bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tobacco industry success in preventing regulation of secondhand smoke in Latin America: the “Latin Project”
Authors: Barnoya J , Glantz S
Published: November 2002

Objective:To examine the tobacco industry’s strategy to avoid regulations on secondhand smoke exposure in Latin America.

Methods:Systematic search of tobacco industry documents available through the internet. All available materials, including confidential reports regarding research, lobbying, and internal memoranda exchanged between the tobacco industry representatives, tobacco industry lawyers, and key players in Latin America.

Results:In Latin America, Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, working through the law firm Covington & Burling, developed a network of well placed physicians and scientists through their “Latin Project” to generate scientific arguments minimising secondhand smoke as a health hazard, produce low estimates of exposure, and to lobby against smoke-free workplaces and public places. The tobacco industry’s role was not disclosed.

Conclusions:The strategies used by the industry have been successful in hindering development of public health programmes on secondhand smoke. Latin American health professionals need to be aware of this industry involvement and must take steps to counter it to halt the tobacco epidemic in Latin America.
Assessment of nicotine dependence symptoms in adolescents: a comparison of five indicators
Authors: O’Loughlin J , DiFranza J , Tarasuk J , Meshefedjian G , McMillan-Davey E , Paradis G , Tyndale R F , Clarke P , Hanley J
Published: November 2002

Objective:To examine the psychometric properties, test-retest reliability, and convergent construct validity of five indicators of nicotine dependence (ND) symptoms in adolescents.

Design:Analysis of baseline data from a prospective study on the natural history of ND in 1264 adolescents aged 12–13 years.

Setting:Ten Montreal high schools.

Subjects:233 grade 7 students who had smoked cigarettes one or more times in the three months preceding the baseline data collection.

Main outcome measures:Five indicators of ND symptoms including two that are multi-dimensional (a proxy measure of ICD-10 criteria for tobacco dependence; the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC)) and three new indicators of “symptom clusters” that emerged from principal component analysis (ND/cravings, withdrawal symptoms, self medication).

Results:All five indicators demonstrated acceptable internal and test-retest reliability. The correlation between the HONC and ND/cravings was 0.910. All other correlations between indicators ranged between 0.716–0.824. There was considerable overlap in the independent correlates identified for each indicator.

Conclusions:All five indicators performed well psychometrically. Until the meaning, relative importance, and usefulness of each scale is clarified in longitudinal work, decisions regarding which scale(s) are most informative will depend more on the content of the scales, the need for a multi- or unidimensional indicator, and whether or not the scale is theory based.
aPKC kinase activity is required for the asymmetric differentiation of the premature junctional complex during epithelial cell polarization
Authors: Suzuki Atsushi , Ishiyama Chikako , Hashiba Katsutaka , Shimizu Miki , Ebnet Klaus , Ohno Shigeo
Published: November 2002

We have previously shown that aPKC interacts with cell polarity proteins PAR-3 and PAR-6 and plays an indispensable role in cell polarization in the C. elegans one-cell embryo as well as in mammalian epithelial cells. Here, to clarify the molecular basis underlying this aPKC function in mammalian epithelial cells, we analyzed the localization of aPKC and PAR-3 during the cell repolarization process accompanied by wound healing of MTD1-A epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that PAR-3 and aPKCλ translocate to cell-cell contact regions later than the formation of the primordial spot-like adherens junctions (AJs) containing E-cadherin and ZO-1. Comparison with three tight junction (TJ) membrane proteins, JAM,occludin and claudin-1, further indicates that aPKCλ is one of the last TJ components to be recruited. Consistently, the expression of a dominant-negative mutant of aPKCλ (aPKCλkn) in wound healing cells does not inhibit the formation of the spot-like AJs; rather, it blocks their development into belt-like AJs. These persistent spot-like AJs in aPKCλ-expressing cells contain all TJ membrane proteins and PAR-3,indicating that aPKC kinase activity is not required for their translocation to these premature junctional complexes but is indispensable for their further differentiation into belt-like AJs and TJs. Cortical bundle formation is also blocked at the intermediate step where fine actin bundles emanating from premature cortical bundles link the persistent spot-like AJs at apical tips of columnar cells. These results suggest that aPKC contributes to the establishment of epithelial cell polarity by promoting the transition of fibroblastic junctional structures into epithelia-specific asymmetric ones.
Biosynthetic FGF-2 is targeted to non-lipid raft microdomains following translocation to the extracellular surface of CHO cells
Authors: Engling André , Backhaus Rafael , Stegmayer Carolin , Zehe Christoph , Seelenmeyer Claudia , Kehlenbach Angelika , Schwappach Blanche , Wegehingel Sabine , Nickel Walter
Published: November 2002

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is a secretory protein that lacks a signal peptide. Consistently, FGF-2 has been shown to be secreted by an ER-Golgi-independent mechanism; however, the machinery mediating this process remains to be established at the molecular level. Here we introduce a novel experimental system based on flow cytometry that allows the quantitative assessment of non-classical FGF-2 secretion in living cells. Stable cell lines have been created by retroviral transduction that express various kinds of FGF-2-GFP fusion proteins in a doxicyclin-dependent manner. Following induction of protein expression, biosynthetic FGF-2-GFP is shown to translocate to the outer surface of the plasma membrane as determined by both fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal microscopy. Both N-and C-terminal GFP tagging of FGF-2 is compatible with FGF-2 export, which is shown to occur in a controlled fashion rather than through unspecific release. The experimental system described has strong implications for the identification of both FGF-2 secretion inhibitors and molecular components involved in FGF-2 secretion.

In the second part of this study we made use of the FGF-2 export system described to analyze the fate of biosynthetic FGF-2-GFP following export to the extracellular space. We find that secreted FGF-2 fusion proteins accumulate in large heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-containing protein clusters on the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane. These microdomains are shown to be distinct from caveolae-like lipid rafts known to play a role in FGF-2-mediated signal transduction. Since CHO cells lack FGF high-affinity receptors (FGFRs), it can be concluded that FGFRs mediate the targeting of FGF-2 to lipid rafts. Consistently, FGF-2-GFP-secreting CHO cells do not exhibit increased proliferation activity. Externalization and deposition of biosynthetic FGF-2 in HSPG-containing protein clusters are independent processes, as a soluble secreted intermediate was demonstrated. The balance between intracellular FGF-2 and HSPG-bound secreted FGF-2 is shown not to be controlled by the availability of cell surface HSPGs, indicating that the FGF-2 secretion machinery itself is rate-limiting.
RabD, aDictyosteliumRab14-related GTPase, regulates phagocytosis and homotypic phagosome and lysosome fusion
Authors: Harris Edward , Cardelli James
Published: November 2002

RabD, a Dictyostelium Rab14-related GTPase, localizes in the endo-lysosomal pathway and contractile vacuole system of membranes. Cell lines expressing dominant-negative RabD were defective in endocytosis, endosomal membrane flow and homotypic lysosome fusion. In support of a role for RabD in fusion, cells overexpressing constitutively active RabDQ67Laccumulated enlarged hydrolase-rich acidic vesicles ringed with GFP-RabD,consistent with RabD directly regulating lysosome fusion. To determine whether RabD also regulated phagocytosis and/or homotypic phagosome fusion (a process stimulated by many intracellular pathogens), cells overexpressing dominant-active (RabDQ67L) or dominant-negative(RabN121I) RabD were analyzed microscopically and biochemically. The rate of phagocytosis was increased two-fold in RabDQ67L-expressing cells and reduced by 50% in RabDN121I-expressing cells compared with control cells. To examine the role of RabD in the formation of multiparticle phagosomes, we performed a series of pulse-chase experiments using fluorescently labeled bacteria and fluorescent latex beads. The rate of fusion of newly formed phagosomes was five times higher in the RabDQ67L-expressing cells and reduced by over 50% in RabDN121I-expressing cells as compared with control cells. GFP-RabDQ67L was found to ring multiparticle spacious phagosomes, which supports a direct role for this protein in regulating fusion. Inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity, which is known to regulate phagosome fusion in the wild-type cells, reduced the rate of phagosome fusion in RabDQ67L+ cells, indicating that RabD acted upstream of or parallel with PI 3-kinase. We hypothesize that RabD and, possibly, Rab14, a related GTPase that associates with phagosomes in mammalian cells, are important regulators of homotypic phagosome and endo-lysosome fusion.
Calcium wave pacemakers in eggs
Authors: Dumollard Rémi , Carroll John , Dupont Geneviève , Sardet Christian
Published: November 2002

During the past 25 years, the characterization of sperm-triggered calcium signals in eggs has progressed from the discovery of a single calcium increase at fertilization in the medaka fish to the observation of repetitive calcium waves initiated by multiple meiotic calcium wave pacemakers in the ascidian. In eggs of all animal species, sperm-triggered inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate[Ins(1,4,5)P3] production regulates the vast array of calcium wave patterns observed in the different species. The spatial organization of calcium waves is driven either by the intracellular distribution of the calcium release machinery or by the localized and dynamic production of calcium-releasing second messengers. In the highly polarized egg cell, cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-rich clusters act as pacemaker sites dedicated to the initiation of global calcium waves. The extensive ER network made of interconnected ER-rich domains supports calcium wave propagation throughout the egg. Fertilization triggers two types of calcium wave pacemakers depending on the species: in mice, the pacemaker site in the vegetal cortex of the egg is probably a site that has enhanced sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3; in ascidians, the calcium wave pacemaker may rely on a local source of Ins(1,4,5)P3 production apposed to a cluster of ER in the vegetal cortex.
A climatology of mesoscale convective systems over Europe using satellite infrared imagery. II: Characteristics of European mesoscale convective systems
Authors: Morel C. , Senesi S.
Published: November 2002

An automated method for mesoscale convective system (MCS) identification and tracking (described in part I) is applied in order to derive a sound European MCS database using Meteosat infrared channel (IR10.8) images centred over Europe, the western Mediterranean and north Africa. The database covers five warm seasons, from April to September, for the years 1993 to 1997 and includes more than 6000 MCSs reaching at least an area of 10 000 km2.

First results of the derived climatology of European MCSs are presented. They mainly address the MCS geographical location, general MCS characteristics (maximum extent, eccentricity, duration) and the diurnal cycle of the MCS.

MCSs are shown to be mainly continental, but some MCS triggering is observed during the second half of August and September over the western Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, MCS triggering is strongly correlated with orography and local maxima of MCS triggering are observed near all mountain ranges. Regions near the Alps which favour MCS triggering are described in detail. The monthly distributions of occurrence of warm‐season European MCSs are also presented.

Distributions of maximum extent, eccentricity, direction of propagation, life duration and triggering and dissipation times are also derived. On average, a theoretical ‘typical European MCS’ moves to the east‐north‐east, triggers near 3 p.m. Local Solar Time (LST), lasts around 5.5 hours and dissipates near 9 p.m. LST. It typically has an eccentricity at the time of maximum extent of 0.53.

The diurnal cycle is also studied and proved to be in phase with the diurnal radiative heating, except for around 20% of the MCSs.

A detailed analysis of the maximum‐extent distribution shows that it can be fitted by a log‐normal distribution which leads to an average value of the MCS maximum extent of around 9000 km2. This approximation is statistically meaningful and it is independent of the choice to study only MCSs reaching at least 10 000 km2.

Finally, a section of this article is devoted to indirect verifications of the discrimination method (see part I) for the whole geographical domain. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Ultrasonic vocalizations and maternal–infant interactions in a rat model of fetal alcohol syndrome
Authors: Marino Melissa D. , Cronise Kim , Lugo Joaquin N. , Kelly Sandra J.
Published: November 2002

When isolated from their dams and littermates, rat pups emit ultrasonic vocalizations to elicit attention and retrieval from their dams. This study examined the effects of perinatal alcohol exposure on ultrasonic vocalizations and maternal–infant interactions. Alcohol was administered throughout gestation to the dams and during the early postnatal period to the pups. Control groups consisted of a nontreated control and an intubated, pair‐fed control. Ultrasonic vocalizations were measured on postnatal day (PD) 5 under varying conditions of isolation. Maternal behaviors were examined on PD2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Maternal behaviors were not significantly affected by prior alcohol administration to either the dams or the pups. However, ethanol‐exposed rat pups vocalized more on PD5 than controls regardless of condition. The heightened vocalization response of the ethanol‐exposed pups might be an underlying factor in the persistent effects of perinatal ethanol exposure on social behavior. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 41: 341–351, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/dev.10077
The Neuropsychology of Development
Developmental Disorders:
A Neuropsychological Approach, by David Freides. 2001.
Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers. 586 pp., $84.95.
Authors: Butler Reviewed by Robert W.
Published: November 2002

In the first chapter the author states “this book is
about disabilities affecting children that are due to some
malfunction in the brain or nervous system.” The author
intends this book as an introduction to the study of developmental
disorders, particularly from a neuropsychological perspective.
By the author's writing, the text is intended for advanced
undergraduate courses in psychology and special education, or
for use with beginning graduate courses, particularly in the
area of clinical psychology. From my own read of Professor
Freides' book, I believe it is most appropriate for advanced
undergraduate courses. I found the text to be reasonably
comprehensive regarding its stated aims, readable, informative,
and there was a clear effort to reference both older, more
“classic” studies, and also to insure current research
references from relevant literature.
What's In A Name? Neurological Eponyms,
Peter J. Koehler, George W. Bruyn, and John M.S. Pearce. (Eds.).
2000. New York: Oxford University Press. 386 pp., $59.95.
Authors: Filley Christopher M.
Published: November 2002

Neurology, like many disciplines in medicine and science, has
had a penchant for naming many of its discoveries after their
discoverers. This tendency became especially evident in the
early 20th century, for example, when the practice of neurology
was essentially confined to bedside diagnosis, and dozens of
pathological reflexes, many now largely forgotten, came to be
recognized by the names of the neurologists who popularized
them. Such eponymic zeal has engendered controversy, however,
as some have argued that it is more “scientific”
to apply purely descriptive labels to neurologic phenomena.
This book clearly supports retaining the use of eponyms in
neurology, both because of the inescapable familiarity that
many of these terms have acquired, and for the importance of
the person behind the eponym. The result is a useful and readable
compendium of selected neurologic information, along with a
substantial amount of detail on the history of neurology.
The serial position effect in mild and moderately severe
vascular dementia
Authors: PAUL ROBERT H. , COHEN RONALD A. , MOSER DAVID J. , ZAWACKI TRICIA M. , GORDON NORMAN
Published: November 2002

The present study examined the serial position effect in 2
subgroups of individuals with vascular dementia (VaD). Nineteen
individuals with mild VaD and 17 individuals with moderate VaD
were administered the California Verbal Learning Test. Both
groups were impaired on a general memory measure, and the
moderately impaired group demonstrated significantly poorer
recall than the mildly impaired group on the first learning
trial and on total learning across trials. In addition, individuals
with mild dementia demonstrated an intact primacy and recency
effect, whereas individuals with moderate dementia demonstrated
neither primacy nor recency effects. The latter findings are
consistent with studies examining the serial position effect
in other dementia populations, and suggests that the absence
of primacy and recency effects in more advanced dementia may
occur regardless of dementia type. (JINS, 2002,
8, 584–587.)
The relationship of subcortical MRI hyperintensities and
brain volume to cognitive function in vascular dementia
Authors: COHEN RONALD A. , PAUL ROBERT H. , OTT BRIAN R. , MOSER DAVID J. , ZAWACKI TRICIA M. , STONE WILLIAM , GORDON NORMAN
Published: November 2002

The relationship between MRI findings (i.e., subcortical
hyperintensities; SH, whole brain volume) and the cognitive
dysfunction of vascular dementia (VaD) was examined. Participants
included 24 persons that met NINDS-AIREN criteria for VaD (MMSE
= 19.9 ± 4.2) and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological
assessment and MRI brain imaging. The volume of subcortical
hyperintensities (SH) was strongly associated with
executive–psychomotor performance, but not with performance
across other cognitive domains or global cognitive functional
level. Conversely, WBV was strongly associated with global
cognitive functioning and performance across most cognitive
domains (memory, language, visual integration), but not with
executive–psychomotor functioning. The failure of SH to
account for either the global dementia evident in these VaD
patients or impairments across most cognitive domains suggests
that deep subcortical white matter disease may only indirectly
contribute to the global cognitive dysfunction of VaD. That
WBV emerged as a stronger correlate of dementia raises further
questions regarding the cerebral mechanisms that contribute
to the development of VaD. (JINS, 2002, 8,
743–752.)
Noun and verb retrieval in healthy aging
Authors: MACKAY ANNA J. , CONNOR LISA TABOR , ALBERT MARTIN L. , OBLER LORAINE K.
Published: November 2002

This study tests the hypothesis that retrieval of object and
action names declines at different rates with age. Uncued and
cued performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) and the Action
Naming Test (ANT) were examined for 171 individuals from 50
to 88 years old. To control for differences in item difficulty,
a subset of items from each of the two tests was selected for
which uncued performance was equivalent in individuals in their
50s. With this matched set of items, differences in action and
object naming were tested in the 60s and 70+ age groups. Although
age-related decline in name retrieval was observed for both
the BNT and the ANT subsets, no differences between object and
action retrieval were found. Our results, thus, do not confirm
previous studies reporting that object names and action names
are differentially retrieved with aging. We discuss these new
findings in relation to evidence of dissociations in object
and action naming in brain-damaged individuals. (JINS,
2002, 8, 764–770.)
ERRATUM
Authors: BARR WILLIAM B. , McCREA MICHAEL
Published: November 2002

The following is a correction for an error that occurred in
the Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society, Vol. 7, No. 6. The error occurred
in the article titled “Sensitivity and specificity of
standardized neurocognitive testing immediately following sports
concussion,” pp. 693–702, by Barr and McCrea. On
page 696, under the subheading “Test-Retest Reliability
and Reliable Change Cut-off Scores”, the confidence interval
in the third sentence should read “−2.21, +2.59”,
rather than “±2.59”.
The interactive effects of age and length of abstinence
on the recovery of neuropsychological functioning in chronic
male alcoholics: A 2-year follow-up study
Authors: ROURKE SEAN B. , GRANT IGOR
Published: November 2002

To explore how age and length of abstinence affects
neuropsychological (NP) recovery in chronic male alcoholics,
we examined 97 recently detoxified alcoholics (RDA) who
were abstinent a mean of 29.7 (SD = 9.4) days at their
first evaluation, and again 2 years later, at which time 62 had
resumed drinking (RES) and 35 had maintained interim abstinence
(ITA). To separate practice effects from NP recovery, the NP
performance of the RES and ITA groups were compared to age- and
education-matched 29 long-term abstinent (LTA) alcoholics,
abstinent a mean of 4.3 (SD = 3.5) years at initial
testing, and 49 nonalcoholic controls (NAC). Sample mean
age and education was 48.7 (SD = 8.8) and 13.9
(SD = 2.7) years, respectively. The RDA and LTA groups
were also matched on years of alcoholic drinking [i.e., 17.2
(SD = 9.3) and 15.6 (SD = 8.7) years,
respectively]. Results of 14 NP tests were reduced to 6 NP
abilities (i.e., attention, learning, memory (recall),
abstraction–cognitive flexibility, complex perceptual–motor
integration and simple motor skills) that formed dependent variables
in 4 groups × 2 ages (median split at 51.4 years classified
participants as young and old) repeated measures MANOVA.
Results: (1) the ITA group improved on abstracting ability more than other
groups (p = .009); (2) the RES group deteriorated on motor tests
(p = .03); (3) all younger alcoholics exceeded practice
effects on abstracting ability, while older RES participants
deteriorated relative to ITA group (3-way interaction, p = .03);
and (4) the LTA group was comparable in NP performance to the NAC group.
In conclusion, the extent and features of NP recovery among alcoholics are
related to age, length of abstinence, and interim drinking.
(JINS, 1999, 5, 234–246.)
Strain Analysis of Si by FEM and Energy-Filtering CBED
Authors: Okuyama Tetsuya , Nakayama Masaru , Tomokiyo Yoshitsugu , Van der Biest Omer
Published: November 2002

Lattice strains around a platelet oxygen precipitate in Si
wafer is studied by energy filtering convergent-beam electron
diffraction (CBED) and calculations based on the finite element
method (FEM). Local lattice strains are measured from CBED patterns
obtained with a probe size less than 2 nm in a specimen thicker
than 450 nm. Strains measured are compressive along a direction
normal to a plate of the precipitate and tensile along a direction
parallel to the plate. Two-dimensional stress fields near the
precipitate are obtained with FEM computer analyses by fitting
the measured strains. It appears that shear stresses are
concentrated at the end of the precipitate edge and the maximum
shear stress at an interface between the precipitate and the
Si-matrix is 1.9 GPa. It is demonstrated that a combination
of the energy filtering CBED and FEM is very useful for the
study of local strains near interfaces in semiconductor devices,
in particular for the study of stress fields that are too steep
for application of the conventional CBED technique.
Evidence That Plant-Like Genes in Chlamydia Species Reflect an Ancestral Relationship between Chlamydiaceae, Cyanobacteria, and the Chloroplast
Authors: Brinkman Fiona S.L. , Blanchard Jeffrey L. , Cherkasov Artem , Av-Gay Yossef , Brunham Robert C. , Fernandez Rachel C. , Finlay B. Brett , Otto Sarah P. , Ouellette B.F. Francis , Keeling Patrick J. , Rose Ann M. , Hancock Robert E.W. , Jones Steven J.M.
Published: November 2002

An unusually high proportion of proteins encoded inChlamydia genomes are most similar to plant proteins, leading to proposals that a Chlamydia ancestor obtained genes from a plant or plant-like host organism by horizontal gene transfer. However, during an analysis of bacterial–eukaryotic protein similarities, we found that the vast majority of plant-like sequences in Chlamydia are most similar to plant proteins that are targeted to the chloroplast, an organelle derived from a cyanobacterium. We present further evidence suggesting that plant-like genes in Chlamydia, and other Chlamydiaceae, are likely a reflection of an unappreciated evolutionary relationship between the Chlamydiaceae and the cyanobacteria-chloroplast lineage. Further analyses of bacterial and eukaryotic genomes indicates the importance of evaluating organellar ancestry of eukaryotic proteins when identifying bacteria-eukaryote homologs or horizontal gene transfer and supports the proposal that Chlamydiaceae, which are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens of animals, are not likely exchanging DNA with their hosts.

[Supplementary Material is available online at http://www.genome.org and athttp://www.pathogenomics.bc.ca/BAE-watch.html.]
ASHRAE Standard 62: tobacco industry’s influence over national ventilation standards
Authors: Bialous S Aguinaga , Glantz S A
Published: November 2002

Objective:To describe the role of the tobacco industry in the development of ventilation standards for indoor air quality by influencing the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Methods:Review of tobacco industry documents available on the internet between January 2001 and March 2002. Search terms included “ASHRAE”, “ventilation”, “minutes”, “memo”, and the names of key players and organisations as identified in the initial searches. Analysis of ASHRAE and other relevant documents publicly available and the personal files of a Standard 62 committee member; interviews of a selected number of ASHRAE players; observation of an ASHRAE meeting.

Results:The tobacco industry has been involved in the development of ventilation standards for over 20 years. It has successfully influenced the standard and continues to attempt to change the standard from a smoke-free framework into an “accommodation” framework. The industry acts directly and through consultants and allies. The major health groups have been largely absent and the health interests have been poorly represented in standard development. While concentrated in the USA, ASHRAE standards are adopted worldwide.

Conclusion:The tobacco industry determined that allowing smoking in ventilation standards for indoor air quality was a high priority and dedicated significant human and financial resources to ensure that its interests were represented. The health groups, until recently, have largely ignored the policy implications for tobacco control of standard development. This situation is changing, but unless health groups maintain high visibility within ASHRAE, the tobacco industry may succeed in creating a standard that ignores the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Dissemination of the AHCPR clinical practice guideline in community health centres
Authors: DePue J D , Goldstein M G , Schilling A , Reiss P , Papandonatos G , Sciamanna C , Kazura A
Published: November 2002

Objective:To evaluate dissemination of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)Smoking cessation clinical practice guidelinein community health centres.

Design:Pre- and post-trial.

Setting:Fourteen community health centres in Rhode Island.

Subjects:Provider performance was assessed with 1798 and 1591 patient contacts, in pre-post cross sectional consecutive samples, respectively, and 891 contacts at one year follow up.

Interventions:Three, one hour on-site provider training sessions, on review of effective tobacco interventions, use of office systems, and tobacco counselling skill building.

Outcome measures:Chart documentation of four A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist, and Arrange follow up) at most recent primary care visit.

Results:While average performance rates increased for Ask and Advise (from 30% to 44%, and 19% to 26%, pre-post, respectively), significant increases were found only for some visit types, with further differences by patient sex. There were significant increases for Ask for all except obstetric/gynaecological (ob/gyn) visit types. Patients at yearly physicals and first visits were more likely to be asked at all time points, while males were more likely to be asked at acute visits than were females. There were no significant increases for Advise, Assist, and Arrange across time, although female patients showed a differential increase in Advise post-training. Advise was significantly more likely in yearly physicals and first visits, and less likely in ob/gyn visits, at all time points.

Conclusions:This guideline dissemination effort resulted in quite different provider counselling rates across patient sexes, and visit types. Guideline implementation may require more sustained efforts, with multiple strategies, which are reinforced at higher policy levels, to more fully integrate tobacco interventions into routine primary care practice with all patients who smoke.
Normal timing of oligodendrocyte development from genetically engineered,lineage-selectable mouse ES cells
Authors: Billon Nathalie , Jolicoeur Christine , Ying Qi Long , Smith Austin , Raff Martin
Published: November 2002

Oligodendrocytes are post-mitotic cells that myelinate axons in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). They develop from proliferating oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), which arise in germinal zones, migrate throughout the developing white matter and divide a limited number of times before they terminally differentiate. Thus far, it has been possible to purify OPCs only from the rat optic nerve, but the purified cells cannot be obtained in large enough numbers for conventional biochemical analyses. Moreover, the CNS stem cells that give rise to OPCs have not been purified, limiting one's ability to study the earliest stages of commitment to the oligodendrocyte lineage. Pluripotent, mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be propagated indefinitely in culture and induced to differentiate into various cell types. We have genetically engineered ES cells both to positively select neuroepithelial stem cells and to eliminate undifferentiated ES cells. We have then used combinations of known signal molecules to promote the development of OPCs from selected, ES-cell-derived, neuroepithelial cells. We show that the earliest stages of oligodendrocyte development follow an ordered sequence that is remarkably similar to that observed in vivo, suggesting that the ES-cell-derived neuroepithelial cells follow a normal developmental pathway to produce oligodendrocytes. These engineered ES cells thus provide a powerful system to study both the mechanisms that direct CNS stem cells down the oligodendrocyte pathway and those that influence subsequent oligodendrocyte differentiation. This strategy may also be useful for producing human cells for therapy and drug screening.
Functional involvement of VAMP/synaptobrevin-2 in cAMP-stimulated aquaporin 2 translocation in renal collecting duct cells
Authors: Gouraud Sabine , Laera Antonia , Calamita Giuseppe , Carmosino Monica , Procino Giuseppe , Rossetto Ornella , Mannucci Roberta , Rosenthal Walter , Svelto Maria , Valenti Giovanna
Published: November 2002

The involvement of soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins in the cAMP-induced exocytosis of aquaporin 2 (AQP2)-containing vesicles was investigated in AQP2-transfected renal CD8 cells. RT-PCR and western blot analysis confirmed the presence of the SNARE homologs VAMP/synaptobrevin-2, syntaxin-1, syntaxin-4 and SNAP-23 in CD8 cells. Tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) was efficient in cleaving synaptobrevin-like protein both in vitro and in intact CD8 cells incubated with the toxin. TeNT treatment in intact CD8 cells completely abolished cAMP-stimulated AQP2 targeting to the plasma membrane, as assessed by quantification of cell-surface immunoreactivity to an anti-AQP2 antibody raised against a peptide reproducing the extracellular AQP2 C-loop.

These results represent the first evidence for the functional involvement of VAMP-2 in cAMP-induced AQP2 exocytosis in renal cells.
The impact of horizontal resolution on the simulations of convective development over land
Authors: Petch J. C. , Brown A. R. , Gray M. E. B.
Published: November 2002

Cloud‐resolving models (CRMs) can be used to provide subgrid information for use in improving the representation of the development of convection in large‐scale models. However, for the CRM to be of value, it must itself give an accurate representation of the processes involved. In the work presented here we focus on the development of convection in simulations of both shallow and deep convection over land and consider sensitivity to the horizontal resolution in a CRM. In both shallow and deep cases it is found to be necessary to provide adequate resolution of the sub‐cloud layer in order to obtain a satisfactory representation of the transport of moisture from the sub‐cloud layer into the free troposphere. Typically this requires the horizontal grid spacings to be no coarser than around one quarter of the sub‐cloud layer depth. Poorer resolution with the present model leads to significant delays in the development of convection. While a more sophisticated subgrid scheme could reduce the sensitivity to resolution, the work here has shown the resolution required to explicitly resolve the key processes. Using this improved resolution may be one technique for reducing the discrepancies between some model results and observations reported in earlier studies. © Crown copyright, 2002. Royal Meteorological Society
Aircraft measurements and numerical simulations of mountain waves over the central Alps: A pre‐MAP test case
Authors: Doyle James D. , Volkert Hans , Dörnbrack Andreas , Hoinka Klaus P. , Hogan Timothy F.
Published: November 2002

In preparation for the field phase of the Mesoscale Alpine Project (MAP), in situ research‐aircraft observations from the DLR Falcon, and three‐dimensional high‐resolution numerical simulations are used to investigate mountain waves generated during a south föhn event on 10 October 1987. The model simulation qualitatively compares favourably with the aircraft observations in terms of identifying the horizontal and vertical locations of maximum gravity‐wave amplitude and rapid decay of wave amplitudes in the lower stratosphere. However, even with reasonably specified large‐scale conditions, the vertical velocity and temperature perturbations are not in quantitative agreement with the aircraft measurements. The results highlight some deficiencies that still exist in our predictive capability to simulate gravity‐wave generation and propagation explicitly over three‐dimensional topography for non‐steady conditions. The complexity of the gravity‐wave response points toward the necessity of a straightforward aircraft observing strategy that features linear flight segments oriented along the cross‐mountain wind direction, a rapid repetition of these segments in order to assess the significance of transients, and a combination of in situ measurements with remote‐sensing data (e.g. from lidar systems and dropsondes), an approach that was successfully applied during the MAP. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Trap‐Assisted Exciton Dissociation Through Continuous Trapping/Detrapping in Lithium Ions Inserted Crystalline Carbon Nitride
Authors: Zhang Guoqiang , Xu Yangsen , Zhang Peixin , He Chuanxin , Mi Hongwei
Published: January 2024

Here, lithium ions inserted crystalline carbon nitrides (LCCN) with different defect concentrations are prepared by elaborately regulating the mass transfer process in thermal polymerization. It is revealed that there is no conventional exciton–polarons‐induced exciton dissociation mechanism in LCCN due to the weak coupling between excitons and phonons. On the contrary, excitons continue to trap/detrap through defect‐induced traps, which weakens the Coulomb force between electron–hole pairs, thereby accelerating exciton dissociation. It is worth emphasizing that this is the first systematic research on the exciton dissociation characteristics and photocatalytic activity of LCCN of poly(heptazine imide) structure. A strategy of assisting exciton dissociation through defect‐induced traps to address the inherently high exciton binding energy and low exciton dissociation efficiency issues in polymer photocatalysts is proposed.
Synthetic Particulate Subunit Vaccines for the Prevention of Q Fever
Authors: Sam Gayathri , Plain Karren , Chen Shuxiong , Islam Aminul , Westman Mark E. , Marsh Ian , Stenos John , Graves Stephen R. , Rehm Bernd H. A.
Published: January 2024

Coxiella burnetti is an intracellular bacterium that causes Q fever, a disease of worldwide importance. Q‐VAX®, the approved human Q fever vaccine, is a whole cell vaccine associated with safety concerns. Here a safe particulate subunit vaccine candidate is developed that is ambient‐temperature stable and can be cost‐effectively manufactured. Endotoxin‐free Escherichia coli is bioengineered to efficiently self‐assemble biopolymer particles (BPs) that are densely coated with either strings of 18 T‐cell epitopes (COX‐BP) or two full‐length immunodominant antigens (YbgF‐BP‐Com1) all derived from C. burnetii. BP vaccine candidates are ambient‐temperature stable. Safety and immunogenicity are confirmed in mice and guinea pig (GP) models. YbgF‐BP‐Com1 elicits specific and strong humoral immune responses in GPs with IgG titers that are at least 1 000 times higher than those induced by Q‐VAX®. BP vaccine candidates are not reactogenic. After challenge with C. burnetii, YbgF‐BP‐Com1 vaccine leads to reduced fever responses and pathogen burden in the liver and the induction of proinflammatory cytokines IL‐12 and IFN‐γ inducible protein (IP‐10) when compared to negative control groups. These data suggest that YbgF‐BP‐Com1 induces functional immune responses reducing infection by C. burnetii. Collectively, these findings illustrate the potential of BPs as effective antigen carrier for Q fever vaccine development.
The role of electrical current mode in calcium carbonate deposition on conductive carbon nanofiber–epoxy coating
Authors: Edvardsen Laura , Grandcolas Mathieu , Lædre Sigrid , Yang Juan , Lange Torstein , Bjørge Ruben , Gaweł Kamila
Published: January 2024

Calcium carbonate is one of the most common scaling minerals. In this paper we have used different electrical current modes (direct current [DC], pulsed DC, and alternating current [AC]) to control the amount, morphology, and distribution of calcium carbonate deposit on electroconductive epoxy/carbon nanofiber (CNF) coating. The effect of different current modes on surface scaling was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown that both AC and DC anodic polarization limited scale deposition on epoxy/CNF coated surfaces, although the mechanisms of scale inhibition during AC and DC polarization were different. DC polarization of the coating at +2 V resulted in the smallest scale buildup without leading to coating degradation, while DC polarization at potentials as high as +5 V caused the coating to degrade. Interestingly, application of pulsed DC with high pulse frequency (50 Hz) inhibited the degradation. The type of current applied affected also the morphology of the precipitate at the cathode. The results presented in this work show, for the first time, how different modes of electrical current applied to electroconductive composite coatings can be used to control the morphology and distribution of calcium carbonate scale, and how the organic coating degradation at high polarization potentials can be avoided.
Real‐world analysis of the relationships between smoking, lung cancer stigma, and emotional functioning
Authors: Chansky Kari , Rigney Maureen , King Jennifer C.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

People diagnosed with lung cancer experience high rates of distress, which can be compounded by the stigma of the disease. This study assessed a real‐world population to understand patient‐reported emotional functioning, types of stigma experienced, and relationship with smoking history.

Methods

Questionnaires using validated survey tools assessing demographics, smoking history, stigma, and quality of life (EORTC QLQ‐C30 Emotional Functioning Scale) were analyzed from 539 global participants in the Lung Cancer Registry between November 2019 and July 2022. The associations between smoking history and self‐reported internalized and perceived stigma and constrained disclosure of lung cancer diagnosis, as well as the potential impact of stigma on emotional functioning, were examined using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Among the broad geographic mix of study participants, all types of lung cancer stigma were associated with decreased emotional functioning due to a combination of factors including depression, anxiety, stress, and irritability. Participants who reported a history of current or former smoking experienced higher levels of internalized stigma and perceived stigma. Constrained disclosure about a diagnosis was common, associated with decreased emotional functioning, and not related to a history of smoking. Smoking status itself was not associated with reduced emotional functioning, implicating the role of stigma in distress.

Conclusions

In this study, all types of lung cancer stigma were associated with clinically important decreases in emotional functioning. This impact was not dependent on smoking history. Internalized and perceived stigma were associated with the presence of a smoking history. These findings have implications for proper psychosocial care of people diagnosed with lung cancer.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting immune‐related pneumonitis after sintilimab treatment
Authors: Hong Baohui , Chen Rong , Zheng Caiyun , Liu Maobai , Yang Jing
Published: January 2024

Background

Immune‐related pneumonitis is a rare and potentially fatal adverse event associated with sintilimab. We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the risk of immune‐related pneumonitis in patients treated with sintilimab.

Methods

The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to determine risk factors. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish a prediction model. Its clinical validity was evaluated using calibration, discrimination, decision, and clinical impact curves. Internal validation was performed against the validation set and complete dataset.

Results

The study included 632 patients; 59 were diagnosed with immune‐related pneumonitis. LASSO regression analysis identified that the risk factors for immune‐related pneumonitis were pulmonary metastases (odds ratio [OR], 4.015; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.725–9.340) and metastases at >3 sites (OR, 2.687; 95% CI: 1.151–6.269). The use of combined antibiotics (OR, 0.247; 95% CI: 0.083–0.738) and proton pump inhibitors (OR, 0.420; 95% CI: 0.211–0.837) were protective factors. The decision and clinical impact curves showed that the nomogram had clinical value for patients treated with sintilimab.

Conclusions

We have developed and validated a practical nomogram model of sintilimab‐associated immune‐related pneumonitis, which provides clinical value for determining the risk of immune‐related pneumonitis and facilitating the safe administration of sintilimab therapy.
Enzyme Mimics Based on Guanidinocalix[4]arene/ Nanodiamond Hybrid Systems with Phosphodiesterase Activity
Authors: Vezzoni Carlo Alberto , Casnati Alessandro , Orlanducci Silvia , Sansone Francesco , Salvio Riccardo
Published: January 2024

Diamond nanoparticles are an extremely promising class of carbon‐based nanomaterials. Because of their versatility, they have an interest in a large variety of applications, however, their use in the fabrication of enzyme mimics was not previously investigated. In this study, we realized hybrid systems based on guanidinium derivatives and diamond nanoparticles by simple adsorption of the organic material on their surface. The guanidinium derivatives chosen for this study are calix[4]arenes, blocked in the cone conformation via functionalization at the lower rim with alkyl chains, and decorated with guanidinium or arginine units at the upper rim. The corresponding monofunctional counterparts were also investigated as model compounds. These materials were characterized with different experimental techniques, i. e. thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, ζ‐potential measurements and IR/Raman spectroscopy. Their catalytic properties in the cleavage of phosphodiesters were investigated by an in‐depth kinetic analysis. The whole experimental picture points to conclude that these compounds are stably adsorbed onto the nanodiamonds surface and are active in the transesterification reaction of the RNA model compound 2‐hydroxypropyl p‐nitrophenyl phosphate in water, with a notable advantage over their catalytic performances at the same concentration in solution.
Simulation of collision behaviour between droplet and solid surface in liquid phase environment
Authors: Jin Hang , Li Jun , Jia Pengyu , Hu Yanhua , Zhan Shuifen
Published: January 2024

Processes involving dispersed immiscible fluids occur across the traditional onshore and offshore crude oil development phases, including oil exploitation and production, gathering and transportation, and station and field processing. The stabilities of such processes are deeply influenced by the collision and film drainage between separated phase interfaces. Due to factors such as gravity as well as buoyancy and resistance, droplets usually collide with the wall at a relatively high speed and experience one or several rebounds before gradually stabilizing and staying on the surface. Though work related to this aspect has raised significant attention, further research on the force‐deformation behaviour between microsized (r ≈50 μm) droplets and solid surface under the influence of the above factors is still lacking and strongly demanded. In this paper, under the comprehensive influence of flow driving, an emulsified water droplet colliding with a solid surface in silicon oil is modelled. The dynamic behaviour of the droplet was analyzed by coupling the Stokes–Reynolds drainage equation, the generalized Young–Laplace equation, and the force situation of the deformable droplet. Furthermore, the effects of interfacial tension, collision velocity, and viscosity of continuous phase on the collision characteristics of droplet were analyzed, and it was found that these factors could significantly change the collision characteristics of droplet.
Deoxygenation of Oxiranes by λ3σ3‐Phosphorus Reagents: A Computational, Mechanistic, and Stereochemical Study
Authors: Ferao Arturo Espinosa
Published: January 2024

Invited for this month's cover is Prof. Arturo Espinosa Ferao at the University of Murcia, Spain. The cover picture shows two different ways of reacting a phosphane (R3P) with the oxirane (epoxide) ring. They arise from phosphorus attacking either the carbon or oxygen ring atoms and promoting carbene or oxygen transfer reactions with eliminations of H2C=O or CH2=CH2, respectively. More information can be found in the Research Article by Arturo Espinosa Ferao .