bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects for Building the Tree of Life from Large Sequence Databases
Authors: Driskell Amy C. , Ané Cécile , Burleigh J. Gordon , McMahon Michelle M. , O'Meara Brian C. , Sanderson Michael J.
Published: November 2004

We assess the phylogenetic potential of ∼300,000 protein sequences sampled from Swiss-Prot and GenBank. Although only a small subset of these data was potentially phylogenetically informative, this subset retained a substantial fraction of the original taxonomic diversity. Sampling biases in the databases necessitate building phylogenetic data sets that have large numbers of missing entries. However, an analysis of two “supermatrices” suggests that even data sets with as much as 92% missing data can provide insights into broad sections of the tree of life.
Ventilation of the Glacial Deep Pacific Ocean
Authors: Broecker Wallace , Barker Stephen , Clark Elizabeth , Hajdas Irka , Bonani Georges , Stott Lowell
Published: November 2004

Measurements of the age difference between coexisting benthic and planktic foraminifera from western equatorial Pacific deep-sea cores suggest that during peak glacial time the radiocarbon age of water at 2-kilometers depth was no greater than that of today. These results make unlikely suggestions that a slowdown in deep-ocean ventilation was responsible for a sizable fraction of the increase of the ratio of carbon-14 (
14
C) to carbon in the atmosphere and surface ocean during glacial time. Comparison of
14
C ages for coexisting wood and planktic foraminifera from the same site suggests that the atmosphere to surface ocean
14
C to C ratio difference was not substantially different from today's.
Bushmeat Hunting, Wildlife Declines, and Fish Supply in West Africa
Authors: Brashares Justin S. , Arcese Peter , Sam Moses K. , Coppolillo Peter B. , Sinclair A. R. E. , Balmford Andrew
Published: November 2004

The multibillion-dollar trade in bushmeat is among the most immediate threats to the persistence of tropical vertebrates, but our understanding of its underlying drivers and effects on human welfare is limited by a lack of empirical data. We used 30 years of data from Ghana to link mammal declines to the bushmeat trade and to spatial and temporal changes in the availability of fish. We show that years of poor fish supply coincided with increased hunting in nature reserves and sharp declines in biomass of 41 wildlife species. Local market data provide evidence of a direct link between fish supply and subsequent bushmeat demand in villages and show bushmeat's role as a dietary staple in the region. Our results emphasize the urgent need to develop cheap protein alternatives to bushmeat and to improve fisheries management by foreign and domestic fleets to avert extinctions of tropical wildlife.
Diagnosis of Norwalk Virus Infection by Indirect Enzyme Immunoassay Detection of Salivary Antibodies to Recombinant Norwalk Virus Antigen
Authors: Moe Christine L. , Sair Arnie , Lindesmith Lisa , Estes Mary K. , Jaykus Lee-Ann
Published: November 2004

Simple diagnostic tests are needed for the detection of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks. Salivary antibody assays provide an attractive alternative to collecting and testing serum or stool samples. Antibodies to Norwalk virus (NV) in oral fluid samples were compared with NV antibodies in serum collected from 38 volunteers challenged with NV inoculum. Pre- and postchallenge (day 4, 8, 14, and 21) saliva and serum samples were examined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using recombinant NV antigen. Of 18 infected subjects (those who shed NV in stool or who demonstrated immunoglobulin G [IgG] seroconversion), 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgA and 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG when prechallenge and postchallenge saliva samples were compared. When the results of the IgA and IgG assays were combined, all 18 infected subjects showed ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG or IgA postchallenge titers compared to their prechallenge titers. One of 19 uninfected subjects had a ≥4-fold increase in NV-specific salivary IgG. The sensitivity of the combined assay results was 100%, and the specificity was 95%. NV-specific salivary IgA titers peaked around 14 days postchallenge. NV-specific salivary IgG and serum IgG titers continued to rise through 21 days postchallenge. The application of this EIA to an elementary school outbreak indicated that 67% of the subjects with confirmed infections had >4-fold rises in anti-NoV IgA when an antigen in the same genetic cluster as the outbreak virus was used. This is the first documented mucosal antibody response to NoV in children. This EIA provides a useful approach for diagnosing NoV outbreaks.
Assignment of Weight-Based Antibody Units for 13 Serotypes to a Human Antipneumococcal Standard Reference Serum, Lot 89-S(F)
Authors: Quataert Sally A. , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Kirch Carol S. , Hu Branda , Secor Shelley , Strong Nancy , Madore Dace V.
Published: November 2004

Weight-based immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgA, and total Ig antibody assignments were made to human antipneumococcal standard reference serum lot 89-S, also known as lot 89-SF, for
Streptococcus pneumoniae
capsular polysaccharide (PnPs) serotypes 2, 6A, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 19A, 17F, 20, 22F, and 33F, as well as for C-polysaccharide (C-Ps), extending the standard's usefulness for pneumococcal vaccine evaluation beyond the original serotype 1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F assignments (S. A. Quataert, C. S. Kirch, L. J. Quackenbush Wiedl, D. C. Phipps, S. Strohmeyer, C. O. Cimino, J. Skuse, and D. V. Madore, Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol.
2
:590-597, 1995). The additional 14 assignments were determined using an equivalence of absorbance method with an anti-PnPs serotype 6B reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). To assure accuracy, anti-PnPs EIA for serotype 14 antibodies, a previously assigned serotype, was performed concurrently. This method assures consistency of the new microgram-per-microliter assignments with previous antiserotype assignments to lot 89-S. The sum of the experimentally derived isotype assignments for anti-PnPs serotypes in lot 89-S agrees well with the separately determined total Ig assignment for each serotype. The lot 89-S assignments for serotypes 1, 5, 6B, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F were used for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine clinical trial evaluation and to generate data in efficacy trials where serological correlates for protection have been proposed. The assignment of antibody concentrations to additional pneumococcal serotypes in this reference reagent facilitates the consistent and accurate comparison of serum antibody concentrations across clinical trials.
New Latex Bead Agglutination Assay for Differential Diagnosis of Cattle Infected withMycobacterium bovisandMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis
Authors: Koo Hye Cheong , Park Yong Ho , Ahn Jongsam , Waters W. Ray , Hamilton Mary Jo , Barrington George , Mosaad Abdelaziz A. , Palmer Mitch V. , Shin Sang , Davis William C.
Published: November 2004

Extensive studies have shown that the current assays used to identify cattle infected withMycobacterium bovisorMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisare not sufficiently sensitive and specific to detect all infected animals, especially animals recently infected with the pathogens. In the present report we show that these limitations might be overcome with a latex bead agglutination assay (LBAA). With the specific immunodominant epitope (ESAT6-p) ofM. bovis, we developed an LBAA and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for that purpose and compared them with the “gold standard” culture method and skin test for their efficacy in detecting bovine tuberculosis. When sera from control healthy cows (n= 10),M. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis-positive cattle (naturally infected,n= 16; experimentally infected,n= 8), andM. bovis-positive cattle (naturally infected,n= 49;experimentally infected,n= 20) were applied to an EIA and an LBAA developed with ESAT6-p, the two tests showed similar sensitivity (97.1% by EIA, 95.7% by LBAA), high specificity (94.2% by EIA, 100% by LBAA), and a positive correlation (kappa value, 0.85; correlation rate, 93.2%; correlation coefficient, 0.64). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of EIA results and comparison with the culture method determined a suitable cutoff value at 0.469, with an area under the curve of 0.991 (95% confidence interval, 0.977 to 1.0). As LBAA didn't show any positive reactions with sera from uninfected control cows orM. aviumsubsp. paratuberculosis-infected cattle, which were confirmed to be free ofM. bovisby culture or PCR, LBAA using the ESAT6-p can be a rapid and usefulM. bovisdiagnostic assay. The data suggest that rapid, sensitive, and specific assays can be developed with peptides containing immunodominant epitopes present in proteins uniquely expressed inM. bovisorM. aviumsubsp. paratuberculosisfor differential diagnosis of cattle infected withM. bovisorM. aviumsubsp. paratuberculosis.
Use of Viral Lysate Antigen Combined with Recombinant Protein in Western Immunoblot Assay as Confirmatory Test for Serodiagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Guan Ming , Chen Hsiao Ying , Tan Phuay Heng , Shen Shuo , Goh Phuay-Yee , Tan Yee-Joo , Pang Peow Hoon , Lu Yang , Fong Priscilla Yiquan , Chin Daria
Published: November 2004

A Western immunoblot assay for confirmatory serodiagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was developed utilizing viral lysate antigens combined with a recombinant nucleocapsid protein, GST-N (glutathione
S
-transferase-nucleocapsid) of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The viral lysate antigens were separated by electrophoresis and transblotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. The resultant membrane was subsequently added with the GST-N recombinant protein at a specific location. The positions of bands corresponding to some of the structural proteins immobilized on the membrane were then located and verified with mouse or rabbit antisera specific to the respective proteins. The Western immunoblot assay was able to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV in all 40 serum specimens from SARS patients and differentiate the SARS-positive samples from those of the healthy donor or non-SARS patient controls (150 samples) when set criteria were followed. In addition, when the immunoblot was used to test samples considered falsely positive by an in-house-developed SARS-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, band patterns different from those with samples from SARS patients were obtained.
STRATEGIC SURPRISE AND THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS
Authors: Byman Daniel
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  This essay examines the failure to anticipate the terrorist attacks of September 11 from four perspectives: cognitive biases of government analysts and policy makers concerned with terrorism, organizational pathologies of key bureaucracies such as the CIA and the FBI, political and strategic errors of senior government officials, and the unusual nature of al Qaeda. Drawing on past studies of strategic surprise, it argues that agencies such as the CIA at times did impressive work against the terrorist organization, but that in general the U.S. government, and the U.S. intelligence community in particular, lacked a coherent approach for triumphing over the skilled terrorists it faced. In hindsight, it is clear that numerous mistakes at all levels of the U.S. government and the broader U.S. analytic community made strategic surprise more likely.
WATER AND BIOTERRORISM: Preparing for the Potential Threat to U.S. Water Supplies and Public Health
Authors: Meinhardt Patricia L.
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  Water supplies and water distribution systems represent potential targets for terrorist activity in the United States because of the critical need for water in every sector of our industrialized society. Even short-term disruption of water service can significantly impact a community, and intentional contamination of a municipal water system as part of a terrorist attack could lead to serious medical, public health, and economic consequences. Most practicing physicians and public health professionals in the United States have received limited training in the recognition and evaluation of waterborne disease from either natural or intentional contamination of water. Therefore, they are poorly prepared to detect water-related disease resulting from intentional contamination and may not be adequately trained to respond appropriately to a terrorist assault on water. The purpose of this review is to address this critical information gap and present relevant epidemiologic and clinical information for public health and medical practitioners who may be faced with addressing the recognition, management, and prevention of water terrorism in their communities.
IMPACT OF NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON SMOKING BEHAVIOR
Authors: Cummings K. Michael , Hyland Andrew
Published: November 2004

▪ Abstract  This review summarizes evidence pertaining to the role of nicotine medications in smoking cessation and focuses particularly on evaluating evidence of the impact that nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) have had on altering population trends in smoking behavior. Accumulated evidence from controlled clinical trials has demonstrated that available forms of NRT (e.g., gum, transdermal patch, nasal spray, inhaler, and lozenge) increase quit rates compared with placebos by 50%–100%. However, despite the positive results from these studies, fewer than one in five smokers making a quit attempt do so with the benefit of NRT. Because not enough smokers are using NRT, the availability of NRT has not had a measurable impact on influencing population trends in smoking behavior. Among the factors contributing to the low utilization of nicotine medications are the inadequacies of the current dosage strengths and formulations of existing medications, smokers' perceptions of the high cost of the drugs, and concerns that many smokers have about safety and efficacy of nicotine medications.
Geometric data fitting
Authors: Martínez-Morales José L.
Published: November 2004

Given a dense set of points lying on or near an embedded
submanifold M0 ⊂ ℝn of Euclidean
space, the manifold fitting problem is to find an
embedding F : M → ℝn that approximates
M0 in the sense of least squares. When the dataset is modeled
by a probability distribution, the fitting problem reduces to
that of finding an embedding that minimizes Ed[F], the
expected square of the distance from a point in ℝn

to F(M). It is shown that this approach to the fitting problem
is guaranteed to fail because the functional Ed has no local
minima. This problem is addressed by adding a small multiple k

of the harmonic energy functional to the expected square of the
distance. Techniques from the calculus of variations are then
used to study this modified functional.
Arterial Biology for the Investigation of the Treatment Effects of Reducing Cholesterol (ARBITER) 2
Authors: Taylor Allen J. , Sullenberger Lance E. , Lee Hyun J. , Lee Jeannie K. , Grace Karen A.
Published: November 2004

Background—

Niacin reduces coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality when taken either alone or in combination with statins; however, the incremental impact of adding niacin to background statin therapy is unknown.

Methods and Results—

This was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of once-daily extended-release niacin (1000 mg) added to background statin therapy in 167 patients (mean age 67 years) with known coronary heart disease and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; <45 mg/dL). The primary end point was the change in common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) after 1 year. Baseline CIMT (0.884±0.234 mm), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (89±20 mg/dL), and HDL-C (40±7 mg/dL) were comparable in the placebo and niacin groups. Adherence to niacin exceeded 90%, and 149 patients (89.2%) completed the study. HDL-C increased 21% (39 to 47 mg/dL) in the niacin group. After 12 months, mean CIMT increased significantly in the placebo group (0.044±0.100 mm;
P
<0.001) and was unchanged in the niacin group (0.014±0.104 mm;
P
=0.23). Although the overall difference in IMT progression between the niacin and placebo groups was not statistically significant (
P
=0.08), niacin significantly reduced the rate of IMT progression in subjects without insulin resistance (
P
=0.026). Clinical cardiovascular events occurred in 3 patients treated with niacin (3.8%) and 7 patients treated with placebo (9.6%;
P
=0.20).

Conclusions—

The addition of extended-release niacin to statin therapy slowed the progression of atherosclerosis among individuals with known coronary heart disease and moderately low HDL-C.
Upside-Down Midas: Habib Tanvir at 80
Authors: Deshpande Sudhanva
Published: November 2004

Eighty years old and still going strong, poet, actor, and director Habib Tanvir crosses India several times a year with his Naya Theatre and their strong brand of radical theatre
The Nonlinear Relationship between Paper Recycling and Primary Pulp Requirements
Authors: Schenk Niels J. , Moll Henri C. , Potting José
Published: November 2004

Waste paper is suitable for recycling back into paper or for incineration for energy recovery. If waste paper is used for recycling, secondary pulp replaces virgin pulp. Fiber recycling is limited, however, because of physical constraints—particularly the breakage of fiber in the recycling process—and a permanent input of virgin fiber to the system is required. Therefore one can expect that the relationship between recycling rates and resource requirements is represented by a curved line rather than a straight one. In this article, we present a mathematical model which confirms that the relationship between recycling rates and primary pulp requirements can be described as nonlinear. Furthermore, we show that this nonlinear relationship leads to an optimal recycling rate with regard to energy consumption: 93 persent for paper produced from chemical pulp, and 81 persent for paper produced from mechanical pulp. Sensitivity testing additionally reveals that at low recycling rates increasing waste paper recycling is energy efficient, but it becomes less efficient at higher recycling rates. Close to the optimum recycling rates (within 10 persent), increasing or decreasing the rate affects the total energy requirement less than 0.3%
Water-Reform Strategies in Iran's Agricultural Sector
Authors: Karimkoshteh Mohammad , Haghiri Morteza
Published: November 2004

Providing sufficient water for various uses, in particular the agriculture sector, is one of the important problems that Iran faces. Following instructions of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Iran started considering its waterreform strategies to avoid water crises. No unique solutions can be drawn from other nations' experience since water crisis is a country-specific problem. Water-reform strategies are important, particularly when the multioriented purpose of sustainability in Iran's agricultural sector is of interest as well. The pros and cons of water-reform strategies are discussed in this paper.
Can Information and Communication Technology Help Reduce Corruption? How So and Why Not: Two Case Studies from South Asia
Authors: Mahmood Rumel
Published: November 2004

The deployment of electronic governance over the past few years has enabled citizens to access government information and services with more ease and less cost. Unfortunately, the majority of governments embracing these technologies and making the citizen-government interaction easier to navigate are found primarily in the industrialized West. One exception is India, which is the focus of this paper. Beyond viewing electronic governance as a means of facilitating state-citizen interactions, I explore the linkages between electronic governance and corruption deterrence, and by doing so, fill in a crucial void in the current literature. After reviewing successful ICT-led government reform efforts in the West from public administration literature, a simple model is proposed to determine how these technologies may come to be utilized for reform. The model is then applied to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the neighboring government of Bangladesh to test the salience of the variables, and to determine why the former may be more successful than the latter.
Agricultural Biotechnology and Research in Ghana: Institutional Capacities and Policy Options
Authors: Puplampu Korbla
Published: November 2004

The persistence of food insecurity in many African countries continues to engage the attention of policymakers, development theorists, and the world at large. One panacea touted to address food insecurity, specifically from the angle of production, is biotechnology. This paper examines the extent to which biotechnology can bring about marked improvements in agricultural production in Ghana. The paper focuses on the institutional capacities of the national agricultural research system, especially the role of research institutions to generate, to engage, or to harness biotechnology. The paper also examines policy dilemmas on biotechnology and some policy options.
Christianity and Korean Culture: The Reasons for the Success of Christianity in Korea
Authors: Kim Jung Han
Published: November 2004

: In this article the author presents a short survey of the development of Protestantism in Korea. Meanwhile he shows the importance of the religious background of the Koreans for their acceptance of Protestantism. Especially the Shamanistic beliefs and Confucianism had ripened the minds of the Korean people in a certain sense. But the political attitude of the Protestants in the resistance against the Japanese colonizers played also a prominent role. The author offers also an evaluation of the use of Korean terms in the vocabulary of the church.
Rivalry and Diversionary Uses of Force
Authors: Mitchell Sara McLaughlin , Prins Brandon C.
Published: November 2004

Scholars have argued for some time that the rally ’round the flag phenomenon creates incentives for political leaders to use military force to divert attention away from domestic turmoil. It is hypothesized that a state’s strategic or historical context conditions its use of military force abroad, and that the probability of diversionary uses of force is higher in opportunity-rich environments of enduring rivalry. Empirical analyses lend support to this hypothesis, showing that high levels of inflation increase the probability of militarized dispute initiation in settings of rivalry but actually decrease it in nonrival settings. However, the results are contingent on the regime type of the potential initiator. Consistent with recent strategic models of diversion, the analyses demonstrate that although democratic leaders have the greatest incentives to divert, they have fewer opportunities to do so due to the transparency of their regimes.
The Impact of Primary Education on School-to-Work Transitions for young People in Rural Bolivia
Authors: Punch Samantha
Published: November 2004

As in many parts of the majority world, primary education in rural Bolivia is constrained by a range of factors: poor teaching quality, lack of resources, limited infrastructure, inadequate teaching materials, and low wages for teachers. Furthermore, high rates of absenteeism, drop-out, repetition, and failure can be exacerbated by children’s work responsibilities and harsh weather conditions. This article draws on a case study of a rural community in Bolivia to indicate the ways in which the structural constraints of primary education impact upon young people’s school-to-work transitions. Although many children enjoy their experience at school and appreciate the opportunity to gain literacy and numeracy skills, formal education is unlikely to increase their future livelihood options.
Neoliberalism and Masculinity
Authors: Phoenix Ann
Published: November 2004

The last decade has seen the growth of knowledge societies within neoliberal economies. As a result, learners are increasingly individualized and expected to be responsible for their learning. The main part of the article uses findings from a study of young masculinities to argue that boys are not free to choose to work toward qualifications but are concerned to manage their everyday school interactions in the context of their complicated, multiple positioning.
Model Selection Using Information Theory and the MDL Principle
Authors: Stine Robert A.
Published: November 2004

Information theory offers a coherent, intuitive view of model selection. This perspective arises from thinking of a statistical model as a code, an algorithm for compressing data into a sequence of bits. The description length is the length of this code for the data plus the length of a description of the model itself. The length of the code for the data measures the fit of the model to the data, whereas the length of the code for the model measures its complexity. The minimum description length (MDL) principle picks the model with smallest description length, balancing fit versus complexity. Variations on MDL reproduce other well-known methods of model selection. Going further, information theory allows one to choose from among various types of models, permitting the comparison of tree-based models to regressions. A running example compares several models for the well-known Boston housing data.
Attachment, Friendship, and Psychosocial Functioning in Early Adolescence
Authors: Rubin Kenneth H. , Dwyer Kathleen M. , Booth-LaForce Cathryn , Kim Angel H. , Burgess Kim B. , Rose-Krasnor Linda
Published: November 2004

Fifth-graders’ (N = 162; 93 girls) relationships with parents and friends were examined with respect to their main and interactive effects on psychosocial functioning. Participants reported on parental support, the quality of their best friendships, self-worth, and perceptions of social competence. Peers reported on aggression, shyness and withdrawal, and rejection and victimization. Mothers reported on psychological adjustment. Perceived parental support and friendship quality predicted higher global self-worth and social competence and less internalizing problems. Perceived parental support predicted fewer externalizing problems, and paternal (not maternal) support predicted lower rejection and victimization. Friendship quality predicted lower rejection and victimization for only girls. Having a supportive mother protected boys from the effects of lowquality friendships on their perceived social competence. High friendship quality buffered the effects of low maternal support on girls’c internalizing difficulties.
A Validation Study of Early Adolescents’ Pubertal Self-Assessments
Authors: Schmitz Katharine E. , Hovell Melbourne F. , Nichols Jeanne F. , Irvin Veronica L. , Keating Kristen , Simon Gayle M. , Gehrman Christine , Jones Kenneth Lee
Published: November 2004

This study aimed to determine whether self-assessed puberty is sufficiently reliable and valid to substitute for physician examination when feasibility of physician examination is low (e.g., behavioral research). Adolescents (convenience sample N = 178 endocrinology patients and N = 125 from educational trial; mean age 12.7 and 11.3 years, respectively) participated. Self-assessments were validated against physician Tanner ratings and by associations with bone density, gender, and age. Highest exact agreement between physicians and adolescents was 54% for females’ and 55% for males’ ratings of pubic hair. More than 85% agreement within one stage was obtained for most measures. Significant associations were found for age and bone between adolescents in earlier and later stages of development and for developmental stage between genders for each age group. Results suggest predictive and discriminate validity of self-assessments. Self-assessments may be useful when estimates of pubertal development are sufficient and for studies barred from physician examination.
Investigation of Stressful Experiences, Self-Evaluations, and Self-Standards as Predictors of Sexual Activity During Early Adolescence
Authors: Waller Erika M. , DuBois David L.
Published: November 2004

Stressful experiences, self-evaluations, and self-standards associated with multiple contexts of development (i.e., school, family, sports/athletics) were investigated as predictors of initiation of sexual activity during the transition to adolescence. A sample of 134 seventh and eighth graders was followed as part of a 4-wave, 2-year longitudinal study. Survival analysis was used to examine measures at Time 1 as predictors of the timing of initiation of sexual activity. Reports of greater stressful experiences and less favorable self-evaluations associated with school as well as weaker self-standards associated with family were significant predictors of less time to initiation of sexual activity. For sports/athletics, however, reports of more positive self-evaluations predicted less time to initiation. Results of mediational analyses indicated that self-evaluations for the school context partially mediated the linkage that stressful experiences relating to this context exhibited with initiation of sexual activity.
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Gender, and Depression Among Incarcerated Youth
Authors: Gover Angela R.
Published: November 2004

This study examined whether sexual abuse was related to higher levels of psychological distress among incarcerated youth and if the effects were invariant across gender. Participants were male and female adolescents, aged 11 to 20 years, incarcerated in six juvenile correctional institutions in five states. Using data from a national study of juveniles confined to secure institutions, this study assessed the relationship between gender, sexual abuse, and depression. Adolescents who were sexually abused during childhood compared to adolescents who were not report higher levels of depression. Sexually abused girls and boys report higher levels of depression compared to boys not sexually abused. These findings suggest the importance of understanding the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and depressive symptoms among incarcerated youth. Additionally, the findings suggest that the effects of childhood sexual abuse are similar for males and females among a high-risk sample of institutionalized juvenile delinquents. Implications for treatment of incarcerated youth are discussed.
Jail Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program Reduces Recidivism in Nonviolent Offenders: A Longitudinal Study of Monroe County, New York’s, Jail Treatment Drug and Alcohol Program
Authors: Turley Alan , Thornton Tim , Johnson Craig , Azzolino Sue
Published: November 2004

Substance abuse treatment has become the new fashion for reducing recidivism among inmates. But the question is, does this work? Various studies have been done tracking the same cohort of inmates over time to assess the validity of treatment. This study assesses one treatment program’s success over 5 years to determine if drug and alcohol treatment reduces recidivism among nonviolent, short-term (sentence of less than a year) inmates. Monroe County’s drug treatment program demonstrates that for 1 year after receiving the treatment, three different cohorts of nonviolent, short-term inmates (1995, 1998, and 2000) were found to be substantially less likely to be recidivists than control group inmates.
An Analysis of State Statutory Provisions for Victim-Offender Mediation
Authors: Lightfoot Elizabeth , Umbreit Mark
Published: November 2004

This article documents the existing statutory authority among states relating to victim-offender mediation. The existence of specific provisions in state codes for victim-offender mediation is important for providing a structure for states on implementing victim-offender mediation, including such factors as funding, liability, and mediator requirements. This article finds that currently 29 states have victim-offender mediation or victim-offender-mediation-type statutory authority, though the states vary on range of comprehensiveness of the statues. The victim-offender mediation provisions range from extremely comprehensive, with details on training requirements, costs, evaluation, confidentiality, and liability to a simple reference to victim-offender mediation within a long list of sentencing alternatives. This article discusses the five types of statutory authority for victim-offender mediation, the variations in statutory authority for victim-offender mediation, and the characteristics found in victim-offender mediation statutes.
Racial Profiling and Organizational Change
Authors: Schultz Marielle , Withrow Brian L.
Published: November 2004

The purpose of this research was to determine whether police organizations while conducting race-based policing studies dependent on officer-generated forms are affected operationally or, because of the study’s findings, experience organizational change. Using a survey, the researchers asked departments about organizational changes resulting from race-based policing studies. In addition, the researchers compared the primary productivity measures of each department during the data collection periods with those of the corresponding period in the previous years to determine if the data collection process was reactive. The researchers found that police organizations have yet to experience substantial organizational change because of findings of racial or ethnic disparity in their routine enforcement activities. In addition, officer-generated information does not appear to be reactive.
Gypsy Identity and Orientations to Space
Authors: Levinson Martin P. , Sparkes Andrew C.
Published: November 2004

Drawing on data from a three-year ethnographic study of Gypsy life in England, this article explores Gypsy orientations toward space. The tensions that exist at the interface between sedentarism and nomadism are considered against a background of changing lifestyles due to shifting socioeconomic factors and recent government legislation. Attention is given to the dilemmas confronting participants subsequent to moving into houses and also to notions of space as expressed by those living on sites. The manner in which spatcial organization frames social relationships is highlighted. Throughout, there is reflection upon the ways in which Gypsy identity is actively constructed in relation to space.
“You’re Not a Stone”
Authors: Garot Robert
Published: November 2004

Although the emotion management perspective dominates the micro-sociological study of emotions, a phenomenological approach provides access to phenomena that are inaccessible through emotion management. While the former shows the strategic management of one’s emotions to conform to norms, the latter reveals the myriad ways in which emotions move us. Indeed, if not for the poignant resonance of emotions in social life, emotions would hardly be worth “managing.” This article will employ a phenomenological perspective on emotions as they were expressed by applicants and workers in a Section 8 housing office throughout the course of eligibility interviews. I will show that despite giving off an impression of detachment and neutrality, workers are unavoidably sensitive to the emotional displays of applicants. Hence, a research agenda focusing on interpersonal emotional sensitivity is proposed as a complement to the conceptualization of emotions as managed.
Reflections on the State of JCE from the Outgoing Editor
Authors: Benford Rob
Published: November 2004

The Journal of Contemporary Ethnography’ s (JCE) history has been marked by continuity and change. Throughout its thirty-three-year legacy, it has remained the premier outlet for realist, analytical ethnographies. Data on manuscript activity over the past five years indicate that JCE’ s acceptance rate is approximately 20 percent. A comparison of data from 1990 to 1994 with 2000 to 2004 reveals several noteworthy trends in the social profile of JCE authors. Compared to a decade ago, there has been a dramatic increase in ethnographies from abroad, from women, and from disciplines outside of sociology. There has also been an increase in the proportion of graduate students publishing in JCE. Littlechange was observed in the proportion of single-authored articles.
The Power of Process Improvement
Authors: Fairfield-Sonn James W. , Morgan Sandra , Sumukadas Narendar
Published: November 2004

Over the last several decades many systematic management approaches, such as Total Quality Management, aimed at improving organizational performance and employee satisfaction have captured organizations’attention. Given their origins in statistics, operations management, and engineering, many of the concepts and techniques are technical. When first introduced to these methods, students become lost in their complexity and lose interest. This exercise was designed to provide students a simple way to experience firsthand the power of process improvement so that, once their interest was stimulated, they would explore advanced methods.
Simulating Daniel Bernoulli’s St. Petersburg game: Theoretical and empirical consistency
Authors: Vivian Robert W.
Published: November 2004

Russon and Chang simulated St. Petersburg games and found that their results were inconsistent with their theoretical predictions. In this article, the theoretical outcomes are derived this time using the methodology suggested by Daniel Bernoulli, and games are then simulated. When this is done, it is found that the theoretical and empirical results are consistent.
Fear of emotions
Authors: Jones Ken
Published: November 2004

Fear of emotions inhibits the spread of games and simulations. This fear also damages the design, briefing, running, and debriefing. Emotions and reasons are not poles apart. Emotions are not irrational, and they have a history in a person’s thoughts, experiences, and values. They do not arise out of nothing. Emotions are what make us human. They are extremely varied. Instead of being feared, they should be welcomed and discussed in both the briefing and debriefing.
Learning to Manage Intergroup Dynamics in Changing Task Environments: An Experiential Exercise
Authors: Hunsaker Phillip L.
Published: November 2004

This article describes an exercise that allows participants to experience the challenges of managing intergroup behavior as an organization’s task environment grows and becomes more complex. The article begins with a brief review of models and concepts relating to intergroup dynamics, intergroup conflict, and interventions for effectively managing intergroup relations. Then directions for preparing and conducting the exercise are explained, followed by suggestions for maximizing learning potential during the debriefing and applying new insights to back-home organizations.
The Global Environment Facility and Transboundary Water Resource Management: New Institutional Arrangements in the Danube River and Black Sea Region
Authors: Gerlak Andrea K.
Published: November 2004

Increased international attention to water resource management has resulted in the creation of new institutional arrangements and environmental funding mechanisms. The Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) International Waters Program is at the heart of these new collaborative regional approaches to the management of transboundary resources. This article assesses the GEF-led efforts in the Danube River and Black Sea region, the GEF’s most mature and ambitious projects to date. It finds that the GEF has been successful in building scientific knowledge and strengthening regional governance institutions in the region. However, challenges remain, including the incorporation of stake-holder participation and the demonstration of clear ecological improvements.
Perceived Levels of Health Risk Associated with Linguistic Descriptors and Type of Disease
Authors: Condit Celeste , Parrott Roxanne
Published: November 2004

To guide communication with lay people about levels of genetic risk, this exploratory study employs a written survey to assess whether different levels of perceived risk were associated with varying the terminology used to describe the nature of risk associated with genes and several diseases. Results indicate that for lay participants (N = 243), there is a statistically significant difference in the level of risk associated with the terminology “has a gene that causes” as compared to the lower risk attributed when the terminology “has a family history of” is used. Participants attributed a higher level of risk to family history for heart disease than family history for diabetes. Implications of the findings for science communication associated with the severity and susceptibility of individuals for disease linked to genes are discussed.
Report: Scientific Knowledge from, for and through Cultural Diversity
Authors: De Semir Vladimir , Revuelta Gemma
Published: November 2004

Under the theme of “scientific knowledge and cultural diversity,” Barcelona brought together in the first week of June 2004 more than six hundred people from every continent at the 8th International Conference on the Public Communication of Science and Technology. This open network of professionals extends to more than fifty countries and embraces the different aspects of science communication, including journalism, museology, research into scientific communication, and policies for scientific culture promotion, among others. On this particular occasion, the need to establish effective dialogue between the different forms of local knowledge and scientific knowledge was discussed and developed. The aim was not only to preserve cultural diversity but also to contribute to developing human knowledge and instilling a culture of peace. Various experiences demonstrated the essential role of the scientific communicator in this context.
Understanding the Risks of Child Neglect: An Exploration of Poverty and Parenting Characteristics
Authors: Slack Kristen Shook , Holl Jane L. , McDaniel Marla , Yoo Joan , Bolger Kerry
Published: November 2004

A strong association between poverty and child neglect has been established, but the mechanisms that explain this relationship have not been clearly articulated. This research takes advantage of survey and child maltreatment administrative data about families with young children and assesses the influence of poverty and parenting characteristics on subsequent child neglect. The authors find that indicators of poverty, such as perceived material hardship and infrequent employment, and parenting characteristics, such as low parental warmth, use of physical discipline, and allowing a child to engage in frequent television viewing, are predictive of child neglect. Parenting characteristics do not appear to mediate the link between perceived hardship and neglect, although they suppress the link between employment and neglect. Results from this study provide information that is highly relevant to the approach and design of child maltreatment prevention and intervention strategies.
A Meta-Analysis of Adolescent Psychosocial Smoking Prevention Programs Published Between 1978 and 1997 in the United States
Authors: Hwang Myunghee Song , Yeagley Kathleen Lux , Petosa Rick
Published: November 2004

Psychosocial smoking prevention studies have shown inconsistent results and theory-driven programs have been related to program success. This meta-analysis was used as a judgment tool for resolving these issues by estimating average program effects and investigating the relative efficacy of program types. The present study examined 65 adolescent psychosocial smoking prevention programs (1978 to 1997) among students in Grades 6 to 12 in the United States. Three program modalities (social influence, cognitive behavior, life skill) and two program settings (exclusively school based, school-community-incorporated) were identified as major a priori classifications. Knowledge had the highest effect sizes (.53) at short-term (≤ 1 year) but rapidly decreased (.19) at long-term(> 1 year). Behavioral effect was the most meaningful, being persistent over a 3-year period (.19 at ≤ 1 year; .18 at 1 to 3 years). Adolescent smoking reduction rates were increased by using either cognitive behavior or life skills program modalities, and/or a school-community-incorporated program setting.
A Qualitative Study of Substance Use and Sexual Behavior Among 18- to 29-Year-Old Men While Incarcerated in the United States
Authors: Seal David Wyatt , Belcher Lisa , Morrow Kathleen , Eldridge Gloria , Binson Diane , Kacanek Deborah , Margolis Andrew D. , McAuliffe Tim , Simms Rodney ,   Project START Study Group
Published: November 2004

The article describes men’s perceptions of and experience with substance use and sexual behavior during incarceration. Grounded theory content analyses were performed on qualitative interviews conducted with 80 men, aged 18 to 29, in four U.S. states. Participants believed that drugs were easily available in prison. Half reported using substances, primarily marijuana or alcohol, while incarcerated. Key themes included the role of correctional personnel in the flow of substances in prison and the economic significance of substance traffic king. With regard to sexual behavior, most men acknowledged that it occurred but were hesitant to talk in-depth about it. There was a strong belief in “don’t look, don’t tell,” and sex in prison was often associated with homo sexual behavior or identity. Sex during incarceration was reported by 12 men, mostly with female partners. Participants were pessimistic about HIV/STD/hepatitis prevention efforts inside correctional facilities. These findings highlight the need for risk reduction programs for incarcerated men.
Natural killer cell dysfunction is a distinguishing feature of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and macrophage activation syndrome
Authors: Villanueva Joyce , Lee Susan , Giannini Edward H , Graham Thomas B , Passo Murray H , Filipovich Alexandra , Grom Alexei A
Published: November 2004

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) has been reported in association with many rheumatic diseases, most commonly in systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (sJRA). Clinically, MAS is similar to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a genetic disorder with absent or depressed natural killer (NK) function. We have previously reported that, as in HLH, patients with MAS have profoundly decreased NK activity, suggesting that this abnormality might be relevant to the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Here we examined the extent of NK dysfunction across the spectrum of diseases that comprise juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from patients with pauciarticular (n = 4), polyarticular (n = 16), and systemic (n = 20) forms of JRA. NK cytolytic activity was measured after co-incubation of PBMC with the NK-sensitive K562 cell line. NK cells (CD56+/T cell receptor [TCR]-αβ-), NK T cells (CD56+/TCR-αβ+), and CD8+ T cells were also assessed for perforin and granzyme B expression by flow cytometry. Overall, NK cytolytic activity was significantly lower in patients with sJRA than in other JRA patients and controls. In a subgroup of patients with predominantly sJRA, NK cell activity was profoundly decreased: in 10 of 20 patients with sJRA and in only 1 of 20 patients with other JRA, levels of NK activity were below two standard deviations of pediatric controls (P = 0.002). Some decrease in perforin expression in NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes was seen in patients within each of the JRA groups with no statistically significant differences. There was a profound decrease in the proportion of circulating CD56bright NK cells in three sJRA patients, a pattern similar to that previously observed in MAS and HLH. In conclusion, a subgroup of patients with JRA who have not yet had an episode of MAS showed decreased NK function and an absence of circulating CD56bright population, similar to the abnormalities observed in patients with MAS and HLH. This phenomenon was particularly common in the systemic form of JRA, a clinical entity strongly associated with MAS.