Quantum point contact conductance in NINS junctions

The effect of an insulating barrier located at a distance $a$ from a NS quantum point contact is analyzed in this work. The Bogoliubov de Gennes equations are solved for NINS junctions (S: anysotropic superconductor, I: insulator and N: normal metal), where the NIN region is a quantum wire. For $a\neq0$, bound states and resonances in the differential conductance are predicted. These resonances depend on the symmetry of the pair potential, the strength of the insulating barrier and $a$. Our results show that in a NINS quantum point contact the number of resonances vary with the symmetry of the order parameter. This is to be contrasted with the results for the NINS junction, in which only the position of the resonances changes with the symmetry.Comment: 5 pages, 5 Figures, RevTex

Compilation of Selected Vegetable Crop Reports Dealing with Research and Demonstration Plots Located at the Muck Crops Branch, 1983

Spinach cultivar trials, 1982 ; Celery cultivar trials, 1982 / James M. Pisarczyk and Richard L. Hassell -- Potato cultivar trials, 1982 / James M. Pisarczyk -- Celery transplant study, 1982 / Richard L. Hassell -- Parsley 1982 variety trials ; Onion 1982 variety trials ; Broccoli variety trials, 1982 / Richard L. Hassell -- Carrot variety trials, 1982 / R. Mack Riedel and Richard C. Henne -- Control of early blight of celery with fungicides, 1982 ; Control of crucifer downy mildew with fungicide sprays, 1982 / Randall C. Rowe and Richard L. Hassell -- Synergistic interaction between species of lesion nematodes and Verticillium dahliae, 1982 / R. M. Riedel and R. C. Rowe -- Transplants vs. bare-root in controlling root-knot nematode / R. M. Riedel -- Rotations for control of root-knot nematode / R. M. Riedel and J. A. Chatfield -- Fertilizer guidelines for vegetable crops grown on muck soils in Ohio / William M. Brooks, E. C. Wittmeyer and Richard Hassel

Site 503: Eastern Equatorial Pacific

Our primary objective at Site 503 (Fig. 1) was to re- cover a complete, undisturbed Neogene and Quaternary section in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Site 503 is located near Site 83 in an area that contains an almost continuous pelagic record of the past 10 m.y. (Hays et al., 1972). Unfortunately, Site 83 was only spot-cored, and the recovered sediment is so badly disturbed by rotary drilling that most of the detailed record is lost. The section has an average sedimentation rate of 2.0 to 2.5 cm/k.y. with good-to-moderate preservation of all the major microfossil groups. We returned to Site 83 to core the same section, using the Hydraulic Piston Corer (HPC) to obtain an undisturbed, continuous section for high-resolution stratigraphic studies

Site 502: Colombia Basin, Western Caribbean

Our specific objective at Site 502 was to recover an undisturbed, complete section that could be used as a Neogene and Quaternary reference section. A complete record such as this would allow intercorrelations between (1) paleomagnetic stratigraphy, (2) calcareous biostratigraphy, (3) cyclic accumulation of sediment, (4) paleoceanographic changes, (5) oxygen and carbon isotope stratigraphies, (6) the chronology of Central American volcanism, (7) the timing and effects of the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, and (8) the timing and effects of the initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation

Felony Murder and Capital Punishment: an Examination of the Deterrence Question

A proper test of the deterrent effect of the death penalty must consider capital homicides. However, the criterion variable in most investigations has been total homicides—most of which bear no legal or theoretical relationship to capital punishment. To address this fundamental data problem, this investigation used Federal Bureau of Investigation data for 1976–1987 to examine the relationship between capital punishment and felony murder, the most common type of capital homicide. We conducted time series analyses of monthly felony murder rates, the frequency of executions, and the amount and type of television coverage of executions over the period. The analyses revealed occasional departures (for vehicle theft and narcotics killings) from the null hypotheses. However, on balance, and in line with the vast majority of capital punishment studies, this investigation found no consistent evidence that executions and the television coverage they receive are associated significantly with rates for total, index, or different types of felony murder

Measuring Behavior in the Home Cage : Study Design, Applications, Challenges, and Perspectives

FUNDING This research was supported by NIH grants R00AG056662, P20GM125528, AG057424 to WS and SLPeer reviewedPublisher PD

An investigation into aripiprazole's partial D(2) agonist effects within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during working memory in healthy volunteers

Rationale: Working memory impairments in schizophrenia have been attributed to dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which in turn may be due to low DLPFC dopamine innervation. Conventional antipsychotic drugs block DLPFC D2 receptors, and this may lead to further dysfunction and working memory impairments. Aripiprazole is a D2 receptor partial agonist hypothesised to enhance PFC dopamine functioning, possibly improving working memory. Objectives: We probed the implications of the partial D2 receptor agonist actions of aripiprazole within the DLPFC during working memory. Investigations were carried out in healthy volunteers to eliminate confounds of illness or medication status. Aripiprazole’s prefrontal actions were compared with the D2/5-HT2A blocker risperidone to separate aripiprazole’s unique prefrontal D2 agonist actions from its serotinergic and striatal D2 actions that it shares with risperidone. Method: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design was implemented. Participants received a single dose of either 5 mg aripiprazole, 1 mg risperidone or placebo before performing the n-back task whilst undergoing fMRI scanning. Results: Compared with placebo, the aripiprazole group demonstrated enhanced DLPFC activation associated with a trend for improved discriminability (d’) and speeded reaction times. In contrast to aripiprazole’s neural effects, the risperidone group demonstrated a trend for reduced DLPFC recruitment. Unexpectedly, the risperidone group demonstrated similar effects to aripiprazole on d’ and additionally had reduced errors of commission compared with placebo. Conclusion: Aripiprazole has unique DLPFC actions attributed to its prefrontal D2 agonist action. Risperidone’s serotinergic action that results in prefrontal dopamine release may have protected against any impairing effects of its prefrontal D2 blockade

Genome-wide meta-analyses reveal novel loci for verbal short-term memory and learning

Understanding the genomic basis of memory processes may help in combating neurodegenerative disorders. Hence, we examined the associations of common genetic variants with verbal short-term memory and verbal learning in adults without dementia or stroke (N = 53,637). We identified novel loci in the intronic region of CDH18, and at 13q21 and 3p21.1, as well as an expected signal in the APOE/APOC1/TOMM40 region. These results replicated in an independent sample. Functional and bioinformatic analyses supported many of these loci and further implicated POC1. We showed that polygenic score for verbal learning associated with brain activation in right parieto-occipital region during working memory task. Finally, we showed genetic correlations of these memory traits with several neurocognitive and health outcomes. Our findings suggest a role of several genomic loci in verbal memory processes.Peer reviewe

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder