Changes in smoking prevalence among U.S. adults by state and region: Estimates from the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 1992-2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tobacco control policies at the state level have been a critical impetus for reduction in smoking prevalence. We examine the association between recent changes in smoking prevalence and state-specific tobacco control policies and activities in the entire U.S.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed the 1992-93, 1998-99, and 2006-07 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) by state and two indices of state tobacco control policies or activities [initial outcome index (IOI) and the strength of tobacco control (SOTC) index] measured in 1998-1999. The IOI reflects cigarette excise taxes and indoor air legislation, whereas the SOTC reflects tobacco control program resources and capacity. Pearson Correlation coefficient between the proportionate change in smoking prevalence from 1992-93 to 2006-07 and indices of tobacco control activities or programs was the main outcome measure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking prevalence decreased from 1992-93 to 2006-07 in both men and women in all states except Wyoming, where no reduction was observed among men, and only a 6.9% relative reduction among women. The percentage reductions in smoking in men and women respectively were the largest in the West (average decrease of 28.5% and 33.3%) and the smallest in the Midwest (18.6% and 20.3%), although there were notable exceptions to this pattern. The decline in smoking prevalence by state was correlated with the state's IOI in both women and men (r = -0.49, p < 0.001; r = -0.31, p = 0.03; respectively) and with state's SOTC index in women(r = -0.30, p = 0.03 0), but not men (r = -0.21, p = 0.14).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>State level policies on cigarette excise taxes and indoor air legislation correlate strongly with reductions in smoking prevalence since 1992. Strengthening and systematically implementing these policies could greatly accelerate further reductions in smoking.</p

Cytotoxic activities of new iron(III) and nickel(II) chelates of some S-methyl-thiosemicarbazones on K562 and ECV304 cells

The S-methyl-thiosemicarbazones of the 2- hydroxy-R-benzaldehyde (R= H, 3-OH 3-OCH3 or 4-OCH3) reacted with the corresponding aldehydes in the presence of FeCl3 and NiCl2. New ONNO chelates of iron(III) and nickel (II) with hydroxy- or methoxy-substitued N1,N4-diarylidene-Smethyl- thiosemicarbazones were characterized by means of elemental analysis, conductivity and magnetic measurements, UV-Vis, IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. Cytotoxic activities of the compounds were determined using K562 chronic myeloid leukemia and ECV304 human endothelial cell lines by MTT assay. It was determined that monochloro N1-4- methoxysalicylidene-N4-4-methoxysalicylidene-S-methylthiosemicarbazidato- iron(III) complex showed selective anti-leukemic effects in K562 cells while has no effect in ECV304 cells in the 0.53 μg/ml (IC50) concentrations. Also, some methoxy-substitued nickel(II) chelates exhibit high cytotoxic activitiy against both of these cell lines in low concentrations. Cytotoxicity data were evaluated depending on cell lines origin and position of the substituents on aromatic rings

How does fiction reading influence empathy? An experimental investigation on the role of emotional transportation

The current study investigated whether fiction experiences change empathy of the reader. Based on transportation theory, it was predicted that when people read fiction, and they are emotionally transported into the story, they become more empathic. Two experiments showed that empathy was influenced over a period of one week for people who read a fictional story, but only when they were emotionally transported into the story. No transportation led to lower empathy in both studies, while study 1 showed that high transportation led to higher empathy among fiction readers. These effects were not found for people in the control condition where people read non-fiction. The study showed that fiction influences empathy of the reader, but only under the condition of low or high emotional transportation into the story

Project no. FP6-004265 Grid Application Programming Environments

One challenge of building future grid systems is to provide suitable application programming interfaces and environments. In this chapter, we identify functional and non-functional properties for such environments. We then review three existing systems that have been co-developed by the authors with respect to the identified properties: ProActive, Ibis, and GAT. Apparently, no currently existing system is able to address all properties. However, from our systems, we can derive a generic architecture model for grid application programming environments, suitable for building future systems that will be able to address all the properties and challenges identified

Geochemical evaluation of bottom sediments affected by historic mining and the rupture of the Fund?o dam, Brazil.

The rupture of the Fund?o dam released about 39 million m3 of tailings into the Rio Doce/Brazil. The sediment load increase in the affected rivers has become a concern. As such, this article provides recent information about the region. In addition, based on past studies in the region, it shows the magnitude and dynamics of the environmental impacts caused by the rupture of the dam on the bottom sediments. Sediment samples in different seasonal periods were collected at eleven sampling stations located along the Gualaxo do Norte River, the first tributary of the Rio Doce affected by the environmental disaster. These sediments underwent physical, chemical, and granulometric analyses for their organic, metal, and semimetal content. The contamination factor and the enrichment factor of the samples also were calculated. To evaluate the anthropogenic contributions to sediment metal concentrations, reference values (regional background values) for the Gualaxo do Norte River were used. The results indicate that, in the sampling stations not affected by the disaster, the concentrations of the metals and semimetals reflect the geology of the Quadril?tero Ferr?fero. However, in the area affected by the environmental disaster, there were changes in the chemical and physical properties of the bottom sediment, mainly in the concentrations of iron, organic matter, and fine sediment fractions. This was reflected in the contamination factors and enrichment factors calculated for the sediments of the sampling stations. Iron and manganese concentrations in sediments are much higher than other rivers in the world that are unaffected by mining activities. The observed changes in the bottom sediments of the river suggest a need for constant monitoring of the iron because the iron oxide minerals present in silt and clay have a high adsorption capacity. In the long term, these factors may contribute to the decrease of the quality of these sediments and consequently of the waters and biota present in these environments