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Understanding the genetic adaptations that occurred as humans migrated out of Africa to higher latitudes helps explain on a population-wide level how UV radiation (UVR) exposure will have varying consequences and benefits in patients of different skin pigmentations. It has been hypothesized that the need for efficient vitamin D synthesis was the primary driver for the skin-lightening process that evolutionarily occurred as humans migrated to higher latitudes. This review analyzes the level of support for the hypothesis that skin lightening occurred to enable adequate vitamin D synthesis in populations that migrated to areas with less UVR. Our literature search supported the hypothesis that through natural selection and intricate genetic adaptations, humans who migrated to areas with lower levels of UVR underwent a skin-lightening process to avoid the consequences of vitamin D deficiency. Our review includes an analysis of migration patterns out of Africa and how these affected pigmentation genes that are found in certain ethnic populations can be used to better understand this critical adaptation process when counseling patients on the need for sun protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the need of a change in Arkansas's judicial recusal rules and procedures to provide a neutral review of denied recusal decisions in order to enhance and preserve that public confidence, as of September 2015.

The article presents a retrospective of the Arkansas Supreme Court's judicial decisions from 1991 through 2011. It explores several samples of significant and landmark cases with decisions handed down by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court decisions have underscored the quality of the supreme court's work and reflect the impact of the court over the state's jurisprudence in the past two decades.