bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public opinion on needle and syringe programmes: avoiding assumptions for policy and practice
Authors: TRELOAR CARLA , FRASER SUZANNE 
Published: June 2007

AbstractDespite evidence for their effectiveness, harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) are highly vulnerable to perceptions of community disapproval. This paper reviews Australian research on community attitudes to harm reduction services and its impact on research, policy and practice. The literature on community attitudes to NSPs in Australia comprises a small number of representative national samples and surveys of local communities affected by specific services. Despite these extremely limited data, negative community attitudes are often cited by policy‐makers and health professionals as a primary constraint on policy‐making. The main finding of this literature review is that community perceptions of NSPs are largely positive. Also, support for NSPs was not synonymous with condoning drug use. The failure of policy‐makers and politicians to recognise positive community attitudes to NSPs has led in some instances to hasty political responses to adverse media reports, including the closure of services. This literature review showing positive community attitudes to harm reduction services should embolden researchers, practitioners and policy‐makers to challenge such reactionary responses. Further, this evidence should be used in countering negative publicity surrounding these services. [Treloar C, Fraser S. Public opinion on needle and syringe programmes: avoiding assumptions for policy and practice. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:355–361]
The impact of community pharmacy dispensing fees on the introduction of buprenorphine‐naloxone in Australia
Authors: WINSTOCK ADAM R. , LEA TOBY , RITTER ALISON 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. The introduction of buprenorphine‐naloxone in Australia in April 2006 has permitted the revision of takeaway policies in many states and has introduced the possibility of unsupervised treatment. This study explored the implications of the introduction of buprenorphine‐naloxone in terms of cost to patients through a survey of pharmacists' intended pricing practices. The aim of the research was to examine the intentions of pharmacists in relation to fees for buprenorphine‐naloxone and study the potential implications to patients when compared with the existing fee structure for methadone and for buprenorphine alone. Design and Methods. A self‐complete questionnaire was mailed to every community pharmacy in New South Wales (NSW) (n = 593) dispensing methadone or buprenorphine to people with opioid dependence. A response rate of 68.6% (n = 407) was achieved after three mailouts.Results. The majority of pharmacies charged a flat weekly fee for methadone (92.2%; mean = $31.90) and buprenorphine (74.8%; mean = $31.00). The mean intended fees for buprenorphine‐naloxone according to different dosing and takeaway regimens ranged from $19.19 per week for no supervised doses and fortnightly takeaways to a $30.88 per week flat fee. There appeared to be little variation in fee structure irrespective of the takeaway regimen, until reaching the 2 weeks' unsupervised dose regimen. Discussion and Conclusions. This study highlights the importance of the early dissemination of unambiguous information regarding the introduction of a new medication, especially where supervised dispensing through community pharmacies is essential to the provision of treatment. The potential impact upon the successful rollout of a new treatment paradigm that was developed to benefit stable patients in the community may be jeopardised when such processes are not followed. [Winstock AR, Lea T, Ritter A. The impact of community pharmacy dispensing fees on the introduction of buprenorphine‐naloxone in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:411–416]
The efficacy of diversion and aftercare strategies for adult drug‐involved offenders: a summary and methodological review of the outcome literature
Authors: HARVEY EVELYN , SHAKESHAFT ANTHONY , HETHERINGTON KATE , SANNIBALE CLAUDIA , MATTICK RICHARD P. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractDiversion strategies aim to redirect drug‐involved offenders away from the criminal justice system and into treatment. Despite the interest in diversionary practices, the emergence of an empirical evaluation literature has been slow. A methodological review of published outcome studies was conducted to investigate the current strength of evidence for the efficacy of diversion and aftercare practices for criminal offenders. Twenty outcome studies were identified for review: 19 on diversion and one on aftercare. The vast majority of studies were non‐randomised evaluations, reflecting the paucity of rigorous evaluation work in this area. Although most studies were prospective, very few reported on long‐term outcomes following treatment. Detail was lacking with regard to basic study characteristics, such as eligibility criteria and outcomes. Despite these methodological shortcomings, results provide some tentative evidence that diversion and aftercare programmes could be effective. Best practice elements of diversion and aftercare programmes are identified and feasible strategies to improve the methodological quality of future evaluations are considered. [Harvey E, Shakeshaft A, Hetherington K, Sannibale C, Mattick RP. The efficacy of diversion and aftercare strategies for adult drug‐involved offenders: a summary and methodological review of the outcome literature. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:379–387]
Increasing prevalence of HIV, and persistent high‐risk behaviours among drug users in Bangladesh: need for a comprehensive harm reduction programme
Authors: ISLAM M. MOFIZUL , CONIGRAVE KATHERINE M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. The aim of this study was to examine trends in HIV and related risk behaviours in drug users in Bangladesh, the effects of prevention and harm reduction initiatives that have already been undertaken and to highlight immediate needs. Design and Methods. Journal publications, conference abstracts and proceedings were collected and reviewed. As there were relatively few published papers, the grey literature was also reviewed. Experts involved in the development and evaluation of current programmes or policy were contacted for official reports, policy documents or unpublished materials. The trends in injecting and sexual risk behaviours were tabulated. Results. Periodic behavioural and serosurveillance on recognised sentinel groups shows clearly that HIV prevalence among injecting drug users has been increasing steadily. In the capital city, the HIV prevalence among injecting drug users is close to the level of a concentrated epidemic (4.9%). While harm reduction strategies have brought a scope of reduction of injecting‐related risk behaviours, the persistent high rates of needle sharing and high prevalence of sexual risk behaviours remains alarming. Non‐injecting drug users have maintained a low prevalence of HIV but their high‐risk sexual behaviours and transformation into injecting drug users with time are of concern. Discussion and Conclusions. There are substantial gaps between current needs and the ongoing prevention and harm reduction activities. There is a pressing need for a comprehensive harm reduction programme and review of any policies and laws which may impede this. [Islam MM, Conigrave KM. Increasing prevalence of HIV, and persistent high‐risk behaviours among drug users in Bangladesh: need for a comprehensive harm reduction programme. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:445–454]
Pharmacists on the front line in providing support for nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion purchasers
Authors: PAUL CHRISTINE L. , TZELEPIS FLORA , WALSH RAOUL A. , TURNER RICHARD 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Increased access for smokers to pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation suggests that pharmacists have a potential role in influencing how these pharmacotherapies are used in the community. This study aimed to identify the extent and type of advice provided by pharmacists to customers purchasing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or bupropion and to identify pharmacists' perceptions about the desirability and feasibility of providing such advice. Design and Methods. A sample of 700 pharmacies was selected at random from the NSW Electronic Yellow Pages and a questionnaire was sent by mail, fax or e‐mail to the pharmacist in charge. Results. From 665 eligible pharmacies, 375 pharmacists returned completed questionnaires, giving a response rate of 56.4%. Participants reported providing a mean of 5 minutes of advice to both bupropion and NRT purchasers, with 59.5% reporting the provision of behavioural advice to NRT purchasers. Although over 70% of pharmacists perceived the provision of a brochure about NRT or bupropion as desirable and feasible, brochures were provided to less than one‐third of NRT purchasers. Discussion and Conclusions. Pharmacists report providing a sizeable amount of advice to purchasers of NRT and bupropion. Recommendations for enhancing the role of pharmacists in influencing the use of cessation pharmacotherapies are discussed briefly. [Paul CL, Tzelepis F, Walsh RA, Turner R. Pharmacists on the front line in providing support for nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion purchasers. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26:429–433]
A Comparative Analysis of Diagnostic Protocols for Detection of the Asian Soybean Rust Pathogen, Phakopsora pachyrhizi
Authors: Jurick Wayne M. , Harmon Carrie L. , Marois Jim , Wright David L. , Lamour Kurt , Vitoreli Anne , Creswell Tom , Hershman Don , Estevez Consuelo , Kemerait Bob , Balbalian Clarissa , Harmon Philip F. 
Published: June 2007

Plant diagnosticians routinely process soybean rust samples with one or more of the following diagnostic protocols: visual assessment using a dissecting microscope, an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), and pathogen-specific PCR (conventional and real-time). Results of these three diagnostic protocols and time requirements for diagnosis were collected for samples with signs (sporulation) of soybean rust (presumed positive) and samples without sporulating rust pustules (presumed negative). Data were collected for samples processed in triplicate at six university plant disease clinics. The effects of sample treatment and storage on results of two diagnostic protocols also were examined. Visual diagnosis required the least amount of time (4 min), ELISA and PCR took approximately six-and-a-half times longer per sample (multiple samples being processed at one time) than a visual diagnosis. ELISA could not detect the pathogen in positive samples after desiccation followed by long-term storage at room temperature and following one or more autoclave treatments for 30 min. However, conventional PCR was capable of detecting P. pachyrhizi-infected plant material following all sample storage regimes. Accepted for publication 9 February 2007. Published 31 May 2007.
IRECS: A new algorithm for the selection of most probable ensembles of side‐chain conformations in protein models
Authors: Hartmann Christoph , Antes Iris , Lengauer Thomas 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWe introduce a new algorithm, IRECS (Iterative REduction of Conformational Space), for identifying ensembles of most probable side‐chain conformations for homology modeling. On the basis of a given rotamer library, IRECS ranks all side‐chain rotamers of a protein according to the probability with which each side chain adopts the respective rotamer conformation. This ranking enables the user to select small rotamer sets that are most likely to contain a near‐native rotamer for each side chain. IRECS can therefore act as a fast heuristic alternative to the Dead‐End‐Elimination algorithm (DEE). In contrast to DEE, IRECS allows for the selection of rotamer subsets of arbitrary size, thus being able to define structure ensembles for a protein. We show that the selection of more than one rotamer per side chain is generally meaningful, since the selected rotamers represent the conformational space of flexible side chains. A knowledge‐based statistical potential ROTA was constructed for the IRECS algorithm. The potential was optimized to discriminate between side‐chain conformations of native and rotameric decoys of protein structures. By restricting the number of rotamers per side chain to one, IRECS can optimize side chains for a single conformation model. The average accuracy of IRECS for the χ1 and χ1 + 2 dihedral angles amounts to 84.7% and 71.6%, respectively, using a 40° cutoff. When we compared IRECS with SCWRL and SCAP, the performance of IRECS was comparable to that of both methods. IRECS and the ROTA potential are available for download from the URL http://irecs.bioinf.mpi‐inf.mpg.de.
Solvent‐induced differentiation of protein backbone hydrogen bonds in calmodulin
Authors: Juranić Nenad , Atanasova Elena , Streiff John H. , Macura Slobodan , Prendergast Franklyn G. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn apo and holoCaM, almost half of the hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds) at the protein backbone expected from the corresponding NMR or X‐ray structures were not detected by h3 JNC′ couplings. The paucity of the h3 JNC′ couplings was considered in terms of dynamic features of these structures. We examined a set of seven proteins and found that protein‐backbone H‐bonds form two groups according to the h3 JNC′ couplings measured in solution. H‐bonds that have h3 JNC′ couplings above the threshold of 0.2 Hz show distance/angle correlation among the H‐bond geometrical parameters, and appear to be supported by the backbone dynamics in solution. The other H‐bonds have no such correlation; they populate the water‐exposed and flexible regions of proteins, including many of the CaM helices. The observed differentiation in a dynamical behavior of backbone H‐bonds in apo and holoCaM appears to be related to protein functions.
o‐Nitrotyrosine andp‐iodophenylalanine as spectroscopic probes for structural characterization of SH3 complexes
Authors: De Filippis Vincenzo , Draghi Annamaria , Frasson Roberta , Grandi Claudio , Musi Valeria , Fontana Angelo , Pastore Annalisa 
Published: June 2007

AbstractHigh‐throughput screening of protein–protein and protein–peptide interactions is of high interest both for biotechnological and pharmacological applications. Here, we propose the use of the noncoded amino acidso‐nitrotyrosine andp‐iodophenylalanine as spectroscopic probes in combination with circular dichroism and fluorescence quenching techniques (i.e., collisional quenching and resonance energy transfer) as a means to determine the peptide orientation in complexes with SH3 domains. Proline‐rich peptides bind SH3 modules in two alternative orientations, according to their sequence motifs, classified as class I and class II. The method was tested on an SH3 domain from a yeast myosin that is known to recognize specifically class I peptides. We exploited the fluorescence quenching effects induced byo‐nitrotyrosine andp‐iodophenylalanine on the fluorescence signal of a highly conserved Trp residue, which is the signature of SH3 domains and sits directly in the binding pocket. In particular, we studied how the introduction of the two probes at different positions of the peptide sequence (i.e., N‐terminally or C‐terminally) influences the spectroscopic properties of the complex. This approach provides clear‐cut evidence of the orientation of the binding peptide in the SH3 pocket. The chemical strategy outlined here can be easily extended to other protein modules, known to bind linear sequence motifs in a highly directional manner.
The three‐dimensional crystal structure of the PrpF protein of Shewanella oneidensis complexed with trans‐aconitate: Insights into its biological function
Authors: Garvey Graeme S. , Rocco Christopher J. , Escalante‐Semerena Jorge C. , Rayment Ivan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn bacteria, the dehydration of 2‐methylcitrate to yield 2‐methylaconitate in the 2‐methylcitric acid cycle is catalyzed by a cofactor‐less (PrpD) enzyme or by an aconitase‐like (AcnD) enzyme. Bacteria that use AcnD also require the function of the PrpF protein, whose function was previously unknown. To gain insights into the function of PrpF, the three‐dimensional crystal structure of the PrpF protein from the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis was solved at 2.0 Å resolution. The protein fold of PrpF is strikingly similar to those of the non‐PLP‐dependent diaminopimelate epimerase from Haemophilus influenzae, a putative proline racemase from Brucella melitensis, and to a recently deposited structure of a hypothetical protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results from in vitro studies show that PrpF isomerizes trans‐aconitate to cis‐aconitate. It is proposed that PrpF catalysis of the cis–trans isomerization proceeds through a base‐catalyzed proton abstraction coupled with a rotation about C2–C3 bond of 2‐methylaconitate, and that residue Lys73 is critical for PrpF function. The newly identified function of PrpF as a non‐PLP‐dependent isomerase, together with the fact that PrpD‐containing bacteria do not require PrpF, suggest that the isomer of 2‐methylaconitate that serves as a substrate of aconitase must have the same stereochemistry as that synthesized by PrpD. From this, it follows that the 2‐methylaconitate isomer generated by AcnD is not a substrate of aconitase, and that PrpF is required to generate the correct isomer. As a consequence, the isomerase activity of PrpF may now be viewed as an integral part of the 2‐methylcitric acid cycle.
The crystal structure of the tumor suppressor protein pp32 (Anp32a): Structural insights into Anp32 family of proteins
Authors: Huyton Trevor , Wolberger Cynthia 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe tumor suppressor protein pp32 is highly overexpressed in many cancers of the breast and prostate, and has also been implicated in the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxias type 1 (SCA1). Pp32 is a multifunctional protein that is involved in the regulation of transcription, apoptosis, phosphorylation, and cell cycle progression, the latter through its association with the hyperphosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor. We have determined the structure of an N‐terminal pp32 fragment comprising a capped leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) domain, which provides insight into the structural and biochemical properties of the pp32 (Anp32) family of proteins.
Resolution analysis of geophysical images: Comparison between point spread function and region of data influence measures
Authors: Miller Carlyle R. , Routh Partha S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTPractical decisions are often made based on the subsurface images obtained by inverting geophysical data. Therefore it is important to understand the resolution of the image, which is a function of several factors, including the underlying geophysical experiment, noise in the data, prior information and the ability to model the physics appropriately. An important step towards interpreting the image is to quantify how much of the solution is required to satisfy the data observations and how much exists solely due to the prior information used to stabilize the solution. A procedure to identify the regions that are not constrained by the data would help when interpreting the image. For linear inverse problems this procedure is well established, but for non‐linear problems the procedure is more complicated. In this paper we compare two different approaches to resolution analysis of geophysical images: the region of data influence index and a resolution spread computed using point spread functions. The region of data influence method is a fully non‐linear approach, while the point spread function analysis is a linearized approach. An approximate relationship between the region of data influence and the resolution matrix is derived, which suggests that the region of data influence is connected with the rows of the resolution matrix. The point‐spread‐function spread measure is connected with the columns of the resolution matrix, and therefore the point‐spread‐function spread and the region of data influence are fundamentally different resolution measures. From a practical point of view, if two different approaches indicate similar interpretations on post‐inversion images, the confidence in the interpretation is enhanced. We demonstrate the use of the two approaches on a linear synthetic example and a non‐linear synthetic example, and apply them to a non‐linear electromagnetic field data example.
Liveweight gains of lambs from Caucasian clover/ryegrass and white clover/ryegrass swards on soils of high and low fertility
Authors: Black A. D. , Lucas R. J. , Moot D. J. , Sedcole J. R. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryThe high nutritive value and persistence under a wide range of climatic and soil fertility conditions make Caucasian clover a potentially useful forage legume but there is little information about the performance of livestock grazing Caucasian clover/grass swards. This study compared liveweight gains of lambs grazing Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass and white clover/perennial ryegrass swards on high fertility (Olsen P 20 mg L−1, SO4‐S 12 mg kg−1) and low fertility (Olsen P 11 mg L−1, SO4‐S 7 mg kg−1) soils from 1998 to 2001 in the South Island of New Zealand. Mean annual liveweight gains were 1178 kg ha−1 for Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass and 1069 kg ha−1 for white clover/perennial ryegrass swards at high fertility compared with 1094 kg ha−1 and 1015 kg ha−1, respectively, at low fertility. There was a higher mean proportion of clover in Caucasian clover/perennial ryegrass (0·19) than white clover/perennial ryegrass (0·11) swards, but there were no differences in total herbage production between the two clover/perennial ryegrass swards. The mean concentration of crude protein in the herbage of Caucasian clover (302 g kg DM−1) was higher than that in white clover (287 g kg DM−1) and grass herbage (227 g kg DM−1). Estimated mean metabolizable energy concentrations in the herbage were 12·5 MJ kg DM−1 for the two clovers and 11·6 MJ kg DM−1 for grass herbage. The difference in liveweight gain between swards on soils of high and low fertility was associated with an increase in total herbage production of similar composition and nutritive value, giving a greater number of grazing days for the swards on soils of high than low fertility.
Mineral concentrations in herbage and soil in a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system in north‐west Spain after sewage sludge and lime application
Authors: Rigueiro‐Rodríguez A. , Mosquera‐Losada M. R. , López‐Díaz M. L. 
Published: June 2007

SummarySilvopastoral systems in north‐west Spain can reduce the risk of fires and promote multi‐purpose forest land use. Fertilizer application is important for optimal pasture and tree production. The application rate of sewage sludge as a fertilizer is regulated and is based on its nutrient concentration, especially nitrogen. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of three consecutive years of application of different application rates of sewage sludge and inorganic fertilizer, with or without lime (2·5 t CaCO3 ha−1) on the ammonium, nitrate and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg contents in soil, and on the crude protein (CP), K, Ca and Mg concentrations in herbage in a silvopastoral system established under a 5‐year‐old Pinus radiata D. Don plantation with a density of 1667 trees ha−1. The experiment was started in autumn 1997, when a pasture mixture was sown (25 kg ha−1Lolium perenne, 10 kg ha−1Dactylis glomerata and 4 kg ha−1Trifolium repens). Changes in ammonium and nitrate content in the soil in response to liming and sewage sludge application reflected the initial pH of the soil. In general, liming increased the available Ca and Mg content in soil, and CP and Ca concentrations in herbage, but reduced exchangeable K content in the soil in the first year. Application of sewage sludge increased all of the measured nutrients in both soil and herbage.