bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of an all gas-phase iodine laser using molecular iodine as atomic iodine donor
Authors: Masuda Taizo , Nakamura Tomonari , Endo Masamori 
Published: October 2010

The laser action of an all gas-phase iodine laser (AGIL), which uses molecular iodine as a source of iodine atoms, has been demonstrated. The laser is based on the energy transfer reaction between metastable NCl(a
1Δ) and ground state I(2P3/2) atoms, which are produced by the electric discharge of a mixture of I2 and He. At fixed flow rates of the chemical species, the laser output powers are measured at three different positions in a flow reactor. The output power is characterized by a function of the optical axis position and is in reasonable agreement with the numerical simulation. A repetitive pulse of laser output at 50 Hz with a duty factor of 40% is observed. The highest output power is 40 mW at 210 mm downstream from the mixing point of I/H/He and NCl3. This is 80% of the output power generated from the conventional system using HI as an iodine donor. The measured results of the time-resolved laser output power suggest that the output power of the I2-AGIL is more sensitive to the electric discharge plasma intensity as compared with that of the HI-AGIL. An AGIL operated using I2 could potentially have the same output power as that of an AGIL operated using HI if a continuous-wave electric discharge generator is used.
Teaching community program clinicians motivational interviewing using expert and train‐the‐trainer strategies
Authors: Martino Steve , Ball Samuel A. , Nich Charla , Canning‐Ball Monica , Rounsaville Bruce J. , Carroll Kathleen M. 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAims  The effectiveness of expert‐led (EX) and train‐the‐trainer (TT) strategies was compared to a self‐study approach (SS) for teaching clinicians motivational interviewing (MI).Design  Twelve community treatment programs were assigned randomly to the three conditions. EX and TT conditions used skill‐building workshops and three monthly supervision sessions guided by treatment integrity ratings, performance feedback and coaching techniques. Trainers in TT were first trained and certified in MI and then prepared carefully to deliver the workshops and supervise MI at their programs. Clinicians in SS only received the training materials.Setting  Licensed out‐patient and residential addiction and mental health treatment programs in the US state of Connecticut were involved in the study.Participants  Ninety‐two clinicians who provided addiction treatment within these programs and had limited experience with MI participated in the study.Measurements  Primary outcomes were the clinicians' MI adherence and competence and the percentage of clinicians meeting clinical trial standards of MI performance. Assessments occurred at baseline, post‐workshop, post‐supervision and at 12‐week follow‐up.Findings  The study found EX and TT, in comparison to SS, improved clinicians' adherence and competence significantly, with higher percentages of clinicians reaching clinical trial standards of MI performance and few differences between EX and TT.Conclusions  This study supports the combined use of workshops and supervision to teach community program clinicians MI and suggests the train‐the‐trainer approach may be a feasible and effective strategy for disseminating empirically supported treatments.
Addiction and dependence in DSM‐V
Authors: O'Brien Charles 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAs preparations for the fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) are under way, this paper focuses upon changes proposed for the substance use disorders section. It briefly outlines the history behind the current nomenclature, and the selection of the term ‘dependence’ over ‘addiction’ in earlier versions of the DSM. The term ‘dependence’, while used in past decades to refer to uncontrolled drug‐seeking behavior, has an alternative meaning—the physiological adaptation that occurs when medications acting on the central nervous system are ingested with rebound when the medication is abruptly discontinued. These dual meanings have led to confusion and may have propagated current clinical practices related to under‐treatment of pain, as physicians fear creating an ‘addiction’ by prescribing opioids. In part to address this problem, a change proposed for DSM‐V is to alter the chapter name to ‘Addiction and Related Disorders’, which will include disordered gambling. The specific substance use disorders may be referred to as ‘alcohol use’ or ‘opioid use’ disorders. The criteria for the disorders are likely to remain similar, with the exception of removal of the ‘committing illegal acts’ criterion and addition of a ‘craving’ criterion. The other major change relates to the elimination of the abuse/dependence dichotomy, given the lack of data supporting an intermediate stage. These changes are anticipated to improve clarification and diagnosis and treatment of substance use and related disorders.
Gamma‐butyrolactone (GBL) dependence and withdrawal
Authors: Bell James , Collins Rodney 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAim  To describe morbidity associated with gamma‐butyrolactone (GBL) dependence, and outcomes of withdrawal.Design  Case series.Setting  Specialist out‐patient clinic and affiliated in‐patient detoxification unit. Patients with home support were offered the option of out‐patient withdrawal management, based on high‐dose diazepam and baclofen, titrated against withdrawal severity in an initial session lasting approximately 4 hours. Patients were then reviewed daily during the first 3 days of treatment, offered weekly follow‐up for 4 weeks, and telephoned 2–4 months later.Participants  People dependent on GBL seeking detoxification.Measurements  Drug history and social functioning were obtained by self‐report in clinical interviews with a single clinician. Treatment completion, outcomes and adverse events associated with withdrawal are reported.Findings  Patients reported impaired social functioning associated with GBL dependence and difficulty in accessing treatment. Nineteen patients commenced detoxification; 17 initially declined admission and were treated as out‐patients. Mean diazepam dose in the first 24 hours was 75 mg (range 40–110 mg). Sixteen patients completed withdrawal, although several had lapses to GBL use during treatment. One patient developed delirium and required transfer to the in‐patient detoxification unit. Most patients had persisting insomnia, anxiety and depression for weeks after withdrawal.Conclusions  GBL withdrawal can be managed in ambulatory settings, but needs to be backed up with seamless access to in‐patient treatment if required.
Effects of alcohol portrayals in movies on actual alcohol consumption: an observational experimental study
Authors: Koordeman Renske , Anschutz Doeschka J. , van Baaren Rick B. , Engels Rutger C. M. E. 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAims  This study uses an experimental design to assess the effects of movie alcohol portrayal on alcohol consumption of young adults while watching a movie. Gender, weekly alcohol use and identification with the movie actor/character were assessed as moderators.Design  A two (sex) × two (movie: alcohol or no portrayal of alcohol) between‐subject design was used.Setting  Participants watched a contemporary movie in a semi‐naturalistic living room setting.Participants  A total of 122 same‐sex, young adult dyads (ages 18–29 years) participated in the experiment.Measurements  Their actual alcohol consumption while watching was examined. A multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the effects of the movie condition on alcohol consumption.Findings  Assignment to movie alcohol increased alcohol consumption during the movie for men but not women. Identification and weekly alcohol consumption did not moderate the relation between movie condition and alcohol consumption.Conclusions  Viewing a movie with alcohol portrayal can lead to higher alcohol consumption in young men while watching the movie.
The price of a drink: levels of consumption and price paid per unit of alcohol by Edinburgh's ill drinkers with a comparison to wider alcohol sales in Scotland
Authors: Black Heather , Gill Jan , Chick Jonathan 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAim  To compare alcohol purchasing and consumption by ill drinkers in Edinburgh with wider alcohol sales in Scotland.Design  Cross‐sectional.Setting  Two hospitals in Edinburgh in 2008/09.Participants  A total of 377 patients with serious alcohol problems; two‐thirds were in‐patients with medical, surgical or psychiatric problems due to alcohol; one‐third were out‐patients.Measurements  Last week's or typical weekly consumption of alcohol: type, brand, units (1 UK unit 8 g ethanol), purchase place and price.Findings  Patients consumed mean 197.7 UK units/week. The mean price paid per unit was £0.43 (lowest £0.09/unit) (£1 = 1.6 US$ or 1.2€), which is below the mean unit price, £0.71 paid in Scotland in 2008. Of units consumed, 70.3% were sold at or below £0.40/unit (mid‐range of price models proposed for minimum pricing legislation by the Scottish Government), and 83% at or below £0.50/unit proposed by the Chief Medical Officer of England. The lower the price paid per unit, the more units a patient consumed. A continuous increase in unit price from lower to higher social status, ranked according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (based on postcode), was not seen; patients residing in postcodes in the mid‐quintile paid the highest price per unit. Cheapness was quoted commonly as a reason for beverage choice; ciders, especially ‘white’ cider, and vodka were, at off‐sales, cheapest per unit. Stealing alcohol or drinking alcohol substitutes was only very rarely reported.Conclusions  Because patients with serious alcohol problems tend to purchase very cheap alcohol, elimination of the cheapest sales by minimum price or other legislation might reduce their consumption. It is unknown whether proposed price legislation in Scotland will encourage patients with serious alcohol problems to start stealing alcohol or drinking substitutes or will reduce the recruitment of new drinkers with serious alcohol problems and produce predicted longer‐term gains in health and social wellbeing.
Strength of urges to smoke as a measure of severity of cigarette dependence: comparison with the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and its components
Authors: Fidler Jennifer A , Shahab Lion , West Robert 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAims  Measuring the strength of urges to smoke during a normal smoking day among smokers in a culture where smoking is restricted could provide a good measure of the severity of cigarette dependence. An important criterion for a measure of cigarette dependence is how well it predicts failure of attempts to stop smoking. This study compared ratings of Strength of Urges to Smoke (SUTS) with the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and its components, including the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI).Design  A longitudinal study involving a household survey of a representative sample of adult smokers at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up by postal questionnaire.Setting  England.Participants  A total of 15 740 smokers aged 16 and over underwent the baseline interview; 2593 were followed‐up 6 months later, of whom 513 reported having made a quit attempt following the baseline survey but at least 1 month prior to the follow‐up.Measurements  SUTS, FTND, HSI, cigarettes per day, time to first cigarette, age, social grade and gender were measured at baseline. Quit attempts since the baseline assessment and self‐reported abstinence were measured at 6‐month follow‐up.Findings  In logistic regressions, all dependence measures predicted success of subsequent quit attempts, but SUTS had the strongest association (beta for SUTS, FTND and HSI: 0.41: P < 0.001, 0.13: P = 0.005, and 0.19: P = 0.003, respectively). In multiple logistic regressions when SUTS was entered as a predictor of abstinence, together with other dependence measures, it remained as the only predictive dependence measure.Conclusions  A simple rating of strength of urges on a normal smoking day appears to be a good predictor of at least short‐term quit success in English smokers and as such may be a useful measure of cigarette addiction.
Models to enhance research capacity and capability in clinical nurses: a narrative review
Authors: O’Byrne Louise , Smith Sheree 
Published: October 2010

Aim.  To identify models used as local initiatives to build capability and capacity in clinical nurses.Background.  The National Health Service, Nursing and Midwifery Council and the United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration all support the development of the building of research capability and capacity in clinical nurses in the UK.Design.  Narrative review.Methods.  A literature search of databases (including Medline and Pubmed) using the search terms nursing research, research capacity and research capability combined with building, development, model and collaboration. Publications which included a description or methodological study of a structured initiative to tackle research capacity and capability development in clinical nurses were selected.Results.  Three models were found to be dominant in the literature. These comprised evidence‐based practice, facilitative and experiential learning models. Strong leadership, organisational need and support management were elements found in all three models. Methodological issues were evident and pertain to small sample sizes, inconsistent and poorly defined outcomes along with a lack of data.Conclusions.  Whilst the vision of a research ready and active National Health Service is to be applauded to date, there appears to be limited research on the best approach to support local initiatives for nurses that build research capability and capacity. Future studies will need to focus on well‐defined objectives and outcomes to enable robust evidence to support local initiatives.Relevance to clinical practice.  To build research capability and capacity in clinical nurses, there is a need to evaluate models and determine the best approach that will provide clinical nurses with research opportunities.
Improving student support using Placement Development Teams: staff and student perceptions
Authors: Williamson Graham R , Callaghan Lynne , Whittlesea Emma , Heath Val 
Published: October 2010

Aims and objectives.  To explore the experience of student support prior to the implementation of a new structure for supporting students and mentors in practice placements (Placement Development Teams) for health care professionals. This study reports findings relating to acute sector adult nursing students and staff.Background.  Clinical practice is essential in pre‐registration health care professional education programmes. The English Model National Partnership Agreement for health care education gives a new impetus to Strategic Health Authorities, Higher Education Institutions and National Health Service Trusts to evaluate and redesign their strategies for student support.Design.  This study was phase one of a large longitudinal qualitative evaluation of Placement Development Teams’ introduction. The design for this phase was cross‐sectional.Methods.  Data were collected using telephone interviews with key educational stakeholders in trusts and Strategic Health Authorities and focus groups with third‐year adult nursing students working in six acute sector trusts.Results.  Five themes emerged from the nursing students’ focus group data. These were (1) Supportive and unsupportive behaviour of staff. (2) Mentor allocation. (3) Placement allocation. (4) Benefits of students to the placement area. (5) Perceived control over the learning experience. Four themes emerged from data analysis of the staff telephone interview data. These were (1) Vision of support services. (2) Proactive versus reactive support. (3) Barriers to achieving proactive support. (4) Bridging the gap between education and the trusts.Conclusion.  Supporting students in practice is multifaceted and interpersonal and structural factors are important. This study illustrates how student support activity can be redesigned to meet the needs of the Model National Partnership Agreement.Relevance to clinical practice.  Good mentoring is particularly important for student support. Where there are high student numbers in placement, this can adversely affect students’ placement learning.
Potassium mediates Escherichia coli enzyme IIANtr‐dependent regulation of sigma factor selectivity
Authors: Lee Chang‐Ro , Cho Seung‐Hyon , Kim Hyun‐Jin , Kim Miri , Peterkofsky Alan , Seok Yeong‐Jae 
Published: October 2010

SummaryAn Escherichia coli mutant devoid of enzyme IIANtr (EIIANtr) of the nitrogen PTS is extremely sensitive to leucine‐containing peptides due to decreased expression of acetohydroxy acid synthase. This decreased expression is due to defective potassium homeostasis. We further elucidate here the mechanism for regulation of gene expression by the intracellular level of K+. The leucine hypersensitivity of a ptsN (encoding EIIANtr) mutant was suppressed by deleting rpoS, encoding the stationary phase σ factor. Despite intracellular levels of sigma factors comparable to the wild‐type strain, most of the genes downregulated in a ptsN mutant are controlled by σ70, while all the upregulated genes are controlled by σS, implying that the balance of sigma activities is modified by ptsN deletion. This change of sigma factor activities in the deletion mutant was found to be due to increased levels of K+. In vitro transcription assays demonstrated that a σ70 controlled gene and a σS controlled gene were differentially affected by potassium concentration. Biochemical studies revealed that K+ is responsible for sigma factor competition by differentially influencing the binding of σ70 and σS to core RNA polymerase. Taken together, the data suggest that EIIANtr controls sigma factor selectivity by regulating the intracellular K+ level.
Short spacing between the Shine–Dalgarno sequence and P codon destabilizes codon–anticodon pairing in the P site to promote +1 programmed frameshifting
Authors: Devaraj Aishwarya , Fredrick Kurt 
Published: October 2010

SummaryProgrammed frameshifting in the RF2 gene (prfB) involves an intragenic Shine–Dalgarno (SD) sequence. To investigate the role of SD–ASD pairing in the mechanism of frameshifting, we have analysed the effect of spacing between the SD sequence and P codon on P‐site tRNA binding and RF2‐dependent termination. When the spacing between an extended SD sequence and the P codon is decreased from 4 to 1 nucleotide (nt), the dissociation rate (koff) for P‐site tRNA increases by > 100‐fold. Toeprinting analysis shows that pre‐translocation complexes cannot be formed when the spacer sequence is ≤ 2 nt. Instead, the tRNA added secondarily to fill the A site and its corresponding codon move spontaneously into the P site, resulting in a complex with a 3 nt longer spacer between the SD–ASD helix and the P codon. While close proximity of the SD clearly destabilizes P‐site tRNA, RF2‐dependent termination and EF‐Tu‐dependent decoding are largely unaffected in analogous complexes. These data support a model in which formation of the SD–ASD helix in ribosomes stalled at the in‐frame UGA codon of prfB generates tension on the mRNA that destabilizes codon–anticodon pairing in the P site and promotes slippage of the mRNA in the 5′ direction.
An integrated genome research network for studying the genetics of alcohol addiction
Authors: Spanagel Rainer , Bartsch Dusan , Brors Bendikt , Dahmen Norbert , Deussing Jan , Eils Roland , Ende Gabriele , Gallinat Jürgen , Gebicke‐Haerter Peter , Heinz Andreas , Kiefer Falk , Jäger Willi , Mann Karl , Matthäus Franziska , Nöthen Markus , Rietschel Marcella , Sartorius Alexander , Schütz Günther , Sommer Wolfgang H. , Sprengel Rolf , Walter Henrik , Wichmann Erich , Wienker Thomas , Wurst Wolfgang , Zimmer Andreas 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTAlcohol drinking is highly prevalent in many cultures and contributes to the global burden of disease. In fact, it was shown that alcohol constitutes 3.2% of all worldwide deaths in the year 2006 and is linked to more than 60 diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis, neuropsychiatric disorders, injuries and foetal alcohol syndrome. Alcoholism, which has been proven to have a high genetic load, is one potentially fatal consequence of chronic heavy alcohol consumption, and may be regarded as one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric diseases afflicting our society today. The aim of the integrated genome research network ‘Genetics of Alcohol Addiction’—which is a German inter‐/trans‐disciplinary life science consortium consisting of molecular biologists, behavioural pharmacologists, system biologists with mathematicians, human geneticists and clinicians—is to better understand the genetics of alcohol addiction by identifying and validating candidate genes and molecular networks involved in the aetiology of this pathology. For comparison, addictive behaviour to other drugs of abuse (e.g. cocaine) is studied as well. Here, we present an overview of our research consortium, the current state of the art on genetic research in the alcohol field, and list finally several of our recently published research highlights. As a result of our scientific efforts, better insights into the molecular and physiological processes underlying addictive behaviour will be obtained, new targets and target networks in the addicted brain will be defined, and subsequently, novel and individualized treatment strategies for our patients will be delivered.