The self-reported impact of legal and non-legal sanctions on a group of recidivist drink drivers

Concern remains regarding the efficacy of legal sanctions to reduce drink driving behaviours among repeat offenders. The present study examined the impact of traditional legal sanctions (e.g., fines and licence disqualification periods), nonlegal sanctions, alcohol consumption and the frequency of recent offending behaviour(s) on intentions to re-offend for a group of recidivist drink drivers (N=166). The analysis indicated that participants perceived legal sanctions to be severe, but not entirely certain nor swift. In addition, self-reported recent drink driving behaviours and alcohol consumption levels were identified as predictors of future intentions to drink and drive. The findings of the study confirm the popular assumption that some repeat offenders are impervious to the threat and application of legal sanctions and suggests that additional interventions such as alcohol treatment programs are required if the drinking and driving sequence is to be broken for this population. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of enrichment for a group of captive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) using time-lapse recording and instantaneous scan sampling

One aim of providing enrichment to captive animals is to promote the expression of behavioural patterns similar to their wild conspecifics. We evaluated the effectiveness of four types of simple feeding enrichment, using surveillance cameras to record the behaviour of 11 captive squirrel monkeys housed in a single enclosure at Alma Park Zoo in Brisbane, Australia. The enrichment involved differences in presentation (whole/chopped) and distribution (localised/scattered) of fruit and vegetables that were part of the normal diet of these animals. Distinguishing between individual squirrel monkeys was not possible from the videos, so Instantaneous Scan Sampling was used to record the numbers of animals performing particular behaviours every 15 minutes over the 24 hour period as well as every 5 minutes for the hour following provision of enrichment. This provided an estimation of the percentage of time spent by the group in various activities. As a result of the enrichment, the activity budget of the group more closely approximated that of wild squirrel monkeys. However on a number of occasions where the enrichment required the squirrel monkeys to work to obtain their food (whole fruit and vegetables), a number of individuals became aggressive towards the zookeepers. This result highlights the variation in responses of individual animals towards enrichment and indicates that in enclosures with large numbers of animals, the response of each individual should be evaluated in addition to the overall benefit of the enrichment for the group. Furthermore, this variation also suggests that it may be beneficial to provide the animals with choices of enrichment as opposed to providing single forms of enrichment that may only be effective for a proportion of the animals in the enclosure, and may even result in undesirable responses from some individuals.

Targeted delivery of a novel group of site-directed transglutaminase inhibitors to the liver using liposomes:a new approach for the potential treatment of liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis and its end-stage disease cirrhosis are a main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Thus far, there is no efficient pharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Transglutaminase (TG)-mediated covalent cross-linking has been implicated in the stabilization and accumulation of ECM in a number of fibrotic diseases. Thus, the use of tissue TG2 inhibitors has potential in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Recently, we introduced a novel group of site-directed irreversible specific inhibitors of TGs. Here, we describe the development of a liposome-based drug-delivery system for the site-specific delivery of these TG inhibitors into the liver. By using anionic or neutral-based DSPC liposomes, the TG inhibitor can be successfully incorporated into these liposomes and delivered specifically to the liver. Liposomes can therefore be used as a potential carrier system for site-specific delivery of the TG2 inhibitors into the liver, opening up a potential new avenue for the treatment of liver fibrosis and its end-stage disease cirrhosis.