Spectral line shape of resonant four-wave mixing induced by broad-bandwidth lasers

We present a theoretical and experimental study of the line shape of resonant four-wave mixing induced by broad-bandwidth laser radiation that revises the theory of Meacher, Smith, Ewart, and Cooper (MSEC) [Phys. Rev. A 46, 2718 (1992)]. We adopt the same method as MSEC but correct for an invalid integral used to average over the distribution of atomic velocities. The revised theory predicts a Voigt line shape composed of a homogeneous, Lorentzian component, defined by the collisional rate Γ, and an inhomogeneous, Doppler component, which is a squared Gaussian. The width of the inhomogeneous component is reduced by a factor of √2 compared to the simple Doppler width predicted by MSEC. In the limit of dominant Doppler broadening, the width of the homogeneous component is predicted to be 4Γ, whereas in the limit of dominant homogeneous broadening, the predicted width is 2Γ. An experimental measurement is reported of the line shape of the four-wave-mixing signal using a broad-bandwidth, "modeless", laser resonant with the Q1 (6) line of the A2 Σ - X2 Π(0,0) system of the hydroxyl radical. The measured widths of the Voigt components were found to be consistent with the predictions of the revised theory

The social consequences of minor innovations in construction

Innovation studies in construction focus on a desire to increase economics and efficiency at a large scale. This has resulted in a skewed perspective that sees only major corporations with substantial R&D resources, complex projects, or national interests at the heart of innovation. By adopting anthropological methods, it becomes possible to examine the two aims of this paper: to demonstrate that an accumulation of minor innovations can have significant consequences; and to show that these are inherently social rather than purely economic. Results come from fieldwork studying the improvisatory house-building practices of the Kelabit people of rural Borneo, tracing changes to the technologies used for roofing and foundations, and describes how these are mutually entangled with new social structures. The conclusion is that we should think more broadly about the forms and effects of innovation in construction, and recognise the significance of improvisation at the level of the individual or small group

Findings and Recommendations of the Metropolitan Planning and Zoning Committee of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

Contained is a proposed bill that was introduced to the 1957 Florida Legislature concerning city development and zoning law

The effects of light pruning, irrigation and improved soil management on wine quality of the Vitis vinifera cv. Riesling

A number of yield improving viticultural practices were assessed in terms of their effect on wine quality. These were improved soil management, lighter pruning/higher trellis, irrigation and a control. In the first year a yield increase of 1.6 t /ha for the irrigation treatment had no significant effect on wine quality. A procedure is presented to assess judges for reliability, discrimination, variability and stability as part of analysis of the sensory results. Four judges were able to consistently identify lot differences

Requirement for sphingosine kinase 1 in mediating phase 1 of the hypotensive response to anandamide in the anaesthetised mouse

In the isolated rat carotid artery, the endocannabinoid anandamide induces endothelium-dependent relaxation via activation of the enzyme sphingosine kinase (SK). This generates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) which can be released from the cell and activates S1P receptors on the endothelium. In anaesthetised mice, anandamide has a well-characterised triphasic effect on blood pressure but the contribution of SK and S1P receptors in mediating changes in blood pressure has never been studied. Therefore, we assessed this in the current study. The peak hypotensive response to 1 and 10 mg/kg anandamide was measured in control C57BL/6 mice and in mice pretreated with selective inhibitors of SK1 (BML-258, also known as SK1-I) or SK2 ((R)-FTY720 methylether (ROMe), a dual SK1/2 inhibitor (SKi) or an S1P1 receptor antagonist (W146). Vasodilator responses to S1P were also studied in isolated mouse aortic rings. The hypotensive response to anandamide was significantly attenuated by BML-258 but not by ROMe. Antagonising S1P1 receptors with W146 completely blocked the fall in systolic but not diastolic blood pressure in response to anandamide. S1P induced vasodilation in denuded aortic rings was blocked by W146 but caused no vasodilation in endothelium-intact rings. This study provides evidence that the SK1/S1P regulatory-axis is necessary for the rapid hypotension induced by anandamide. Generation of S1P in response to anandamide likely activates S1P1 to reduce total peripheral resistance and lower mean arterial pressure. These findings have important implications in our understanding of the hypotensive and cardiovascular actions of cannabinoids

Experiences in deploying metadata analysis tools for institutional repositories

Current institutional repository software provides few tools to help metadata librarians understand and analyze their collections. In this article, we compare and contrast metadata analysis tools that were developed simultaneously, but independently, at two New Zealand institutions during a period of national investment in research repositories: the Metadata Analysis Tool (MAT) at The University of Waikato, and the Kiwi Research Information Service (KRIS) at the National Library of New Zealand. The tools have many similarities: they are convenient, online, on-demand services that harvest metadata using OAI-PMH; they were developed in response to feedback from repository administrators; and they both help pinpoint specific metadata errors as well as generating summary statistics. They also have significant differences: one is a dedicated tool wheres the other is part of a wider access tool; one gives a holistic view of the metadata whereas the other looks for specific problems; one seeks patterns in the data values whereas the other checks that those values conform to metadata standards. Both tools work in a complementary manner to existing Web-based administration tools. We have observed that discovery and correction of metadata errors can be quickly achieved by switching Web browser views from the analysis tool to the repository interface, and back. We summarize the findings from both tools' deployment into a checklist of requirements for metadata analysis tools

Cognitive representations of disability behaviours in people with mobility limitations : consistency with theoretical constructs

Disability is conceptualised as behaviour by psychological theory and as a result of bodily impairment by medical models. However, how people with disabilities conceptualise those disabilities is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine disability representations in people with mobility disabilities. Thirteen people with mobility disabilities completed personal repertory grids (using the method of triads) applied to activities used to measure disabilities. Ten judges with expertise in health psychology then examined the correspondence between the elicited disability constructs and psychological and medical models of disability. Participants with mobility disabilities generated 73 personal constructs ofdisability. These constructs were judged consistent with the content of two psychological models, namely the theory of planned behaviour and social cognitive theory and with the main medical model of disability, the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health.Individuals with activity limitations conceptualise activities in a manner that is compatible with both psychological and medical models. This ensures adequate communication in contexts where the medical model is relevant, e.g. clinical contexts, as well as in everyday conversation about activities and behaviours. Finally, integrated models of disability may be of value for theory driven interdisciplinary approaches to disability and rehabilitation

Case–control, kin-cohort and meta-analyses provide no support for STK15 F31I as a low penetrance colorectal cancer allele

Recently, homozygosity for T91A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the serine/threonine kinase (STK15) gene, which generates the substitution F31I has been proposed to increase the risk of a number of tumours including colorectal cancer (CRC). To further evaluate the relationship between STK15 F31I and risk of CRC, we genotyped 2558 CRC cases and 2680 controls for this polymorphism. We found no evidence that homozygosity for the STK15 31I genotype confers an increased risk of CRC (odds ratio=0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74–1.24). We also conducted a kin-cohort analysis to assess risk among first-degree relatives of the CRC cases. The hazard ratio for I/I homozygotes compared to F/F homozygotes was 1.65 (95% CI: 0.39–3.17). A meta-analysis of our case–control data and three previous studies also provided no evidence of an elevated risk of CRC associated with homozygosity. These data provide no support for the hypothesis that sequence variation in STK15 defined by SNP F31I per se confers an elevated risk of CRC

Pubertal onset with adulthood lung function mediated by height growth in adolescence

BACKGROUND: Age of pubertal onset is associated with height and lung function in adulthood. It is unknown whether height growth in adolescence mediates the association of age at puberty with early adult lung function. METHODS: Data from the Isle of Wight (IOW) birth cohort (n=1261) were examined in the study. Ages of pubertal events, height at ages 10 and 18 years and lung function parameters (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV)) at 26 years were included in a path analysis to assess the mediation effects of height growth. Findings were tested in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. RESULTS: In females in the IOW cohort, age at menarche and body hair growth showed a positive indirect association with FVC (menarche: indirect effect coefficient (IEC)=0.13, 95% CI 0.05-0.20, p=1.28×10; body hair growth: IEC=0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.15, p=0.017) and FEV (menarche: IEC=0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.17, p=0.028; body hair growth: IEC=0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.14, p=0.043) at 26 years through height growth and lung function at 18 years. In males, age at body hair growth (IEC=0.08; 95% CI 0.01-0.15, p=0.047), growth spurt (IEC=0.09; 95% CI 0.01-0.17, p=0.034) and facial hair growth (IEC=0.09; 95% CI 0.02-0.16, p=0.014) had positive indirect effects on FVC at 26 years, but voice deepening did not show statistically significant indirect effects (p\u3e0.05). For pubertal events available in the ALSPAC cohort, results consistent with the IOW cohort were found for both females and males. CONCLUSION: Effects of age of puberty on FVC in early adulthood are likely mediated by height growth during adolescence