CF3 with an activated carbon catalyst resulted in a new allene CF3CH=C=CHCF3. It was found that CF3CH2CCl2CH2CF3 was the major substrate in the preparation of new compounds containing two trifluoromethyl groups.

A study was conducted to determine the stepwise and intrinsic constants for the [Cd.sup.2+]/[H.sup.+] competitive binding to poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) based on the experimental data for a bidentate binding of Cd ions to adjacent carboxylate groups. The analysis of the intrinsic constants and correction for the electrostatic contribution to the binding energy, via the Poisson-Boltzmann equation shed light on the electrostatic and specific contributions to the binding of Cd ions to PAA.

A new methodology is described for obtaining the stepwise stability constants corresponding to the binding of ions to macromolecular ligands having a large number of sites. The specific component of the intrinsic stability constants of the calcium ions is shown to be independent of the calcium and proton coverage and ionic strength.

The association and dissociation of all the complexes in a mixture of ligands affects the degree of lability of a given metal complex. It increases upon the addition of a more labile complex and decreases when a less labile complex is added.

A methodology to determine the effect of a ligand mixture on the contribution of the complexes to the metal flux in systems under diffusion-limited conditions in a planar finite domain for any value of the association/dissociation rate constants is developed. The results have shown that the mixture effect can lead to an increase or decrease of the degree of lability of a complex in a mixture and can have a major impact on the metal flux, especially under conditions that render both complexes partially labile.

The liability of sequential metal complexes, ML,ML2, ML3.... upto general 1:n metal/ligand stoichiometric ratio is considered for the case of metal ions (M) being accumulated at a surface. The analytical solution for the steady-state diffusion of M within a sequential complexation scheme allows quantification of the contribution from the dissociation of all of the complex species to the metal flux through the lability degree, xi.

A study related to storage conditions, storage duration and shelf life period was conducted on physiochemical parameters, sensory attributes, and total aroma emission of 'Fuji' apples. Two partial least square regression (PSLR) models were established, one for relating physiochemical parameters to overall acceptability, and another for assessing the correlation between sensory acidity and instrumentally measured titrable acidity.

A consistent way of linking the theoretical and experimental normalized currents for finite glass radii is suggested in terms of the values of the currents corresponding to an infinite distance between the electrode and the substrate. An expression to estimate the electrode radii fro the insulator radius and the current with no feedback is recommended.