bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in hospitality workers’ exposure to secondhand smoke following the implementation of New York’s smoke-free law
Authors: Farrelly M C , Nonnemaker J M , Chou R , Hyland A , Peterson K K , Bauer U E 
Published: July 2005

Objective:To assess the impact on hospitality workers’ exposure to secondhand smoke of New York’s smoke-free law that prohibits smoking in all places of employment, including restaurants, bars, and bowling facilities.Design:Pre-post longitudinal follow up design.Settings:Restaurants, bars, and bowling facilities in New York State.Subjects:At baseline, 104 non-smoking workers in restaurants, bars, and bowling facilities were recruited with newspaper ads, flyers, and radio announcements. Of these, 68 completed a telephone survey and provided at least one saliva cotinine specimen at baseline. At three, six, and 12 month follow up studies, 47, 38, and 32 workers from the baseline sample of 68 completed a telephone survey and provided at least one saliva cotinine specimen.Intervention:The smoke-free law went into effect 24 July 2003.Main outcome measures:Self reported sensory and respiratory symptoms and exposure to secondhand smoke; self administered saliva cotinine specimens. Analyses were limited to subjects in all four study periods who completed a telephone survey and provided at least one saliva cotinine specimen.Results:All analyses were limited to participants who completed both an interview and a saliva specimen for all waves of data collection (n  =  30) and who had cotinine concentrations ⩽ 15 ng/ml (n  =  24). Hours of exposure to secondhand smoke in hospitality jobs decreased from 12.1 hours (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.0 to 16.3 hours) to 0.2 hours (95% CI −0.1 to 0.5 hours) (p < 0.01) and saliva cotinine concentration decreased from 3.6 ng/ml (95% CI 2.6 to 4.7 ng/ml) to 0.8 ng/ml (95% CI 0.4 to 1.2 ng/ml) (p < 0.01) from baseline to the 12 month follow up. The prevalence of workers reporting sensory symptoms declined from 88% (95% CI 66% to 96%) to 38% (95% CI 20% to 59%) (p < 0.01); there was no change in the overall prevalence of upper respiratory symptoms (p < 0.16).Conclusion:New York’s smoke-free law had its intended effect of protecting hospitality workers from exposure to secondhand smoke within three months of implementation. One year after implementation, the results suggest continued compliance with the law.
Public health measures to reduce smoking prevalence in the UK: how many lives could be saved?
Authors: Lewis S , Arnott D , Godfrey C , Britton J 
Published: July 2005

Objective:To estimate the number of deaths that could be prevented in the UK by implementing population strategies to reduce smoking prevalence.Design:A prospective analysis of future mortality using recent national smoking prevalence data and relative risks of mortality in current smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers.Population:Smokers in the UK.Interventions:Population measures of proven effectiveness assumed to reduce smoking prevalence by 1 percentage point per year for 10 years, or alternatively by 13% over 19 years (1 percentage point per annum for seven years, 0.5 percentage point per annum for 12 years) as considered to be achievable in a recent report to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer.Main outcome measure:Estimated deaths from smoking prevented in the 35–75 year age group.Results:Reducing the prevalence of smoking by 1 percentage point each year for 10 years would prevent 69 049 deaths at ages between 35 and 74 years during that period. The model of reduction by 13% over 19 years would prevent 54 308 and 194 493 deaths in 10 and 19 years, respectively. Continued prevalence reductions at the current rate of 0.4 percentage points each year will prevent 23 192 deaths over 10 years.Conclusions:Full implementation of simple population measures to encourage smoking cessation could prevent substantial numbers of deaths in the UK.
The perimetric boycott: a tool for tobacco control advocacy
Authors: Offen N , Smith E A , Malone R E 
Published: July 2005

Objectives:To propose criteria to help advocates: (1) determine when tobacco related boycotts may be useful; (2) select appropriate targets; and (3) predict and measure boycott success.Methods:Analysis of tobacco focused boycotts retrieved from internal tobacco industry documents websites and other scholarship on boycotts.Results:Tobacco related boycotts may be characterised by boycott target and reason undertaken. Most boycotts targeted the industry itself and were called for political or economic reasons unrelated to tobacco disease, often resulting in settlements that gave the industry marketing and public relations advantages. Even a lengthy health focused boycott of tobacco industry food subsidiaries accomplished little, making demands the industry was unlikely to meet. In contrast, a perimetric boycott (targeting institutions at the perimeter of the core target) of an organisation that was taking tobacco money mobilised its constituency and convinced the organisation to end the practice.Conclusions:Direct boycotts of the industry have rarely advanced tobacco control. Perimetric boycotts of industry allies offer advocates a promising tool for further marginalising the industry. Successful boycotts include a focus on the public health consequences of tobacco use; an accessible point of pressure; a mutual interest between the target and the boycotters; realistic goals; and clear and measurable demands.
The evolution of transposons in <i>Schizosaccharomyces pombe</i>
Authors: Kelly F.D. , Levin H.L. 
Published: July 2005

Recent studies of the LTR-retrotransposons of <i>Schizosaccharomyces pombe</i> have shed considerable light on their evolution and function. The sequencing of the <i>S. pombe</i> genome allowed analysis of its transposon content. This analysis provides information about the maintenance and loss of transposons in the genome. The results of transposition assays and biochemical analyses demonstrate that the N-terminal protein of Tf1 is functionally equivalent to the Gag proteins of retroviruses and retrotransposons. Despite this conservation of function, the N-terminal protein of Tf1 lacks any sequence similarity to other known Gag proteins. Sequence analysis and experimental data also indicate that the Tf1 transposons of <i>S. pombe</i> target their integration into specific sites in the host genome. Transposition events resulting from the expression of Tf1 reveal a strong preference for intergenic regions, specifically at pol II promoters in a window 100–400 bp upstream of open reading frames. The complete and partial copies of Tf transposons in the sequenced genome of <i>S. pombe</i> show the same association of integration with promoter regions. This body of work explores how the transposon interacts with the host, the balance between the transposons propagation and loss, and how different families of transposons evolve.
Interpretation and over-interpretation: disputing the meaning of texts
Authors: Frosh Stephen , Emerson Peter D. 
Published: July 2005

In order to address issues concerning the ‘positioning’ of individuals in discourse, appeal has recently been made to psychoanalytic formulations offering plausible interpretations of how and why specific subjects take up the positions they do. This raises many problems concerning the relationship between ‘top-down’ or ‘expert’ interpretive strategies and the ‘bottom-up’ grounded approaches traditionally preferred by qualitative researchers. Along with these methodological issues go epistemological and political questions concerning power and accountability. The current article stages a dialogue around psychoanalytically and discursively driven interpretive strategies, centring on the analysis of material concerning a teenage boy’s attempt to develop a ‘non-hegemonic’ position with regard to masculinity. A psychoanalytic reading of the boy’s talk is given alongside a discursive analysis used to offer a critique of this approach. It is argued a) that psychoanalytic interpretive strategies require much more grounding than is usually available from conventional interview texts; and b) that a dialogue of psychoanalytic and discursive analytic interpretations serves to raise questions of difference as possibilities for collaboration.
Distinct roles for the NF-κB1 and c-Rel transcription factors in the differentiation and survival of plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells activated by TLR-9 signals
Authors: O'Keeffe Meredith , Grumont Raelene J. , Hochrein Hubertus , Fuchsberger Martina , Gugasyan Raffi , Vremec David , Shortman Ken , Gerondakis Steve 
Published: July 2005

AbstractReticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog/nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (Rel/NF-κB) activation is a ubiquitous outcome of engaging Toll-like receptors (TLRs), yet the cell-type–specific functions of this pathway in response to particular microbial signals remain poorly defined. Here we show that NF-κB1 and C-Rel, Rel/NF-κB proteins induced in conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) by cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) DNA, a TLR-9 ligand, serve markedly different functions in these DC subsets. With the exception of impaired interleukin-12 (IL-12) production, cultured Nfkb1–/–C-Rel–/– cDCs responded relatively normally to CpG DNA. In contrast, CpG-treated Nfkb1–/–C-Rel–/– pDCs, which were still able to produce type I interferon and regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), but not IL-6 or IL-12, failed to acquire an activated dendritic phenotype and underwent apoptosis. Although the TLR-9–mediated death of Nfkb1–/–C-Rel–/– pDCs, which coincided with a failure to up-regulate the prosurvival proteins B-cell lymphoma apoptosis regulator xL (Bcl-xL) and A1, was blocked by Bcl-2 transgene expression, this inhibition of apoptosis still failed to rescue the differentiation defects. This indicated that these NF-κB transcription factors independently regulate TLR-9–mediated pDC morphogenesis and survival. Collectively, these findings establish that NF-κB1 and c-Rel, while largely dispensable for TLR-9–induced cDC activation, are critical for regulating differentiation and survival programs during pDC activation.
Rank-invariant resampling based estimation of false discovery rate for analysis of small sample microarray data
Authors: Jain Nitin , Cho HyungJun , O'Connell Michael , Lee Jae K 
Published: July 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe evaluation of statistical significance has become a critical process in identifying differentially expressed genes in microarray studies. Classical p-value adjustment methods for multiple comparisons such as family-wise error rate (FWER) have been found to be too conservative in analyzing large-screening microarray data, and the False Discovery Rate (FDR), the expected proportion of false positives among all positives, has been recently suggested as an alternative for controlling false positives. Several statistical approaches have been used to estimate and control FDR, but these may not provide reliable FDR estimation when applied to microarray data sets with a small number of replicates.ResultsWe propose a rank-invariant resampling (RIR) based approach to FDR evaluation. Our proposed method generates a biologically relevant null distribution, which maintains similar variability to observed microarray data. We compare the performance of our RIR-based FDR estimation with that of four other popular methods. Our approach outperforms the other methods both in simulated and real microarray data.ConclusionWe found that the SAM's random shuffling and SPLOSH approaches were liberal and the other two theoretical methods were too conservative while our RIR approach provided more accurate FDR estimation than the other approaches.
Comparing independent microarray studies: the case of human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Suárez-Fariñas Mayte , Noggle Scott , Heke Michael , Hemmati-Brivanlou Ali , Magnasco Marcelo O 
Published: July 2005

AbstractBackgroundMicroarray studies of the same phenomenon in different labs often appear at variance because the published lists of regulated transcripts have disproportionately small intersections. We demonstrate that comparing studies by intersecting lists in this manner is methodologically flawed by reanalyzing three studies of the molecular signature of "stemness" in human embryonic stem cells. There are only 7 genes common to all three published lists, suggesting disagreement.ResultsCarefully reanalyzing all three together from the raw data we detect 111 genes upregulated and 95 downregulated in all three studies. The upregulated list was subject to rtRTPCR analysis and 75% of the genes were confirmed.ConclusionOur findings show that the three studies have a substantial core of common genes, which is missed if only the published lists are examined. Combined analysis of multiple experiments can be a powerful way to distil coherent conclusions.
Stimulus-dependent spatial patterns of response in SI cortex
Authors: Chiu Joannellyn S , Tommerdahl Mark , Whitsel Barry L , Favorov Oleg V 
Published: July 2005

Abstract

Background
Recently we reported that vibrotactile flutter stimulation of a skin locus at different amplitudes evokes an optical response confined to the same local region of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI), where its overall magnitude varies proportionally to the flutter amplitude. In this report, we characterize the impact of the flutter amplitude on the spatial patterns of activity evoked within the responding SI region.

Results
In order to characterize the spatial pattern of activity within the responding SI region, images of the flutter-evoked SI optical response were segmented and analyzed with spatial frequency analysis. The analysis revealed that: (1) dominant spatial frequencies in the optical intrinsic signal emerge within the responding SI region within 3–5 sec of stimulus onset; (2) the stimulus-evoked activity is spatially organized in a form of several roughly parallel, anterior-posteriorly extended waves, spaced 0.4–0.5 mm apart; (3) the waves themselves exhibit spatial periodicities along their long axis; and (4) depending on the flutter stimulus amplitude, these periodicities can range from fine 0.15 mm "ripples" at 50 μm amplitude to well-developed 0.5 mm fluctuations at the amplitude of 400 μm.

Conclusion
The observed spatiointensive fractionation on a sub-macrocolumnar scale of the SI response to skin stimulation might be the product of local competitive interactions within the stimulus-activated SI region and may be a feature that could yield novel insights into the functional interactions that take place in SI cortex.
A simplified search strategy for identifying randomised controlled trials for systematic reviews of health care interventions: a comparison with more exhaustive strategies
Authors: Royle Pamela , Waugh Norman 
Published: July 2005

Abstract

Background
It is generally believed that exhaustive searches of bibliographic databases are needed for systematic reviews of health care interventions. The CENTRAL database of controlled trials (RCTs) has been built up by exhaustive searching. The CONSORT statement aims to encourage better reporting, and hence indexing, of RCTs. Our aim was to assess whether developments in the CENTRAL database, and the CONSORT statement, mean that a simplified RCT search strategy for identifying RCTs now suffices for systematic reviews of health care interventions.

Methods
RCTs used in the Cochrane reviews were identified. A brief RCT search strategy (BRSS), consisting of a search of CENTRAL, and then for variants of the word random across all fields (random$.af.) in MEDLINE and EMBASE, was devised and run. Any trials included in the meta-analyses, but missed by the BRSS, were identified. The meta-analyses were then re-run, with and without the missed RCTs, and the differences quantified. The proportion of trials with variants of the word random in the title or abstract was calculated for each year. The number of RCTs retrieved by searching with "random$.af." was compared to the highly sensitive search strategy (HSSS).

Results
The BRSS had a sensitivity of 94%. It found all journal RCTs in 47 of the 57 reviews. The missing RCTs made some significant differences to a small proportion of the total outcomes in only five reviews, but no important differences in conclusions resulted. In the post-CONSORT years, 1997–2003, the percentage of RCTs with random in the title or abstract was 85%, a mean increase of 17% compared to the seven years pre-CONSORT (95% CI, 8.3% to 25.9%). The search using random$.af. reduced the MEDLINE retrieval by 84%, compared to the HSSS, thereby reducing the workload of checking retrievals.

Conclusion
A brief RCT search strategy is now sufficient to locate RCTs for systematic reviews in most cases. Exhaustive searching is no longer cost-effective, because in effect it has already been done for CENTRAL.
Testing the effectiveness of an innovative information package on practitioner reported behaviour and beliefs: The UK Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists Low back pain ManagemENT (COMPLeMENT) trial [ISRCTN77245761]
Authors: Evans David W , Foster Nadine E , Underwood Martin , Vogel Steven , Breen Alan C , Pincus Tamar 
Published: July 2005

Abstract

Background
Low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly problem. Initiatives designed to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for LBP include printed evidence-based clinical guidelines. The three professional groups of chiropractic, osteopathy and musculoskeletal physiotherapy in the UK share common ground with their approaches to managing LBP and are amongst those targeted by LBP guidelines. Even so, many seem unaware that such guidelines exist. Furthermore, the behaviour of at least some of these practitioners differs from that recommended in these guidelines.
Few randomised controlled trials evaluating printed information as an intervention to change practitioner behaviour have utilised a no-intervention control. All these trials have used a cluster design and most have methodological flaws. None specifically focus upon practitioner behaviour towards LBP patients. Studies that have investigated other strategies to change practitioner behaviour with LBP patients have produced conflicting results. Although numerous LBP guidelines have been developed worldwide, there is a paucity of data on whether their dissemination actually changes practitioner behaviour. Primarily because of its low unit cost, sending printed information to large numbers of practitioners is an attractive dissemination and implementation strategy. The effect size of such a strategy, at an individual practitioner level, is likely to be small. However, if large numbers of practitioners are targeted, this strategy might achieve meaningful changes at a population level.

Methods
The primary aim of this prospective, pragmatic randomised controlled trial is to test the short-term effectiveness (six-months following intervention) of a directly-posted information package on the reported clinical behaviour (primary outcome), attitudes and beliefs of UK chiropractors, osteopaths and musculoskeletal physiotherapists. We sought to randomly allocate a combined sample of 1,800 consenting practitioners to receive either the information package (intervention arm) or no information above that gained during normal practice (control arm). We collected questionnaire data at baseline and six-months post-intervention. The analysis of the primary outcome will assess between-arm differences of proportions of responses to questions on recommendations about activity, work and bed-rest, that fall within categories previously defined by an expert consensus exercise as either 'guideline-consistent' and 'guideline-inconsistent'.
An experimental study of sexual function improving effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg)
Authors: Tajuddin  , Ahmad Shamshad , Latif Abdul , Qasmi Iqbal Ahmad , Amin Kunwar Mohammad Yusuf 
Published: July 2005

Abstract

Background

Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) has been mentioned in Unani medicine to be of value in the management of male sexual disorders. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the aphrodisiac effect of 50% ethanolic extract of nutmeg along with its likely adverse effects and acute toxicity using various animal models.

Methods
The suspension of the extract was administered (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) to different groups of male rats daily for seven days. The female rats involved in mating were made receptive by hormonal treatment. The general mating behaviour, libido and potency were studied and compared with the standard reference drug sildenafil citrate. Likely adverse effects and acute toxicity of the extract were also evaluated.

Results
Oral administration of the extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg, produced significant augmentation of sexual activity in male rats. It significantly increased the Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency, Intromission Latency and caused significant reduction in the Mounting Latency and Post Ejaculatory Interval. It also significantly increased Mounting Frequency with penile anaesthetisation as well as Erections, Quick Flips, Long Flips and the aggregate of penile reflexes with penile stimulation. The extract was also observed to be devoid of any adverse effects and acute toxicity.

Conclusion
The resultant significant and sustained increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats without any conspicuous adverse effects indicates that the 50% ethanolic extract of nutmeg possesses aphrodisiac activity, increasing both libido and potency, which might be attributed to its nervous stimulating property. The present study thus provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of nutmeg in the management of male sexual disorders.
Overcoming cisplatin resistance by mTOR inhibitor in lung cancer
Authors: Wu Chunjing , Wangpaichitr Medhi , Feun Lynn , Kuo Marcus Tien , Robles Carlos , Lampidis Theodore , Savaraj Niramol 
Published: July 2005

Abstract

Background
Cisplatin resistance is complex and involves several different mechanisms. Employing cDNA microarray analysis, we have found that cisplatin resistant cells share the common characteristic of increase in ribosomal proteins and elongation factors. We hypothesize that in order to survive cisplatin treatment, cells have to synthesize DNA repair proteins, antiapoptotic proteins and growth-stimulating proteins. Thus, by blocking the translation of these proteins, one should be able to restore cisplatin sensitivity. We have studied the role of CCI-779, an ester analog of rapamycin which is known to inhibit translation by disabling mTOR, in restoring cisplatin sensitivity in a panel of cisplatin resistant cell lines. We have also determined the role of CCI-779 in P-gp1 and MRP1 mediated resistance.

Results
Our data show that CCI-779 possess antiproliferative effects in both cisplatin sensitive and resistant cell lines, but shows no effect in P-gp1 and MRP1 overexpressing cell lines. Importantly, CCI-779 at 10 ng/ml (less that 10% of the growth inhibitory effect) can increase the growth inhibition of cisplatin by 2.5–6 fold. Moreover, CCI-779 also enhances the apoptotic effect of cisplatin in cisplatin resistant cell lines. In these resistant cells, adding CCI-779 decreases the amount of 4E-BP phosphorylation and p-70S6 kinase phosphorylation as well as lower the amount of elongation factor while cisplatin alone has no effect. However, CCI-779 can only reverse P-gp mediated drug resistance at a higher dose(1 ug/ml).

Conclusion
We conclude that CCI-779 is able to restore cisplatin sensitivity in small cell lung cancer cell lines selected for cisplatin resistance as well as cell lines derived from patients who failed cisplatin. These findings can be further explored for future clinical use. On the other hand, CCI-779 at achievable clinical concentration, has no growth inhibitory effect in P-gp1 or MRP1 overexpressing cells. Furthermore, CCI-779 also appears to be a weak MDR1 reversal agent. Thus, it is not a candidate to use in MDR1 or MRP1 overexpressing cells.