The effects of alcohol on memory were investigated using a free-recall verbal memory task. Twenty alcohol subjects were tested before alcohol (base line) and also on the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve at a blood alcohol level of .09%. Twenty placebo subjects were tested at three comparable times. Alcohol impaired immediate, short-term, and long-term memory for words presented during the alcohol state. However, there was no effect of alcohol on recall of base-line words either during the alcohol state or the next day. The long-termmemory impairment was due primarily to the short-term-memory deficit and not to state-dependent effects. Immediate memory was more impaired on the ascending than on the descending limb of the blood alcohol curve, while short-term memory did not demonstrate this differential impairment. Possible mechanisms responsible for these effects of alcohol on memory are discussed in terms of electroencephalographic and biochemical factors related to memory retrieval and consolidation.

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Abstract-The bacterium Escherichia coli has the capacity to respond to a wide range of environmental inputs, which have the potential to change suddenly and rapidly. Although the functions of many of its signal transduction and gene regulation networks have been identified, E.Coli's capacity for perceptual categorization, especially for discrimination between complex temporal patterns of chemical inputs, has been experimentally neglected. Real-time computations on time-varying inputs can be undertaken by a system possessing a high dimensional analog fading memory, i.e. a liquid-state machine (LSM). For example, the cortical microcolumn is hypothesized to be a LSM. A model of the gene regulation network (GRN) of E.Coli was assessed for its LSM properties for a range of increasingly complex stimuli. Cooperativity between transcription factors (TFs) is necessary for complex temporal discriminations. However, the low recurrence within the GRNs autonomous dynamics decreases its capacity for a rich fading memory, and hence for integrating temporal sequence information. We conclude that coupling of the GRN with signal transduction networks possessing cross-talk, and with metabolic networks is expected to increase the extent of nonautonomous recurrence and hence to facilitate enhanced LSM properties.

Inspectors with the UK National Bee Unit were asked for 2007-2008 to target problem apiaries in England and Wales for pathogen screening and colony strength measures. Healthy colonies were included in the sampling to provide a continuum of health conditions. A total of 406 adult bee samples was screened and yielded 7 viral, 1 bacterial, and 2 microsporidial pathogens and 1 ectoparasite (Acarapis woodi). In addition, 108 samples of brood were screened and yielded 4 honey bee viruses. Virus prevalence varied from common (deformed wing virus, black queen cell virus) to complete absence (Israeli acute paralysis virus). When colonies were forced into one of two classes, strong or weak, the weak colonies contained more pathogens in adult bees. Among observed pathogens, only deformed wing virus was able to predict colony strength. The effect was negative such that colonies testing positive for deformed wing virus were likely to have fewer combs of bees or brood. This study constitutes the first record for Nosema ceranae in Great Britain. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence linking pathogens to poor honey bee health.