bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desigualdades na realização do exame clínico de mama em São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Dias-da-Costa Juvenal Soares , Olinto Maria Teresa Anselmo , Bassani Diego , Marchionatti Carmem Regina Estivalete , Bairros Fernanda Souza de , Oliveira Maria Luísa Pereira de , Hartmann Milton , Gabardo Roseclér Machado , Bennemann Vivian , Pattussi Marcos Pascoal
Published: June 2007

Foi realizado um estudo transversal de base populacional com o objetivo de estabelecer o nível de cobertura de exame clínico de mamas entre as mulheres de 20 a 60 anos residentes em São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, e descrever as características associadas à sua não-realização. O desfecho foi definido como realização de exame clínico de mamas por médico no ano que antecedeu a entrevista. Foram utilizados dois modelos de análise multivariada. Entre as 1.026 mulheres incluídas na amostra, 556 (54,2%; IC95%: 51,1-57,2) foram submetidas ao exame clínico de mamas. A análise multivariada incluindo todas as mulheres demonstrou que somente a variável classe econômica estava associada com a não-realização de exame médico de mama. No outro modelo constatou-se associação entre classe econômica e cor da pele. Assim, classe econômica influenciou a realização de exames de mama nos modelos. Entretanto, no modelo restrito àquelas mulheres que haviam se consultado no ano, cor da pele foi determinante para a realização do exame, ou seja, superadas as diferenças de acesso, as mulheres brancas terão maior probabilidade de serem examinadas.
Romanovski polynomials in selected physics problems
Authors: Raposo Alvaro , Weber Hans , Alvarez-Castillo David , Kirchbach Mariana
Published: June 2007

We briefly review the five possible real polynomial solutions of hypergeometric differential equations. Three of them are the well known classical orthogonal polynomials, but the other two are different with respect to their orthogonality properties. We then focus on the family of polynomials which exhibits a finite orthogonality. This family, to be referred to as the Romanovski polynomials, is required in exact solutions of several physics problems ranging from quantum mechanics and quark physics to random matrix theory. It appears timely to draw attention to it by the present study. Our survey also includes several new observations on the orthogonality properties of the Romanovski polynomials and new developments from their Rodrigues formula.
mit MII = Fe, Co, Ni (n = 2) und MII = Cu (n = 1): Vier neue Koordinationspolymere mit dem Acetylendicarboxylat‐Dianion (ADC2−) als verbrückendem Liganden
Authors: Stein Irena , Speldrich Manfred , Schilder Helmut , Lueken Heiko , Ruschewitz Uwe
Published: June 2007

with MII = Fe, Co, Ni (n = 2) and MII = Cu (n = 1): Four New Coordination Polymers with Acetylenedicarboxylate (ADC2−) as Bridging Ligand

By slow diffusion of pyridine (Py) into an aqueous solution of a respective metal salt and acetylenedicarboxylic acid (H2ADC) single crystals of new coordination polymers of composition (M = Fe, Co, Ni; C2/c, Z = 4) (1 – 3) and (P212121, Z = 4) (4) were obtained. In compounds 1 – 3 octahedral MIIO4N2 units are connected via acetylenedicarboxylate anions to form chain‐like polymers. In compound 4 square pyramidal CuIIO3N2 units are found, which are also connected to chains by acetylenedicarboxylates. Thermoanalytical investigations on 3 show an abrupt mass loss of approx. 40 % above 130 °C, which points to a release of both pyridine ligands (calc.: 43 %). Thereafter, the sample decomposes continuously, which is confirmed by XRPD measurements, as an amorphous residue is found. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 – 3 display paramagnetic behaviour in the temperature range 2‐300 K. While μeff of 3 (d8 configuration) with orbital singlet ground state is nearly temperature‐independent, 1 (d6) and 2 (d7) exhibit complicated μeff−T behaviour on account of a ligand‐field ground state derived from the cubic states 5T2 and 4T1, respectively. On the basis of a tetragonal ligand‐field model excellent adaptations are obtained with reasonable ligand‐field parameters. Exchange interactions between the magnetic ions are detected in no case.
LuF[SeO3] und LuCl[SeO3]: Zwei nicht‐isotype Halogenid‐Oxoselenate(IV) des Lutetiums
Authors: Lipp Christian , Schleid Thomas
Published: June 2007

LuF[SeO3] and LuCl[SeO3]: Two Non‐Isotypic Halide Oxoselenates(IV) of Lutetium

Despite the formal similarity of LuF[SeO3] and LuCl[SeO3] both compounds show significant structural differences due to the different positions of the halide anions (X−) within the pentagonal bipyramids [LuO5X2]9−. However, both oxoselenates(IV) have these pentagonal bipyramids as basic modules in common that are connected via O2− edges to chains. LuCl[SeO3] crystallizes orthorhombically in space group Pnma (no. 62; a = 714.63(7), b = 681.76(7) and c = 864.05(9) pm; Z = 4). The structure is isotypic to that one recently presented for ErCl[SeO3]. With a single Cl− anion in each an apical and an equatorial position, the chains have to be inclined with an angle of about 54° relative to each other to get connected alternately by common Cl− corners and bridging [SeO3]2− pyramids. In contrast to that, LuF[SeO3] which crystallizes triclinically in space group (no. 2; a = 644.85(6), b = 684.41(7), c = 427.98(4) pm, α = 94.063(5), β = 96.484(5) and γ = 91.895(5)°; Z = 2) takes a structural motif already known from CsTmCl2[SeO3]. Owing to the apical position of both halide anions it is now possible to connect the chains directly via discrete Ψ1‐tetrahedral [SeO3]2− groups to layers. The same layers are present in LuF[SeO3] and without the formal alkali‐metal halide unit (CsCl) of the CsTmCl2[SeO3]‐type compounds, the layers can also be connected directly by common F− corners to a three‐dimensional array. Torch‐sealed evacuated silica ampoules were used for the synthesis of both lutetium(III) halide oxoselenates(IV). For LuF[SeO3] these vessels have been graphitized before to prevent them from oxosilicate‐producing side‐reactions with the applied fluoride. The synthesis of LuCl[SeO3] required Lu2O3 and SeO2 in a molar ratio of 1 : 6 with a surplus of an eutectic RbCl/LiCl mixture as fluxing agent and an annealing period of five weeks at a temperature of 500 °C, whereas Lu2O3, LuF3 and SeO2 (in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 3) with CsBr as flux were converted to LuF[SeO3] at 750 °C within six days.
IN THIS ISSUE
Authors: MORGAN CRAIG
Published: June 2007

This issue contains a commentary on the paper by Degenhardt et al. and one review on participant distress in psychiatric research. Other sets of papers examine various aspects of cannabis and other substance use disorders, borderline and other personality disorders, and six individual papers examine a variety of topics.
Crustal structure due to collisional and escape tectonics in the Eastern Alps region based on profiles Alp01 and Alp02 from the ALP 2002 seismic experiment
Authors: Brückl Ewald , Bleibinhaus Florian , Gosar Andrej , Grad Marek , Guterch Aleksander , Hrubcová Pavla , Keller G. Randy , Majdański Mariusz , Šumanovac Franjo , Tiira Timo , Yliniemi Jukka , Hegedűs Endre , Thybo Hans
Published: June 2007

Alp01 and Alp02 are the longest profiles recorded during ALP 2002, a large international seismic refraction and wide‐angle reflection experiment undertaken in the Eastern Alps in 2002. Alp01 crosses the Alpine orogen from north to south, thus providing a cross section mainly affected by the collision between Europe and the Adriatic microplate. Alp02 extends from the Eastern Alps to the Pannonian basin, supplying evidence on the relation between Alpine crustal structure and tectonic escape to the Pannonian basin. During this experiment, 363 single‐channel recorders were deployed along these profiles with an average spacing of 3.2 km. Recordings from 20 inline shots were used in this study. Two‐dimensional forward modeling using interactive ray‐tracing techniques produced detailed P wave velocity models that contain many features of tectonic significance. Along Alp01, the European Moho dips generally to the south and reaches a maximum depth of 47 km below the transition from the Eastern to the Southern Alps. The Adriatic Moho continues further south at a significantly shallower depth. Moho topography and a prominent south‐dipping mantle reflector in the Alpine area support the idea of southward subduction of the European lithosphere below the Adriatic microplate. The most prominent tectonic feature on the Alp02 profile is a vertical step of the Moho at the transition between the Alpine and Pannonian domains, suggesting the existence of a separate Pannonian plate fragment. The development of the Pannonian fragment is interpreted to be a consequence of crustal thinning due to tectonic escape from the Alpine collision area to the Pannonian basin.
Simcluster: clustering enumeration gene expression data on the simplex space
Authors: Vêncio Ricardo , Varuzza Leonardo , Pereira Carlos , Brentani Helena , Shmulevich Ilya
Published: June 2007

Transcript enumeration methods such as SAGE, MPSS, and sequencing-by-synthesis EST "digital northern", are important high-throughput techniques for digital gene expression measurement. As other counting or voting processes, these measurements constitute compositional data exhibiting properties particular to the simplex space where the summation of the components is constrained. These properties are not present on regular Euclidean spaces, on which hybridization-based microarray data is often modeled. Therefore, pattern recognition methods commonly used for microarray data analysis may be non-informative for the data generated by transcript enumeration techniques since they ignore certain fundamental properties of this space.Here we present a software tool, Simcluster, designed to perform clustering analysis for data on the simplex space. We present Simcluster as a stand-alone command-line C package and as a user-friendly on-line tool. Both versions are available at: http://xerad.systemsbiology.net/simcluster.Simcluster is designed in accordance with a well-established mathematical framework for compositional data analysis, which provides principled procedures for dealing with the simplex space, and is thus applicable in a number of contexts, including enumeration-based gene expression data.
Anharmonic behavior in microwave-driven resistivity oscillations in Hall bars
Authors: Iñarrea Jesús
Published: June 2007

The authors analyzed the magnetoresistivity of a two-dimensional electron system excited by microwave radiation in a regime of high intensities and low frequencies. In such a regime, recent experiments show that different features appear in the magnetoresistivity response which suggest an anharmonic behavior. These features consist mainly of distorted oscillations and new resonance peaks at the subharmonics of the cyclotron frequency. They follow the model of microwave-driven electron orbit motions which become anharmonic when the ratio of microwave intensity to microwave frequency is large enough.
Patterning of indium tin oxide by projection photoablation and lift-off process for fabrication of flat-panel displays
Authors: Chae Junghun , Appasamy Sreeram , Jain Kanti
Published: June 2007

Indium tin oxide (ITO), an important material used as a transparent conductive oxide in thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display fabrication, was patterned by a nonlithographic process. First, a Si3N4 substrate coated with photoresist was patterned by a projection photoablation process using 248nm wavelength KrF excimer laser radiation. ITO was then deposited by sputtering and patterned by lift-off. The resulting ITO pattern was clean even though it was patterned without the conventional steps of photoresist development and ITO etching. This process technology provides a faster and more economical patterning capability compared to conventional photolithography and etch processes used in the display industry.
Down will Come Baby, Cradle and All: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of Chronic Trauma on Child Development
Authors: Streeck-Fischer Annette , van der Kolk Bessel A.
Published: June 2007

Objective: This review examines the clinical outcomes associated with exposure to chronic intrafamilial trauma and explores the treatment of the psychological, biological and cognitive sequelae.

Method: The existing research literature on the subject was collected, using Index Medicus/MEDLINE, Psychological Abstracts and the PILOTS database. The research findings were supplemented with clinical observations by the authors and other clinical writings on this topic.

Results: Children with histories of exposure to multiple traumatic experiences within their families or in medical settings usually meet criteria for numerous clinical diagnoses, none of which capture the complexity of their biological, emotional and cognitive problems. These are expressed in a multitude of psychological, cognitive, somatic and behavioural problems, ranging from learning disabilities to aggression against self and others.

Conclusions: Exposure to intrafamilial violence and other chronic trauma results in pervasive psychological and biological deficits. Treatment needs to address issues of safety, stabilise impulsive aggression against self and others, promote mastery experiences, compensate for specific developmental deficits, and judiciously process both the traumatic memories and trauma-related expectations.
A Cross-National Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Dutch-Australian Immigrants
Authors: den Velde W. Op , Hovens J.E. , Bramsen I. , McFarlane A.C. , Aarts P.G.H. , Falger P.R.J. , de Groen J.H.M. , van Duijn H.
Published: June 2007

Objective: Studying the rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people who experienced World War II, but who have subsequently lived in different environments is a way of looking at the impact of recovery environment on PTSD. Immigrants had less support in terms of the social cohesion in their home country, but were not subjected to the same triggers of war-related intrusions.

Method: Posttraumatic stress disorder was investigated in citizens from the Netherlands who emigrated to Australia in the post-World War II years (n = 251). Immigrants born between 1920 and 1930 (n = 171) were compared with a same-aged group living in Holland (n = 1461) for stressful war experiences and the extent of PTSD.

Results: Those who had been exposed to the most severe war stress were over-represented in the immigrant group. Immigrants with current PTSD more often stated that motives for migration were threat of a third world war, disappointment with Dutch society and personal problems. We were unable to demonstrate specific effects of emigration on the prevalence of current PTSD.

Conclusions: This study suggests that exposure to severe war stress promoted the need to emigrate. The comparable PTSD scores of the groups of war victims living in Australia and the Netherlands support the notion that extreme war stress may be considered the primary determining factor in the development of PTSD, and that actual post-war living circumstances are, in the long term, of subordinate importance.
General Principles of Forensic Report Writing
Authors: Allnutt Stephen H. , Chaplow David
Published: June 2007

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide an update of principles of forensic report writing, to guide and assist registrars, junior consultants and psychiatrists considering working within the forensic arena.

Method: The literature was reviewed for information on principles of report writing from a variety of jurisdictions. Additionally, literature on medical ethics was examined.

Result: Writing reports is a professional activity that most psychiatrists undertake at some point in their careers. The report represents the psychiatrist's professional opinion. It is important that information is accurate, relevant and ethical. In writing medico-legal reports, psychiatry deviates from traditional medical ethics.

Conclusion: It is important that psychiatrists who write reports have a good understanding of the process and behave ethically and competently.
Student Teacher Anxiety and Class‐Control Problems on Teaching Practice: a cross‐lagged panel analysis
Authors: Preece P.F.W.
Published: June 2007

Summary The anxiety about teaching of 100 PGCE students was measured both near to the beginning and to the end of a term's teaching practice. A significant decrease in anxiety was found which was essentially the same for all the subgroups based on male/female and science/non‐science divisions. A cross‐lagged panel analysis provided some indication that for the student teachers of science, but not for the teachers of non‐science subjects, anxiety was a cause, rather than a consequence, of class‐control problems. Such a result had been hypothesised in the light of a model of teacher behaviour based upon catastrophe theory.
Vive la Différence? Some Problems in Investigating Diversification of First Foreign Language Provision in Schools
Authors: Phillips David , Filmer‐Sankey Caroline
Published: June 2007

For as long as modern foreign languages have been taught in British schools, French has predominated. This has remained the case despite initiatives to promote the teaching of other languages. Now, however, it is government policy to encourage diversification of first foreign language teaching, so that there will be a substantial increase in the teaching of languages other than French as first foreign languages. This paper describes the work of the Oxford Project on Diversification of First Foreign Language Teaching (OXPROD), and in particular the difficulties of setting up an investigation which takes account of pupils' language aptitude and attitude in a sample of schools. The project methodology and instruments are described, and solutions to some preliminary problems are discussed. The future development of the project is outlined.
Dyslexic, Retarded and Normal Readers' Perceptions of the Qualities of Real and Ideal Class Teachers
Authors: Hicks Carolyn
Published: June 2007

In order to compare different types of readers' perceptions of both their own classroom teacher, and their ‘ideal’ classroom teacher, eight dyslexic, eight retarded and eight normal readers were asked to rank order nine teacher qualities, firstly as they pertained to their actual class teacher and secondly as they would pertain to an ‘ideal’ class teacher. The results can be briefly summarised thus: (i) ‘Within‐group’ comparisons of the results indicated that each group had a similar view of their actual class teacher and also of the sort of attributes that constitute an ‘ideal’ teacher, (ii) ‘Between group’ comparisons revealed that while normal and retarded readers perceived their actual class teacher similarly, the views of dyslexics did not accord with them. Notions of ‘ideal’ teacher qualities were similar between dyslexics and normals, with retarded readers showing no agreement. (iii) Lastly, comparisons of ‘ideal’ and actual teacher ratings within each group demonstrated significant concordance for the normal and retarded groups but not for the dyslexic group. The implications of these results are discussed.
“It's Just Another Piece of Schoolwork”: the ethics of questionnaire research on pupils in schools
Authors: Denscombe Martyn , Aubrook Liz
Published: June 2007

Abstract During 1988‐90 nearly 2000 school pupils in Leicestershire took part in the ‘Drugs in Schools; a programme of inquiry’ (DISPRIN) project and the ‘Drugs and Risk‐Taking’ (DART) research project. As part of the research these 13‐ to 16‐year‐olds completed a questionnaire on their use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. This article presents data on the pupils' perceptions of doing the questionnaire and discusses the ethical issues raised for researchers in schools. The research revealed that, whilst a minority of respondents were suspicious of the exercise, for the most part it was “just another piece of schoolwork”. To the extent that completing research questionnaires is perceived as schoolwork, we need to question the extent to which such questionnaires are in fact completed voluntarily and with the willing cooperation of pupils. This, in turn, poses interesting ethical questions for researchers, teachers and educational authorities.
Women and Educational Management: a Trinidad and Tobago perspective
Authors: Morris Jeanette
Published: June 2007

The paper describes women teachers' perceptions of factors which facilitated or militated against their involvement in educational management. In‐depth interviews were held with seven women, four Afro‐Trinidadians and three Indo‐Trinida‐dians. Women teachers tended not to have well‐defined career plans, to defer and modify their career aspirations due to domestic responsibilities and to prefer the professional technical aspect of teaching to the administrative managerial aspect. Women who were successful in administration tended to have been supported by sponsors or mentors, especially in male‐dominated environments. However, women did become career ambitious later in their careers and actively sought administrative posts for a variety of reasons, so that the existing imbalance between male and female administrators is being challenged.
Starting from Scratch: an equal opportunities initiative in teacher education
Authors: Goulding Maria , Thompson Linda
Published: June 2007

University departments of education in England and Wales plan and deliver their courses according to externally imposed criteria, with gender issues included in education for equal opportunities. This paper presents student and tutor responses to an evaluation of a 1 week compulsory unit on gender in a secondary postgraduate certificate in education course. The reactions to different components of the week are analysed in terms of the contrasting situations and power relations within them. Strong negative responses indicate that staff trying to keep, or even put, gender issues on the agenda face an uphill struggle. This may be made more difficult by the radical reforms proposed for teacher education courses in the near future.
Governors, Schools and the Miasma of the Market
Authors: Deem Rosemary , Brehony Kevin , Heath Suzanne
Published: June 2007

The paper examines some of the effects of exposing state schools to the strictures of the market on three governing bodies of secondary schools in two local education authorities. Using illustrative data drawn from an intensive 4 year study, the authors argue that the imposition of the market on schools can exacerbate value divisions between governors in the same school. Also the concern to improve the image and marketability of a school can result in attention being focused on the needs of future rather than existing pupils. Competition between schools may thus result not in higher quality education or diversity of provision but rather produce a search for uniformity in the shape of the desirable middle‐class parent and child. The notion of schools serving a local community may thus be disrupted and choice for working‐class and ethnic minority parents and pupils reduced rather than increased.
Enabling Pupils with Learning Difficulties to Reflect on Their Own Thinking
Authors: Powell Stuart D. , Makin Michael
Published: June 2007

This paper reports the design, implementation and evaluation of a teaching and learning programme for a group of 12 and 13 year‐old pupils with moderate learning difficulties. The intention of the programme was to focus pupils' attention on their own thinking and learning processes within the context of mathematics activities. Through self‐reporting and self‐appraisal, the programme attempted to increase pupils' awareness of, and subsequently control over, these thought processes. The paper examines the possibilities of this kind of reflection as a way of enhancing the learning capabilities and self‐esteem of these pupils.
Integrating Systematic Enquiry into Everyday Professional Practice: towards some principles of procedure
Authors: Frost David
Published: June 2007

This paper is an exercise in reflexivity. The writer reflects on his efforts to develop a collaborative action research methodology for evaluating a professional development scheme which is designed to support ‘bottom‐up development planning’. The scheme in question is one in which an HEI collaborates with managers in secondary schools to establish school‐based, award‐bearing, programmes which are themselves based on a particular approach to action research: The writer is able therefore to explore the substantive focus of his research—the development of an insider methodology for teachers—through reflection on his own methodology as a practitioner researcher and vice versa. The paper also sets out a range of issues which have emerged so far and identifies some tentative ‘principles of procedure’ which provide a basis for the evaluation of such schemes.
A Crisis of Identity: school merger and cultural transition
Authors: Wallace Mike
Published: June 2007

This paper charts the transition in staff professional cultures and identities when three primary sector schools were merged, focusing on the cultural leadership activity of the headteacher of the single merged school before and after reorganisation. A combined cultural and political perspective is employed to analyse who has the power to shape the staff professional culture and identity. The impact of the headteacher's attempts to build a unified staff culture and corporate identity are interpreted through this perspective. Unintended consequences of the merger were two forms of ‘balkanisation’, or development of subcultures and separate identities in the merged institution: first, preservation of the pre‐merger culture of staff in the infant department and their primary identification as members of this department; and second, the emergence of the senior management team as a new group responsible for promoting a unified staff culture and new institutional identity but which, nevertheless, other staff perceived to distance them from the headteacher. Implications of the findings for policy‐makers responsible for reorganisation of schooling are outlined and the potential of the cultural and political perspective for understanding the process of organisational change is considered.
Mentoring Processes in School‐based Training
Authors: Dunne Elisabeth , Bennett Neville
Published: June 2007

Previous research on mentoring in school‐based training has indicated that although this is a very influential role it is often poorly conceived and prepared for. Dialogues appear to be characterised by a lack of challenge and reflection, knowledge bases for teaching are treated in very different ways, and roles, responsibilities and expectations are often unclear. The main aim of this study therefore was to gain a greater understanding of mentoring processes in pre‐service training, through analyses of the perspectives of, and dialogues between, student‐teachers and all those involved in their mentoring in one institution and its partner schools. Analyses of data focused on differences in the nature and content of discussions and conferences of student‐teachers with class teachers, co‐tutors and university supervisors. These analyses revealed large differences consistent with the mentoring model used, but provided little support for previous empirical claims.
Accounting for Variations in Pupil Attainment at the End of Key Stage 1
Authors: Sammons Pamela , West Anne , Hind Audrey
Published: June 2007

This article analyses pupil national assessment results at Key Stage 1 (KS1) in the three core curriculum areas (English, mathematics and science) and in terms of an overall measure of performance across these areas for a sample of over 2400 pupils drawn from 62 inner London primary schools. It explores the influence of pupil background characteristics and school attended on attainment at KS1 and provides a contextualised analysis of schools’ performance. The findings demonstrate the greater importance of background factors (gender, age, low income, fluency in English) as influences on English attainment in comparison with other subjects and the implications of this for the publication of raw national assessment results are highlighted. The extent to which process information about school and classroom organisation and teaching practices accounts for school‐level variation in pupils’ attainment is also explored. A number of significant relationships are identified and their implications discussed.
Gradient Method for Finding Optimal Scheduling in Infinite Dimensional Models of Chemotherapy
Authors: Smieja Jaroslaw , Swierniak Andrzej , Duda Zdzislaw
Published: June 2007

One of the major obstacles against succesful chemotherapy of cancer is the emergence of resistance of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents. Applying optimal control theory to mathematical models of cell cycle dynamics can be a very efficient method to understand and, eventually, overcome this problem. Results that have been hitherto obtained have already helped to explain some observed phenomena, concerning dynamical properties of cancer populations. Because of recent progress in understanding the way in which chemotherapy affects cancer cells, new insights and more precise mathematical formulation of control problem, in the meaning of finding optimal chemotherapy, became possible. This, together with a progress in mathematical tools, has renewed hopes for improving chemotherapy protocols. In this paper we consider a population of neoplastic cells stratified into subpopulations of cells of different types. Due to the mutational event a sensitive cell can acquire a copy of the gene that makes it resistant to the agent. Likewise, the division of resistant cells can result in the change of the number of gene copies. We convert the model in the form of an infinite dimensional system of ordinary differential state equations discussed in our previous publications (see e.g. Swierniak etal., 1996b; Polariski etal., 1997; Swierniak etaL, 1998c), into the integro‐differential form. It enables application of the necessary conditions of optimality given by the appropriate version of Pontryagin′s maximum principle, e.g. (Gabasov and Kirilowa, 1971). The performance index which should be minimized combines the negative cumulated cytotoxic effect of the drug and the terminal population of both sensitive and resistant neoplastic cells. The linear form of the cost function and the bilinear form of the state equation result in a bang‐bang optimal control law. To find the switching times we propose to use a special gradient algorithm developed similarly to the one applied in our previous papers to finite dimensional problems (Duda 1994; 1997).
Immune Responses against Conserved and Variable Viral Epitopes
Authors: Bittner B. , Wahl L. M.
Published: June 2007

We extend well‐known mathematical models of viral infection to examine the response of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to both conserved and variable viral epitopes. Because most viruses are subject to error‐prone reproduction, CTL recognition may be faced with highly variable epitopes, while other CTL epitopes may remain conserved across viral strains. In this paper we examine the steady state conditions for a simple model of viral‐immune system dynamics in which the viral strain can be limited by either a specific immune response, a cross‐reactive immune response, or host cell availability. We find that the most important factors determining the type of immune response elicited and viral diversity are the relative proliferation rates of the two types of immune response. If the immune response to variable epitopes is strong compared with the response to conserved epitopes, diversity will be negatively correlated with the total burden of infected cells. In this situation high diversity may be indicative of a strong immune response and slower disease progression. In contrast, for patients whose immune response is directed predominantly towards conserved viral epitopes, our model predicts that diversity and viral load will be positively correlated.
Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Authors: Rice Graham I.
Published: June 2007

With the treatment of pain in pain clinics with multidisciplinary pain management, The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) commenced training and examination for a Certificate in Pain Management.
Issues in Designing and Implementing a Spanish‐Language Multi‐Site Clinical Trial
Authors: Suarez‐Morales Lourdes , Matthews Julie , Martino Steve , Ball Samuel A. , Rosa Carmen , Farentinos Christine , Szapocznik José , Carroll Kathleen M.
Published: June 2007

To address at least in part health disparities in Hispanic populations, the NIDA Clinical Trials Network implemented the first multi‐site randomized clinical trial of substance abuse treatment conducted entirely in Spanish. This trial was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of Motivational Enhancement Therapy in a diverse population of Hispanics. In the conduct of this trial, several barriers to the successful implementation of a Spanish‐language multi‐site trial had to be addressed, including the appropriate translation of assessment instruments, shortage of appropriately trained Spanish‐speaking clinical staff, and barriers to recruitment and retention of this population. To encourage similar research, strategies are described that were developed by the study team to meet these challenges.
Knowledge of water quality and water borne disease in rural Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Pradhan B. , Gruendlinger R. , Fuerhapper I. , Pradhan P. , Pradhanang S.
Published: June 2007

This study is an investigation of the quality of drinking water used by the communities of Bungamati, a rural town of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal and of local knowledge of water quality and water borne diseases. We tested the drinking water used by the communities and then assessed their knowledge of water quality and water borne diseases. The results show that the physical and chemical parameters of the sample water of different water sources lie within the World Health Organization guideline values. The values of the bacteriological parameters such as coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli are such that the drinking water is not potable in terms of bacteriological point of view. We found that communities are unaware of the contaminants in their drinking water. Incidence of water borne diseases appears to be the common health problem among the sample households in the study area. It is found to be more serious during the dry season. Open defecation is still one of the common sanitation problems of the area. The local communities have been made aware of solar disinfection for water disinfection.
Pharmacists' provision of methadone to intoxicated clients in community pharmacies, Victoria, Australia
Authors: Koutroulis Glenda Yvonne , Kutin Jozica Johanna , Ugoni Antony Marcello , Odgers Peta , Muhleisen Peter , Ezard Nadine , Lintzeris Nicholas , Stowe Aaron , Lanagan Amanda
Published: June 2007

This paper concerns pharmacists dispensing methadone to intoxicated clients, drawing on both questionnaire and focus‐group data from a 1996 evaluation of the community‐based methadone programme in Victoria, Australia. The questionnaire was sent to registered community methadone pharmacies in Victoria (N = 188). The response rate was 84% and 148 questionnaires were analysed. Pharmacists were asked how they would respond to clients who presented intoxicated for their methadone dose. Results indicated that 32% of pharmacists said that they would provide a client who presented intoxicated with his or her usual methadone dose. The analyses suggested that pharmacists who were male and those pharmacists whose number of methadone clients exceeded 10 were more likely to dispense methadone to an intoxicated client than female pharmacists and those pharmacists with less than 10 clients. Pharmacists who would withhold the methadone dose were more likely to inform the client's prescribing doctor at the time (74%) than pharmacists who would provide the usual or modified dose (41%). In order to understand the social processes underlying provision of methadone to intoxicated clients this theme was later taken up in a focus group with pharmacists. Reasons given by pharmacists to explain the dispensing of methadone to intoxicated clients were: insufficient communication between prescribers and pharmacists; a down playing of the pharmacological dangers; personal beliefs and values; a fear of retribution from the client if thedose was refused; difficulty in recognizing intoxication; lack of education and training. The results raise concerns about the basis on which pharmacists make decisions about providing methadone to intoxicated clients.
Clinical issues in using buprenorphine in the treatment of opiate dependence
Authors: Chadderton A.
Published: June 2007

This paper looks at the current role of buprenorphine in the treatment of opiate dependence. It suggests that buprenorphine is a useful alternative to methadone and that in at least some cases it may be the preferred option. Buprenorphineis a partial agonist and a partial antagonist with a ceiling of opiate activity probably approximately equal to 30mg methadone. It achieves this at a dose of 10‐12mg, although there is considerable individual variation. Because of its ceiling effect it has a good safety profile compared to full agonists such as methadone although some overdose deaths, particularly in conjunction with benzodiazepine abuse, have been reported in France. Induction of buprenorphine may take slightly longer than for methadone and there is a higher dropout rate compared to methadone in the first 2 weeks. This is probably due to the antagonist action of buprenorphine causing more withdrawal symptoms in comparison to methadone. Also, the ceiling effect for buprenorphine means that some clients do not experience sufficient opiate activity to satisfy them. Buprenorphine has a long half‐life and dissociates slowly from opiate receptors. Most clients can be dosed second‐daily but some find this unacceptable due to mood swings and/or withdrawal symptomson the second day. For these clients daily dosing is required. Transferring from buprenorphine to methadone is straightforward and well tolerated by clients. Transferring from methadone to buprenorphine, however, is more difficult because of the partial antagonist action of buprenorphine. Clients experience withdrawal symptoms that can take up to 2 weeks to settle. Most clients find these symptoms unacceptable when transferring from doses of over 30mg of methadone. The optimum method for transferring from methadone to buprenorphine is still to be determined. Withdrawal from buprenorphine appears to be relatively easier than from methadone. This is presumably due to buprenorphine's partial agonist effect at mureceptors. It is expected that during 2000 buprenorphine will be approved for use in Australia for the treatment of opiate dependence. It may well becomea first‐line choice for opiate replacement in heroin dependence. It is also likely to be useful in assisting detoxification fromboth methadone and heroin.
Toxicity of cyanobacteria isolated from the Guadiana River
Authors: Moreno I. , Cameán A. , Tavares M. J. , Pereira P. , Franca S.
Published: June 2007

The Guadiana River flows through the Southwest area of the Iberian Peninsula crossing from the Spanish provinces of Extremadura and Andalucia to the southern region of Portugal. Preliminary studies on the presence and distribution of toxic cyanobacteria led to the identification of several cyanobacterial species in the Guadiana River itself as well as in the freshwater reservoirs established along its course. The objectives of this paper were the identification and quantification of planktonic cyanobacteria in freshwater reservoirs from the Guadiana River, with different applications (human consumption, agriculture purposes and recreational uses), and determination of their toxicity. After the isolation of cyanobacterial strains, the characterisation of their toxicological profile was carried out using immunoadsorbent assays (ELISA) and chromatographic techniques (HPLC-UV). Monitorization studies revealed that predominant species were Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena spp. and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Some strains of M. aeruginosa were responsible for microcystins production. The toxicity observed in ISACYA 10B was low. The strain ISACYA 2C produces high amounts of microcystins, and probably these toxins were responsible for the toxicity of the cyanobacterial bloom detected in these waters.
The effects of stakeholder interactions on capacity for integrated coastal governance in Morocco and Tunisia
Authors: Jobbins Guy
Published: June 2007

In order to assess how stakeholder interactions affect local coastal governance in North Africa, 70 in-depth semi-structured interviews with 88 subjects were conducted across two sites in Morocco and Tunisia. Using Kooiman's socio-political theory of governance as an analytical framework, stakeholder interactions were analysed both in terms of intentional and conditional levels and related to three elements of governance capacity; images, tools and action potential. Aspects of the sites investigated included fresh water resources, fisheries management, agriculture, wetland conservation, tourism and recreational management, socio-economic development and urbanisation. The analysis revealed general similarities across both sites.

Central-peripheral interactions were found to be weakened by the hierarchical nature of command, especially the lack of decentralised decision-making. Cross-sectoral co-ordination at local and regional levels was also weak, leading to both conflicts and gaps in policies and programmes. Centralisation was also relevant to the interactions between state and society, with civil organisations constrained in their activities, rarely independent, and generally denied access to decision-making forums. Many constraints on action were identified, most obviously resource constraints, but also critical technical, authority and political constraints acting on officials, whilst most resource users and civil society organisations were operating under economic, political and opportunity constraints.

The central problem identified in both countries was that the maintenance of under-resourced command-and-control systems has undermined capacities to meet complex, dynamic and diverse sets of governance needs. In order to develop sustainable coastal areas both nations will need to engage in a process of institutional development to accompany conservation and resource management policies.
Antiphonal Vocalization of a Subterranean Rodent, the Naked Mole‐Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Authors: Yosida Shigeto , Kobayasi Kohta I. , Ikebuchi Maki , Ozaki Ryoko , Okanoya Kazuo
Published: June 2007

Acoustic signalling is one of the most common communication mediums in a broad range of social animals, and it often encodes attributes of the signaller such as sex, kin relatedness and dominance rank. Particularly, antiphonal vocalization has been regarded to have an important function in animals living in an environment where visual cues are unreliable. Antiphony enables to acknowledge that one's signal was received with certainty. We show the first evidence of such acoustic signals among rodents: the naked mole‐rat. The society of this eusocial subterranean species is organized hierarchically according to body size. Naked mole‐rats are functionally blind, and rely highly on acoustic communication. We focused on one of their vocalizations: the soft chirp (SC). SCs are the most frequent sounds, and are often emitted upon physical contact. We expected the SC to be antiphonal, and if so, SC may function to distinguish colony members from intruders, and/or identify social rank and individuality. To examine our predictions, we placed pairs of individuals of different size together, and recorded their vocal behaviour. The intervals between the SCs of two individuals were shorter than expected intervals which were based on the assumption that animals vocalized without reference of the preceding SC. The acoustic properties of SCs varied among individuals according to body weight and colony of origin. The emission rate was positively related to the relative difference in body weight. Therefore, SCs have an antiphonal nature and may function as expected. These characteristics of SC were highly similar to those of antiphonal sounds in other social species.
Vincristine‐induced acute neurotoxicity versus Guillain–Barré syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma
Authors: González Pérez P. , Serrano‐Pozo A. , Franco‐Macías E. , Montes‐Latorre E. , Gómez‐Aranda F. , Campos T.
Published: June 2007

We report the case of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who, after the initiation of treatment with vincristine (VCR), developed a fulminant motor polyradiculoneuropathy resembling an axonal variant of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). This report shows that differentiating between axonal GBS and VCR‐induced acute neurotoxicity may be a challenge for clinicians.
Diffusion‐tensor MR imaging for evaluation of the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by carbon monoxide inhalation
Authors: Lo C.‐P. , Chen S.‐Y. , Chou M.‐C. , Wang C.‐Y. , Lee K.‐W. , Hsueh C.‐J. , Chen C.‐Y. , Huang K.‐L. , Huang G.‐S.
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients with delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome (DNS) caused by carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and neuropsychological test. Conventional and diffusion tensor brain MR imaging exams were performed in six patients with DNS immediately before and 3 months after the HBOT to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA) values. Six age‐ and sex‐matched normal control subjects also received MR exams for comparison. Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was also performed in patients immediately before and 3 months after the HBOT. A significantly higher mean FA value was found in control subjects as compared with the patients both before and 3 months after the HBOT (P < 0.001). The mean FA value 3 months after the HBOT was also significantly higher than that before the HBOT in the patient group (P < 0.001). All of the patients regained full scores in the MMSE 3 months after the HBOT. Diffusion tensor MR imaging can be a quantitative method for the assessment of the white matter change and monitor the treatment response in patients of CO‐induced DNS with a good clinical correlation. HBO may be an effective therapy for DNS.
A case of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria presenting with intra‐abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture, developing renal infarct
Authors: UZUN S. , ALPAY N. , OZTURK G. B. , SAKA B. , YENEREL M. , ERTEN N. , KARAN M. A. , TAŞCIOGLU C.
Published: June 2007

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and thrombosis. Thrombotic attacks are life threatening and are responsible for nearly 50% of PNH‐related deaths. Compared with thrombotic events, bleeding related to thrombocytopenia in PNH is quite rare. This report describes an atypical clinical presentation with problems in the diagnosis and management of a woman who presented with a splenic infarct followed by massive intra‐abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture. She also developed a renal infarct during hospitalization after diagnosis.