bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The growth in newspaper coverage of tobacco control in China, 2000-2010
Authors: Gao Junling , Chapman Simon , Sun Shaojing , Fu Hua , Zheng Pinpin 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
Media coverage of tobacco-related issues can potentially shape individual beliefs, attitudes and behaviors about tobacco use. This study aims to describe news coverage of tobacco control related issues in Chinese newspapers from 2000 to 2010.

Methods
All 1149 articles related to tobacco control were extracted from the Database of Chinese Important Newspapers and content analyzed for the period Jan 1, 2000 to Dec 31, 2010. The changing pattern of tobacco control topic, article type, viewpoint, and article origin, and their relationship were analysed.

Results
News coverage of tobacco control related issues increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 2000 to 2010, with news coverage being relatively intensive in May and June (p < 0.01), around World No Tobacco Day. 24.9% (n = 286) of all articles focused on secondhand smoke, 25.3% (n = 291) warned about the dangers of active smoking, and 10.0% (n = 115) focused on prevention and cessation programs and campaigns. Tobacco control topics varied significantly between national vs city/regional newspapers (χ
2 = 24.09, p = 0.002) and article types (χ
2 = 193.35, p < 0.001). Articles in national newspapers had more coverage of the dangers of tobacco and on enforcing bans on tobacco-advertising. News stories centered around monitoring tobacco use and smoke free activity, while editorials focused on enforcing bans on tobacco-advertising, youth access and programs and campaigns. Letters to editors focused on the dangers of smoking, raising tax, and smoking cessation. More articles (50.4%) took an anti-tobacco position (compared with 10.5% which were pro-smoking), with the amount of negative coverage growing significantly across the decade. National articles tended to lean toward anti-tobacco, however, local articles tended mix of pro-tobacco and neutral/balance positions. Editorials seemed to be more anti-tobacco oriented, but letters to the editor tended to show a mix of anti-tobacco and pro-tobacco positions.

Conclusion
Chinese newspapers are giving increasing attention to tobacco control, but coverage remains lower than in the USA and Australia. Health workers need to give higher priority to efforts to increase news coverage beyond the present concentration around World No Tobacco Day and to develop strategies for making tobacco control issues more newsworthy to both national and local news outlets.
Antimicrobial activity of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from traditional medicinal plant, Costus speciosus (Koen ex.Retz.) Sm
Authors: Duraipandiyan Veeramuthu , Abdullah Al-Harbi Naif , Ignacimuthu Savarimuthu , Muthukumar Chinnasamy 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background

Costus speciosus (Koen ex.Retz.) Sm (Costaceae) is an Indian ornamental plant which has long been used medicinally in traditional systems of medicine. The plant has been found to possess diverse pharmacological activities. Rhizomes are used to treat pneumonia, rheumatism, dropsy, urinary diseases, jaundice, skin diseases and leaves are usedto treat mental disorders.

Method
Antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested using Disc diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Column chromatography was used to isolate compounds from hexane extract. X-ray crystallography technique and GC-MS analysis were used to identify the compounds

Results
Antibacterial and antifungal activities were observed in hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. Hexane extract of C.speciosus showed good activity against tested fungi also. Two sesquiterpenoid compounds were isolated (costunolide and eremanthin) from the hexane extract. Both the compounds did not inhibit the growth of tested bacteria. But, both the compounds inhibited the tested fungi. The compound costunolide showed significant antifungal activity. The MIC values of costunolide were; 62.5 μg/ml against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 62. μg/ml against T. simii, 31.25 μg/ml against T. rubrum 296, 62.5 μg/ml against T. rubrum 57, 125 μg/ml against Epidermophyton floccosum, 250 μg/ml against Scopulariopsis sp, 250 μg/ml against Aspergillus niger, 125 μg/ml against Curvulari lunata, 250 μg/ml against Magnaporthe grisea.

Conclusion
Hexane extract showed promising antibacterial and antifungal activity. The isolated compound costunolide showed good antifungal activity.
Nanoscale measurement of the power spectral density of surface roughness: how to solve a difficult experimental challenge
Authors: González Martínez Juan Francisco , Nieto-Carvajal Inés , Abad José , Colchero Jaime 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
In this study, we show that the correct determination of surface morphology using scanning force microscopy (SFM) imaging and power spectral density (PSD) analysis of the surface roughness is an extremely demanding task that is easily affected by experimental parameters such as scan speed and feedback parameters. We present examples were the measured topography data is significantly influenced by the feedback response of the SFM system and the PSD curves calculated from this experimental data do not correspond to that of the true topography. Instead, either features are "lost" due to low pass filtering or features are "created" due to oscillation of the feedback loop. In order to overcome these serious problems we show that the interaction signal (error signal) can be used not only to quantitatively control but also to significantly improve the quality of the topography raw data used for the PSD analysis. In particular, the calibrated error signal image can be used in combination with the topography image in order to obtain a correct representation of surface morphology ("true" topographic image). From this "true" topographic image a faithful determination of the PSD of surface morphology is possible. The corresponding PSD curve is not affected by the fine-tuning of feedback parameters, and allows for much faster image acquisition speeds without loss of information in the PSD curve.
A review of communication-oriented optical wireless systems
Authors: Borah Deva K , Boucouvalas Anthony C , Davis Christopher C , Hranilovic Steve , Yiannopoulos Konstantinos 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
This article presents an overview of optical wireless (OW) communication systems that operate both in the short- (personal and indoor systems) and the long-range (outdoor and hybrid) regimes. Each of these areas is discussed in terms of (a) key requirements, (b) their application framework, (c) major impairments and applicable mitigation techniques, and (d) current and/or future trends. Personal communication systems are discussed within the context of point-to-point ultra-high speed data transfer. The most relevant application framework and related standards are presented, including the next generation Giga-IR standard that extends personal communication speeds to over 1 Gb/s. As far as indoor systems are concerned, emphasis is given on modeling the dispersive nature of indoor OW channels, on the limitations that dispersion imposes on user mobility and dispersion mitigation techniques. Visible light communication systems, which provide both illumination and communication over visible or hybrid visible/infrared LEDs, are presented as the most important representative of future indoor OW systems. The discussion on outdoor systems focuses on the impact of atmospheric effects on the optical channel and associated mitigation techniques that extend the realizable link lengths and transfer rates. Currently, outdoor OW is commercially available at 10 Gb/s Ethernet speeds for Metro networks and Local-Area-Network interconnections and speeds are expected to increase as faster and more reliable optical components become available. This article concludes with hybrid optical wireless/radio-frequency (OW/RF) systems that employ an additional RF link to improve the overall system reliability. Emphasis is given on cooperation techniques between the reliable RF subsystem and the broadband OW system.
Regulator of calcineurin 1 (Rcan1) has a protective role in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Sobrado Mónica , Ramirez Belén G , Neria Fernando , Lizasoain Ignacio , Arbones Maria Lourdes , Minami Takashi , Redondo Juan Miguel , Moro María Ángeles , Cano Eva 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundAn increase in intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]iis one of the first events to take place after brain ischemia. A key [Ca2+]i-regulated signaling molecule is the phosphatase calcineurin (CN), which plays important roles in the modulation of inflammatory cascades. Here, we have analyzed the role of endogenous regulator of CN 1 (Rcan1) in response to experimental ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion.MethodsAnimals were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia with reperfusion. To assess the role of Rcan1 after stroke, we measured infarct volume after 48 h of reperfusion inRcan1knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice.In vitrostudies were performed in astrocyte-enriched cortical primary cultures subjected to 3% oxygen (hypoxia) and glucose deprivation (HGD). Adenoviral vectors were used to analyze the effect of overexpression of Rcan1-4 protein. Protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting and expression of mRNA by quantitative real-time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (real time qRT-PCR).ResultsBrain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuryin vivoincreased mRNA and protein expression of the calcium-inducible Rcan1 isoform (Rcan1-4). I/R-inducible expression of Rcan1 protein occurred mainly in astroglial cells, and in anin vitromodel of ischemia, HGD treatment of primary murine astrocyte cultures induced Rcan1-4 mRNA and protein expression. Exogenous Rcan1-4 overexpression inhibited production of the inflammatory marker cyclo-oxygenase 2. Mice lacking Rcan1 had higher expression of inflammation associated genes, resulting in larger infarct volumes.ConclusionsOur results support a protective role for Rcan1 during the inflammatory response to stroke, and underline the importance of the glial compartment in the inflammatory reaction that takes place after ischemia. Improved understanding of non-neuronal mechanisms in ischemic injury promises novel approaches to the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
An acoustic communication based AQUA-GLOMO simulator for underwater networks
Authors: Dhurandher Sanjay K , Obaidat Mohammad S , Gupta Megha 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
In an underwater environment there can be various applications relating to the naval monitoring of an area and information gathering through the sensor nodes or underwater vehicles. The information gathered/monitored/detected in this manner can be sent to a group of sensors, or any sensor or vehicle may initiate a query asking for the information of its interest from the subset of the sensors. This information transfer or query dissemination can involve either broadcasting, multicasting or geocasting technique, depending on whether the query is sent to all the nodes, or a subset of nodes based on their locations. After developing any technique, it is required to validate it for its purpose. In underwater scenarios, testing any technique is not only costly but difficult too in terms of full deployment. Hence the next option is to test any modeled technique on a Simulator. A number of simulation tools have already been developed for the wired/wireless radio networks. However, these tools cannot be used for underwater environment with acoustic communication medium, as there is wide range of difference between the radio and the acoustic communications. Therefore, the acoustic communication based AQUA-GLOMO simulator has been implemented with GLOMOSIM as the base simulator. At the network layer, the RMTG model has also been included in this simulator that is an underwater sensor network geocasting model. The results obtained on this simulator have shown an evolving efficient simulator for underwater acoustic communications.
Intra-arrest hypothermia during cardiac arrest: a systematic review
Authors: Scolletta Sabino , Taccone Fabio Silvio , Nordberg Per , Donadello Katia , Vincent Jean-Louis , Castren Maaret 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Therapeutic hypothermia is largely used to protect the brain following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest (CA), but it is unclear whether we should start therapeutic hypothermia earlier, that is, before ROSC.

Methods
We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and Ovid/Medline databases using "arrest" OR "cardiac arrest" OR "heart arrest" AND "hypothermia" OR "therapeutic hypothermia" OR "cooling" as keywords. Only studies using intra-arrest therapeutic hypothermia (IATH) were selected for this review. Three authors independently assessed the validity of included studies and extracted data regarding characteristics of the studied cohort (animal or human) and the main outcomes related to the use of IATH: Mortality, neurological status and cardiac function (particularly, rate of ROSC).

Results
A total of 23 animal studies (level of evidence (LOE) 5) and five human studies, including one randomized controlled trial (LOE 1), one retrospective and one prospective controlled study (LOE 3), and two prospective studies without a control group (LOE 4), were identified. IATH improved survival and neurological outcomes when compared to normothermia and/or hypothermia after ROSC. IATH was also associated with improved ROSC rates and with improved cardiac function, including better left ventricular function, and reduced myocardial infarct size, when compared to normothermia.

Conclusions
IATH improves survival and neurological outcome when compared to normothermia and/or conventional hypothermia in experimental models of CA. Clinical data on the efficacy of IATH remain limited.
Dgp71WD is required for the assembly of the acentrosomal Meiosis I spindle, and is not a general targeting factor for the γ-TuRC
Authors: Reschen Richard F. , Colombie Nathalie , Wheatley Lucy , Dobbelaere Jeroen , St Johnston Daniel , Ohkura Hiro , Raff Jordan W. 
Published: March 2012

Summary
Dgp71WD/Nedd1 proteins are essential for mitotic spindle formation. In human cells, Nedd1 targets γ-tubulin to both centrosomes and spindles, but in other organisms the function of Dgp71WD/Nedd1 is less clear. In Drosophila cells, Dgp71WD plays a major part in targeting γ-tubulin to spindles, but not centrosomes, while in Xenopus egg extracts, Nedd1 acts as a more general microtubule (MT) organiser that can function independently of γ-tubulin. The interpretation of these studies, however, is complicated by the fact that some residual Dgp71WD/Nedd1 is likely present in the cells/extracts analysed. Here we generate a Dgp71WD null mutant lacking all but the last 12 nucleotides of coding sequence. The complete loss of Dgp71WD has no quantifiable effect on γ-tubulin or Centrosomin recruitment to the centrosome in larval brain cells. The recruitment of γ-tubulin to spindle MTs, however, is severely impaired, and spindle MT density is reduced in a manner that is indistinguishable from cells lacking Augmin or γ-TuRC function. In contrast, the absence of Dgp71WD leads to defects in the assembly of the acentrosomal female Meiosis I spindle that are more severe than those seen in Augmin or γ-TuRC mutants, indicating that Dgp71WD has additional functions that are independent of these complexes in oocytes. Moreover, the localisation of bicoid RNA during oogenesis, which requires γ-TuRC function, is unperturbed in Dgp71WD120 mutants. Thus, Dgp71WD is not simply a general cofactor required for γ-TuRC and/or Augmin targeting, and it appears to have a crucial role independent of these complexes in the acentrosomal Meiosis I spindle.
CFTR is restricted to a small population of high expresser cells that provide a forskolin-sensitive transepithelial Cl– conductance in the proximal colon of the possum,Trichosurus vulpecula
Authors: Fan Shujun , Harfoot Natalie , Bartolo Ray C. , Butt A. Grant 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYThe cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is central to anion secretion in both the possum and eutherian small intestine. Here, we investigated its role in the possum proximal colon, which has novel transport properties compared with the eutherian proximal colon. Despite considerable CFTR expression, high doses of the CFTR activator forskolin (EC50≈10 μmol l–1) were required for a modest, CFTR-dependent increase in short-circuit current (Isc) in the proximal colon. Presumably, this is because CFTR is restricted to the apical membrane of a small population of CFTR high expresser (CHE) cells in the surface and upper crypt epithelium. Furthermore, although the forskolin-stimulated Isc was dependent on serosal Na+, Cl– and HCO3–, consistent with anion secretion, inhibition of the basolateral Na–K–2Cl– (NKCC1) or Na–HCO3 (pNBCe1) cotransporters did not prevent it. Therefore, although NKCC1 and pNBCe1 are expressed in the colonic epithelium they do not appear to be expressed in CHE cells. At low doses (IC50≈1 μmol l–1), forskolin also decreased the transepithelial conductance (GT) of the colon through inhibition of a 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-stilbenedisulphonic acid-sensitive anion conductance in the basolateral membrane of the CHE cells. This conductance is arranged in series with CFTR in the CHE cells and, therefore, the CHE cells provide a transepithelial Cl– conductance for passive Cl– absorption across the epithelium. Inhibition of the basolateral Cl– conductance of the CHE cells by forskolin will inhibit Na+ absorption by restricting the movement of its counter-ion Cl–, assisting in the conversion of the tissue from an absorptive to a secretory state.
Corticosterone promotes emergence of fictive air breathing in Xenopus laevis Daudin tadpole brainstems
Authors: Fournier Stéphanie , Dubé Pierre-Luc , Kinkead Richard 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARY
The emergence of air breathing during amphibian metamorphosis requires significant changes to the brainstem circuits that generate and regulate breathing. However, the mechanisms controlling this developmental process are unknown. Because corticosterone plays an important role in the neuroendocrine regulation of amphibian metamorphosis, we tested the hypothesis that corticosterone augments fictive air breathing frequency in Xenopus laevis. To do so, we compared the fictive air breathing frequency produced by in vitro brainstem preparations from pre-metamorphic tadpoles and adult frogs before and after 1 h application of corticosterone (100 nmol l–1). Fictive breathing measurements related to gill and lung ventilation were recorded extracellularly from cranial nerve rootlets V and X. Corticosterone application had no immediate effect on respiratory-related motor output produced by brainstems from either developmental stage. One hour after corticosterone wash out, fictive lung ventilation frequency was increased whereas gill burst frequency was decreased. This effect was stage specific as it was significant only in preparations from tadpoles. GABA application (0.001–0.5 mmol l–1) augmented fictive air breathing in tadpole preparations. However, this effect of GABA was no longer observed following corticosterone treatment. An increase in circulating corticosterone is one of the endocrine processes that orchestrate central nervous system remodelling during metamorphosis. The age-specific effects of corticosterone application indicate that this hormone can act as an important regulator of respiratory control development in Xenopus tadpoles. Concurrent changes in GABAergic neurotransmission probably contribute to this maturation process, leading to the emergence of air breathing in this species.
Proteomic responses of blue mussel (Mytilus) congeners to temperature acclimation
Authors: Fields Peter A. , Zuzow Marcus J. , Tomanek Lars 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYThe ability to acclimate to variable environmental conditions affects the biogeographic range of species, their success at colonizing new habitats, and their likelihood of surviving rapid anthropogenic climate change. Here we compared responses to temperature acclimation (4 weeks at 7, 13 and 19°C) in gill tissue of the warm-adapted intertidal blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, an invasive species in the northeastern Pacific, and the cold-adapted M. trossulus, the native congener in the region, to better understand the physiological differences underlying the ongoing competition. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry, we showed that warm acclimation caused changes in cytoskeletal composition and proteins of energy metabolism in both species, consistent with increasing rates of filtration and respiration due to increased ciliary activity. During cold acclimation, changes in cytoskeletal proteins were accompanied by increasing abundances of oxidative stress proteins and molecular chaperones, possibly because of the increased production of aldehydes as indicated by the upregulation of aldehyde dehydrogenase. The cold-adapted M. trossulus showed increased abundances of molecular chaperones at 19°C, but M. galloprovincialis did not, suggesting that the two species differ in their long-term upper thermal limits. In contrast, the warm-adapted M. galloprovincialis showed a stronger response to cold acclimation than M. trossulus, including changes in abundance in more proteins and differing protein expression profiles between 7 and 13°C, a pattern absent in M. trossulus. In general, increasing levels of oxidative stress proteins inversely correlate with modifications in Krebs cycle and electron transport chain proteins, indicating a trade-off between oxidative stress resistance and energy production. Overall, our results help explain why M. galloprovincialis has replaced M. trossulus in southern California over the last century, but also suggest that M. trossulus may maintain a competitive advantage at colder temperatures. Anthropogenic global warming may reinforce the advantage M. galloprovincialis has over M. trossulus in the warmer parts of the latter’s historical range.