bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of teenage food advertisements in Finland
Authors: PRÄTTÄLÄ RITVA , ROOS GUN 
Published: July 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate which foods were directly advertised to Finnish teenagers and to analyse the information given about the ingredients, the role of health and pleasure and the activities and milieus in the advertisements. In order to shed light on the socio‐cultural context, two successful advertisements; one for Coca‐Cola and one for milk, were described in detail. Eighty‐nine food advertisements published in Finnish youth magazines, and 116 television‐spots shown in 1983 were subjected to content analysis.Typical food advertisements aimed at teenagers were for soft drinks, chocolates, can‐dies, and milk. These contained little information on ingredients and this was often misleading. Health claims were rare, whereas good flavour was emphasized. In the advertisements young people exercised, danced or drove motor vehicles distant from their everyday living environment. They enjoyed the refreshing power of nature, did not go to school or eat ordinary meals, but took soft drinks and chocolates for strength and energy.The advertisements emphasized the pleasures of eating and skillfully associated the foods with teenage life‐style. Due to the absence of an urban tradition the ‘American dream’ presented in movies, popular music, and advertising is accepted in Finland. In a successful milk advertisement the combination of Finnish agricultural milieu with American music created a positive response among teenagers.
Investigations into the factors influencing the choice and consumption of milk and milk products in Malaŵi
Authors: BANDA J. W. , PHIRI C. D. 
Published: July 2007

Questionnaires were administered to 163 individuals to determine the factors which influence the choice and consumption of milk and milk products among consumers in three socio‐economic groups within Lilongwe, the capital city of Malai. Another set of questionnaires was sent to 206 individuals in Salima area to assess the factors that limit the consumption of goat and sheep milk in comparison with cow milk.Whole pasteurized cow milk was the product most frequently purchased due to its flavour, taste and lower price as compared to other products. Generally, the study indicated that incomes and product prices are the most important factors influencing the choice and consumption of cow milk and milk products. Milk intolerance seems to play a very minor role. Unavailability of particular products at a particular time when the product is wanted also poses a problem. With regard to goat and sheep milk, unavailability is the major problem influencing the consumption, followed by the fact that it is not traditional to milk and consume goat and sheep milk.
Advantages and disadvantages associated with the increased use of microwave energy in food preparation
Authors: BURNETT SALLY‐ANN , REES ANN MAREE 
Published: July 2007

This paper reviews some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with the increased use of microwave energy which have been revealed in recent investigations. In the U.K., there have been many changes in household structure and in eating patterns. Lifestyles have changed as a result of the complex interaction between social, nutritional and technical developments. There are now many new products and a different mode of cooking and eating is used in which convenience is an important feature. Comparisons between households with and without microwave cookers showed a fundamental difference between time and energy used in food preparation and also between the part played by different family members in meal production. The changing roles within households and the nature of family‐eating patterns were evident. Experiments were carried out to quantify some of the observed differences between food cooked by conventional methods and by using microwave energy.The microwave cooker was found to be an important domestic cooking appliance with potential for improving energy efficiency during cooking and providing convenience and increased leisure time but it must be realised that there are problems relating to product design and safety.
Country‐of‐origin effect in apparel choices: A conjoint analysis
Authors: LANG JANE QIN , CROWN E. M. 
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine Canadian consumers' beliefs about, and preferences for apparel products made in Canada, China and some other low‐cost nations. The importance of the country‐of‐origin of garments relative to other apparel attributes in consumers' purchase decisions was also examined. Information integration theory provided the theoretical foundation for a conjoint analysis of product ratings. A simulated purchase of fleece sweatshirts was designed to conduct the conjoint analysis experiment. Consumers' beliefs regarding various attributes of apparel products made in Canada, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea were also measured.Significant differences were found in consumers' beliefs about garments made in different countries regarding quality, price, style and fit. Canadian clothing was perceived to be superior in quality, style and fit, but the most expensive. Results of the conjoint analysis indicated that Canada was the most preferred country‐of‐origin. The effect of country‐of‐origin on subjects' evaluations of sweatshirts, however, was less important than that of either quality or price. Beliefs about quality, price, style and fit of garments made in Canada, China and South Korea were found to be significantly related to subjects' utilities for sweatshirts made in such countries. Differences in beliefs and utilities were found among respondents differing in awareness of country‐of‐origin, ethnic background, age and education, but not among those who held different opinions about supporting domestic industries.
Mitochondrial DNA deletions induce the adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase energy stress pathway and result in decreased secretion of some proteins
Authors: Prigione Alessandro , Cortopassi Gino 
Published: July 2007

SummaryMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions occur sporadically in zygotic and somatic tissues and reach their highest concentration in substantia nigra. Previously, we noted the increase of the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) transcript by microarray in multiple cells and tissues bearing deletions. In this work, we demonstrate that the induction of AMPK transcript is dependent on deletions by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and also demonstrate a deficiency in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in the same cells. Consistent with AMPK induction, its known targets SREBF1 (sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1) and ATG12 were inhibited and induced, respectively. AMPK induction is known to decrease secretory processes in some cells, and the secretion of both osteoprotegerin (OPG) and fibronectin (FN) proteins to the extracellular space was significantly deficient. Deletions caused a defect in the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)‐ribosylation factor‐like 2 (ARL2) transcript, which is known to be important in secretion and interacts with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and thus AMPK. The deletion‐dependent dysfunctions occurred even in cells bearing less than 30% deletions, suggesting that the concept of a high biological ‘threshold’ for deletions should be further revised downward. The defects in ATP synthesis, induction of the AMPK and SREBF1 transcripts, and decreased expression of ARL2 and secretion of OPG and FN were recapitulated by low doses of rotenone, demonstrating that they were a specific consequence of electron transport chain inhibition. Thus, mtDNA deletions result in cellular energy depletion, which causes the induction of AMPK and its regulated targets, and inhibit secretion of some proteins. We integrate these observations into a pathophysiological model for how mitochondrial deletions cause disease.
Can the Study of Natural Vegetation Succession Assist in the Control of Soil Erosion on Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau, China?
Authors: Jiao Juying , Tzanopoulos Joseph , Xofis Panteleimon , Bai Wenjuan , Ma Xianghua , Mitchley Jonathan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn the Loess Plateau, China, arable cultivation of slope lands is common and associated with serious soil erosion. Planting trees or grass may control erosion, but planted species may consume more soil water and can threaten long‐term ecosystem sustainability. Natural vegetation succession is an alternative ecological solution to restore degraded land, but there is a time cost, given that the establishment of natural vegetation, adequate to prevent soil erosion, is a longer process than planting. The aims of this study were to identify the environmental factors controlling the type of vegetation established on abandoned cropland and to identify candidate species that might be sown soon after abandonment to accelerate vegetation succession and establishment of natural vegetation to prevent soil erosion. A field survey of thirty‐three 2 × 2–m plots was carried out in July 2003, recording age since abandonment, vegetation cover, and frequency of species together with major environmental and soil variables. Data were analyzed using correspondence analysis, classification tree analysis, and species response curves. Four vegetation types were identified and the data analysis confirmed the importance of time since abandonment, total P, and soil water in controlling the type of vegetation established. Among the dominant species in the three late‐successional vegetation types, the most appropriate candidates for accelerating and directing vegetation succession were King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) andLespedeza davurica(Leguminosae). These species possess combinations of the following characteristics: tolerance of low water and nutrient availability, fibrous root system and strong lateral vegetative spread, and a persistent seed bank.
River Restoration in the Twenty‐First Century: Data and Experiential Knowledge to Inform Future Efforts
Authors: Palmer Margaret , Allan J. David , Meyer Judy , Bernhardt Emily S 
Published: July 2007

Abstract Despite some highly visible projects that have resulted in environmental benefits, recent efforts to quantify the number and distribution of river restoration projects revealed a paucity of written records documenting restoration outcomes. Improving restoration designs and setting watershed priorities rely on collecting and making accessible this critical information. Information within the unpublished notes of restoration project managers is useful but rarely documents ecological improvements. This special section of Restoration Ecology is devoted to the current state of knowledge on river restoration. We provide an overview of the section’s articles, reflecting on lessons learned, which have implications for the implementation, legal, and financing frameworks for restoration. Our reflections are informed by two databases developed under the auspices of the National River Restoration Science Synthesis project and by extensive interactions with those who fund, implement, and permit restoration. Requiring measurable ecological success criteria, comprehensive watershed plans, and tracking of when and where restoration projects are implemented are critical to improving the health of U.S. waters. Documenting that a project was put in the ground and stayed intact cannot be equated with ecological improvements. However, because significant ecological improvements can come with well‐designed and ‐implemented stream and river restorations, a small investment in documenting the factors contributing to success will lead to very large returns in the health of our nation’s waterways. Even projects that may appear to be failures initially can be turned into success stories by applying the knowledge gained from monitoring the project in an adaptive restoration approach.
Ethanol Preference Is Inversely Correlated With Ethanol‐Induced Dopamine Release in 2 Substrains of C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Ramachandra Vorani , Phuc Steven , Franco Ana Crystal , Gonzales Rueben A. 
Published: July 2007

Background:  The C57BL/6 mouse model has been used extensively in alcohol drinking studies, yet significant differences in ethanol preference between substrains exist. Differences in ethanol‐induced dopamine release in the ventral striatum could contribute to this variability in drinking behavior as dopamine has been implicated in the reinforcing properties of ethanol.Methods:  A 2‐bottle choice experiment investigated the difference in ethanol preference between C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NCrl animals. Microdialysis was used to determine dopamine release and ethanol clearance in these 2 substrains after intraperitoneal injections of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg ethanol or saline.Results:  C57BL/6J mice exhibited significantly greater ethanol preference and less ethanol‐stimulated dopamine release compared with C57BL/6NCrl mice. The intraperitoneal injections of ethanol caused a significant increase in dopamine in both substrains at all 3 doses with significant differences between substrains at the 2 highest alcohol doses. Saline injections had a significant effect on dopamine release when given in a volume equivalent to the 3 g/kg ethanol dose. Ethanol pharmacokinetics were similar in the 2 substrains at all 3 doses.Conclusions:  Ethanol‐induced dopamine release in the ventral striatum may contribute to the differences in alcohol preference between C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NCrl mice.
Intake of Energy Drinks in Association With Alcoholic Beverages in a Cohort of Students of the School of Medicine of the University of Messina
Authors: Oteri Alessandro , Salvo Francesco , Caputi Achille Patrizio , Calapai Gioacchino 
Published: July 2007

Background:  Energy drinks (ED) are a widely used group of beverages known for their stimulant effects on central nervous system (CNS). The main components of ED are caffeine, taurine, carbohydrates, glucuronolactone, inositol, niacin, pantenol, and β‐complex vitamins. The studies evaluating the effects of ED describe improvements in attention and/or reaction times and indices of alertness. It has been also shown that combination of caffeine and glucose, fundamental constituents of ED, can ameliorate deficits in cognitive performance and subjective fatigue during extended periods of cognitive demand. Moreover, the associated ingestion of alcohol and ED has recently been observed to be becoming more and more widespread.Methods:  With the aim to know the habits and uses of students, we administered a questionnaire containing questions regarding ED drinking alone or in association with alcoholic beverages. Five hundred students of the School of Medicine of the University of Messina were interviewed, and 450 filled the questionnaire.Results:  A total of 56.9% of students declared using ED. A great part of users (48.4%) associate frequently ED and alcohol. In particular, 35.8% of ED + alcohol users have used ED + alcohol more than 3 times in the last month. Distinguishing the users into 2 groups (users of ED + alcohol and users of both ED and ED + alcohol), we observed in the second group a major use of cocktail containing a mix of ED and alcoholic beverages. This difference between the 2 groups is less represented about the ingestion of ED + alcohol in the night.Conclusions:  Our data indicate that association of ED + alcohol is very popular among students. This behavior can be dangerous. In fact, the combination of ED + alcoholic drinks can reduce adversive symptoms of alcohol intoxication including the depressant effects. As consequence, users of ED + alcoholic beverages might not feel the signs of alcohol intoxication, thus increasing the probability of accidents and/or favoring the possibility of development of alcohol dependence.
Male Gender Identity in an XX Individual with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Authors: Jorge Juan Carlos , Echeverri Carolina , Medina Yailis , Acevedo Pedro 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Introduction
In spite of significant changes in the management policies of intersexuality, clinical evidence show that not all pubertal or adult individuals live according to the assigned sex during infancy.

Aim
The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical management of an individual diagnosed as a female pseudohermaphrodite with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) simple virilizing form four decades ago but who currently lives as a monogamous heterosexual male.

Methods
We studied the clinical files spanning from 1965 to 1991 of an intersex individual. In addition, we conducted a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the abdominoplevic cavity and a series of interviews using the oral history method.

Main Outcome Measures
Our analysis is based on the clinical evidence that led to the CAH diagnosis in the 1960s in light of recent clinical testing to confirm such diagnosis.

Results
Analysis of reported values for 17-ketosteroids, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, from 24-hour urine samples during an 8-year period showed poor adrenal suppression in spite of adherence to treatment. A recent MRI study confirmed the presence of hyperplastic adrenal glands as well as the presence of a prepubertal uterus. Semistructured interviews with the individual confirmed a life history consistent with a male gender identity.

Conclusions
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that XX intersex individuals with CAH should be assigned to the female sex, this practice harms some individuals as they may self-identify as males. In the absence of comorbid psychiatric factors, the discrepancy between infant sex assignment and gender identity later in life underlines the need for a reexamination of current standards of care for individuals diagnosed with CAH.
Hydrogen Sulphide: A Novel Endogenous Gasotransmitter Facilitates Erectile Function
Authors: Srilatha Balasubramanian , Adaikan P. Ganesan , Li Ling , Moore Philip K. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Introduction
In a pilot study, we found that the novel gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), had a vasodilatory and proerectile action on the cavernosum. In the present work, we explored the ability of the cavernosum to synthesize H2S and its mechanism on the cavernosal pathways.

Aim
To evaluate the physiopharmacological responses and mechanism in the erectile function of H2S in rabbit cavernosum.

Methods
Rabbit corpus cavernosum (CC) smooth muscle tissue (N = 5) was homogenized and incubated with L-cysteine (10 mM) and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (2 mM) to detect H2S formation. In isometric tension studies on rabbits (N = 12), the effect of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS; stable H2S donor, 100 µM–3.2 mM) was evaluated on the relaxant and contractile pathways in the cavernous smooth muscle using standard pharmacological tools.

Main Outcome Measures
In vitro evidences for cavernosal H2S formation and proerectile pharmacological effects.

Results
H2S was readily synthesized in the rabbit CC (2.1 ± 0.4 nmol/mg protein). In organ bath studies, NaHS consistently relaxed the rabbit CC in a concentration-dependent manner. MDL 12,330A and 1-H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one inhibited the NaHS relaxation by 22.5% and 14.7%, respectively. All three enzyme inhibitors (aminooxyacetic acid [AOAA], β-cyanoalanine [β-CA], and DL-propargylglycine [PAG][1 mM]) markedly increased the noradrenergic contractile neurotransmission of CC strips to field stimulation with minimal reversal by cysteine (1 mM) indicating the possible inherent inhibition of the relaxant H2S formation. AOAA, β-CA, or PAG had no significant effect on nitrergic relaxation of noradrenaline-precontracted CC strips.

Conclusions
These pioneering studies provide evidence for the endogenous formation of H2S and its proerectile relaxant effect on the cavernosum, with the possibility of involvement of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate pathway.
Finasteride 5 mg and Sexual Side Effects: How Many of these are Related to a Nocebo Phenomenon?
Authors: Mondaini Nicola , Gontero Paolo , Giubilei Gianluca , Lombardi Giuseppe , Cai Tommaso , Gavazzi Andrea , Bartoletti Riccardo 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexual adverse experiences such as erectile dysfunction (ED), loss of libido, and ejaculation disorders have been consistent side effects of finasteride in a maximum percentage of 15% after 1 year of therapy. Such data could be seen as far from reality, if compared to a higher percentage that may be found in any common clinical practice.

Aim
This study aims to explain the dichotomy between literature's data and clinical practice data.

Methods
One hundred twenty patients with a clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), sexually active and with an International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function (IIEF-EF) domain ≥25 were randomized to receive finasteride 5 mg concealed as an “X compound of proven efficacy for the treatment of BPH” for 1 year with (group 2) or without (group 1) counseling on the drug sexual side effect. The phrase used to inform group 2 patients was “. . . it may cause erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, problems of ejaculation but these are uncommon”.

Main Outcome Measures
The estimation of side effect was conducted at 6 and 12 months using the male sexual function-4 (MSF-4 item) questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire.

Results
One hundred seven patients completed the study. Group 2 patients (N=55) reported a significant higher proportion of one or more sexual side effects as compared to group 1 (N=52) (43.6% vs. 15.3%) (P =0.03). The incidence of ED, decreased libido, and ejaculation disorders were 9.6, 7.7, and 5.7% for group 1, and 30.9, 23.6, and 16.3% for group 2, respectively (P =0.02, P =0.04, and P =0.06).

Conclusion
In the current study, blinded administration of finasteride was associated with a significantly higher proportion of sexual dysfunction in patients informed on sexual side effects (group 2) as compared to those in which the same information was omitted (group 1) (P =0.03). A scenario similar to group 2 of the current study is likely to occur in clinical practice, where the patient is counseled by the physician and has access to the drug information sheet. The burden of this nocebo effect (an adverse side effect that is not a direct result of the specific pharmacological action of the drug) has to be taken into account when managing finasteride sexual side effects.