bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous observations of Jovian quasi‐periodic radio emissions by the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft
Authors: Hospodarsky G. B. , Kurth W. S. , Cecconi B. , Gurnett D. A. , Kaiser M. L. , Desch M. D. , Zarka P.
Published: June 2004

The gravity‐assist flyby by Cassini of Jupiter on 30 December 2000 and the extended Galileo orbital mission provided a unique opportunity to obtain simultaneous measurements with two spacecraft of many Jovian plasma wave and radio emissions. One of these emissions is Jovian type III radio emissions, also known as Jovian quasi‐periodic (QP) emissions. The simultaneous observations of the QP emissions show very similar characteristics, even when the two spacecraft are separated by large distances and located at very different local times (LT). These similarities suggest that this emission is beamed in a strobe light like manner (over a large angular range) and not like a search light rotating with Jupiter's magnetic field, as many other Jovian radio emissions are. The initial source of the QP bursts is likely located near Jupiter. As the emissions propagate through the magnetosphere, the QP bursts appear as enhancements of the trapped continuum. At the magnetosheath the higher density plasma disperses the lower frequency component of the bursts, producing the characteristic “type III like” spectral shape.
Arctic sea ice regional albedo variability and trends, 1982–1998
Authors: Laine Vesa
Published: June 2004

Whole‐summer and monthly sea ice regional albedo averages for June, July, and August from 1982 to 1998 have been processed from advanced very high resolution radiometer data. Time series for albedo, sea ice concentration, sea ice extent, and surface air temperature have been calculated for the sea ice cover for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole and for six subregions: the Arctic Ocean, the Kara and Barents Seas, the Greenland Sea, the Labrador Sea, Hudson Bay, and the Canadian archipelago. The slope of the summer albedo trend for the Northern Hemisphere is −0.0007 ± 0.0008/year. The largest monthly slope (−0.0016 ± 0.0011/year) is found for June, and the lowest slope (−0.0004 ± 0.0014/year) is found for August. Among the subregions the Greenland Sea has the steepest negative summer trend of −0.0038 ± 0.0012/year during the period, while for the Arctic Ocean the albedo trend is near zero. The calculated trends for the summer sea ice concentration and extent for the Northern Hemisphere are also negative, with a slopes of −0.093 ± 0.069%/year and −42,300 ± 15,200 km2/yr, respectively. In general, the albedo in the central Arctic is between 0.5 and 0.7. The highest albedo values are mainly found in the Arctic Ocean north of Greenland. The lowest albedo (0.2–0.3) occurs in the fringe area of the Arctic Ocean, e.g., on the coasts of Alaska and Siberia. Low albedo values also exist on the east coast of Greenland and in Hudson Bay.
Observations of nearshore crescentic sandbars
Authors: van Enckevort I. M. J. , Ruessink B. G. , Coco Giovanni , Suzuki K. , Turner I. L. , Plant N. G. , Holman R. A.
Published: June 2004

The temporal and spatial variability of crescentic sandbars is analyzed with hourly long‐term (months) video observations collected at four barred sites and are qualitatively compared to the temporal and spatial variability predicted by hypotheses underpinning existing approaches and models for crescentic bar formation (edge‐wave template model, linear stability analysis, and nonlinear models). The observations, coming from the single barred beaches at Duck (North Carolina, USA) and Miyazaki (Kyushu, Japan), and from the double‐barred beaches at the northern Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) and Noordwijk (Netherlands), show that crescentic sandbar wavelength and amplitude variations over space and time are very common. For instance, at any moment in time, the wavelength of the smallest and longest crescentic bar can differ by a factor of 2. Temporal changes in wavelength and amplitude result from merging and splitting of individual crescents, causing the “final” configuration of a crescentic sandbar system to be very different from the initial configuration. The Gold Coast data indicate that these intrinsically nonlinear interactions are an attempt of the crescentic bar system to self‐organize into a more uniform pattern, as splitting is usually confined to the longest crescentic bar observed, whereas merging usually combines the smallest crescentic bars into a longer bar. The observed spatial and temporal crescentic bar behavior contrasts qualitatively with behavior predicted from the edge‐wave template model and implies that the predictive skill of linear stability models is limited. Nonlinear models are potentially better suited for a comparison against these field observations; several suggestions to improve these models, and hence to facilitate a data‐model comparison, are made.
Extremes of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall, ENSO and equatorial Indian Ocean oscillation
Authors: Gadgil Sulochana , Vinayachandran P. N. , Francis P. A. , Gadgil Siddhartha
Published: June 2004

It is well known that anomalies of the Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) are linked to El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We show that large anomalies of the ISMR are also linked to the Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO) between states with enhancement/suppression of atmospheric convection over the western part of the equatorial Indian Ocean with suppression/enhancement over the eastern part and associated changes in the anomaly of the zonal wind along the equator. EQUINOO is the atmospheric component of the coupled Indian Ocean Dipole mode. There is a strong relation between the large anomalies of ISMR and a composite index which is a linear combination of the indices for ENSO and EQUINOO with all seasons with large deficits (excess) characterized by small (large) values of the index. However, the variation of ISMR within one standard deviation is more complex and does not appear to be related to the composite index.
Pressure recovery in magma due to bubble growth
Authors: Nishimura Takeshi
Published: June 2004

Pressure recovery in magma subject to sudden depressurization is investigated in terms of the growth of bubbles containing magmatic volatiles. Assuming conservation of volatile mass and pressure equilibration between the bubbles, melt and a surrounding elastic medium, the final magma pressure is completely determined by its initial pressure and the magnitude of the pressure drop. Simulations show that the initial magma pressure is easily recovered, or even exceeded, when magma containing tiny bubbles is surrounded by a relatively stiff elastic medium under low confining pressure. This result suggests that when processes such as magma withdrawal, dike intrusion, and nearby seismicity decrease the pressure in a magma chamber, magma re‐pressurization can occur without new injection of magma.
Century‐scale movement of the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone linked to solar variability
Authors: Poore R. Z. , Quinn T. M. , Verardo S.
Published: June 2004

The abundance of the planktic foraminifer Globigerinoides sacculifer in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sediments is a proxy for the influx of Caribbean surface waters (the Loop Current) into the GOM. Penetration of the Loop Current into the GOM is related to the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): northward migration of the ITCZ results in increased incursion of the Loop Current into the GOM; southward migration of the ITCZ results in decreased penetration of the Loop Current into the GOM. Abundance variations of G. sacculifer in a sediment core from the Pigmy Basin in the GOM show distinct century‐scale cyclicity over the last 5,000 years. The periodicity of these abundance variations is similar to the century‐scale periodicity observed in proxy records of solar variability, which suggests that the average position of the ITCZ and thus Holocene century‐scale variability in the Caribbean‐GOM region is linked to solar variability.
Impact of an adiabatic correction technique on the simulation of CFC‐12 in a model of the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Zhao Jun , Greatbatch Richard J. , Sheng Jinyu , Eden Carsten , Azetsu‐Scott Kumiko
Published: June 2004

A model of the North Atlantic Ocean is used to simulate the spreading of CFC‐12 from the Labrador Sea deep convection site. The standard version of the model fails to capture the local maximum in CFC‐12 concentration that is observed along the continental slope of the western boundary. Hydrographic data are used to apply a simple correction to the model's horizontal momentum equations. The corrected model is much more successful at capturing the nearslope maximum in CFC‐12 concentration than the uncorrected model and also exhibits a 50% increase of the deep southward export of CFC‐12 at 24°N. The difference between the two model runs is shown to be a consequence of the different paths taken by the Deep Western Boundary Current in the two model versions.
Separating the magnetospheric disturbance magnetic field into external and transient internal contributions using a 1D conductivity model of the Earth
Authors: Maus Stefan , Weidelt Peter
Published: June 2004

Magnetospheric fields and their induced counterparts are the largest source of error in models representing the geomagnetic field. Of particular concern is the current practice of coupling the internal induced field for convenience to the external field by a real constant, independent of the frequency content of the external inducing source. The error introduced into field models by this simplified representation is of the order of 5 nT on average. Here, we propose an accurate representation of the symmetric part of the disturbance field which is easy to implement. Using a 1D conductivity model of the Earth, we split the disturbance Dst index into two new indices, Est and Ist, which track the transient evolution of the symmetric part of the external and induced disturbance field. The ensuing Dst‐based transient correction for geomagnetic field models is in remarkable agreement with the transient effect observed in CHAMP, Ørsted and SAC‐C satellite magnetic measurements.
HF Doppler oscillations in the low‐latitude ionosphere coherent with equatorial long‐period geomagnetic field oscillations
Authors: Motoba Tetsuo , Kikuchi Takashi , Shibata Takashi F. , Yumoto Kiyohumi
Published: June 2004

We present observations of HF Doppler (HFD) oscillations in the low‐latitude ionosphere seen during global long‐period (5∼15 min) geomagnetic field oscillation events, which occurred on 21 April 1993 and on 28 February 1998. In both events, daytime polar‐equatorial magnetometer data on the ground indicated that the long‐period geomagnetic field oscillations at the daytime dip equator were not only considerably enhanced but also highly correlated with those at afternoon high latitudes with no apparent time shift (within 10 s). This earlier finding [Motoba et al., 2002, 2003] strongly suggested that the long‐period geomagnetic field oscillations at the daytime dip equator were produced by an extension of polar‐originating ionospheric current system associated with high‐latitude geomagnetic field oscillations. In the first event on 21 April 1993, the HFD measurement at the postmidnight low latitude detected frequency oscillations coherent with the geomagnetic field oscillations at the afternoon dip equator in the Pc5 range (∼6 min). However, there was no magnetic field change at low‐latitude magnetometer stations adjacent to the reception site of the HFD. Therefore it is reasonable to consider that the HFD oscillations are not effects of directly incoming hydromagnetic waves on the nighttime low‐latitude ionosphere. In the second event on 28 February 1998, both the low‐latitude HFD and equatorial magnetometer measurements were located in the postsunrise terminator. Similar to the first event, HFD oscillations were well correlated with long‐period geomagnetic field oscillations (∼14 min) at the daytime equator, although both variations were in antiphase. In the same local time sector the corresponding low‐latitude magnetic field variations were predominant in the D component rather than the H component, suggesting that the meridional ionospheric currents originating in the polar region make a major contribution for the low‐latitude magnetic field oscillations. The two case studies presented here provide strong evidence that the observed low‐latitude HFD oscillations arose from E × B effects due to direct penetration of a polar dawn‐dusk electric field, which set up the ionospheric current system responsible for the long‐period geomagnetic field oscillations occurring on a global scale.
Participatory approach for the identification of dairy industry needs inthe design of research, development and extension actions: Australianand Brazilian case studies
Authors: Teixeira S. R. , Chamala S. , Cowan R. T. , Western M.
Published: June 2004

In both Australia and Brazil there are rapid changes occurring in the macroenvironment of the dairy industry. These changes are sometimes not noticed in the microenvironment of the farm, due to the labour-intensive nature of family farms, and the traditionally weak links between production and marketing. Trends in the external environment need to be discussed in a cooperative framework, to plan integrated actions for the dairy community as a whole and to demand actions from research, development and extension (R, D & E). This paper reviews the evolution of R, D & E in terms of paradigms and approaches, the present strategies used to identify dairy industry needs in Australia and Brazil, and presents a participatory strategy to design R, D & E actions for both countries. The strategy incorporates an integration of the opinions of key industry actors (defined as members of the dairy and associated communities), especially farm suppliers (input market), farmers, R, D & E people, milk processors and credit providers. The strategy also uses case studies with farm stays, snowball interviewing techniques, semi-structured interviews, content analysis, focus group meetings, and feedback analysis, to refine the priorities for R, D & E actions in the region.
The effect of improved pastures and grazing management on soil water storage on a basaltic plains site in south-west Victoria
Authors: Bird P. R. , Jackson T. T. , Kearney G. A. , Saul G. R. , Waller R. A. , Whipp G.
Published: June 2004

Soil salinity of non-irrigated farmlands in Australia has been largely attributed to tree clearing and their replacement by annual pasture and crop species. This paper deals with the effects of sowing perennial ryegrass and greater inputs of fertiliser, and the effect of grazing management, on water use and the potential to improve recharge control on a gravelly soil derived from basalt.In 1991, neutron access tubes were inserted into plots on a project established in 1989 to examine the impact of upgrading the pasture on sheep productivity. These plots were subdivided in 1996 to examine the impact of grazing management (tactical v. set-stocking) and pasture type (pastures dominated by annual species v. upgraded pastures) on productivity. Neutron probe readings were taken periodically from tubes in each plot, at depth intervals of 25 cm (December 1991–March 1995) or 20 cm (August 1995–April 1999) to 170 cm. There was no effect of treatment on soil moisture. Data for 2 wet years (1995 and 1996) indicate that the effective soil-water storage capacity to 170 cm depth for these pastures was a mean of 125 mm of water. This represents the potential buffer before winter rainfall exceeds the water use by the pasture, fills the soil profile to capacity and then either runs off or allows deep drainage to occur.We did not achieve a significant reduction in soil-water storage, and therefore potential recharge of groundwater, by re-sowing the pasture with perennial ryegrass and applying more fertiliser, or by altering the grazing management to a form of rotational grazing. Compared with set-stocked annual pasture, the impact of such treatments was to reduce soil-water storage to a depth of 170 cm in autumn by less than 20 mm/year. There was no association between total herbage production and soil-water storage, however an increased percentage of perennial ryegrass in the pasture was associated with a small reduction in soil-water storage in 1 year. Greater use of soil-water may depend upon using deeper-rooted perennials or maintaining a higher proportion of perennial species in the sward (the perennial ryegrass in the re-sown pastures declined from 53% in October 1996 to 4% in October 1998).
Rhizobial inoculation improves seedling emergence, nutrient uptake and growth of cotton
Authors: Hafeez F. Y. , Safdar M. E. , Chaudhry A. U. , Malik K. A.
Published: June 2004

Experiments were conducted to determine the growth promoting activities of various rhizobia in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under growth room conditions. Seeds of 4 cotton cultivars were inoculated with 4-indole-3-acetic acid producing selected (Brady) rhizobium strains and Azotobacter plant growth promoting rhizobacteria strains, included as a positive control. Growth responses to inoculation exhibited bacterial strain-cotton cultivar specificity and also included increase in rate of seedling emergence by 3–9%. Shoot dry weight, biomass and N uptake were increased by 48, 75 and 57%, respectively, due to inoculation with both the Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii E11 and Azotobacter sp. S8, whereas, strain E11 also increased root dry weight, root length and area by 248, 332 and 283%, respectively. K+ and Ca2+ uptake was also increased by 2–21% and 9–14%, respectively, due to rhizobial inoculation. The results also showed that (Brady) rhizobium strains promoted cotton growth through efficient nutrient uptake, which was mainly related to increased root growth due to the effect of IAA produced by these strains. However, growth promotion by Azotobacter sp. S8, in addition to 4-indole-3-acetic acid production, might also involve biological N2 fixation by this rhizobacterial strain at some stage during its growth.
Morphological analysis of the Grevillea ilicifolia complex (Proteaceae) and recognition of taxa
Authors: Downing Trisha L. , Duretto Marco F. , Ladiges Pauline Y.
Published: June 2004

A morphological study of herbarium and field-collected specimens, using phenetic techniques of agglomerative classification, ordination and minimum spanning trees, and covering the geographic range of the Holly Grevillea, G.�ilicifolia (R.Br.) R.Br. sensu lato, has resulted in the recognition of three species and four subspecies. The taxa are based on leaf form, noted by previous authors to be highly variable between populations. The taxa recognised here are G.�ilicifolia, G.�ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia (typical, kite-shaped leaf form), G.�ilicifolia subsp. lobata (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (oak-shaped leaf form), G.�dilatata (R.Br.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (fan-shaped leaf form), G.�angustiloba (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov., G.�angustiloba subsp. angustiloba (narrow-lobed leaf form) and G.�angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis T.L.Downing subsp. nov. (very narrow-lobed leaf form). The rank of subspecies is used where there are some intermediate plants between forms. Grevillea ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia is the most widespread taxon and occurs in South Australia, western Victoria and in two localities in New South Wales. Grevillea angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis has the most restricted range, occurring in semi-arid regions near Wirrega in South Australia. Grevillea dilatata is largely endemic to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
Phylogenetic relationships in the Mediterranean Helichrysum (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) based on nuclear rDNA ITS sequence data
Authors: Galbany-Casals M. , Garcia-Jacas N. , Susanna A. , Sáez L. , Benedí C.
Published: June 2004

The internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 of the nuclear rDNA were sequenced for 41 Helichrysum species (Gnaphalieae), focusing on the Mediterranean group of species, together with eight representatives of other genera of the Gnaphalieae, in order to check the hypothesised monophyly of the Mediterranean Helichrysum group and the correspondence of the sequence data with its traditional sectional classification. The cladistic analysis of sequence data supports monophyly of the Mediterranean Helichrysum excluding H. frigidum and H. montelinasanum. The traditional classification of the Mediterranean species into two sections, Helichrysum and Virginea, is not supported, whereas a group constituted by species from the west Mediterranean area is shown as a moderately supported monophyletic clade in the strict consensus tree. Other results also show and confirm the complexity, still not satisfactorily resolved, of the Helichrysum generic delimitation: Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum appears merged in Helichrysum whereas Helichrysum dasyanthum appears more related to Anaxeton laeve than to any Helichrysum species.
Taxonomic revision of the broombush complex in Western Australia (Myrtaceae, Melaleuca uncinata s.l.)
Authors: Craven Lyn A. , Lepschi Brendan J. , Broadhurst Linda , Byrne Margaret
Published: June 2004

The Western Australian members of the broombush complex, Melaleuca uncinata R.Br., are revised. Eleven species of the complex are recognised, of which seven are newly described: M. atroviridis Craven & Lepschi, M.�exuvia Craven & Lepschi, M.�interioris Craven & Lepschi, M.�osullivanii Craven & Lepschi, M.�scalena Craven & Lepschi, M.�vinnula Craven & Lepschi, M.�zeteticorum Craven & Lepschi. An identification key is provided, and the Western Australian distribution of each species is mapped. The occurrence of hybridisation between members of the complex is reported. The broombush species with which the Western Australian underground orchid, Rhizanthella gardneri Rogers (Orchidaceae), is associated are discussed.
Impact of the heroin ‘drought’ on patterns of drug use and drug‐related harms
Authors: LONGO MARIE C. , HENRY‐EDWARDS SUSAN M. , HUMENIUK RACHEL E. , CHRISTIE PAUL , ALI ROBERT L.
Published: June 2004

Since late 2000, anecdotal reports from drug users and health professionals have suggested that there was a reduction in the supply of heroin in Adelaide in the first half of 2001, referred to as a heroin ‘drought’. The aim of this paper was to critically review evidence for this, using data obtained from 100 injecting drug users surveyed for the 2001 Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). This project is carried out annually in all Australian jurisdictions, and collects up‐to‐date information on the markets for heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis. This paper also investigates the possible implications of this ‘drought’ on patterns of drug use and drug‐related harms. The 2001 IDRS found consistent reports by users of an increase in the price of heroin, together with decreases in purity and availability. These factors resulted in a decrease in the frequency of self‐reported heroin use among those surveyed in 2001, and a concomitant increase in the use of other drugs, in particular methamphetamine and morphine. The heroin ‘drought’ appears to have had a substantial impact on several indices of drug‐related harm. There was a marked decrease in the number of opioid‐related fatalities, and hospital data also showed reductions in heroin‐related presentations. Treatment service data showed an increase in the number of admissions related to amphetamines. There is a need for health promotion and education on the adverse effects of methamphetamine use, and the development of improved treatment protocols for methamphetamine abuse and dependence.
A brief motivational intervention for substance misuse in recent‐onset psychosis
Authors: KAVANAGH DAVID J. , YOUNG ROSS , WHITE ANGELA , SAUNDERS JOHN B. , WALLIS JEFF , SHOCKLEY NATALIE , JENNER LINDA , CLAIR ANNE
Published: June 2004

Substance misuse is common in early psychosis, and impacts negatively on outcomes. Little is known about effective interventions for this population. We report a pilot study of brief intervention for substance misuse in early psychosis (Start Over and Survive: SOS), comparing it with Standard Care (SC). Twenty‐five in‐patients aged 18 – 35 years with early psychosis and current misuse of non‐opioid drugs were allocated randomly to conditions. Substance use and related problems were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months. Final assessments were blind to condition. All 13 SOS participants who proceeded to motivational interviewing reported less substance use at 6 months, compared with 58% (7/12) in SC alone. Effects were well maintained to 12 months. However, more SOS participants lived with a relative or partner, and this also was associated with better outcomes. Engagement remained challenging: 39% (16/41) declined participation and 38% (5/13) in SOS only received rapport building. Further research will increase sample size, and address both engagement and potential confounds.
Pilot randomized controlled trial of a brief alcohol intervention group for adolescents
Authors: BAILEY KYLIE A. , BAKER AMANDA L. , WEBSTER ROSEMARY A. , LEWIN TERRY J.
Published: June 2004

The aim of this study was to identify whether a brief motivational interviewing and cognitive ‐ behavioural‐based alcohol intervention group (AIG) programme is feasible with young people at risk of developing a problem with alcohol, and to assess the short‐term effectiveness of the intervention. Participants were assigned randomly to receive a group intervention of four sessions duration (n = 17; AIG) or no treatment (n = 17, control group). Participants were volunteers recruited from a youth centre on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, comprising youths aged 12 – 19 years who were interested in participating in the study. The Readiness to Change Questionnaire, items from the AUDIT, the DAP Quick Screen and a knowledge questionnaire were administered at pretreatment, post‐treatment and at 1‐ and 2‐month follow‐ups. Participants in the AIG programme showed an increase in readiness to reduce their alcohol consumption. They also reduced their frequency of drinking at post‐treatment and the first follow‐up assessment, while the control group reported increases at the second follow‐up assessment. The control group also increased their hazardous drinking and frequency of binge drinking compared to the AIG. The intervention appeared to improve the AIG participants' knowledge about alcohol and its effects. The results provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the AIG programme in training young people to set limits on alcohol consumption, increase awareness of safe drinking levels and the effects of alcohol abuse. This pilot study also showed that young people who are identified as being ‘at risk’ of developing alcohol abuse, and who are also ambivalent about changing drinking behaviours, can be recruited and retained in a treatment programme.
A brief intervention for risky drinking—analysis of videotaped consultations in primary health care
Authors: SEPPÄ KAIJA , AALTO MAURI , RAEVAARA LIISA , PERÄKYLÄ ANSSI
Published: June 2004

In order to study activity in conducting brief alcohol intervention, a total of 83 consecutive consultations by eight generalz practitioners were videotaped. The categorization included the nature of the patient's health problems and whether alcohol consumption was elicited. The discussions were compared to previously given instructions. Alcohol consumption was elicited in 9/34 of the consultations where enquiry was indicated by the instructions, and rarely in any other situations. The activity among the individual physicians varied, but none of them elicited systematically in all situations with indication. No information was given to any of these patients concerning the relation between their symptoms and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, enquiring and advising on alcohol were seldom performed. More training is needed, especially on how to inform individual patients of the health risks of alcohol.
Patterns and correlates of treatment: findings of the 2000 – 2001 NSW minimum dataset of clients of alcohol and other drug treatment services
Authors: COPELAND JAN , INDIG DEVON
Published: June 2004

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the first year of the NSW Minimum Dataset for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services data collection, including describing the patterns and correlates of people having received treatment in New South Wales. All closed treatment episodes for the 2000 – 2001 financial year were included for descriptive, univariate and multivariate analyses. There were 33 459 closed episodes of care in New South Wales in the 2000/2001 financial year. The majority of clients (69%) were male and the mean age was almost 34 years. The majority of treatment is sought for problems related to alcohol (37%) and heroin (33%) use. More than a third (40%) of clients were new to drug and alcohol treatment. Half the clients had a history of injecting drug use with 6.3% of those with heroin as their principal drug of concern, never having injected. The most common main service provided was in‐patient withdrawal (26%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that being older, not homeless, non‐indigenous and having heroin as the principal drug of concern predicted receiving out‐patient withdrawal management. Analyses of length of stay in residential treatments and number of service contacts in non‐residential treatments are reported. The NSW MDS AODTS is a critical information source for policy development, service planning and surveillance. The results of this paper illustrate the utility of the data collection for identifying emerging issues in the patterns of drug use and service delivery for clients with alcohol and other drug problems.
Pharmacy customers' views and experiences of using pharmacies which provide drug misuse services
Authors: LAWRIE THANE , MATHESON CATRIONA , BOND CHRISTINE M. , ROBERTS KAY
Published: June 2004

This study aimed to determine whether pharmacy customers are deterred from using a pharmacy that offers services to drug misusers. If patients are deterred, what are their specific concerns? The study was qualitative and three different groups were interviewed about their views on pharmacies providing services to drug misusers (i) pharmacy customers, (ii) local community councils and (iii) local drug forums. This paper focuses on pharmacy customer interview results. Interviews were conducted in 10 pharmacies, five in Aberdeen and five in Glasgow, both areas of high drug misuse. The pharmacy customers were attending pharmacies with high, medium and low involvement with drug misusers and were located in city centre, suburban and rural locations. Pharmacy customers were generally supportive of pharmacies offering services to drug misusers. However, their support was often qualified by a wish to see a private area provided for methadone consumption. Pharmacy customers were more knowledgeable of the rationale for and supportive of needle exchange services compared to methadone maintenance and supervised consumption. The results of the study demonstrate that the majority of pharmacy customers are supportive of drug misuse services, provided there is adequate privacy in the pharmacy. These results should be used to encourage more pharmacists to provide drug misuse services.
An overview of the use of urine, hair, sweat and saliva to detect drug use
Authors: DOLAN KATE , ROUEN DAVID , KIMBER JO
Published: June 2004

This paper provides a brief overview of qualitative drug testing procedures using urine, hair, saliva and sweat specimens. Issues related to collection, analysis and interpretation of each specimen as well as their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The biological detection of drug use involves a screening test which, if positive, is followed by a confirmatory test. Urine is the most widely used specimen in the detection of drugs. Urinalysis offers an intermediate window of detection (1 – 3 days). Hair analysis offers the largest window of detection (7 – 100 + days). Saliva analysis may be useful in determining very recent drug use (1 – 36 hours). The analysis of sweat may be useful for continuous monitoring of drug use (1 – 14 days). Drug testing has become a fast, convenient process with the development of point‐of‐collection drug testing devices.
A cost ‐ effectiveness analysis of buprenorphine‐assisted heroin withdrawal
Authors: DORAN C. M. , SHANAHAN M. , BELL J. , GIBSON A.
Published: June 2004

The purpose of this study was to conduct a cost ‐ effectiveness analysis of detoxification from heroin using buprenorphine in a specialist clinic versus a shared care setting. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 115 heroin‐dependent patients receiving a 5‐day treatment regime of buprenorphine. The specialist clinic was a community‐based treatment agency in inner‐city Sydney. Shared care involved treatment by a general practitioner supplemented by weekend dispensing and some concurrent counselling at the specialist clinic. Quantification of resource use was limited to inputs for treatment provision. The primary outcome measure used in the economic analysis was the proportion of each group that completed detoxification and achieved an initial 7‐day period of abstinence. Buprenorphine detoxification in the shared care setting was estimated to be $24 more expensive per patient than treatment at the clinic, which had an average treatment cost of $332 per patient. Twenty‐three per cent of the shared care patients and 22% of the clinic patients reported no opiate use during the withdrawal period. These results suggest that the provision of buprenorphine treatment for heroin dependence in shared care and clinic appear to be equally cost ‐ effective.
Non‐injecting routes of administration among entrants to three treatment modalities for heroin dependence
Authors: DARKE SHANE , HETHERINGTON KATE , ROSS JOANNE , LYNSKEY MICHAEL , TEESSON MAREE
Published: June 2004

A sample of 535 entrants to opioid dependence treatments across three treatment modalities were administered a structured interview to ascertain the prevalence of non‐injecting heroin use. Ten per cent of participants had used heroin primarily by smoking/inhaling in the month preceding interview, and 9% had used heroin and other drugs exclusively by non‐injecting routes. Non‐injectors were younger (25.3 vs. 29.5 years), had higher levels of eduction (10.6 vs. 10.0 years), were more likely to be employed (33 vs. 18%) and had lower levels of recent crime (31 vs. 56%). They also had shorter heroin using careers (5.1 vs. 9.9 years), fewer symptoms of dependence (5.1 vs. 5.6), had been enrolled in fewer previous treatment episodes (3.3 vs. 11.5) and had less extensive lifetime (8.0 vs. 9.1 drug classes) and recent (3.6 vs. 4.9) polydrug use. Non‐injectors were substantially less likely to report lifetime (13% vs. 58%) or recent (2% vs. 29%) heroin overdoses. There were no differences between the general physical and psychological health of the two groups. While non‐injectors had a lower level of post‐traumatic stress disorder (29% vs. 34%), there were no differences in levels of major depression, attempted suicide, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder. A substantial minority of Australian treatment entrants are now using heroin exclusively by non‐injecting routes. While this group is younger, and has substantially reduced risk of overdose and blood borne virus transmission, the physical and psychological health of non‐injectors mirrors that of injectors.
Human intestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cells are potent producers of IL‐6
Authors: Ng Edmond K. , Panesar Ninder , Longo Walter E. , Shapiro Marc J. , Kaminski Donald L. , Tolman Kym C. , Mazuski John E.
Published: June 2004

Background: Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a pluripotent cytokine, has traditionally been considered the product of proinflammatory cells. However, many other cell types have been shown to produce IL‐6. Since intestinal inflammation is commonly associated with a vigorous systemic inflammatory response, we hypothesized that intestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cells might contribute to that response by producing IL‐6. We therefore studied the capacity of differentiated human intestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cell lines to produce IL‐6 in response to various proinflammatory stimuli.

Materials and methods: CCL‐241, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, and HISM, a human intestinal muscle cell line, were grown to confluency and then treated for 24 h with various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide,Clostridium difficile culture extract containing both toxin A and toxin B, recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), or recombinant human interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β). Supernatants were then collected for IL‐6 determination using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Cell numbers were determined using a Coulter counter. For comparison, parallel studies were performed using phorbol ester‐primed U‐937 and THP‐1 human macrophage cell lines.

Results: Both human intestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cells produced IL‐6 under basal conditions. In HISM cells, but not in CCL‐241 cells, IL‐6 release was increased slightly by treatment with C. difficile culture extract containing both toxin A and toxin B and with lipopolysaccharide. In both cell lines, IL‐6 production was profoundly stimulated by treatment with IL‐1β and less so with TNF‐α. Combinations of high‐dose TNF‐α and IL‐1β may have a slightly additive, but not synergistic, effect on IL‐6 release. The amount of IL‐6 produced by IL‐1‐stimulated intestinal cell lines was 70‐fold higher than that produced by stimulated macrophage cell lines.

Conclusions: Both intestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cells demonstrate the ability to release significant amounts of IL‐6. The profound response to IL‐1β and TNF‐α stimulation by both cell lines suggests that human intestinal parenchymal cells, influenced by paracrine mediators liberated from proinflammatory cells, might significantly contribute to the overall systemic inflammatory response by producing IL‐6.
Correlation of serum tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐4 and soluble interleukin‐2 receptor levels with radiologic and clinical manifestations in active pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Kart Levent , Buyukoglan Hakan , Tekin Ishak O. , Altin Remzi , Senturk Zuhal , Gulmez Inci , Demir Ramazan , Ozesmi Mustafa
Published: June 2004

The precise clinical manifestations of tuberculosis are likely to result from a complex interaction between the host and the pathogen. We took serum samples from a group of patients with a variety of clinical and radiological stages of pulmonary tuberculosis in order to characterize tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) response. We further evaluated whether the levels of TNF‐α, IL‐4 and soluble IL‐2R are related with each other, and also evaluated the levels of TNF‐α, IL‐4 and sIL‐2R after anti‐tuberculosis therapy and relation with radiologic scores. Forty‐three inpatients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 19 healthy controls participated in the study. Patients were divided into four categories radiologically on chest X‐ray (minimal, moderate‐advanced, far‐advanced and with miliary infiltration). Concentrations of TNF‐α (20.9±10/15.4±8 pg/ml) and sIL‐2R (2569±842/1444±514 pg/ml) were statistically different between patients and controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Before chemotherapy there was a positive correlation between TNF‐α and sIL‐2R (r = 0.34), but there was no correlation between IL‐4 and TNF‐α, and between IL‐4 and sIL‐2R (r = −0.23 and r = −0.22). The TNF‐α level was not statistically different in four groups before and after chemotherapy. Results of this study provided some evidence confirming the previously reported role of TNF‐α, IL‐4 and sIL 2R in the control of tuberculosis, but these cytokines were not found related with disease severity.
Acute effect of hemodialysis on serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines
Authors: Tarakçıoğlu Mehmet , Erbağci Ayşe Binnur , Usalan Celalettin , Deveci Rukiye , Kocabaş Ramazan
Published: June 2004

Chronic inflammation is a common feature of end‐stage renal disease, which carries a heightened risk of atherosclerosis and other co‐morbid conditions. Dialysis treatment per se can bring additional risk factors for inflammation, such as increased risk of local graft and fistula infections, impure dialysate or bio‐incompatible membranes. Our study was designed to determine whether a hemodialysis session leads to an acute substantial alteration in the plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, the T‐lymphocyte activation factor soluble IL‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R), and an inflammation mediator and chemotactic granulocyte factor, IL‐8, in end‐stage renal disease patients receiving chronic intermittent HD. In this study, 21 (12 male/nine female) patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were enrolled. The acute effect of a hemodialysis session on serum cytokine concentrations was assessed by comparison of pre‐hemodialysis and post‐hemodialysis determinations. Serum IL‐1β, sIL‐2R, IL‐6, IL‐8 and TNF‐α levels were determined with chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assays.

A significant difference was not observed for IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and sIL‐2R concentrations in pre‐hemodialysis and post‐hemodialysis specimens (p > 0.05). Serum median (25th‐75th percentiles) IL‐8 concentration was 69.4 (34.9‐110.3) pg/ml before hemodialysis, and decreased to 31.5 (18.0‐78.8) pg/ml following hemodialysis (p : 0.006). Clearance of IL‐8 increased by 0.47±0.08 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre‐dialysis IL‐8 (p < 0.001) and decreased by 5.63±2.59 pg/ml for each unit increase in pre‐dialysis urea mmol/l (p < 0.05).

In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that a hemodialysis session markedly decreases IL‐8 concentration, which is significantly affected by pre‐dialysis concentrations, indicating that removal of IL‐8 is a concentration gradient‐dependent action, but does not change the serum levels of IL‐1β, sIL‐2R, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, underlining importance of the structural characteristics of the molecules.
Dexamethasone prevents interleukin‐1β‐induced nuclear factor‐κB activation by upregulating IκB‐α synthesis, in lymphoblastic cells
Authors: Castro-caldas M. , Mendes A. F. , Carvalho A. P. , Duarte C. B. , Lopes M. C.
Published: June 2004

Aims: Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert some of their anti‐inflammatory actions by preventing the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)‐κB. The GC‐dependent inhibition of NF‐κB may occur at different levels, but the mechanisms involved are still incompletely understood. In this work, we investigated whether the synthetic GC, dexamethasone (Dex), modulates the activity of NF‐κB in the lymphoblastic CCRF‐CEM cell line. We also evaluated the ability of Dex to prevent the activation of NF‐κB in response to the potent proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)‐1β.

Results: Exposure of the cells to Dex (1 μM) induced the rapid degradation of IκB‐α, leading to the transient translocation of the NF‐κB family members p65 and p50 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, as evaluated by western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that, in the nucleus, these NF‐κB proteins formed protein‐DNA complexes, indicating a transient activation of NF‐κB. Additionally, Dex also induced de novo synthesis of IκB‐α, following its degradation. Finally, when the cells were exposed to Dex (1 μM) prior to stimulation with IL‐1β (20 ng/ml), Dex was efficient in preventing IL‐1β‐induced NF‐κB activation. The GC antagonist, RU 486 (10 μM), did not prevent any of the effects of Dex reported here.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that, in CCRF‐CEM cells, Dex prevents NF‐κB activation, induced by IL‐1β, by a mechanism that involves the upregulation of IκB‐α synthesis, and that depends on the early and transient activation of NF‐κB.
Upregulation of expression of the chemokine receptor CCR5 by hydrogen peroxide in human monocytes
Authors: Lehoux Geneviève , Le Gouill Christian , Stankova Jana , Rola-pleszczynski Marek
Published: June 2004

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that an oxidative stress can serve as a signal to regulate the expression of CCR5. When human monocytes were exposed to graded concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), CCR5 mRNA levels increased maximally at 4 h of exposure to 200 μM of H2O2 and decreased by 24 h of treatment. Pretreatment of monocytes with the NF‐κB inhibitor BAY 11‐8072 blocked the H2O2‐induced augmentation of CCR5 mRNA expression, suggesting a role for this transcription factor in the regulation of CCR5 expression. CCR5 protein expression on the plasma membrane was also increased by treatment with H2O2, as assessed by flow cytometry. This was accompanied by enhanced responsiveness of H2O2‐pretreated monocytes to the CCR5 ligand MIP‐1β in terms of chemotaxis and c‐fos gene activation. Our results suggest that oxidative stress may indeed modulate the expression of chemokine receptors and thus contribute to regulation of the inflammatory process.
Binding of κ-Conotoxin PVIIA to Shaker K+ Channels Reveals Different K+ and Rb+ Occupancies within the Ion Channel Pore
Authors: Boccaccio Anna , Conti Franco , Olivera Baldomero M. , Terlau Heinrich
Published: June 2004

The x-ray structure of the KcsA channel at different [K+] and [Rb+] provided insight into how K+ channels might achieve high selectivity and high K+ transit rates and showed marked differences between the occupancies of the two ions within the ion channel pore. In this study, the binding of κ-conotoxin PVIIA (κ-PVIIA) to Shaker K+ channel in the presence of K+ and Rb+ was investigated. It is demonstrated that the complex results obtained were largely rationalized by differences in selectivity filter occupancy of this 6TM channels as predicted from the structural work on KcsA. κ-PVIIA inhibition of the Shaker K+ channel differs in the closed and open state. When K+ is the only permeant ion, increasing extracellular [K+] decreases κ-PVIIA affinity for closed channels by decreasing the “on” binding rate, but has no effect on the block of open channels, which is influenced only by the intracellular [K+]. In contrast, extracellular [Rb+] affects both closed- and open-channel binding. As extracellular [Rb+] increases, (a) binding to the closed channel is slightly destabilized and acquires faster kinetics, and (b) open channel block is also destabilized and the lowest block seems to occur when the pore is likely filled only by Rb+. These results suggest that the nature of the permeant ions determines both the occupancy and the location of the pore site from which they interact with κ-PVIIA binding. Thus, our results suggest that the permeant ion(s) within a channel pore can determine its functional and pharmacological properties.
Taking Absurd Theories Seriously: Economics and the Case of Rational Addiction Theories
Authors: Rogeberg Ole
Published: June 2004

Rational addiction theories illustrate how absurd choice theories in economics get taken seriously as possibly true explanations and tools for welfare analysis despite being poorly interpreted, empirically unfalsifiable, and based on wildly inaccurate assumptions selectively justified by ad-hoc stories. The lack of transparency introduced by poorly anchored mathematical models, the psychological persuasiveness of stories, and the way the profession neglects relevant issues are suggested as explanations for how what we perhaps should see as displays of technical skill and ingenuity are allowed to blur the lines between science and games.