Ecological Drivers and Consequences of Bumble Bee Body Size Variation

Body size is arguably one of the most important traits influencing the physiology and ecology of animals. Shifts in animal body size have been observed in response to climate change, including in bumble bees (Bombus spp. [Hymenoptera: Apidae]). Bumble bee size shifts have occurred concurrently with the precipitous population declines of several species, which appear to be related, in part, to their size. Body size variation is central to the ecology of bumble bees, from their social organization to the pollination services they provide to plants. If bumble bee size is shifted or constrained, there may be consequences for the pollination services they provide and for our ability to predict their responses to global change. Yet, there are still many aspects of the breadth and role of bumble bee body size variation that require more study. To this end, we review the current evidence of the ecological drivers of size variation in bumble bees and the consequences of that variation on bumble bee fitness, foraging, and species interactions. In total we review: (1) the proximate determinants and physiological consequences of size variation in bumble bees; (2) the environmental drivers and ecological consequences of size variation; and (3) synthesize our understanding of size variation in predicting how bumble bees will respond to future changes in climate and land use. As global change intensifies, a better understanding of the factors influencing the size distributions of bumble bees, and the consequences of those distributions, will allow us to better predict future responses of these pollinators.

Within-Colony Transmission of Microsporidian and Trypanosomatid Parasites in Honey Bee and Bumble Bee Colonies

Parasites are commonly cited as one of the causes of population declines for both managed and wild bees. Epidemiological models sometimes assume that increasing the proportion of infected individuals in a group should increase transmission. However, social insects exhibit behaviors and traits which can dampen the link between parasite pressure and disease spread. Understanding patterns of parasite transmission within colonies of social bees has important implications for how to control diseases within those colonies, and potentially the broader pollinator community. We used bumble bees (Bombus impatiens Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) infected with the gut parasites Crithidia bombi (Lipa & Triggiani) (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) and Nosema ceranae (Fries et al.) (Dissociodihaplophasida: Nosematidae), respectively, to understand how the initial proportion of infected individuals impacts within-colony spread and intensity of infection of the parasites. In bumble bees, we found that higher initial parasite prevalence increased both the final prevalence and intensity of infection of C. bombi. In honey bees, higher initial prevalence increased the intensity of infection in individual bees, but not the final prevalence of N. ceranae. Measures that reduce the probability of workers bringing parasites back to the nest may have implications for how to control transmission and/or severity of infection and disease outbreaks, which could also have important consequences for controlling disease spread back into the broader bee community.

The impact of patient narratives on self-efficacy and self-care in Australians with type 2 diabetes: stage 1 results of a randomized trial

A randomized-controlled trial (RCT) was conducted from September 2009 to June 2011. National Diabetes Services Scheme registrants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and aged 30-70 years were invited to participate in a 3-week intervention programme with follow-up at 4 weeks and 6 months. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires in the participant's homes. The intervention group received diabetes factsheets and a DVD comprising patient stories (narratives) of type 2 diabetes management. The control group (CG) received factsheets only. The RCT evaluated the impact of patient narratives on the study outcomes, self-efficacy and self-care, using the Aust/English Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale and the Summary Diabetes Self-care Activities measure. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or CG using block randomization. The study was not blinded. Six hundred and seventy people enrolled into the study with 335 allocated to each group. At 4 weeks, data were available for 598 participants. t-tests were used to analyse the results. The mean difference between the groups for self-efficacy was 7.2 units (P < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.8, 10.7) favouring the intervention group. Change in self-care behaviours during the previous 7 days was also significantly greater for the intervention group: general diet (0.31 days, 95% CI 0.13, 0.48), specific diet (0.26 days, 95% CI 0.05, 0.46), exercise (0.51 days, 95% CI 0.23, 0.80), blood glucose (0.52 days, 95% CI 0.19, 0.85) and foot care (0.38 days, 95% CI 0.06, 0.71). Narrative communication shows promise as a valuable component of type 2 diabetes self-management programmes.

REGISTRATION

ACTRN 12609000210279.

Lived fictions: moving from pharmacology to ethnography

While positivist science dominates the drug and alcohol research sector, alternative constructivist paradigms of inquiry into drug and alcohol use are also present. The passage of individual researchers through paradigm shifts is often difficult, and rarely documented. Different paradigms of inquiry produce different types of information. The use of the psychoactive drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is discussed in light of a multidisciplinary investigation into the pharmacology and use of MDMA. The role of the author in interpreting data from both positivist and constructivist paradigms is highlighted by documenting a researchers' changes in epistemology whilst undertaking multidisciplinary research. It is concluded that multidisciplinary research into drug and alcohol use could benefit from evaluation of the processes that frame how information from both research paradigms is interpreted and integrated.

Increased prevalence of dental caries and poor oral hygiene in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Recent decades have seen a trend to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with increasing immunosuppression to improve the long-term outcome. Poor oral hygiene and dental decay cause significant morbidity, and patients with chronic disease (who may be further immunocompromised by treatment) are at greater risk. This study investigated patients with JIA using standard measures of oral health.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-nine patients with JIA were included. The children were attending a regional paediatric rheumatology service and the adults were attending an adult rheumatology clinic. Random age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited from a dental teaching hospital. The structured dental examination included standard epidemiological indices of oral hygiene (gingival index, plaque index, oral cleanliness index) and dental decay [DMFT (decayed, missing or filled teeth) index].

RESULTS

JIA patients, at all ages, had increased levels of dental decay and poor oral hygiene. This increased level of decay was statistically significant in the patients aged 0-11 yr. Significant levels of untreated caries and increased levels of missing teeth were found in JIA, suggesting that patients with JIA had less restorative dental treatment, with tooth extraction often the chosen option for the treatment of dental decay.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest study of oral health in JIA and is cross-sectional with non-diseased controls. It shows significantly increased levels of poor oral hygiene and dental decay in patients with JIA. The high levels of untreated dental decay suggest barriers to dental care. These results emphasize the role of regular dental care in the multidisciplinary management of JIA.

Type and extent of enamel defects in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

AIM

To establish whether there is an increased prevalence and extent of enamel defects associated with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in patients in the North of England.

STUDY DESIGN

clinical examination of subjects and age and sex matched controls.

METHODS

The labial surfaces of all erupted permanent teeth in subjects, as well as age and sex matched controls, were examined. They were classified for type and extent of defects according to the Modified DDE index. The records of 146 subjects and 142 controls were available for analysis.

STATISTICS

defects were expressed as the percentage of subjects or controls with or without any defects or specific types of defect. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the prevalence of disease in the two groups with significance being accepted at the 5% level. In addition, 95% confidence intervals for the relative risk of disease in the two groups were derived.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between subjects and controls for the presence of any type of defect (p=0.48), demarcated opacities (p=0.39), diffuse opacities (p=0.71), or hypoplasias (p=0.19). There was no significant increase in severity of defects in subjects compared with controls. There was also no significant difference when comparing the group diagnosed before the age of 4 (0-3) and the group diagnosed after the age of 4 (>4) years.

CONCLUSION

There was no greater overall prevalence of enamel defects or specific type of defects and no greater extent of them in subjects with JIA compared with age and sex matched controls.

Confidentiality, disseminated regulation and ethico-legal liabilities in research with hidden populations of illicit drug users

An assurance of confidentiality is at the core of trusting relationships in outreach, ethnographic research and patient/client encounters. In the past, centralized State health care services have provided assurances of confidentiality to those engaged in health-related research either through common law or by statute. However, unless specific confidentiality legislation is in place, no assurances of confidentiality can now be made to research subjects involved in either longitudinal, interview-based or ethnographic research. The consequences of this situation become more serious given the recent emergence of the use of peer and community outreach. A significant problem with the outreach model is the failure to provide adequate legal and ethical support for those in outreach roles. Additionally, unless research subjects can be granted assurances of confidentiality, they will not engage in research for fear of later prosecution. At this time when outreach models are the modus operandi, the lack of a fundamental commitment to sustain confidentiality may seriously undermine further research. This paper will draw on the experiences of some Australian qualitative research and will review some of the ethical and legal liabilities for research that arise when an assurance of confidentiality cannot be given to those participating in research.

Sympathomimetic actions of methylenedioxymethamphetamine in rat and rabbit isolated cardiovascular tissues

The aim of this study was to investigate the actions of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in several isolated cardiovascular tissues. In spontaneously beating rat atria, concentration-dependent positive chronotropic responses to MDMA and amphetamine were blocked by the neuronal-uptake inhibitor desipramine (1 microM) and the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (1 microM). In atria incubated with [3H]noradrenaline to label transmitter stores, 10 microM MDMA and 1 microM amphetamine increased the resting outflow of radioactivity, while 1 microM desipramine had no effect on resting outflow. The MDMA- and amphetamine-induced release of radioactivity were blocked by 1 microM desipramine. MDMA, amphetamine and desipramine each enhanced the electrical stimulation-induced (2 Hz, 30-s train) release of radioactivity; the enhancing effects of MDMA and amphetamine were blocked by 1 microM desipramine. In rat isolated perfused hearts, MDMA (1 and 10 microM) increased heart rate by a similar amount to the increase caused by noradrenaline (10 and 50 nM). MDMA also induced dysrhythmias in 7 out of 11 rat isolated perfused heart preparations. In rabbit isolated perfused and superfused ear arteries preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline, MDMA increased the resting release of radioactivity by 230 +/- 18% (n = 6) of control resting release; the increase was accompanied by a rise in perfusion pressure of 17 +/- 7 mmHg (n = 6). MDMA also facilitated the vasoconstrictor responses to noradrenaline (3-9 ng) and perivascular nerve stimulation (1-5 Hz, 10-s train). MDMA-induced vasoconstriction and the facilitation of vasoconstrictor responses to noradrenaline and electrical stimulation were blocked by 1 microM desipramine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Privatization, price and cross-border liquor purchases

Self-report survey data were used to investigate the effects of liquor sales privatization on cross-border liquor purchases. A state survey sample representing the Iowa age 18+ noninstitutionalized population was interviewed in April 1989, some 25 months after retail spirits sales were privatized. Despite a privatization induced 6.1% increase in retail liquor prices, there was little, if any, change in the self-reported amount of liquor purchased outside the state of Iowa.

Alcohol availability, drinking contexts and drinking problems: the Iowa experience

Before/after survey data were used to investigate the effects that a wine and spirits privatization-induced increase in alcohol availability might have had on drinking contexts and, in turn, what effect any context changes might have had on specific drinking-related troubles. State surveys representing the aged 18+ noninstitutionalized population of Iowa were conducted in 1985, prior to the wine privatization; in 1986, after the wine privatization but before the spirits privatization; and in 1989, after both wine and spirits sales had been privatized. Despite substantial increases in the number of off-premise outlets for bottled wine and spirits following their privatizations, there was little or no change in the frequency of drinking in several different contexts or in the specific kinds of drinking-related problems studied.

Interactions of methylenedioxymethamphetamine with monoamine transmitter release mechanisms in rat brain slices

This study investigates the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and amphetamine on monoamine release from rat superfused brain slices in both the presence and absence of vesicular stores of transmitter. MDMA caused the release of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine, [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]dopamine with EC50 values of 1.9 mumol/l (95% confidence limits 1.5-2.3 mumol/l), 4.5 mumol/l (2.3-8.7 mumol/l), and greater than 30 mumol/l, respectively. In contrast, amphetamine (0.1-300 mumol/l) was more effective in releasing radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]dopamine than [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine. When Ca2+ was excluded from the superfusion fluid, the MDMA-induced release of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]dopamine was unaltered, but that from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine was enhanced. MDMA (10 mumol/l) facilitated the stimulation-induced (5 Hz, 1 min) outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline or [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine to 7.5-fold and 2.1-fold of control values, respectively, but had no effect on that from slices incubated with [3H]dopamine. Amphetamine (1 mumol/l) increased the stimulation-induced outflow from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline, but not that from slices incubated with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]dopamine. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by a 30-min incubation with pargyline (100 mumol/l) enhanced the releasing action of MDMA on all three monoamines. Pargyline (100 mumol/l) also enhanced the facilitation caused by MDMA, of the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline, [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]dopamine. In some experiments, slices were obtained from reserpinised rats (2.5 mg/kg s.c. 24 h prior) and pre-exposed for 30 min to the monoamine oxidase inhibitor parglyine (100 mumol/l). Under these conditions, electrical stimulation evoked a small residual stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline, and failed to evoke an outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]dopamine. However, a Ca(2+)-dependent stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity was evoked in the presence of either MDMA (10 mumol/l) or amphetamine (1 mumol/l) from slices incubated with either [3H]dopamine or [3H]noradrenaline, but not from slices incubated with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine. The stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline was enhanced in the presence of desipramine (1 mumol/l), however this enhancement was less than that caused by 10 mumol/l MDMA or 1 mumol/l amphetamine. The Ca(2+)-dependent response to electrical stimulation in the presence of MDMA from slices incubated with [3H]noradrenaline was greatly reduced when rats were pretreated with a higher dose of reserpine (10 mg/kg s.c.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Elderly versus younger problem drinker profiles: do they indicate a need for special programs for the elderly?

To address the question, "Do elderly problem drinkers differ from younger ones and therefore might they need special treatment programs?", the descriptive profiles of a representative sample of older and younger persons arrested for drinking and driving in Iowa were compared. Subjects were interviewed by telephone or mail using a structured, clinical interview schedule that was designed to obtain a comprehensive self-report picture of the role of alcohol in their lives. Younger persons (18-54 years old) were compared with two overlapping elderly age groups (55 and over and 65 and over). The elderly subjects were also dichotomized as "early onset" (at least one problem-drinking indicator occurred prior to age 55) and "late onset" (all problem drinking indicators occurred at age 55 or later). Although there were several statistically significant (p < or = .01) differences between the elderly and younger problem drinkers, there was a much, or more, heterogeneity within the elderly groups as there were differences between the elderly and their younger counterparts. Also, the descriptive profile of these at-large elderly problem drinkers differed, depending on whether their alcohol abuse was early- or late-onset.

Alcohol availability and consumption: Iowa sales data revisited

Recent changes in Iowa liquor control laws ended the 51-year-old state alcohol monopoly distribution system and turned the sales of bottled wine and spirits over to the private sector. The resulting increase in the availability of these beverages provided a unique opportunity to study the relationship between increased wine and spirits availability and changes in their consumption. Time series analyses of monthly sales (apparent consumption) trends showed that the increased availability had no lasting impact on consumption.

Elderly vs. younger problem drinker 'treatment' and recovery experiences

To address the question of whether or not elderly problem drinkers experience any treatment contact discrimination or recovery rate disadvantages, the programme utilization and recovery rate experiences of a representative sample of older and younger persons arrested for drinking and driving (OWI) in Iowa were compared. Subjects were interviewed by phone or mail shortly after their OWI arrest and then again approximately 12 months later. Younger persons (18-54 years old) were compared with elderly persons (55 and over and 65 and over). The elderly subjects were also dichotomized as early onset (at least one problem drinking indicator occurred prior to age 55) or late onset (all problem drinking indicators occurred at age 55 or later). The elderly were as likely as, or more likely than, their younger counterparts to make a treatment contact, to remain in treatment and to recover.

Consequences of increasing alcohol availability: the Iowa experience revisited

Before/after survey data were used to investigate the effect that a sudden and dramatic wine and spirits availability increase in Iowa might have had on heavy and problem drinker rates. Three state surveys representing the age 18+ non-institutionalized population of Iowa were conducted in 1985, 1986 and 1989. Neither previous sales analyses nor this survey data analysis support the Distribution of Consumption Prevention Model prediction that increased wine and spirits availability would produce significant and lasting consumption increases and, in turn, heavy drinker and problem drinker prevalence rate increases.

Chronic cocaine treatment does not alter rat striatal D2 autoreceptor sensitivity to pergolide

Rat superfused striatal slices, preloaded with [3H]dopamine, were electrically stimulated and the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity was taken as an index of dopamine release. In the presence of 10 microM nomifensine, exposure of striatal slices to unlabelled dopamine (0.3 microM) for 6 min prior to stimulation, significantly reduced stimulation-induced outflow. In contrast, a 21-min exposure to dopamine did not significantly alter stimulation-induced outflow. These results suggest that D2 receptors modulating dopamine release in the rat striatum may be rapidly desensitized in vitro. Rats were pretreated for 14 days with cocaine HCl (10 mg/kg/day i.p.) or saline. A progressive enhancement of locomotor activity in cocaine-treated rats over the pretreatment period compared to that in saline-treated rats indicated a behavioural sensitization to cocaine. The inhibitory effect of pergolide (1, 10 and 100 nM) on stimulation-induced outflow from striatal slices obtained from cocaine-pretreated rats was not different from that in slices obtained from saline-pretreated rats. Therefore no evidence was obtained for either a desensitization or a supersensitivity of striatal D2 autoreceptors by chronic cocaine administration.

Effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine on the release of monoamines from rat brain slices

The effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on monoamine release were investigated in superfused slices of rat striatum and hippocampus. MDMA (10 microM) increased the resting release of radioactivity from slices incubated in [3H]dopamine, [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]noradrenaline. These effects of MDMA (10 microM) were blocked by the neuronal uptake inhibitors, cocaine (10 microM), fluoxetine (1 microM) and desmethylimipramine (1 microM), respectively. MDMA (10 microM) enhanced the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity from slices incubated in [3H]noradrenaline but not from slices incubated in [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]dopamine. These results demonstrate for the first time a direct noradrenaline-releasing action of MDMA and differential effects of MDMA on the stimulation-induced release of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine from rat superfused brain slices.

Circumstances and consequences of falls experienced by a community population 70 years and over during a prospective study

A sample of 761 subjects 70 years and over was drawn from general-practice records of a rural township. Each subject was assessed and followed for 1 year to determine the incidence of and factors related to falls. The fall rate (number of falls per 100 person-years) increased from 47 for those aged 70-74 years to 121 for those 80 years and over. There was no sex difference in fall rate but men were more likely than women to fall outside and at greater levels of activity. Twenty per cent of falls were associated with trips and slips but we found no evidence that inspection of homes and installation of safety features would have decreased the fall rate. Ten per cent of falls resulted in significant injury. Men who fell had an increased subsequent risk of death compared with those who did not fall (relative risk 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.0). Subsequent mortality was increased among women who fell but not to significant levels (relative risk 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.7).

Falls, elderly women and the cold

In a prospective study of falls in 761 subjects 70 years and over an increase in the rate of falls in winter was observed in women but not men. When the daily minimum temperature fell to 1 degrees C or less the relative risk of falling in women increased to 1.53 (95% confidence intervals 1.21-1.84). We discuss measures to decrease this seasonal increase in the rate of falls.

Self-report validity issues

Two possible sources of the substantial gap usually found between survey self-reported alcohol consumption estimates for a population and estimates based on official alcohol sales records are investigated. A measure of atypical heavy drinking is added to ordinary consumption commonly measured in surveys, and consumption by an adolescent (age 14-17) sample is added to that of the adult sample. The relationship between respondents' purchases and consumption during a 30-day period is also investigated. Personal interviews were completed with a random sample of 997 adults and 182 adolescents in Iowa during February-April 1985. Adding atypical drinking to ordinary drinking narrowed the sales-self-report gap more than did adding adolescent drinking, but a considerable gap remained. Self-reported purchases were closer to sales than was self-reported consumption. However, not all purchasers were drinkers and not all drinkers were purchasers, and the two were not highly correlated. The self-report validity issue, which remains unresolved, is apparently affected by many factors. Self-reports appear to be accurate enough for some purposes but not for others. Official alcohol sales (or purchase) records are not necessarily valid measures of alcohol consumption.

Drinking frequency changes in selected contexts by season in Iowa, 1979-1980

A panel of individuals was interviewed at three points in time so that both individual and aggregate drinking behavior changes could be investigated during a period of increasing beverage alcohol sales (winter to summer) and a subsequent period of decreasing sales (summer to winter). The seasonal drinking frequency changes in different places, with different companions and in different situations, were generally consistent with the proposition that existing drinking behaviors are quite stable over time (the stability proposition), and also with the proposition that alcohol consumption increases occur without any substitution of new drinking behaviors for existing drinking behaviors (the addition proposition). There was, however, evidence that drinking contexts changed with age and that new drinking behaviors were substituted for old drinking behaviors in some of the subpopulations studied. This suggests that it may be feasible to find ways to encourage the substitution of one kind of drinking behavior for another. Finally, although the results generally support the stability and addition propositions, it is not clear that these characteristics are either necessary or sufficient for increased per capita consumption to produce an increased rate of alcohol-related problems.

An experimental test of telephone aftercare contacts with alcoholics

Alcoholics from two hospital-based treatment centers participated in an experimental test of the effects of extended aftercare on inpatient recovery rates. At discharge from inpatient treatment, subjects were randomly assigned either to an experimental group scheduled to be called by a center counselor every 2 weeks for 1 year or to a control group that experienced only the usual treatment. Follow-up interviews conducted approximately 12 months after hospital discharge found that the experimental group had no higher recovery rates than the control group. There was weak evidence that the calls reduced the burden that alcoholics place on community control and service agencies. There was no evidence that either the phone calls were more effective for some patients than for others or that some kinds of phone calls were more effective than others. Although most subjects said they liked the calls, wanted them to continue and perceived them as "good treatment," only one subject gave the calls credit for helping him maintain sobriety.

Factors related to problem-drinking rates

Intercorrelation and regression analyses of data obtained from a drinking-related behavior and attitude household survey (N = 1127) of adults (age 18+) in Iowa are reported. The consumption variables were based on the 30 days prior to interview and included total ounces of absolute alcohol consumed; number of days the subject drank beer, wine and distilled spirits separately; typical quantity of each beverage consumed on drinking days; and the number of days drank five or more drinks within a couple of hours. The drinking attitude variables included level of tolerance (approve, indifferent, disapprove) of others' (men, women, spouse, son and daughter) drinking, getting high and getting intoxicated; a balance score of the proportion of positive and negative definitions of alcoholic beverages endorsed; an level of concern (not worried, somewhat worried and very worried) for eight possible consequences of heavy drinking. The drinking context variables used were the number of past 30 days that respondents drank at a bar or tavern, restaurant or club, home, others' homes, sports event and outdoor recreation; and number past 30 days drank alone, with relatives, work associates and close friends who are not work associates. The family environment variables included the respondent's report of whether any blood-related relatives had experienced alcohol-related problems, and of whether beverage alcohol was used in their childhood home.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Seasonal changes in alcohol consumption and related problems in Iowa, 1979-1980

What happens to heavy-drinking and problem-drinking rates when per-capita alcohol sales (apparent consumption) increase and decrease is examined. A panel of individuals were interviewed at three 6-month intervals: winter of 1979, summer of 1979 and winter of 1980. Respondents were questioned about their drinking-related behavior in the 30 days prior to each interview. Although per-capita alcohol sales increased from winter to summer and decreased from summer to winter, heavy-drinking and problem-drinking rates changed relatively little, usually in the opposite direction of the sales change. Few of the new problem drinkers appearing from season to season also became new heavy drinkers. These findings were interpreted to mean that the Single Distribution model, relying exclusively on restricting sales to prevent alcohol misuse, is underspecified. There is much to be learned about how aggregate sales changes come about and how sales changes interact with other factors to affect problem-drinking rates.

Changes in the climate of attitudes toward drinking in Iowa, 1961-1979

The nature of the changes in attitudes toward alcohol use in Iowa may help explain why heavy-drinking and problem-drinking rates remained stable while consumption increased substantially there.

Maturational and generational changes in drinking behavior and attitudes in Iowa, 1961-1979

Both maturational and generational changes in drinking-related behavior and attitudes occurred between 1961 and 1979 in Iowa. Their effects in general tended to be counterbalancing.

Alcohol consumption in Iowa 1961 and 1979. A comparison of sales and survey estimates

Survey data reveal that an increase in per-capita alcohol consumption in Iowa from 1961 to 1979 is attributable mainly to an increase in the prevalence of drinkers and less so to an increase in the frequency of drinking occasions, and that there was little change in the quantity per drinking occasion. The extent, the direction and the sources of the consumption changes, however, varied widely across sociodemographic subpopulations.

On the validity of the research diagnostic criteria, the Feighner criteria, and the DSM-III for diagnosing alcoholics

A 10-item Trouble-Due-To-Drinking Scale, similar to the Feighner Criteria, the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC), and the DSM-III Alcoholism Criteria, was tested for its ability to identify a population of clinic alcoholics (N = 2459) and a sample of nonclinic "designated" alcoholics (N = 169). The Trouble Scale identified only 27 per cent of the nonclinic cases with substantial sex, age, income, and educational biases. It identified 77 per cent of the clinic cases, with much less apparent bias. If the clinic cases are a representative sample of alcoholics at large, then the Trouble Scale, and by implication the Feighner Criteria, the RDC, and the DSM-II, represent progress in the development of valid (useful) alcoholism diagnostic criteria. If, however, the nonclinic cases are more representative of all alcoholics, then the poor performance of the Trouble Scale applied to these cases indicates that it and similar alcoholism criteria that are based on the trouble dimension, are fatally flawed by bias. In either case, much developmental work remains to be done at both the conceptual and operational levels before there is valid criteria for diagnosing alcoholism.

Rural vs urban problem drinker clients

The rural (n = 636) and urban (n = 3,294) clients served by the outpatient alcoholism service centers of Iowa during 1973-1974 are compared. More similarities than differences are observed. The implications for intervention and rehabilitation strategies are discussed.

Distribution of alcohol consumption and problem drinking. Comparison of sales records and survey data

Survey data on alcohol consumption in Iowa reveal seasonal fluctuations which, when due to increases in the quantity consumed per drinking occasion, are accompanied by increases in alcohol-related social problems.

On the reliability of the Iowa Alcoholic Stages Index

The test-retest reliability of the Iowa Alcoholic Stages Index is found consistent with the process model of alcoholism.