bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human rights as settled norms: Mervyn Frost and the limits of Hegelian human rights theory
Authors: SUTCH PETER
Published: July 2002

This article explores the normative international relations theory of Mervyn Frost.
Frost's unorthodox approach to questions of human rights offers a way through the political
and philosophical morass that has often threatened to obscure the most pressing issues of our
time. Significantly, Frost claims to able to ‘construct’ a background justification for
international ethics that can unite the demands for sovereign autonomy with declarations of
human rights. In doing so Frost attempts to offer an new understanding of universal ethics
and thus of the role of human rights in international politics. Acknowledging the importance
of this approach, this article examines two issues that arise from Frost's ‘constitutive theory’
and seeks to offer a signpost for the future development of human rights theory.
Aid and sovereignty: quasi-states and the international financial institutions
Authors: WILLIAMS DAVID
Published: July 2002

This article examines the changing status of ‘sovereignty’ in the context of some of the world's poorest countries. An examination of the relationship between the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and these countries suggests that the norm of sovereignty is increasingly being ‘trumped’ by the IFIs' commitment to the achievement of good political and social arrangements and economic development within these countries. The article explores the historical roots of this development by tracing the way sovereignty became bound up with the idea of self-determination, the achievement of the ideals of the Enlightenment, and the pursuit of a ‘national economic project’.
History ends, worlds collide
Authors: BROWN CHRIS
Published: July 2002

The end of the Cold
War was an event of great significance in human history, the consequences of
which demand to be glossed in broad terms rather than reduced to a meaningless
series of events. Neorealist writers on international relations would disagree;
most such see the end of the Cold War in terms of the collapse of a bipolar
balance of power system and its (temporary) replacement by the hegemony of the
winning state, which in turn will be replaced by a new balance. There is
obviously a story to be told here, they would argue, but not a new kind of story,
nor a particularly momentous one. Such shifts in the distribution of power are a
matter of business as usual for the international system. The end of the Cold War was
a blip on the chart of modern history and analysts of international politics
(educated in the latest techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis in
the social sciences) ought, from this perspective, to be unwilling to draw
general conclusions on the basis of a few, albeit quite unusual, events. Such
modesty is, as a rule, wise, but on this occasion it is misplaced. The Cold War
was not simply a convenient shorthand for conflict between two superpowers, as
the neorealists would have it. Rather it encompassed deep-seated divisions about
the organization and content of political, economic and social life at all
levels.
Losing the local: Sydney and the Oz Rock tradition
Authors: Homan Shane
Published: July 2002

In a tiny inner city pub

The amps were getting stacked

Leads were getting wound up

It was full of pissed Anzacs

‘Got no more gigs for Tuesday nights’ said the barman to the star,

‘We're putting pokies in the lounge and strippers in the bar’

The star, he raised his fingers and said ‘fuck this fucking hole’

But to his roadie said ‘it's the death of rock and roll’

‘There ain't no single place left to play amplified guitar

Every place is servin' long blacks if they're not already tapas bars

(TISM (This Is Serious Mum), ‘The Last Australian Guitar Hero’, 1998)

Introduction: local music-making

A number of recent studies have focused upon the places and spaces of popular music performance. In particular, analyses of British live music contexts have examined the role of urban landscapes in facilitating production/consumption environments. Building upon Simon Frith's (1983) initial exploration of the synthesis of leisure/work ideologies and popular music, Ruth Finnegan's detailed examination of amateur music practices in Milton Keynes (1989) and Sara Cohen's account of the Liverpool scene (1991) reveal the benefits of engaging in detailed micro-studies of the local. Paul Chevigny's history of the governance of New York City jazz venues (1991) similarly provides a rich insight into performance contexts and the importance of hitherto unnoticed city ordinances in influencing the production of live music.
Resolved-acceleration control of robot manipulators: A critical review with experiments
Authors: Caccavale Fabrizio , Natale Ciro , Siciliano Bruno , Villani Luigi
Published: July 2002

The goal of this paper is to provide a critical review of the well-known resolved-acceleration technique for the tracking control problem of robot manipulators in the task space. Various control schemes are surveyed and classified according to the type of end-effector orientation error; namely, those based on Euler angles feedback, quaternion feedback, and angle/axis feedback. In addition to the assessed schemes in the literature, an alternative Euler angles feedback scheme is proposed which shows an advantage in terms of avoidance of representation singularities. An insight into the features of each scheme is given, with special concern to the stability properties of those schemes leading to nonlinear closed-loop dynamic equations. A comparison is carried out in terms of computational burden. Experiments on an industrial robot with open control architecture have been carried out, and the tracking performance of the resolved-acceleration control schemes in a case study involving the occurrence of a representation singularity is evaluated. The pros and cons of each scheme are evidenced in a final discussion focused on practical implementation issues.
Redundant nonholonomic mechanical systems: characterization and control
Authors: Colbaugh R. , Trabatti M. , Glass K.
Published: July 2002

This paper introduces the notion of kinematic redundancy in nonholonomic mechanical systems, identifies some of the interesting properties which result because of the presence of the redundancy, and initiates a study of the control and application of these systems. It is shown that kinematic redundancy in nonholonomic system can be exploited both to simplify the problem of controlling these systems and to enhance their performance capabilities. Moreover, it is demonstrated that these results can be obtained even in the presence of considerable uncertainty regarding the system model. The proposed ideas are illustrated through the study of three example systems: a space robot, a mobile manipulator, and a
tractor-trailer system with two steering inputs (fire truck).
Quasi-static obstacle crossing of an animal type four-legged walking machine
Authors: Park Sung-Ho , Chung Gwang-Jo
Published: July 2002

Three standard types of obstacles are selected for the study: vertical step, isolated wall and ditch. When one of these obstacles is detected in the direction of motion, a quadruped reads only one or two parameters of obstacle and then calculates corner distances, which makes it possible to determine the locomotion sequences before it reaches the obstacle. Vertical step is fully defined by one parameter, step height. An isolated wall is defined by two parameters: wall thickness and vertical height. A ditch is defined by ditch width. The dimensions of the suggested model are used to calculate the crossing performance of a quadruped, for the purpose of comparison. All the crossing gaits are illustrated by simulation figures. Based on the results of this research, a more comprehensive study in the walking over a combination of these obstacles can be conducted and a four-legged walking

machine which moves with mobility can be designed.
Opera, education and the role of arts organisations
Authors: Tambling Pauline
Published: July 2002

This article describes three projects organised by the Royal Opera House Education Department between 1985 and 1997. Following the descriptions each project is analysed in terms of students, artists and teachers with a view to placing the work within an overall conceptual framework suggesting that arts education provides an interface between the professional work of artists and educational settings. It proposes that arts education can be most effective when students are encouraged to see themselves ‘as artists’ and by creating their own work they can then engage with the work of other artists, both living and from other generations.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN ITALY
Authors: France George
Published: July 2002

Italy has a national health service (SSN) dating to 1978. Italy's

system of government is characterized by a rather high degree of

decentralization of power, and the health system is likewise

decentralized. Most of the responsibilities for health care have

been ceded to the regions. The state retains only limited

coordinating and supervisory powers. The state has a financial

responsibility for the national health service, but state

contributions are limited and expenditures in excess of this made by

the region must be financed from other sources. Health reforms of

1992–93 aimed at making the regions more sensitive to the need to

control aggregate expenditure and to monitor measures to promote efficiency,

quality, and citizen-patient satisfaction. The diffusion of individual

health technologies has been relatively uncontrolled in many regions

in Italy, although tight central constraints on capital spending have

contained diffusion of new technology. Regulation of placement of

services is a planning function and is the responsibility of both the

Ministry of Health and the regions. Health technology assessment

(HTA) activities have been expanding since the early 1990s, but these

activities tend to be untargeted, uncoordinated, and without

priorities. Nonetheless, the principal actors in the SSN at national,

regional, and local levels are becoming more sensitive to the need to

apply criteria of clinical and cost-effectiveness and to be more

rigorous in deciding what services to guarantee. There are reasons to

be guardedly optimistic about the future of HTA in Italy.
THE FDH ESTIMATOR FOR PRODUCTIVITY EFFICIENCY SCORES
Authors: Park B.U. , Simar L. , Weiner Ch.
Published: July 2002

In productivity analysis, the free disposal hull
(FDH) is a nonparametric estimator for the production set,
the set of inputs and outputs that are technically feasible.
It is defined as the smallest free disposal set containing
all observations in a sample of production units. One can
then derive the production frontier and efficiency scores
from the FDH. In the literature the method is used as if
the FDH estimator were the true feasible set. However,
assuming that individuals are drawn independently from
a distribution where the support is the true production
set, FDH efficiency scores are random variables. This paper
investigates its stochastic properties.
ON PHILLIPS–PERRON-TYPE TESTS FOR SEASONAL UNIT ROOTS
Authors: Breitung Jörg , Franses Philip Hans
Published: July 2002

In this paper we consider a semiparametric version
of the test for seasonal unit roots suggested by Hylleberg,
Engle, Granger, and Yoo (1990, Journal of Econometrics
44, 215–238). The asymptotic theory is based on the
analysis of a simple regression problem, and the results
apply to tests at any given frequency in the range
(0,π]. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that
the test may have more power than the parametric
test of Hylleberg et al. (1990). On the other hand, the
semiparametric version suffers from severe size distortions
in some situations.
A NOTE ON SPURIOUS BREAK
Authors: Bai Jushan
Published: July 2002

When the disturbances of a regression model follow
an I(1) process there is a tendency
to estimate a break point in the middle of the sample,
even though a break point does not actually exist. In this
note, we provide a mathematical proof for this phenomenon.
Species diversity structure analysis at two sites in the tropical rain forest of Sumatra
Authors: Rennolls Keith , Laumonier Yves
Published: July 2002

Data from a hilly forest study site at Batang Ule, Sumatra, are organized into 30 100-m × 10-m subplots lying perpendicular to the line of maximal topographic gradient, from the valley to the plateau/ridge. The following methodological question is addressed: what species diversity measures are best used in order to reveal the ecologically distinct regions in the site. The main tool used to answer this question is the α-diversity curve (Hα). Graphical examination of tree and species densities, and α-diversity curves identifies an anomalous species diversity behaviour of the ‘ridge above the slope’ subplots which may have implications on land-facet class definitions. Factor analysis of the α-diversity curves indicates that the diversity space is two-dimensional: i.e. two diversity measures are sufficient to characterize the site; the species density (H0), and the Berger-Parker index (H∞). In the

two-dimensional diversity-space three distinct species diversity groups are found which relate to the topographic gradient at the Batang Ule site. The results are compared with those for a flat homogeneous site at Pasirmayang, Sumatra. The implications of the results on land-classifications in species-diversity mapping and conservation strategy are discussed.
Foraging by fungus-growing termites (Isoptera: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Authors: Dangerfield J. Mark , Schuurman Gregor
Published: July 2002

Observations were made of foraging frequency and food selection by species of Macrotermitinae in a savanna habitat in the distal reaches of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. A removal experiment in the field was also conducted. Observable foraging showed seasonal peaks in frequency, related to temperature in Macrotermes michaelseni and to moisture in sympatric soil nesting Termitidae. Foraging was mostly on woody litter of the dominant canopy trees and mammalian dung. There was considerable overlap in the selection of food items between species but M. michaelseni were seen more frequently on items of woody litter greater than 6 mm in diameter. In Petri-dish trials Microtermes spp. workers were aggressive towards M. michaelseni individuals and in the field they foraged more frequently and effectively when M. michaelseni numbers were experimentally reduced. Macrotermes michaelseni appeared to avoid competition with other fungus-growing species by spatial separation within the habitat and some limited separation in food selection, but intense competition is probably rare as space and food resources may rarely be limiting.
Seedling growth of Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae) across an elevational range in Southwest Sri Lanka
Authors: GUNATILLEKE C. V. S. , GUNATILLEKE I. A. U. N. , ASHTON P. M. S. , ASHTON P. S.
Published: July 2002

Performance of seedlings of seven rain forest, canopy dominant Shorea species was studied in a transplant experiment in forest sites at three different elevations (low, mid and high) within the humid zone of southwest Sri Lanka. Five species generally inhabit low- to mid-elevations, one at mid- and lower montane elevations, and one exclusively at lower montane elevations. Temperature, rainfall and cloudiness varied with elevation. For each site seedlings were grown in pots under partial shade conditions using similar soils and evermoist conditions. All growth measures showed differences among elevation sites, among species and in the interaction between species and elevation sites. Performances of species collectively showed (i) decline in height and leaf number with increase in elevation, (ii) higher dry mass at low- and mid-elevation sites compared to that at high-elevation and (iii) a higher mass of single leaves at the mid-elevation site than at the high-elevation site. Rank order of species changed across elevations for both height and dry mass. Dry mass declined with elevation in four of the seven species studied. S. gardneri, the only exclusively lower montane species, increased dry mass with elevation. Height declined with elevation for six of the species with only S. gardneri showing no change. Changes with elevation in the rank order of species for total leaf number and mass of single leaves were small. However, total leaf number and masses of single leaves differed among species and among elevations. S. megistophylla and S. disticha had a few leaves with high individual masses, while S. gardneri, S. affinis and S. trapezifolia had many leaves with less mass per individual leaf. One group of species showed relatively little change in leaf number per seedling and large changes in mass of single leaves. The other group varied more in leaf number but mass of individual leaves remained constant. Growth allocation to leaf production versus individual leaf size appears related to the successional division of Shorea section Doona. Also all species grew better at the low-elevation site irrespective of their natural ranges except S. gardneri, whose natural range is restricted to high elevations, and exhibits markedly lower growth responsiveness than the other wide ranging species.
Public health expenditures and
mortality in England and Wales,
1870–1914
Authors: BELL FRANCES , MILLWARD ROBERT
Published: July 2002

Attempts to account for the pattern and progress of mortality decline
in
England and Wales in the nineteenth century have produced a literature
in which something of a general accord exists over key factors involved.
Historians acknowledge the influence of two broad trends of change:
environmental improvements as a result of sanitary reform initiatives and
nutritional improvements as a consequence of a rise in the general
standard of living. Where discord has arisen is in the degree of attachment
of individual historians to one or other of these trends as primary
contributor. The study of mortality decline, which was the product of a
complex amalgam of factors, has proved a complicated task. It is one
whose outcome ultimately depends upon efforts to disaggregate and
measure the influences of different factors involved. To date, attempts
at
the systematic measurement of certain key factors associated with
mortality decline have lagged considerably behind acceptance of the
importance of their measurement. An important omission has been a
measure of the timing and dimensions of sanitary reform programmes
which, via infrastructure development and environmental controls, had
the potential to decrease the rate at which infectious diseases were
transmitted. This article examines the trends which emerge from a
quantification of local government expenditures on sanitary infrastructure
and from attention to its phasing over time. We are concerned with two
main issues: to what extent do public health expenditure data describe
the
public health effort, and how do trends in public health expenditure relate
to the decline of mortality? Our subject is local authority sanitary reform
as a factor in mortality decline and our focus is on the impact of the
timing
of public health expenditure rather than the reasons for that timing. We
do not examine inter-relationships between sanitary reform and other
factors contributing to mortality decline such as income levels and density
factors. A call for a more comprehensive study of the sanitary
undertakings of local government has been common amongst historians
of nineteenth-century mortality decline. It has been acknowledged on
both sides of the ‘nutrition versus sanitation’ debate that
a probable
causal relationship exists between sanitary reforms and declining mortality
levels. What has been lacking is a study of sufficient scale and detail
to
enable comprehensive evaluation.
BOUNDS FOR FLUID MODELS DRIVEN BY SEMI-MARKOV INPUTS
Authors: Gautam N. , Kulkarni V. G. , Palmowski Z. , Rolski T.
Published: July 2002

In this paper we consider an infinite buffer fluid
model whose input is driven by independent semi-Markov
processes. The output capacity of the buffer is a constant.
We derive upper and lower bounds for the limiting distribution
of the stationary buffer content process. We discuss examples
and applications where the results can be used to determine
bounds on the loss probability in telecommunication networks.
REPLICATION AND REPORTING
Authors: Polio Charlene , Gass Susan
Published: July 2002

In this paper we address the need for replication studies in the field of
second language acquisition and discuss the problems surrounding standards of reporting
research. A particular focus is on the level of detail necessary for replication to take place. The
lack of uniform standards is noted with specific examples of problematic reporting taken from
descriptions of second language learners' proficiency levels and measures of linguistic
accuracy in second language writing research. We propose ways that we believe will lead to
more thorough reporting of research and that will therefore allow others to engage in
replication.
A developmental study of the acquisition of Russian colour terms
Authors: DAVIES IAN R. L. , CORBETT GREVILLE G. , McGURK HARRY , MacDERMID CATRIONA
Published: July 2002

We report a study of the acquisition of colour terms by Russian
children
which had two main aims: first, to test Berlin & Kay's (1969)
theory of
colour universals using acquisition order as a measure of basicness; and

secondly, to see if the two blue terms of Russian are genuinely
basic.
Two hundred children aged from three to six-years-old were tested on
three colour-tasks – colour term listing, colour term production
and
colour term comprehension. To a reasonable approximation, the order
of colour term acquisition was in accord with Berlin & Kay's theory,
but
the data are also consistent with the weaker claim that primary terms
tend to be learned before derived terms. On balance the data were
consistent with Russian exceptionally, having an extra term for the blue

region. But, the two blue terms – goluboj
‘light blue’ and sinij
‘dark blue’ – were confused more often than other pairs
of terms even by the
five- to six-year-old sample.
Adams operations for projective modules over group rings
Authors: KÖCK BERNHARD
Published: July 2002

Let R be a commutative ring, Γ a finite group acting
on R, and let k∈ℕ be
invertible in R. Generalizing a definition of Kervaire,
we construct an Adams operation ψk
on the Grothendieck group and on the higher K-theory of projective
modules over the twisted group ring R#Γ. For this, we
generalize Atiyah's cyclic
power operations and use shuffle products in higher K-theory.
For the Grothendieck group, we show that ψk
is multiplicative and that it commutes with base change,
with the Cartan homomorphism, and with ψl
for any other l which is invertible in R.
From Transit of Venus to Teaching
Navigation: the Work of
William Wales
Authors: Orchiston Wayne , Howse Derek
Published: July 2002

This paper was first published in Astronomy and Geophysics (December 1998, Vol. 39) by
the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd and is reproduced
here, with minor amendments, by kind permission of the Editor, Dr Sue Bowler.

William Wales (1734–1798) contributed to astronomy through his observations of the 1769
transit of Venus, and his studies of latitude and longitude on Captain James Cook's second
voyage to the South Seas. During this voyage, Wales was responsible for monitoring the
performance of the chronometers. After returning from the Pacific, Wales took charge of the
Royal Mathematical School at Christ's Hospital in London and, over the next two decades,
he taught a succession of budding officers the principles of navigation.
Traditional resource-use systems and tropical deforestation in a multi-ethnic region in North-West Ecuador
Authors: SIERRA RODRIGO
Published: July 2002

There is general consensus that resource-use strategies of recent migrants in tropical rainforests result in extensive deforestation and other negative environmental impacts. Less agreement exists about the nature and extent of the impact of indigenous and long-standing migrant communities living in rainforests. It has often been argued that the high value these communities place on local resources results in environmental conservation in areas under their control, but this is being increasingly challenged. The aim of this study was to contribute to this debate by comparing the regional environmental impact of indigenous and non-indigenous households in North-west Ecuador, with emphasis on tropical deforestation. The basic premise was that long-term resource-use strategies and related decision-making processes should be discernible as characteristic land-use patterns. Three indigenous and non-indigenous populations coexist in the study region, and demographic, land-use and historical sources of information were used to evaluate their relationship to regional deforestation in the period 1983-93. No significant differences were found in the recent deforestation associated with each group based on their cultural or ethnic background, although differences did exist in the past. The need to differentiate between a given environmental impact and the decision-making process behind it was also evident. In North-west Ecuador, markets, factors of production, and access to and control of resources, are key for understanding the environmental impact of local communities. Low-impact resource-uses often result from low-return productive activities in forest environments with low labour opportunity costs, high discount rates for income generated through activities compromising food security, and from uncertainty about future conditions. Environmental policy-making and programme design need to recognize this relationship. Conservation will be possible only if the perceived benefit to local users is greater than that of resource transformation, both of which respond to the dominant environmental, economic and social conditions at a given time and place. Creating or fostering the appropriate conditions should be a key objective of both.
The pre-vaccination epidemiology of measles, mumps and rubella in Europe: implications for modelling studies
Authors: EDMUNDS W. J. , GAY N. J. , KRETZSCHMAR M. , PEBODY R. G. , WACHMANN H.
Published: July 2002

Data on the pre-vaccination patterns of infection for measles, mumps and rubella are collated
from a number of European countries in order to compare the epidemiology of the three
viruses. Key epidemiological parameters, such as the age-specific force of infection and the
basic reproduction number (R0) are estimated from case notification or serological data using
standard techniques. A method is described to compare force of infection estimates derived
from serological data. Analysis suggests that the pre-vaccination patterns of measles and
mumps infection in the different countries were similar. In contrast, the epidemiology of rubella
was highly variable between countries. This suggests that it may be acceptable to use parameter
values estimated from other countries to model measles and mumps transmission, but that this
approach to modelling rubella transmission requires more caution. Estimates of R0 depend on
underlying mixing assumptions. Constraints were placed on R0 estimates by utilising knowledge
of likely mixing patterns. The estimates for R0 were highest for measles, intermediate for
mumps, and generally lowest for rubella. Analysis of within- and between-age-group
transmission rates suggested that mumps transmission tends to be more concentrated within
young children than the other two viruses. The implications for the design of immunization
programmes are that mumps may be the easiest to control via infant immunization since it is
predominantly transmitted between the very young and the variability in rubella epidemiology
requires that careful consideration of the possible effects of vaccination options should be made
using local data when planning rubella immunization programmes.
A severe and explosive outbreak of hepatitis B in a rural population in Sirsa district, Haryana, India: unnecessary
therapeutic injections were a major risk factor
Authors: SINGH J. , GUPTA S. , KHARE S. , BHATIA R. , JAIN D. C. , SOKHEY J.
Published: July 2002

Most outbreaks of viral hepatitis in India are caused by hepatitis E. This report describes an
outbreak of hepatitis B in a rural population in Haryana state in 1997. At least 54 cases of
jaundice occurred in Dhottar village (population 3096) during a period of 8 months; 18
(33·3%) of them died. Virtually all fatal cases were adults and tested positive for HBsAg (other
markers not done). About 88% (21/24) of surviving cases had acute or persistent HBV/HCV
infections; 54% (13/24) had acute hepatitis B. Many other villages reported sporadic cases and
deaths. Data were pooled from these villages for analysis of risk factors. Acute hepatitis B
cases had received injections before illness more frequently (11/19) than those found negative
for acute or persistent HBV/HCV infections (3/17) (P = 0·01). Although a few cases had other
risk factors, these were equally prevalent in two groups. The results linked the outbreak to the
use of unnecessary therapeutic injections.
Helicobacter antibodies in 1973 and 1994 in the adult
population of Vammala, Finland
Authors: KOSUNEN T. U. , AROMAA A. , KNEKT P. , SALOMAA A. , RAUTELIN H. , LOHI P. , HEINONEN O. P.
Published: July 2002

Changes in Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence were
studied determining IgG and IgA
antibodies of 408 randomly selected adults aged 15–74 years
living in Vammala, Finland in
1973 and of 504 similarly selected subjects in 1994. Seroprevalence
increased by age at both
time points. The age-adjusted seroprevalence rate was clearly lower in 1994
than in 1973 (31 vs.
56%, P=0·001). Paired serum samples of 224 subjects
collected in 1973 and 1994 showed that
the antibody status remained unaltered in 92%; 4% seroconverted and
4% seroreverted within
the 21 years. The decrease in the seroprevalence rate in the population
and the persistence of
individual antibody status over two decades support a difference in
H. pylori infection rates
among birth cohorts over time rather than continuous acquisition of
new infections with advancing age. Thus the risk of helicobacter infection in
Vammala, Finland has been highest in
childhood and continuously decreased at least for the last five decades.
Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and human health
Authors: CARMAN J. A. , GARNER M. G. , CATTON M. G. , THOMAS S. , WESTBURY H. A. , CANNON R. M. , COLLINS B. J. , TRIBE I. G.
Published: July 2002

Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits (VHD), a potential
biological control for wild rabbits in
Australia and New Zealand, escaped from quarantined field trials on Wardang
Island and
spread to the mainland of Australia in October 1995. This study looked
for any evidence of
infection or illness in people occupationally exposed to the virus. Two
hundred and sixty-nine
people were interviewed and 259 blood samples were collected. Exposures
to VHD-infected
rabbits ranged from nil to very high. No VHD antibodies were detected in
any of the 259 sera
when tested by VHD competitive enzyme immunoassay, which had been validated
with 1013
VHDV-specific antibody negative sera. A questionnaire designed to elicit
symptoms of disease
in a range of organ systems found no significant differences between illness
in those exposed
and those not exposed to VHD, nor could an association be found between
exposure and
subsequent episodes of illness. The findings are consistent with the view
that exposure to VHD
is not associated with infection or disease in humans.
Serological titres to Leptospira fainei serovar hurstbridge
in
human sera in Australia
Authors: CHAPPEL R. J. , KHALIK D. A. , ADLER B. , BULACH D. M. , FAINE S. , PEROLAT P. , VALLANCE V.
Published: July 2002

A set of 723 diagnostic sera from human patients,
submitted for the microscopic agglutination
test (MAT) for antibodies to a group of 6 leptospiral serovars, was also
tested by MAT for
antibodies to the recently-discovered Leptospira fainei serovar
hurstbridge.
MAT titres of [ges ]128
to serovar hurstbridge were detected in 13·4% of these sera, and

titres of [ges ]512 in 7·2%. In
contrast, none of 62 sera obtained from a control population of
laboratory staff gave titres of
[ges ]128. The difference between the number of titres of [ges ]128
given by the two groups of sera
was highly significant (P<0·01). The titres observed

may have been due to cross-reactions
with other leptospiral serovars, but this could not be demonstrated. An
alternative explanation
is that serovar hurstbridge is present in the human population.
A community-based outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype

Typhimurium associated with salami consumption in Northern Italy
Authors: PONTELLO M. , SODANO L. , NASTASI A. , MAMMINA C. , ASTUTI M. , DOMENICHINI M. , BELLUZZI G. , SOCCINI E. , SILVESTRI M. G. , GATTI M. , GEROSA E. , MONTAGNA A.
Published: July 2002

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium

belonging to phage type (PT) 193
occurred in autumn 1995 and involved 83 individuals in a large area of
Northern Italy
(Lombardy Region). Epidemiological and microbiological investigations of
strains isolated from
clinical and food specimens revealed that the vehicle was a batch of salami,
produced on 4
September 1995 by a local firm. The outbreak was contained when the batch
was withdrawn
from sale. Insufficient ripening of the salami had allowed the salmonella
to survive,
emphasizing the need to define criteria for the ripening process of foods
such as salami.
Molecular and serological characterization of adenovirus
genome type 7h isolated in Japan
Authors: HASHIDO M. , MUKOUYAMA A. , SAKAE K. , TSUZUKI H. , YAMASHITA T. , INADA T. , INOUYE S.
Published: July 2002

In 1996, three adenovirus type 7 (Ad7) strains were isolated from children with fever and
upper respiratory diseases in Japan. Restriction endonucleases (REs) analysis and PCR
amplification of the E3 7·7 kDa ORF revealed that these strains were genotype Ad7h and
closely related to an Argentine Ad7h strain, which has been reported to be highly virulent and
so far predominant only in South America. These strains showed weak cross-neutralizing
activity and specific haemagglutination-inhibition activity to Ad3 antiserum. The present
findings suggest that Ad7h in South America has spread to other parts of the world. Since the
seroprevalence to Ad7 in the current Japanese population is very low due to the absence of
Ad7 circulation in Japan for decades, Ad7 outbreak as a typical case of re-emerging infectious
diseases is a cause for serious concern.
Development of a PCR system for porcine cytomegalovirus
detection and determination of the putative partial sequence
of its DNA polymerase gene
Authors: WIDEN B. F. , LOWINGS J. P. , BELAK S. , BANKS M.
Published: July 2002

After PCR amplification with conservative cytomegalovirus primers, a 520 nucleotide putative
partial sequence of the DNA polymerase gene of porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) was
determined. Sequence comparison revealed homology to DNA polymerase genes from various
beta herpes viruses and a dendrogram was constructed depicting the relationship of PCMV to
other members of the Herpesviridae family. The dendrogram indicates that PCMV is indeed a
beta herpes virus that is more closely related to human herpes virus types 6 and 7 than to
type 5.

To address the difficulties encountered during conventional PCMV detection and
characterization a set of nested PCR primers were constructed which generated DNA
fragments of 415 and 257 bp from the DNA polymerase gene. The nested PCR system proved
specific for PCMV and provided a novel means for the detection of this poorly characterized
herpes virus in pig populations, vaccines and in organs used in xenotransplantation.
Incidence of symptomatic toxoplasma eye disease: aetiology
and public health implications
Authors: GILBERT R. E. , DUNN D. T. , LIGHTMAN S. , MURRAY P. I. , PAVESIO C. E. , GORMLEY P. D. , MASTERS J. , PARKER S. P. , STANFORD M. R.
Published: July 2002

Ocular disease is the commonest disabling consequence of toxoplasma infection. Incidence and
lifetime risk of ocular symptoms were determined by ascertaining affected patients in a
population-based, active reporting study involving ophthalmologists serving a population of 7·4
million. Eighty-seven symptomatic episodes were attributed to toxoplasma infection. Bilateral
visual acuity of 6/12 or less was found in seven episodes (8%) and was likely to have been
transient in most cases. Black people born in West Africa had a 100-fold higher incidence of
symptoms than white people born in Britain. Only two patients reported symptoms before 10
years of age. The estimated lifetime risk of symptoms in British born individuals (52% of all
episodes) was 18/100000 (95% confidence interval: 10·8–25·2). The low risk and mild
symptoms in an unscreened British population indicate limited potential benefits of prenatal or
postnatal screening. The late age at presentation suggests a mixed aetiology of postnatally
acquired and congenital infection for which primary prevention may be appropriate,
particularly among West Africans.
Acute melioidosis outbreak in Western Australia
Authors: INGLIS T. J. J. , GARROW S. C. , ADAMS C. , HENDERSON M. , MAYO M. , CURRIE B. J.
Published: July 2002

A cluster of acute melioidosis cases occurred in a remote, coastal community in tropical
Western Australia. Molecular typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from culture-confirmed cases and suspected environmental sources by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
(PFGE) of XbaI chromosomal DNA digests showed that a single PFGE type was responsible
for five cases of acute infection in a community of around 300 during a 5 week period. This
temporal and geographical clustering of acute melioidosis cases provided a unique opportunity
to investigate the environmental factors contributing to this disease. B. pseudomallei isolated
from a domestic tap at the home of an asymptomatic seroconverter was indistinguishable by
PFGE. Possible contributing environmental factors included an unusually acid communal water
supply, unrecordable chlorine levels during the probable exposure period, a nearby earth
tremor, and gusting winds during the installation of new water and electricity supplies. The
possible role of the potable water supply as a source of B. pseudomallei was investigated
further.
Planning chemotherapy based schistosomiasis control:
validation of a mathematical model using data on
Schistosoma haematobium from Pemba, Tanzania
Authors: CHAN M.-S. , MONTRESOR A. , SAVIOLI L. , BUNDY D. A. P.
Published: July 2002

A mathematical model, based on a deterministic differential equation framework, has been
developed to predict the impact of community chemotherapy programmes for human
schistosomiasis. Here, this model is validated using data collected from a long-term control
programme for urinary schistosomiasis on the island of Pemba, Zanzibar, United Republic of
Tanzania, initiated in 1986 and still ongoing, in which schoolchildren were offered praziquantel
chemotherapy every 6 months. Prevalence of infection and blood in urine were monitored in
all the schools (total 26000 children from 60 schools) and more detailed data were collected in
selected evaluation schools. Model predictions were run by using the initial prevalence as input.
The predictions were very close to the observed decreases in prevalence and in prevalence of
blood in urine. The correspondence improved further when the data were combined, going
from single school level to district, and when the entire data set was combined. The accuracy
of the predictions suggests that this model could be used as a tool to predict the consequences
of chemotherapy control programmes. It is currently in press as a Windows software package
under the name of ‘EpiSchisto’.
Prevention of secondary cases of meningococcal disease in Denmark
Authors: SAMUELSSON S. , HANSEN E. T. , OSLER M. , JEUNE B.
Published: July 2002

Close contacts of cases of meningococcal disease are at increased risk of disease themselves.
We identified household-like contacts of index cases, to investigate whether relevant target
groups are informed, receive and follow recommended chemoprophylaxis and vaccination, and
to ascertain the time delay for implementation of these measures. A telephone interview of 172
households of index cases and a questionnaire survey among 634 parents of contacts of cases
in institutions were carried out. Results were compared with reports from Medical Officers of
Health. In 21% of the cases, Medical Officers reported fewer household-like contacts than were
identified in this study. Written information was effective. However, 59% of households, and
36% of parents of contacts in institutions felt a lack of information about how the disease is
acquired, the risk and signs of illness. For household-like contacts the coverage rate for
chemoprophylaxis with an appropriate drug was 90% and for vaccination 59%. No secondary
cases occurred among those treated with chemoprophylaxis, but among those not treated, there
were two secondary cases. The study design provided a useful audit methodology to evaluate
the completeness of implementation and the success of prophylactic measures for
meningococcal disease.
UK measles outbreak in non-immune anthroposophic communities: the implications for the elimination of measles from Europe
Authors: HANRATTY B. , HOLT T. , DUFFELL E. , PATTERSON W. , RAMSAY M. , WHITE J. M. , JIN L. , LITTON P.
Published: July 2002

We describe the epidemiology of the first nationwide outbreak of measles infection in the UK
since the implementation of a mass vaccination campaign. Notifications of infectious diseases,
interview and postal questionnaire identified 293 clinical cases, 138 of which were confirmed by
salivary IgM, measles virus isolation and PCR. Twelve were epidemiologically linked to
confirmed cases. The outbreak began in London, after contact with measles infection probably
imported from Italy. Measles genotyping determined by sequence analysis confirmed spread to
other unimmunized anthroposophic communities in the north, south west and south coast of
England. Only two cases had been vaccinated against measles infection, and 90% of cases were
aged under 15 years. Measles virus can selectively target non-immune groups in countries with
high vaccine uptake and broader herd immunity. Without harmonization of vaccination
policies and uniform high coverage across Europe, the importation and spread of measles virus
amongst non-immune groups may prevent the elimination of measles.
The epidemiology of adenovirus infections in Greater Manchester, UK 1982–96
Authors: COOPER R. J. , HALLETT R. , TULLO A. B. , KLAPPER P. E.
Published: July 2002

Data relating to 3313 adenovirus isolates from patients in Greater Manchester, UK between
1982 and 1996 were analysed using χ2 tests and 95% confidence intervals. Of the 3098 isolates
that were typed, 18·6% were serotype 2, 14·9% serotype 3, 12·1% serotype 1 and 10·9%
serotype 41. There was evidence of a seasonal occurrence of serotype 7 (March–August),
serotype 2 (January–April), serotype 4 (June–August) and subgenus F (September–November).
Children less than 5 years old were the most common group of patients with adenovirus
infection (61·3%) compared to 24·2% for adults and only 5·6% for school children (5–15
years). Gastric symptoms were the most common amongst infants (47·6%) followed by
respiratory (27·5%) and general symptoms (12·9%). In adults, the overwhelming clinical
condition was conjunctivitis (88·9%). Despite the traditional association with adenoviruses,
remarkably few cases of pharyngoconjunctival fever were recorded (1·7%).
Predator–prey ratio and guild constancy in a tropical insect community
Authors: Krüger Oliver , McGavin George C.
Published: July 2002

An analysis of predator–prey ratio and guild constancy was made for 41 099 insects from 31 Acacia tree canopies in north‐east Tanzania. A strong proportionality between predator–prey species richness, abundance and biomass was found, with reduced major axis slopes not statistically different from one. Predictions of five existing hypotheses to account for predator–prey ratios were tested: the energy ratio and common determinants of diversity hypotheses were well supported and most likely to explain the pattern reported here. Since predator–prey ratios can be considered a special case of the general guild constancy problem, it was also investigated whether species and biomass shares of guilds differed between six tree species and nine sampling localities. For most guilds no significant differences were found and both energy ratio and common determinants of diversity hypotheses might explain the observed general pattern of resource division in this ecological community.
Another piece for the verbal -s story: Evidence
from Devon in southwest England
Authors: Godfrey Elizabeth , Tagliamonte Sali
Published: July 2002

This article aims to contribute (1) new data on
verbal -s by systematically examining its behavior
in Devon English (DE), a variety spoken in southwest England,
and (2) a broader historical and cross-dialectal perspective
for understanding the origin and function of verbal -s
in nonstandard varieties of English in North America. We
focus on the linguistic contexts of its occurrence from
the diachronic and synchronic literature. The results show
that verbal -s is conditioned by phonological,
syntactic, semantic, and lexical factors. These include
the few variable constraints on verbal -s attested
throughout the evolution of verbal -s in the history
of the English language. Moreover, DE exhibits patterns
of verbal -s variability that have previously
been associated with African American Vernacular English
(AAVE). The detailed nature of these linguistic correspondences—not
only in frequency of the features examined, but most importantly
in the details of an entire set of internal linguistic
factors conditioning them—reveal that verbal -s
is a linguistic feature of AAVE that originated in British
dialects.
The past as prologue to the future: The times, they've been a-changin'
Authors: CICCHETTI DANTE , SROUFE L. ALAN
Published: July 2002

“[A]n overview of the past suggests that today's investigators are
as much determined by history as they are makers of it.” (Cairns, 1983, p. 90)
Developmental vulnerabilities to the onset and course of bipolar disorder
Authors: POST ROBERT M. , LEVERICH GABRIELE S. , XING GUOQIANG , WEISS SUSAN R. B.
Published: July 2002

Different types of psychosocial stressors have long been recognized as potential precipitants
of both unipolar and bipolar affective episodes and the causative agents in posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). New preclinical data have revealed some of the neurobiological mechanisms
that could convey the long-term behavioral and biochemical consequences of early stressors.
Depending on the timing, quality, quantity, and degree of repetition, maternal deprivation stress in
the neonatal rodent can be associated with lifelong anxiety-like behaviors, increases in stress
hormones and peptides, and proneness to drug and alcohol administration, in association with
acute changes in the rate of neurogenesis and apoptosis (preprogrammed cell death) and
decrements in neurotrophic factors and signal transduction enzymes necessary for learning and
memory. Patients with bipolar illness who have a history of early extreme adversity (physical or
sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence), compared with those without, show an earlier onset of
illness, faster cycling frequencies, increased suicidality, more Axis I and Axis II comorbidities
(including alcohol and substance abuse), and more time ill in more than 2 years of prospective
follow-up. These findings are subject to a variety of interpretations, but to the extent that the
more severe course of bipolar illness characteristics are directly and causally related to these early
stressful experiences, early recognition and treatment of high-risk children could be crucial in
helping to prevent or ameliorate the long-term adverse consequences of these stressors.