The Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA) Project accessed Mercer Subglacial Lake using environmentally clean hot-water drilling to examine interactions among ice, water, sediment, rock, microbes and carbon reservoirs within the lake water column and underlying sediments. A ~0.4 m diameter borehole was melted through 1087 m of ice and maintained over ~10 days, allowing observation of ice properties and collection of water and sediment with various tools. Over this period, SALSA collected: 60 L of lake water and 10 L of deep borehole water; microbes >0.2 μm in diameter from in situ filtration of ~100 L of lake water; 10 multicores 0.32–0.49 m long; 1.0 and 1.76 m long gravity cores; three conductivity–temperature–depth profiles of borehole and lake water; five discrete depth current meter measurements in the lake and images of ice, the lake water–ice interface and lake sediments. Temperature and conductivity data showed the hydrodynamic character of water mixing between the borehole and lake after entry. Models simulating melting of the ~6 m thick basal accreted ice layer imply that debris fall-out through the ~15 m water column to the lake sediments from borehole melting had little effect on the stratigraphy of surficial sediment cores.

The 1996 Farm Act and the 1994 Crop Insurance Reform Act are recent examples of policy changes that have increased risks for U.S. farmers. New products are emerging to help farmers manage risks. This article examines some of the policy changes, farmer responses, and new risk-sharing products. The focus turns to the new revenue insurance products and their potential in the South. While there are reasons to believe revenue insurance should be attractive in the South, any revenue products that use existing crop insurance rates will face difficulties since poor actuarial performance in the South has resulted in relatively high rates.

This qualitative study aimed to gain insight into the experience of hospitalisation from the perspectives of the older person with dementia, their family care-giver and other patients sharing the ward (co-patients). Non-participant observation of care on 11 acute hospital wards was supplemented by 39 semi-structured interviews with 35 family care-givers and four co-patients following discharge. Constant comparative analysis produced the core problem facing all those involved: disruption from normal routine meaning that the experience of hospitalisation was disrupted by the presence and behaviour of the person with dementia. Disruption adversely affected the person with dementia, triggering constructive, disengaged, distressed and neutral behaviours. Using Kitwood's model of person-centred care, these behaviours were interpreted as attempts by the person with dementia at gaining a sense of control over the unfamiliar environment and experience. Family care-givers' lives and experiences both inside and outside the hospital were disrupted by the hospitalisation. They too attempted to gain a sense of control over the experience and to give a sense of control to the patient, co-patients and staff. Co-patients experienced disruption from sharing space with the person with dementia and were left feeling vulnerable and sometimes afraid. They too attempted to gain a sense of control over their situation and give some control by helping the person with dementia, the family care-giver and the staff.

The understanding of ice, especially of sea ice, is basic to Canada's defence and economic development and yet, up to 1956, little had been done in Canada to study the formation, development and degeneration of sea ice. The National Research Council had been engaged in ice studies, but the emphasis here had been on fresh-water ice. Glaciological studies had been carried out by several universities, by the Geophysics Section of the Defence Research Board, and by other government departments.

Twenty-seven British Friesian heifer calves were housed as a group but fed individually barley-lucerne pellets according to a scale related to body weight. At 16 weeks and again at 31 weeks of age nine calves were implanted subcutaneously at the base of the ear with 300 mg trenbolone acetate (group T), nine calves were similarly implanted with 140 mg trenbolone acetate and 20 mg oestradiol-17/? (group TE) and the remaining nine calves were sham implanted (group C).

As a result of increased feed conversion ratios, body-weight gains were significantly greater in group T (0–80 kg/day) and group TE (0–87 kg/day) than in group C (0–72 kg/ day) during the 15 weeks following the second implant, but there was no significant difference between groups following the first implant.

Following both implants in groups T and TE the mean concentrations of urea and albumin in serum decreased, and that of globulin increased. The mean urea: creatinine ratio in the urine of animals in groups T and TE relative to that in group C also decreased.

The heifers were served by an Aberdeen Angus bull at the first and, when they occurred, subsequent oestruses. Following calving the mean milk yields in the first lactation in group T (641 kg in 96 days) and group TE (1993 in 212 days) was considerably lower than in group C (3636 kg in 293 days). The udder size in both groups of animals treated with the anabolic steroids was markedly reduced. It is concluded that despite an improvement in feed conversion ratios and body-weight gains, trenbolone acetate should not be administered to prepuberal heifers which will be retained for breeding and milk production.

Although the clinical benefits of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has been recognised for a number of years, the molecular mechanisms by which particular PUFA affect metabolism of cells within the synovial joint tissues are not understood. This study set out to investigate how n-3 PUFA and other classes of fatty acids affect both degradative and inflammatory aspects of metabolism of articular cartilage chondrocytes using an in vitro model of cartilage degradation. Using well-established culture models, cartilage explants from normal bovine and human osteoarthritic cartilage were supplemented with either n-3 or n-6 PUFA, and cultures were subsequently treated with interleukin 1 to initiate catabolic processes that mimic cartilage degradation in arthritis. Results show that supplementation specifically with n-3 PUFA, but not n-6 PUFA, causes a decrease in both degradative and inflammatory aspects of chondrocyte metabolism, whilst having no effect on the normal tissue homeostasis. Collectively, our data provide evidence supporting dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA, which in turn may have a beneficial effect of slowing and reducing inflammation in the pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases in man.

Background. We identified the need to develop a scientifically rigorous measure of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in dementia that would be appropriate for use at all stages of dementia severity and would be available in both self- and proxy-report versions.

Method. We used standard psychometric methods to eliminate items with poor psychometric properties (item-reduction field test) and to assess the acceptability, reliability and validity of the item-reduced instruments (psychometric evaluation field test). We developed and validated two versions of DEMQOL: a 28-item interviewer-administered questionnaire that is self-reported by the person with dementia (DEMQOL) and a 31-item interviewer-administered questionnaire that is proxy-reported by a caregiver (DEMQOL-Proxy).

Results. DEMQOL shows high reliability (internal consistency and test–retest) and moderate validity in people with mild/moderate dementia. DEMQOL-Proxy shows good acceptability and internal consistency and moderate evidence of validity in people with mild/moderate and severe dementia. Test–retest reliability and performance in people with severe dementia need further testing.

Conclusions. DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy show psychometric properties that are comparable with the best available dementia-specific measures of HRQL. We recommend that DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy are used together. Reliability and validity need to be confirmed in independent samples and responsiveness needs to be evaluated.

The CGIAR System conducts research to produce international public goods (IPG) that are of wide applicability, creating a scientific base which speeds and broadens local adaptive development. Integrated natural resources management (INRM) research is sometimes seen to be very location specific and consequently does not lend itself readily to the production of IPGs. In this paper we analyse ways in which strategic approaches to INRM research can have broad international applicability and serve as useful foundations for the development of locally adapted technologies. The paper describes the evolution of the IPG concept within the CGIAR and elaborates on five major types of IPGs that have been generated from a varied set of recent INRM research efforts. CGIAR networks have both strengths and weaknesses in INRM research and application, with enormous differences in relative research and development capacities, responsibilities and data access of its partners, making programme process evolution critical to acceptance and participation. Many of the lessons learnt regarding challenges and corresponding IPG research approaches are relevant to designing and managing future multi-scale, multi-locational, co-ordinated INRM programmes involving broad-based partnerships to address complex environmental and livelihood problems for development.

Saccadic eye movements are essential for redirecting the fovea at different visual targets. In adults and children saccades are remarkably stereotyped. Peak velocity and duration of saccades are a simple function of saccade amplitude called the ‘main sequence’. Saccades that are substantially slower than normal often reflect disease of the brain stem saccade generator but may also be associated with diseases of higher level structures including the cerebral hemispheres and superior colliculus. However, little is known about the speed of saccades in infancy. A single previous study reported that infant saccades may be similar to or slower than those of adults, but few saccades were recorded. The present study re-examined this issue with the technique of measuring optokinetic (OKN) quick phases, which are readily elicited from healthy and sick infants, with a view to using saccade speed as a quantitative neurological measure. We measured the duration and peak velocity of saccades (main sequence) using direct-current electro-oculography from OKN quick phases in 18 infants (nine males, nine females) aged 2 to 18 months (mean age 8mo [SD 4]) and seven adult comparison participants (four males, three females; age range 21–32y, mean age 27y [SD 3]). All infant saccades showed typical relationships between duration, peak velocity, and amplitude. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference between adult and infant main sequences for duration or peak velocity. However, the differences in the main sequence for duration almost reached significance (p=0.051) for infant saccades being faster than adults. Individual differences were also present, and some infants produced saccades faster than adults, but not slower. There was no significant age trend. We conclude that measuring saccade speed is practicable in the young infant. From the age of at least 2 months, infants generate saccades with speeds similar to or slightly higher than those of adults.

Judicious management of our natural resources is a major pillar of sustainable agriculture, broadly defined. It is, therefore, unfortunate that, until now, research in natural resources management (NRM) has not received sufficient support, or the recognition that other agricultural research topics have had. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) recognized, early on, the complementarities and synergies between NRM research and other themes, notably genetic improvement, and its research Centres have pursued some vigorous programmes for many years. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to the CGIAR was supportive of such programmes from the start and provided advice to the CGIAR System on NRM research strategies. Highlights of such advice over the last 20 years are discussed, including the ecoregional approach, the 1996 study of Priorities and Strategies for Soil and Water Research, and the CGIAR Vision and Strategy of 2000. Recent developments at the Centres leading to the promotion of integrated approaches to NRM (INRM) are described, and a set of priority areas in INRM research for future CGIAR activities is presented.

As part of the reform process of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), its Technical Advisory Committee is being transformed into a Science Council. An interim Science Council has been operating since January 2002. The primary role of the Council will be to enhance and guard the relevance and quality of science in the CGIAR System. Relevance is viewed as researching the ‘right things’ to address the System's goals, and deals with the relevance of identified research priorities and strategies and the nature of the planning and consultation process. Ex-ante analyses of need and potential impact to formulate the priorities and strategies are important elements in defining relevance. Quality is viewed as researching the ‘right things well’ and deals with the efficient use of state-of-the-art knowledge, research methods and protocols. The paper outlines the interim Council's suggestions for an operational framework of the Science Council. It serves as a starting point for the development of specific criteria, procedures and guidelines for carrying out the envisioned responsibilities. The Science Council must act in a strategic advisory role, basing its advice on: (i) planning and strategy development in the context of CGIAR goals; (ii) internal self-assessments by CGIAR Centres and Programmes and independent external monitoring and evaluation; and (iii) impact assessments. The paper discusses these three complementary functions. Each depends on the other in a dynamic feedback process that is essential if the CGIAR is to remain at the frontiers of science and development, maintain its science relevance and quality, and contribute in the most effective and efficient manner to the mission and goal of the Group.

I show that if the ontological argument is sound, it proves that a number of maximally great beings must exist. I show that maximal greatness does not imply uniqueness, that such beings can be omnipotent and yet not restrict each other's power, and that each must have its own separate stream of consciousness. I also show that attempts to unify the beings by unifying the streams of consciousness leads to a form of pantheism.

Background. Population-based studies suggest substantial co-morbidity between physical illness and depression in late-life. However, a causal relationship has not been established. If a relationship exists, it is important to establish which aspects of poor health determine risk for depression, and which factors confer vulnerability or resilience in the face of poor health. We investigate the role of disablement, measured as impairment, disability and handicap.

Methods. A prospective population-based cohort study, comprising an index assessment and 1 year follow-up, of all residents aged 65 years or over, of an electoral ward in London, UK (N=889).

Results. The prevalence of SHORT-CARE pervasive depression was 17·7% at index assessment. The 1 year onset rate for pervasive depression was 12·0%, and the 1 year maintenance rate 63·2%. There was a high mortality rate among the depressed. Disablement, particularly handicap was the most important predictor of the onset of depression (population attributable fraction, 0·69). Lack of contact with friends was a direct risk factor but also modified the association between handicap and depression. Marriage was protective for men, but a risk factor for women. Maintenance of depression was predicted by low levels of social support and social participation, rather than by disablement.

Conclusions. It seems likely that disablement, specifically handicap, is the chief cause of onsets of depression in late-life. Genetic predisposition, early adversity and serious life events may play a less prominent role than in earlier life. Effective prevention of late-life depression requires attention at the structural level to the sources of handicap within communities.

Background. A companion paper reported a very strong cross-sectional association between handicap and late-life depression. Adjusting for handicap weakened associations between sociodemographic variables and depression. It was unclear whether handicap was a confounder, or a useful summary variable, mediating the effect of a range of sociodemographic disadvantages. This paper focusses on the cross-sectional relationship between depression and demographic variables, social support, and life events.

Method. A community survey of all residents over the age of 65 years of an electoral district in London, UK.

Results. There was a moderate association between SHORT-CARE pervasive depression and the number of life events experienced over the previous year. Personal illness, bereavement and theft were the most salient events. There was a stronger, graded, relationship between the number of social support deficits (SSDs) and depression. Number of SSDs also related to age, handicap, loneliness and use of homecare services. Loneliness was itself strongly associated with depression; odds ratio 12·4 (7·6–20·0).

Conclusions. Problems of collinearity, and the cross-sectional design of the study limited interpretation of the exact nature of the relationship between social support, loneliness, handicap and depression. However, the clustering of these four factors can be used to define a large part of the elderly population with a poor quality of life. An important avenue for future research will be the development and implementation of population intervention strategies designed to address some or all of these problems among older people in general.