bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning to See in Classrooms: What are student teachers learning about teaching and learning while learning to teach in schools?
Authors: EDWARDS ANNE , PROTHEROE LYNN
Published: May 2004

Using sociocultural understandings of learning, the authors probe a rationale for training programmes which are extensively school based and involved school‐based teacher mentors as supporters of student teachers' learning. They ask what it is that student teachers are learning while in schools and how that learning is supported. Drawing on evidence from a study of 125 student teachers on two training programmes, the authors suggest that student teachers' learning is heavily situated and that students are not acquiring ways of interpreting learners that are easily transferable, but they are learning about curriculum delivery. It also seems that there is a participatory version of training which is not underpinned by an understanding of the implications of learning through participation and which, as a consequence, does not make the most of the strengths of mentors.
Is the Effective Compromising the Affective?
Authors: McNESS ELIZABETH , BROADFOOT PATRICIA , OSBORN MARILYN
Published: May 2004

This article draws on the evidence from two Economic and Social Research Council funded projects which examined the impact of policy on the lives of classroom teachers and the experience of their pupils. The PACE Project concentrated on English primary teachers, reviewing practice in the light of the successive waves of legislative change following the 1988 Education Reform Act. The ENCOMPASS Project was a cross‐cultural study which investigated the attitudes of pupils to schooling and the impact of policy on the work of secondary teachers in England, France and Denmark. Evidence from both projects suggested that teachers in England were concerned that externally imposed educational change had not only increased their workload but also created a growing tension between the requirements of government and the needs of their pupils. A perceived demand for a delivery of ‘performance’, for both themselves and their pupils, had created a policy focus that emphasised the managerially ‘effective’, in the interests of accountability, while ignoring teachers' deeply rooted commitment to the affective aspects of teaching and learning. This article reviews the main findings from both projects in relation to the current thrust of education policy‐making in England and its possible impact on teachers' work and job satisfaction. It also draws attention to the possible long‐term effects that such a focus could have on the quality of learning and the ability of pupils to engage with the necessary skills for lifelong learning.
Thematic Review Reflecting Upon and Changing Teaching and Learning within Education
Authors: Race Richard
Published: May 2004

Book Reviewed in this article:

Learner‐centered Teaching: five key changes to practice Maryellen Weimer

Competence in the Learning Society John Raven & John Stephenson (Eds)

Developing Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Gill Nicholls
Factors Affecting the Interpretation of Canine and Nonhuman Primate Clinical Pathology
Authors: Hall Robert L. , Everds Nancy E.
Published: May 2004

Interpreting canine and nonhuman primate clinical pathology data from preclinical studies can be challenging. Relatively few animals are tested (typically beagles and macaques), and they often undergo study-related procedures (eg, sample collection for pharmacokinetic analysis) that can affect clinical pathology test results. Data interpretation requires an understanding of the significance of each test, species differences for each test, normal interanimal and intraanimal variability, the effects of study design variables, and supporting data from other disciplines. Interpretation of hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis parameters are discussed, with emphasis on species peculiarities and study design variables that may affect clinical pathology test results.
The Dog's Role in the Preclinical Assessment of QT Interval Prolongation
Authors: Gralinski Michael R.
Published: May 2004

During the development of a new therapeutic, few pharmacodyamic outcomes currently receive as much scrutiny as the effect of a potential medication on the electrocardiographic QT interval. The recent withdrawal from marketing of several drugs due to potential drug-related cardiac arrhythmias have greatly increased concern about drug-related changes on the QT interval. In order to reduce the incidence of these idiosyncratic episodes, regulatory agencies have suggested that sponsors use more rigorous methodology during the safety evaluation of new pharmaceuticals. Along with enhanced electrocardiographic assessments during clinical trials, advanced preclinical examinations of effect on QT interval and ventricular repolarization have become de rigueur. In this arena, the beagle dog is the preclinical species often associated with the most reliable predictivity for human safety assessment. To this end, canine models of cardiovascular safety assessment are discussed along with the relevance of these assays to human electrocardiography.
Issues Related to the Use of Canines in Toxicologic Pathology—Issues With Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism
Authors: Tibbitts Jay
Published: May 2004

The dog is a commonly used animal model by virtue of its size, well-characterized physiology, and ease of handling. For these reasons and others, dogs are also useful in pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies during the development of both human and veterinary pharmaceutical products. In comparison with humans, or with other animals, dogs have some unique physiologic attributes that can affect the disposition of drugs. Species differences in gastrointestinal physiology, metabolism, renal function, and protein binding can affect the correlation of the pharmacokinetics and toxicology of dogs with those of other species. With the use of relevant examples, this article will provide an introduction to characteristics of dog physiology and their impact on pharmacokinetics, metabolism, drug disposition, toxicity, and dose selection.
Differentiating Spontaneous from Drug-Induced Vascular Injury in the Dog
Authors: Clemo Frances A.S. , Evering Winston E. , Snyder Paul W. , Albassam Mudher A.
Published: May 2004

When vascular injury is observed in dogs used in preclinical toxicology studies, careful evaluation of the lesions is warranted, especially when differentiating drug-induced vascular changes from spontaneous findings, such as idiopathic canine polyarteritis. The clinical signs as well as the nature and distribution of lesions can often be distinguishing, as is the case with vasoactive drugs, including vasodilators and/or positive inotropes (hydralazine, minoxidil, endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase III inhibitors). For most types of vasodilator-induced vascular injury, the lesion is often restricted to coronary arteries, whereas in idiopathic canine polyarteritis, arterial lesions not only involve coronary arteries, but also medium to small arteries of other organs. In addition, the nature of the changes in vessels yields important clues. Medial and adventitial hemorrhage is generally associated with vasodilator-induced arterial lesion, whereas hemorrhage is generally absent in idiopathic polyarteritis. Although idiopathic canine polyarteritis can generally be differentiated from vasoactive-induced vascular injury in dogs, there are increasing incidences of this type of polyarteritis in dogs receiving any 1 of a number of unrelated classes of compounds, suggestive of an exacerbation of the spontaneous disease. Therefore, in order to differentiate drug-induced injury from idiopathic canine polyarteritis, it is critical that examination of the vascular pathology be conducted with good understanding of clinical, pharmacological, and mechanistic data associated with the drug.
Evaluation of Large-Sized Brains for Neurotoxic Endpoints
Authors: Garman Robert H.
Published: May 2004

Sampling of large-sized brains (eg, dog, primate) for microscopic examination is frequently inadequate to detect localized neurotoxic injury. Furthermore, the examination of H&E-stained sections alone will often be insufficient for the detection of subtle neuropathogic alteration. It is imperative for any pathologist evaluating brain sections to have knowledge of microscopic neuroanatomy and to also have some understanding of basic neurochemistry. When a focus of degeneration is detected within the brain, the pathologist needs to ascertain not only the specific anatomic location of this focus but also the neuroanatomic regions that project to and receive output from the injured focus. Because of the complexity of brain circuitry and the fact that the brain contains many distinctive neuron populations, many more brain sections are required for adequate microscopic evaluation than for any other body organ. Deciding which and how many areas should be examined, microscopically, from a large size brain is often problematic. Although any sampling protocol will be influenced by what is known about the test chemical, it has been well established that certain regions of the brain (eg, hippocampus and other components of the limbic system, basal ganglia, Purkinje neurons) are more susceptible than others to a variety of physical, metabolic, and chemical insults. Knowledge of these regional sensitivities will assist in guiding the pathologist in the development of an adequate sampling protocol.
Issues Related to the Use of Fish Models in Toxicologic Pathology: Session Introduction
Authors: Law J. Mchugh
Published: May 2004

Ready or not, fish models are “here to stay.” No longer are fish confined to a few specialized laboratories, nor are they exclusively the purview of zoologists or environmental toxicologists. In fact, the institution that does not house at least 1 fish facility is probably not at the forefront of cutting edge research. In toxicologic pathology, fish models are increasingly being used to provide high animal numbers at relatively low cost in carcinogenicity testing and developmental research, and to provide mechanistic information on fundamental cellular processes. In this session, we attempt to provide some perspective for the pathologist that is faced with planning or performing experiments or testing protocols using fish models, or with reading or interpreting fish studies. First, we cover how to approach fish studies from the contract laboratory standpoint, including sectioning, quality control, and GLP considerations. Then, we discuss specifics on the use of the rainbow trout, zebrafish, and Japanese medaka models. The rainbow trout has a rich history in carcinogenicity and mechanistic cancer research. Similarly, the 2 workhorses in the small fish category, zebrafish and medaka, have found their way into many laboratories doing developmental biology and genomics research as well as carcinogenicity testing. Some fascinating genetically altered fish models have been developed with both of these species. This manuscript provides a session overview of the use of small fish models in toxicologic pathology, along with some historical perspective on how these models have played a role in the current state of the science.
The Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Tumor Model: Recent Applications in Low-Dose Exposures to Tumor Initiators and Promoters
Authors: Williams David E. , Bailey George S. , Reddy Ashok , Hendricks Jerry D. , Oganesian Aram , Orner Gayle A. , Pereira Cliff B. , Swenberg James A.
Published: May 2004

The rainbow trout has been utilized as a model for human carcinogenesis for a number of years. Trout are relatively inexpensive to maintain and exhibit (over the 9—12-month tumor assay period) very low spontaneous tumor backgrounds. One of the most powerful applications of this model is the design and conduct of large-scale tumor studies requiring thousands of animals that address statistically challenging questions of dose-response. Two recent examples of such applications include our studies on I3C as a tumor promoter and DBP as a tumor initiator. I3C was shown to promote AFB1- initiated liver cancer at doses near those recommended for supplementation in humans. Further studies are required to determine if the mechanisms responsible for promotion in trout can be extrapolated to humans. In the second example, we report results from the largest animal tumor study ever conducted. A total of 42,000 trout were utilized to measure DBP carcinogenesis down to incidences of 1 in 5,000. The dose response model deviated significantly from linearity although the existence of a threshold could not be statistically established. Extrapolation of the data model predicts a DBP dose producing 1 in 106 cancers that is 1,000-fold higher than predicted by the conservative linear model. If these results can be confirmed with other carcinogens (genotoxic and perhaps nongenotoxic) and other targets, this could have a significant impact on the utilization of animal tumor data in human risk assessment.
Use of the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) and Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in Carcinogenesis Testing Under National Toxicology Program Protocols
Authors: Hawkins William E. , Walker William W. , Fournie John W. , Manning C. Steve , Krol Rena M.
Published: May 2004

A need exists for whole animal toxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis models that are alternative to the traditional rodent test models and that are economical, sensitive, and scientifically acceptable. Among small fish models, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) is preeminent for investigating effects of carcinogenic and/or toxic waterborne hazards to humans. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata ), although less widely used, is valuable as a comparison species. Both species are easy to maintain and handle in the laboratory and there is a large body of background information on their responsiveness to a range of classes of carcinogens. There are considerable data on the occurrence of background diseases and on spontaneous neoplastic lesions, both of which occur relatively rarely. With few modifications, the medaka and guppy are amenable to carcinogenicity testing under the rigid standards established by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for rodent tests. The advantages of the small fish in carcinogenesis studies are best realized in long-term studies that involve environmentally realistic exposures. Studies to identify chronic effects can be conducted in about 12 months, near the life span of medaka in our laboratory. Practically, 9-month studies are optimal but shorter study cycles and a variety of exposure/growout and initiation/promotion scenarios are available. Studies on 3 compounds tested in medaka under NTP protocols are under review and preliminary analysis indicates that chronic carcinogenicity bioassays with medaka, guppy, and potentially with other small fish species are feasible and scientifically valid.
Environmental Enrichment of Nonhuman Primates, Dogs and Rabbits Used in Toxicology Studies
Authors: Bayne Kathryn A.L.
Published: May 2004

The increasing emphasis on the provision of environmental enrichment to laboratory animals, vis-à-vis the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 1996), and a potential forthcoming policy from the USDA on the subject, can be difficult to accommodate in a toxicology research environment. A summary will be provided of current requirements and recommendations. Then, strategies for meeting regulatory requirements will be described for non-rodent animals used in toxicology research. These strategies will address methods of both social enrichment, such as pair or group housing, as well as non-social enrichment, such as cage furniture, food enrichments, and toys. In addition, the value of positive interactions with staff (e.g., through training paradigms or socialization programs) will also be discussed. Apparent in the discussion of these strategies will be an overarching recognition of the necessity to avoid introducing confounding variables into the research project and to avoid compromising animal health. The roles of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the attending veterinarian in helping scientists balance animal well-being, the scientific enterprise and the regulatory environment will be described.
Expanding Childminding Provision in Areas of Deprivation
Authors: Bond Meg , Kersey David
Published: May 2004

This paper suggests that Government plans to increase childminding provision in areas of deprivation may be seen as an entrepreneurial opportunity for lone parents in receipt of welfare benefits. But if it is to offer a route out of poverty, they will need integrated, specialist and continuing assistance to negotiate the fragmented systems currently associated with business and personal finances, and to understand the inter-connections between them. The findings from a small-scale feasibility project are presented as the starting point for the development of a recruitment and support strategy which foregrounds the financial aspects of childminding.
Creating new industries and service clusters on Tyneside
Authors: Benneworth Paul
Published: May 2004

Cluster policies have become an increasingly important component of the European Structural Funds, and are likely to become more so as cost pressures on these policies increase with European enlargement. However, the policy appeal of clusters is based on a range of factors, not merely their low cost. Moreover, benefits identified in a limited number of exemplar regions have been assumed to also hold for clusters in less well-performing regions. This short paper identifies the potential benefits which clusters can bring to a less favoured region beyond aspiring to the creation of a new ‘Silicon Valley’. The paper aims to tease out some of the important caveats of which local authorities seeking to promote cluster-based economic development need to be aware.
Learning from Implicit Learning Literature: Comment on Shea, Wulf, Whitacre, and Park (2001)
Authors: Perruchet Pierre , Chambaron Stephanie , Ferrel-Chapus Carole
Published: May 2004

In their analysis of complex motor skill learning, Shea, Wulf, Whitacre, and Park (2001) have overlooked one of the most robust conclusions of the experimental studies on implicit learning conducted during the last decade—namely that participants usually learn things that are different from those that the experimenter expected them to learn. Weshow that the available literature on implicit learning strongly suggests that the improved performance in Shea et al.'s Experiments 1 and 2 (and similar earlier experiments, e.g., Wulf & Schmidt, 1997) was due to the exploitation of regularities in the target pattern different from those on which the postexperimental interview focused. This rules out the conclusions drawn from the failure of this interview to reveal any explicit knowledge about the task structure on the part of the participants. Similarly, because the information about the task structure provided to an instructed group of participants in Shea et al.'s Experiment 2 did not concern the regularities presumably exploited by the standard, so-called implicit, group, Shea et al.'s claim that explicit knowledge may be less effective than implicit knowledge is misleading.
Objects, Raised Lines, and the Haptic Horizontal-Vertical Illusion
Authors: Heller Morton A. , Bracket Deneen D. , Salik Shana S. , Scroggs Eric , Green Shavonda
Published: May 2004

Experiments were conducted to determine whether the haptic horizontal-vertical illusion occurs with solid, three-dimensional objects as well as with tangible lines. The objects consisted of round or square bases, with dowel rods projecting above them at heights equal to the widths of the horizontal bases. A negative illusion, with overestimation of horizontals, was found with free haptic exploration, but not with tracing with the fingertip. The negative illusion occurred when subjects felt wooden Ls and inverted Ts with a grasping, pincers motion of the index finger and thumb. The presence or absence of illusory misperception was dependent upon exploration strategy, since the negative illusion vanished with finger tracing. A negative illusion was also found when subjects adjusted a vertical dowel so that it was judged to be equal in extent to a round or square base. A general overestimation of judged size derived from the pincers response measure, but was not found with the use of a tangible ruler. Comparable illusory results are most likely when drawings and objects promote similar haptic scanning methods. The results were consistent with the idea that the orientation of an edge or line is more important than whether one explores a tangible line or a three-dimensional object.
Initial and Concurrent Planning in Solutions to Well-Structured Problems
Authors: Davies Simon P.
Published: May 2004

Two experiments are reported, which consider planning behaviour in the context of a well-structured problem. One question in the problem-solving literature is to what extent planning a solution to a problem takes place before attempting that problem and whether this takes precedence over planning while solving a problem, hereafter referred to as “concurrent planning”. An additional question is whether the adoption of one mode of planning confers a performance advantage and under what circumstances one strategy is adopted in preference to others. The studies reported here set out to investigate the effects on performance of adopting different modes of planning and whether there is any relationship between the adoption of different strategic approaches and problem-solving performance. The results of these studies suggest that initial planning can enhance problem-solving performance, but only when problems remain relatively simple. As problem complexity increases the effects of initial planning appear to have little or no effect upon performance. In conclusion it is suggested that strategy use depends upon the interactions between individual preference for a given strategy, problem complexity, and the stage that one has reached in the development of a solution to a problem.
Information Integration in Judgements of Time to Contact
Authors: DeLucia Patricia R. , Kaiser Mary K. , Bush Jason M. , Meyer Les E. , Sweet Barbara T.
Published: May 2004

Time to contact (TTC) is specified optically by tau, and studies suggest that observers are sensitive to this information. However, TTC judgements also are influenced by other sources of information, including pictorial depth cues. Therefore, it is useful to identify these sources of information and to determine whether and how their effects combine when multiple sources are available. We evaluated the effect of five depth cues on TTC judgements. Results indicate that relative size, height in field, occlusion, and motion parallax influence TTC judgements. When multiple cues are available, an integration (rather than selection) strategy is used. Finally, the combined effects of multiple cues are not always consistent with a strict additive model and may be task dependent.
Examining the Relationship between word Learning, Nonword Repetition, and Immediate Serial Recall in Adults
Authors: Gupta Prahlad
Published: May 2004

Two experiments examined whether the association between word-learning, nonword repetition, and immediate serial recall observed in children also exists in normal adults. The experiments also introduce a novel paradigm for studying word-learning. Experiment 1 studied the performance of 52 adults in nonword repetition, immediate serial recall, and word-learning tasks, examining the correlation between these measures. The results indicate that the developmental relationships between all three abilities also exist in adults. Experiment 2 investigated the robustness of these results using different stimuli and a variant of the word-learning task, and it also examined performance in a visuospatial span task, to test an alternative account of the results of Experiment 1; the results from 58 adults provide further evidence that the developmental association between word-learning, nonword repetition, and immediate serial recall extends into adulthood. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of alternative models of the relationship between these abilities.
Microtexture Studies of PST and PZT Ceramics and PZT Thin Film by Electron Backscatter Diffraction Patterns
Authors: Tai C. W. , Baba-Kishi K. Z.
Published: May 2004

Crystallographic orientations of twelve different lead scandium tantalate (PST) ceramics,
two lead zirconate titanate ceramics (PZT) and one PZT thin film were investigated by
the technique of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in the scanning electron microscope.
The PST ceramics were processed under different conditions of temperature and
annealing. Crystal orientations in the bulk ceramics were examined and the results were
plotted in microtexture pole‐ and inverse pole‐figures. Local texture and misorientation
between adjacent grains in certain selected regions of the ceramics were also examined.
To compare the results of the PST with another lead‐based ferroelectric material, an
unpoled and a poled PZT ceramics were studied for their texture. The electrical and electromechanical
properties of the PZT ceramics were also measured in an attempt to correlate
texture with properties. Extensive studies revealed insignificant texture in the
ceramics, indicating no relationship between ferroelectricity and texture. Preferred orientations
were observed in a PZT thin film grown by pulsed‐laser deposition (PLD)
method. Though improved anisotropy in PZT thin films can be attributed to texture,
there is no indication of the dependence of piezoelectricity on texture.
On The Peculiarities of X‐Ray Determination of Crystallographic Texture in Samples After Testing Wear Resistance
Authors: Sokolov B. K. , Sokolova T. A. , Vladimirov L. P. , Anisimova L. I. , Makarov A. B.
Published: May 2004

A peculiar relief generally appears on the sample surface while testing wear resistance,
which impairs the results of texture analysis by X‐ray diffraction methods. The main
reason for this is screening influence of the surface roughness on the X‐ray passing
through. From model representations, the influence on the screening of the relief
parameters and the characteristic angle of reflection of X‐rays is shown. Distribution
of the parameters of a relief that actually forms is analyzed. A computer‐assisted
method of calculation of pole figures that excludes the screening effect is suggested.
As an example of the method of application, the results of the analysis of textures
that form upon testing wear resistance under condition of dry friction by slipping in
pairs of samples of the β‐titanium alloy VT35 doped with hydrogen are presented.
New Coefficients of the Minority Carrier Lifetime and Bandgap Narrowing Models in the Transparent Emitter of Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Zerga A. , Benosman M. , Dujardin F. , Benyoucef B. , Charles J-P.
Published: May 2004

In this study we have determined new coefficients for the physical model describing the band‐gap narrowing and the minority carriers lifetime. This was accomplished according to the doping level of the thin emitter. This model allows us to take into account both the effects of the heavy doping and the majority carrier degeneration for the very high level of doping. The results we obtain by the corrected model are in good agreement with those reported in the literature and in different experiments. They show us the possibility of accurately evaluating the performances for the n+p silicon solar cell. This model is then used to introduce a new concept for the thin layer emitter, called transparent emitter.
Modeling and forecasting the peak flows of a river
Authors: Lefebvre Mario
Published: May 2004

A stochastic model is found for the value of the peak flows of the Mistassibi river in Québec, Canada, when the river is in spate. Next, the objective is to forecast the value of the coming peak flow about four days in advance, when the flow begins to show a marked increase. Both the stochastic model proposed in the paper and a model based on linear regression are used to produce the forecasts. The quality of the forecasts is assessed by considering the standard errors and the peak criterion. The forecasts are much more accurate than those obtained by taking the mean value of the previous peak flows.
Survival maximization for a Laguerre population
Authors: Lefebvre Mario
Published: May 2004

A population whose evolution is approximately described by a Laguerre diffusion process is considered. Let Y(t)
be the number of individuals alive at time t and T(y, t0) be the first time Y(t) is equal to either 0 or d(>0),
given that Y(t0) = y is in (0, d) The aim is to minimize the expected value of a cost criterion in which the final cost is equal to 0 if Y(T) = d and to ∞
if Y(T) = 0. The case when the final cost is 0 (respectively ∞)
if T is greater than or equal to (resp. less than) a fixed constant s is also solved explicitly. In both cases, the risk sensitivity of the optimizer is taken into account.
Hybrid nonnegative and computational dynamical systems
Authors: Haddad Wassim M. , Chellaboina Vijaysekhar , Nersesov Sergey G.
Published: May 2004

Nonnegative and Compartmental dynamical systems are governed by conservation laws and are comprised of homogeneous compartments which exchange variable nonnegative quantities of material via intercompartmental flow laws. These systems typically possess hierarchical (and possibly hybrid) structures and are remarkably effective in capturing the phenomenological features of many biological and physiological dynamical systems. In this paper we develop several results on stability and dissipativity of hybrid nonnegative and Compartmental dynamical systems. Specifically, using linear Lyapunov functions we develop sufficient conditions for Lyapunov and asymptotic stability for hybrid nonnegative dynamical systems. In addition, using linear and nonlinear storage functions with linear hybrid supply rates we develop new notions of dissipativity theory for hybrid nonnegative dynamical systems. Finally, these results are used to develop general stability criteria for feedback interconnections of hybrid nonnegative dynamical
systems.
E. E. Slutsky: Mathematical Statistician, Economist, and Political Economist?
Authors: Barnett Vincent
Published: May 2004

Stephen Stigler's JHET article, “Statisticians and the History of Economics,” rightly suggested that more attention should be given to analyzing the contributions of statisticians in the development of economic theory. It also asked in passing whether E. E. Slutsky should best be regarded as a mathematical statistician oran economist, Stiglerhimself opting forthe former characterization (Stigler 2002, p. 159). This seemingly innocuous question opens up a lively and interesting range of issues, one to which this historian would like to make a small contribution from both a “Russian studies” and a “history of ideas” viewpoint.
Relationship Between Tobacco Smoking and Medical Symptoms Among Cocaine‐, Alcohol‐, and Opiate‐Dependent Patients
Authors: Patkar Ashwin A. , Sterling Robert C. , Leone Frank T. , Lundy Allan , Weinstein Stephen P.
Published: May 2004

Despite widespread use of tobacco by alcohol and drug abusers, the medical effects of smoking remain understudied among such individuals. We investigated the relationship between tobacco smoking and medical symptoms among 87 cocaine‐, 98 opiate‐ and 81 alcohol‐dependent individuals receiving outpatient treatment. Smoking status was assessed and medical symptoms were recorded using a standardized 134‐item self‐report instrument (MILCOM). Almost 79% of patients were tobacco smokers. Analysis of variance revealed a main effect of tobacco smoking on medical symptoms. Smokers reported significantly more symptoms on the total scale as well as on the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nose/throat subscales compared to non‐smokers. Furthermore, we found a significant interaction between tobacco smoking and substance abuse with respect to medical symptoms. While opiate and alcohol patients who smoked reported more symptoms than those who did not, unexpectedly, cocaine users who smoked reported fewer symptoms than those who did not smoke. While the findings support the link between smoking and medical problems among substance abusers, these effects do not seem to be uniform across various substances of abuse. In particular, cocaine patients seem to be affected differently than alcohol and opiate patients.
Isradipine Enhancement of Cerebral Blood Flow in Abstinent Cocaine Abusers with and without Chronic Perfusion Deficits
Authors: Gottschalk P.C.H. , Kosten Thomas R.
Published: May 2004

Nine cocaine abusers with cerebral blood flow (CBF) deficits (hypo‐perfused areas) on HMPAO SPECT scans were compared to six without these deficits after six doses of isradipine (5 mg TID). When comparing the scan before isradipine to that after using SPM analysis, the ratio of hypo‐ to hyper‐fusion showed a 16% increase in the maximum Z scores and 30% fewer areas of hypo‐perfusion among those cocaine abusers with deficits. These deficits may represent segmental cerebral vasospasm that was reversed by this vasodilating agent in cocaine abusers with areas of hypo‐perfusion (deficits) as baseline.
Alcohol Use Affects the Outcome of Treatment for Cocaine Abuse
Authors: Mengis Matilda M. , Maude‐Griffin Peg M. , Delucchi Kevin , Hall Sharon M.
Published: May 2004

This study investigated whether alcohol use affects baseline characteristics and treatment outcome in 128 adults who participated in a randomized trial of cognitive behavioral vs. 12‐step treatment for crack cocaine abuse. Assessments were taken at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 26 on biologically‐verified cocaine abstinence and psychometric measures. Alcohol use was measured at intake and subsequent assessments using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and self‐reported frequency of alcohol consumption. Results indicate alcohol use at baseline was associated with increased baseline cocaine use and ASI drug severity but was not associated with ASI psychiatric severity, psychiatric diagnoses, or other baseline variables. Alcohol use at baseline did not predict worse treatment outcome for cocaine abstinence. However, alcohol use after four weeks of treatment did predict ability to achieve cocaine abstinence at assessment points during and after treatment.
A Pilot Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Sertraline with Naltrexone in the Treatment of Opiate Dependence
Authors: Farren Conor K. , O'Malley Stephanie
Published: May 2004

Naltrexone has been used for thirty years as an aid to maintenance of opiate abstinence with limited success. One reason is that naltrexone does not appear to reduce craving in opiate addiction, unlike in alcoholism. The authors conducted this trial of naltrexone in combination with the SSRI sertraline to assess treatment retention with combination pharmacotherapy. They used a double‐blind placebo controlled trial of naltrexone 50 mg qd with placebo versus naltrexone 50 mgplus sertraline 50 mg qd in 13 recently nondepressed abstinent opiate addicts followed over a 12 week period. Both groups had a similar side effect profile and while there was an initial trend in increased retention in the combination therapy group, there was no difference in retention by the end of the study. There was a fall in the Beck Depression Inventory scores in both groups over time, and there was a significant negative correlation between BDI scores and duration in treatment in the combination therapy group. There was a fall in opiate craving, as measured by an opiate craving questionnaire, over time in both groups. The authors conclude that combination pharmacotherapy appeared to be well tolerated and was initially successful in increasing treatment retention relative to naltrexone alone, but this effect tended to diminish over time.
Patterns of Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Use and Other Substance Use Among Chinese University Students in Hong Kong
Authors: Abdullah Abu Saleh M. , Fielding Richard , Hedley Anthony J.
Published: May 2004

The pattern of tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use was assessed among 1,197 Chinese undergraduates in Hong Kong. Students reported their current and past use of tobacco (13%), alcohol (61%), marijuana (2%), and other illicit drugs (0.4%). Perceptions of risk from the use of different substances were low among those who use substances and among senior students. The rate of substance use was higher among males, residents of university hall, senior students, and among those who possessed a positive attitude towards substance use. There were significant associations between different substance uses among the respondents.
Need for Medical and Psychosocial Services Among Injection Drug Users: A Comparative Study of Needle Exchange and Methadone Maintenance
Authors: Stein Michael D. , Friedmann Peter
Published: May 2004

This study compares the prevalence of perceived and unmet needs of HIV‐negative injection drug users (IDUs) not receiving drug treatment (n = 251) and those recruited from a methadone maintenance program (n = 312) in 1998. We studied self‐reported needs for six community services: medical, mental health, housing, income assistance, alcohol treatment, and drug treatment. Respondents reported the highest levels of need for mental health and housing services. Ninety‐four percent of out‐of‐treatment IDUs reported having at least one need compared to 62% of methadone clients (p < .001). Across all reported service needs, at least 69% of respondents in both cohorts reported their needs were unmet. While HIV‐infected drug users receive assistance through the Ryan White CARE Act, these findings suggest that seronegative drug users may benefit from similar community service programs.
Naturalistic, Self‐Assignment Comparative Trial of Bupropion SR, a Nicotine Patch, or Both for Smoking Cessation Treatment in Primary Care
Authors: Gold Paul B. , Rubey Robert N. , Harvey Richard T.
Published: May 2004

The effectiveness of bupropion SR, a nicotine patch, or both, when co‐administered with cognitive‐behavioral therapy, on smoking cessation was evaluated under treatment‐as‐usual conditions in a primary care smoking cessation clinic. Consecutive consenting patients (n = 189) assigned themselves to one of three treatments according to personal preference: nicotine patch (NTP. n = 27), bupropion SR (B. n = 101), and bupropion SR plus nicotine patch (B + NTP; n = 61). Six‐month self‐reported abstinence rates were 14.8%, 27.7% and 34.4% respectively. Odds ratios for 6‐month abstinence, with NTP as reference, were 2.2 (CI = 0.7–5.9; p = .19) for B, and 3.0 (CI = 0.9–9.9; p = .07) for B + NTP. Resemblance of abstinence pattern and magnitude between this naturalistic study and randomized clinical trials of bupropion SR may support tentative inferences of stability and generalizability of clinical trial efficacy findings.
The Energy Saving Technology of Beneficiation of Iron Ore
Authors: Karmazin V. V. , Bikbov M. A. , Bikbov A. A.
Published: May 2004

The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of liberation of economic minerals and the
level of contamination of the process products by waste components were carried out
for the purpose of analysing the technology level and forecast its development directions.

Concentration of intergrown particles into a separate product for the purpose of
subsequent more efficient and selective liberation is one of the reserves for energy
saving in the grinding operations.

A pilot selective separator was tested in re‐cleaning operations to compare with a
standard (conventional) separator. The tests that showed, that a separator with a
pulsed magnetic field is an efficient device that allows the realization of an intensive concentration
of a large amount of unliberated magnetic particles consisting of two phases
value minerals and gangue, into several products.
Kinetics of Particle Charging in an Electrostatic Field of Separators
Authors: Mesenyashin Anatoly I.
Published: May 2004

With reference to electrostatic separation, expressions are considered for computation of
kinetics of particle charging in electrostatic field and corona discharge field. Particles
are represented as three‐axis ellipsoids, which permits to approximate the particles of
various shapes. Volume conductance and dielectric permittivity, of both particles and
ambient medium are taken into consideration. Total charges and free charges of particles
with high and low conductance are considered. General expression permitting to define
particle charge in a time‐varying electric field has been derived. An example of computation
is considered, when external field varies sinusoidally, and dependence of the particle
charges on the external field duration and variation rate is shown.
UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY AND SOCIAL ISOLATION: Is there a vicious circle of social exclusion?
Authors: Gallie Duncan , Paugam Serge , Jacobs Sheila
Published: May 2004

The concept of social exclusion implies that there is a downward spiral in which labour market marginality leads to poverty and social isolation, which in turn reinforce the risk of long-term unemployment. The evidence in favour of this view hitherto has been largely restricted to cross-sectional data that assess the degree of association between labour market position, poverty status and patterns of sociability. In this article we seek to test more rigorously the implied causal argument by exploring the relationship between these factors over time. The article first explores whether the transition from employment to unemployment heightens the risk of poverty and social isolation, and then turns to the issue of whether poverty and social isolation significantly affect the length of time it takes people to leave unemployment for a job. It draws on data from the European Community Household Panel, which provides longitudinal data for most of the EU member states, for the period 1994 to 1996. The article concludes that there is strong evidence that poverty contributes to a vicious circle of exclusion. Unemployment increases the risks of poverty and poverty in turn makes it more difficult for people to return to work. However, there is no clear support for the view that social isolation is directly caused by unemployment. Rather the risk of social isolation is contingent upon broader cultural patterns with respect to household structure and local sociability, which differ considerably between countries. Furthermore, there was no significant effect of any of the types of sociability studied on the time that it took people to re-enter employment. The article concludes that a concern for the implications of unemployment for social exclusion should focus primarily on the problem of poverty.
Persistence and change - Nordic social policy in the 1980s and 1990s
Authors: Nordlund Anders
Published: May 2004

Many politicians, participants in the public debate and academic scholars have regarded comprehensive welfare states as incompatible with the policy environment of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Nordic welfare states are, due to their post-war history, suitable for testing predictions of the durability of comprehensive welfare states. The first purpose of this article is to examine previous research and official statistics on Nordic welfare state development in order to evaluate the proposition that comprehensive welfare states have been or soon will be forced to dismantle or radically reform social programs. The analysis finds weak support for propositions that comprehensive welfare states have been or soon will be subject to sharp downsizing or radical reconstruction. The second purpose is to explore Pierson’s (2001) suggestion that cost containment and recalibration were salient dimensions of Nordic social policy-making in the 1980s and 1990s. The analysis finds support for Pierson’s arguments. However, empirical evidence also suggests that Pierson’s analysis does not sufficiently incorporate reorganization of services.
SalmonellaImpairs RILP Recruitment to Rab7 during Maturation of Invasion Vacuoles
Authors: Harrison Rene E. , Brumell John H. , Khandani Arian , Bucci Cecilia , Scott Cameron C. , Jiang Xiuju , Finlay B. Brett , Grinstein Sergio
Published: May 2004

After invasion of epithelial cells, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium resides within membrane-bound vacuoles where it survives and replicates. Like endocytic vesicles, the Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs) undergo a maturation process that involves sequential acquisition of Rab5 and Rab7 and displacement toward the microtubule-organizing center. However, SCVs fail to merge with lysosomes and instead develop subsequently into a filamentous network that extends toward the cell periphery. We found that the initial centripetal displacement of the SCV is due to recruitment by Rab7 of Rab7-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP), an effector protein that can simultaneously associate with the dynein motor complex. Unlike the early SCVs, the Salmonella-induced filaments (Sifs) formed later are devoid of RILP and dynein, despite the presence of active Rab7 on their membranes. Kinesin seems to be involved in the elongation of Sifs. SifA, a secreted effector of Salmonella, was found to be at least partly responsible for uncoupling Rab7 from RILP in Sifs and in vitro experiments suggest that SifA may exert this effect by interacting with Rab7. We propose that, by disengaging RILP from Rab7, SifA enables the centrifugal extension of tubules from the Salmonella-containing vacuoles, thereby providing additional protected space for bacterial replication.
Efficient combination of multiple word models for improved sequence comparison
Authors: Huang Xiaoqiu , Ye Liang , Chou Hui-Hsien , Yang I-Hsuan , Chao Kun-Mao
Published: May 2004

Motivation: Studies of efficient and sensitive sequence comparison methods are driven by a need to find homologous regions of weak similarity between large genomes.

Results: We describe an improved method for finding similar regions between two sets of DNA sequences. The new method generalizes existing methods by locating word matches between sequences under two or more word models and extending word matches into high-scoring segment pairs (HSPs). The method is implemented as a computer program named DDS2. Experimental results show that DDS2 can find more HSPs by using several word models than by using one word model.

Availability: The DDS2 program is freely available for academic use in binary code form at http://bioinformatics.iastate.edu/aat/align/align.html and in source code form from the corresponding author.
A mixture model-based strategy for selecting sets of genes in multiclass response microarray experiments
Authors: Broët Philippe , Lewin Alex , Richardson Sylvia , Dalmasso Cyril , Magdelenat Henri
Published: May 2004

Motivation: Multiclass response (MCR) experiments are those in which there are more than two classes to be compared. In these experiments, though the null hypothesis is simple, there are typically many patterns of gene expression changes across the different classes that led to complex alternatives. In this paper, we propose a new strategy for selecting genes in MCR that is based on a flexible mixture model for the marginal distribution of a modified F-statistic. Using this model, false positive and negative discovery rates can be estimated and combined to produce a rule for selecting a subset of genes. Moreover, the method proposed allows calculation of these rates for any predefined subset of genes.

Results: We illustrate the performance our approach using simulated datasets and a real breast cancer microarray dataset. In this latter study, we investigate predefined subset of genes and point out interesting differences between three distinct biological pathways.

Availability:  http://www.bgx.org.uk/software.html