Workshop to identify critical windows of exposure for children's health: neurobehavioral work group summary.

This paper summarizes the deliberations of a work group charged with addressing specific questions relevant to risk estimation in developmental neurotoxicology. We focused on eight questions. a) Does it make sense to think about discrete windows of vulnerability in the development of the nervous system? If it does, which time periods are of greatest importance? b) Are there cascades of developmental disorders in the nervous system? For example, are there critical points that determine the course of development that can lead to differences in vulnerabilities at later times? c) Can information on critical windows suggest the most susceptible subgroups of children (i.e., age groups, socioeconomic status, geographic areas, race, etc.)? d) What are the gaps in existing data for the nervous system or end points of exposure to it? e) What are the best ways to examine exposure-response relationships and estimate exposures in vulnerable life stages? f) What other exposures that affect development at certain ages may interact with exposures of concern? g) How well do laboratory animal data predict human response? h) How can all of this information be used to improve risk assessment and public health (risk management)? In addressing these questions, we provide a brief overview of brain development from conception through adolescence and emphasize vulnerability to toxic insult throughout this period. Methodological issues focus on major variables that influence exposure or its detection through disruptions of behavior, neuroanatomy, or neurochemical end points. Supportive evidence from studies of major neurotoxicants is provided

High-resolution zero-dispersion wavelength mapping in single-mode fiber

We present a new noninvasive technique for measuring the spatial variation of the zero-dispersion wavelength (λ0) in single-mode fibers. This technique uses low-power continuous-wave lasers and is simple to implement. When applying this technique to dispersion-shifted fibers, we can resolve subnanometer fluctuations in λ0 with a potential spatial resolution of better than 100 m. We also discuss and show the limits of this and other techniques that arise from polarization-mode dispersion in the fibers. © 1998 Optical Society of America

Dietary Intake of Competitive Bodybuilders

Background: Competitive bodybuilders are well known for extreme physique traits and extremes in diet and training manipulation to optimize lean mass and achieve a low body fat. Although many of the dietary dogmas in bodybuilding lack scientific scrutiny, a number, including timing and dosing of high biological value proteins across the day, have more recently been confirmed as effective by empirical research studies. A more comprehensive understanding of the dietary intakes of bodybuilders has the potential to uncover other dietary approaches, deserving of scientific investigation, with application to the wider sporting, and potential health contexts, where manipulation of physique traits is desired. Objective: Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of dietary intake practices of competitive bodybuilders, evaluate the quality and currency of the existing literature, and identify research gaps to inform future studies. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted from the earliest record until March 2014. The search combined permutations of the terms ‘bodybuilding’, ‘dietary intake’, and ‘dietary supplement’. Included studies needed to report quantitative data (energy and macronutrients at a minimum) on habitual dietary intake of competitive bodybuilders. Results: The 18 manuscripts meeting eligibility criteria reported on 385 participants (n = 62 women). Most studies were published in the 1980–1990s, with three published in the past 5 years. Study methodological quality was evaluated as poor. Energy intake ranged from 10 to 24 MJ/day for men and from 4 to 14 MJ/day for women. Protein intake ranged from 1.9 to 4.3 g/kg for men and from 0.8 to 2.8 g/kg for women. Intake of carbohydrate and fat was 6 months from competition) or immediate post-competition period and lowest during competition preparation (≤6 months from competition) or competition week. The most commonly reported dietary supplements were protein powders/liquids and amino acids. The studies failed to provide details on rationale for different dietary intakes. The contribution of diet supplements was also often not reported. When supplements were reported, intakes of some micronutrients were excessive (~1000 % of US Recommended Dietary Allowance) and above the tolerable upper limit. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that literature describing the dietary intake practices of competitive bodybuilders is dated and often of poor quality. Intake reporting required better specificity and details of the rationale underpinning the use. The review suggests that high-quality contemporary research is needed in this area, with the potential to uncover dietary strategies worthy of scientific exploration