bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating the risk of fatal arrhythmia in patients in methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction
Authors: BUTLER BETHANY , RUBIN GEORGE , LAWRANCE ANNE , BATEY ROBERT , BELL JAMES 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Aims. To estimate risk of death due to cardiac arrhythmia during methadone maintenance treatment. Background. There is evidence that methadone prolongs the QT interval, and has been associated with ventricular tachycardia in some individuals. Methods. We identified 51 deaths occurring during methadone treatment, occurring in a cohort with a defined exposure to methadone treatment. We obtained consent to access coronial records to investigate these in‐treatment deaths in detail, to identify potential cases of fatal arrhythmia—those cases in which sudden death occurred without clear evidence of an alternate cause of death. We obtained consent to access clinic records of dosing. Two physicians reviewed the coronial files and circumstances of death. The total number of person‐years exposure to methadone treatment was calculated. Results. There were extensive missing data in coronial and clinic files, making definitive assessment difficult in many cases. No definite case of death due to cardiac arrhythmia was identified. There were two cases in which arrhythmia seemed possible, and 10 cases in which arrhythmia could not be excluded. The study covered 14 500 patient‐years (pys) in methadone treatment, yielding an estimate from 0 to 0.069 deaths per 100 pys, with a best estimate of fatal arrhythmia occurring at a rate of 0.014 per 100 pys. Overdose is a more common cause of death. Both potential arrhythmias and overdoses were associated with use of other drugs in addition to methadone—usually, prescription drugs or methamphetamine. Conclusions. The risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia in methadone maintenance patients appears to be low. The major risk factor for death was use of prescription drugs, and methamphetamine, in addition to methadone.[Butler B, Rubin G, Lawrance A, Batey R, Bell J. Estimating the risk of fatal arrhythmia in patients in methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010]
Illicit drug use before and during pregnancy at a tertiary maternity hospital 2000–2006
Authors: HAYATBAKHSH MOHAMMAD R. , KINGSBURY ANN M. , FLENADY VICKI , GILSHENAN KRISTEN S. , HUTCHINSON DELYSE M. , NAJMAN JAKE M. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Introduction and Aims. To study the prevalence of use of illicit drugs by women of reproductive age before and during pregnancy and the changes in rates of illicit drug use in pregnancy over recent years. Design and Methods. All pregnant women attending the public antenatal clinic over a 7 year period (2000–2006) were routinely interviewed about their use of illicit drugs by a midwife at the antenatal booking visit. Measurements. Records for 25 049 women, who self‐reported previous and current use of cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and heroin, were included in the study. Results. Cannabis was the most common illicit drug used before and during pregnancy; 9.3% of women were engaged in regular use prior to pregnancy and 2.5% were users during pregnancy. A very low proportion of women reported use of amphetamines, ecstasy or heroin in pregnancy. There was an increase in ever regular use and any past use of cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy over time. Conclusions. The prevalence of illicit drug use by young women prior to becoming pregnant is of concern. While pregnancy appears to be a strong motivator for women to cease substance use, there is a need to study whether women resume drug use after their baby is born.[Hayatbakhsh MR, Kingsbury AM, Flenady V, Gilshenan KS, Hutchinson DM, Najman JM. Illicit drug use before and during pregnancy at a tertiary maternity hospital 2000–2006. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010]
The contribution of cephalopods to global marine fisheries: can we have our squid and eat them too?
Authors: Hunsicker Mary E , Essington Timothy E , Watson Reg , Sumaila Ussif R 
Published: July 2010

AbstractCephalopods are a key component of marine food webs, providing sustenance for myriad marine species. Cephalopods are also of increasing economic importance as evidenced by the rapid rise in their global landings over recent decades. If fisheries continue on this trajectory, conflicts may transpire among cephalopod and finfish fisheries, particularly in ecosystems where cephalopods are highly valuable both directly as a landed commodity and indirectly as prey for other harvested species. We provide the first measure of the ecosystem services that cephalopods contribute to fisheries in 28 marine ecosystems, both as a commodity and an ecological support service. We also evaluate how current demands on cephalopods compare to mid‐20th century conditions. We find that cephalopod contributions to fisheries vary widely, but are substantial in many ecosystems. Commodity and supportive services provided by cephalopods contributed as much as 55% of fishery landings (tonnes) and 70% of landed values ($USD). The contribution of cephalopods as a commodity was generally greatest in the coastal ecosystems, whereas their contribution as a supportive service was highest in open ocean systems. Further, the commodity and supportive services provided by cephalopods to fisheries landings increased in most of the coastal ecosystems between the mid‐20th century (years 1960–70) and contemporary periods (years 1990–2004), indicating the rising demand for cephalopods. Current demands have no historical precedent and ecosystems in which cephalopods are highly exploited as a targeted resource and as an ecological support service should be further evaluated to prevent the unsustainable development of marine fisheries within them.
Metabolically engineered soybean seed with enhanced threonine levels: biochemical characterization and seed‐specific expression of lysine‐insensitive variants of aspartate kinases from the enteric bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii
Authors: Qi Qungang , Huang Jintai , Crowley James , Ruschke Lisa , Goldman Barry S. , Wen Li , Rapp William D. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryThreonine (Thr) is one of a few limiting essential amino acids (EAAs) in the animal feed industry, and its level in feed rations can impact production of important meat sources, such as swine and poultry. Threonine as well as EAAs lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met) are all synthesized via the aspartate family pathway. Here, we report a successful strategy to produce high free threonine soybean seed via identification of a feedback‐resistant aspartate kinase (AK) enzyme that can be over‐expressed in developing soybean seed. Towards this goal, we have purified and biochemically characterized AK from the enteric bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii (Xb). Site‐directed mutagenesis of XbAK identified two key regulatory residues Glu‐257 and Thr‐359 involved in lysine inhibition. Three feedback‐resistant alleles, XbAK_T359I, XbAK_E257K and XbAK_E257K/T359I, have been generated. This study is the first to kinetically characterize the XbAK enzyme and provide biochemical and transgenic evidence that Glu‐257 near the catalytic site is a critical residue for the allosteric regulation of AK. Furthermore, seed‐specific expression of the feedback‐resistant XbAK_T359I or XbAK_E257K allele results in increases of free Thr levels of up to 100‐fold in R1 soybean seed when compared to wild‐type. Expression of feedback‐sensitive wild‐type AK did not substantially impact seed Thr content. In addition to high Thr, transgenic seed also showed substantial increases in other major free amino acid (FAA) levels, resulting in an up to 3.5‐fold increase in the total FAA content. The transgenic seed was normal in appearance and germinated well under greenhouse conditions.
Gamers and gaming context: Relationships to critical thinking
Authors: Gerber Sue , Scott Logan 
Published: July 2010

AbstractGaming is purported to hold promise for education, in part, because it is thought to develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking. To date, there has been a dearth of generalisable research investigating the relationship between gaming and critical thinking. Results of a survey of 121 adults found that gamers and non‐gamers do not differ significantly on critical thinking dispositions. However, gamers who play strategy games scored higher on actively open‐minded thinking than did other types of gamers. In addition, low compared with high involvement in the gaming community was associated with higher open‐minded thinking. Implications for educators and for further research are discussed.
The characteristics of reusable learning objects that enhance learning: A case‐study in health‐science education
Authors: Windle Richard J. , McCormick Damion , Dandrea Jennifer , Wharrad Heather 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWe investigated the effectiveness of reusable learning objects (RLOs) when delivered in a workshop or released for self‐study with groups of student‐nurses studying chemistry. Analysis of examination results showed that the proportion of students answering chemistry questions correctly increased significantly in both the workshop and self‐study cohorts following the introduction of the RLOs. In terms of the factors that supported learning, students rated functional characteristics, such as universal availability and control over learning, as more important than media characteristics, such as audio‐narration and interactivity. There was no correlation between ratings and the age of the respondent, their computer confidence or whether they studied alone or in the workshop. Similarly, design differences between individual RLOs did not appear to detract from learning. Data suggest that the sense of control and ownership of the learning process that RLOs afforded to the learners were the keys to their effectiveness. By reporting the attainment of study cohorts compared with non‐intervention groups, exploring differential learning‐contexts for RLO use and by providing empirical evidence of reuse, the study provides evidence which is underreported in the literature despite the wide uptake of learning object format.
SimPharm: How pharmacy students made meaning of a clinical case differently in paper‐ and simulation‐based workshops
Authors: Loke Swee‐Kin , Tordoff June , Winikoff Michael , McDonald Jenny , Vlugter Peter , Duffull Stephen 
Published: July 2010

AbstractSeveral scholars contend that learning with computer games and simulations results in students thinking more like professionals. Bearing this goal in mind, we investigated how a group of pharmacy students learnt with an in‐house developed computer simulation, SimPharm. Adopting situated cognition as our theoretical lens, we conducted a case study involving 20 undergraduate students to tease out how they made meaning of a clinical case differently in two different contexts: a typical paper‐based workshop and one enabled by SimPharm. The data collected included audio recordings of classroom discourse, focus group interviews and class observations. The findings identified differences in four areas: framing of the problem; problem‐solving steps and tools used; sources and meaning of feedback; and conceptualisation of the patient. These four areas can serve as axes along which future evaluations of educational simulations can be carried out based on their affordances.
Ethical capital: ‘What’s a poor man got to leave?’
Authors: Williams Beverley , Woodby Lesa , Drentea Patricia 
Published: July 2010

AbstractFor those of little or no means, leaving one’s mark through financial assets, social connections, and human investment is difficult. Using secondary analysis of transcripts from face‐to‐face interviews with 33 terminally‐ill patients from an outpatient clinic at a public hospital serving the disadvantaged in the southern United States, we examine the legacy participants wish to leave behind. As part of this process, participants assess life circumstances to try and generate a legacy allowing them to remain personally relevant to loved ones after death. For the low‐SES terminally ill persons in this study, the desire to leave a material legacy and the means to do so are not congruous. In the absence of economic resources to bequeath loved ones, participants describe their desire to leave loved ones some form of ethical currency to facilitate interactions with others and protect them against social marginalisation. We call this concept ethical capital. We then argue ethical capital is a way for disadvantaged people to find dignity and to affirm their lives.
Middle English occupational bynames as lexical evidence: a study of names in the Nottingham borough court rolls 1303–1455. Part 1, Methodology
Authors: McClure Peter 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe potential value of Middle English bynames for the history of English vocabulary has long been recognised, and occupational names have been given a good deal of scholarly attention. Nevertheless there are many borough and city records whose bynames have yet to be systematically researched. The present paper on methodology and its sequel, Part 2, ‘Etymologies’, are concerned with occupational bynames in the borough court rolls of late medieval Nottingham. ‘Etymologies’ will discuss 51 bynames that either are not recorded as occupational agent nouns in the Middle English Dictionary (hereafter abbreviated as MED), antedate the earliest quotation in MED, or, through their forms and contexts, shed new light on the etymology or sense of the source word. Part 1, ‘Methodology’, places this investigation of Nottingham bynames against the background of previous lexicographical applications of Middle English bynames, describes the contents of the Nottingham borough court rolls, and sets out the methodological principles and practicalities that influence the etymological judgements made in the second paper. Lacking the linguistic contextualisation that is normal for items of vocabulary, bynames present special problems of interpretation for the lexicographer, which need to be identified and, where possible, mitigated.
Project Finance Collateralised Debt Obligations: an Empirical Analysis of Spread Determinants
Authors: Buscaino Valerio , Caselli Stefano , Corielli Francesco , Gatti Stefano 
Published: July 2010

AbstractCredit rating is the most important variable in determining tranche spread at issue on collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) issues backed by project finance (PF) loans. Factors that are important for pricing in the case of corporate bonds, such as market liquidity and weighted average maturity, are also relevant for determining spreads for these securities. Furthermore, the nature of the underlying assets has a substantial impact on CDO pricing: Primary market spread is significantly higher when the underlying PF loans bear a higher level of market risk and when the proportion of projects still under construction in the securitised portfolio is larger.
Feeling, caring, knowing: different types of empathy deficit in boys with psychopathic tendencies and autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Jones Alice P. , Happé Francesca G.E. , Gilbert Francesca , Burnett Stephanie , Viding Essi 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Empathy dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of psychopathy, but it is also sometimes thought to characterise autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals with either condition can appear uncaring towards others. This study set out to compare and contrast directly boys with psychopathic tendencies and boys with ASD on tasks assessing aspects of affective empathy and cognitive perspective taking. The main aim of the study was to assess whether a distinct profile of empathy deficits would emerge for boys with psychopathic tendencies and ASD, and whether empathy deficits would be associated with conduct problems in general, rather than psychopathic tendencies or ASD specifically.Methods:  Four groups of boys aged between 9 and 16 years (N = 96) were compared: 1) psychopathic tendencies, 2) ASD, 3) conduct problems and 4) comparison. Tasks were included to probe attribution of emotions to self, empathy for victims of aggression and cognitive perspective‐taking ability.Results:  Boys with psychopathic tendencies had a profile consistent with dysfunctional affective empathy. They reported experiencing less fear and less empathy for victims of aggression than comparison boys. Their cognitive perspective‐taking abilities were not statistically significantly different from those of comparison boys. In contrast, boys with ASD had difficulties with tasks requiring cognitive perspective taking, but reported emotional experiences and victim empathy that were in line with comparison boys. Boys with conduct problems did not differ from comparison boys, suggesting that the affective empathy deficit seen in boys with psychopathic tendencies was specific to that group, rather than common to all boys with conduct problems.Conclusions:  Although both groups can appear uncaring, our findings suggest that the affective/information processing correlates of psychopathic tendencies and ASD are quite different. Psychopathic tendencies are associated with difficulties in resonating with other people’s distress, whereas ASD is characterised by difficulties in knowing what other people think.
Very early predictors of conduct problems and crime: results from a national cohort study
Authors: Murray Joseph , Irving Barrie , Farrington David P. , Colman Ian , Bloxsom Claire A.J. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Longitudinal research has produced a wealth of knowledge about individual, family, and social predictors of crime. However, nearly all studies have started after children are age 5, and little is known about earlier risk factors.Methods:  The 1970 British Cohort Study is a prospective population survey of more than 16,000 children born in 1970. Pregnancy, birth, child, parent, and socioeconomic characteristics were measured from medical records, parent interviews, and child assessments at birth and age 5. Conduct problems were reported by parents at age 10, and criminal convictions were self‐reported by study members at ages 30–34.Results:  Early (up to age 5) psychosocial risk factors were strong predictors of conduct problems and criminal conviction. Among pregnancy and birth measures, only prenatal maternal smoking was strongly predictive. Risk factors were similar for girls and boys. Additive risk scores predicted antisocial behaviour quite strongly.Conclusions:  Risk factors from pregnancy to age 5 are quite strong predictors of conduct problems and crime. New risk assessment tools could be developed to identify young children at high risk for later antisocial behaviour.
Autophagy and protein aggregation after brain ischemia
Authors: Liu Chunli , Gao Yanqin , Barrett John , Hu Bingren 
Published: July 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 68–78.AbstractAutophagy is the main degradation pathway responsible for eliminating abnormal protein aggregates and damaged organelles prevalent in neurons after transient cerebral ischemia. This study investigated whether accumulation of protein aggregate‐associated organelles in post‐ischemic neurons is a consequence of changes in autophagy. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that both autophagosomes and autolysosomes are significantly up‐regulated in hippocampal CA1 and DG neurons after ischemia. The microtubule‐associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)‐II conjugate, a marker for autophagosomes assessed by western blotting, was up‐regulated in post‐ischemic brain tissues. Confocal microscopy showed that LC3 isoforms were located in living post‐ischemic neurons. Treatment with chloriquine resulted in accumulation of LC3‐II in sham‐operated rats, but did not further change the LC3‐II levels in post‐ischemic brain tissues. The results indicate that at least part of the accumulation of protein aggregate‐associated organelles seen following ischemia is likely to be because of failure of the autophagy pathway. The resulting protein aggregation on subcellular organelle membranes could lead to multiple organelle damage and to delayed neuronal death after transient cerebral ischemia.
Striatal regulation of ΔFosB, FosB, and cFos during cocaine self‐administration and withdrawal
Authors: Larson Erin B. , Akkentli Fatih , Edwards Scott , Graham Danielle L. , Simmons Diana L. , Alibhai Imran N. , Nestler Eric J. , Self David W. 
Published: July 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)115, 112–122.AbstractChronic drug exposure induces alterations in gene expression profiles that are thought to underlie the development of drug addiction. The present study examined regulation of the Fos‐family of transcription factors, specifically cFos, FosB, and ΔFosB, in striatal subregions during and after chronic intravenous cocaine administration in self‐administering and yoked rats. We found that cFos, FosB, and ΔFosB exhibit regionally and temporally distinct expression patterns, with greater accumulation of ΔFosB protein in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core after chronic cocaine administration, whereas ΔFosB increases in the caudate‐putamen (CPu) remained similar with either acute or chronic administration. In contrast, tolerance developed to cocaine‐induced mRNA for ΔFosB in all three striatal subregions with chronic administration. Tolerance also developed to FosB expression, most notably in the NAc shell and CPu. Interestingly, tolerance to cocaine‐induced cFos induction was dependent on volitional control of cocaine intake in ventral but not dorsal striatal regions, whereas regulation of FosB and ΔFosB was similar in cocaine self‐administering and yoked animals. Thus, ΔFosB‐mediated neuroadaptations in the CPu may occur earlier than previously thought with the initiation of intravenous cocaine use and, together with greater accumulation of ΔFosB in the NAc, could contribute to addiction‐related increases in cocaine‐seeking behavior.
Overland flow initiation from a drumlin grassland hillslope
Authors: Doody D. G. , Higgins A. , Matthews D. , Foy R. H. , Pilatova K. , Duffy O. , Watson C. J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAccurate prediction of overland flow requires an understanding of the hydrological processes controlling its occurrence over a range of spatial and temporal scales. This study investigated the factors controlling the initiation of overland flow from grassland on a drumlin. From January 2003 to December 2006, fine scale monitoring of soil moisture, rainfall and overland flow were carried out at a grazed grassland site in Northern Ireland. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors controlling the initiation of overland flow. Relationships between the observed volumetric soil moisture (VSM) and soil moisture deficit (SMD) values predicted from regional meteorological data were also compared. Results demonstrated that although saturation excess overland flow occurs at this site, 59% of overland flow events occurred on days when soil moisture was below field capacity. The logistic regression analysis confirmed that when soils were below field capacity, average rainfall intensity was the most important variable in determining the probability of overland flow occurring followed by the SMD. Although VSM values at this site were correlated with two sets of modelled values of SMD, one based on the meteorological office rainfall and evaporation calculation system model of the UK Meteorological Office and the other based on a study from Ireland, neither model provided accurate indicators of the risk of overland flow. Each significantly overestimated the number of days when soils were at or above field capacity. This uncertainty and the predicted increase in high‐intensity rainfall events as a result of climate change pose challenges to the use of SMD as an indicator of the risk of overland flow.