bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reacidification and reliming effects on soil properties and wheat yield
Authors: Scott B. J. , Conyers M. K. , Poile G. J. , Cullis B. R.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Farmers in southern New South Wales began lime
application in the 1980s. Many have now limed most of the acidic soils on
their properties, and are considering reliming. This is an important economic
consideration as lime is a costly input. We accurately located an old lime
experiment established in 1982 and applied and incorporated lime in 1992, to
give factorial combinations of 5 rates of lime applied in 1982 and 5 rates
applied in 1992. The plots were soil sampled and cropped to wheat (cv. Janz)
in both 1992 and 1993.
The rate of soil pHCa decline in the 0–10 cm soil
from 1983 to 1993 following lime application in 1982 was dependent on the
pHCa increase achieved 1 year after lime application
(1983). The rates of decrease varied from 0.10 pHCa
units/year, after 5000 kg/ha was applied, to 0.02
pHCa units/year following application of 500
kg/ha of lime. Evidence in 1992 and 1993 suggested that the
pHCa effect of lime applied in 1982 had moved down the
soil profile below 10 cm.
Wheat yield in 1992 responded to lime applied in 1982 but not to lime applied
in 1992. In the 1993 season, the 1982 and 1992 applied lime gave significant
yield increases. The response in grain yield in 1993 to 1992 applied lime was
greatest where no lime, or low rates of lime, had been applied in 1982. Grain
yield in 1993 was described as a function of pHCa in the
0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers in that season. Maximum yield of the
aluminium sensitive cultivar Janz was obtained where the
pHCa was about 5.5 in both layers. Where the soil
pHCa was 5.0 in the 0–10 cm soil layer, grain
yield increased with increasing pHCa in the 10–20
cm layer from 3.2 t/ha at pHCa 4.1 to 3.9 t/ha
at pHCa 5.3. Reliming at 2000 kg/ha increased grain
yield in 1993 by about the same amount as an initial application of the same
lime rate.
We suggest that the residual benefit in grain yield was due in part to
movement of the lime effect to the subsurface soil. It appears that maximum
yields may only be achieved with the amendment of the subsurface soil by a
series of lime applications over several decades or by the combined use of
shallow incorporated lime and plant tolerance of soil acidity.
Involvement of ethylene in postharvest senescence of Boronia heterophylla flowers
Authors: Macnish A. J. , Hofman P. J. , Joyce D. C. , Simons D. H.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Treatment of cut flowering
Boronia heterophylla (red boronia) stems with 10 L
ethylene/L for 72 h at 20°C induced flower senescence and abscission,
and thereby reduced stem fresh weight and vase life. Pre-treatment with
1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) reduced these ethylene effects. Treatment of
B. heterophylla with 10 L ethylene/L for a shorter
12 h period at 20°C did not affect vase life. Rates of endogenous ethylene
production by B. heterophylla flowers increased in
association with wilting during flower senescence.
The uptake and depletion of fenitrothion in cattle, pasture and soil following spraying of pastures for locust control
Authors: Gilmour A. R. , McDougall K. W. , Spurgin P.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Fenitrothion is an organophosphorus insecticide
widely used for the control of locusts in Australia and overseas. It is
sprayed on swarms and bands of locusts and on the pastures on which they feed.
However, there is little Australian data on depletion rates of fenitrothion
when used this way. Consequently, there has been concern that beef cattle
producers may not be able to guarantee that their cattle meet legal
requirements with respect to residue levels following grazing on sprayed
pasture. This paper reports a study conducted in February 1998 in central
western New South Wales on the rate of depletion of fenitrothion in cattle,
pasture and soil after fenitrothion spraying. The cattle were 18-month-old
heifers in forward store condition. Fenitrothion was detected in the fat of 7
of the 66 exposed cattle. Residues in 2 of these exceeded the Maximum Residue
Limit of 0.05 mg/kg. No fenitrothion was detected in the fat of the 26
cattle slaughtered 14 days or later after treatment or in muscle and liver
samples. The half life of fenitrothion was 2–3 days in the soil and
1–2 days in the pasture. We conclude that the 14-day slaughter
withholding period currently approved by the National Registration Authority
is appropriate.
Plant genotype, juvenility and mechanisms of inhibition of rooting Persoonia virgata R. Br. Cuttings
Authors: Bauer L. M. , Johnston M. E. , Williams R. R.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Persoonia virgata is an
endemic shrub of Australia that is being bush-harvested for its foliage and
sold on the domestic and export flower markets. The limiting factor to the
cultivation of many desirable Persoonia species has been
the extreme difficulty in developing a reliable propagation system. This study
investigated the effects of cutting type, maturity of the stock plant, and
genotype, on the rooting of P. virgata cuttings. It was
found that juvenile cuttings rooted significantly better than mature cuttings.
Some juvenile seedling genotypes yielded no rooted cuttings, whereas others
produced up to 90% rooting. No anatomical barrier to root formation was
discovered. High performance liquid chromatography showed differences in the
abundance of unidentified compounds in cuttings, related to season and to
genotypic differences in rooting abilities. A possible seasonal rooting
inhibitor was present in some genotypes. The potential for selection of
genotypes with improved rooting ability has been demonstrated.
Broccoli yield and quality can be determined by cultivar and temperature but not photoperiod in south-east Queensland
Authors: Tan D. K. Y. , Wearing A. H. , Rickert K. G. , Birch C. J.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Understanding of genotype and environment
interactions will help farmers optimise broccoli
(Brassica oleracea L. var. italica
Plenck) yield and quality, by matching cultivars to time of sowing. Limited
information is available on the effect of temperature and photoperiod on
broccoli yield and quality. The objective of this study was to quantify the
temperature and photoperiod responses of yield and quality attributes in a
subtropical environment. Three cultivars (‘Fiesta’,
‘Greenbelt’ and ‘Marathon’) were sown on 8 dates from
11 March to 22 May 1997. Plants were grown under natural and extended (16 h)
photoperiods at Gatton College, south-east Queensland, under non-limiting
conditions of water and nutrient supply. Climatic data, dates of emergence,
floral initiation, harvest maturity, and yield and quality data were recorded.
As growing season mean minimum temperature decreased, fresh weight of tops
decreased linearly while fresh weight harvest index increased linearly.
However, there was no definite relationship between fresh weight of tops or
fresh weight harvest index, and growing season mean minimum temperatures
≥10ºC. Quality attributes were determined more by genotype than
environment. ‘Fiesta’ had the best quality, with higher head shape
and branching angle ratings than Greenbelt and Marathon. Bud colour and
cluster separation ratings of Marathon were only suited for export when
growing season mean minimum temperatures were <8ºC. Photoperiod did
not influence yield and quality in this study.
Enhancing food security in semi-arid eastern Indonesia through permanent raised-bed cropping: a review
Authors: Van Cooten D. E. , Borrell A. K.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Much of south-eastern Indonesia is mountainous
and characterised by a semi-arid tropical environment. Soil erosion is a
significant environmental problem facing the region, affecting both
productivity of the land and water quality. The challenge for the region is to
secure year-round food production in such a fragile environment. More than
90% of rain falls in a distinct wet season between November and April.
Therefore, cropping in this region is dependent on matching crop growth with
water supply. In particular, crop production depends on the efficient use of
rainfall during the wet season, including avoidance of waterlogging, and
efficient use of stored soil water during the dry season.
This paper summarises the results of a series of experiments undertaken in
West Timor, Indonesia, between 1993 and 1999 aimed at developing a raised-bed
cropping system. The objective of these studies was to better utilise the more
fertile alluvial soils that are often susceptible to waterlogging during the
wet season, allowing a range of crops to be grown in addition to rice.
Raised beds of height 0.2 m and width 1.5 m were constructed either manually
or with an 8.5 hp two-wheeled hand tractor. A range of crops including
soybeans, sorghum, maize, pigeon pea, yam bean and cassava were successfully
grown on raised beds in the wet season in addition to rice, indicating that
raised-bed technology overcomes the constraints of waterlogging in the wet
season. Soybeans grew particularly well on raised beds, with December-sown
crops producing almost twice the yield of January-sown crops (2.6
v. 1.4 t/ha). For rice and soybeans, early sown
crops were better able to match growth with water supply, thereby avoiding
end-of-season drought. Early sowing and harvesting of wet season crops enables
a drought-resistant crop such as sorghum to be planted in lateMarch or early
April, utilising the stored soil moisture for grain production and also
maintaining ground cover in the dry season.
It is argued that cropping systems based on permanent raised beds can reduce
erosion in 2 ways. First, raised beds are a permanent structure and, with the
inter-cropping and relay-cropping proposed, crops can provide all-year ground
cover in lowland areas. Second, if sufficient food and cash crops are grown on
raised beds to meet the basic needs of subsistence farmers, then upland
cropping on steep slopes can be replaced by a variety of tree species,
providing additional food, fodder, firewood and medicines. Together, these
strategies have the capacity to enhance food production and security in the
semi-arid areas of eastern Indonesia.
Sensitivity of Australian Melissococcus pluton isolates to oxytetracycline hydrochloride
Authors: Hornitzky M. A. Z. , Smith L. A.
Published: September 2002

Summary. The effectiveness of the antibiotic
oxytetracycline hydrochloride) against the bacterium
Melissococcus pluton, which causes European foulbrood in
honey bees (Apis mellifera) was investigated in this
study. The minimum inhibitory concentration of oxytetracycline hydrochloride
for 104 M. pluton isolates cultured from samples of
brood and honey collected from A. mellifera colonies in
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania was determined. The
minimum inhibitory concentration was 1 g/mL for 51 isolates, and 2
g/mL for 53 isolates. These results indicate that, although
oxytetracycline hydrochloride has been used exclusively for the past 22 years
to treat European foulbrood, Australian isolates of
M. pluton are still sensitive to this antibiotic.
Increased concentrations of chloride beneath stands of saltbushes (Atriplex species) suggest substantial use of groundwater
Authors: Barrett-Lennard E. G. , Malcolm C. V.
Published: September 2002

Summary. This paper examines the accumulation of soil
chloride and the increase in electrical conductivity of the groundwater
beneath stands of saltbushes (Atriplex species) in a
plant spacing trial conducted near Kellerberrin in Western Australia. The
trial had a randomised block design with 5 plant spacings (1 by 1 m, 1 by 2 m,
2 by 2 m, 2 by 3 m, and 3 by 3 m), 5 saltbush species
(Atriplex undulata D. Dietr.,
A. amnicola Paul G. Wilson,
A. vesicaria Heward ex Benth.,
A. paludosa R. Br. and
A. bunburyana F. Muell.) and 3 replicate plots (each
consisting of 25 plants in 5 by 5 array). The saline groundwater at the site
was between 0.5 and 1.2 m below the surface for the duration of the
experiment. Over a 2-year period there was a substantial increase in soil
chloride concentration beneath the saltbushes. These increases were
proportional to saltbush ‘leaf density’ (weight per unit soil
surface area) and inversely proportional to the initial concentration of
chloride in the soil. There was a substantial increase in the electrical
conductivity of the groundwater which was also proportional to ‘leaf
density’. It is argued that the increases in soil salinity and
groundwater electrical conductivity were primarily due to the use of
groundwater by the saltbush stands. Salt accumulation data suggest that about
60–100 mm of groundwater was used (transpiration and evaporation) over
the 2 years. These results are discussed in terms of the ability of saltbushes
to lower local watertables, thereby making saline soils better suited to the
growth of superior annual pasture species.
Effect of field-weathered residues of pyriproxyfen on the predatory coccinellids Chilocorus circumdatus Gyllenhal and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant
Authors: Smith K. M. , Smith D. , Lisle A. T.
Published: September 2002

Summary. The residual toxicity of field-weathered
residues of the juvenile hormone analogue insecticide, pyriproxyfen was
evaluated against two coccinellids,
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and
Chilocorus circumdatus Gyllenhal, key predators of
mealybugs and scales in citrus in southeast Queensland.
Pyriproxyfen was applied as a high volume spray at 0.1, 1, 10, 25, 50 and 100
mg/L to late Valencia orange trees, and larvae and adults of
C. montrouzieri and C. circumdatus
were exposed to leaves picked at intervals varying from 0 to 112 days after
spraying. The effect on fourth and fifth instar larvae and pupation and
subsequent adult emergence, and on the viability of eggs from treated adults,
was measured. Regression models were developed to relate larval mortality and
egg hatch to pyriproxyfen concentration and weathering time.
Pyriproxyfen killed larvae or prevented pupation of 50% of
C. montrouzieri for 64 days at 10 mg/L and for a
predicted 167 days at 100 mg/L; the effect on
C. circumdatus was even greater, lasting a predicted 210
days at 10 mg/L.
Egg-hatch (from adults exposed to treated leaves) was suppressed at 10
mg/L for 28 days in C. montrouzieri and for 50 days
in C. circumdatus; at 100 mg/L, suppression extended
to 50 days and a predicted 478 days, respectively.
The combined effects on larvae and eggs of rates between 10 and 100 mg/L
would be extremely disruptive to both species. Disruption was much less at 2
mg/L (lasting up to 3 weeks) and at 5 mg/L (lasting up to 7 weeks).
Because of its potency against scale insects, pyriproxyfen may yet have a role
in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) providing it is used very sparingly at
dosage rates no greater than 2 mg/L.
Studies on a pathogenicity assay for screening cotton germplasms for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum in the glasshouse
Authors: Wang B. , Dale M. L. , Kochman J. K.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Fusarium wilt, caused by
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
vasinfectum, is a new and important disease of cotton in
Australia. Some factors affecting either the infection process or the
subsequent development of symptoms under glasshouse conditions were examined
in this study. The pathogenicity of inocula was significantly affected by the
media in which they were produced. The most severe symptoms developed in the
plants inoculated with the inoculum produced in Komada-Ezuka liquid medium, in
which glucose and L-asparagine were used as the carbon and nitrogen source,
respectively. Symptoms were significantly more severe in plants inoculated
with the inocula suspended in culture filtrates than in those inoculated with
the inocula suspended in distilled water, indicating that fungal metabolites
played an important role in the infection process. The disease was enhanced by
high conidial concentration (>1.0 x 106
conidia/mL), slightly acidic inoculum (pH 4.0–5.5) and longer
inoculation period (5–25 min). One-week-old seedlings were most
susceptible, regardless of cultivar, and the resistance of plants increased
with their age. The development of symptoms was enhanced at a moderate
temperature range (18–23°C), but suppressed at a higher temperature
range (28–33°C). Based on these results, an optimised procedure of
pathogenicity assay is described.
Investigation of sampling procedures to determine macadamia fruit quality in orchards
Authors: Meyers N. M. , Huett D. O. , Morris S. C. , McFadyen L. M. , McConchie C. A.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Macadamia kernel quality estimates are of
fundamental importance to understanding tree responses to many experimental
treatments and orchard management protocols. Experimental measures of
macadamia kernel quality, collected under field conditions, traditionally rely
on the average of 100 fruit, sampled from the estimated peak in fruit drop. To
detect changes in kernel quality over a single season, we measured variation
in fruit quality of macadamia cv. 344. To sample this variation we measured 10
fruit from 6 blocks of 3 trees at each of 7 sites, over 4 harvests made at
monthly intervals. For all fruit collected we determined: husk, shell and
kernel dry weights; kernel recovery (the percentage of kernel to kernel and
shell weight); and kernel specific gravity from which oil content was
estimated. A split-plot analysis of variance model was used to determine
variance estimates for each of the fruit quality parameters measured. The
percentages of partitioned total variance of the quality parameters were
lowest for sites (3.6–6.7%), intermediate for harvests
(3.3–41.1%) and highest for fruit (32.9–71.2%).
Using these estimates, we investigated the influence of varying the number of
replicates per site and fruits per replicate on kernel quality estimates. The
analyses indicated that samples of 5 fruit, from each of 6 randomly located
blocks within a site, represent the minimum replication required to detect
commercially relevant changes in the kernel quality parameters measured.
Larger sample sizes and increased replication did not significantly increase
the precision of estimates.
Effects of cereal grain, lupins-cereal grain or hay supplements on the intake and performance of grazing dairy cows
Authors: Stockdale C. R.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Three experiments of 5 weeks duration, using 32
Friesian cows per experiment, were conducted in northern Victoria during
1994–95. Experiment 1 was conducted during spring
(October–November), experiment 2 was carried out in summer
(January–February), and experiment 3 was in autumn (April–May). In
each experiment, there was a pasture only treatment and 3 treatments in which
5 kg dry matter (DM)/cow of different supplements were offered in 2 equal
feeds each day. The supplements were either pelleted cereal grain (75%
barley and 25% wheat), pelleted mixed grains (50% lupins,
25% barley, 25% wheat) or hay. The hay used in experiment 1 was
made from lucerne (Medicago sativa), while that used in
experiments 2 and 3 originated from irrigated annual and perennial pastures,
respectively. Cows strip-grazed irrigated pasture at a herbage allowance of
about 30 kg DM/cow.day in each experiment. There were 4 cows per treatment
and treatments were replicated twice.
All supplements significantly (P<0.05) increased milk
production. The lupins–cereal grain supplement resulted in the greatest
response and the hay the smallest response, both in terms of absolute level of
production and the marginal return to additional total DM consumed (1.4, 1.7
and 0.9 kg of extra milk for each additional kg DM of total intake associated
with the cereal grain, lupins–cereal grain and hay supplement
treatments, respectively). However, the marginal response to each kg of a
supplement varied (P<0.05) with the time of the year.
There were no differences between supplements in spring whilst in summer and
autumn, the cereal grain and lupins–cereal grain supplements were better
(P<0.05) than hay. Milk solids yield responded in a
manner similar to milk yield. This was principally due to the fact that none
of the supplements affected (P>0.05) milk protein
content and, although milk fat content was reduced
(P<0.05) by both concentrate supplements, the effects
were not biologically large (a difference of about 0.05 percentage units). The
cereal grain and lupins–cereal grain supplements also improved
(P<0.05) the body condition of cows relative to those
that were unsupplemented or were supplemented with hay. Levels of substitution
were similar across types of supplement, averaging 0.28 kg DM reduction in
pasture intake for each kg DM of supplement eaten. It was concluded that, at
low pasture allowances (high stocking rates) with moderate supplementation,
large differences in substitution between readily fermentable concentrate
supplements, such as cereal grain or lupins–cereal grain, and hay are
unlikely. Hence, responses in milk will largely be based on the energy content
of the supplement. At higher pasture allowances and/or higher levels of
supplementary feeding, variations in substitution will probably play an
important role in determining the responses observed.
Variation in the acidity of cropped and uncropped light-textured red soils of central western New South Wales
Authors: Young R. R. , Alston C. L. , Chartres C. J.
Published: September 2002

Summary. The light-textured, red, gradational and duplex
soils in semi-arid central western New South Wales were found to be on a pH
threshold for suitability for the traditional cultivars of barrel medic
(Medicago truncatula), an important pasture legume in
the region, and other acid sensitive species. However, there was little
evidence that cropping over a long time increased soil acidity. Over the 38
sampling sites, mean pHCa in the soil surface 0–20
cm was significantly higher in cropped compared to contiguous uncropped and
usually timbered control areas. The return of cations and associated alkali in
standing timber to the soil surface when trees were pushed and burnt is a
plausible explanation.
In the surface (0–20 cm) layers of 10 of 38 cropped paddocks, mean pH in
0.01 mol CaCl2/L was <5, sufficient to severely
obstruct growth and the nitrogen fixing capacity of barrel medic. All but 4
sites had pHCa <6, where some reduction in nitrogen
fixation would be expected to occur. Variation in pH within transects within
paddocks was large, which is consistent with the common observation of poor
and patchy growth of barrel medic. Exchangeable calcium, important for
Medicago–Rhizobium meliloti symbiosis function,
decreased with increasing acidity. The potential for manganese toxicity
appeared low with aluminium toxicity likely only at some sites with
pHCa ≤4.5. Total carbon decreased with increasing
soil acidity and was less under cropping at any pHCa.
Although acidification of these soils due to agricultural activity was not
apparent from paired sampling of cropped and contiguous uncropped transects,
they seem likely to be prone to acidification.
Characterisation and early detection of an offtype from micropropagated Lady Finger bananas
Authors: Hamill S. D. , Doogan V. J. , Smith M. K. , Daniells J. W.
Published: September 2002

Summary. An offtype has been identified from
micropropagated Lady Finger bananas (Musa spp., AAB
group, Pome subgroup) that is characterised by its slow growth and poor bunch
size. Bunch weights were approximately 25% those of normal Lady Finger
plants and all of the fruit produced was unmarketable. This particular offtype
is the most commonly encountered from micropropagated Lady Finger plants and,
in 2 instances, blocks of 3000 and 1500 plants were entirely comprised of this
single offtype.
Detection of offtype plants was possible during establishment and growth of
plants in the glasshouse by the presence of chlorotic streaks in the leaves.
In more severe cases the streaks coalesced into chlorotic patches that
developed thin, necrotic areas that eventually produced holes or splits in the
leaves. Symptom expression was not ameliorated by the addition of fertiliser
and even though symptoms were similar to severe Ca and B deficiency, both
normal and offtype plants had similar levels of these elements in the leaves.
The offtype plants were also slow growing in the glasshouse and produced
significantly (P<0.05) smaller pseudostems and leaves
than normal plants. Offtype plants could be readily detected after 4 weeks
deflasking using the presence of chlorotic streaks in the leaves as the main
selection criterion. Maximum discrimination was possible between weeks
5–7 and at the 6-leaf stage when all of the offtypes could be detected.
Evaluation of genotypes of navy and culinary bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) selected for superior growth and nitrogen fixation
Authors: Herridge D. F. , Redden R. J.
Published: September 2002

Summary. Levels of nitrogen fixation by navy and
culinary beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Australia are
low and contribute little to the N economies of the crops. As a consequence,
they must be grown in highly fertile soils or fertilised with N to obtain
economic yields. Eliminating the need for fertiliser nitrogen would save
growers A$1 million annually. Following a 10-year program in which
almost 1500 genotypes of P. vulgaris were screened for
superior nodulation and nitrogen fixation, we conducted experiments at the
Southedge Research Station, Mareeba, during 1995–97 to identify elite
genotype(s), which could either be released as cultivar(s) or used as donor
parent(s) in a breeding program. Selection criteria were plant biomass,
nitrogen fixation activity assessed using the ureide method and grain yield.
The best-performing genotypes were ICA20667 and ICA21573. They produced about
20% more shoot biomass than the commercial check cultivars, Spearfelt,
Gallaroy and Rainbird, and had Pfix (percentage of plant nitrogen derived from
nitrogen fixation) values that were consistently about 30% higher.
However, both genotypes responded strongly to fertiliser nitrogen
(>200% increase in shoot nitrogen and >100% increase in
grain yield at rate of 150 kg nitrogen/ha), suggesting that their nitrogen
fixation capacity was inadequate. This study reinforced current
recommendations that commercial crops of P. vulgaris be
fertilised with nitrogen and indicated a low likelihood of release of high
nitrogen-fixing cultivars to growers in the immediate future.
‘What We Think We Can Safely Say…’: Primary teachers’ views of the nature of science
Authors: Lunn Stephen
Published: September 2002

Since science became part of the core curriculum in England and Wales for children aged five upwards, primary school teachers have moved from widespread diffidence to positions of some confidence and success in teaching it. In the process, their views of the nature of science and the purposes of teaching it can be expected to have developed. The importance of the teacher in relation to the quality of students' learning, and to the ideas about and orientations towards a subject that students develop, is well documented. There are good reasons to believe that teachers' views of the nature of science form part of a ‘hidden curriculum’ in their science teaching: thus, an understanding of them is necessary to an understanding of learners' experiences of science teaching. The research reported explored such views through both case study and survey methodologies. The case studies showed the depth and subtlety of some teachers' views of science. The survey data yielded six factors, explaining 82% of the variance in respondents' views of science, provisionally named scientism, naive empiricism, ‘new‐age‐ism’, constructivism, pragmatism and scepticism. The views of science expressed by teachers in interview, and those inferred from and made explicit in their practice, were in most cases consistent with their positions on these factors. These enable interesting insights into the representations of science communicated by primary teachers in their science teaching, which could inform curriculum development in relation to the nature of science, at both primary and secondary levels.
Metaphors in the Learning of Science: A discourse focus
Authors: Cameron Lynne
Published: September 2002

Children's interpretations of metaphors used in a science text and their teacher's use of explanatory metaphor are analysed and compared to identify key processes in metaphor understanding and to suggest factors that contribute to successful use of metaphor in learning science. The research adopts a Vygotskian socio‐cognitive approach to metaphor in discourse. Participants are children in Years 5 and 6, aged around 10 years, and their teacher, in a UK school. The data include think‐aloud protocols and teacher‐led classroom discourse, analysed for metaphor processing. Sample episodes from the data are used to illustrate how conceptual knowledge is used to interpret metaphor, and how the learning potential of metaphor may be rendered ineffective by interpretation problems or by the choice of metaphor. The mediation of metaphor by a skilled teacher reveals strategies for avoiding such problems and maximising the impact of metaphor on the learning of the formalised concepts of science.
Shame: An emotional response to doing mathematics as an adult and a teacher
Authors: Bibby Tamara
Published: September 2002

Increasingly, the mathematical subject knowledge required of teachers is described as lists of facts, skills and competencies. This listing appears unproblematic given the apparently rational nature of the subject. However, mathematics is often experienced as an intensely emotional subject. The focus of this article is shame: a reaction to other people's criticisms and an emotional response to knowing and doing mathematics. It is used as an analytical tool to explore the ways in which mathematics is known by primary school teachers. It is suggested that absolutist/product conceptions of mathematics provide ideal opportunities for experiencing shame and that, while shame can act as a positive motivational force, accessing it in this way is far from easy.
Reconsidering Curriculum—a reflection on values and vision
Authors: Burton Leone
Published: September 2002

Book Reviewed in this article:

Images of Educational Change Herbert Altrichter & John Elliott (Eds)

Just Schooling Trevor Gale & Kathleen Densmore

Reconstructing Teaching Pat Mahony & Ian Hextall

Changing School Subjects: power, gender and curriculum Carrie Paechter
Partnerships: imperative or illusion in work‐force development
Authors: WILKINSON CELIA , BROWNE MYRA , DWYER PETER
Published: September 2002

The central theme of the National Drug Strategy is “building partnerships”. In the education and training arena, intersectoral partnerships are important to increase the skill and knowledge base of generic professionals. However, partnerships are neither simple nor straightforward endeavours. While this paper argues that they are imperative, they can be time‐consuming and problematic. Discussion of the stages of change and how this model applies to partnerships and elements of successful partnerships form the basis of the paper.
Whither the drug specialist? The work‐force development needs of drug specialist staff and agencies
Authors: ALLSOP STEVE J. , HELFGOTT SUE
Published: September 2002

Drug specialist staff and agencies have been identified as having a critical role in responding to alcohol and other drug‐related harm. This role must be seen in the context of the broad needs of people affected by drug use and the services that they utilize. Unfortunately, as in generic mainstream services, skill development, expertise, organizational structures and resources do not always support the demands of the drug specialist role. In order to develop the drug specialist work‐force we must first review the evidence about the factors that influence effective practice. The available research indicates that a range of strategies is required and that these should not only focus on building the capacity of individuals, but also on organizations and systems. Substantial effort in capacity building is required in order to fulfil the expectations created by the title “drug specialist”.
The general practitioner's role in AOD issues: overcoming individual, professional and systemic barriers
Authors: ROCHE ANN M. , HOTHAM ELIZABETH D. , RICHMOND ROBYN L.
Published: September 2002

General practitioners (GPs) and increasingly other medical practitioners are well placed to address alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems. Their involvement in this area of care, however, is assessed to be less than optimal. There is, however, a growing body of evidence for the potential efficacy of medical practitioner intervention at the primary care, emergency department and in‐patient level. There is also considerably expanded scope to operate from an evidence‐based perspective. However, key questions arise regarding what constitutes best practice in the translation of the growing AOD knowledge base into clinical practice behaviours. This paper explores possible contributory factors to the low level of engagement with AOD issues by GPs and examines a wide range of individual, structural and systemic issues that may be amenable to change. Strategies for the dissemination of research findings, changing professional practice behaviour and introducing sustainable structural reforms are also addressed.
Co‐occurring mental health and drug dependency disorders: work‐force development challenges for the AOD field
Authors: SAUNDERS BILL , ROBINSON SUZANNE
Published: September 2002

In this paper it is argued that the sheer extent of the co‐occurrence of mental health and drug dependency disorders means inevitably that alcohol and other drug (AOD) staff encounter such problems. However, it is contended that the AOD work‐force has a number of characteristics that often act as impediments to people with co‐occurring disorders receiving, in that sector, appropriate, integrated, ‘one‐stop‐shop’ care. Nevertheless, because of the configuration of mental health services in Australia, as essentially acute services for people with severe mental illnesses, there has been, and will continue to be, an overspill of people with mental health disorders and drug problems disorders into the AOD sector. It is there absolutely necessary that initiatives are put into place that support and enable the AOD sector to respond more effectively to people with co‐occurring disorders.
Evaluating training effectiveness in psychotherapy: lessons for the AOD field
Authors: O'ONOVAN ANALISE , DAWE SHARON
Published: September 2002

Based on evaluations of effectiveness training on trainee and client outcome in the psychotherapy field, this paper presents a model and recommendations for the alcohol and other drug (AOD) field to consider when conducting investigations into training. Determining the effectiveness of training requires the consideration of a number of factors, including pre‐existing trainee variables, methods of training and ability of trainers and the focus of training. The influence of each of these factors may be considered first in terms of proximal outcomes such as trainee satisfaction, improvements in clinical practice and knowledge, and secondly in terms of more distal outcomes, such as the impact that training may have on improving client outcome. The current literature regarding these factors pertaining to psychotherapy outcome is reviewed, and recommendations for evaluating training in the AOD field are made.
Achieving effective supervision
Authors: KAVANAGH DAVID J. , SPENCE SUSAN H. , WILSON JILL , CROW NATASHA
Published: September 2002

Supervision probably does have benefits both for the maintenance and improvement of clinical skills and for job satisfaction, but the data are very thin and almost non‐existent in the area of alcohol and other drugs services. Because of the potential complexity of objectives and roles in supervision, a structured agreement appears to be an important part of the effective supervision relationship. Because sessions can degenerate easily into unstructured socialization, agendas and session objectives may also be important. While a working alliance based on mutual respect and trust is an essential base for the supervision relationship, procedures for direct observation of clinical skills, demonstration of new procedures and skills practice with detailed feedback appear critical to supervision's impact on practice. To ensure effective supervision, there needs not only to be a minimum of personnel and resources, but also a compatibility with the values and procedures of management and staff, access to supervision training and consultation and sufficient incentives to ensure it continues.
Long‐term trends in drinking habits among Swedish teenagers: National School Surveys 1971–1999
Authors: ANDERSSON BARBRO , HANSAGI HELEN , THAKKER KERSTIN DAMSTROM , HIBELL BJORN
Published: September 2002

The purpose of the study is to describe the long‐term trends in drinking habits among Swedish students aged 15–16 years. Data were collected from 1971 to 1999, using self‐administered questionnaires from nationally representative random cluster samples of school classes, totalling on average 6000 students per year. The highest proportion of alcohol consumers among both boys and girls, about 90%, was seen in the 1970s; this percentage decreased to about 80% in the 1980s and remained at that level through the 1990s. The estimated average annual consumption of pure alcohol was 4 litres for boys in 1977. It fell to 2.1 litres in 1988 and rose to 3.9 litres in 1999. The tendency was similar for girls, with 3.5 litres consumed in 1977, about 1.5 litres in the 1980s and 2.3 litres in 1999. Also frequent binge drinking and intoxication were reported by the largest proportions in the 1970s; the figures decreased in the 1980s and rose again among both boys and girls in the first part of the 1990s. Hence, although fewer of the students in this age group are alcohol consumers at the end of the 1990s compared with the 1970s, those who drink are approaching the high consumption levels of the 1970s. The beverages of choice are beer and spirits.
The influence of the therapeutic relationship in treatment for alcohol dependency
Authors: RITTER ALISON , BOWDEN STEPHEN , MURRAY TANIA , ROSS PAULA , GREELEY JANET , PEAD JOHN
Published: September 2002

The substance abuse field has been slow to embrace research into the impact of the therapeutic relationship on treatment outcome. Limited previous research has demonstrated that therapist factors such as unconditional regard and empathy are associated strongly with treatment outcome. This study examined the relationships between client perception of the therapist and client characteristics; client response to out‐patient relapse prevention treatment; and client outcome 3 months following treatment for alcohol dependence. One hundred and sixty‐one male clients of a 3‐week relapse prevention programme participated in the research, completing questionnaires assessing their perception of therapist regard, empathy, congruence, attractiveness, expertness and trustworthiness. Treatment outcome was measured at the conclusion of treatment, and 3 months post‐treatment. Clients who were more anxious and those with poorer cognitive functioning appeared to perceive therapists as showing less unconditional regard, empathy and congruence. Self‐efficacy and coping skills acquisition measured at the end of treatment correlated significantly with clients' perceptions of the therapist as empathic, congruent and displaying high regard for them. Treatment outcome at 3 months was associated significantly with degree of perceived therapist expertness and empathy. These relationships held when cognitive functioning and skills acquisition were controlled for. Self‐efficacy moderated the relationships between regard and empathy and outcome, but not perceived therapist expertness. A lower than desirable follow‐up rate limits the generalizability of the findings. The quality of the therapeutic relationship as perceived by clients appears to be associated with client characteristics, response to treatment and treatment outcome.
Peer overdose resuscitation: multiple intervention strategies and time to response by drug users who witness overdose
Authors: BEST DAVID , GOSSOP MICHAEL , MAN LAN‐HO , STILLWELL GARRY , COOMBER ROSS , STRANG JOHN
Published: September 2002

One hundred and thirty‐five drug users in contact with treatment services in Scotland and England were interviewed about their experiences of witnessing overdoses both overdoses resolved successfully and those leading to death and actions taken to effect resuscitation. One hundred and four (77%) had witnessed a mean of 11.5 overdoses, of whom 41 (30.4% of the study sample) had witnessed an average of 4.2 fatal overdoses. A wide range of actions was reported at the most recent witnessed overdose, the most common being slapping or shaking the victim (an average of 2.5 minutes after overdose was first recognised) or walking the person around the room (3.2 minutes after recognizing overdose). There was no consistent relationship between the time taken to acting and the number of actions taken. Successful resolution of last witnessed overdose was associated more strongly with immediate onset of overdose, while those that led to death were more often those that involved slow onset of overdose. There is clear evidence of the opportunity and willingness of witnesses to intervene, particularly when overdose onset is immediate, with a wide range of strategies adopted to encourage recovery, although these may often be inappropriate and wrongly prioritized.
Substance use disorders in an Australian community survey
Authors: TEESSON MAREE , DIETRICH UTA , DEGENHARDT LOUISA , LYNSKEY MICHAEL , BEARD JOHN
Published: September 2002

A community survey of the common mental disorders in a geographically defined treatment service area was used to explore the socio‐demographic correlates and service utilization of people with alcohol and drug use disorders living in the area. These data represent the most comprehensive data on substance use disorders in a defined geographic region in Australia. Alcohol and drug use disorders were most likely to be found in the young, with those aged 18–34 uyears being three times more likely to have an alcohol use disorder than those aged 55 years and over. A third (33%) of those people with an alcohol use disorder and 42% of those with a drug use disorder had consulted a health professional in the past 12 months for their substance use disorder.
Increasing practice nurse access to alcohol training
Authors: DEEHAN ANN , MCCAMBRIDGE JIM , BALL DAVID M. , STRANG JOHN
Published: September 2002

Policy makers have repeatedly placed emphasis on the role of primary care in screening for at‐risk alcohol consumption and delivering public health messages to the general population. Research has pointed to primary care staff holding negative attitudes towards alcohol misusing patients. Training has traditionally been seen as the key to increasing the capacity of the medical field to engage with alcohol misusing patients but little work has been undertaken to examine the potential barriers to training take up. Consequently, the aim of this study was to explore the willingness of practice nurses to be trained in alcohol screening and brief intervention, and whether identifiable barriers to training exist and how they may be overcome. All practice nurses (n = 82) in an outer London (UK) Health Authority Area were twice mailed an invitation to an alcohol training seminar and a telephone invitation was made to all of those who did not reply to the mailings. Those who did not attend (n = 66) were contacted to take part in a short structured telephone interview –89% (59/66) were contacted successfully and interviewed. Respondents were experienced in primary care and viewed health promotional activity as a valid part of their role. Few had undertaken previous alcohol training and as a group they were highly active in attending training events with training undertaken tending to be related directly to perceived practice needs and priorities: thus this group could not be characterized as unwilling to be trained. Barriers to training at alcohol events were found to be either personal or work‐related, with most nurses interested in receiving further training or information. These data imply that the ways in which training is organized and delivered require sensitivity to identifiable barriers if it is to reach and effect changing practice among practice nurses successfully. A range of possibilities are identified as alternative approaches to the provision of elective training events which may be more acceptable to the target population of health‐care staff.
Researching drug information needs in Australia
Authors: LINDSAY FIONA , MIDFORD RICHARD , COOPER MARTIN
Published: September 2002

National research about drug information needs and access strategies from a cross‐section of professionals and community respondents was undertaken in conjunction with the development of the Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN).* Many professionals who have an active concern about drug and alcohol issues experience frustration with their access to high quality and relevant drug information. Although the Internet is widely perceived to be the answer to disseminating information, it remains the least favoured source of drug information among professionals, especially in regional and remote locations. Limited access to technology and doubts about the quality of web‐based information were expressed concerns. Community differences about where and how to access information were also apparent, with the Internet being a more feasible resource for metropolitan and younger respondents.
Interpreting changes in heroin supply in Melbourne: droughts, gluts or cycles?
Authors: DIETZE PAUL , FITZGERALD JOHN
Published: September 2002

In this Harm Reduction Digest Paul Dietze and John Fitzgerald provide another possible way of understanding what has come to be referred to as Australia's heroin ‘drought’. They examine evidence from Melbourne, Victoria and suggest that the apparent downturn in heroin availability in 2000 may, in part, be the result of an end of a heroin ‘glut’ and that perceptions of this phenomenon may be coloured by the development of more sophisticated indicators of the heroin market. They conclude with claims that the reasons for the reduction in drug consumption and adverse health outcomes, such as those attributed to interdiction, are thus premature
Guidelines for Quality Standards for Immunization
Authors: Gardner Pierce , Pickering Larry K. , Orenstein Walter A. , Gershon Anne A. , Nichol Kristin L.
Published: September 2002

This is an update of the 1997 Quality Standards for Immunization, which is one of a series of guidelines commissioned by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) through its Practice Guidelines Committee. This information is presented as a standard-of-care rather than practice guidelines because the evidence for following these recommendations is so strong that they should be implemented with rare exceptions. The purpose of these standard-of-care guidelines is to provide assistance to clinicians who make decisions on providing immunizations to infants, children, adolescents, and adults. This document is a summary of evidence-based guidelines previously developed by national organizations. A standard ranking system was used to determine the strength of the recommendations, and the quality of evidence cited in the literature was reviewed for each guideline. The targeted health care professionals are pediatricians, family practitioners, internists (including specialists), obstetricians, and others who provide immunizations. The panel members are experts in the field of adult and pediatric infectious diseases. The document has been subjected to external review by peer reviewers as well as by the Practice Guidelines Committee, and it was approved by the IDSA Council. Indicators for measuring compliance with the standards are included. The document will be posted on the IDSA home page at http://www.idsociety.org/.