European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday december 27, 1993 . The stars and stripes Page 5scientists Grant smallpox a reprieve by the new York times the smallpox virus,4 one of the biggest killers in history has won a temporary stay from its planned execution this week because some scientists have begun to argue that the virus could yield useful medical knowledge about smallpox and maybe other diseases. Health officials in the United states and Russia who hold the last known stocks of the smallpox virus had planned to destroy them in a simultaneous execution by new year s eve. The recommendation was announced by the world health organization three years ago with the agreement of both countries. But both have now decided to delay destruction beyond the agreed deadline while some last minute doubts about the Wisdom of such a final step Are debated. The disease caused by the smallpox virus was declared eradicated in 1980. It was arguably Public health s greatest Triumph because smallpox is the Only disease that has been wiped out. Stocks of the virus have been kept Frozen in liquid nitrogen in two closely guarded laboratories in Atlanta and Moscow for research purposes. Laboratory scientists have been amassing As much knowledge about the virus Basic Structure in anticipation of its destruction. The virus known As variola is expected to be destroyed by heating the remaining stocks to very High temperatures in autoclaves sterilizing devices that of Fralc under High pressure. The main focus of the research has been to create a genetic map of the variola which belongs to the family of pox viruses. If the stocks of the virus Are destroyed health officials say it would be the first time any species had been deliberately wiped out. But with the deadline closing in Quot there a no movement toward doing it the end of this year,0 or. Walter r. Dowdle acting director of the centers for disease control and prevention the Federal Agency that holds the american stocks of smallpox virus in Atlanta said in an interview Friday. A meeting is being planned at the health organizations Headquarters in Geneva next month so that virologists and other experts can review the Progress made in genetically mapping the virus and determine whether other things still should be done Dowdle said. Health officials had planned to destroy the virus to reduce the Security costs associated with preserving it and to avoid the threat that the stocks could accidentally escape from a Laboratory be seized by terrorists or sold by financially troubled researchers or political leaders. Fire Crews Battle a Blaze that destroyed the country Home of Nobel prize winning author Toni Morrison in grand View ., on saturday. Author s Home destroyed in fire grand View A a 5vi-hour fire destroyed Nobel prize winning author Toni Morrison a country Home saturday. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries. About 120 firefighters from two towns responded when the four Story House went up in flames around 9 . The fire was not extinguished until about 2 30 p.m., said Nyack fire department chief Paul Wanamaker. Morrison arrived about noon to Survey the damage to her House which is next to the Hudson River. Wanamaker said some of her manuscripts were destroyed but he had no further details. Morrison won this years Nobel prize for literature and won a pulitzer prize for fiction for beloved Morrison lives in Princeton . A spokesman at Princeton University where she teaches said she did not return messages saturday. The fire was reported by one of Morrison s sons who was staying in the House Wanamaker said. He was not injured. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Doctor s study not exactly mouthwatering Atlanta apr James m. Dabbs research May of be something other scientists would drool Over. His studies on hormones in saliva and their effect on personality have earned him the nicknames Quot or. Spit and Quot professor of Dabbs laboratories have ranged from bedrooms to a rooms and the subjects of his experiments have in lured children unemployed labourers lawyers prison is politicians and two chimpanzees. Dabbs a psychology professor at Georgia state uni Hersity studies the relationship Between Levels of Tes Osterne and aggression Competition and dominance. Quot Many behavioural investigators prefer their data dry a i because they see in saliva an unseemly wetness of a. I a i Oil _ a a a i a a Iii Griir \ r Dabbs chose saliva for testing because it is easier to get someone to spit into a bottle than to give blood another Way of measuring hormones. Test subjects Chew sugar free gum to stimulate saliva and spit into a vial. The hormones called Androgen arc Analysed in a Laboratory. Dabbs follows up with interviews and further testing of those who have unusually High or Low Levels of testosterone. Dabbs said he has found High testosterone Levels in actors and trial lawyers and others who have a lot of drive to succeed. He has also discovered More testosterone among prison inmates and juvenile delinquents providing a link Between aggression and antisocial behaviour. Liman nature but they risk missing the Many rewards of orking with spit Quot Dabbs wrote in a september article in be annals of the new York Academy of sciences. \ think it has to do with dominance and Independence getting things your own Way Quot Dabbs said. Quot it is also consistent with Success in society. Persistence is what it a toys for guns Deal in Hits bulls Eye p new York up the stores were closed but in owners continued to flock to Manhattan a 34th re cinch on Christmas Day to Exchange their weapons for $100 gift certificates to toys Quot a Quot us before Quot operation toys for guns Quot ended at Midnight. The tally saturday morning was 253 guns after an elderly Man came in with a ,38-Calibcr revolver said sgt. Brian of Loughlin of the 34lh precinct in Washington Heights. A we expect people will be trickling in All Day Quot he said. Quot you can i really predict How Many. No one predicted this Many so in fact when carpet contractor Fernando Mateo 35, launched the program wednesday with $5,000 of his own Money inc idea was greeted with scepticism by Washington Heights residents. But four Days later the fund had swelled to $25,000 with a $10,000 donation from toys a or Quot us and $5,000 donations from Queens businessman Emmett Walker and the i Crecenzo family of Brooklyn. Friday new York police commissioner Raymond Kelly called the results Quot a Miracle at the 34tn five times As Many guns have been exchanged under Mateos program than were turned in during a two year gun amnesty program sponsored by the Ponce department. On Christmas morning a sleepy Mateo said that on sunday he would begin work on a year round Quot gun bartering Quot program. Quot i want to reach out to corporate America now a he said. Quot if kids know they can turn in their guns for sneakers or clothing or airline tickets they la do . Woman finds love in aisle eight Hopewell township . A attention shoppers cosmetics aisle one. Love struck Boyfriend aisle Robin Howell and Alonzo Miller were getting some last minute party items on Christmas eve the supermarkets assistant manager came on Over the loud speaker Quot attention please. Attention. I have a very important announcement for miss Robin c. Howell. Quot Alonzo Miller loves you very much and he wants to give you an Early Christmas present Quot assistant manager John Cronin or. Cor inked. Quot he a waiting for you in aisle number eight to propose to you. Please proceed to aisle eight in an orderly Howell who was in aisle one looking at Beauty aids when the announcement was made was met in aisle eight by Miller and a throng of friends relatives curious shoppers and shop rite employees. There Between the Tomato sauce and the pasta Miller got Down on one knee and proposed. A i love you Quot Howell responded. Miller said he hatched the plan because Howell gets her groceries at the shop rite and will remember the moment each time she returns. He planned the romantic ambush for two weeks Cronin in cahoots. Quot i thought she d go for in Miller said
