Media as social influence: Racial differences in the effects of peers and media on adolescent alcohol cognitions and consumption.

Racial differences in the effects of peer and media influence on adolescents' alcohol cognitions and consumption were examined in a large-scale panel study. With regard to peer influence, results from cross-lagged panel analyses indicated that the relation between perceived peer drinking and own drinking was significant for both Black and White adolescents, but it was stronger for the White adolescents. With regard to media influence, structural modeling analyses indicated that exposure to drinking in movies was associated with more alcohol consumption 8 months and 16 months later. These effects were mediated by increases in the favorability of the adolescents' drinker prototypes, their willingness to drink, and their tendency to affiliate with friends who were drinking. Multiple group analyses indicated that, once again, the effects (both direct and indirect) were much stronger for White adolescents than for Black adolescents. The results suggest media influence works in a similar manner to social influence and that Whites may be more susceptible to both types of influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conditioned vocalization in rats.

Examined 2 crucial variables which might explain inconsistent results of attempts to condition vocalization in the rat: mobility of the S during conditioning and variability of the intertrial interval (ITI). 12 male Long-Evans rats were tested in 4 conditions of mobility-immobility, and fixed and variable ITI. Results support the importance of immobilizing the S, but not of varying the ITI during conditioning. It is suggested that vocal behavior in the rat may be conditioned only when no competing species-specific defense reaction (e.g., freezing) is available to the S. (31 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emergent faces in crystal etching

The time development of emergent faces in crystal etching is investigated. We present and discuss a novel computational approach, based on an intuitive geometrical derivation, for predicting an etched shape given an initial polygonal (mask) shape and a diagram of etch rate as a function of orientation. A two-dimensional geometric model is derived which determines the etched shape as a function of time. The model is both intuitive and easy to implement manually or by computer. Because the model is intuitive in nature, some results can be obtained from only partial information. In addition, the model is a first step in the transition from analysis to design. Rather than predicting the etched shape for a given original shape, often what is desired is the original mask shape needed to produce a particular etched shape. This inversion process is carried out for some special cases. The concepts of equilibrium or eigen shapes (Eshapes), limit shapes, and time scaling are introduced. Model predictions are compared with experimental results. The extension from two dimensions to three is also introduced     

A Tl-based high-temperature superconducting X-band cavity

A nonplanar X-band cavity amenable to coating with high-temperature superconducting films by conventional physical vapor deposition processes has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The cavity geometry resembles a symmetric clamshell configuration. It consists of two truncated cones joined at their bases. The specific dimensions of the cavity were calculated using the SUPERFISH computer code. Cavities were constructed using a silver-based alloy, Consil 995. The separate cavity sections were coated with Tl-based high-temperature superconducting material using a two-step deposition and annealing process. The unloaded Q values for this coated clamshell cavity are 66,000 and 105,000 at 77 and 20 K, respectively.     

The x-ray crystal structure of phosphomannose isomerase from Candida albicans at 1.7 angstrom resolution

Phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) catalyses the reversible isomerization of fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and mannose-6-phosphate (M6P). Absence of PMI activity in yeasts causes cell lysis and thus the enzyme is a potential target for inhibition and may be a route to antifungal drugs. The 1.7 A crystal structure of PMI from Candida albicans shows that the enzyme has three distinct domains. The active site lies in the central domain, contains a single essential zinc atom, and forms a deep, open cavity of suitable dimensions to contain M6P or F6P The central domain is flanked by a helical domain on one side and a jelly-roll like domain on the other.     

Thermolithographic patterning of sol-gel metal oxides on micro hot plate sensing arrays using organosilanes

Sol-gel-derived SnO2 and Fe2O3 were selectively deposited on elements of micro hot plate (microHP) arrays. The silicon micromachined microHP arrays contain heating elements (100 microm x 100 microm) that are electronically addressable and thermally isolated from each other. Thin films of (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane (TFS) or hexyltrichlorosilane (HFS) assembled on surfaces of the arrays served as thermally sensitive resists whereby heating of specific microHPs resulted in removal of organosilane films only in heated areas. TFS-masked surfaces were characterized with condensation figures and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging. TFS was removed from regions heated above 400 degrees C to expose hydrophilic surfaces, while TFS films in unheated areas were unaffected and remained hydrophobic. Sol-gel tin oxide spin-coated on the thermally patterned arrays adhered only to the hydrophilic regions and was repelled from the hydrophobic areas masked by the TFS films. By using HFS films, it was possible to selectively deposit two sol-gel materials, SnO2 and Fe2O3, on different microHPs in the same array as confirmed by SIMS imaging. Both materials showed varying degrees of electrical response to hydrogen and methanol in gas-sensing measurements.     

Overview of 1-year follow-up outcomes in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS).

The Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS) collected 1-year follow-up outcomes for 2,966 clients in outpatient methadone (OMT), long-term residential (LTR), outpatient drug-free (ODF), and short-term inpatient (STI) programs in 1991–1993. LTR, STI, and ODF clients reported 50% less weekly or daily cocaine use in the follow-up year than in the preadmission year. Reductions were greater (p?     

Combined biophysical and biochemical information confirms arrangement of transmembrane helices visible from the three-dimensional map of frog rhodopsin

The electron density projection map of frog rhodopsin at 6 A resolution had been until recently the most direct evidence for the three-dimensional structure of a transmembrane domain of any G-protein-coupled receptor. Only three out of seven transmembrane helices are clearly defined, whilst the other four are hidden in a patch of unresolved electron density. A model of the seven-helix bundle has been created by generating positions and orientations for the four unresolved helices through performing a conformational search directed by structural restraints derived from other experimental data. These four helices are significantly tilted with respect to the membrane normal, and the cytosolic end of helix C is inserted between helices D and E. These calculations produce positions and orientations for these additional helices that are consistent with the recently published low-resolution three-dimensional map, and provide a template for more detailed modelling of rhodopsin structure and function.