Prosocial norms and degree heterogeneity in social networks

We provide empirical evidence to support the claims that social diversity promotes prosocial behavior. We elicit a real-life social network and its members’ adherence to a social norm, namely inequity aversion. The data reveal a positive relationship between subjects’ prosociality and several measures of centrality. This result is in line with the theoretical literature that relates the evolution of social norms to the structure of social interactions and argues that central individuals are crucial for the emergence of prosocial behavior.

Alejandra Pizarnik: "Si no me escribo soy una ausencia"

[ES] Este trabajo propone una lectura de los seis primeros cuadernos del diario que Alejandra Pizarnik escribió a lo largo de toda su vida, desde los 18 años y hasta que murió a la edad de 36. El análisis de estos cuadernos, escritos entre 1954 y 1958, nos permite recorrer el itinerario que Alejandra Pizarnik realiza por la cuestión genérica, la cuestión nacional y la cuestión sexual. Desde su experiencia en cuanto sujeto, la escritura registra esta primera fase en la construcción del yo que Pizarnik desea para su diario. Esta fase, que se puede denominar etapa-derribo, está dominada por el desafío a las ideas del discurso hegemónico. Una vez haya resuelto este escollo en la construcción del yo de su diario, la escritura de Pizarnik no volverá sobre estos temas. Sin embargo, la búsqueda el “verdadero” yo se registra como proceso en el que a un movimiento de construcción del yo, le sigue un movimiento de destrucción de lo que las palabras han conformado, en secuencias en las que la apelación a la mentira de lo escrito o la desconfi anza en la capacidad del lenguaje para expresarlo, son la pauta de dicha escritura.

Support for Integrated Ecosystem Assessments of NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserves System (NERRS), Volume II: Assessment of Ecological Condition and Stressor Impacts in Subtidal Waters of the North Carolina NERRS

A study was conducted to assess the status of ecological condition and potential human-health risks in subtidal estuarine waters throughout the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) (Currituck Sound, Rachel Carson, Masonboro Island, and Zeke’s Island). Field work was conducted in September 2006 and incorporated multiple indicators of ecosystem condition including measures of water quality (dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, nutrients and chlorophyll, suspended solids), sediment quality (granulometry, organic matter content, chemical contaminant concentrations), biological condition (diversity and abundances of benthic fauna, fish contaminant levels and pathologies), and human dimensions (fish-tissue contaminant levels relative to human-health consumption limits, various aesthetic properties). A probabilistic sampling design permitted statistical estimation of the spatial extent of degraded versus non-degraded condition across these estuaries relative to specified threshold levels of the various indicators (where possible). With some exceptions, the status of these reserves appeared to be in relatively good to fair ecological condition overall, with the majority of the area (about 54%) having various water quality, sediment quality, and biological (benthic) condition indicators rated in the healthy to intermediate range of corresponding guideline thresholds. Only three stations, representing 10.5% of the area, had one or more of these indicators rated as poor/degraded in all three categories. While such a conclusion is encouraging from a coastal management perspective, it should be viewed with some caution. For example, although co-occurrences of adverse biological and abiotic environmental conditions were limited, at least one indicator of ecological condition rated in the poor/degraded range was observed over a broader area (35.5%) represented by 11 of the 30 stations sampled. In addition, the fish-tissue contaminant data were not included in these overall spatial estimates; however, the majority of samples (77% of fish that were analyzed, from 79%, of stations where fish were caught) contained inorganic arsenic above the consumption limits for human cancer risks, though most likely derived from natural sources. Similarly, aesthetic indicators are not reflected in these spatial estimates of ecological condition, though there was evidence of noxious odors in sediments at many of the stations. Such symptoms reflect a growing realization that North Carolina estuaries are under multiple pressures from a variety of natural and human influences. These data also suggest that, while the current status of overall ecological condition appears to be good to fair, long-term monitoring is warranted to track potential changes in the future. This study establishes an important baseline of overall ecological condition within NC NERRS that can be used to evaluate any such future changes and to trigger appropriate management actions in this rapidly evolving coastal environment. (PDF contains 76 pages)

Nahikoa al da erizaintzak hipertentsio arterialaren tratamenduaren atxikidurari jartzen dion arreta?

Idioma: Euskera Helburuak: 1) hipertentsio arterialaren tratamenduarekiko atxikidura baxuaren faktore eragileak identifikatzea eta 2) tratamenduarekiko atxikiduran erizaintza gomendio eta interbentzioen aztertzea Metodologia: PubMed eta Cochrane Library izan dira erabilitako datu base nagusiak. Inklusio kriterioen barne daude HTA pairatzen duten 18 urtetik gorako gizon eta emakumeak Konklusioa: HTAren tratamenduarekiko atxikidura falta magnitude handiko arazoa da. Horren gain eragina duten faktoreei dagokionez, faktore sozioekonomikoak, terapia eta pazientearen baldintzekin erlazionaturiko faktoreekin batera, funtsezko garrantzia izango dute HTAren tratamenduaren atxikiduran. Erizaintza gomendioak funtsezko papera dute atxikiduran. Erizaintza interbentzioei dagokionez, aurrerapen teknologikoekin erlazionaturiko entseguak, auto-zainketak, eredu biopsikosozialaren aplikazioak, pilula kopurua gutxitzeak eta tratamendu indibidualizatuak atxikiduraren gaineko hobekuntza frogatu dute.

Critical current anisotropy in high temperature superconductors

After nearly 15 years of research effort, High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) are finding a wide range of practical applications. A clear understanding of the factors controlling the current carrying capacity of these materials is a prerequisite to their successful technological development. The critical current density (Jc) in HTS is directly dependent on the structure and pinning of the Flux Line Lattice (FLL) in these materials. This thesis presents an investigation of the Jc anisotropy in HTS. The use of thin films grown on off c-axis (vicinal) substrates allowed the effect of current directions outside the cuprate planes to be studied. With this experimental geometry Berghuis, et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 12, pg. 2332) observed a striking flux channelling effect in vicinal YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) films. By confirming, and extending, this observation, it is demonstrated that this is an intrinsic effect. The results obtained, appear to fit well with the predictions of a field angle dependent cross-over from a three dimensional rectilinear FLL to a kinked lattice of strings and pancakes. The pinning force density for movement of strings inside the cuprate planes is considerably less than that on vortex pancake elements. When the FLL is entirely string-like this reduced pinning leads to the observed channelling minima. It is observed that anti-phase boundaries enhance the Jc in vicinal YBCO films by strongly pinning vortex strings. The effect on the FLL structure cross-over of increasing anisotropy has been elucidated using de-oxygenated vicinal YBCO films. Intriguingly, the counter intuitive prediction that the range of applied field angle for which the kinked lattice is fully developed reduces with increasing anisotropy, appears to be confirmed. Although vortex channelling cannot be observed in c-axis YBCO films, the pinning force density for vortex string channelling has been extracted by observing string dragging. By studying the effect of rotating the applied field at a constant angle to the cuprate planes, it is possible to observe the cross-over into the string pancake regime in c-axis films. In the 3D region, the observed behaviour is well explained by the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau model. Measurements were also made on thin films of the much more anisotropic Bi 2Sr2CaCu2O8+x material, grown on vicinal substrates. The absence of any flux channelling effect and clear adherence to the expected Kes-Law behaviour in the observed Jc characteristics does not provide evidence for the existence of the predicted ‘crossing lattice’ in Bi 2Sr2CaCu2O8+x .

Impact of depressive symptoms on subjective well-being: the importance of patient-reported outcomes in schizophrenia

Objective: The subjective experience of psychotic patients toward treatment is a key factor in medication adherence, quality of life, and clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia and to examine its relationship with the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted with clinically stable outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptic Scale - short version (SWN-K) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were used to gather information on well-being and the presence and severity of depressive symptoms, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation was used to assess the associations between the SWN-K total score, its five subscales, and the CDSS total score. Discriminative validity was evaluated against that criterion by analysing the area under the curve (AUC). Results: Ninety-seven patients were included in the study. Mean age was 35 years (standard deviation = 10) and 72% were male. Both the total SWN-K scale and its five subscales correlated inversely and significantly with the CDSS total score (P < 0.0001). The highest correlation was observed for the total SWN-K (Spearman's rank order correlation [ rho] = -0.59), being the other correlations: mental functioning (-0.47), social integration (-0.46), emotional regulation (-0.51), physical functioning (-0.48), and self-control (-0.41). A total of 33 patients (34%) were classified as depressed. Total SWN-K showed the highest AUC when discriminating between depressive severity levels (0.84), followed by emotional regulation (0.80), social integration (0.78), physical functioning and self-control (0.77), and mental functioning (0.73). Total SWN-K and its five subscales showed a significant linear trend against CDSS severity levels (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms was relatively high, and correlated inversely with patients' subjective well-being. Routine assessment of patient-reported measures in patients with schizophrenia might reduce potential discrepancy between patient and physician assessment, increase therapeutic alliance, and improve outcome.

Vascular endothelial growth factor regulates melanoma cell adhesion and growth in the bone marrow microenvironment via tumor cyclooxygenase-2

Background: Human melanoma frequently colonizes bone marrow (BM) since its earliest stage of systemic dissemination, prior to clinical metastasis occurrence. However, how melanoma cell adhesion and proliferation mechanisms are regulated within bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) microenvironment remain unclear. Consistent with the prometastatic role of inflammatory and angiogenic factors, several studies have reported elevated levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in melanoma although its pathogenic role in bone marrow melanoma metastasis is unknown. Methods: Herein we analyzed the effect of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib in a model of generalized BM dissemination of left cardiac ventricle-injected B16 melanoma (B16M) cells into healthy and bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-pretreated mice to induce inflammation. In addition, B16M and human A375 melanoma (A375M) cells were exposed to conditioned media from basal and LPS-treated primary cultured murine and human BMSCs, and the contribution of COX-2 to the adhesion and proliferation of melanoma cells was also studied. Results: Mice given one single intravenous injection of LPS 6 hour prior to cancer cells significantly increased B16M metastasis in BM compared to untreated mice; however, administration of oral celecoxib reduced BM metastasis incidence and volume in healthy mice, and almost completely abrogated LPS-dependent melanoma metastases. In vitro, untreated and LPS-treated murine and human BMSC-conditioned medium (CM) increased VCAM-1-dependent BMSC adherence and proliferation of B16M and A375M cells, respectively, as compared to basal medium-treated melanoma cells. Addition of celecoxib to both B16M and A375M cells abolished adhesion and proliferation increments induced by BMSC-CM. TNF alpha and VEGF secretion increased in the supernatant of LPS-treated BMSCs; however, anti-VEGF neutralizing antibodies added to B16M and A375M cells prior to LPS-treated BMSC-CM resulted in a complete abrogation of both adhesion-and proliferation-stimulating effect of BMSC on melanoma cells. Conversely, recombinant VEGF increased adherence to BMSC and proliferation of both B16M and A375M cells, compared to basal medium-treated cells, while addition of celecoxib neutralized VEGF effects on melanoma. Recombinant TNFa induced B16M production of VEGF via COX-2-dependent mechanism. Moreover, exogenous PGE2 also increased B16M cell adhesion to immobilized recombinant VCAM-1. Conclusions: We demonstrate the contribution of VEGF-induced tumor COX-2 to the regulation of adhesion-and proliferation-stimulating effects of TNFa, from endotoxin-activated bone marrow stromal cells, on VLA-4-expressing

Oceanographic observations in the Gulf of Guayaquil, 1962-1964. Part I. Physical and Chemical

ENGLISH: During 1961 the government of Ecuador, with the financial assistance of the Special Fund of the United Nations and the technical assistance of FAO experts, initiated an extensive program of fisheries research centered in a fisheries institute established in Guayaquil. In cooperation with this program, and in connection with Ecuador's adherence in 196l to the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, a two-and-a-half year investigation of the ecology of the Gulf of Guayaquil and adjacent waters was started by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. SPANISH: En 1961 el gobierno del Ecuador con el apoyo financiro del Fondo Especial de las Naciones Unidas y la asistencia tenica de los expertos de la FAO, inicio un programa extensivo de investigacion pesquera centralizado en el instituto de pesquerias establecido en Guayaquil. En cooperacion con este programa y en conexion con la adhesion del Ecuador en 1961 a la Convencion para el establecimiento de una Comision Interamericana del Atun Tropical, se comenzo por esta misma Comision una investigacion de dos anos y medio sobre la ecologia del Golfo de Guayaquil y las aguas adyacentes. (PDF contains 1532 pages.)

Oceanographic observations in the Gulf of Guayaquil, 1962-1964. Part II. Biological, chemical and physical.

ENGLISH: During 1961 the government of Ecuador, with the financial assistance of the Special Fund of the United Nations and the technical assistance of FAO experts, initiated an extensive program of fisheries research centered in a fisheries institute established in Guayaquil. In cooperation with this program, and in connection with Ecuador's adherence in 1961 to the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, a two-and-a-half year investigation of the ecology of the Gulf of Guayaquil and adjacent waters was started by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. SPANISH: Durante 1961 el gobierno ecuatoriano con el apoyo financiero del Fondo Especial de las Naciones Unidas y la ayuda técnica de los expertos de la FAO, inició un programa extensivo de investigación pesquera, centralizado en el instituto pesquero establecido en Guayaquil. En cooperación con este programa y en conexión a la afiliaci6n del Ecuador a la Convención, en 1961, para el establecimiento de una Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical, Cue iniciada por la Comisión una investigación de dos aftos y medio sobre la ecología del Golfo de Guayaquil y de las aguas adyacentes. (PDF contains 501 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1953

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was established in 1950 by a Convention between Costa Rica and the United States. The Convention provides for the subsequent adherence of other nations interested in the tuna fishery of the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. Panama adhered to the Convention in September 1953. The Commission has the duties of collecting and interpreting all necessary factual information respecting the tunas and tuna-bait fishes in order to facilitate maintaining the populations thereof at levels permitting maximum sustained yields, and of making recommendations to the member governments for joint action toward this objective. The Commission commenced its investigations in 1951. The year 1953 is the third year of scientific study. During the year investigations along several lines were continued and further developed. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericano del Atún Tropical fué establecida en 1950 en virtud de una Convención entre Costa Rica y los Estados Unidos. La Convención abre la puerta para que otras naciones interesadas en las pesquerías de atún en aguas tropicales del Pacífico Oriental, puedan adherirse posteriormente. Panamá se adhirió al Tratado en Septiembre de 1953. La Comisión tiene como deberes recolectar e interpretar todos los informes necesarios respecto de las especies de atún y de los peces de carnada que sirven para pescarlas¡ a fin de facilitar el mantenimiento de las respectivas poblaciones a niveles que permitan un rendimiento máximo permanente; y hacer recomendaciones a los gobiernos miembros para que actúen conjuntamente en pro de los indicados objetivos. Nuestro organismo comenzó sus investigaciones en 1951. El año 1953 es el tercero de estudios científicos. Durante dicho año se continuaron investigaciones en diversas líneas y se prosiguió su desarrollo. (PDF contains 87 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1957

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was established under authority of a Convention between the Governments of Costa Rica and the United States, which entered into force in 1950_ The Convention provides for the adherence of other governments having an interest in the tuna and tuna-bait resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, by exchange of correspondence with existing members. Panama adhered to the Convention in 1953. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical fué establecida en virtud de una Convención entre los Gobiernos de Costa Rica y de los Estados Unidos, cuya vigencia comenzó en 1950. Dicha Convención permite la entrada de otros gobiernos que tengan interés en los recursos de atún y de peces de carnada para su pesca en el Océano Pacífico Oriental Tropical, mediante el intercambio de correspondencia con los países firmantes. Panamá se adhirió a la Convención en 1953. (PDF contains 134 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1958

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was established by a Convention, between the Governments of Costa Rica and the United States, which entered into force in 1950. Under a provision of the Convention inviting the adherence of other nations having an interest in the tuna and tuna-bait resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, Panama also adhered in 1953. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical fué establecida por una Convención entre los Gobiernos de Costa Rica y de los Estados Unidos, la cual entró en vigencia en 1950. Panamá se adhirió a la Convención en 1953, de conformidad con una cláusula que deja la puerta abierta a los otros paises interesados en los recursos atuneros y de carnada para el atún del Océano Pacifico Oriental Tropical. (PDF contains 121 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1959

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was established under authority of a Convention, between the Governments of the Republic of Costa Rica and the United States of America, which entered into force in 1950. The Convention provides for the adherence, by exchange of correspondence with existing members, of other governments having an interest in the tuna and tuna-bait resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. The Republic of Panama adhered to the Convention in 1953. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical fue establecida en virtud de una Convención suscrita entre los Gobiernos de la Republica de Costa Rica y de los Estados Unidos de America, que entro en vigencia en 1950. La Convención esta abierta para que otros gobiernos interesados en los recursos de atún y de carnada para la pesca de este en el Océano Pacifico Oriental Tropical puedan adherirse a la misma mediante intercambio de correspondencia con los Gobiernos Miembros. La Republica de Panamá se adhirió a la Convención en 1953. (PDF contains 156 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1960

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission operates under the authority of a Convention, originally negotiated between the Governments of the Republic of Costa Rica and the United States of America, which entered into force in 1950. The Republic of Panama adhered to the Convention in 1953. The Convention is open to adherence of other nations having an interest in the tuna and tuna-bait resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical funciona bajo la autoridad de una Convención que originalmente fue negociada entre los Gobiernos de la Republica de Costa Rica y de los Estados Unidos de America y entro en vigencia en 1950; la Republica de Panamá se adhirió a la Convención en 1953. Esta Convención esta abierta para otras naciones que tengan interés en los recursos de atún y de las especies de carnada en el Océano Pacifico Oriental Tropical (PDF contains 183 pages.)

Report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission for the year 1963

ENGLISH: The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was created by a Convention between the Republic of Costa Rica and the United States of America. The Convention came into force in 1950. One of the provisions of the Convention was that other governments whose nationals participate in the fisheries covered by the Convention could adhere if they so desired and if the existing members agreed. Under this arrangement, the Republic of Panama adhered to the COl1vention in 1953. The Republic of Ecuador adhered in 1961. The Senate of the Republic of Mexico approved adherence in 1963; and the Republic of Colombia has indicated her desire to adhere. Full members during 1963 were Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and the United States. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical fue creada en virtud de una Convención entre la República de Costa Rica y los Estados Unidos de América. La Convención entró en vigencia en 1950. Una de las estipulaciones de la Convención, permite a los gobiernos de otros países cuyos habitantes participen en las pesquerías a que dicha Convención se refiere, adherirse a ella si así lo desean y si los Gobiernos Miembros están de acuerdo. Acogiéndose a esa estipulación, la República de Panamá se adhirió a la Convención en 1953. La República del Ecuador se adhirió en 1961. El Senado de la República de México aprobó la adhesión en 1963; y la República de Colombia ha manifestado su deseo de adherirse. Durante el año de 1963 han sido miembros Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá y los Estados Unidos. (PDF contains 89 pages.)