bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Structure of Smoking Cessation Care in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Sherman Scott E. , Yano Elizabeth M. , York Laura S. , Lanto Andy B. , Chernof Bruce A. , Mittman Brian S. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. National smoking cessation practice guidelines offer recommendations regarding the processes and structure of care. Facilities routinely measure the processes of care but not the structure of care. This pilot study assessed the structure of smoking cessation care at Veterans Health Administration facilities. Methods. Key informants at 18 sites completed a brief checklist survey adapted from national smoking cessation guidelines. Responses were compared with detailed site surveys. Results. Guideline adherence was seen in identifying smokers and treating inpatient smokers. Areas of low adherence include offering incentives and defining staff responsibilities. The checklist survey showed poor correspondence with the detailed survey, with low agreement on systematic screening (kappa = .21) and higher agreement on primary care prescribing authority (kappa = .53). Discussion. This pilot survey provides a potential rapid method for assessing adherence to systems recommendations from the national smoking cessation guidelines. The relatively low agreement with a more detailed survey suggests that the two surveys may have been measuring different aspects of smoking cessation care.
Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Di Noia Jennifer , Schinke Steven P. , Prochaska James O. , Contento Isobel R. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. To examine the application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. Methods. Scales for measuring decisional balance, situational self-efficacy, and processes of change for fruit and vegetable consumption were developed and pretested with 57 economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. The scales and measures for assessing stages of change, demographic variables, and fruit and vegetable consumption were administered to a separate sample of 262 participants. t-tests for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to examine differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption across stages of change. Results. Two-factor solutions for decisional balance and processes of change and a three-factor solution for situational self-efficacy provided the best fit to the data. Alpha coefficients of reliability for the scales ranged from .77 (experiential change processes) to .91 (pros). Participants in action-maintenance stages evidenced higher pros, self-efficacy, and fruit and vegetable consumption and significantly lower cons than did participants in precontemplation and contemplation-preparation stages. Also, participants in action-maintenance stages used processes of change more frequently than did those in precontemplation-contemplation-preparation stages. The use of experiential and behavioral processes within these stages did not differ significantly, as posited. Discussion. Observed differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption by stage of change in this sample of economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents were consistent with theory and previous applications of the model to fruit and vegetable consumption in adults. With replication studies, the TTM may be appropriate for designing interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among this population.
Sun Care Advertising in Popular U.S. Magazines
Authors: Lee Eric T. , O'Riordan David , Swetter Susan M. , Demierre Marie-France , Brooks Katie , Geller Alan C. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. We assessed the placement of magazine advertising for sun care products to lay the groundwork for broader promotion to more diverse and high-risk demographic groups. Methods. We reviewed 579 issues of 24 magazines published between the months of May and September from 1997 to 2002. We conducted a cover-to-cover review of top-selling magazines for men, women, teens, parents, travelers, and outdoor recreation users. We determined if there were any advertisements for the following sun care products: sun tanning lotions containing sun protection factor (SPF), sunless tanners without SPF, sunscreen with SPF, moisturizers with SPF, or cosmetics with SPF (which include sunless tanners containing SPF). Results. Sun care products, including sunscreens, were advertised primarily in women's magazines (77%). Nearly two thirds of all sun care products advertised were either for cosmetics (38%) or moisturizers (26%) containing SPF, followed by ads for sunscreen sold as a stand-alone product (19%). None of the ads contained all of the recommendations for safe use of sunscreen: a minimum SPF of 15, both UVA and UVB protection, reapplication instructions, and an adequate application coverage of 2 milligrams per square centimeter. Discussion. Magazine advertising to men, travelers, outdoor recreation users, and parents/ families (totaling a circulation of 41 million readers) during this six-year period were far fewer than those for women, despite high rates of excessive sun exposure in these groups.
The Association of Two Productivity Measures with Health Risks and Medical Conditions in an Australian Employee Population
Authors: Musich Shirley , Hook Dan , Baaner Stephanie , Edington Dee W. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. To investigate the impact of health on job performance using two measures of productivity loss: (1) a self-reported measure of health-related presenteeism and (2) an objective measure of absenteeism. Design. A cross-sectional survey using a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) to evaluate self-reported presenteeism and the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions. Setting and Subjects. Employees (n = 224) of a private insurance provider in Australia. Measures. A Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported presenteeism on different aspects of job demands and to assess the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions. Illness absent hours were obtained from company administrative records. Results. Increased presenteeism was significantly associated with high stress, life dissatisfaction, and back pain, while increased illness absenteeism was significantly associated with overweight, poor perception of health, and diabetes. Excess presenteeism associated with excess health risks (productivity loss among those with medium- or high-risk status compared to those with low-risk status) was independently calculated at 19.0% for presenteeism and 12.8% for illness absenteeism. Conclusions. This study demonstrates an association between health metrics and self-reported work impairment (presenteeism) and measured absenteeism. The study provides a first indication of the potential benefits of health promotion programming to Australian employees in improving health and to the corporation in minimizing health-related productivity loss.
Gender Differences in Adolescent Smoking: Mediator and Moderator Effects of Self-Generated Expected Smoking Outcomes
Authors: Vidrine Jennifer Irvin , Anderson Cheryl B. , Pollak Kathryn I. , Wetter David W. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. To examine relations among gender, self-generated smoking-outcome expectancies, and smoking in adolescents. Methods. Students from one all-girls' (n = 350; 53%) and one all-boys' (n = 315; 47%) Catholic high school participated. Analyses included binary and ordinal logistic regression. Results. For boys, smoking behavior was associated with buzz (odds radio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31–2.83, p < .001), pleasure (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.01–2.16, p = .044), taste/smell (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.12–4.19, p = .022), stimulation (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.32–10.28, p = .013), and exercise/sport impairment (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.68–4.81, p < .001). Among girls, weight control (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13–0.36, p < .001), negative aesthetics (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.64, p < .001), addiction (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28–0.55, p < .001), and negative mood (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20–0.97, p = .041) predicted smoking. Buzz (β = 2.88, p = .004) mediated the gender-smoking relationship. Moderators included negative social (β = −0.45, p = .021) and enhance self-esteem (β = −1.07, p = .024). Conclusion. Interventions might benefit from tailoring on gender differences in smoking-outcome expectancies.
What Constitutes an Obesogenic Environment in Rural Communities?
Authors: Boehmer Tegan K. , Lovegreen Sarah L. , Haire-Joshu Debra , Brownson Ross C. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. To identify perceived indicators of the physical environment associated with obesity in rural communities. Design. Cross-sectional telephone survey. Setting. Thirteen communities in rural Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas, 2003. Subjects. A total of 2510 adults completed the survey and 2210 respondents were included in the analysis (74% female, 93% white, and 27% obese). Measures. The 106-item survey measured perceptions of the neighborhood environment (recreational facilities, land use, transportation/safety, aesthetics, and food environment) and health-related behaviors. The primary outcome was obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) vs. normal weight (BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg/m2). Analysis. Logistic regression was used to control for age, gender, and education. Results. Several indicators of the perceived neighborhood environment were associated with being obese (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]), including furthest distance to the nearest recreational facility (1.8 [1.3–2.4]), unpleasant community for physical activity (1.8 [1.3–2.6]), feeling unsafe from crime (2.1 [1.5–2.9]) or traffic (1.7 [1.2–2.3]), and few nonresidential destinations (1.4 [1.0–1.9]). Distance to recreational facilities and crime safety remained significant in the multivariate model, along with dietary-fat intake, sedentary behavior, and moderate/vigorous physical activity. Conclusion. This study adds to a growing evidence base of environmental correlates of obesity and makes a unique contribution regarding rural communities. If causality is established, environmental interventions that target obesogenic neighborhood features may reduce the prevalence of obesity on a population level.
Development and Validation of an Instrument Measuring Individual Empowerment in Relation to Personal Health Care: The Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire (HCEQ)
Authors: Gagnon Maxime , Hébert Réjean , Dubé Micheline , Dubois Marie-France 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that measures the degree of individual empowerment in relation to personal health care and services. Design. The questionnaire was developed by identifying individual empowerment indicators from the literature, generating corresponding items, and pretesting the tool with older persons. Setting. The Health Care Empowerment Questionnaire (HCEQ) was developed and validated with subjects participating in the Program of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy (PRISMA) in the Sherbrooke and Quebec City area. Subjects. Eight hundred seventy-three subjects agreed to participate, for a response rate of 56.28%. The mean ages of men and women were 81.1 and 82.4 years, respectively. Analysis. Factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory) determined the validity of the questionnaire, and the reliability was assessed using measures of internal consistency and temporal stability (test-retest). Results. The multidimensional nature of the concept of individual empowerment was confirmed by three factors that explain more than 68% of the total variance. The Cronhbach's alpha coefficient of internal consistency was .83 and the intraclass correlation coefficients (test-retest) was .70 (95% CI: .48–.83). Conclusion. In light of these findings, the characteristics and multidimensional perspective of the HCEQ appear to be useful in advancing knowledge about individual empowerment in relation to personal health care and services.
Effects of a 10,000 Steps per Day Goal in Overweight Adults
Authors: Schneider Patrick L. , Bassett David R. , Thompson Dixie L. , Pronk Nicolaas P. , Bielak Kenneth M. 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. This study was designed (1) to examine the effects of a 10,000 steps·d−1 exercise prescription on sedentary, overweight/obese adults, and (2) to examine the effects of adherence on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. Fifty-six overweight/obese adults participated in the study. Body composition and cardiovascular risk factors were determined at baseline, 20 weeks, and 36 weeks. Adherence was defined as averaging ≥ 9500 steps·d−1 from week 4 to week 36. Results. 38 participants (68%) wore pedometers daily for 36 weeks and were available for posttesting. Significant improvements were noted in mean values for walking volume (3994 steps·d−1), body weight (–2.4 kg), body mass index (–0.8 kg·m−2), percentage body fat (–1.9%), fat mass (–2.7 kg), waist circumference (–1.8 cm), hip circumference (–1.9 cm) and high-density lipoprotein (3 mg/dl). The adherers had large improvements in body composition measures, whereas the nonadherers showed little or no change in these variables. Discussion. A 10,000 steps·d−1 exercise prescription resulted in weight loss over 36 weeks in previously sedentary, overweight/obese adults. Adherence to the step goal had a marked effect on the outcome.
Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase prevents experimental lung fibrosis and myofibroblast formation
Authors: Lagares David , Busnadiego Oscar , García‐Fernández Rosa Ana , Kapoor Mohit , Liu Shangxi , Carter David E. , Abraham David , Shi‐Wen Xu , Carreira Patricia , Fontaine Benjamin A. , Shea Barry S. , Tager Andrew M. , Leask Andrew , Lamas Santiago , Rodríguez‐Pascual Fernando 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjectiveEnhanced adhesive signaling, including activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), is a hallmark of fibroblasts from lung fibrosis patients, and FAK has therefore been hypothesized to be a key mediator of this disease. This study was undertaken to characterize the contribution of FAK to the development of pulmonary fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro.MethodsFAK expression and activity were analyzed in lung tissue samples from lung fibrosis patients by immunohistochemistry. Mice orally treated with the FAK inhibitor PF‐562,271, or with small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated silencing of FAK were exposed to intratracheally instilled bleomycin to induce lung fibrosis, and lungs were harvested for histologic and biochemical analysis. Using endothelin 1 (ET‐1) as a stimulus, cell adhesion and contraction, as well as profibrotic gene expression, were studied in fibroblasts isolated from wild‐type and FAK‐deficient mouse embryos. ET–1–mediated FAK activation and gene expression were studied in primary mouse lung fibroblasts, as well as in wild‐type and β1 integrin–deficient mouse fibroblasts.ResultsFAK expression and activity were up‐regulated in fibroblast foci and remodeled vessels from lung fibrosis patients. Pharmacologic or siRNA‐mediated targeting of FAK resulted in marked abrogation of bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis in mice. Loss of FAK impaired the acquisition of a profibrotic phenotype in response to ET‐1. Profibrotic gene expression leading to myofibroblast differentiation required cell adhesion, and was driven by JNK activation through β1 integrin/FAK signaling.ConclusionThese results implicate FAK as a central mediator of fibrogenesis, and highlight this kinase as a potential therapeutic target in fibrotic diseases.
Provable secure proxy signature scheme without bilinear pairings
Authors: Tiwari Namita , Padhye Sahadeo 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYProxy signature is an active research area in cryptography. A proxy signature scheme allows an entity to delegate his or her signing capability to another entity in such a way that the latter can sign messages on behalf of the former. Many proxy signature schemes using bilinear pairings have been proposed. But the relative computation cost of the pairing is more than 10 times of the scalar multiplication over elliptic curve group. In order to save the running time and the size of the signature, we propose a proxy signature scheme without bilinear pairings and prove its security against adaptive chosen‐message attack in random oracle model. The security of our scheme is based on the hardness of the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. With the running time being saved greatly, our scheme is more practical than the previous related scheme for practical applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinear earthquake analysis of high arch dam–water–foundation rock systems
Authors: Wang Jin‐Ting , Zhang Chu‐Han , Jin Feng 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYA nonlinear finite element model for earthquake response analysis of arch dam–water–foundation rock systems is proposed in this paper. The model includes dynamic dam–water and dam–foundation rock interactions, the opening of contraction joints, the radiation damping of semi‐unbounded foundation rock, the compressibility of impounded water, and the upstream energy propagating along the semi‐unbounded reservoir. Meanwhile, a new equivalent force scheme is suggested to achieve free‐field input in the model. The effects of the earthquake input mechanism, joint opening, water compressibility, and radiation damping on the earthquake response of the Ertan arch dam (240 m high) in China are investigated using the proposed model. The results show that these factors significantly affect the earthquake response of the Ertan arch dam. Such factors should therefore be considered in the earthquake response analysis and earthquake safety evaluation of high arch dams. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Highly sensitive and specific detection of neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in environmental and food samples by a polyclonal antibody‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay
Authors: Wang Rongmei , Wang Zhonghui , Yang Hong , Wang Yuzheng , Deng Anping 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Imidacloprid is one of the main neonicotinoid insecticides widely used in agriculture owing its broad spectrum of activity and low bioaccumulation. However, imidacloprid is toxic to honey bees and other beneficial organisms, and its residues may occur in environmental and food samples, posing a potential hazard to consumers. In this study the imidacloprid derivative bearing a three‐atom length spacer was synthesized and coupled to carrier proteins. Highly sensitive and specific polyclonal antibodies against imidacloprid were successfully produced and the polyclonal antibody‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (pAb‐ELISA) was developed.RESULTS: The ELISA standard curve was constructed within the concentration range 0.1–100 ng mL−1. The IC50 value for nine standard curves was in the range 1.2–3.0 ng mL−1 and the limit of detection was 0.03–0.16 ng mL−1. The sensitivity of the assay was one order of magnitude higher than that in most published papers. There was almost no cross‐reactivity of the antibody with four structurally related compounds (acetamiprid, nicotine, clothianidin and nitenpyram) and six other compounds, indicating that the assay displays not only high sensitivity but also high specificity. No detectable imidacloprid was found in 11 collected environmental and food samples by the assay. For imidacloprid‐spiked samples, acceptable recoveries of 73.4–94.4% and intra‐assay coefficients of variation of 2.2–12.8% were obtained. The assay was also validated with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a good correlation of ELISA with HPLC was achieved.CONCLUSION: The proposed ELISA provides a sensitive, specific, simple and cost‐effective quantitative/screening method for detecting imidacloprid in environmental and food samples. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Heat‐induced contraction of blood vessels
Authors: Gorisch Wolfram , Boergen Klaus‐Peter 
Published: November 2011

AbstractHeat‐induced spontaneous contraction of blood vessels as observed during the application of surgical lasers was investigated experimentally. By means of extra‐vascular irrigation of veins and arteries from the rabbit mesentery in vivo with saline that had been preheated to varying temperatures in the range of 45–90°C, the temperature dependence on contraction was evaluated. It was demonstrated that lower temperature thresholds of approximately 70°C and 75°C exist for the shrinkage of veins and arteries, respectively. Ultrastructural investigation of the walls of contracted and of noncontracted vessels indicates that vessel contraction correlates with the denaturation of collagen fibrils. It was therefore concluded that the well‐known heat shrinkage effect of denatured collagen accounts for the heat‐induced vessel constriction. It is shown that on heat‐induced permanent occlusion, vessels of the type that were examined cannot be achieved reliably at temperatures of up to 90°C for 16 sec; in most cases relaxation takes place.
Internal Reorganization of Agglomerates as an Explanation of Energy Dissipation at Very Low Strain for Heterogeneous Polymer Systems
Authors: Majesté Jean‐Charles , Carrot Christian , Olalla Beatriz , Fulchiron René 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe addition of a new mechanism to the Leonov model is described to capture the energy dissipation observed for highly filled systems even at very low strain values. By considering that flocs can undergo deformation before rupture, an internal reorganization within the agglomerates is introduced as a dissipative mechanism. The present improved model describes both oscillatory and strain sweep experimental results with only one additional, physically meaningful parameter: the number of hopping particles in the flocs which may be obtained from microscopic observations. Consistent values of this number are found in agreement with the histograms of the particle dispersion.magnified image
Genetic variants of a BH3‐only pro‐apoptotic gene, PUMA, and risk of HPV16‐associated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Zhou Ziyuan , Sturgis Erich M. , Liu Zhensheng , Wang Li‐E. , Wei Qingyi , Li Guojun 
Published: November 2011

AbstractP53 up‐regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) is a critical factor in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Through PUMA‐dependent mechanisms, human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) oncoprotein may affect apoptosis by E6‐mediated p53 degradation. To examine whether the PUMA variants modify the association between HPV16 serology and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), we genotyped two polymorphisms in the PUMA promoter (rs3810294 and rs2032809) in 380 cases and 335 cancer‐free controls of non‐Hispanic Whites, who were frequency‐matched by age (±5 yr), sex, smoking, and drinking status. We found that each individual polymorphism had only a modest impact on risk of SCCHN, particularly in oropharyngeal cancer for rs3810294 and non‐oropharyngeal cancer for rs2032809. After we stratified the individuals by HPV16 serology, and used those with the corresponding common homozygous genotype and HPV16 seronegativity as the reference group, for each polymorphism we found that the risk of SCCHN associated with HPV16 seropositivity was higher among those with variant genotypes than those with the corresponding common homozygous genotype. Notably, this effect modification was particularly pronounced in several subgroups including never smokers, never drinkers, younger patients, and patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Furthermore, we also characterized the functional relevance of the two polymorphisms to explore the genotype–phenotype correlation. Our results suggested that the PUMA promoter polymorphisms may be a biomarker for risk of HPV16‐associated SCCHN, particularly in never smokers, never drinkers, younger patients, and patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.