Background: The standard patch test is known as the most reliable test to identify and confirm causative agents of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of specific allergens varies by geographic area. The results of patch test in patients visiting our dermatology clinics with suspected ACD were prospectively investigated and compared with those repo...

Ecological systems are vulnerable to irreversible change when key system properties are pushed over thresholds, resulting in the loss of resilience and the precipitation of a regime shift. Perhaps the most important of such properties in human-modified landscapes is the total amount of remnant native vegetation. In a seminal study Andrén proposed the existence of a fragmentation threshold in th...

Bird count data for southeastern Minnesota were used to compare landscape metric values associated with the occurrence of species from two functional groups. Four forest interior dependent and four non-interior dependent species were assessed. Species included American redstart, Cerulean warbler, Least flycatcher, Woodthrush, Bluewinged warbler, Indigo bunting, Ruby-throated hummingbird, and Wa...

That area-sensitive songbirds breed only in relatively large patches suggests that there may be a minimum patch size threshold in which they will breed, even when controlling for the total amount of habitat in the landscape. We searched for minimum patch size thresholds of presence, territory establishment by males, pairing success, and reproductive success for 2 migratory songbirds that differ...

Background: Inlet patch (IP) lesion is the presence of gastric columnar epithelial tissue outside of the stomach. Symptoms such as a lump in the throat, chronic cough, laryngitis, or other mouth-throat symptoms may be IP-related only and have no other abnormalities. This study aimed to determine the relationship between globus sensation and structural disorder of Inlet Patch in patients with ga...

Multicentre patch test studies (MPTSs) can contribute useful information for diagnostic and preventive measures. The aim of the present paper is to propose how to perform high-quality MPTSs. To this end, factors of significance for the patch test result are discussed with regard to the standardization and calibration of high-quality MPTSs. The 16 factors discussed are scored 0, 1, 2, or 3, depe...

Conservation of species in fragmented landscapes often is guided by spatially realistic metapopulation theory. However, convincing cases of metapopulation dynamics are uncommon, especially for vertebrates. Moreover, there is concern that the patch area and isolation paradigm for metapopulations is an oversimplification for heterogeneous landscapes. We tested predictions from metapopulation theo...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of copper extraction on the structure and function of rangelands ecosystem around the mine area in Dareh Zereshk, Yazd province, Iran. Three study sites were considered at the specified intervals of the mine (0-200, 200-500 and 500-1000m). This research was conducted from 2012 to 2013. In each location, three linear transects with a length of 50 m...

Bumble-bee declines across Europe have been linked to loss of habitat and forage availability due to agricultural intensification. These declines may have severe ecological and commercial consequences since bumble-bees pollinate a range of wildflowers and crops. In England, attempts are being made to reintroduce forage resources through agri-environment schemes, yet there are few data on how th...