bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
behavioral left-right asymmetry extends to arthropods
Authors: heuts boudewijn adriaan , brunt tibor
Published: October 2005

we present behavioral lateralizations of spiders and ants and their probable survival value. they clearly conform to the vertebrate lateralizations reviewed by vallortigara & rogers (v&r) and to earlier arthropod studies. we suggest two complementary reviews: (1) differences in lesion susceptibility and muscle strength between left and right body side, and (2) perceptual biases and predator inspection in invertebrates.
seeing and talking: whorf wouldn't be satisfied
Authors: kotchoubey boris
Published: October 2005

although steeles & belpaeme's (s&b) results may be useful for development of technical devices, their significance for behavioral sciences is very limited. this is because the question the authors asked was “why do people use similar words in a similar way?” rather than “how can similar words stand for similar experience?” the main problem is not shared word usage, but shared references.
constraints from handedness on the evolution of brain lateralization
Authors: martin maryanne , jones gregory v.
Published: October 2005

can we understand brain lateralization in humans by analysis in terms of an evolutionarily stable strategy? the attempt to demonstrate a link between lateralization in humans and that in, for example, fish appears to hinge critically on whether the isomorphism is viewed as a matter of homology or homoplasy. consideration of human handedness presents a number of challenges to the proposed framework.
moral heuristics or moral competence? reflections on sunstein
Authors: mikhail john
Published: October 2005

by focusing on mistaken judgments, sunstein provides a theory of performance errors without a theory of moral competence. additionally, sunstein's objections to thought experiments like the footbridge and trolley problems are unsound. exotic and unfamiliar stimuli are used in theory construction throughout the cognitive sciences, and these problems enable us to uncover the implicit structure of our moral intuitions.
is color perception really categorical?
Authors: matthen mohan
Published: October 2005

are color categories the evolutionary product of their usefulness in communication, or is this an accidental benefit they give us? it is argued here that embodiment constraints on color categorization suggest that communication is an add-on at best. thus, the steels & belpaeme (s&b) model may be important in explaining coordination, but only at the margin. furthermore, the concentration on discrimination is questionable: coclassification is at least as important.
do normative standards advance our understanding of moral judgment?
Authors: pizarro david a. , uhlmann eric luis
Published: October 2005

sunstein's review of research on moral heuristics is rich and informative – even without his central claim that individuals often commit moral errors. we question the value of positing such a normative moral framework for the study of moral judgment. we also propose an alternative standard for evaluating moral judgments – that of subjective rationality.
natural selection of asymmetric traits operates at multiple levels
Authors: mcbeath michael k. , sugar thomas g.
Published: October 2005

natural selection of asymmetric traits operates at multiple levels. some asymmetric traits (like having a dominant eye) are tied to more universal aspects of the environment and are coded genetically, while others (like pedestrian turning biases) are tied to more ephemeral patterns and are largely learned. species-wide trends of asymmetry can be better modeled when different levels of natural selection are specified.
putting things right: “why” before “how”
Authors: miklósi á.
Published: October 2005

in this commentary i argue for the need of an evolutionary account of lateralized behavior. although one could raise some problems with the explanatory power of the present hypothesis, this is the approach one should pursue. it would be very important to show that the proposed idea of social coordination does indeed lead to selective advantages also when considered within a species.
categorization in artificial agents: guidance on empirical research?
Authors: wang william s.-y. , gong tao
Published: October 2005

by comparing mechanisms in nativism, empiricism, and culturalism, the target article by steels & belpaeme (s&b) emphasizes the influence of communicational constraint on sharing color categories. our commentary suggests deeper considerations of some of their claims, and discusses some modifications that may help in the study of communicational constraints in both humans and robots.
forming an asymmetrical brain: genes, environment, and evolutionarily stable strategies
Authors: vallortigara giorgio , rogers lesley j.
Published: October 2005

the present response elaborates and defends the main theses advanced in the target article: namely, that in order to provide an evolutionary account of brain lateralization, we should consider advantages and disadvantages associated both with the individual possession of an asymmetrical brain and with the alignment of the direction of lateralization at the population level. we explain why we believe that the hypothesis that directional lateralization evolved as an evolutionarily stable strategy may provide a better account than alternative hypotheses. we also further our discussion of the influence of stimulation and experience in early life on lateralization, and thereby show that our hypothesis is not deterministic. we also consider some novel data and ideas in support of our main thesis.
Natural Science and Brazilian Nationality: Os sertões by Euclides da Cunha
Authors: de Santana José Carlos Barreto
Published: October 2005

Os Sertões (Rebellion in the Backlands), by the engineer Euclides da Cunha, is one of the most important books in Brazilian literature, with more than 50 local editions and translations in at least nine languages. Published in 1902 after four years of writing, it is a book about nationality in Brazil that sparked a debate regarding the subject of national consciousness and the connection between a nation's physical landscape, its people, and its culture. The book draws from a wide spectrum of knowledge that synthesizes science and art as the pinnacle of human thought. Cunha was a man of great culture and learning and in this work his professional activities and scientific writings merge to celebrate Brazilian culture in different realms of knowledge. The author worked as an engineer and had connections with the scientific community and the world of natural science. His explicit references to naturalists, travelers, geologists, and botanists reflect the historical moment of scientific knowledge in Brazil in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and no less than that, Cunha's personal connections with the local scientific community.
Bones and Devices in the Constitution of Paleontology in Argentina at the End of the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Podgorny Irina
Published: October 2005

Whereas historiography of the debates on “early man in America” isolates Florentino Ameghino's ideas on human evolution from his paleontological and geological work, this paper presents Ameghino's ideas on human ancestors in regard to the controversies over the origin and dispersion of mammals. Therefore, this paper analyzes the constitution of paleontology in Argentina at the end of nineteenth century by describing, firstly, the Ameghino brothers' organization of research. By tackling this aspect I want also to discuss the place of science in late nineteenth-century Argentina. Secondly, I will sketch “Ameghino's ideas” about Patagonia as a center of distribution of mammals, the age of Patagonian strata, and the South American origin of humankind. The Ameghino brothers' logistics of fieldwork created not only the means for finding a remarkable fossil fauna but also a trap that undermined their scientific credibility. Therefore, I will focus on the problem of fieldwork in “distant” places and of scientific wandering in Patagonia. In the polemics presented here, language, transportation systems, visual representations, and technical devices were crucial elements for the creation of paleontological objects.
Meta-programming through typeful code representation
Authors: CHEN CHIYAN , XI HONGWEI
Published: October 2005

By allowing the programmer to write code that can generate code at run-time, meta-programming offers a powerful approach to program construction. For instance, meta-programming can often be employed to enhance program efficiency and facilitate the construction of generic programs. However, meta-programming, especially in an untyped setting, is notoriously error-prone. In this paper, we aim at making meta-programming less error-prone by providing a type system to facilitate the construction of correct meta-programs. We first introduce some code constructors for constructing typeful code representation in which program variables are represented in terms of deBruijn indexes, and then formally demonstrate how such typeful code representation can be used to support meta-programming. With our approach, a particular interesting feature is that code becomes first-class values, which can be inspected as well as executed at run-time. The main contribution of the paper lies in the recognition and then the formalization of a novel approach to typed meta-programming that is practical, general and flexible.
The foreign property rule: a cost–benefit analysis
Authors: BURGESS DAVID , FRIED JOEL
Published: October 2005

The foreign property rule (FPR) requires that no more than 30% of the assets held in tax-deferred retirement savings accounts be foreign property. The FPR is supposed to increase the value of the dollar and reduce its volatility and decrease the cost of capital and promote investment in Canada as well as decrease the extent of inequality inherent in these plans. On the basis of evidence from the easing of this regulation from 20% to 30% over the period 2001/02 we find that it accomplishes none of these objectives. There was no measurable impact on the exchange rate predicted from the Bank of Canada's forecasting equation; the capital outflow from the change amounted to no more than two days trade in the foreign exchange market over the period 2000/01; Canada's equity markets did significantly better internationally when the FPR was eased than in the prior two-year period. Finally, closer inspection reveals that the rule exacerbates income inequality by imposing the largest costs on lower middle-income groups. We estimate that the increase in the FPR from 20% to 30% increased Canadians expected income by between 500 million and one billion dollars annually by permitting greater portfolio diversification. The complete removal of the FPR would increase income by an estimated additional 1.5 billion to 3 billion dollars annually.
Overview of the Issue
Authors: BROWN JEFFREY , HABERMAN STEVEN , MILEVSKY MOSHE , ORSZAG MIKE
Published: October 2005

This issue features two original research articles, three issues & policy articles and a book review section. The lead article is by Geoffrey Kingston and Susan Thorp (University of New South Wales, Australia) and addresses the issue of Annuitization and asset allocation with HARA utility. One of the puzzles in retirement economics is why individuals do not choose to purchase annuities and Kingston and Thorp explore in detail a real options model in which individual preferences obey the broad class of hyperbolic absolute risk aversion utility. The theory of Real Options argues that people might want to delay annuitisation at relatively younger ages because the price of life annuities might improve and annuitisation is irreversible. However, Kingston and Thorp show that the implications of a Real Options approach varies across individuals considerably. For example, when individuals have a desired consumption floor as opposed to CRRA preferences, they are more likely to want to purchase annuities earlier than later. It would be interesting to see empirical tests done in this area to test the relatively new Real Options theory as it applies to irreversible personal financial decisions, such as annuitization.
Localized-magnon states in strongly frustrated quantum spin lattices
Authors: Richter J.
Published: October 2005

Recent developments concerning localized-magnon eigenstates in strongly frustrated spin lattices and their effect on the low-temperature physics of these systems in high magnetic fields are reviewed. After illustrating the construction and the properties of localized-magnon states we describe the plateau and the jump in the magnetization process caused by these states. Considering appropriate lattice deformations fitting to the localized magnons we discuss a spin-Peierls instability in high magnetic fields related to these states. Last but not least we consider the degeneracy of the localized-magnon eigenstates and the related thermodynamics in high magnetic fields. In particular, we discuss the low-temperature maximum in the isothermal entropy versus field curve and the resulting enhanced magnetocaloric effect, which allows efficient magnetic cooling from quite large temperatures down to very low ones.
Ordering in two-dimensional Ising models with competing interactions
Authors: Chitov G. Y. , Gros C.
Published: October 2005

We study the 2D Ising model on a square lattice with additional non-equal diagonal next-nearest neighbor interactions. The cases of classical and quantum (transverse) models are considered. Possible phases and their locations in the space of three Ising couplings are analyzed. In particular, incommensurate phases occurring only at non-equal diagonal couplings, are predicted. We also analyze a spin-pseudospin model comprised of the quantum Ising model coupled to XY spin chains in a particular region of interactions, corresponding to the Ising sector’s super-antiferromagnetic (SAF) ground state. The spin-SAF transition in the coupled Ising-XY model into a phase with co-existent SAF Ising (pseudospin) long-range order and a spin gap is considered. Along with destruction of the quantum critical point of the Ising sector, the phase diagram of the Ising-XY model can also demonstrate a re-entrance of the spin-SAF phase. A detailed study of the latter is presented. The mechanism of the re-entrance, due to interplay of interactions in the coupled model, and the conditions of its appearance are established. Applications of the spin-SAF theory for the transition in the quarter-filled ladder compound NaV2O5 are discussed.
Frustrated vortex in a two-dimensional antiferromagnet
Authors: Bogdan M. M.
Published: October 2005

The interaction of a magnetic vortex with the frustration created by a magnetic defect is investigated in a discrete Heisenberg model of a two-dimensional antiferromagnet with easy-plane anisotropic exchange. Numerical solutions are obtained for the static Landau-Lifshitz equations describing the spin distribution in a system with magnetic frustration and a vortex. It is found that the energy of the magnet is minimum in the case when the center of the vortex coincides with the position of the magnetic impurity. It is shown that as a result of the attraction between the vortex and frustration, a two-dimensional solitonic bound state localized at the magnetic defect—a frustrated vortex—arises in the magnet. The energy of such a vortex is lower than that of the free vortex, and this effect can be manifested in features of the behavior of the EPR linewidth in two-dimensional magnets.
Investigation of the anomalies of the magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic properties of single crystals of the ferroborate GdFe3(BO3)4 at phase transitions
Authors: Kadomtseva A. M. , Popov Yu. F. , Krotov S. S. , Vorob’ev G. P. , Popova E. A. , Zvezdin A. K. , Bezmaternykh L. N.
Published: October 2005

The transformation of various properties of gadolinium ferroborate single crystals at phase transitions, both spontaneous and induced by magnetic fields up to 200 kOe, is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Particular attention is paid to elucidating the role of magnetoelectric interactions and the change in them at spin-reorientation transitions accompanied by a change of magnetic symmetry. With that goal the magnetoelastic and magnetoelectric properties of the system are investigated over a wide range of temperatures for two orientations of the magnetic field, H∥c and H⊥c, and a fundamental difference of the character of the field dependences of the magnetostriction and electric polarization is found. In the framework of a symmetry approach a description of the magnetic structures and their transformations in the system GdFe3(BO3)4 is proposed, and an interpretation of the experimentally observed properties is given.
Incommensurate magnetism in the coupled spin tetrahedra system Cu2Te2O5Cl2
Authors: Zaharko O. , Ronnow H. M. , Daoud-Aladine A. , Streule S. , Juranyi F. , Mesot J. , Berger H. , Brown P. J.
Published: October 2005

Neutron scattering studies on powder and single crystals have provided new evidence for unconventional magnetism in Cu2Te2O5Cl2. The compound is built from tetrahedral clusters of S=1/2 Cu2+ spins located on a tetragonal lattice. Magnetic ordering, emerging at TN=18.2 K, leads to a very complex multi-domain, most likely degenerate, ground state, which is characterized by an incommensurate (ICM) wave vector k∼[0.15,0.42,1/2]. The Cu2+ ions carry a magnetic moment of 0.67(1)μB/Cu2+ at 1.5 K and form a four-helix spin arrangement with two canted pairs within the tetrahedra. A domain redistribution is observed when a magnetic field is applied in the tetragonal plane (Hc≈0.5 T), but not for H∥c up to 4 T. The excitation spectrum is characterized by two well-defined modes, one completely dispersionless at 6 meV, the other strongly dispersing to a gap of 2 meV. The reason for such complex ground state and spin excitations may be geometrical frustration of the Cu2+ spins within the tetrahedra, intra- and inter-tetrahedral couplings having similar strengths and strong Dzyaloshinski–Moriya anisotropy. Candidates for the dominant intra- and inter-tetrahedral interactions are proposed.
Difficulties with prenatal diagnosis of the walker-warburg syndrome
Authors: Low A. S. C. , Lee S. L. , Tan A. S. A. , Chan D. K. L. , Chan L. L.
Published: October 2005

We describe a postnatally diagnosed case of Walker-Warburg syndrome – a form of congenital muscular dystrophy with lissencephaly and eye abnormalities. We reviewed the literature to highlight its clinico-radiological diagnostic features and discuss the difficulties encountered with prenatal diagnosis, especially in cases with no positive family history. An increased awareness of this rare but lethal condition, and a high index of suspicion during routine antenatal ultrasound, could prompt further advanced fetal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, and aid in timely prenatal diagnosis, management, and counseling.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging in tyrosinemia
Authors: Sener R. N.
Published: October 2005

A 3.5-year-old girl with tyrosinemia is reported. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed multiple hepatic nodules. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral high-signal changes confined to the globus pallidus on T2-weighted images. Globus pallidus lesions likely represented neuropathologic changes such as astocytosis, delayed myelination, and status spongiosus (myelin splitting and vacuolation).
Main arterial supply of a kidney from the opposite renal artery: an unusual case
Authors: Giavroglou C. , Kokkinakis H.
Published: October 2005

Variations in renal anatomy and blood supply are not uncommon, but a supplementary renal artery arising from the opposite renal artery is rare. In such cases the kidneys are usually malrotated and anomalous in position and form. The case of a 65-year-old man with the left main renal artery arising from the opposite renal artery and without such anomalies of the kidneys is presented.
The Genie in the Information Bottle
Authors: Fewer David
Published: October 2005

HOW TO ENSURE YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
Thin End of the Cooperation Wedge
Authors: Stork Joe
Published: October 2005

‘WE RENDER OURSELVES FOOLISH BY ARRIVING AT CONCLUSIONS BASED ON TOO LITTLE EVIDENCE’ ISAIAH BERLIN
Summitry & Strategies
Authors: Banks Karen
Published: October 2005

MUCH IS AT STAKE IN THE FINAL MEETING OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, BUT THE STAKEHOLDERS DON’T SEE EYE TO EYE
A review of the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol at therapeutic or near‐therapeutic dose levels, with particular reference to alcohol abusers
Authors: Collins Catherine , Starmer Graham A.
Published: October 2005

The number of published reports associating hepatotoxicity with paracetamol ingestion at therapeutic or near‐therapeutic dose levels is small but is, nevertheless, suggestive of a relationship. There is however, mounting evidence that certain groups of patients, such as alcohol‐dependent people, patients receiving enzyme‐inducing drugs (particularly anti‐convulsant and anti‐tuberculosis medications) as well as those with certain infectious diseases, are rendered more susceptible to paracetamol‐induced hepatotoxicity. Seventy‐four case reports where therapeutic or near‐therapeutic doses of paracetamol resulted in hepatic injury are reviewed and factors and mechanisms which might explain this apparently increased vulnerability to damage are discussed.
One for the road: On the utility of citation data for identifying problem hotels
Authors: Wood Les J. , McLean Stuart , Davidson Jodie , Montgomery Iain M.
Published: October 2005

Drink drivers arrested in Tasmania are routinely asked by police where they had last been drinking, and these data were examined for 716 drivers arrested in Southern Tasmania during a 4‐month period in 1992. Nearly half (43%) of arrested drink drivers cited individual hotels as the place where they had last been drinking. This enabled a citation score to be assigned to each of the 82 hotels in metropolitan Hobart. The distribution of citation scores was highly skewed, with eight hotels accounting for 45% of hotel citations, and two accounting for 20%. The hotels' citation scores were compared in relation to the rank order of their licence fees, since better measures of patronage proved unobtainable. Some hotels with small total alcohol sales did appear to have an unexpectedly large number of citations, suggesting less than responsible serving practices. Hoteliers' comments were sought on the interpretation of citation scores, and incorporated into a discussion of the limitations of the data in determining the extent of individual hotel responsibility for drink drivers. Important questions remaining include (1) what is the validity of citations made by drink drivers at the time of arrest; (2) what appropriate and quantifiable denominator can be used to adjust the number of citations to the level of patronage; and (3) what level of citations is too high and requires action?
Public attitudes to the regulation of alcohol
Authors: McALLISTER IAN
Published: October 2005

Public support for the regulation of alcohol is central to government policies aimed at reducing consumption. This study uses a nationally representative population survey conducted in 1993 (n = 3500) to examine public support for 11 separate policies designed to reduce alcohol consumption. The results show that the respondents see these 11 policies in terms of three distinct approaches to alcohol regulation: availability (for example, reducing the number of retail outlets); control (for example, stricter enforcement of laws against serving underage customers); and promotion (for example, restricting alcohol advertising on television). There is strong public support for policies that control alcohol use and, with the exception of restricting alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, for moves to curb the promotion of alcohol. However, public opinion is evenly divided on moves to restrict availability, with the single exception of raising the minimum legal drinking age, which attracts majority support. Women, older people, the less educated, immigrants and abstainers or less frequent drinkers are generally most likely to support more restrictions. By state and territory, Tasmaniens are most restrictive in their views, residents of the Northern Territory most liberal. The findings highlight the difficulties that governments will face in restricting the availability of alcohol. [McAllister I. Public attitudes to the regulation of alcohol. Drug Alcohol Rev 1995; 14:179–186]
Harm reduction in the developing world
Authors: SAMARASINGHE DIYANATH
Published: October 2005

This paper examines harm reduction from the perspective of poor countries. In considering which elements of the broad approach are suitable for adaptation and adoption by poor countries, there is a need to examine critically the arguments put forth in support of it and which, if any, of these are supported by evidence. There are also significant indirect influences that the approach is likely to have on how drug use is understood and interpreted by wider society. The likely impact of these on areas other than simply services directed to drug users needs to be assessed. There are some features regarding harm caused by alcohol and other drug use that are specific to poor countries. Most important among these is that levels of use which are not deemed to be harmful in rich societies cause grave harm through diverting meagre resources away from survival needs in the poor world. Alcohol, as well as other drugs, tends in deprived settings to cause dependence and other problems much earlier in people's drinking careers and at much lower levels of consumption than in rich countries.
Negotiated safety: what you don't know won't hurt you, or will it?
Authors: DEAR LIZ
Published: October 2005

People inject drugs for a variety of reasons, and most do not want to harm themselves in the process. Drug injectors develop rituals for low risk“ drug‐taking based on experience, information received, hearsay and ignorance. The rituals developed are not always able to be used due to the illegal nature of the activity. Understanding of the beliefs of injecting drug‐users (IDUs) and the events that influence behaviour is a potential pathway for ameliorating this often hazardous act. Needle‐sharing is now not a common behaviour although, if there are no new needles at the time of injecting, IDUs will still share needles, usually with sexual partners and ‘close friends’. Other injecting equipment, such as spoons, filters, water, etc. are usually shared. IDUs, like all other drug users, make many assumptions and it appears that IDUs rarely negotiate their drug use to make it ‘safer’.
Unravelling the preventive paradox for acute alcohol problems
Authors: STOCKWELL TIM , HAWKS DAVID , LANG ERNIE , RYDON PHILIP
Published: October 2005

Kreitman's discussion of the preventive paradox in relation to the prevention of alcohol problems has had profound implications for alcohol policy and has generated considerable controversy [1]. It is argued here that although Kreitman should be credited with the important observation that alcohol‐related harm is not confined to a few dependent drinkers, none the less an apparent paradox is not an ideal platform from which to recommend policy. Furthermore, Kreitman's own data and data from an Australian survey of drinking are used to demonstrate that a commonplace truth underlies his apparently paradoxical findings. It is shown that the preventive paradox disappears when consideration is given to the amount of alcohol consumed on either (i) the day of highest alcohol intake out of the last four, or (ii) the day on which acute alcohol‐related harm occurred. Episodic heavy consumption by people whose average alcohol intake can be classified as ‘low’ or ‘medium’ risk contributes to the bulk of such experiences of harm. It is suggested that the importance of intoxication as a public health and safety issue has been neglected. This neglect is compounded when public education campaigns and prevention policy are only based on average rates of alcohol consumption. Advice regarding the low risk levels of consumption for different types of harm should form one component of a comprehensive harm reduction policy. Other elements of such a policy should include a variety of other measures of proven effectiveness in relation to reducing levels of intoxication and related problems.
Characteristics of admissions to residential drug treatment agencies in New South Wales, 1988‐92: II. Alcohol problems
Authors: KELAHER MARGARET , DARKE SHANE , HALL WAYNE , FLAHERTY BRUCE
Published: October 2005

The Clients at Residential Agencies (CARA) database of the New South Wales Drug and Alcohol Directorate was analysed for trends in admissions of clients with alcohol problems over the years 1988‐92. There were no changes in the mean age and sex ratio of admissions, with the treatment population in all years predominantly males in their mid‐thirties. There was a decrease in the proportion of clients who were employed full‐time (25.1–16.4%), and an increase in admissions with criminal histories (45.7–59.3%). More than half of admissions in all years had alcohol problems of greater then 10 years' standing. The percentage of people who had never been in treatment before decreased from 44.4% in 1988 to 18.7% in 1992.
“Just using old works”: injecting risk behaviour in prison
Authors: TURNBULL PAUL J. , POWER ROBERT , STIMSON GERRY V.
Published: October 2005

A minority of injecting drug users engage in high risk injecting behaviours when in prison. In the United Kingdom between a quarter and a third of injectors who enter prison inject when in prison, and of these about three‐quarters share needles and syringes. In the present study, 44 drug injectors who had been released from prison for no longer than 6 months were recruited and interviewed in three geographical areas in England. Interviewees were asked to recount their experiences of drug use during their most recent period of imprisonment. The majority of interviewees were male (38/44), had a mean age of 28 years, with a mean age of 16 years at first drug use, were primarily opiate users (39) and had multiple imprisonments. All respondents reported drug use when imprisoned and drug injecting was reported by 16 interviewees. Most injected at irregular intervals and at a reduced level, compared with injecting when in the community. Nine reported using needles and syringes that others had previously used. When considering other injecting equipment, more sharing occurred than was actually reported. Much re‐use of equipment was viewed simply as“using old works”. The sharing of“cookers” and“filters”, and drug sharing by“backloading” and“frontloading” were common. The concept of“sharing” tended to be understood by respondents as related to the use of tools of injection (needles and syringes rather than other equipment); the use of tools in the act of injection (rather than for mixing drugs); proximity (multiple use of needles and syringes in the presence of others); temporality (shorter time elapse between consecutive use of needles and syringes previously used by another) and source (hired rather than borrowed or bought). We conclude that syringe sharing is an integral part of drug use and drug injecting in prison. Many of those interviewed displayed a restricted understanding of what denotes syringe sharing. Our data reinforce the need for interventions and initiatives to be developed within prisons to deal with the considerable risk posed by continued injecting drug use.
Associating leisure with drinking: current research and future directions
Authors: KUNZ JEAN LOCK
Published: October 2005

This paper has two components: (1) a survey of current research relating drinking with leisure, and (2) suggestions for future studies in the area. A total of 43 relevant journal articles published between 1980 and 1994 were located via an on‐line search. Results of these studies generally fall under one of the following themes: (1) alcohol is an integral part of leisure experience, (2) drinking is an impediment to leisure, (3) participation in active leisure reduces alcohol use/abuse, and (4) drinking and leisure have no relations. Overall, it was found that current research suffered an overdependence on special populations and a lack of robust instruments measuring either drinking or leisure. Suggestions for future research were provided, such as better research design and greater integration of leisure into alcohol research.
Have efforts to improve medical students' drug and alcohol knowledge, skills and attitudes worked?
Authors: ROCHE ANN M.
Published: October 2005

A series of surveys were undertaken at one Australian medical school to examine alcohol and drug‐related knowledge, skills and attitudes before and after the introduction of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse and also before and after major alcohol and drug medical education initiatives. The surveys were conducted with 5th year medical students at the University of Sydney in 1986, 1990 and 1993 (total n = 379). Response rates of approximately 70% were achieved in each of the survey years. The three cohorts of students were similar demographically with the exception that significantly more males in 1990 and 1993 reported that English was not their first language. Very low prevalence levels for smoking were reported. By 1993, only 3% of 5th year medical students reported that they smoked. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of drinking occasions for males and females between 1986 and 1990. There was also a four‐fold increase in both male and female abstainers. There was no significant difference in the amount of alcohol consumed on any drinking occasion, although there was a trend in that direction. There was a significant increase in alcohol and drug‐related knowledge in the 1990 and 1993 groups, compared to the 1986 group. Skill levels were not found to change significantly across the three year groups. Students' ability to recognize NHMRC hazardous consumption levels increased substantially between 1986 and 1990. Only 4% of 1986 students considered < 30 of alcohol a day to be hazardous for females compared to 47% in 1990. For men, only 8% of students considered 31–60 hazardous drinking in 1986 compared to 55% in 1990 and 61% in 1993. More recently trained students tended to express slightly more tolerant and accepting views about patients with alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence and had greater confidence in success of interventions. The present studies indicate important progress and achievements have been made. The paper discusses the further work needed to ensure that newly graduating medical practitioners are adequately equipped to deal effectively with alcohol and drug‐related problems.
Management of co‐morbid anxiety and alcohol disorders: parallel treatment of disorders
Authors: OEI TIAN P. S. , LOVEDAY WILLIAM A. L.
Published: October 2005

Co‐morbid alcohol‐related disorders and anxiety disorders have been found to occur in alcohol treatment populations, anxiety treatment populations and the general community. People suffering from co‐occurring alcohol‐related and anxiety disorders are more prone to relapse to alcohol abuse, and more likely to re‐enter the treatment system for either disorder than sufferers of either disorder without a co‐morbid disorder. To review the current state of the management of this disorder, evidence of the prevalence of this co‐morbid condition in clinical and community populations is examined, then the theoretical mechanisms that might explain this connection are reviewed. A comparison of the few treatment studies of co‐morbid alcohol and anxiety disorders shows a limited number of pharmacological treatment trials and no psychotherapy outcome trials. This review shows that it is no longer sustainable to conceptualize co‐morbidity of alcohol and anxiety disorders as a unitary concept, i.e. lumping alcohol‐related and anxiety disorders as one global condition, but as separate distinct combinations of particular anxiety disorders, e.g. alcohol dependence and panic disorder, alcohol dependence and generalized anxiety disorder. The recommended treatment approach, supported by the evidence, is to offer separate and parallel therapy for the alcohol‐related and anxiety disorder, until empirical evidence from treatment outcome studies suggest otherwise. There is an urgent need to conduct treatment outcome research for the subtypes of co‐morbid alcohol and anxiety disorders.
The ACT heroin trial: intellectual, practical and political challenges
Authors: BAMMER GABRIELE
Published: October 2005

An array of intellectual, practical and political challenges will be faced both if the Australian Capital Territory “heroin trial” does or does not eventuate. The intellectual challenges include the development of new methodologies and analytical tools for some of the outcome measures; the further development of a research process which involves all the relevant disciplines and interest groups; and capitalizing on an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the pharmacokinetics of heroin. The practicalities of setting up a trial also present a number of challenges, as does incorporating a health development approach. Political challenges include getting a sensible decision made about the trial, avoiding capture of the debate by supporters or opponents of drug law reform and avoiding unrealistic expectations. The major challenge if the trial does not go ahead is to implement other well‐considered proposals which can be carefully evaluated.
The carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin test in hospital practice
Authors: BATEY R. G. , MADSEN G.
Published: October 2005

We report an experience in two hospital populations of the use of a commercially available kit for the detection of carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT). Patients from a drug and alcohol unit and a gastroenterology clinic at two hospitals were selected for the study. Sera were used from blood samples collected for routine biochemical assays. All patients had a specific alcohol history taken by one clinician and CDT results were correlated with reported alcohol intake by the patient and where relevant by their relatives. Sensitivity and specificity of the CDT assay were calculated using an alcohol intake of 60 g/day as the cut‐off point for detection of heavy drinking. The CDT assay had a specificity of 95%, a sensitivity of 80% and a 90% positive and 89% negative predictive value. The severity and type of liver disease had little influence on the CDT result and a high alcohol intake was the only predictor of a raised CDT concentration. The assay provided information not available from routine investigations in some patients and also proved useful in monitoring patients over periods of up to 4 years. The test has a role in the evaluation of patients in a hospital practice where routine histories of alcohol intake may lack sensitivity and where other diseases may cause routine liver tests to be unreliable.
Systematic reviews and their application to research in speech and language therapy: a response to T. R. Pring's ‘Ask a silly question: two decades of troublesome trials’ (2004)
Authors: Garrett Zoe , Thomas James
Published: October 2005

Background: The advent of evidence‐based healthcare has seen a rise in the use of systematic reviews to bring together the findings from research studies. The use of systematic reviews in speech and language therapy (SLT) was criticized in this journal in 2004 by T. R. Pring. It was claimed that their findings are misleading due to the potential inclusion of biased data, and uninformative due to a lack of detail in the reporting of interventions. It is argued that outcome research should be carried out in a series of phases in which small‐scale research precedes large‐scale research. This, it is argued, is most likely to demonstrate statistically significant effects and also help to ensure that therapies become sufficiently defined so that clinicians can apply them in practice.

Aims: This paper argues that the above criticism of systematic reviews is based on a narrow conception of their capabilities: on the popular misapprehension that all systematic reviews answer effectiveness questions using only experimental studies and contain meta‐analyses. Different methods for systematic reviews are described and their application within clinical outcome research is discussed with reference to a phased structure for empirical enquiry.

Main Contribution: Systematic reviews seek to identify and synthesize information within a given topic area. They are used to answer a wide range of research questions and the studies they include are not limited exclusively to experimental designs. Methods of synthesis can include both statistical approaches, such as meta‐analysis, and ‘qualitative’ approaches, such as meta‐ethnography and thematic analysis. Knowledge of the current state of research is essential for a sequentially phased approach within outcome research to operate. Since systematic reviews are summaries of research activity, they can provide this knowledge and should therefore be considered a valuable tool within outcome research.

Conclusions: A systematic review using ‘qualitative’ and/or statistical methods for combining studies can be carried out within or across any of the phases within outcome research. Far from being uninformative, this can help bring together what is, and what is not, known and indicate the kinds of therapies that may be beneficial in the clinical setting and therapies which would benefit from further research and development.
Release, bioavailability and toxicity of metals in lacustrine sediments: A case study of reservoirs and lakes in Southeast Brazil
Authors: Silvério P. F. , Fonseca A. L. , Botta-Paschoal C. M. R. , Mozeto A. A.
Published: October 2005

Bioavailability and toxicity of metals in sediment were assessed in three water bodies in the State of São Paulo, SE Brazil, in one of the first investigations of the topic in the country. Weakly bound metals in bulk sediment samples taken from a highly-polluted reservoir, Billings, São Paulo, exhibited enrichment factors from 2.4 to 30 fold, compared to two other water bodies in the study, Barra Bonita Reservoir and Diogo Lake. High mortality rates occurred when Hyalella azteca and Ceriodaphnia dubia were exposed to Billings reservoir sediment. After forty-eight days of sediment oxidation, laboratory microcosms showed increases in the weakly-bound fraction of metals in sediments from Billings Reservoir (all metals), Diogo Lake (all metals except Zinc) and Barra Bonita Reservoir (Cadmium and Lead only). Chironomus xanthus was not sensitive to toxicity in sediment from any of the three environments. Ceriodaphnia dubia was sensitive to chronic toxicity in bulk field sediments from all three environments, and showed an increase in mortality rate in tests with oxidized sediment. Billings sediment, with or without aeration, caused 100 percent mortality, while in contact with Barra Bonita field sediment, a mortality of 10 percent of the adult organisms occurred, increasing up to 80 percent in post-aeration sediments. In Diogo Lake sediment, 30 percent mortality was observed in field or pre-aeration sediment rising to up to 60 percent in post aeration sediments. The two factors caused by oxidation of reduced substances in sediments, a fall in pH in the water and mobilization of bound metal, are invoked to explain this response.
A Novel Endocytic Recycling Signal Distinguishes Biological Responses of Trk Neurotrophin Receptors
Authors: Chen Zhe-Yu , Ieraci Alessandro , Tanowitz Michael , Lee Francis S.
Published: October 2005

Endocytic trafficking of signaling receptors to alternate intracellular pathways has been shown to lead to diverse biological consequences. In this study, we report that two neurotrophin receptors (tropomyosin-related kinase TrkA and TrkB) traverse divergent endocytic pathways after binding to their respective ligands (nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor). We provide evidence that TrkA receptors in neurosecretory cells and neurons predominantly recycle back to the cell surface in a ligand-dependent manner. We have identified a specific sequence in the TrkA juxtamembrane region, which is distinct from that in TrkB receptors, and is both necessary and sufficient for rapid recycling of internalized receptors. Conversely, TrkB receptors are predominantly sorted to the degradative pathway. Transplantation of the TrkA recycling sequence into TrkB receptors reroutes the TrkB receptor to the recycling pathway. Finally, we link these divergent trafficking pathways to alternate biological responses. On prolonged neurotrophin treatment, TrkA receptors produce prolonged activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling as well as survival responses, compared with TrkB receptors. These results indicate that TrkA receptors, which predominantly recycle in signal-dependent manner, have unique biological properties dictated by its specific endocytic trafficking itinerary.
Fifteen-year risk of major coronary events predicted by Holter ST-monitoring in asymptomatic middle-aged men
Authors: Stagmo Martin , Juul-Möller Steen , Israelsson Bo
Published: October 2005

Background

Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring (Holter) with ST-analysis as a measure of myocardial ichemia has in populations with coronary heart disease been shown to predict major coronary events: death, myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. There has, however, been conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of this technique in identification of healthy subjects with increased risk for coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to assess if Holter monitoring with ST-analysis could be used to predict future major coronary events in asymptomatic middle-aged men with a defined aggregation of traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-five asymptomatic participants from the city of Malmö, Sweden, with known levels of conventional cardiovascular risk factors underwent Holter monitoring for analysis of transient ST-segment depression at the age of 55 years. Fifteen years after the Holter monitoring, hospital records, diagnosis and death registries were revisited for major coronary events.

Results

An ST-segment depression of 1 mm or greater (0.1 mV) was considered significant for myocardial ischemia and was found in 54 of the 155 men. There were no significant differences in risk factors in the two groups at baseline. The 15-year incidence of a first major coronary event was significantly higher in men with ST-segment depression (39%) than in men without ST-segment depression (20%) ( P < 0.015). A Holter electrocardiogram could predict future major coronary events with a positive and negative predictive value of 35 and 80%, respectively.

Conclusions

Holter monitoring can be used as a complement to conventional risk factor evaluation in deciding whether or not to treat risk factors for CHD in asymptomatic subjects.