bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Airway disease risk from environmental tobacco smoke among coffeehouse workers in Turkey
Authors: Fidan F , Cimrin A H , Ergor G , Sevinc C 
Published: June 2004

Objectives:To examine the effect of ETS exposure on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function and to compare workers in coffeehouses to those in other occupations in order to assess the risk of respiratory illness in this occupation.Design:Cross sectional study.Setting:The study area consisted of the three metropolitan districts of the city of Izmir, Turkey. 86 coffeehouses and 80 other small scale shops which had no known respiratory risk factor, located in the same area, were taken as the study group.Subjects:207 workers were assessed.Main outcome measurements:Subjects answered a questionnaire about demographic and working characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and smoking behaviour. Physical examinations and spirometric measurements were carried out at the workplaces.Results:There was a significant increase in respiratory symptoms in coffeehouse workers. Working in a coffeehouse showed a significant risk for chronic bronchitis (odds ratio (OR) 4.3). In coffeehouse workers, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decreased 5.1%, forced vital capacity (FVC) 3.4%, FEV1/FVC 1.6%, peak expiratory flow (PEF) 6.45%, and forced expiratory flow (FEF25) 7.2%, FEF5010%, and FEF25–759.8%. Among workers who were described as having an “airway disease”, coffeehouse workers were significantly greater in number. When age, body mass index, and smoking behaviour were controlled, working in a coffeehouse was strongly associated with “airway disease” compared to other workers (OR 5.35, 95% confidence interval 2.41 to 11.87).Conclusions:Workers in coffeehouses showed significant increases in respiratory symptoms and decreased pulmonary function. All workers need to gain an awareness of these occupational risks and working conditions should be improved immediately.
Community tobacco control leaders’ perceptions of harm reduction
Authors: Joseph A M , Hennrikus D , Thoele M J , Krueger R , Hatsukami D 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To investigate community tobacco control leaders’ attitudes toward harm reduction approaches to tobacco use, in order to assess benefits and risks associated with these strategies.Design:Cross sectional design involving qualitative outcomes from nine structured focus groups.Subjects:47 community tobacco control leaders in Minnesota working in the areas of public policy, clinical treatment of nicotine dependence and youth development participated.Outcome measures:Participants discussed definitions of harm reduction; benefits and risks of harm reduction methods; and how funds for tobacco control research and programmes should be allocated.Results:Results indicated inconsistency about the definition of harm reduction: most groups included a broad range of strategies that extended beyond those typically referenced in the scientific literature. Many participants stated that harm reduction might be beneficial, particularly for smokers who could not or would not quit. However, most also expressed concern about a number of risks, including delivering a mixed message about tobacco, inadvertently benefiting the tobacco industry, and causing unanticipated negative health effects. Participants were inclined to suggest public policy measures (for example, smoking bans, increased taxes) as means for reducing harm.Conclusions:Results indicate that even among tobacco control leaders there is a need for common terminology to describe harm reduction approaches and that public policy approaches to harm reduction are considered more dependable than strategies that involve pharmaceutical treatment or rely on the tobacco industry, such as product modification.
The cost effectiveness of pharmacological smoking cessation therapies in developing countries: a case study in the Seychelles
Authors: Gilbert A R , Pinget C , Bovet P , Cornuz J , Shamlaye C , Paccaud F 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To examine the incremental cost effectiveness of the five first line pharmacological smoking cessation therapies in the Seychelles and other developing countries.Design:A Markov chain cohort simulation.Subjects:Two simulated cohorts of smokers: (1) a reference cohort given physician counselling only; (2) a treatment cohort given counselling plus cessation therapy.Intervention:Addition of each of the five pharmacological cessation therapies to physician provided smoking cessation counselling.Main outcome measures:Cost per life-year saved (LYS) associated with the five pharmacotherapies. Effectiveness expressed as odds ratios for quitting associated with pharmacotherapies. Costs based on the additional physician time required and retail prices of the medications.Results:Based on prices for currently available generic medications on the global market, the incremental cost per LYS for a 45 year old in the Seychelles was US$599 for gum and $227 for bupropion. Assuming US treatment prices as a conservative estimate, the incremental cost per LYS was significantly higher, though still favourable in comparison to other common medical interventions: $3712 for nicotine gum, $1982 for nicotine patch, $4597 for nicotine spray, $4291 for nicotine inhaler, and $1324 for bupropion. Cost per LYS increased significantly upon application of higher discount rates, which may be used to reflect relatively high opportunity costs for health expenditures in developing countries with highly constrained resources and high overall mortality.Conclusion:Pharmacological cessation therapy can be highly cost effective as compared to other common medical interventions in low mortality, middle income countries, particularly if medications can be procured at low prices.
Moving East: how the transnational tobacco industry gained entry to the emerging markets of the former Soviet Union—part I: establishing cigarette imports
Authors: Gilmore A B , McKee M 
Published: June 2004

Objectives:To identify British American Tobacco’s (BAT) reasons for targeting the former Soviet Union following its collapse in 1991 and the initial strategies BAT used to enter the region.Design:Analysis of tobacco industry documents held at the Guildford BAT archive.Results:Desire to expand to new markets was based in part on the decline in old markets. The large population, proximity to China, scope to expand sales to women and, in Central Asia, a young population with high growth rates made the former Soviet Union particularly attractive. High consumption rates and unfilled demand caused by previous shortages offered potential for rapid returns on investment. A series of steps were taken to penetrate the markets with the initial focus on establishing imports. The documents suggest that BAT encouraged the use of aid money and barter trade to fund imports and directed the smuggling of cigarettes which graduated from an opportunistic strategy to a highly organised operation. In establishing a market presence, promotion of BAT’s brands and corporate image were paramount, and used synonymously to promote both the cigarettes and the company. The tobacco industry targeted young people and women. It used the allure of western products to promote its brands and brand stretching and corporate imagery to pre-empt future marketing restrictions.Conclusions:BAT used the chaotic conditions in the immediate post-transition period in the former Soviet Union to exploit legislative loopholes and ensure illegal cigarette imports. Governments of countries targeted by the tobacco industry need to be aware of industry tactics and develop adequate tobacco control policies in order to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable populations. Marketing restrictions that focus on advertising without restricting the use of brand or company promotions will have a limited impact.
Moving East: how the transnational tobacco industry gained entry to the emerging markets of the former Soviet Union—part II: an overview of priorities and tactics used to establish a manufacturing presence
Authors: Gilmore A B , McKee M 
Published: June 2004

Objectives:To explore how British American Tobacco (BAT), having established cigarette imports, responded to the opportunities for investment in cigarette manufacturing in the former Soviet Union (FSU).Design:Analysis of documents held at the BAT archive in Guildford, UK.Results:Considerable priority was attached to investing in the FSU. This led BAT to undertake a major organisational change and to intense competition to acquire assets. BAT used flawed economic arguments to persuade cash starved governments that its investment would reap economic rewards. It offered excise advice that disadvantaged governments while benefiting BAT, confused issues over pricing, and avoided competitive tendering. BAT targeted agriculture ministries, using its expertise in leaf production to differentiate itself from other potential investors. It subverted the principles of corporate social responsibility to promote itself as a business partner. BAT’s task was made easier by the naivety of post-Soviet governments and by the international financial organisations’ support for rapid economic reform. The latter permitted tobacco transnationals to penetrate markets before effective competitive tendering processes had been established, giving them the opportunity to minimise prices and establish monopolies.Conclusions:Many of the arguments employed when penetrating post-Soviet markets were highly misleading but governments lacked expertise to realise this. There is a need to build tobacco control capacity in transition economies, within and outside government, to ensure that governments are better informed of the true economic and health impacts of tobacco. Rapid transition from socialist to market economies without establishing regulatory institutional structures may be dangerous when investing companies use business practices that fall short of international standards.
Smoking behaviour and toxin exposure during six weeks use of a potential reduced exposure product: Omni
Authors: Hughes J R , Hecht S S , Carmella S G , Murphy S E , Callas P 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To determine smoking behaviour, acceptability, and toxin exposure when smokers switch to the potential reduced exposure product—Omni cigarette.Design:12 week randomised, crossover study of Omni versus own cigarettes.Participants:19 light/ultralight and 15 regular smokers.Outcomes:Cigarettes/day, smoking topography, craving, withdrawal symptoms, urinary cotinine plus its glucuronide (total cotinine), nicotine plus its glucuronide (total nicotine), and carcinogen metabolites (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol plus its glucuronides and 1-hydroxypyrene).Results:When switched to Omni, smokers smoked the same number of cigarettes/day, smoked Omni cigarettes less intensely (total puff volume  =  −11%) and had slightly lower total cotinine (−18%) levels than their own cigarettes, but had a slightly greater carbon monoxide boost/cig (+21%). Craving and withdrawal ratings were similar with Omni and own cigarettes. Carcinogen metabolite levels were somewhat but not significantly lower with Omni. About half of smokers rated Omni as better for their health and about two thirds stated it was weaker and worse tasting than their own cigarettes.Conclusions:Although Omni may be an adequate behavioural and pharmacological substitute for traditional cigarettes, it may not decrease carcinogen exposure and may increase carbon monoxide. Replications with larger sample sizes and longer follow up are needed. These results indicate the need for regulation of reduced exposure and reduced risk claims.
Smoking, social class, and gender: what can public health learn from the tobacco industry about disparities in smoking?: Figure 1
Authors: Barbeau E M , Leavy-Sperounis A , Balbach E D 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To discover how the tobacco industry considers social class and gender in its efforts to market cigarettes in the USA, particularly to socially disadvantaged young women.Methods:A systematic on-line search of tobacco industry documents using selected keywords was conducted, and epidemiological data on smoking rates reviewed.Results:The two largest cigarette manufacturers in the USA consider “working class” young adults to be a critical market segment to promote growth of key brands. Through their own market research, these companies discovered that socially disadvantaged young women do not necessarily desire a “feminine” cigarette brand.Conclusions:Considering the tobacco industry’s efforts, alongside the persistent and growing disparities in cigarette smoking by social class, and the narrowing of differences in smoking by gender, it is concluded that additional tobacco control resources ought to be directed toward working class women.
Failure Analyses of Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) Honeycomb Sandwich Joint Panels
Authors: Yeh Hsien-Yang , Nguyen Sean V. , Yeh Hsien-Liang 
Published: June 2004

The objective of this paper is to investigate the structural behavior and material failure characteristics of polymer-matrix composite (PMC) honeycomb sandwich joint panels under several transverse loads which resulted in web bending as typically experienced by aircraft wing skin. Several PMC honeycomb sandwich joint panels were fabricated as part of the demonstration test elements to provide structural concepts for the High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) wing. Test elements were preliminarily designed and sized under design-integration trade studies (DITS) task. Test elements selected for this study included two PMC honeycomb sandwich joint panels; one panel consisted of a honeycomb sandwich wing skin bolted joint by two fiber-reinforced composite spar caps to a honeycomb sandwich spar web; the other panel had the same structural concept except that the composite spar caps were replaced with the titanium ones. Essential components in the sandwich construction were composite face sheets, honeycomb cores, and core-to-facing bonding material. By statically loaded test elements to failure in room temperature, the test was designed to simulate flight load condition of 15 psi fuel over pressurization against the wing spar during supersonic maneuver. Geometric linear and nonlinear finite element models were constructed to simulate the structural behaviors of these test panels. Failure theories such as the Yeh-Stratton, Tsai-Wu, Tsai-Hill, and Maximum Stress and Strain criteria were utilized to predict the first ply failure and the results were compared with experimental data.
A Preliminary Multiscale Modeling of Material Failure
Authors: Yeh Hsien-Yang , Yeh Hsien-Liang 
Published: June 2004

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and Nanoelectromechanical systems (NAMS) are on the revolutionary frontier of science and engineering. The development of MEMS and NAMS requires appropriate analysis, design, and fabrication techniques that enable the features such as reliability, repeatability, and high yield, etc., in general systems. To achieve this goal, a better understanding of the materials and mechanics at the micro- and nanodimension levels is imperative. In this paper, a preliminary material strength model, for dealing with the resistance to crack propagation at opposite extremes of material representation, continuum solid and atomic lattice, is described. The development of this model is in two parts: (1) The crack of continuum solids - using a quadric surfaces function to establish the piecewise failure envelope for incorporating the material anisotropy, and the final failure envelope of the quadric surfaces criterion is closed in order to accommodate the physical justification of materials with finite strengths. (2) The failure of atomic lattice - representing solids by many-body assemblages of point atomic masses linked by spring bonds, this simplified mass-spring model will be used to express the sequential bond-rupture picture of brittle fracture, in terms of an interatomic cohesive-force function. In this simplified mass-spring model, the solids are regarded as a simple array of parallel uncoupled linear chains, subject only to longitudinal components of forces, the lattice constraint effects are ignored. By addressing the failure mechanisms and establishing failure theories of not only macroscopic anisotropic composite materials, but also the metal lines at the micro level, results of this preliminary study provide some reference guidelines to do the reliable engineering designs of MEMS and NAMS systems.
Why liquid displacement methods are sometimes wrong in estimating the pore‐size distribution
Authors: Gijsbertsen‐Abrahamse Anna J. , Boom Remko M. , van der Padt Albert 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe liquid displacement method is a commonly used method to determine the pore size distribution of micro‐ and ultrafiltration membranes. One of the assumptions for the calculation of the pore sizes is that the pores are parallel and thus are not interconnected. To show that the estimated pore size distribution is affected if this assumption is not satisfied, we developed two models: (1) a model describing the flow through an isotropic porous membrane with uniform pores, and (2) a two‐layer model for uniform pores that approximates the first model if the membrane thickness is larger than 10 times the pore radius. In the two‐layer model the membrane skin layer is divided into two parts: the unconnected pore layer and a sublayer. This model is extended to describe pore activation as a function of pressure with a pore size distribution in the unconnected pore layer (that is, membrane surface). It is shown that, depending on the membrane thickness or the sublayer resistance, the transmembrane pressure needs to be much larger than the critical pressure of the pores, to activate all the pores. If the sublayer resistance is over 10% of the resistance of the unconnected pore layer, the pore size is underestimated with the liquid displacement method; thus the number of pores is overestimated. Because the sublayer resistance is always larger than the unconnected pore layer resistance in an isotropic membrane with interconnected pores, we conclude that the estimated pore size distribution is always shifted toward smaller pore sizes than they really are. To use the liquid displacement method correctly, we suggest either counting the number of (active) pores or measuring the flux–pressure curve several times, while covering each time a different fraction of the membrane surface. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1364–1371, 2004
Dynamical systems in pin mixers of single‐screw extruders
Authors: Hwang W. R. , Kang K. W. , Kwon T. H. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractDynamical systems generated by various types of pin mixers were studied for the application to the single‐screw extruders. A periodic unit of the pin mixer was modeled as a dynamical system of the complex duct flow. It was found that the cross‐sectional space could be divided into two distinct regions: the inner and outer zones. The pin configuration directly affects the motion of fluid particles in the inner region, while motion in the outer region is governed by the resonance phenomena. The effects of the number of pins, the pin height, the pin orientation, and the composition of two different pin units were studied with the numerical results and explained in the language of the dynamical systems theories. Finally, the validity of our modeling, and the numerical result was verified by qualitative comparison with experimental results. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1372–1385, 2004
Association study of the Epac gene and tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence
Authors: Chen Xiangning , Wu Baichai , Kendler Kenneth S. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractExchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) has been shown to increase its expression in rat prefrontal cortex after self‐administration of nicotine. [Konu et al. 2001: Brain Res 909:194–203]. We investigated the role of the human ortholog of Epac in tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence (ND). Using a case‐control design, we typed 5 SNPs in this gene in 688 subjects, of whom 244 were non‐smokers, 215 were Low‐ND smokers, and 229 were High‐ND smokers. We tested allele and genotype association to smoking initiation (SI) and progression to ND. Three of the five typed SNPs showed modest allele association with progression to ND. Weak association with SI was also observed for one SNP. Considering the function of the gene in cellular signal transduction pathway, its elevated expression after nicotine self‐administration, and multiple markers association with both SI and progression to ND, it is plausible to suggest that variants in Epac contribute to the liability to ND. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apoptosis and testicular alterations in albino rats treated with etoposide during the prepubertal phase
Authors: Stumpp Taiza , Sasso‐Cerri Estela , Freymüller Edna , Miraglia Sandra Maria 
Published: June 2004

AbstractEtoposide is a podophyllotoxin semiderivative that is used in a variety of chemotherapy treatments, including therapy for children tumors. This drug promotes the formation of a ternary DNA‐topoisomerase II‐etoposide complex that triggers apoptosis. The purpose of this work was to analyze the occurrence of apoptosis in the seminiferous epithelium of prepubertal, pubertal, and adult rats treated with 10, 20, and 40 mg/Kg of etoposide during the prepubertal phase, as well as the role of apoptosis in etoposide‐induced testicular damage. The rat testes were fixed in Bouin's liquid, and the apoptotic cells were quantified by means of the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) technique (all groups) and the terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method (prepubertal groups only). The results obtained from both the H&E and TUNEL methods showed an increased frequency of apoptosis in the seminiferous epithelium of treated animals, except for the subgroup that received the 10‐mg/Kg dose and was sacrificed 12 hr after the treatment and for the etoposide‐treated pubertal group, that did not show cells suggesting apoptosis during H&E analysis. The labeled cells were mainly primary spermatocytes and differentiated spermatogonia. The prepubertal rats showed an etoposide‐dose‐dependent diminution of differentiated spermatogonia. Etoposide treatment during the prepubertal phase increases the frequency of apoptosis in the seminiferous epithelium, and causes serious harm to male fertility. 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuroanatomical structure of the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris orientalis) brain from magnetic resonance images
Authors: Marino Lori , Sudheimer Keith , Mclellan William A. , Johnson John I. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractHigh‐resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain of an adult spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris orientalis) were acquired in the coronal plane at 55 antero‐posterior levels. From these scans a computer‐generated set of resectioned virtual images in the two remaining orthogonal planes was constructed with the use of the VoxelView and VoxelMath (Vital Images, Inc.) programs. Neuroanatomical structures were labeled in all three planes, providing the first labeled anatomical description of the spinner dolphin brain. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.