Can features of phosphate toxicity appear in normophosphatemia?

PubMed

Osuka, Satoko; Razzaque, Mohammed S

2012-01-01

Phosphate is an indispensable nutrient for the formation of nucleic acids and the cell membrane. Adequate phosphate balance is a prerequisite for basic cellular functions ranging from energy metabolism to cell signaling. More than 85% of body phosphate is present in the bones and teeth. The remaining phosphate is distributed in various soft tissues, including skeletal muscle. A tiny amount, around 1% of total body phosphate, is distributed both in the extracellular fluids and within the cells. Impaired phosphate balance can affect the functionality of almost all human systems, including muscular, skeletal, and vascular systems, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality of the involved patients. Currently, measuring serum phosphate level is the gold standard to estimate the overall phosphate status of the body. Despite the biological and clinical significance of maintaining delicate phosphate balance, serum levels do not always reflect the amount of phosphate uptake and its distribution. This article briefly discusses the potential that some of the early consequences of phosphate toxicity might not be evident from serum phosphate levels.

Can features of phosphate toxicity appear in normophosphatemia?

PubMed Central

Osuka, Satoko; Razzaque, Mohammed S.

2013-01-01

Phosphate is an indispensable nutrient for the formation of nucleic acids and the cell membrane. Adequate phosphate balance is a prerequisite for basic cellular functions ranging from energy metabolism to cell signaling. More than 85% of body phosphate is present in the bones and teeth. The remaining phosphate is distributed in various soft tissues, including skeletal muscle. A tiny amount, around 1% of total body phosphate, is distributed both in the extracellular fluids and within the cells. Impaired phosphate balance can affect the functionality of almost all human systems, including muscular, skeletal, and vascular systems, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality of the involved patients. Currently, measuring serum phosphate level is the gold standard to estimate the overall phosphate status of the body. Despite the biological and clinical significance of maintaining delicate phosphate balance, serum levels do not always reflect the amount of phosphate uptake and its distribution. This article briefly discusses the potential that some of the early consequences of phosphate toxicity might not be evident from serum phosphate levels. PMID:22219005

Dominant role of many-body effects on the carrier distribution function of quantum dot lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peyvast, Negin; Zhou, Kejia; Hogg, Richard A.; Childs, David T. D.

2016-03-01

The effects of free-carrier-induced shift and broadening on the carrier distribution function are studied considering different extreme cases for carrier statistics (Fermi-Dirac and random carrier distributions) as well as quantum dot (QD) ensemble inhomogeneity and state separation using a Monte Carlo model. Using this model, we show that the dominant factor determining the carrier distribution function is the free carrier effects and not the choice of carrier statistics. By using empirical values of the free-carrier-induced shift and broadening, good agreement is obtained with experimental data of QD materials obtained under electrical injection for both extreme cases of carrier statistics.

Neural Integration in Body Perception.

PubMed

Ramsey, Richard

2018-06-19

The perception of other people is instrumental in guiding social interactions. For example, the appearance of the human body cues a wide range of inferences regarding sex, age, health, and personality, as well as emotional state and intentions, which influence social behavior. To date, most neuroscience research on body perception has aimed to characterize the functional contribution of segregated patches of cortex in the ventral visual stream. In light of the growing prominence of network architectures in neuroscience, the current article reviews neuroimaging studies that measure functional integration between different brain regions during body perception. The review demonstrates that body perception is not restricted to processing in the ventral visual stream but instead reflects a functional alliance between the ventral visual stream and extended neural systems associated with action perception, executive functions, and theory of mind. Overall, these findings demonstrate how body percepts are constructed through interactions in distributed brain networks and underscore that functional segregation and integration should be considered together when formulating neurocognitive theories of body perception. Insight from such an updated model of body perception generalizes to inform the organizational structure of social perception and cognition more generally and also informs disorders of body image, such as anorexia nervosa, which may rely on atypical integration of body-related information.

Extensions of Island Biogeography Theory predict the scaling of functional trait composition with habitat area and isolation.

PubMed

Jacquet, Claire; Mouillot, David; Kulbicki, Michel; Gravel, Dominique

2017-02-01

The Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) predicts how area and isolation influence species richness equilibrium on insular habitats. However, the TIB remains silent about functional trait composition and provides no information on the scaling of functional diversity with area, an observation that is now documented in many systems. To fill this gap, we develop a probabilistic approach to predict the distribution of a trait as a function of habitat area and isolation, extending the TIB beyond the traditional species-area relationship. We compare model predictions to the body-size distribution of piscivorous and herbivorous fishes found on tropical reefs worldwide. We find that small and isolated reefs have a higher proportion of large-sized species than large and connected reefs. We also find that knowledge of species body-size and trophic position improves the predictions of fish occupancy on tropical reefs, supporting both the allometric and trophic theory of island biogeography. The integration of functional ecology to island biogeography is broadly applicable to any functional traits and provides a general probabilistic approach to study the scaling of trait distribution with habitat area and isolation. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

Unifying the functional diversity in natural and cultivated soils using the overall body-mass distribution of nematodes.

PubMed

Mulder, Christian; Maas, Rob

2017-11-28

Sustainable use of our soils is a key goal for environmental protection. As many ecosystem services are supported belowground at different trophic levels by nematodes, soil nematodes are expected to provide objective metrics for biological quality to integrate physical and chemical soil variables. Trait measurements of body mass carried out at the individual level can in this way be correlated with environmental properties that influence the performance of soil biota. Soil samples were collected across 200 sites (4 soil types and 5 land-use types resulting in 9 combinations) during a long-term monitoring programme in the Netherlands and the functional diversity of nematode communities was investigated. Using three commonly used functional diversity indices applicable to single traits (Divergence, Evenness and Richness), a unified index of overall body-mass distribution is proposed to better illustrate the application of functional metrics as a descriptor of land use. Effects of land use and soil chemistry on the functional diversity of nematodes were demonstrated and a combination of environmental factors accounts for the low functional value of Scots Pine forest soils in comparison to the high functional value of heathland soils, whereas human factors account for the low functional and chemical values of arable fields. These findings show an unexpected high functional vulnerability of nematodes inhabiting clay-rich soils in comparison to sandy soils and support the notion that soil C:N ratio is a major driver of biodiversity. The higher the C:N ratio, the higher the overall diversity, as soil nematodes cope better with nutrient-poor agroecosystems under less intense fertilization. A trait-based way focusing on size distribution of nematodes is proposed to maintain environmental health by monitoring the overall diversity in soil biota, keeping agriculture and forestry sustainable.

[Design of a miniaturized blood temperature-varying system based on computer distributed control].

PubMed

Xu, Qiang; Zhou, Zhaoying; Peng, Jiegang; Zhu, Junhua

2007-10-01

Blood temperature-varying has been widely applied in clinical practice such as extracorporeal circulation for whole-body perfusion hyperthermia (WBPH), body rewarming and blood temperature-varying in organ transplantation. This paper reports a novel DCS (Computer distributed control)-based blood temperature-varying system which includes therapy management function and whose hardware and software can be extended easily. Simulation results illustrate that this system provides precise temperature control with good performance in various operation conditions.

Effects of Changing Body Weight Distribution on Mediolateral Stability Control during Gait Initiation

PubMed Central

Caderby, Teddy; Yiou, Eric; Peyrot, Nicolas; de Viviés, Xavier; Bonazzi, Bruno; Dalleau, Georges

2017-01-01

During gait initiation, anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) precede the execution of the first step. It is generally acknowledged that these APA contribute to forward progression but also serve to stabilize the whole body in the mediolateral direction during step execution. Although previous studies have shown that changes in the distribution of body weight between both legs influence motor performance during gait initiation, it is not known whether and how such changes affect a person’s postural stability during this task. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of changing initial body weight distribution between legs on mediolateral postural stability during gait initiation. Changes in body weight distribution were induced under experimental conditions by modifying the frontal plane distribution of an external load located at the participants’ waists. Fifteen healthy adults performed a gait initiation series at a similar speed under three conditions: with the overload evenly distributed over both legs; with the overload strictly distributed over the swing-limb side; and with the overload strictly distributed over the stance-leg side. Our results showed that the mediolateral location of center-of-mass (CoM) during the initial upright posture differed between the experimental conditions, indicating modifications in the initial distribution of body weight between the legs according to the load distribution. While the parameters related to the forward progression remained unchanged, the alterations in body weight distribution elicited adaptive changes in the amplitude of APA in the mediolateral direction (i.e., maximal mediolateral shift of the center of pressure (CoP)), without variation in their duration. Specifically, it was observed that the amplitude of APA was modulated in such a way that mediolateral dynamic stability at swing foot-contact, quantified by the margin of stability (i.e., the distance between the base of support boundary and the extrapolated CoM position), did not vary between the conditions. These findings suggest that APA seem to be scaled as a function of the initial body weight distribution between both legs so as to maintain optimal conditions of stability during gait initiation. PMID:28396629

TMD parton distributions based on three-body decay functions in NLL order of QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Hidekazu

2015-04-01

Three-body decay functions in space-like parton branches are implemented to evaluate transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions in the next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) order of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Interference contributions due to the next-to-leading-order terms are taken into account for the evaluation of the transverse momenta in initial state parton radiations. Some properties of the decay functions are also examined. As an example, the calculated results are compared with those evaluated by an algorithm proposed in [M. A. Kimber, A. D. Martin, and M. G. Ryskin, Eur. Phys. J. C 12, 655 (2000)], [M. A. Kimber, A. D. Martin, and M. G. Ryskin, Phys. Rev. D 63, 11402 (2001)], [G. Watt, A. D. Martin, and M. G. Ryskin, Eur. Phys. J. C 31, 73 (2003)], and [A. D. Martin, M. G. Ryskin, and G. Watt, Eur. Phys. J. C 66, 167 (2010)], in which the TMD parton distributions are defined based on the k_t-factorization method with angular ordering conditions due to interference effects.

Potential Role of Lung Ventilation Scintigraphy in the Assessment of COPD

PubMed Central

Cukic, Vesna; Begic, Amela

2014-01-01

Objective: To highlight the importance of the lung ventilation scintigraphy (LVS) to study the regional distribution of lung ventilation and to describe most frequent abnormal patterns of lung ventilation distribution obtained by this technique in COPD and to compare the information obtained by LVS with the that obtained by traditional lung function tests. Material and methods: The research was done in 20 patients with previously diagnosed COPD who were treated in Intensive care unit of Clinic for pulmonary diseases and TB “Podhrastovi” Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo in exacerbation of COPD during first three months of 2014. Each patient was undergone to testing of pulmonary function by body plethysmography and ventilation/perfusion lung scintigraphy with radio pharmaceutics Technegas, 111 MBq Tc -99m-MAA. We compared the results obtained by these two methods. Results: All patients with COPD have a damaged lung function tests examined by body plethysmography implying airflow obstruction, but LVS indicates not only airflow obstruction and reduced ventilation, but also indicates the disorders in distribution in lung ventilation. Conclusion: LVS may add further information to the functional evaluation of COPD to that provided by traditional lung function tests and may contribute to characterizing the different phenotypes of COPD. PMID:25132709

Cardiovascular Adjustments to Gravitational Stress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blomqvist, C. Gunnar; Stone, H. Lowell

1991-01-01

The effects of gravity on the cardiovascular system must be taken into account whenever a hemodynamic assessment is made. All intravascular pressure have a gravity-dependent hydrostatic component. The interaction between the gravitational field, the position of the body, and the functional characteristics of the blood vessels determines the distribution of intravascular volume. In turn this distribution largely determines cardiac pump function. Multiple control mechanisms are activated to preserve optimal tissue perfusion when the magnitude of the gravitational field or its direction relative to the body changes. Humans are particularly sensitive to such changes because of the combination of their normally erect posture and the large body mass and blood volume below the level of the heart. Current aerospace technology also exposes human subjects to extreme variations in the gravitational forces that range from zero during space travel to as much an nine-times normal during operation of high-performance military aircraft. This chapter therefore emphasizes human physiology.

Geostatistical Approach to Estimating the Gold Ore Characteristics and Gold Reserves: A Case Study Daksa Area, Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan Truong, Xuan; Luong Le, Van; Quang Truong, Xuan

2015-04-01

Daksa gold deposit is the biggest gold deposits in Vietnam. The Daksa geological structure complicated, distributed mainly metamorphosed sedimentary NuiVu formation (PR3-?1nv2). The sulfide gold ore bodies distributed in quartz schist, quartz - biotite related to faut and distribution wing anticline. The gold ore bodies form circuits, network circuits, circuits lenses; fill the cup surface layer of the developing northeast - southwest; is the less than or west longitude north - SE. The results show that, Au and accompanying elements (Ag, Pb and Zn) have correlated pretty closely. All of its consistent with the logarithmic distribution standard, in accordance with the law of distribution of content mineral rare. The structure functions have nugget effect and spherical models with show that Au and accompanying elements special variation are changes. Au contents shown local anisotropy, no clearly anisotropy (K=1,17) and weakly anisotropy (K=1,4). Intensity mineralization of the ore bodies are quite high with demand spherical conversion coefficient ranging from 0.49 to 0.75 and from 0.66 to 0.97 (for other body). With nugget effects, ore bodies shown that it is consistent with mineralization in the ore bodies study, ore erasable, micro vein, infilling fractures in quartz vein. All of variogram presents local anisotropy, indicated gold mineralization at study area has least two-mineralization stages, consistent with the analysis of mineralography samples. By the results of the structure function study, the authors present the system optimization for exploration deposit and used to evaluate gold reserves by Ordinary Kriging. High accuracy of Kriging estimation results are expressed in the minimum Kriging variance, by compare the results calculated by some other methods (such as distance inverse weighting method, ..) and specially compare to the results of a some blocks have been exploited. Key words: Geostat and gold deposits VN. Daksa and gold mineralization. Geostat and gold mine Daksa.

Ring-averaged ion velocity distribution function probe for laboratory magnetized plasma experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawamori, Eiichirou; Chen, Jinting; Lin, Chiahsuan; Lee, Zongmau

2017-10-01

Ring-averaged velocity distribution function of ions at a fixed guiding center position is a fundamental quantity in the gyrokinetic plasma physics. We have developed a diagnostic tool for the ring averaged velocity distribution function of ions for laboratory plasma experiments, which is named as the ring-averaged ion distribution function probe (RIDFP). The RIDFP is a set of ion collectors for different velocities. It is designed to be immersed in magnetized plasmas and achieves momentum selection of incoming ions by the selection of the ion Larmor radii. To nullify the influence of the sheath potential surrounding the RIDFP on the orbits of the incoming ions, the electrostatic potential of the RIDFP body is automatically adjusted to coincide with the space potential of the target plasma with the use of an emissive probe and a voltage follower. The developed RIDFP successfully measured the equilibrium ring-averaged velocity distribution function of a laboratory magnetized plasma, which was in accordance with the Maxwellian distribution having an ion temperature of 0.2 eV.

Ring-averaged ion velocity distribution function probe for laboratory magnetized plasma experiment.

PubMed

Kawamori, Eiichirou; Chen, Jinting; Lin, Chiahsuan; Lee, Zongmau

2017-10-01

Ring-averaged velocity distribution function of ions at a fixed guiding center position is a fundamental quantity in the gyrokinetic plasma physics. We have developed a diagnostic tool for the ring averaged velocity distribution function of ions for laboratory plasma experiments, which is named as the ring-averaged ion distribution function probe (RIDFP). The RIDFP is a set of ion collectors for different velocities. It is designed to be immersed in magnetized plasmas and achieves momentum selection of incoming ions by the selection of the ion Larmor radii. To nullify the influence of the sheath potential surrounding the RIDFP on the orbits of the incoming ions, the electrostatic potential of the RIDFP body is automatically adjusted to coincide with the space potential of the target plasma with the use of an emissive probe and a voltage follower. The developed RIDFP successfully measured the equilibrium ring-averaged velocity distribution function of a laboratory magnetized plasma, which was in accordance with the Maxwellian distribution having an ion temperature of 0.2 eV.

Gravitational forces and moments on spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kane, T. R.; Likins, P. W.

1975-01-01

The solution of problems of attitude dynamics of spacecraft and the influence of gravitational forces and moments is examined. Arguments are presented based on Newton's law of gravitation, and employing the methods of Newtonian (vectorial) mechanics, with minimal recourse to the classical concepts of potential theory. The necessary ideas were developed and relationships were established to permit the representation of gravitational forces and moments exerted on bodies in space by other bodies, both in terms involving the mass distribution properties of the bodies, and in terms of vector operations on those scalar functions classically described as gravitational potential functions.

Probing the Differential Tissue Distribution and Bioaccumulation Behavior of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances of Varying Chain-Lengths, Isomeric Structures and Functional Groups in Crucian Carp.

PubMed

Shi, Yali; Vestergren, Robin; Nost, Therese Haugdahl; Zhou, Zhen; Cai, Yaqi

2018-04-17

Understanding the bioaccumulation mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) across different chain-lengths, isomers and functional groups represents a monumental scientific challenge with implications for chemical regulation. Here, we investigate how the differential tissue distribution and bioaccumulation behavior of 25 PFASs in crucian carp from two field sites impacted by point sources can provide information about the processes governing uptake, distribution and elimination of PFASs. Median tissue/blood ratios (TBRs) were consistently <1 for all PFASs and tissues except bile which displayed a distinct distribution pattern and enrichment of several perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids. Transformation of concentration data into relative body burdens (RBBs) demonstrated that blood, gonads, and muscle together accounted for >90% of the amount of PFASs in the organism. Principal component analyses of TBRs and RBBs showed that the functional group was a relatively more important predictor of internal distribution than chain-length for PFASs. Whole body bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for short-chain PFASs deviated from the positive relationship with hydrophobicity observed for longer-chain homologues. Overall, our results suggest that TBR, RBB, and BAF patterns were most consistent with protein binding mechanisms although partitioning to phospholipids may contribute to the accumulation of long-chain PFASs in specific tissues.

The Body Fat-Cognition Relationship in Healthy Older Individuals: Does Gynoid vs Android Distribution Matter?

PubMed

Forte, R; Pesce, C; De Vito, G; Boreham, C A G

2017-01-01

To examine the relationship between regional and whole body fat accumulation and core cognitive executive functions. Cross-sectional study. 78 healthy men and women aged between 65 and 75 years recruited through consumer's database. DXA measured percentage total body fat, android, gynoid distribution and android/gynoid ratio; inhibition and working memory updating through Random Number Generation test and cognitive flexibility by Trail Making test. First-order partial correlations between regional body fat and cognitive executive function were computed partialling out the effects of whole body fat. Moderation analysis was performed to verify the effect of gender on the body fat-cognition relationship. Results showed a differentiated pattern of fat-cognition relationship depending on fat localization and type of cognitive function. Statistically significant relationships were observed between working memory updating and: android fat (r = -0.232; p = 0.042), gynoid fat (r = 0.333; p = 0.003) and android/gynoid ratio (r = -0.272; p = 0.017). Separating genders, the only significant relationship was observed in females between working memory updating and gynoid fat (r = 0.280; p = 0.045). In spite of gender differences in both working memory updating and gynoid body fat levels, moderation analysis did not show an effect of gender on the relationship between gynoid fat and working memory updating. Results suggest a protective effect of gynoid body fat and a deleterious effect of android body fat. Although excessive body fat increases the risk of developing CDV, metabolic and cognitive problems, maintaining a certain proportion of gynoid fat may help prevent cognitive decline, particularly in older women. Guidelines for optimal body composition maintenance for the elderly should not target indiscriminate weight loss, but weight maintenance through body fat/lean mass control based on non-pharmacological tools such as physical exercise, known to have protective effects against CVD risk factors and age-related cognitive deterioration.

Absorption and distribution of orally administered jojoba wax in mice.

PubMed

Yaron, A; Samoiloff, V; Benzioni, A

1982-03-01

The liquid wax obtained from the seeds of the arid-land shrub jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is finding increasing use in skin treatment preparations. The fate of this wax upon reaching the digestive tract was studied. 14C-Labeled wax was administered intragastrically to mice, and the distribution of the label in the body was determined as a function of time. Most of the wax was excreted, but a small amount was absorbed, as was indicated by the distribution of label in the internal organs and the epididymal fat. The label was incorporated into the body lipids and was found to diminish with time.

Brain signature and functional impact of centralized pain: a multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain (MAPP) network study.

PubMed

Kutch, Jason J; Ichesco, Eric; Hampson, Johnson P; Labus, Jennifer S; Farmer, Melissa A; Martucci, Katherine T; Ness, Timothy J; Deutsch, Georg; Apkarian, A Vania; Mackey, Sean C; Klumpp, David J; Schaeffer, Anthony J; Rodriguez, Larissa V; Kreder, Karl J; Buchwald, Dedra; Andriole, Gerald L; Lai, H Henry; Mullins, Chris; Kusek, John W; Landis, J Richard; Mayer, Emeran A; Clemens, J Quentin; Clauw, Daniel J; Harris, Richard E

2017-10-01

Chronic pain is often measured with a severity score that overlooks its spatial distribution across the body. This widespread pain is believed to be a marker of centralization, a central nervous system process that decouples pain perception from nociceptive input. Here, we investigated whether centralization is manifested at the level of the brain using data from 1079 participants in the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain Research Network (MAPP) study. Participants with a clinical diagnosis of urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) were compared to pain-free controls and patients with fibromyalgia, the prototypical centralized pain disorder. Participants completed questionnaires capturing pain severity, function, and a body map of pain. A subset (UCPPS N = 110; fibromyalgia N = 23; healthy control N = 49) underwent functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with UCPPS reported pain ranging from localized (pelvic) to widespread (throughout the body). Patients with widespread UCPPS displayed increased brain gray matter volume and functional connectivity involving sensorimotor and insular cortices (P < 0.05 corrected). These changes translated across disease diagnoses as identical outcomes were present in patients with fibromyalgia but not pain-free controls. Widespread pain was also associated with reduced physical and mental function independent of pain severity. Brain pathology in patients with centralized pain is related to pain distribution throughout the body. These patients may benefit from interventions targeting the central nervous system.

Insight into nuclear body formation of phytochromes through stochastic modelling and experiment.

PubMed

Grima, Ramon; Sonntag, Sebastian; Venezia, Filippo; Kircher, Stefan; Smith, Robert W; Fleck, Christian

2018-05-01

Spatial relocalization of proteins is crucial for the correct functioning of living cells. An interesting example of spatial ordering is the light-induced clustering of plant photoreceptor proteins. Upon irradiation by white or red light, the red light-active phytochrome, phytochrome B, enters the nucleus and accumulates in large nuclear bodies. The underlying physical process of nuclear body formation remains unclear, but phytochrome B is thought to coagulate via a simple protein-protein binding process. We measure, for the first time, the distribution of the number of phytochrome B-containing nuclear bodies as well as their volume distribution. We show that the experimental data cannot be explained by a stochastic model of nuclear body formation via simple protein-protein binding processes using physically meaningful parameter values. Rather modelling suggests that the data is consistent with a two step process: a fast nucleation step leading to macroparticles followed by a subsequent slow step in which the macroparticles bind to form the nuclear body. An alternative explanation for the observed nuclear body distribution is that the phytochromes bind to a so far unknown molecular structure. We believe it is likely this result holds more generally for other nuclear body-forming plant photoreceptors and proteins. Creative Commons Attribution license.

Universal relations for spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gas near an s -wave resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Pengfei; Sun, Ning

2018-04-01

Synthetic spin-orbit-coupled quantum gases have been widely studied both experimentally and theoretically in the past decade. As shown in previous studies, this modification of single-body dispersion will in general couple different partial waves of the two-body scattering and thus distort the wave function of few-body bound states which determines the short-distance behavior of many-body wave function. In this work, we focus on the two-component Fermi gas with one-dimensional or three-dimensional spin-orbit coupling (SOC) near an s -wave resonance. Using the method of effective field theory and the operator product expansion, we derive universal relations for both systems, including the adiabatic theorem, viral theorem, and pressure relation, and obtain the momentum distribution matrix 〈ψa†(q ) ψb(q ) 〉 at large q (a ,b are spin indices). The momentum distribution matrix shows both spin-dependent and spatial anisotropic features. And the large momentum tail is modified at the subleading order thanks to the SOC. We also discuss the experimental implication of these results depending on the realization of the SOC.

Carbohydrate changes during growth and fruiting in Pleurotus ostreatus.

PubMed

Zhou, Shuai; Ma, Fuying; Zhang, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Jingsong

2016-01-01

The carbohydrate distribution in mushrooms is reported changing greatly in its different regions during growth and fruiting. In this study, the carbohydrate distribution in the compost and fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus was analysed. Sugar, polyol, polysaccharide, and chitin content during different growth phases and in different regions of the mushroom were determined. Results indicate that trehalose, mannitol, and glucose were first accumulated in the compost and then decreased during differentiation and growth of fruiting bodies. Meanwhile, trehalose, mannitol, and glucose also accumulated in the fruiting bodies and primarily distributed in the stipe, base, and pileus region, respectively. Polysaccharides mainly accumulated within the pileus and stipe regions, and chitin was mainly observed in the base region. These findings provide insights into carbohydrate function and utilisation during mushroom growth. Copyright © 2016 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evidence of three-body correlation functions in Rb+ and Sr2+ acetonitrile solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Angelo, P.; Pavel, N. V.

1999-09-01

The local structure of Sr2+ and Rb+ ions in acetonitrile has been investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and molecular dynamics simulations. The extended x-ray absorption fine structure above the Sr and Rb K edges has been interpreted in the framework of multiple scattering (MS) formalism and, for the first time, clear evidence of MS contributions has been found in noncomplexing ion solutions. Molecular dynamics has been used to generate the partial pair and triangular distribution functions from which model χ(k) signals have been constructed. The Sr2+ and Rb+ acetonitrile pair distribution functions show very sharp and well-defined first peaks indicating the presence of a well organized first solvation shell. Most of the linear acetonitrile molecules have been found to be distributed like hedgehog spines around the Sr2+ and Rb+ ions. The presence of three-body correlations has been singled out by the existence of well-defined peaks in the triangular configurations. Excellent agreement has been found between the theoretical and experimental data enforcing the reliability of the interatomic potentials used in the simulations. These results demonstrate the ability of the XAS technique in probing the higher-order correlation functions in solution.

Multiethnic genome-wide meta-analysis of ectopic fat depots identifies loci associated with adipocyte development and differentiation.

PubMed

Chu, Audrey Y; Deng, Xuan; Fisher, Virginia A; Drong, Alexander; Zhang, Yang; Feitosa, Mary F; Liu, Ching-Ti; Weeks, Olivia; Choh, Audrey C; Duan, Qing; Dyer, Thomas D; Eicher, John D; Guo, Xiuqing; Heard-Costa, Nancy L; Kacprowski, Tim; Kent, Jack W; Lange, Leslie A; Liu, Xinggang; Lohman, Kurt; Lu, Lingyi; Mahajan, Anubha; O'Connell, Jeffrey R; Parihar, Ankita; Peralta, Juan M; Smith, Albert V; Zhang, Yi; Homuth, Georg; Kissebah, Ahmed H; Kullberg, Joel; Laqua, René; Launer, Lenore J; Nauck, Matthias; Olivier, Michael; Peyser, Patricia A; Terry, James G; Wojczynski, Mary K; Yao, Jie; Bielak, Lawrence F; Blangero, John; Borecki, Ingrid B; Bowden, Donald W; Carr, John Jeffrey; Czerwinski, Stefan A; Ding, Jingzhong; Friedrich, Nele; Gudnason, Vilmunder; Harris, Tamara B; Ingelsson, Erik; Johnson, Andrew D; Kardia, Sharon L R; Langefeld, Carl D; Lind, Lars; Liu, Yongmei; Mitchell, Braxton D; Morris, Andrew P; Mosley, Thomas H; Rotter, Jerome I; Shuldiner, Alan R; Towne, Bradford; Völzke, Henry; Wallaschofski, Henri; Wilson, James G; Allison, Matthew; Lindgren, Cecilia M; Goessling, Wolfram; Cupples, L Adrienne; Steinhauser, Matthew L; Fox, Caroline S

2017-01-01

Variation in body fat distribution contributes to the metabolic sequelae of obesity. The genetic determinants of body fat distribution are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to gain new insights into the underlying genetics of body fat distribution by conducting sample-size-weighted fixed-effects genome-wide association meta-analyses in up to 9,594 women and 8,738 men of European, African, Hispanic and Chinese ancestry, with and without sex stratification, for six traits associated with ectopic fat (hereinafter referred to as ectopic-fat traits). In total, we identified seven new loci associated with ectopic-fat traits (ATXN1, UBE2E2, EBF1, RREB1, GSDMB, GRAMD3 and ENSA; P < 5 × 10 -8 ; false discovery rate < 1%). Functional analysis of these genes showed that loss of function of either Atxn1 or Ube2e2 in primary mouse adipose progenitor cells impaired adipocyte differentiation, suggesting physiological roles for ATXN1 and UBE2E2 in adipogenesis. Future studies are necessary to further explore the mechanisms by which these genes affect adipocyte biology and how their perturbations contribute to systemic metabolic disease.

The role of depressed metabolism in increased radio-resistance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Musacchia, X. J.

1975-01-01

The results of experiments on hamsters and rats to determine physiological responses to various temperature conditions are presented. The experimental methods described are considered to be applicable to future mammalian experiments in space. Renal function was examined in the golden hamster as a function of body temperature. Hamsters were also acclimated to heat and metabolic rates, body temperature, skin temperature, cardiac distribution and whole body hematocrits were measured. In addition, the effects of heat stress on the intestinal transport of sugars in the hamster and rat were studied. The biological effects of prolonged space flight and methods of simulating weightlessness are also discussed.

Differential distribution of glutamate- and GABA-gated chloride channels in the housefly Musca domestica.

PubMed

Kita, Tomo; Ozoe, Fumiyo; Azuma, Masaaki; Ozoe, Yoshihisa

2013-09-01

l-Glutamic acid (glutamate) mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission by affecting glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) in invertebrates. The molecular function and pharmacological properties of GluCls have been well studied, but not much is known about their physiological role and localization in the insect body. The distribution of GluCls in the housefly (Musca domestica L.) was thus compared with the distribution of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channels (GABACls). Quantitative PCR and ligand-binding experiments indicate that the GluCl and GABACl transcripts and proteins are predominantly expressed in the adult head. Intense GluCl immunostaining was detected in the lamina, leg motor neurons, and legs of adult houseflies. The GABACl (Rdl) immunostaining was more widely distributed, and was found in the medulla, lobula, lobula plate, mushroom body, antennal lobe, and ellipsoid body. The present findings suggest that GluCls have physiological roles in different tissues than GABACls. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

States of mind: Emotions, body feelings, and thoughts share distributed neural networks

PubMed Central

Oosterwijk, Suzanne; Lindquist, Kristen A.; Anderson, Eric; Dautoff, Rebecca; Moriguchi, Yoshiya; Barrett, Lisa Feldman

2012-01-01

Scientists have traditionally assumed that different kinds of mental states (e.g., fear, disgust, love, memory, planning, concentration, etc.) correspond to different psychological faculties that have domain-specific correlates in the brain. Yet, growing evidence points to the constructionist hypothesis that mental states emerge from the combination of domain-general psychological processes that map to large-scale distributed brain networks. In this paper, we report a novel study testing a constructionist model of the mind in which participants generated three kinds of mental states (emotions, body feelings, or thoughts) while we measured activity within large-scale distributed brain networks using fMRI. We examined the similarity and differences in the pattern of network activity across these three classes of mental states. Consistent with a constructionist hypothesis, a combination of large-scale distributed networks contributed to emotions, thoughts, and body feelings, although these mental states differed in the relative contribution of those networks. Implications for a constructionist functional architecture of diverse mental states are discussed. PMID:22677148

New technology of functional infrared imaging and its clinical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hongqin; Xie, Shusen; Lu, Zukang; Liu, Zhongqi

2006-01-01

With improvements in infrared camera technology, the promise of reduced costs and noninvasive character, infrared thermal imaging resurges in medicine. The paper introduces a new technology of functional infrared imaging, thermal texture maps (TTM), which is not only an apparatus for thermal radiation imaging but also a new method for revealing the relationship between the temperature distribution of the skin surface and the emission field inside body. The skin temperature distribution of a healthy human body exhibits a contralateral symmetry. Any disease in the body is associated with an alteration of the thermal distribution of human body. Infrared thermography is noninvasive, so it is the best choice for studying the physiology of thermoregulation and the thermal dysfunction associated with diseases. Reading and extracting information from the thermograms is a complex and subjective task that can be greatly facilitated by computerized techniques. Through image processing and measurement technology, surface or internal radiation sources can be non-invasively distinguished through extrapolation. We discuss the principle, the evaluation procedure and the effectiveness of TTM technology in the clinical detection and diagnosis of cancers, especially in their early stages and other diseases by comparing with other imaging technologies, such as ultrasound. Several study cases are given to show the effectiveness of this method. At last, we point out the applications of TTM technology in the research field of traditional medicine.

TRIQS: A toolbox for research on interacting quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parcollet, Olivier; Ferrero, Michel; Ayral, Thomas; Hafermann, Hartmut; Krivenko, Igor; Messio, Laura; Seth, Priyanka

2015-11-01

We present the TRIQS library, a Toolbox for Research on Interacting Quantum Systems. It is an open-source, computational physics library providing a framework for the quick development of applications in the field of many-body quantum physics, and in particular, strongly-correlated electronic systems. It supplies components to develop codes in a modern, concise and efficient way: e.g. Green's function containers, a generic Monte Carlo class, and simple interfaces to HDF5. TRIQS is a C++/Python library that can be used from either language. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). State-of-the-art applications based on the library, such as modern quantum many-body solvers and interfaces between density-functional-theory codes and dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) codes are distributed along with it.

A gravitational potential finding for rotating cosmological body in the context of proto-planetary dynamics problem solving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krot, Alexander M.

2008-09-01

The statistical theory for a cosmological body forming (so-called the spheroidal body model) has been proposed in [1]-[9]. Within the framework of this theory, bodies have fuzzy outlines and are represented by means of spheroidal forms [1],[2]. In the work [3], it has been investigated a slowly evolving in time process of a gravitational compression of a spheroidal body close to an unstable equilibrium state. In the papers [4],[5], the equation of motion of particles inside the weakly gravitating spheroidal body modeled by means of an ideal liquid has been obtained. Using Schwarzschild's and Kerr's metrics a consistency of the proposed statistical model with the general relativity has been shown in [6]. The proposed theory follows from the conception for forming a spheroidal body from protoplanetary nebula [7],[8]; it permits to derive the form of distribution functions for an immovable [1]-[5] and rotating spheroidal body [6]-[8] as well as their density masses and also the distribution function of specific angular momentum of the rotating uniformly spheroidal body [7],[8]. It is well-known there is not a statistical equilibrium in a gas-dust proto-planetary cloud because of long relaxation time for proto-planets formation in own gravitational field. This proto-planetary system behavior can be described by Jeans' equation in partial derivations relative to a distribution function [9]. The problem for finding a general solution of Jeans' equation is connected directly with an analytical expression for potential of gravitational field. Thus, the determination of gravitational potential is the main problem of statistical dynamics for proto-planetary system [9]. This work shows this task of proto-planetary dynamics can be solved on the basis of spheroidal bodies theory. The proposed theory permits to derive the form of gravitational potential for a rotating spheroidal body at a long distance from its center. Using the obtained analytical expression for potential of gravitational field, the gravitational strength (as well as angular momentum space function) in a remote zone of a slowly gravitational compressed rotating spheroidal body is obtained. As a result, a distribution function describing mechanical state of proto-planetary system can be found from the Jeans' equation. References: [1] Krot AM. The statistical model of gravitational interaction of particles. Uspekhi Sovremennoï Radioelektroniki (special issue "Cosmic Radiophysics", Moscow) 1996; 8: 66-81 (in Russian). [2] Krot AM. Use of the statistical model of gravity for analysis of nonhomogeneity in earth surface. Proc. SPIE's 13th Annual Intern. Symposium "AeroSense", Orlando, Florida, USA, April 5-9, 1999; 3710: 1248-1259. [3] Krot AM. Statistical description of gravitational field: a new approach. Proc. SPIE's 14th Annual Intern.Symposium "AeroSense", Orlando, Florida, USA, April 24-28, 2000; 4038: 1318-1329. [4] Krot AM. Gravidynamical equations for a weakly gravitating spheroidal body. Proc. SPIE's 15th Annual Intern. Symposium "AeroSense", Orlando, Florida, USA, April 16-20, 2001; 4394: 1271-1282. [5] Krot AM. Development of gravidynamical equations for a weakly gravitating body in the vicinity of absolute zero temperature. Proc. 53rd Intern. Astronautical Congress (IAC) - The 2nd World Space Congress-2002, Houston, Texas, USA, October 10-19, 2002; Preprint IAC-02-J.P.01: 1-11. [6] Krot AM. The statistical model of rotating and gravitating spheroidal body with the point of view of general relativity. Proc. 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Paris, France, July 18-25, 2004; Abstract-Nr. COSPAR 04-A- 00162. [7] Krot A. The statistical approach to exploring formation of Solar system. Proc. European Geoscinces Union (EGU) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, April 02-07, 2006; Geophysical Research Abstracts, vol. 8: EGU06-A- 00216, SRef-ID: 1607-7962/gra/. [8] Krot AM. The statistical model of original and evolution planets of Solar system and planetary satellities. Proc. European Planetary Science Congress, Berlin, Germany, September 18-22, 2006; Planetary Research Abstracts, ESPC2006-A-00014. [9] Krot A. On the principal difficulties and ways to their solution in the theory of gravitational condensation of infinitely distributed dust substance. Proc. XXIV IUGG General Assembly, Perugia, Italy, July 2-13, 2007; GS002 Symposium "Gravity Field", Abstract GS002-3598: 143-144.

AN EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF A THIN EXPONENTIAL DISC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharma, Sanjib; Bland-Hawthorn, Joss

2013-08-20

An empirical formula for a Shu distribution function that reproduces a thin disc with exponential surface density to good accuracy is presented. The formula has two free parameters that specify the functional form of the velocity dispersion. Conventionally, this requires the use of an iterative algorithm to produce the correct solution, which is computationally taxing for applications like Markov Chain Monte Carlo model fitting. The formula has been shown to work for flat, rising, and falling rotation curves. Application of this methodology to one of the Dehnen distribution functions is also shown. Finally, an extension of this formula to reproducemore » velocity dispersion profiles that are an exponential function of radius is also presented. Our empirical formula should greatly aid the efficient comparison of disc models with large stellar surveys or N-body simulations.« less

Simple ``invariance'' of two-body decay kinematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agashe, Kaustubh; Franceschini, Roberto; Kim, Doojin

2013-09-01

We study the two-body decay of a mother particle into a massless daughter. We further assume that the mother particle is unpolarized and has a generic boost distribution in the laboratory frame. In this case, we show analytically that the laboratory frame energy distribution of the massless decay product has a peak, whose location is identical to the (fixed) energy of that particle in the rest frame of the corresponding mother particle. Given its simplicity and “invariance” under changes in the boost distribution of the mother particle, our finding should be useful for the determination of masses of mother particles. In particular, we anticipate that such a procedure will then not require a full reconstruction of this two-body decay chain (or, for that matter, information about the rest of the event). With this eventual goal in mind, we make a proposal for extracting the peak position by fitting the data to a well-motivated analytic function describing the shape of such an energy distribution. This fitting function is then tested on the theoretical prediction for top quark pair production and its decay, and it is found to be quite successful in this regard. As a proof of principle of the usefulness of our observation, we apply it for measuring the mass of the top quark at the LHC, using simulated data and including experimental effects.

A Density Functional for Liquid 3He Based on the Aziz Potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barranco, M.; Hernández, E. S.; Mayol, R.; Navarro, J.; Pi, M.; Szybisz, L.

2006-09-01

We propose a new class of density functionals for liquid 3He based on the Aziz helium-helium interaction screened at short distances by the microscopically calculated two-body distribution function g(r). Our aim is to reduce to a minumum the unavoidable phenomenological ingredients inherent to any density functional approach. Results for the homogeneous liquid and droplets are presented and discussed.

Gamma-H2AX-based dose estimation for whole and partial body radiation exposure.

PubMed

Horn, Simon; Barnard, Stephen; Rothkamm, Kai

2011-01-01

Most human exposures to ionising radiation are partial body exposures. However, to date only limited tools are available for rapid and accurate estimation of the dose distribution and the extent of the body spared from the exposure. These parameters are of great importance for emergency triage and clinical management of exposed individuals. Here, measurements of γ-H2AX immunofluorescence by microscopy and flow cytometry were compared as rapid biodosimetric tools for whole and partial body exposures. Ex vivo uniformly X-irradiated blood lymphocytes from one donor were used to generate a universal biexponential calibration function for γ-H2AX foci/intensity yields per unit dose for time points up to 96 hours post exposure. Foci--but not intensity--levels remained significantly above background for 96 hours for doses of 0.5 Gy or more. Foci-based dose estimates for ex vivo X-irradiated blood samples from 13 volunteers were in excellent agreement with the actual dose delivered to the targeted samples. Flow cytometric dose estimates for X-irradiated blood samples from 8 volunteers were in excellent agreement with the actual dose delivered at 1 hour post exposure but less so at 24 hours post exposure. In partial body exposures, simulated by mixing ex vivo irradiated and unirradiated lymphocytes, foci/intensity distributions were significantly over-dispersed compared to uniformly irradiated lymphocytes. For both methods and in all cases the estimated fraction of irradiated lymphocytes and dose to that fraction, calculated using the zero contaminated Poisson test and γ-H2AX calibration function, were in good agreement with the actual mixing ratios and doses delivered to the samples. In conclusion, γ-H2AX analysis of irradiated lymphocytes enables rapid and accurate assessment of whole body doses while dispersion analysis of foci or intensity distributions helps determine partial body doses and the irradiated fraction size in cases of partial body exposures.

Kinetic energy as functional of the correlation hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nalewajski, Roman F.

2003-01-01

Using the marginal decomposition of the many-body probability distribution the electronic kinetic energy is expressed as the functional of the electron density and correlation hole. The analysis covers both the molecule as a whole and its constituent subsystems. The importance of the Fisher information for locality is emphasized.

Customized Body Mapping to Facilitate the Ergonomic Design of Sportswear.

PubMed

Cao, Mingliang; Li, Yi; Guo, Yueping; Yao, Lei; Pan, Zhigeng

2016-01-01

A successful high-performance sportswear design that considers human factors should result in a significant increase in thermal comfort and reduce energy loss. The authors describe a body-mapping approach that facilitates the effective ergonomic design of sportswear. Their general framework can be customized based on the functional requirements of various sports and sportswear, the desired combination and selection of mapping areas for the human body, and customized quantitative data distribution of target physiological indicators.

A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of the body schema using full human line-drawing figures in an on-line verbal naming and localization task of single body part words.

PubMed

McCrea, Simon M

2007-06-18

Naming and localization of individual body part words to a high-resolution line drawing of a full human figure was tested in a mixed-sex sample of nine right handed subjects. Activation within the superior medial left parietal cortex and bilateral dorsolateral cortex was consistent with involvement of the body schema which is a dynamic postural self-representation coding and combining sensory afference and motor efference inputs/outputs that is automatic and nonconscious. Additional activation of the left rostral occipitotemporal cortex was consistent with involvement of the neural correlates of the verbalizable body structural description that encodes semantic and categorical representations to animate objects such as full human figures. The results point to a highly distributed cortical representation for the encoding and manipulation of body part information and highlight the need for the incorporation of more ecologically valid measures of body schema coding in future functional neuroimaging studies.

Flexible configuration-interaction shell-model many-body solver

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Calvin W.; Ormand, W. Erich; McElvain, Kenneth S.

BIGSTICK Is a flexible configuration-Interaction open-source shell-model code for the many-fermion problem In a shell model (occupation representation) framework. BIGSTICK can generate energy spectra, static and transition one-body densities, and expectation values of scalar operators. Using the built-in Lanczos algorithm one can compute transition probabflity distributions and decompose wave functions into components defined by group theory.

Second-order small-disturbance solutions for hypersonic flow over power-law bodies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Townsend, J. C.

1975-01-01

Similarity solutions were found which give the adiabatic flow of an ideal gas about two-dimensional and axisymmetric power-law bodies at infinite Mach number to second order in the body slenderness parameter. The flow variables were expressed as a sum of zero-order and perturbation similarity functions for which the axial variations in the flow equations separated out. The resulting similarity equations were integrated numerically. The solutions, which are universal functions, are presented in graphic and tabular form. To avoid a singularity in the calculations, the results are limited to body power-law exponents greater than about 0.85 for the two-dimensional case and 0.75 for the axisymmetric case. Because of the entropy layer induced by the nose bluntness (for power-law bodies other than cones and wedges), only the pressure function is valid at the body surface. The similarity results give excellent agreement with the exact solutions for inviscid flow over wedges and cones having half-angles up to about 20 deg. They give good agreement with experimental shock-wave shapes and surface-pressure distributions for 3/4-power axisymmetric bodies, considering that Mach number and boundary-layer displacement effects are not included in the theory.

Resonance-induced multimodal body-size distributions in ecosystems

PubMed Central

Lampert, Adam; Tlusty, Tsvi

2013-01-01

The size of an organism reflects its metabolic rate, growth rate, mortality, and other important characteristics; therefore, the distribution of body size is a major determinant of ecosystem structure and function. Body-size distributions often are multimodal, with several peaks of abundant sizes, and previous studies suggest that this is the outcome of niche separation: species from distinct peaks avoid competition by consuming different resources, which results in selection of different sizes in each niche. However, this cannot explain many ecosystems with several peaks competing over the same niche. Here, we suggest an alternative, generic mechanism underlying multimodal size distributions, by showing that the size-dependent tradeoff between reproduction and resource utilization entails an inherent resonance that may induce multiple peaks, all competing over the same niche. Our theory is well fitted to empirical data in various ecosystems, in which both model and measurements show a multimodal, periodically peaked distribution at larger sizes, followed by a smooth tail at smaller sizes. Moreover, we show a universal pattern of size distributions, manifested in the collapse of data from ecosystems of different scales: phytoplankton in a lake, metazoans in a stream, and arthropods in forests. The demonstrated resonance mechanism is generic, suggesting that multimodal distributions of numerous ecological characters emerge from the interplay between local competition and global migration. PMID:23248320

[Using infrared thermal asymmetry analysis for objective assessment of the lesion of facial nerve function].

PubMed

Liu, Xu-long; Hong, Wen-xue; Song, Jia-lin; Wu, Zhen-ying

2012-03-01

The skin temperature distribution of a healthy human body exhibits a contralateral symmetry. Some lesions of facial nerve function are associated with an alteration of the thermal distribution of the human body. Since the dissipation of heat through the skin occurs for the most part in the form of infrared radiation, infrared thermography is the method of choice to capture the alteration of the infrared thermal distribution. This paper presents a new method of analysis of the thermal asymmetry named effective thermal area ratio, which is a product of two variables. The first variable is mean temperature difference between the specific facial region and its contralateral region. The second variable is a ratio, which is equal to the area of the abnormal region divided by the total area. Using this new method, we performed a controlled trial to assess the facial nerve function of the healthy subjects and the patients with Bell's palsy respectively. The results show: that the mean specificity and sensitivity of this method are 0.90 and 0.87 respectively, improved by 7% and 26% compared with conventional methods. Spearman correlation coefficient between effective thermal area ratio and the degree of facial nerve function is an average of 0.664. Hence, concerning the diagnosis and assessment of facial nerve function, infrared thermography is a powerful tool; while the effective ther mal area ratio is an efficient clinical indicator.

Taste and smell function in testicular cancer survivors treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in relation to dietary intake, food preference, and body composition.

PubMed

IJpma, Irene; Renken, Remco J; Gietema, Jourik A; Slart, Riemer H J A; Mensink, Manon G J; Lefrandt, Joop D; Ter Horst, Gert J; Reyners, Anna K L

2016-10-01

Chemotherapy can affect taste and smell function. This may contribute to the high prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome in testicular cancer survivors (TCS). Aims of the study were to evaluate taste and smell function and possible consequences for dietary intake, food preference, and body composition in TCS treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Fifty TCS, 1-7 years post-chemotherapy, and 50 age-matched healthy men participated. Taste and smell function were measured using taste strips and 'Sniffin' Sticks', respectively. Dietary intake was investigated using a food frequency questionnaire. Food preference was assessed using food pictures varying in taste (sweet/savoury) and fat or protein content. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry was performed to measure body composition. Presence of metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism were assessed. TCS had a lower total taste function, a higher bitter taste threshold, higher Body Mass Index (BMI), and more (abdominal) fat than controls (p < 0.05). No differences in smell function and dietary intake were found. Testosterone level was an important determinant of body composition in TCS (p = 0.016). Although taste function was impaired in TCS, this was not related to a different dietary intake compared to controls. Lower testosterone levels were associated with a higher BMI, fat mass, and abdominal fat distribution in TCS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Random matrix theory of singular values of rectangular complex matrices I: Exact formula of one-body distribution function in fixed-trace ensemble

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adachi, Satoshi; Toda, Mikito; Kubotani, Hiroto

The fixed-trace ensemble of random complex matrices is the fundamental model that excellently describes the entanglement in the quantum states realized in a coupled system by its strongly chaotic dynamical evolution [see H. Kubotani, S. Adachi, M. Toda, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 (2008) 240501]. The fixed-trace ensemble fully takes into account the conservation of probability for quantum states. The present paper derives for the first time the exact analytical formula of the one-body distribution function of singular values of random complex matrices in the fixed-trace ensemble. The distribution function of singular values (i.e. Schmidt eigenvalues) of a quantum state ismore » so important since it describes characteristics of the entanglement in the state. The derivation of the exact analytical formula utilizes two recent achievements in mathematics, which appeared in 1990s. The first is the Kaneko theory that extends the famous Selberg integral by inserting a hypergeometric type weight factor into the integrand to obtain an analytical formula for the extended integral. The second is the Petkovsek-Wilf-Zeilberger theory that calculates definite hypergeometric sums in a closed form.« less

Multivesicular Bodies in Neurons: Distribution, Protein Content, and Trafficking Functions

PubMed Central

VON BARTHELD, CHRISTOPHER S.; ALTICK, AMY L.

2011-01-01

Summary Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are intracellular endosomal organelles characterized by multiple internal vesicles that are enclosed within a single outer membrane. MVBs were initially regarded as purely prelysosomal structures along the degradative endosomal pathway of internalized proteins. MVBs are now known to be involved in numerous endocytic and trafficking functions, including protein sorting, recycling, transport, storage, and release. This review of neuronal MVBs summarizes their research history, morphology, distribution, accumulation of cargo and constitutive proteins, transport, and theories of functions of MVBs in neurons and glia. Due to their complex morphologies, neurons have expanded trafficking and signaling needs, beyond those of “geometrically simpler” cells, but it is not known whether neuronal MVBs perform additional transport and signaling functions. This review examines the concept of compartment-specific MVB functions in endosomal protein trafficking and signaling within synapses, axons, dendrites and cell bodies. We critically evaluate reports of the accumulation of neuronal MVBs based on evidence of stress-induced MVB formation. Furthermore, we discuss potential functions of neuronal and glial MVBs in development, in dystrophic neuritic syndromes, injury, disease, and aging. MVBs may play a role in Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Niemann-Pick diseases, some types of frontotemporal dementia, prion and virus trafficking, as well as in adaptive responses of neurons to trauma and toxin or drug exposure. Functions of MVBs in neurons have been much neglected, and major gaps in knowledge currently exist. Developing truly MVB-specific markers would help to elucidate the roles of neuronal MVBs in intra- and intercellular signaling of normal and diseased neurons. PMID:21216273

The evolution of cranial form and function in theropod dinosaurs: insights from geometric morphometrics.

PubMed

Brusatte, S L; Sakamoto, M; Montanari, S; Harcourt Smith, W E H

2012-02-01

Theropod dinosaurs, an iconic clade of fossil species including Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor, developed a great diversity of body size, skull form and feeding habits over their 160+ million year evolutionary history. Here, we utilize geometric morphometrics to study broad patterns in theropod skull shape variation and compare the distribution of taxa in cranial morphospace (form) to both phylogeny and quantitative metrics of biting behaviour (function). We find that theropod skulls primarily differ in relative anteroposterior length and snout depth and to a lesser extent in orbit size and depth of the cheek region, and oviraptorosaurs deviate most strongly from the "typical" and ancestral theropod morphologies. Noncarnivorous taxa generally fall out in distinct regions of morphospace and exhibit greater overall disparity than carnivorous taxa, whereas large-bodied carnivores independently converge on the same region of morphospace. The distribution of taxa in morphospace is strongly correlated with phylogeny but only weakly correlated with functional biting behaviour. These results imply that phylogeny, not biting function, was the major determinant of theropod skull shape. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2011 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

Testing methods of pressure distribution of bra cups on breasts soft tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musilova, B.; Nemcokova, R.; Svoboda, M.

2017-10-01

Objective of this study is to evaluate testing methods of pressure distribution of bra cups on breasts soft tissue, the system which do not affect the space between the wearer's body surface and bra cups and thus do not influence the geometry of the measured body surface and thus investigate the functional performance of brassieres. Two measuring systems were used for the pressure comfort evaluating: 1) The pressure distribution of a wearing bra during 20 minutes on women's breasts has been directly measured using pressure sensor, a dielectricum which is elastic polyurethane foam bra cups. Twelve points were measured in bra cups. 2) Simultaneously the change of temperature in the same points bra was tested with the help of noncontact system the thermal imager. The results indicate that both of those systems can identify different pressure distribution at different points. The same size of bra designing features bra cups made from the same material and which is define by the help of same standardised body dimensions (bust and underbust) can cause different value of a compression on different shape of a woman´s breast soft tissue.

States of mind: emotions, body feelings, and thoughts share distributed neural networks.

PubMed

Oosterwijk, Suzanne; Lindquist, Kristen A; Anderson, Eric; Dautoff, Rebecca; Moriguchi, Yoshiya; Barrett, Lisa Feldman

2012-09-01

Scientists have traditionally assumed that different kinds of mental states (e.g., fear, disgust, love, memory, planning, concentration, etc.) correspond to different psychological faculties that have domain-specific correlates in the brain. Yet, growing evidence points to the constructionist hypothesis that mental states emerge from the combination of domain-general psychological processes that map to large-scale distributed brain networks. In this paper, we report a novel study testing a constructionist model of the mind in which participants generated three kinds of mental states (emotions, body feelings, or thoughts) while we measured activity within large-scale distributed brain networks using fMRI. We examined the similarity and differences in the pattern of network activity across these three classes of mental states. Consistent with a constructionist hypothesis, a combination of large-scale distributed networks contributed to emotions, thoughts, and body feelings, although these mental states differed in the relative contribution of those networks. Implications for a constructionist functional architecture of diverse mental states are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fat distribution and end-expiratory lung volume in lean and obese men and women.

PubMed

Babb, Tony G; Wyrick, Brenda L; DeLorey, Darren S; Chase, Paul J; Feng, Mabel Y

2008-10-01

Although obesity significantly reduces end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), the relationship between EELV and detailed measures of fat distribution has not been studied in obese men and women. To investigate, EELV and chest wall fat distribution (ie, rib cage, anterior subcutaneous abdominal fat, posterior subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat) were measured in lean men and women (ie, < 25% body fat) and obese men and women (ie, > 30% body fat). All subjects underwent pulmonary function testing, hydrostatic weighing, and MRI scans. Data were analyzed for the men and women separately by independent t test, and the relationships between variables were determined by regression analysis. All body composition measurements were significantly different among the lean and obese men and women (p < 0.001). However, with only a few exceptions, fat distribution was similar among the lean and obese men and women (p > 0.05). The mean EELV was significantly lower in the obese men (39 +/- 6% vs 46 +/- 4% total lung capacity [TLC], respectively; p < 0.0005) and women (40 +/- 4% vs 53 +/- 4% TLC, respectively; p < 0.0001) compared with lean control subjects. Many estimates of body fat were significantly correlated with EELV for both men and women. In both men and women, the decrease in EELV with obesity appears to be related to the cumulative effect of increased chest wall fat rather than to any specific regional chest wall fat distribution. Also, with only a few exceptions, relative fat distribution is markedly similar between lean and obese subjects.

Effect of body mass distribution on the ontogeny of positional behaviors in non-human primates: Longitudinal follow-up of infant captive olive baboons (Papio anubis).

PubMed

Druelle, François; Aerts, Peter; Berillon, Gilles

2016-11-01

The diversity of primates' positional capabilities is unique among mammals. Indeed, they exhibit a daily repertoire composed of various locomotor and postural modes that may be linked to their particular morphological pattern. Because ontogeny undergoes parallel behavioral and morphological modifications, it may be useful to investigate the biomechanical consequences of the changing body shape. We, therefore, collected accurate quantitative and longitudinal data on positional behaviors, body mass distribution patterns, activities, and environment on a sample of six infant olive baboons, Papio anubis. These baboons are kept at the Primatology Station of the CNRS, France, where they live within the same social group. Individual behaviors were quantified using the focal sampling method. The body mass distribution was estimated according to a geometric model based on direct external measurements. Multivariate analysis enabled us to analyze the interactions between the data. Our results show that body mass distribution changes together with the ontogenetic changes in positional behaviors. At an early age, individuals have distally heavy segment masses in the limbs and an important fraction of the behavioral repertoire involves efficient grasping abilities. At the end of infancy, the same individuals have relatively more mass in proximal segments of the limbs and the proportion of quadrupedal walking is significantly higher while other climbing and suspensory behaviors decreased substantially. The present study experimentally confirms the association between body mass distribution and the positional repertoire of primates. These relationships, when interpreted in the context of basic biomechanical concepts, may improve our understanding of primate locomotion. We discuss further the implications of these functional relationships when modeling the evolutionary pathway of primates. Am. J. Primatol. 78:1201-1221, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Truncated Calogero-Sutherland models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pittman, S. M.; Beau, M.; Olshanii, M.; del Campo, A.

2017-05-01

A one-dimensional quantum many-body system consisting of particles confined in a harmonic potential and subject to finite-range two-body and three-body inverse-square interactions is introduced. The range of the interactions is set by truncation beyond a number of neighbors and can be tuned to interpolate between the Calogero-Sutherland model and a system with nearest and next-nearest neighbors interactions discussed by Jain and Khare. The model also includes the Tonks-Girardeau gas describing impenetrable bosons as well as an extension with truncated interactions. While the ground state wave function takes a truncated Bijl-Jastrow form, collective modes of the system are found in terms of multivariable symmetric polynomials. We numerically compute the density profile, one-body reduced density matrix, and momentum distribution of the ground state as a function of the range r and the interaction strength.

DISTRIBUTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN THE BODY.

DTIC Science & Technology

and organ granules; Adrenomedullary response to 2-deoxyglucose in the hypothyroid, euthyroid, and hyperthyroid rat; Effect of respiratory acidosis on...vasoconstrictor effects of directly and indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines in cats; The adrenergic innervation of the vas deferens and the...accessory male genital gland; Distribution and function of adrenergic nerves in the rabbit fallopian tube; Effects of acute heart failure and

Dark matter in 3D

DOE PAGES

Alves, Daniele S. M.; El Hedri, Sonia; Wacker, Jay G.

2016-03-21

We discuss the relevance of directional detection experiments in the post-discovery era and propose a method to extract the local dark matter phase space distribution from directional data. The first feature of this method is a parameterization of the dark matter distribution function in terms of integrals of motion, which can be analytically extended to infer properties of the global distribution if certain equilibrium conditions hold. The second feature of our method is a decomposition of the distribution function in moments of a model independent basis, with minimal reliance on the ansatz for its functional form. We illustrate our methodmore » using the Via Lactea II N-body simulation as well as an analytical model for the dark matter halo. Furthermore, we conclude that O(1000) events are necessary to measure deviations from the Standard Halo Model and constrain or measure the presence of anisotropies.« less

Clinical effects of leg length discrepancy through ground and joint reaction force responses: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zabri, S. W. K. Ali; Basaruddin, K. S.; Salleh, A. F.; Rusli, W. M. R.; Daud, R.

2017-09-01

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is caused either due to functional disorder or shortening of bone structure. This disorder could contribute to the significant effects on body weight distribution and lumbar scoliosis at the certain extend. Ground reaction force and joint reaction force are the parameters that can be used to analyze the responses in weight distribution and kinetics changes on the body joints, respectively. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to review the studies that focus on the clinical effects of LLD to the lower limb and spine through ground and joint reaction force responses that could lead to the orthopedics disorder.

The multicenter benchmarking study of burn injury: A content analysis of the outcome measures using the international classification of functioning, disability and health.

PubMed

Osborne, Candice L; Petersson, Christina; Graham, James E; Meyer, Walter J; Simeonsson, Rune J; Suman, Oscar E; Ottenbacher, Kenneth J

2016-11-01

To link, classify and describe the content of the Multicenter Benchmarking Study Burn Outcomes Questionnaires (BOQ) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to determine if the information garnered provides researchers with the data necessary to develop a comprehensive understanding of life after burns. Two ICF linking experts used a standardized linking technique endorsed by the World Health Organization to link all BOQ concepts to the ICF. Linking results were analyzed to determine the comprehensiveness of each of the five measures. The activities and participation component was most frequently addressed followed by the body functions component. Environmental factors are not extensively covered and body structures are not addressed. ICF chapter and category distribution were skewed and varied between assessments. The majority of BOQ items are of the health status perspective. BOQ item composition could be improved with a more even distribution of pertinent ICF topics. Assessment authors may consider addressing the impact of environmental factors on participation. Including body structure concepts would allow investigators to track structural deformation and/or developmental delay. Generally speaking, this data should not be used to examine quality of life outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

Computer simulation of ledge formation and ledge interaction for the silicon (111) free surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balamane, H.; Halicioglu, T.; Tiller, W. A.

1987-01-01

Both strip and triangular clusters, composed of 2 -1 -1 line ledges, have been simulated on the Si (111) surface. The long-range ledge-ledge interaction and the surface stress tensor distribution have been evaluated for these two pill-box geometries using a semiempirical potential-energy function that incorporates both two-body and three-body contributions. The consequences of the ledge-ledge interaction on two-dimensional nucleation for Si (111) has been evaluated as a function of Si adatom supersaturation and shown to differ significantly from conventional theory, where such interaction is neglected.

Effect of Surface Pressure Integration Methodology on Launch Vehicle Buffet Forcing Functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sekula, Martin K.; Piatak, David J.; Rausch, Russ D.

2016-01-01

The 2014 test of the Space Launch System (SLS) Rigid Buffet Model conducted at the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel employed an extremely high number of unsteady pressure transducers. The high channel count provided an opportunity to examine the effect of transducer placement on the resulting buffet forcing functions (BFFs). Rings of transducers on the forward half of the model were employed to simulate a single-body vehicle. The impact of transducer density, circumferential distribution, and loss of a single transducer on the resulting BFFs were examined. Rings of transducers on the aft half of the SLS model were employed to examine the effect of transducer density and circumferential distribution on BFFs for a multi-body configuration. Transducer placement considerations with respect to model size, facility infrastructure, and data acquisition system capabilities, which affect the integration process, are also discussed.

Non-invasive, transient determination of the core temperature of a heat-generating solid body

PubMed Central

Anthony, Dean; Sarkar, Daipayan; Jain, Ankur

2016-01-01

While temperature on the surface of a heat-generating solid body can be easily measured using a variety of methods, very few techniques exist for non-invasively measuring the temperature inside the solid body as a function of time. Measurement of internal temperature is very desirable since measurement of just the surface temperature gives no indication of temperature inside the body, and system performance and safety is governed primarily by the highest temperature, encountered usually at the core of the body. This paper presents a technique to non-invasively determine the internal temperature based on the theoretical relationship between the core temperature and surface temperature distribution on the outside of a heat-generating solid body as functions of time. Experiments using infrared thermography of the outside surface of a thermal test cell in a variety of heating and cooling conditions demonstrate good agreement of the predicted core temperature as a function of time with actual core temperature measurement using an embedded thermocouple. This paper demonstrates a capability to thermally probe inside solid bodies in a non-invasive fashion. This directly benefits the accurate performance prediction and control of a variety of engineering systems where the time-varying core temperature plays a key role. PMID:27804981

Non-invasive, transient determination of the core temperature of a heat-generating solid body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anthony, Dean; Sarkar, Daipayan; Jain, Ankur

2016-11-01

While temperature on the surface of a heat-generating solid body can be easily measured using a variety of methods, very few techniques exist for non-invasively measuring the temperature inside the solid body as a function of time. Measurement of internal temperature is very desirable since measurement of just the surface temperature gives no indication of temperature inside the body, and system performance and safety is governed primarily by the highest temperature, encountered usually at the core of the body. This paper presents a technique to non-invasively determine the internal temperature based on the theoretical relationship between the core temperature and surface temperature distribution on the outside of a heat-generating solid body as functions of time. Experiments using infrared thermography of the outside surface of a thermal test cell in a variety of heating and cooling conditions demonstrate good agreement of the predicted core temperature as a function of time with actual core temperature measurement using an embedded thermocouple. This paper demonstrates a capability to thermally probe inside solid bodies in a non-invasive fashion. This directly benefits the accurate performance prediction and control of a variety of engineering systems where the time-varying core temperature plays a key role.

The effect of body postures on the distribution of air gap thickness and contact area.

PubMed

Mert, Emel; Psikuta, Agnes; Bueno, Marie-Ange; Rossi, René M

2017-02-01

The heat and mass transfer in clothing is predominantly dependent on the thickness of air layer and the magnitude of contact area between the body and the garment. The air gap thickness and magnitude of the contact area can be affected by the posture of the human body. Therefore, in this study, the distribution of the air gap and the contact area were investigated for different body postures of a flexible manikin. In addition, the effect of the garment fit (regular and loose) and style (t-shirts, sweatpants, jacket and trousers) were analysed for the interaction between the body postures and the garment properties. A flexible manikin was scanned using a three-dimensional (3D) body scanning technique, and the scans were post-processed in dedicated software. The body posture had a strong effect on the air gap thickness and the contact area for regions where the garment had a certain distance from the body. Furthermore, a mathematical model was proposed to estimate the possible heat transfer coefficient for the observed air layers and their change with posture. The outcome of this study can be used to improve the design of the protective and functional garments and predict their effect on the human body.

Heparin induced alterations in clearance and distribution of blood-borne microparticles following operative trauma.

PubMed

Saba, T M; Antikatzides, T G

1979-04-01

The influence of systemic heparin administration on the vascular clearance and tissue distribution of blood-borne microparticles was evaluated in normal rats and rats after operation (laparotomy plus intestinal manipulation) utilizing an (131)I- colloid which is phagocytized by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Intravenous heparin administration (100 USP/100g body weight) into normal animals three minutes prior to colloid injection (50 mg/lOOg) induced a significant increase in pulmonary localization of the microparticles as compared to nonheparinized control rats, while hepatic and splenic uptake were decreased. Surgical trauma decreased hepatic RE uptake and increased pulmonary localization of the microparticles when injected systemically at 60 minutes postsurgery. Heparin administration 60 minutes after surgery and three minutes prior to colloid injection, magnified the increased pulmonary localization response with an associated further depression of the RES. The ability of heparin to alter both RE clearance function and lung localization of microparticles was dose dependent and a function of the interval between heparin administration and systemic particulate infusion. Thus, low dose heparin administration was capable of stimulating RE activity while heparin in doses of excess of 50 USP units/lOOg body weight decreased RE function. These findings suggest that the functional state of the hepatic RE system can be greatly affected in a dose-dependent manner by systemic heparin administration which may influence distribution of blood-borne microparticles.

Light-front spin-dependent spectral function and nucleon momentum distributions for a three-body system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Del Dotto, Alessio; Pace, Emanuele; Salme, Giovanni

Poincare covariant definitions for the spin-dependent spectral function and for the momentum distributions within the light-front Hamiltonian dynamics are proposed for a three-fermion bound system, starting from the light-front wave function of the system. The adopted approach is based on the Bakamjian–Thomas construction of the Poincaré generators, which allows one to easily import the familiar and wide knowledge on the nuclear interaction into a light-front framework. The proposed formalism can find useful applications in refined nuclear calculations, such as those needed for evaluating the European Muon Collaboration effect or the semi-inclusive deep inelastic cross sections with polarized nuclear targets, sincemore » remarkably the light-front unpolarized momentum distribution by definition fulfills both normalization and momentum sum rules. As a result, also shown is a straightforward generalization of the definition of the light-front spectral function to an A-nucleon system.« less

Light-front spin-dependent spectral function and nucleon momentum distributions for a three-body system

DOE PAGES

Del Dotto, Alessio; Pace, Emanuele; Salme, Giovanni; ...

2017-01-10

Poincare covariant definitions for the spin-dependent spectral function and for the momentum distributions within the light-front Hamiltonian dynamics are proposed for a three-fermion bound system, starting from the light-front wave function of the system. The adopted approach is based on the Bakamjian–Thomas construction of the Poincaré generators, which allows one to easily import the familiar and wide knowledge on the nuclear interaction into a light-front framework. The proposed formalism can find useful applications in refined nuclear calculations, such as those needed for evaluating the European Muon Collaboration effect or the semi-inclusive deep inelastic cross sections with polarized nuclear targets, sincemore » remarkably the light-front unpolarized momentum distribution by definition fulfills both normalization and momentum sum rules. As a result, also shown is a straightforward generalization of the definition of the light-front spectral function to an A-nucleon system.« less

On the mass function of stars growing in a flocculent medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maschberger, Th.

2013-12-01

Stars form in regions of very inhomogeneous densities and may have chaotic orbital motions. This leads to a time variation of the accretion rate, which will spread the masses over some mass range. We investigate the mass distribution functions that arise from fluctuating accretion rates in non-linear accretion, ṁ ∝ mα. The distribution functions evolve in time and develop a power-law tail attached to a lognormal body, like in numerical simulations of star formation. Small fluctuations may be modelled by a Gaussian and develop a power-law tail ∝ m-α at the high-mass side for α > 1 and at the low-mass side for α < 1. Large fluctuations require that their distribution is strictly positive, for example, lognormal. For positive fluctuations the mass distribution function develops the power-law tail always at the high-mass hand side, independent of α larger or smaller than unity. Furthermore, we discuss Bondi-Hoyle accretion in a supersonically turbulent medium, the range of parameters for which non-linear stochastic growth could shape the stellar initial mass function, as well as the effects of a distribution of initial masses and growth times.

Automated generation of influence functions for planar crack problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sire, Robert A.; Harris, David O.; Eason, Ernest D.

1989-01-01

A numerical procedure for the generation of influence functions for Mode I planar problems is described. The resulting influence functions are in a form for convenient evaluation of stress-intensity factors for complex stress distributions. Crack surface displacements are obtained by a least-squares solution of the Williams eigenfunction expansion for displacements in a cracked body. Discrete values of the influence function, evaluated using the crack surface displacements, are curve fit using an assumed functional form. The assumed functional form includes appropriate limit-behavior terms for very deep and very shallow cracks. Continuous representation of the influence function provides a convenient means for evaluating stress-intensity factors for arbitrary stress distributions by numerical integration. The procedure is demonstrated for an edge-cracked strip and a radially cracked disk. Comparisons with available published results demonstrate the accuracy of the procedure.

Re-evaluating the functional landscape of the cardiovascular system during development

PubMed Central

Takada, Norio; Omae, Madoka; Sagawa, Fumihiko; Chi, Neil C.; Endo, Satsuki; Kozawa, Satoshi

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The cardiovascular system facilitates body-wide distribution of oxygen, a vital process for the development and survival of virtually all vertebrates. However, the zebrafish, a vertebrate model organism, appears to form organs and survive mid-larval periods without a functional cardiovascular system. Despite such dispensability, it is the first organ to develop. Such enigma prompted us to hypothesize other cardiovascular functions that are important for developmental and/or physiological processes. Hence, systematic cellular ablations and functional perturbations were performed on the zebrafish cardiovascular system to gain comprehensive and body-wide understanding of such functions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. This approach identifies a set of organ-specific genes, each implicated for important functions. The study also unveils distinct cardiovascular mechanisms, each differentially regulating their expressions in organ-specific and oxygen-independent manners. Such mechanisms are mediated by organ-vessel interactions, circulation-dependent signals, and circulation-independent beating-heart-derived signals. A comprehensive and body-wide functional landscape of the cardiovascular system reported herein may provide clues as to why it is the first organ to develop. Furthermore, these data could serve as a resource for the study of organ development and function. PMID:28982700

Re-evaluating the functional landscape of the cardiovascular system during development.

PubMed

Takada, Norio; Omae, Madoka; Sagawa, Fumihiko; Chi, Neil C; Endo, Satsuki; Kozawa, Satoshi; Sato, Thomas N

2017-11-15

The cardiovascular system facilitates body-wide distribution of oxygen, a vital process for the development and survival of virtually all vertebrates. However, the zebrafish, a vertebrate model organism, appears to form organs and survive mid-larval periods without a functional cardiovascular system. Despite such dispensability, it is the first organ to develop. Such enigma prompted us to hypothesize other cardiovascular functions that are important for developmental and/or physiological processes. Hence, systematic cellular ablations and functional perturbations were performed on the zebrafish cardiovascular system to gain comprehensive and body-wide understanding of such functions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. This approach identifies a set of organ-specific genes, each implicated for important functions. The study also unveils distinct cardiovascular mechanisms, each differentially regulating their expressions in organ-specific and oxygen-independent manners. Such mechanisms are mediated by organ-vessel interactions, circulation-dependent signals, and circulation-independent beating-heart-derived signals. A comprehensive and body-wide functional landscape of the cardiovascular system reported herein may provide clues as to why it is the first organ to develop. Furthermore, these data could serve as a resource for the study of organ development and function. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

The possibility of a new resonance of three-body linear chain structure in the reaction 12C+16O at Ec.mapprox-33.5MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Xiangjing; P, L. Li; J, J. Kolata; A, Morsad; L, Goetting; R, A. Kryger; S, Dixit; R, Tighe; W, Chune

1990-05-01

There is a peak in the excitation function of total cross section of low energy α-particles in the reaction 12C+16O at Ec.m approx33.5MeV. The experimental distribution of α-particle emitted event has been obtained. The result of theoretical calculation roughly agrees with experimental data, gives an orientation where three-body resonances can be expected, and the information on internal structure of three-body linear chain molecule.

Velocity Gradient Power Functional for Brownian Dynamics.

PubMed

de Las Heras, Daniel; Schmidt, Matthias

2018-01-12

We present an explicit and simple approximation for the superadiabatic excess (over ideal gas) free power functional, admitting the study of the nonequilibrium dynamics of overdamped Brownian many-body systems. The functional depends on the local velocity gradient and is systematically obtained from treating the microscopic stress distribution as a conjugate field. The resulting superadiabatic forces are beyond dynamical density functional theory and are of a viscous nature. Their high accuracy is demonstrated by comparison to simulation results.

Velocity Gradient Power Functional for Brownian Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de las Heras, Daniel; Schmidt, Matthias

2018-01-01

We present an explicit and simple approximation for the superadiabatic excess (over ideal gas) free power functional, admitting the study of the nonequilibrium dynamics of overdamped Brownian many-body systems. The functional depends on the local velocity gradient and is systematically obtained from treating the microscopic stress distribution as a conjugate field. The resulting superadiabatic forces are beyond dynamical density functional theory and are of a viscous nature. Their high accuracy is demonstrated by comparison to simulation results.

Pickup Ion Distributions from Three Dimensional Neutral Exospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartle, R. E.; Sarantos, M.; Sittler, E. C., Jr.

2011-01-01

Pickup ions formed from ionized neutral exospheres in flowing plasmas have phase space distributions that reflect their source's spatial distributions. Phase space distributions of the ions are derived from the Vlasov equation with a delta function source using three.dimensional neutral exospheres. The ExB drift produced by plasma motion picks up the ions while the effects of magnetic field draping, mass loading, wave particle scattering, and Coulomb collisions near a planetary body are ignored. Previously, one.dimensional exospheres were treated, resulting in closed form pickup ion distributions that explicitly depend on the ratio rg/H, where rg is the ion gyroradius and H is the neutral scale height at the exobase. In general, the pickup ion distributions, based on three.dimensional neutral exospheres, cannot be written in closed form, but can be computed numerically. They continue to reflect their source's spatial distributions in an implicit way. These ion distributions and their moments are applied to several bodies, including He(+) and Na(+) at the Moon, H(+2) and CH(+4) at Titan, and H+ at Venus. The best places to use these distributions are upstream of the Moon's surface, the ionopause of Titan, and the bow shock of Venus.

A second generation distributed point polarizable water model.

PubMed

Kumar, Revati; Wang, Fang-Fang; Jenness, Glen R; Jordan, Kenneth D

2010-01-07

A distributed point polarizable model (DPP2) for water, with explicit terms for charge penetration, induction, and charge transfer, is introduced. The DPP2 model accurately describes the interaction energies in small and large water clusters and also gives an average internal energy per molecule and radial distribution functions of liquid water in good agreement with experiment. A key to the success of the model is its accurate description of the individual terms in the n-body expansion of the interaction energies.

Body Weight and Body Mass Index in Patients with End-Stage Cystic Fibrosis Stabilize After the Start of Enteral Tube Feeding.

PubMed

Hollander, Francis M; de Roos, Nicole M; Belle van Meerkerk, Gerdien; Teding van Berkhout, Ferdinand; Heijerman, Harry G M; van de Graaf, Ed A

2017-11-01

Enteral tube feeding (ETF) is widely used in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and end-stage lung disease, but previous studies have been limited to investigating whether ETF improves outcomes in patients with moderately or mildly impaired pulmonary function. This study investigated body weight, body mass index (BMI; calculated as kg/m 2 ), pulmonary function, and the presence of CF-related diabetes before and after the start of ETF. This was a retrospective observational study. Data from 26 adult patients in an outpatient setting who had end-stage CF (19 women) and had been using ETF for at least 6 months between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. Body weight, BMI, pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second as percent of predicted) and incidence of CF-related diabetes from 6 months before to 6 months after starting ETF. Time effects were tested with one-way analysis of variance for data that were normally distributed and the Friedman test for non-parametric data. Correlations were tested with Pearson's r or Spearman's ρ, depending on the distribution of the data. Mean body weight increased by 3.5 kg (95% CI 2.2 to 4.8 kg) after patients started ETF. In women, mean BMI decreased by 0.7 in the 6 months before the start of ETF (P<0.05) and increased by 1.4 in the 6 months thereafter (P<0.05). In men, BMI changes were similar (-0.8 and +1.1), but not statistically significant. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second as percent of predicted significantly decreased in time from a median of 28% to 26% at the start of ETF to 25% after 6 months (P=0.0013), with similar trends in women and men. There was no correlation between changes in weight and lung function. CF-related diabetes was already present in 12 patients and developed in 1 more patient after the start of ETF. ETF improved body weight and BMI but not pulmonary function in 26 patients with end-stage CF. Clinical outcomes were similar in women and men, but the sample size of men was too small to determine statistical significance. Copyright © 2017 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Cachectic Patients: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Trobec, Katja; Kerec Kos, Mojca; von Haehling, Stephan; Springer, Jochen; Anker, Stefan D.; Lainscak, Mitja

2013-01-01

Cachexia is a weight-loss process caused by an underlying chronic disease such as cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. It leads to changes in body structure and function that may influence the pharmacokinetics of drugs. Changes in gut function and decreased subcutaneous tissue may influence the absorption of orally and transdermally applied drugs. Altered body composition and plasma protein concentration may affect drug distribution. Changes in the expression and function of metabolic enzymes could influence the metabolism of drugs, and their renal excretion could be affected by possible reduction in kidney function. Because no general guidelines exist for drug dose adjustments in cachectic patients, we conducted a systematic search to identify articles that investigated the pharmacokinetics of drugs in cachectic patients. PMID:24282510

Multimaterial topology optimization of contact problems using phase field regularization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myśliński, Andrzej

2018-01-01

The numerical method to solve multimaterial topology optimization problems for elastic bodies in unilateral contact with Tresca friction is developed in the paper. The displacement of the elastic body in contact is governed by elliptic equation with inequality boundary conditions. The body is assumed to consists from more than two distinct isotropic elastic materials. The materials distribution function is chosen as the design variable. Since high contact stress appears during the contact phenomenon the aim of the structural optimization problem is to find such topology of the domain occupied by the body that the normal contact stress along the boundary of the body is minimized. The original cost functional is regularized using the multiphase volume constrained Ginzburg-Landau energy functional rather than the perimeter functional. The first order necessary optimality condition is recalled and used to formulate the generalized gradient flow equations of Allen-Cahn type. The optimal topology is obtained as the steady state of the phase transition governed by the generalized Allen-Cahn equation. As the interface width parameter tends to zero the transition of the phase field model to the level set model is studied. The optimization problem is solved numerically using the operator splitting approach combined with the projection gradient method. Numerical examples confirming the applicability of the proposed method are provided and discussed.

Forebody and afterbody solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for supersonic flow over blunt bodies in a generalized orthogonal coordinate system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gnoffo, P. A.

1978-01-01

A coordinate transformation, which can approximate many different two-dimensional and axisymmetric body shapes with an analytic function, is used as a basis for solving the Navier-Stokes equations for the purpose of predicting 0 deg angle of attack supersonic flow fields. The transformation defines a curvilinear, orthogonal coordinate system in which coordinate lines are perpendicular to the body and the body is defined by one coordinate line. This system is mapped in to a rectangular computational domain in which the governing flow field equations are solved numerically. Advantages of this technique are that the specification of boundary conditions are simplified and, most importantly, the entire flow field can be obtained, including flow in the wake. Good agreement has been obtained with experimental data for pressure distributions, density distributions, and heat transfer over spheres and cylinders in supersonic flow. Approximations to the Viking aeroshell and to a candidate Jupiter probe are presented and flow fields over these shapes are calculated.

The blood-brain barrier of the chick glycogen body (corpus gelatinosum) and its functional implications.

PubMed

Möller, Wilhelm; Kummer, Wolfgang

2003-07-01

Among recent vertebrates only birds possess a glycogen body (corpus gelatinosum), located in the rhomboidal sinus of the lumbosacral region of the spinal cord and separated from the neural tissue proper. Because of the specific topographical situation of this circumventricular organ, the structure of its vascular system is of special interest with respect to the still unsolved functional problems. The existence of a blood-brain barrier is demonstrated by the exclusion of intravascularly injected tracer (horseradish peroxidase), and immunocytochemical demonstration of glucose transporter-1 as a functional marker and of neurothelin, occludin and ZO-1 as structural markers. Alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities, two enzyme reactions frequently used for demonstration of an established blood-brain barrier in vitro, were localized histochemically on the plasmalemma of glycogen body cells and were absent from the endothelium. In addition, local enlargements of the intercellular space were observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In accordance with the concept of a third circulation the cerebrospinal fluid may be the vehicle for distributing substances originating in the glycogen body to the CNS, while the vascular endothelium maintains the internal milieu by virtue of its dynamic barrier functions.

Effect of short-range correlations on the single proton 3s1/2 wave function in 206Pb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shlomo, S.; Talmi, I.; Anders, M. R.; Bonasera, G.

2018-02-01

We consider the experimental data for difference, Δρc (r), between the charge density distributions of the isotones 206Pb - 205Tl, deduced by analysis of elastic electron scattering measurements and corresponds to the shell model 3s1/2 proton orbit. We investigate the effects of two-body short-range correlations. This is done by: (a) Determining the corresponding single particle potential (mean-field), employing a novel method, directly from the single particle proton density and its first and second derivatives. We also carried out least-square fits to parametrized single particle potentials; (b) Determining the short-range correlations effect by employing the Jastrow correlated many-body wave function to derive a correlation factor for the single particle density distribution. The 3s 1/2 wave functions of the determined potentials reproduce fairly well the experimental data within the quoted errors. The calculated charge density difference, Δρc (r), obtained with the inclusion of the short-range correlation effect does not reproduce the experimental data.

Water 16-mers and hexamers: assessment of the three-body and electrostatically embedded many-body approximations of the correlation energy or the nonlocal energy as ways to include cooperative effects.

PubMed

Qi, Helena W; Leverentz, Hannah R; Truhlar, Donald G

2013-05-30

This work presents a new fragment method, the electrostatically embedded many-body expansion of the nonlocal energy (EE-MB-NE), and shows that it, along with the previously proposed electrostatically embedded many-body expansion of the correlation energy (EE-MB-CE), produces accurate results for large systems at the level of CCSD(T) coupled cluster theory. We primarily study water 16-mers, but we also test the EE-MB-CE method on water hexamers. We analyze the distributions of two-body and three-body terms to show why the many-body expansion of the electrostatically embedded correlation energy converges faster than the many-body expansion of the entire electrostatically embedded interaction potential. The average magnitude of the dimer contributions to the pairwise additive (PA) term of the correlation energy (which neglects cooperative effects) is only one-half of that of the average dimer contribution to the PA term of the expansion of the total energy; this explains why the mean unsigned error (MUE) of the EE-PA-CE approximation is only one-half of that of the EE-PA approximation. Similarly, the average magnitude of the trimer contributions to the three-body (3B) term of the EE-3B-CE approximation is only one-fourth of that of the EE-3B approximation, and the MUE of the EE-3B-CE approximation is one-fourth that of the EE-3B approximation. Finally, we test the efficacy of two- and three-body density functional corrections. One such density functional correction method, the new EE-PA-NE method, with the OLYP or the OHLYP density functional (where the OHLYP functional is the OptX exchange functional combined with the LYP correlation functional multiplied by 0.5), has the best performance-to-price ratio of any method whose computational cost scales as the third power of the number of monomers and is competitive in accuracy in the tests presented here with even the electrostatically embedded three-body approximation.

Chord-length and free-path distribution functions for many-body systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Binglin; Torquato, S.

1993-04-01

We study fundamental morphological descriptors of disordered media (e.g., heterogeneous materials, liquids, and amorphous solids): the chord-length distribution function p(z) and the free-path distribution function p(z,a). For concreteness, we will speak in the language of heterogeneous materials composed of two different materials or ``phases.'' The probability density function p(z) describes the distribution of chord lengths in the sample and is of great interest in stereology. For example, the first moment of p(z) is the ``mean intercept length'' or ``mean chord length.'' The chord-length distribution function is of importance in transport phenomena and problems involving ``discrete free paths'' of point particles (e.g., Knudsen diffusion and radiative transport). The free-path distribution function p(z,a) takes into account the finite size of a simple particle of radius a undergoing discrete free-path motion in the heterogeneous material and we show that it is actually the chord-length distribution function for the system in which the ``pore space'' is the space available to a finite-sized particle of radius a. Thus it is shown that p(z)=p(z,0). We demonstrate that the functions p(z) and p(z,a) are related to another fundamentally important morphological descriptor of disordered media, namely, the so-called lineal-path function L(z) studied by us in previous work [Phys. Rev. A 45, 922 (1992)]. The lineal path function gives the probability of finding a line segment of length z wholly in one of the ``phases'' when randomly thrown into the sample. We derive exact series representations of the chord-length and free-path distribution functions for systems of spheres with a polydispersivity in size in arbitrary dimension D. For the special case of spatially uncorrelated spheres (i.e., fully penetrable spheres) we evaluate exactly the aforementioned functions, the mean chord length, and the mean free path. We also obtain corresponding analytical formulas for the case of mutually impenetrable (i.e., spatially correlated) polydispersed spheres.

Formation and structure of food bodies in Cordia nodosa (Boraginaceae).

PubMed

Solano, Pascal-Jean; Belin-Depoux, Monique; Dejean, Alain

2005-07-01

Cordia nodosa Lamark (Boraginaceae) is a myrmecophyte (i.e., plants housing ants in hollow structures) that provisions associated ants with food bodies (FBs) produced 24 h a day. Distributed over all the young parts of the plants, they induce ants to forage continually and so to protect the plants. Metabolites are stored in the inner cells of C. nodosa FBs as they form. In addition the peripheral cells have an extrafloral nectary-like function and secrete a substance that covers the FBs. The amalgam of these two functions, distinct in other known cases, is discussed taking into account the origin of FBs and extrafloral nectaries.

Skeletal muscle fiber size and fiber type distribution in human cancer: Effects of weight loss and relationship to physical function.

PubMed

Toth, Michael J; Callahan, Damien M; Miller, Mark S; Tourville, Timothy W; Hackett, Sarah B; Couch, Marion E; Dittus, Kim

2016-12-01

Cancer patients frequently experience weight loss, with negative consequences for functionality and prognosis. The extent to which muscle atrophy contributes to weight loss, however, is not clear, as few studies have directly measured muscle fiber morphology in cancer patients. Whole body and regional tissue composition were measured, along with the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fiber type of mechanically-isolated, single muscle fibers, in 19 cancer patients (8 with a history of weight loss, 11 weight-stable) and 15 non-diseased controls. Whole body fat mass was reduced in cancer patients with a history of weight loss, but no differences in whole body or leg fat-free mass were apparent. In contrast, reductions (∼20%) in single muscle fiber CSA were found in both slow-twitch, myosin heavy chain (MHC) I and fast-twitch, MHC IIA fibers in both weight-stable patients and those with a history of weight loss. Fiber type distribution showed a shift towards a fast-twitch phenotype compared to controls, which may preserve muscle function in cancer patients despite atrophy, as positive relationships were found between the fractions of hybrid MHC IIAX and I/IIA fibers and 6-min walk performance. Our results suggest that, although not apparent from whole body or regional measurements, cancer is associated with reduced skeletal muscle fiber size independent of weight loss history and a shift towards fast-twitch fibers, phenotypes that resemble adaptations to muscle disuse. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Single Body Parts are Processed by Individual Neurons in the Mouse Dorsolateral Striatum

PubMed Central

Coffey, Kevin R.; Nader, Miles; West, Mark O.

2016-01-01

Interest in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) has generated numerous scientific studies of its neuropathologies, as well as its roles in normal sensorimotor integration and learning. Studies are informed by knowledge of DLS functional organization, the guiding principle being its somatotopic afferent projections from primary somatosensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices. The potential to connect behaviorally relevant function to detailed structure is elevated by mouse models, which have access to extensive genetic neuroscience tool kits. Remaining to be demonstrated, however, is whether the correspondence between S1/M1 corticostriatal terminal distributions and the physiological properties of DLS neurons demonstrated in rats and non-human primates exists in mice. Given that the terminal distribution of S1/M1 projections to the DLS in mice is similar to that in rats, we studied whether firing rates (FRs) of DLS neurons in awake, behaving mice are related to activity of individual body parts. MSNs exhibited robust, selective increases in FR during movement or somatosensory stimulation of single body parts. Properties of MSNs, including baseline FRs, locations, responsiveness to stimulation, and proportions of responsive neurons were similar to properties observed in rats. Future studies can be informed by the present demonstration that the mouse lateral striatum functions as a somatic sensorimotor sector of the striatum and appears to be a homolog of the primate putamen, as demonstrated in rats (Carelli and West, 1991). PMID:26827625

Parasitism alters three power laws of scaling in a metazoan community: Taylor’s law, density-mass allometry, and variance-mass allometry

PubMed Central

Lagrue, Clément; Poulin, Robert; Cohen, Joel E.

2015-01-01

How do the lifestyles (free-living unparasitized, free-living parasitized, and parasitic) of animal species affect major ecological power-law relationships? We investigated this question in metazoan communities in lakes of Otago, New Zealand. In 13,752 samples comprising 1,037,058 organisms, we found that species of different lifestyles differed in taxonomic distribution and body mass and were well described by three power laws: a spatial Taylor’s law (the spatial variance in population density was a power-law function of the spatial mean population density); density-mass allometry (the spatial mean population density was a power-law function of mean body mass); and variance-mass allometry (the spatial variance in population density was a power-law function of mean body mass). To our knowledge, this constitutes the first empirical confirmation of variance-mass allometry for any animal community. We found that the parameter values of all three relationships differed for species with different lifestyles in the same communities. Taylor's law and density-mass allometry accurately predicted the form and parameter values of variance-mass allometry. We conclude that species of different lifestyles in these metazoan communities obeyed the same major ecological power-law relationships but did so with parameters specific to each lifestyle, probably reflecting differences among lifestyles in population dynamics and spatial distribution. PMID:25550506

Parasitism alters three power laws of scaling in a metazoan community: Taylor's law, density-mass allometry, and variance-mass allometry.

PubMed

Lagrue, Clément; Poulin, Robert; Cohen, Joel E

2015-02-10

How do the lifestyles (free-living unparasitized, free-living parasitized, and parasitic) of animal species affect major ecological power-law relationships? We investigated this question in metazoan communities in lakes of Otago, New Zealand. In 13,752 samples comprising 1,037,058 organisms, we found that species of different lifestyles differed in taxonomic distribution and body mass and were well described by three power laws: a spatial Taylor's law (the spatial variance in population density was a power-law function of the spatial mean population density); density-mass allometry (the spatial mean population density was a power-law function of mean body mass); and variance-mass allometry (the spatial variance in population density was a power-law function of mean body mass). To our knowledge, this constitutes the first empirical confirmation of variance-mass allometry for any animal community. We found that the parameter values of all three relationships differed for species with different lifestyles in the same communities. Taylor's law and density-mass allometry accurately predicted the form and parameter values of variance-mass allometry. We conclude that species of different lifestyles in these metazoan communities obeyed the same major ecological power-law relationships but did so with parameters specific to each lifestyle, probably reflecting differences among lifestyles in population dynamics and spatial distribution.

Bivariate- distribution for transition matrix elements in Breit-Wigner to Gaussian domains of interacting particle systems.

PubMed

Kota, V K B; Chavda, N D; Sahu, R

2006-04-01

Interacting many-particle systems with a mean-field one-body part plus a chaos generating random two-body interaction having strength lambda exhibit Poisson to Gaussian orthogonal ensemble and Breit-Wigner (BW) to Gaussian transitions in level fluctuations and strength functions with transition points marked by lambda = lambda c and lambda = lambda F, respectively; lambda F > lambda c. For these systems a theory for the matrix elements of one-body transition operators is available, as valid in the Gaussian domain, with lambda > lambda F, in terms of orbital occupation numbers, level densities, and an integral involving a bivariate Gaussian in the initial and final energies. Here we show that, using a bivariate-t distribution, the theory extends below from the Gaussian regime to the BW regime up to lambda = lambda c. This is well tested in numerical calculations for 6 spinless fermions in 12 single-particle states.

Experimental triplet and quadruplet fluctuation densities and spatial distribution function integrals for pure liquids.

PubMed

Ploetz, Elizabeth A; Karunaweera, Sadish; Smith, Paul E

2015-01-28

Fluctuation solution theory has provided an alternative view of many liquid mixture properties in terms of particle number fluctuations. The particle number fluctuations can also be related to integrals of the corresponding two body distribution functions between molecular pairs in order to provide a more physical picture of solution behavior and molecule affinities. Here, we extend this type of approach to provide expressions for higher order triplet and quadruplet fluctuations, and thereby integrals over the corresponding distribution functions, all of which can be obtained from available experimental thermodynamic data. The fluctuations and integrals are then determined using the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam Formulation 1995 (IAPWS-95) equation of state for the liquid phase of pure water. The results indicate small, but significant, deviations from a Gaussian distribution for the molecules in this system. The pressure and temperature dependence of the fluctuations and integrals, as well as the limiting behavior as one approaches both the triple point and the critical point, are also examined.

Experimental triplet and quadruplet fluctuation densities and spatial distribution function integrals for pure liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ploetz, Elizabeth A.; Karunaweera, Sadish; Smith, Paul E.

2015-01-01

Fluctuation solution theory has provided an alternative view of many liquid mixture properties in terms of particle number fluctuations. The particle number fluctuations can also be related to integrals of the corresponding two body distribution functions between molecular pairs in order to provide a more physical picture of solution behavior and molecule affinities. Here, we extend this type of approach to provide expressions for higher order triplet and quadruplet fluctuations, and thereby integrals over the corresponding distribution functions, all of which can be obtained from available experimental thermodynamic data. The fluctuations and integrals are then determined using the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam Formulation 1995 (IAPWS-95) equation of state for the liquid phase of pure water. The results indicate small, but significant, deviations from a Gaussian distribution for the molecules in this system. The pressure and temperature dependence of the fluctuations and integrals, as well as the limiting behavior as one approaches both the triple point and the critical point, are also examined.

Ethnic differences in body composition and their relation to health and disease in women.

PubMed

Gasperino, J

1996-12-01

Differences in body composition between black and white women have been well established. Black women have more bone and muscle mass, but less fat, as a percentage of body weight, than white women, after controlling for ethnic differences in age, body weight, and height. In addition, black women have more upper-body fat than white women. These ethnic differences in body composition appear to be associated with disease risk in women. The greater skeletal and muscle mass in black compared to white women appears to protect them from osteoporosis. The relationship between fat distribution and cardiovascular disease also appears to be influenced by ethnicity. This review has two purposes: (1) To examine previous research investigating ethnic differences in body composition between black and white women; and (2) To demonstrate the relationship between body composition and disease in women as a function of ethnicity.

Confined active Brownian particles: theoretical description of propulsion-induced accumulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Shibananda; Gompper, Gerhard; Winkler, Roland G.

2018-01-01

The stationary-state distribution function of confined active Brownian particles (ABPs) is analyzed by computer simulations and analytical calculations. We consider a radial harmonic as well as an anharmonic confinement potential. In the simulations, the ABP is propelled with a prescribed velocity along a body-fixed direction, which is changing in a diffusive manner. For the analytical approach, the Cartesian components of the propulsion velocity are assumed to change independently; active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particle (AOUP). This results in very different velocity distribution functions. The analytical solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for an AOUP in a harmonic potential is presented and a conditional distribution function is provided for the radial particle distribution at a given magnitude of the propulsion velocity. This conditional probability distribution facilitates the description of the coupling of the spatial coordinate and propulsion, which yields activity-induced accumulation of particles. For the anharmonic potential, a probability distribution function is derived within the unified colored noise approximation. The comparison of the simulation results with theoretical predictions yields good agreement for large rotational diffusion coefficients, e.g. due to tumbling, even for large propulsion velocities (Péclet numbers). However, we find significant deviations already for moderate Péclet number, when the rotational diffusion coefficient is on the order of the thermal one.

Derivation of an eigenvalue probability density function relating to the Poincaré disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forrester, Peter J.; Krishnapur, Manjunath

2009-09-01

A result of Zyczkowski and Sommers (2000 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 33 2045-57) gives the eigenvalue probability density function for the top N × N sub-block of a Haar distributed matrix from U(N + n). In the case n >= N, we rederive this result, starting from knowledge of the distribution of the sub-blocks, introducing the Schur decomposition and integrating over all variables except the eigenvalues. The integration is done by identifying a recursive structure which reduces the dimension. This approach is inspired by an analogous approach which has been recently applied to determine the eigenvalue probability density function for random matrices A-1B, where A and B are random matrices with entries standard complex normals. We relate the eigenvalue distribution of the sub-blocks to a many-body quantum state, and to the one-component plasma, on the pseudosphere.

A Short Research Note on Calculating Exact Distribution Functions and Random Sampling for the 3D NFW Profile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robotham, A. S. G.; Howlett, Cullan

2018-06-01

In this short note we publish the analytic quantile function for the Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) profile. All known published and coded methods for sampling from the 3D NFW PDF use either accept-reject, or numeric interpolation (sometimes via a lookup table) for projecting random Uniform samples through the quantile distribution function to produce samples of the radius. This is a common requirement in N-body initial condition (IC), halo occupation distribution (HOD), and semi-analytic modelling (SAM) work for correctly assigning particles or galaxies to positions given an assumed concentration for the NFW profile. Using this analytic description allows for much faster and cleaner code to solve a common numeric problem in modern astronomy. We release R and Python versions of simple code that achieves this sampling, which we note is trivial to reproduce in any modern programming language.

On the universal stellar law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krot, Alexander

In this work, we consider a statistical theory of gravitating spheroidal bodies to derive and develop the universal stellar law for extrasolar systems. Previously, the statistical theory for a cosmogonic body forming (so-called spheroidal body)has been proposed [1-3]. This theory starts from the conception for forming a spheroidal body inside a gas-dust protoplanetary nebula; it permits us to derive the form of distribution functions, mass density, gravitational potentials and strengths both for immovable and rotating spheroidal bodies as well as to find the distribution function of specific angular momentum[1-3]. If we start from the conception for forming a spheroidal body as a protostar (in particular, proto-Sun) inside a prestellar (presolar) nebula then the derived distribution functions of particle (as well as the mass density of an immovable spheroidal body) characterizes the first stage of evolution: from a prestellar molecular cloud (the presolar nebula) to the forming core of protostar (the proto-Sun) together with its shell as a stellar nebula (the solar nebula). This work derives the equation of state of an ideal stellar substance based on conception of gravitating spheroidal body. Using this equation, we obtain the universal stellar law (USL) for the planetary systems connecting temperature, size and mass of each of stars. This work also considers the Solar corona in the connection with USL. Then it is accounting under calculation of the ratio of temperature of the Solar corona to effective temperature of the Sun’ surfaceand modification of USL. To test justice of the modified USLfor different types of stars, the temperature of stellar corona is estimated. The prediction of parameters of stars is carrying out by means of the modified USL,as well as the Hertzsprung-Russell’s dependence [5-7]is derivedby means of USL directly. This paper also shows that knowledge of some characteristics for multi-planet extrasolar systems refines own parameters of stars. In this connection, comparison with estimations of temperatures using of the regression dependences for multi-planet extrasolar systems [8] testifies the obtained results entirely. References 1. Krot, A.M.:2009, A statistical approach to investigate the formation of the solar system. Chaos, Solitons and Fractals41(3), 1481-1500. 2. Krot, A.M.:2012, A models of forming planets and distribution of planetary distances and orbits in the solar system based on the statistical theory of spheroidal bodies. In:Solar System: Structure, Formation and Exploration, ch.9 (Ed. by Matteo de Rossi). New York, Nova Science Publishers, pp. 201-264. - ISBN: 978-1-62100-057-0. 3. Krot, A. M.:2012, A statistical theory of formation of gravitating cosmogonicbodies. Minsk,Bel. Navuka, 4. 448 p. - ISBN 978-985-08-1442-5 [monograph in Russian]. 5. Eddington, A.S.: 1916,On the radiative equilibrium of the stars.Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc.84 (7), 525-528. 6. Jeans, J.: 1929, Astronomy and cosmogony. Cambridge, University Press. 7. Chandrasekhar, S.:1939, An introduction to the study of stellar structure.Cambridge, University Press. 8. Pintr, P., Peřinová, V., Lukš, A., Pathak, A.:2013, Statistical and regression analyses of detected extrasolar systems. Planetary and Space Science, 75(1), 37-45.

An investigation to determine the pressure distribution on the 0.0137 scale solid rocket booster forebody (MSFC model 467) at angles of attack at or near 90 deg and high Reynolds numbers in the MSFC High Reynolds Number Wind Tunnel (SA29F)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramsey, P. E.

1976-01-01

An aerodynamic investigation was conducted in the MSFC High Reynolds Number Wind Tunnel to determine the pressure distribution over the foresection of the current 146 inch diameter shuttle SRB. The test model consisted of a 0.0137 scale version of the SRB nose cone and a forward portion of the cylindrical body which was approximately 2.7 calibers in length. The pressure distributions are plotted as a function of longitudinal station ratioed to body diameter and circumferential location for each angle of attack and Mach number. A Reynolds number variation study was made for Mach numbers of 0.4 and 0.6 at an angle of attack of 270 deg and roll angle of 180 deg.

[Identification of mouse brain neuropeptides by high throughput mass spectrometry].

PubMed

Shao, Xianfeng; Ma, Min; Chen, Ruibing; Jia, Chenxi

2018-04-25

Neuropeptides play an important role in the physiological functions of the human body. The physiological activities such as pain, sleep, mood, learning and memory are affected by neuropeptides. Neuropeptides mainly exist in the nerve tissue of the body, and a small amount of them are distributed in body fluid and organs. At present, analysis of large-scale identification of neuropeptides in whole brain tissue is still challenging. Therefore, high-throughput detection of these neuropeptides is greatly significant to understand the composition and function of neuropeptides. In this study, 1 830 endogenous peptides and 99 novel putative neuropeptides were identified by extraction of endogenous peptides from whole brain tissue of mice by liquid phase tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS / MS). The identification of these endogenous peptides provides not only a reference value in the treatment and mechanism studies of diseases and the development of drugs, but also the basis for the study of a new neuropeptides and their functions.

Simulation of Earth-Moon-Mars Environments for the Assessment of Organ Doses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, M. Y.; Schwadron, N. A.; Townsend, L.; Cucinotta, F. A.

2010-12-01

Space radiation environments for historically large solar particle events (SPE) and galactic cosmic rays (GCR) at solar minimum and solar maximum are simulated in order to characterize exposures to radio-sensitive organs for missions to low-Earth orbit (LEO), moon, and Mars. Primary and secondary particles for SPE and GCR are transported through the respective atmosphere of Earth or Mars, space vehicle, and astronaut’s body tissues using the HZETRN/QMSFRG computer code. In LEO, exposures are reduced compared to deep space because particles are deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field and absorbed by the solid body of the Earth. Geomagnetic transmission function as a function of altitude was applied for the particle flux of charged particles, and the shift of the organ exposures to higher velocity or lower stopping powers compared to those in deep space was analyzed. In the transport through Mars atmosphere, a vertical distribution of atmospheric thickness was calculated from the temperature and pressure data of Mars Global Surveyor, and the directional cosine distribution was implemented to describe the spherically distributed atmospheric distance along the slant path at each altitude. The resultant directional shielding by Mars atmosphere at solar minimum and solar maximum was used for the particle flux simulation at various altitudes on the Martian surface. Finally, atmospheric shielding was coupled with vehicle and body shielding for organ dose estimates. We made predictions of radiation dose equivalents and evaluated acute symptoms at LEO, moon, and Mars at solar minimum and solar maximum.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Terai, Tsuyoshi; Takahashi, Jun; Itoh, Yoichi, E-mail: tsuyoshi.terai@nao.ac.jp

Main-belt asteroids have been continuously colliding with one another since they were formed. Their size distribution is primarily determined by the size dependence of asteroid strength against catastrophic impacts. The strength scaling law as a function of body size could depend on collision velocity, but the relationship remains unknown, especially under hypervelocity collisions comparable to 10 km s{sup –1}. We present a wide-field imaging survey at an ecliptic latitude of about 25° for investigating the size distribution of small main-belt asteroids that have highly inclined orbits. The analysis technique allowing for efficient asteroid detections and high-accuracy photometric measurements provides sufficientmore » sample data to estimate the size distribution of sub-kilometer asteroids with inclinations larger than 14°. The best-fit power-law slopes of the cumulative size distribution are 1.25 ± 0.03 in the diameter range of 0.6-1.0 km and 1.84 ± 0.27 in 1.0-3.0 km. We provide a simple size distribution model that takes into consideration the oscillations of the power-law slope due to the transition from the gravity-scaled regime to the strength-scaled regime. We find that the high-inclination population has a shallow slope of the primary components of the size distribution compared to the low-inclination populations. The asteroid population exposed to hypervelocity impacts undergoes collisional processes where large bodies have a higher disruptive strength and longer lifespan relative to tiny bodies than the ecliptic asteroids.« less

Different Cortical Dynamics in Face and Body Perception: An MEG study

PubMed Central

Meeren, Hanneke K. M.; de Gelder, Beatrice; Ahlfors, Seppo P.; Hämäläinen, Matti S.; Hadjikhani, Nouchine

2013-01-01

Evidence from functional neuroimaging indicates that visual perception of human faces and bodies is carried out by distributed networks of face and body-sensitive areas in the occipito-temporal cortex. However, the dynamics of activity in these areas, needed to understand their respective functional roles, are still largely unknown. We monitored brain activity with millisecond time resolution by recording magnetoencephalographic (MEG) responses while participants viewed photographs of faces, bodies, and control stimuli. The cortical activity underlying the evoked responses was estimated with anatomically-constrained noise-normalised minimum-norm estimate and statistically analysed with spatiotemporal cluster analysis. Our findings point to distinct spatiotemporal organization of the neural systems for face and body perception. Face-selective cortical currents were found at early latencies (120–200 ms) in a widespread occipito-temporal network including the ventral temporal cortex (VTC). In contrast, early body-related responses were confined to the lateral occipito-temporal cortex (LOTC). These were followed by strong sustained body-selective responses in the orbitofrontal cortex from 200–700 ms, and in the lateral temporal cortex and VTC after 500 ms latency. Our data suggest that the VTC region has a key role in the early processing of faces, but not of bodies. Instead, the LOTC, which includes the extra-striate body area (EBA), appears the dominant area for early body perception, whereas the VTC contributes to late and post-perceptual processing. PMID:24039712

Optimized statistical parametric mapping procedure for NIRS data contaminated by motion artifacts : Neurometric analysis of body schema extension.

PubMed

Suzuki, Satoshi

2017-09-01

This study investigated the spatial distribution of brain activity on body schema (BS) modification induced by natural body motion using two versions of a hand-tracing task. In Task 1, participants traced Japanese Hiragana characters using the right forefinger, requiring no BS expansion. In Task 2, participants performed the tracing task with a long stick, requiring BS expansion. Spatial distribution was analyzed using general linear model (GLM)-based statistical parametric mapping of near-infrared spectroscopy data contaminated with motion artifacts caused by the hand-tracing task. Three methods were utilized in series to counter the artifacts, and optimal conditions and modifications were investigated: a model-free method (Step 1), a convolution matrix method (Step 2), and a boxcar-function-based Gaussian convolution method (Step 3). The results revealed four methodological findings: (1) Deoxyhemoglobin was suitable for the GLM because both Akaike information criterion and the variance against the averaged hemodynamic response function were smaller than for other signals, (2) a high-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of .014 Hz was effective, (3) the hemodynamic response function computed from a Gaussian kernel function and its first- and second-derivative terms should be included in the GLM model, and (4) correction of non-autocorrelation and use of effective degrees of freedom were critical. Investigating z-maps computed according to these guidelines revealed that contiguous areas of BA7-BA40-BA21 in the right hemisphere became significantly activated ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively) during BS modification while performing the hand-tracing task.

The Role of Nutrition in the Changes in Bone and Calcium Metabolism During Space Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morey-Holton, Emily R.; Arnaud, Sara B.

1995-01-01

On Earth, the primary purpose of the skeleton is provide structural support for the body. In space, the support function of the skeleton is reduced since, without gravity, structures have only mass and no weight. The adaptation to space flight is manifested by shifts in mineral distribution, altered bone turnover, and regional mineral deficits in weight-bearing bones. The shifts in mineral distribution appear to be related to the cephalic fluid shift. The redistribution of mineral from one bone to another or to and from areas in the same bone in response to alterations in gravitational loads is more likely to affect skeletal function than quantitative whole body losses and gains. The changes in bone turnover appear dependent upon changes in body weight with weight loss tending to increase bone resorption as well as decrease bone formation. During bedrest, the bone response to unloading varies depending upon the routine activity level of the subjects with more active subjects showing a greater suppression of bone formation in the iliac crest with inactivity. Changes in body composition during space flight are predicted by bedrest studies on Earth which show loss of lean body mass and increase tn body fat in adult males after one month. In ambulatory studies on Earth, exercising adult males of the same age, height, g weight, body mass index, and shoe size show significantly higher whole body mineral and lean body mass. than non-exercising subjects. Nutritional preference appears to change with activity level. Diet histories in exercisers and nonexercisers who maintain identical body weights show no differences in nutrients except for slightly higher carbohydrate intake in the exercisers. The absence of differences in dietary calcium in men with higher total body calcium is noteworthy. In this situation, the increased bone mineral content was facilitated by the calcium endocrine system. This regulatory system can be by-passed by raising dietary calcium. Increased calcium intake can increase the calcium content in normally loaded bone. However, bone with a higher calcium content still decreases proportionally to normal bone during unloading. Nutritional requirements in space should be reevaluated with respect to these adaptive changes to loading and physical activity.

Cell lineage distribution atlas of the human stomach reveals heterogeneous gland populations in the gastric antrum

PubMed Central

Choi, Eunyoung; Roland, Joseph T.; Barlow, Brittney J.; O’Neal, Ryan; Rich, Amy E.; Nam, Ki Taek; Shi, Chanjuan; Goldenring, James R.

2014-01-01

Objective The glands of the stomach body and antral mucosa contain a complex compendium of cell lineages. In lower mammals, the distribution of oxyntic glands and antral glands define the anatomical regions within the stomach. We examined in detail the distribution of the full range of cell lineages within the human stomach. Design We determined the distribution of gastric gland cell lineages with specific immunocytochemical markers in entire stomach specimens from three non-obese organ donors. Results The anatomical body and antrum of the human stomach were defined by the presence of ghrelin and gastrin cells, respectively. Concentrations of somatostatin cells were observed in the proximal stomach. Parietal cells were seen in all glands of the body of stomach as well as in over 50% of antral glands. MIST1-expressing chief cells were predominantly observed in the body, although individual glands of the antrum also showed MIST1-expressing chief cells. While classically-described antral glands were observed with gastrin cells and deep antral mucous cells without any parietal cells, we also observed a substantial population of mixed-type glands containing both parietal cells and G cells throughout the antrum. Conclusions Enteroendocrine cells show distinct patterns of localization in the human stomach. The existence of antral glands with mixed cell lineages indicates that human antral glands may be functionally chimeric with glands assembled from multiple distinct stem cell populations. PMID:24488499

Quasifree (e,e'p) reaction on /sup 3/He

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jans, E.; Barreau, P.; Bernheim, M.

1982-10-04

The proton momentum distribution of /sup 3/He has been determined up to momenta of 310 MeV/c by use of the reaction /sup 3/He(e,e'p). The experimental missing energy resolution, deltaE/sub m/ = 1.2 MeV, was sufficient to separate the two- and three-body breakup channels. Results for the three-body disintegration have been obtained up to missing energy values of 80 MeV. The resulting spectral function is compared with the predictions of Faddeev and variational calculations.

Surface Material Characterization from Non-resolved Multi-band Optical Observations

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

functions ( BRDFs ) — then a forward model of the spectral signature of the entire body could be constructed by summing contributions from all reflecting...buffering). 3.3.2 Material Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Functions ( BRDFs ) Notably, the satellite wire-frame and attitude models together...environments and/or created numerical BRDF models . For instance, BRDFs for several spacecraft materials — such as solar array panels, milled aluminum

The Role of Hypothalamic Estrogen Receptors in Metabolic Regulation

PubMed Central

Frank, Aaron; Brown, Lynda M.; Clegg, Deborah J.

2014-01-01

Estrogens regulate key features of metabolism, including food intake, body weight, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, leptin sensitivity, and body fat distribution. There are two ”classical“ estrogen receptors (ERs): estrogen receptor alpha (ERS1) and estrogen receptor beta (ERS2). Human and murine data indicate ERS1 contributes to metabolic regulation more so than ESR2. For example, there are human inactivating mutations of ERS1 which recapitulate aspects of the metabolic syndrome in both men and women. Much of our understanding of the metabolic roles of ERS1 was initially uncovered in estrogen receptor α-null mice (ERS1−/−); these mice display aspects of the metabolic syndrome, including increased body weight, increased visceral fat deposition and dysregulated glucose intolerance. Recent data further implicate ERS1 in specific tissues and neuronal populations as being critical for regulating food intake, energy expenditure, body fat distribution and adipose tissue function. This review will focus predominantly on the role of hypothalamic ERs and their critical role in regulating all aspects of energy homeostasis and metabolism. PMID:24882636

The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation.

PubMed

Frank, Aaron; Brown, Lynda M; Clegg, Deborah J

2014-10-01

Estrogens regulate key features of metabolism, including food intake, body weight, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, leptin sensitivity, and body fat distribution. There are two 'classical' estrogen receptors (ERs): estrogen receptor alpha (ERS1) and estrogen receptor beta (ERS2). Human and murine data indicate ERS1 contributes to metabolic regulation more so than ESR2. For example, there are human inactivating mutations of ERS1 which recapitulate aspects of the metabolic syndrome in both men and women. Much of our understanding of the metabolic roles of ERS1 was initially uncovered in estrogen receptor α-null mice (ERS1(-/-)); these mice display aspects of the metabolic syndrome, including increased body weight, increased visceral fat deposition and dysregulated glucose intolerance. Recent data further implicate ERS1 in specific tissues and neuronal populations as being critical for regulating food intake, energy expenditure, body fat distribution and adipose tissue function. This review will focus predominantly on the role of hypothalamic ERs and their critical role in regulating all aspects of energy homeostasis and metabolism. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A secreted antibacterial neuropeptide shapes the microbiome of Hydra.

PubMed

Augustin, René; Schröder, Katja; Murillo Rincón, Andrea P; Fraune, Sebastian; Anton-Erxleben, Friederike; Herbst, Eva-Maria; Wittlieb, Jörg; Schwentner, Martin; Grötzinger, Joachim; Wassenaar, Trudy M; Bosch, Thomas C G

2017-09-26

Colonization of body epithelial surfaces with a highly specific microbial community is a fundamental feature of all animals, yet the underlying mechanisms by which these communities are selected and maintained are not well understood. Here, we show that sensory and ganglion neurons in the ectodermal epithelium of the model organism hydra (a member of the animal phylum Cnidaria) secrete neuropeptides with antibacterial activity that may shape the microbiome on the body surface. In particular, a specific neuropeptide, which we call NDA-1, contributes to the reduction of Gram-positive bacteria during early development and thus to a spatial distribution of the main colonizer, the Gram-negative Curvibacter sp., along the body axis. Our findings warrant further research to test whether neuropeptides secreted by nerve cells contribute to the spatial structure of microbial communities in other organisms.Certain neuropeptides, in addition to their neuromodulatory functions, display antibacterial activities of unclear significance. Here, the authors show that a secreted neuropeptide modulates the distribution of bacterial communities on the body surface during development of the model organism Hydra.

A drug procurement, storage and distribution model in public hospitals in a developing country.

PubMed

Kjos, Andrea L; Binh, Nguyen Thanh; Robertson, Caitlin; Rovers, John

2016-01-01

There is growing interest in pharmaceutical supply chains and distribution of medications at national and international levels. Issues of access and efficiency have been called into question. However, evaluations of system outcomes are not possible unless there are contextual data to describe the systems in question. Available guidelines provided by international advisory bodies such as the World Health Organization and the International Pharmacy Federation may be useful for developing countries like Vietnam when seeking to describe the pharmaceutical system. The purpose of this study was to describe a conceptual model for drug procurement, storage, and distribution in four government-owned hospitals in Vietnam. This study was qualitative and used semi-structured interviews with key informants from within the Vietnamese pharmaceutical system. Translated transcriptions were used to conduct a content analysis of the data. A conceptual model for the Vietnamese pharmaceutical system was described using structural and functional components. This model showed that in Vietnam, governmental policy influences the structural framework of the system, but allows for flexibility at the functional level of practice. Further, this model can be strongly differentiated from the models described by international advisory bodies. This study demonstrates a method for health care systems to describe their own models of drug distribution to address quality assurance, systems design and benchmarking for quality improvement. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strongdeco: Expansion of analytical, strongly correlated quantum states into a many-body basis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juliá-Díaz, Bruno; Graß, Tobias

2012-03-01

We provide a Mathematica code for decomposing strongly correlated quantum states described by a first-quantized, analytical wave function into many-body Fock states. Within them, the single-particle occupations refer to the subset of Fock-Darwin functions with no nodes. Such states, commonly appearing in two-dimensional systems subjected to gauge fields, were first discussed in the context of quantum Hall physics and are nowadays very relevant in the field of ultracold quantum gases. As important examples, we explicitly apply our decomposition scheme to the prominent Laughlin and Pfaffian states. This allows for easily calculating the overlap between arbitrary states with these highly correlated test states, and thus provides a useful tool to classify correlated quantum systems. Furthermore, we can directly read off the angular momentum distribution of a state from its decomposition. Finally we make use of our code to calculate the normalization factors for Laughlin's famous quasi-particle/quasi-hole excitations, from which we gain insight into the intriguing fractional behavior of these excitations. Program summaryProgram title: Strongdeco Catalogue identifier: AELA_v1_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AELA_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 5475 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 31 071 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Mathematica Computer: Any computer on which Mathematica can be installed Operating system: Linux, Windows, Mac Classification: 2.9 Nature of problem: Analysis of strongly correlated quantum states. Solution method: The program makes use of the tools developed in Mathematica to deal with multivariate polynomials to decompose analytical strongly correlated states of bosons and fermions into a standard many-body basis. Operations with polynomials, determinants and permanents are the basic tools. Running time: The distributed notebook takes a couple of minutes to run.

Development of a calculation method for estimating specific energy distribution in complex radiation fields.

PubMed

Sato, Tatsuhiko; Watanabe, Ritsuko; Niita, Koji

2006-01-01

Estimation of the specific energy distribution in a human body exposed to complex radiation fields is of great importance in the planning of long-term space missions and heavy ion cancer therapies. With the aim of developing a tool for this estimation, the specific energy distributions in liquid water around the tracks of several HZE particles with energies up to 100 GeV n(-1) were calculated by performing track structure simulation with the Monte Carlo technique. In the simulation, the targets were assumed to be spherical sites with diameters from 1 nm to 1 microm. An analytical function to reproduce the simulation results was developed in order to predict the distributions of all kinds of heavy ions over a wide energy range. The incorporation of this function into the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) enables us to calculate the specific energy distributions in complex radiation fields in a short computational time.

Single body parts are processed by individual neurons in the mouse dorsolateral striatum.

PubMed

Coffey, Kevin R; Nader, Miles; West, Mark O

2016-04-01

Interest in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) has generated numerous scientific studies of its neuropathologies, as well as its roles in normal sensorimotor integration and learning. Studies are informed by knowledge of DLS functional organization, the guiding principle being its somatotopic afferent projections from primary somatosensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices. The potential to connect behaviorally relevant function to detailed structure is elevated by mouse models, which have access to extensive genetic neuroscience tool kits. Remaining to be demonstrated, however, is whether the correspondence between S1/M1 corticostriatal terminal distributions and the physiological properties of DLS neurons demonstrated in rats and non-human primates exists in mice. Given that the terminal distribution of S1/M1 projections to the DLS in mice is similar to that in rats, we studied whether firing rates (FRs) of DLS neurons in awake, behaving mice are related to activity of individual body parts. MSNs exhibited robust, selective increases in FR during movement or somatosensory stimulation of single body parts. Properties of MSNs, including baseline FRs, locations, responsiveness to stimulation, and proportions of responsive neurons were similar to properties observed in rats. Future studies can be informed by the present demonstration that the mouse lateral striatum functions as a somatic sensorimotor sector of the striatum and appears to be a homolog of the primate putamen, as demonstrated in rats (Carelli and West, 1991). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessment of body fat based on potential function clustering segmentation of computed tomography images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lixin; Lin, Min; Wan, Baikun; Zhou, Yu; Wang, Yizhong

2005-01-01

In this paper, a new method of body fat and its distribution testing is proposed based on CT image processing. As it is more sensitive to slight differences in attenuation than standard radiography, CT depicts the soft tissues with better clarity. And body fat has a distinct grayness range compared with its neighboring tissues in a CT image. An effective multi-thresholds image segmentation method based on potential function clustering is used to deal with multiple peaks in the grayness histogram of a CT image. The CT images of abdomens of 14 volunteers with different fatness are processed with the proposed method. Not only can the result of total fat area be got, but also the differentiation of subcutaneous fat from intra-abdominal fat has been identified. The results show the adaptability and stability of the proposed method, which will be a useful tool for diagnosing obesity.

An evaluation of child passenger safety : the effectiveness and benefits of safety seats : summary

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-02-01

The purpose of child safety seats is to reduce the number of child passengers killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes. The seats function by absorbing and safely distributing crash impact loads over the child's body while holding the child in plac...

Climate change and body size shift in Mediterranean bivalve assemblages: unexpected role of biological invasions.

PubMed

Nawrot, Rafał; Albano, Paolo G; Chattopadhyay, Devapriya; Zuschin, Martin

2017-08-16

Body size is a synthetic functional trait determining many key ecosystem properties. Reduction in average body size has been suggested as one of the universal responses to global warming in aquatic ecosystems. Climate change, however, coincides with human-enhanced dispersal of alien species and can facilitate their establishment. We address effects of species introductions on the size structure of recipient communities using data on Red Sea bivalves entering the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. We show that the invasion leads to increase in median body size of the Mediterranean assemblage. Alien species are significantly larger than native Mediterranean bivalves, even though they represent a random subset of the Red Sea species with respect to body size. The observed patterns result primarily from the differences in the taxonomic composition and body-size distributions of the source and recipient species pools. In contrast to the expectations based on the general temperature-size relationships in marine ectotherms, continued warming of the Mediterranean Sea indirectly leads to an increase in the proportion of large-bodied species in bivalve assemblages by accelerating the entry and spread of tropical aliens. These results underscore complex interactions between changing climate and species invasions in driving functional shifts in marine ecosystems. © 2017 The Author(s).

An adaptively refined phase-space element method for cosmological simulations and collisionless dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Oliver; Angulo, Raul E.

2016-01-01

N-body simulations are essential for understanding the formation and evolution of structure in the Universe. However, the discrete nature of these simulations affects their accuracy when modelling collisionless systems. We introduce a new approach to simulate the gravitational evolution of cold collisionless fluids by solving the Vlasov-Poisson equations in terms of adaptively refineable `Lagrangian phase-space elements'. These geometrical elements are piecewise smooth maps between Lagrangian space and Eulerian phase-space and approximate the continuum structure of the distribution function. They allow for dynamical adaptive splitting to accurately follow the evolution even in regions of very strong mixing. We discuss in detail various one-, two- and three-dimensional test problems to demonstrate the performance of our method. Its advantages compared to N-body algorithms are: (I) explicit tracking of the fine-grained distribution function, (II) natural representation of caustics, (III) intrinsically smooth gravitational potential fields, thus (IV) eliminating the need for any type of ad hoc force softening. We show the potential of our method by simulating structure formation in a warm dark matter scenario. We discuss how spurious collisionality and large-scale discreteness noise of N-body methods are both strongly suppressed, which eliminates the artificial fragmentation of filaments. Therefore, we argue that our new approach improves on the N-body method when simulating self-gravitating cold and collisionless fluids, and is the first method that allows us to explicitly follow the fine-grained evolution in six-dimensional phase-space.

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of light nuclei with local chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions

DOE PAGES

Lynn, J. E.; Tews, I.; Carlson, J.; ...

2017-11-30

Local chiral effective field theory interactions have recently been developed and used in the context of quantum Monte Carlo few- and many-body methods for nuclear physics. In this paper, we go over detailed features of local chiral nucleon-nucleon interactions and examine their effect on properties of the deuteron, paying special attention to the perturbativeness of the expansion. We then turn to three-nucleon interactions, focusing on operator ambiguities and their interplay with regulator effects. We then discuss the nuclear Green's function Monte Carlo method, going over both wave-function correlations and approximations for the two- and three-body propagators. Finally, following this, wemore » present a range of results on light nuclei: Binding energies and distribution functions are contrasted and compared, starting from several different microscopic interactions.« less

A feasibility study of altered spatial distribution of losses induced by eddy currents in body composition analysis

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Tomographic imaging has revealed that the body mass index does not give a reliable state of overall fitness. However, high measurement costs make the tomographic imaging unsuitable for large scale studies or repeated individual use. This paper reports an experimental investigation of a new electromagnetic method and its feasibility for assessing body composition. The method is called body electrical loss analysis (BELA). Methods The BELA method uses a high-Q parallel resonant circuit to produce a time-varying magnetic field. The Q of the resonator changes when the sample is placed in its coil. This is caused by induced eddy currents in the sample. The new idea in the BELA method is the altered spatial distribution of the electrical losses generated by these currents. The distribution of losses is varied using different excitation frequencies. The feasibility of the method was tested using simplified phantoms. Two of these phantoms were rough estimations of human torso. One had fat in the middle of its volume and saline solution in the outer shell volume. The other had reversed conductivity distributions. The phantoms were placed in the resonator and the change in the losses was measured. Five different excitation frequencies from 100 kHz to 200 kHz were used. Results The rate of loss as a function of frequency was observed to be approximately three times larger for a phantom with fat in the middle of its volume than for one with fat in its outer shell volume. Conclusions At higher frequencies the major signal contribution can be shifted toward outer shell volume. This enables probing the conductivity distribution of the subject by weighting outer structural components. The authors expect that the loss changing rate over frequency can be a potential index for body composition analysis. PMID:21047441

An analysis of the growth based on the size and age distributions of the hawksbill sea turtle inhabiting Cuban waters.

PubMed

Kobayashi, M

2000-11-01

The first costal scute (C 1) collected from 2, 749 hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) captured in Cuban waters in 1993 and 1994 were analyzed to determine their body size and age distributions. The C 1 width (C 1 W) was converted to the straight carapace length (SCL) using a formula, SCL = 4.3527 (C 1 W)0.8484, to examine its body size distribution. The SCL ranged from 51.3 to 96.1 cm with 68.8 cm of mean and 68.6 cm of median. Ages of captured turtles estimated from the C 1 surface patterns were ranged from 3.3 to 61.5 years old with 15.8 years of mean and 14.5 years of median. A growth function of van Bertalanffy, M(t) = A(1-Be-kt), was applied to determine the relationship between the age and body size (SCL). A formula, SCL = 80.4(1 -0.663e-0.118(Age)), was derived and indicated a slowdown in the growth after about 14 years old. The maturation age and the rate of sexually matured Cuban hawksbill turtles were also discussed based on these results.

Pediatric Obesity: Pharmacokinetic Alterations and Effects on Antimicrobial Dosing.

PubMed

Natale, Stephanie; Bradley, John; Nguyen, William Huy; Tran, Tri; Ny, Pamela; La, Kirsten; Vivian, Eva; Le, Jennifer

2017-03-01

Limited data exist for appropriate drug dosing in obese children. This comprehensive review summarizes pharmacokinetic (PK) alterations that occur with age and obesity, and these effects on antimicrobial dosing. A thorough comparison of different measures of body weight and specific antimicrobial agents including cefazolin, cefepime, ceftazidime, daptomycin, doripenem, gentamicin, linezolid, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, tobramycin, vancomycin, and voriconazole is presented. PubMed (1966-July 2015) and Cochrane Library searches were performed using these key terms: children, pharmacokinetic, obesity, overweight, body mass index, ideal body weight, lean body weight, body composition, and specific antimicrobial drugs. PK studies in obese children and, if necessary, data from adult studies were summarized. Knowledge of PK alterations stemming from physiologic changes that occur with age from the neonate to adolescent, as well as those that result from increased body fat, become an essential first step toward optimizing drug dosing in obese children. Excessive amounts of adipose tissue contribute significantly to body size, total body water content, and organ size and function that may modify drug distribution and clearance. PK studies that evaluated antimicrobial dosing primarily used total (or actual) body weight (TBW) for loading doses and TBW or adjusted body weight for maintenance doses, depending on the drugs' properties and dosing units. PK studies in obese children are imperative to elucidate drug distribution, clearance, and, consequently, the dose required for effective therapy in these children. Future studies should evaluate the effects of both age and obesity on drug dosing because the incidence of obesity is increasing in pediatric patients. © 2017 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

Origin of Outer Solar System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holman, Matthew J.; Lindstrom, David (Technical Monitor)

2005-01-01

Our ongoing research program combines extensive deep and wide-field observations using a variety of observational platforms with numerical studies of the dynamics of small bodies in the outer solar system in order to advance the main scientific goals of the community studying the Kuiper belt and the outer solar system. These include: (1) determining the relative populations of the known classes of KBOs as well as other possible classes; ( 2 ) determining the size distributions or luminosity function of the individual populations or the Kuiper belt as a whole; (3) determining the inclinations distributions of these populations; (4) establishing the radial extent of the Kuiper belt; ( 5 ) measuring and relating the physical properties of different types of KBOs to those of other solar system bodies; and, (6) completing our systematic inventory of the satellites of the outer planets.

Formation of the Electric Double Layer and its Effects on Moving Bodies in a Space Plasma Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Qianli; Wu, S. T.; Stone, N. H.; Li, Xiaoquing

1996-01-01

In this paper we solve the self-consistent Vlasov and Poisson equations by a numerical method to determine the local distribution function of the ion and the electron, within a thin layer near the moving body, respectively. Using these ion and electron distributions, the number density for the ions and electrons are determined, such that, the electric potential is obtained within this thin layer (i.e., measured by Debye length). Numerical results are presented for temporal evolution of the electron and ion density and its corresponding electric potential within the layer which shows the formation of electric double layer and its structures. From these numerical results, we are able to determine the maximum conditions of the electric potential, it may create satellite anomaly.

Photoelectric dust levitation around airless bodies revised using realistic photoelectron velocity distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senshu, H.; Kimura, H.; Yamamoto, T.; Wada, K.; Kobayashi, M.; Namiki, N.; Matsui, T.

2015-10-01

The velocity distribution function of photoelectrons from a surface exposed to solar UV radiation is fundamental to the electrostatic status of the surface. There is one and only one laboratory measurement of photoelectron emission from astronomically relevant material, but the energy distribution function was measured only in the emission angle from the normal to the surface of 0 to about π / 4. Therefore, the measured distribution is not directly usable to estimate the vertical structure of a photoelectric sheath above the surface. In this study, we develop a new analytical method to calculate an angle-resolved velocity distribution function of photoelectrons from the laboratory measurement data. We find that the photoelectric current and yield for lunar surface fines measured in a laboratory have been underestimated by a factor of two. We apply our new energy distribution function of photoelectrons to model the formation of photoelectric sheath above the surface of asteroid 433 Eros. Our model shows that a 0.1 μm-radius dust grain can librate above the surface of asteroid 433 Eros regardless of its launching velocity. In addition, a 0.5 μm grain can hover over the surface if the grain was launched at a velocity slower than 0.4 m/s, which is a more stringent condition for levitation than previous studies. However, a lack of high-energy data on the photoelectron energy distribution above 6 eV prevents us from firmly placing a constraint on the levitation condition.

Dynamical properties of a family of collisionless models of elliptical galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertin, G.; Trenti, M.

2004-04-01

N-body simulations of collisionless collapse have offered important clues to the construction of realistic stellar dynamical models of elliptical galaxies. Such simulations confirm and quantify the qualitative expectation that rapid collapse of a self-gravitating collisionless system, initially cool and significantly far from equilibrium, leads to incomplete relaxation, that is to a quasi-equilibrium configuration characterized by isotropic, quasi-Maxwellian distribution of stellar orbits in the inner regions and by radially biased anisotropic pressure in the outer parts. In earlier studies, as illustrated in a number of papers several years ago, the attention was largely focused on the successful comparison between the models (constructed under the qualitative clues offered by the N-body simulations mentioned above) and the observations. In this paper we revisit the problem of incomplete violent relaxation, by making a direct comparison between the detailed properties of a family of distribution functions and those of the products of collisionless collapse found in N-body simulations.

The nuclear contacts and short range correlations in nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, R.; Cruz-Torres, R.; Barnea, N.; Piasetzky, E.; Hen, O.

2018-05-01

Atomic nuclei are complex strongly interacting systems and their exact theoretical description is a long-standing challenge. An approximate description of nuclei can be achieved by separating its short and long range structure. This separation of scales stands at the heart of the nuclear shell model and effective field theories that describe the long-range structure of the nucleus using a mean-field approximation. We present here an effective description of the complementary short-range structure using contact terms and stylized two-body asymptotic wave functions. The possibility to extract the nuclear contacts from experimental data is presented. Regions in the two-body momentum distribution dominated by high-momentum, close-proximity, nucleon pairs are identified and compared to experimental data. The amount of short-range correlated (SRC) nucleon pairs is determined and compared to measurements. Non-combinatorial isospin symmetry for SRC pairs is identified. The obtained one-body momentum distributions indicate dominance of SRC pairs above the nuclear Fermi-momentum.

Demonstration of improved seismic source inversion method of tele-seismic body wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yagi, Y.; Okuwaki, R.

2017-12-01

Seismic rupture inversion of tele-seismic body wave has been widely applied to studies of large earthquakes. In general, tele-seismic body wave contains information of overall rupture process of large earthquake, while the tele-seismic body wave is inappropriate for analyzing a detailed rupture process of M6 7 class earthquake. Recently, the quality and quantity of tele-seismic data and the inversion method has been greatly improved. Improved data and method enable us to study a detailed rupture process of M6 7 class earthquake even if we use only tele-seismic body wave. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of the improved data and method through analyses of the 2016 Rieti, Italy earthquake (Mw 6.2) and the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan earthquake (Mw 7.0) that have been well investigated by using the InSAR data set and the field observations. We assumed the rupture occurring on a single fault plane model inferred from the moment tensor solutions and the aftershock distribution. We constructed spatiotemporal discretized slip-rate functions with patches arranged as closely as possible. We performed inversions using several fault models and found that the spatiotemporal location of large slip-rate area was robust. In the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan earthquake, the slip-rate distribution shows that the rupture propagated to southwest during the first 5 s. At 5 s after the origin time, the main rupture started to propagate toward northeast. First episode and second episode correspond to rupture propagation along the Hinagu fault and the Futagawa fault, respectively. In the 2016 Rieti, Italy earthquake, the slip-rate distribution shows that the rupture propagated to up-dip direction during the first 2 s, and then rupture propagated toward northwest. From both analyses, we propose that the spatiotemporal slip-rate distribution estimated by improved inversion method of tele-seismic body wave has enough information to study a detailed rupture process of M6 7 class earthquake.

From Bethe–Salpeter Wave functions to Generalised Parton Distributions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mezrag, C.; Moutarde, H.; Rodríguez-Quintero, J.

2016-06-06

We review recent works on the modelling of Generalised Parton Distributions within the Dyson-Schwinger formalism. We highlight how covariant computations, using the impulse approximation, allows one to fulfil most of the theoretical constraints of the GPDs. A specific attention is brought to chiral properties and especially the so-called soft pion theorem, and its link with the Axial-Vector Ward-Takahashi identity. The limitation of the impulse approximation are also explained. Beyond impulse approximation computations are reviewed in the forward case. Finally, we stress the advantages of the overlap of lightcone wave functions, and possible ways to construct covariant GPD models within thismore » framework, in a two-body approximation« less

(/sup 11/C)clorgyline and (/sup 11/C)-L-deprenyl and their use in measuring functional monoamine oxidase activity in the brain using positron emission tomography

DOEpatents

Fowler, J.S.; MacGregor, R.R.; Wolf, A.P.

1986-04-17

This invention involves a new strategy for imaging the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase in the living body by using /sup 11/C-labeled enzyme inhibitors which bind irreversibly to an enzyme as a result of catalysis. By using positron emission tomography to image the distribution of radioactivity produced by the body penetrating radiation emitted by carbon-11, a map of functionally active monoamine oxidase activity is obtained. Clorgyline and L-deprenyl are suicide enzyme inhibitors and irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase. When these inhibitors are labeled with carbon-11 they provide selective probes for monoamine oxidase localization and reactivity in vivo using positron emission tomography. 2 figs.

Morphological study of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) tongue by SEM and LM.

PubMed

Akbari, Ghasem; Babaei, Mohammad; Hassanzadeh, Belal

2018-03-01

The hedgehog tongue is a tactile and taste organ which carries out various functions. Detailed functional and morphological studies are required to clearly define the relationship of the hedgehog tongue with taste, food palatability, mastication and swallowing of food, as well as the production of sounds. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the morphological characteristics of the European hedgehog tongue and the lifestyle of this animal, as well as to compare findings with the results of studies on other vertebrates. Gross and micro-anatomical light and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that the hedgehog tongue could be divided in three areas, namely the apex, body and root. A keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which was smooth on the ventral surface but bore four types of papillae on the dorsal surface, lined the tongue. Three types of these papillae were found to have gustatory functions and to express their activity in close relation with the salivary glands. These simple conical filiform papillae were situated caudally and distributed one after the other without a break. The dome-shaped fungiform papillae on the apex, with the highest distribution rate on the apex edge, were small, but those on the body and root were large. The three circular vallate papillae were arranged in a triangular shape. The foliate papillae with a few tiny projections, found in a shallow furrow, were situated between the root and the body. Most of the nerve fibers observed in different sections of the tongue tissue were of the unmyelinated type, confirming that the main task of the hedgehog tongue was its gustatory function.

Cell lineage distribution atlas of the human stomach reveals heterogeneous gland populations in the gastric antrum.

PubMed

Choi, Eunyoung; Roland, Joseph T; Barlow, Brittney J; O'Neal, Ryan; Rich, Amy E; Nam, Ki Taek; Shi, Chanjuan; Goldenring, James R

2014-11-01

The glands of the stomach body and antral mucosa contain a complex compendium of cell lineages. In lower mammals, the distribution of oxyntic glands and antral glands define the anatomical regions within the stomach. We examined in detail the distribution of the full range of cell lineages within the human stomach. We determined the distribution of gastric gland cell lineages with specific immunocytochemical markers in entire stomach specimens from three non-obese organ donors. The anatomical body and antrum of the human stomach were defined by the presence of ghrelin and gastrin cells, respectively. Concentrations of somatostatin cells were observed in the proximal stomach. Parietal cells were seen in all glands of the body of the stomach as well as in over 50% of antral glands. MIST1 expressing chief cells were predominantly observed in the body although individual glands of the antrum also showed MIST1 expressing chief cells. While classically described antral glands were observed with gastrin cells and deep antral mucous cells without any parietal cells, we also observed a substantial population of mixed type glands containing both parietal cells and G cells throughout the antrum. Enteroendocrine cells show distinct patterns of localisation in the human stomach. The existence of antral glands with mixed cell lineages indicates that human antral glands may be functionally chimeric with glands assembled from multiple distinct stem cell populations. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Determinants of pulmonary blood flow distribution.

PubMed

Glenny, Robb W; Robertson, H Thomas

2011-01-01

The primary function of the pulmonary circulation is to deliver blood to the alveolar capillaries to exchange gases. Distributing blood over a vast surface area facilitates gas exchange, yet the pulmonary vascular tree must be constrained to fit within the thoracic cavity. In addition, pressures must remain low within the circulatory system to protect the thin alveolar capillary membranes that allow efficient gas exchange. The pulmonary circulation is engineered for these unique requirements and in turn these special attributes affect the spatial distribution of blood flow. As the largest organ in the body, the physical characteristics of the lung vary regionally, influencing the spatial distribution on large-, moderate-, and small-scale levels. © 2011 American Physiological Society.

Metal and Nutrient Distribution and Fractionation in Managed Urban Watersheds Across the US Southwest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papelis, C.; Williams, A. C.; Boettcher, T. M.

2008-12-01

Metals, metalloids, and nutrients are common contaminants of concern in arid and semi-arid watersheds in the Southwestern U.S. Because of the dramatic population growth in this part of the U.S., the potential for contamination of urban watersheds has also increased over the last few decades. Streams in urban watersheds receive storm water, urban runoff, shallow groundwater, and treated wastewater, among other sources. In addition, urban watersheds are often heavily managed to mitigate flood events and sediment- related impacts. Sediment transport can have a profound effect on the water quality of affected bodies of water. However, differences in geology, hydrogeology, and land use may have dramatic effects on the distribution of nutrients and metals in different urban watersheds. To test these effects, aqueous and sediment samples were collected above and below erosion control and other structures along two heavily managed urban watersheds, namely the Las Vegas Wash in the Las Vegas Valley Watershed, Nevada, and the Rio Salado (Salt River) in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, Arizona. The construction of such control structures has the potential to alter the distribution of metals and metalloids in bodies of water used by wildlife. In this study, all sediments were characterized by particle size distribution, specific surface area, mineralogical composition, and scanning electron microscopy. The results of total arsenic, boron, and phosphorus extractions will be discussed, as a function of sediment characteristics. Significant differences exist between the two U.S. Southwest watersheds studied, including land use, water sources, sediment characteristics, nutrient and metal distribution, and overall system complexity. These differences lead to significant variations in metalloid and nutrient distributions in the two watersheds. Differences and similarities in the two systems will be explained as a function of sediment characteristics and watershed properties.

Green's function of radial inhomogeneous spheres excited by internal sources.

PubMed

Zouros, Grigorios P; Kokkorakis, Gerassimos C

2011-01-01

Green's function in the interior of penetrable bodies with inhomogeneous compressibility by sources placed inside them is evaluated through a Schwinger-Lippmann volume integral equation. In the case of a radial inhomogeneous sphere, the radial part of the unknown Green's function can be expanded in a double Dini's series, which allows analytical evaluation of the involved cumbersome integrals. The simple case treated here can be extended to more difficult situations involving inhomogeneous density as well as to the corresponding electromagnetic or elastic problem. Finally, numerical results are given for various inhomogeneous compressibility distributions.

All-atom four-body knowledge-based statistical potential to distinguish native tertiary RNA structures from nonnative folds.

PubMed

Masso, Majid

2018-09-14

Scientific breakthroughs in recent decades have uncovered the capability of RNA molecules to fulfill a wide array of structural, functional, and regulatory roles in living cells, leading to a concomitantly significant increase in both the number and diversity of experimentally determined RNA three-dimensional (3D) structures. Atomic coordinates from a representative training set of solved RNA structures, displaying low sequence and structure similarity, facilitate derivation of knowledge-based energy functions. Here we develop an all-atom four-body statistical potential and evaluate its capacity to distinguish native RNA 3D structures from nonnative folds based on calculated free energy scores. Atomic four-body nearest-neighbors are objectively identified by their occurrence as tetrahedral vertices in the Delaunay tessellations of RNA structures, and rates of atomic quadruplet interactions expected by chance are obtained from a multinomial reference distribution. Our four-body energy function, referred to as RAMP (ribonucleic acids multibody potential), is subsequently derived by applying the inverted Boltzmann principle to the frequency data, yielding an energy score for each type of atomic quadruplet interaction. Several well-known benchmark datasets reveal that RAMP is comparable with, and often outperforms, existing knowledge- and physics-based energy functions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study detailing an RNA tertiary structure-based multibody statistical potential and its comparative evaluation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantifying Nanoscale Order in Amorphous Materials via Fluctuation Electron Microscopy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bogle, Stephanie Nicole

2009-01-01

Fluctuation electron microscopy (FEM) has been used to study the nanoscale order in various amorphous materials. The method is explicitly sensitive to 3- and 4-body atomic correlation functions in amorphous materials; this is sufficient to establish the existence of structural order on the nanoscale, even when the radial distribution function…

Prototype-Distortion Category Learning: A Two-Phase Learning Process across a Distributed Network

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Little, Deborah M.; Thulborn, Keith R.

2006-01-01

This paper reviews a body of work conducted in our laboratory that applies functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to better understand the biological response and change that occurs during prototype-distortion learning. We review results from two experiments (Little, Klein, Shobat, McClure, & Thulborn, 2004; Little & Thulborn, 2005) that…

Body experience and mental representation of body image in patients with haematological malignancies and cancer as assessed with the Body Grid.

PubMed

Weber, C; Bronner, E; Thier, P; Schoeneich, F; Walter, O; Klapp, B F; Kingreen, D

2001-12-01

The domain of body image plays a central role in the quality of life of patients with haematological malignancies and metastasized cancer, since the disease itself as well as the enrolled therapies interfere with psychological and bodily well-being. We approached this highly subjective field by using the repertory grid technique and hypothesized that patients would display a restricted body image, focusing on functional aspects of the body. In all, 55 in-patients (27 men, 28 women, M age = 45.7 yrs, N = 46 with haematological malignancies, N = 9 with metastasized cancer), at the time of initial diagnosis, were included in the study and assessed with the Body Grid, an instrument specifically designed by us for the exploration of body image. The data were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and construct categorization. Further, 42 chronic tinnitus sufferers (20 male, 22 female, M age = 46.5 yrs) served as a comparison group. Based on the constructs elicited, six construct categories were formulated in the sense of a first attempt of a hierarchical model (emotion, control, activity, strength, function, appearance). The central constructs (373 construct pairs) were assigned to these categories by three inter-raters. The categories appeared in the following order of frequency: function (27.1%), emotion (20.4%), strength (20.1%), activity (15%), control (10.2%) and appearance (7.2%). PCA indicated that the patients mainly demonstrated a restricted view of their body. In the tinnitus group, the most frequent category proved to be activity (21.3%), closely followed by function (21.1%) and control (20.9%). The body image was also restricted (PCA). The restriction of body image, together with the specific construct choice, seen in the haematology and cancer patients reflects the existential threat of the disease and may serve as a coping strategy. The high percentage of emotional constructs may mirror the patients' need for further support. The distinct distribution of construct categories in the two different patient samples supports the applicability of the proposed preliminary model.

Mutual medication in capuchin monkeys – Social anointing improves coverage of topically applied anti-parasite medicines

PubMed Central

Bowler, Mark; Messer, Emily J. E.; Claidière, Nicolas; Whiten, Andrew

2015-01-01

Wild and captive capuchin monkeys will anoint themselves with a range of strong smelling substances including millipedes, ants, limes and onions. Hypotheses for the function of the behaviour range from medicinal to social. However, capuchin monkeys may anoint in contact with other individuals, as well as individually. The function of social anointing has also been explained as either medicinal or to enhance social bonding. By manipulating the abundance of an anointing resource given to two groups of tufted capuchins, we tested predictions derived from the main hypotheses for the functions of anointing and in particular, social anointing. Monkeys engaged in individual and social anointing in similar proportions when resources were rare or common, and monkeys holding resources continued to join anointing groups, indicating that social anointing has functions beyond that of gaining access to resources. The distribution of individual and social anointing actions on the monkeys’ bodies supports a medicinal function for both individual and social anointing, that requires no additional social bonding hypotheses. Individual anointing targets hard-to-see body parts that are harder to groom, whilst social anointing targets hard-to-reach body parts. Social anointing in capuchins is a form of mutual medication that improves coverage of topically applied anti-parasite medicines. PMID:26456539

Mutual medication in capuchin monkeys - Social anointing improves coverage of topically applied anti-parasite medicines.

PubMed

Bowler, Mark; Messer, Emily J E; Claidière, Nicolas; Whiten, Andrew

2015-10-12

Wild and captive capuchin monkeys will anoint themselves with a range of strong smelling substances including millipedes, ants, limes and onions. Hypotheses for the function of the behaviour range from medicinal to social. However, capuchin monkeys may anoint in contact with other individuals, as well as individually. The function of social anointing has also been explained as either medicinal or to enhance social bonding. By manipulating the abundance of an anointing resource given to two groups of tufted capuchins, we tested predictions derived from the main hypotheses for the functions of anointing and in particular, social anointing. Monkeys engaged in individual and social anointing in similar proportions when resources were rare or common, and monkeys holding resources continued to join anointing groups, indicating that social anointing has functions beyond that of gaining access to resources. The distribution of individual and social anointing actions on the monkeys' bodies supports a medicinal function for both individual and social anointing, that requires no additional social bonding hypotheses. Individual anointing targets hard-to-see body parts that are harder to groom, whilst social anointing targets hard-to-reach body parts. Social anointing in capuchins is a form of mutual medication that improves coverage of topically applied anti-parasite medicines.

A Single Camera Motion Capture System for Human-Computer Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okada, Ryuzo; Stenger, Björn

This paper presents a method for markerless human motion capture using a single camera. It uses tree-based filtering to efficiently propagate a probability distribution over poses of a 3D body model. The pose vectors and associated shapes are arranged in a tree, which is constructed by hierarchical pairwise clustering, in order to efficiently evaluate the likelihood in each frame. Anew likelihood function based on silhouette matching is proposed that improves the pose estimation of thinner body parts, i. e. the limbs. The dynamic model takes self-occlusion into account by increasing the variance of occluded body-parts, thus allowing for recovery when the body part reappears. We present two applications of our method that work in real-time on a Cell Broadband Engine™: a computer game and a virtual clothing application.

The Metabolic Phenotype in Obesity: Fat Mass, Body Fat Distribution, and Adipose Tissue Function.

PubMed

Goossens, Gijs H

2017-01-01

The current obesity epidemic poses a major public health issue since obesity predisposes towards several chronic diseases. BMI and total adiposity are positively correlated with cardiometabolic disease risk at the population level. However, body fat distribution and an impaired adipose tissue function, rather than total fat mass, better predict insulin resistance and related complications at the individual level. Adipose tissue dysfunction is determined by an impaired adipose tissue expandability, adipocyte hypertrophy, altered lipid metabolism, and local inflammation. Recent human studies suggest that adipose tissue oxygenation may be a key factor herein. A subgroup of obese individuals - the 'metabolically healthy obese' (MHO) - have a better adipose tissue function, less ectopic fat storage, and are more insulin sensitive than obese metabolically unhealthy persons, emphasizing the central role of adipose tissue function in metabolic health. However, controversy has surrounded the idea that metabolically healthy obesity may be considered really healthy since MHO individuals are at increased (cardio)metabolic disease risk and may have a lower quality of life than normal weight subjects due to other comorbidities. Detailed metabolic phenotyping of obese persons will be invaluable in understanding the pathophysiology of metabolic disturbances, and is needed to identify high-risk individuals or subgroups, thereby paving the way for optimization of prevention and treatment strategies to combat cardiometabolic diseases. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

Functional Inactivation of the Genome-Wide Association Study Obesity Gene Neuronal Growth Regulator 1 in Mice Causes a Body Mass Phenotype

PubMed Central

Lee, Angela W. S.; Berriel-Diaz, Mauricio; Loreth, Desirée; Kirsch, Matthias; Kretz, Oliver; Haas, Carola A.; de Angelis, Martin Hrabě; Herzig, Stephan; Brümmendorf, Thomas; Klingenspor, Martin; Rathjen, Fritz G.; Rozman, Jan; Nicholson, George; Cox, Roger D.; Schäfer, Michael K. E.

2012-01-01

To date, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified at least 32 novel loci for obesity and body mass-related traits. However, the causal genetic variant and molecular mechanisms of specific susceptibility genes in relation to obesity are yet to be fully confirmed and characterised. Here, we examined whether the candidate gene NEGR1 encoding the neuronal growth regulator 1, also termed neurotractin or Kilon, accounts for the obesity association. To characterise the function of NEGR1 for body weight control in vivo, we generated two novel mutant mouse lines, including a constitutive NEGR1-deficient mouse line as well as an ENU-mutagenised line carrying a loss-of-function mutation (Negr1-I87N) and performed metabolic phenotypic analyses. Ablation of NEGR1 results in a small but steady reduction of body mass in both mutant lines, accompanied with a small reduction in body length in the Negr1-I87N mutants. Magnetic resonance scanning reveals that the reduction of body mass in Negr1-I87N mice is due to a reduced proportion of lean mass. Negr1-I87N mutants display reduced food intake and physical activity while normalised energy expenditure remains unchanged. Expression analyses confirmed the brain-specific distribution of NEGR1 including strong expression in the hypothalamus. In vitro assays show that NEGR1 promotes cell-cell adhesion and neurite growth of hypothalamic neurons. Our results indicate a role of NEGR1 in the control of body weight and food intake. This study provides evidence that supports the link of the GWAS candidate gene NEGR1 with body weight control. PMID:22844493

Peculiar velocity effect on galaxy correlation functions in nonlinear clustering regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsubara, Takahiko

1994-03-01

We studied the distortion of the apparent distribution of galaxies in redshift space contaminated by the peculiar velocity effect. Specifically we obtained the expressions for N-point correlation functions in redshift space with given functional form for velocity distribution f(v) and evaluated two- and three-point correlation functions quantitatively. The effect of velocity correlations is also discussed. When the two-point correlation function in real space has a power-law form, Xir(r) is proportional to r(-gamma), the redshift-space counterpart on small scales also has a power-law form but with an increased power-law index: Xis(s) is proportional to s(1-gamma). When the three-point correlation function has the hierarchical form and the two-point correlation function has the power-law form in real space, the hierarchical form of the three-point correlation function is almost preserved in redshift space. The above analytic results are compared with the direct analysis based on N-body simulation data for cold dark matter models. Implications on the hierarchical clustering ansatz are discussed in detail.

Assessment of human body influence on exposure measurements of electric field in indoor enclosures.

PubMed

de Miguel-Bilbao, Silvia; García, Jorge; Ramos, Victoria; Blas, Juan

2015-02-01

Personal exposure meters (PEMs) used for measuring exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) are typically used in epidemiological studies. As is well known, these measurement devices cause a perturbation of real EMF exposure levels due to the presence of the human body in the immediate proximity. This paper aims to model the alteration caused by the body shadow effect (BSE) in motion conditions and in indoor enclosures at the Wi-Fi frequency of 2.4 GHz. For this purpose, simulation techniques based on ray-tracing have been carried out, and their results have been verified experimentally. A good agreement exists between simulation and experimental results in terms of electric field (E-field) levels, and taking into account the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the spatial distribution of amplitude. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test provides a P-value greater than 0.05, in fact close to 1. It has been found that the influence of the presence of the human body can be characterized as an angle of shadow that depends on the dimensions of the indoor enclosure. The CDFs show that the E-field levels in indoor conditions follow a lognormal distribution in the absence of the human body and under the influence of BSE. In conclusion, the perturbation caused by BSE in PEMs readings cannot be compensated for by correction factors. Although the mean value is well adjusted, BSE causes changes in CDF that would require improvements in measurement protocols and in the design of measuring devices to subsequently avoid systematic errors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anatomy of quantum critical wave functions in dissipative impurity problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blunden-Codd, Zach; Bera, Soumya; Bruognolo, Benedikt; Linden, Nils-Oliver; Chin, Alex W.; von Delft, Jan; Nazir, Ahsan; Florens, Serge

2017-02-01

Quantum phase transitions reflect singular changes taking place in a many-body ground state; however, computing and analyzing large-scale critical wave functions constitutes a formidable challenge. Physical insights into the sub-Ohmic spin-boson model are provided by the coherent-state expansion (CSE), which represents the wave function by a linear combination of classically displaced configurations. We find that the distribution of low-energy displacements displays an emergent symmetry in the absence of spontaneous symmetry breaking while experiencing strong fluctuations of the order parameter near the quantum critical point. Quantum criticality provides two strong fingerprints in critical low-energy modes: an algebraic decay of the average displacement and a constant universal average squeezing amplitude. These observations, confirmed by extensive variational matrix-product-state (VMPS) simulations and field theory arguments, offer precious clues into the microscopics of critical many-body states in quantum impurity models.

Inclusion Bodies Are a Site of Ebolavirus Replication

PubMed Central

Hoenen, Thomas; Shabman, Reed S.; Groseth, Allison; Herwig, Astrid; Weber, Michaela; Schudt, Gordian; Dolnik, Olga; Basler, Christopher F.; Becker, Stephan

2012-01-01

Inclusion bodies are a characteristic feature of ebolavirus infections in cells. They contain large numbers of preformed nucleocapsids, but their biological significance has been debated, and they have been suggested to be aggregates of viral proteins without any further biological function. However, recent data for other viruses that produce similar structures have suggested that inclusion bodies might be involved in genome replication and transcription. In order to study filovirus inclusion bodies, we fused mCherry to the ebolavirus polymerase L, which is found in inclusion bodies. The resulting L-mCherry fusion protein was functional in minigenome assays and incorporated into virus-like particles. Importantly, L-mCherry fluorescence in transfected cells was readily detectable and distributed in a punctate pattern characteristic for inclusion bodies. A recombinant ebolavirus encoding L-mCherry instead of L was rescued and showed virtually identical growth kinetics and endpoint titers to those for wild-type virus. Using this virus, we showed that the onset of inclusion body formation corresponds to the onset of viral genome replication, but that viral transcription occurs prior to inclusion body formation. Live-cell imaging further showed that inclusion bodies are highly dynamic structures and that they can undergo dramatic reorganization during cell division. Finally, by labeling nascent RNAs using click technology we showed that inclusion bodies are indeed the site of viral RNA synthesis. Based on these data we conclude that, rather than being inert aggregates of nucleocapsids, ebolavirus inclusion bodies are in fact complex and dynamic structures and an important site at which viral RNA replication takes place. PMID:22915810

Inclusion bodies are a site of ebolavirus replication.

PubMed

Hoenen, Thomas; Shabman, Reed S; Groseth, Allison; Herwig, Astrid; Weber, Michaela; Schudt, Gordian; Dolnik, Olga; Basler, Christopher F; Becker, Stephan; Feldmann, Heinz

2012-11-01

Inclusion bodies are a characteristic feature of ebolavirus infections in cells. They contain large numbers of preformed nucleocapsids, but their biological significance has been debated, and they have been suggested to be aggregates of viral proteins without any further biological function. However, recent data for other viruses that produce similar structures have suggested that inclusion bodies might be involved in genome replication and transcription. In order to study filovirus inclusion bodies, we fused mCherry to the ebolavirus polymerase L, which is found in inclusion bodies. The resulting L-mCherry fusion protein was functional in minigenome assays and incorporated into virus-like particles. Importantly, L-mCherry fluorescence in transfected cells was readily detectable and distributed in a punctate pattern characteristic for inclusion bodies. A recombinant ebolavirus encoding L-mCherry instead of L was rescued and showed virtually identical growth kinetics and endpoint titers to those for wild-type virus. Using this virus, we showed that the onset of inclusion body formation corresponds to the onset of viral genome replication, but that viral transcription occurs prior to inclusion body formation. Live-cell imaging further showed that inclusion bodies are highly dynamic structures and that they can undergo dramatic reorganization during cell division. Finally, by labeling nascent RNAs using click technology we showed that inclusion bodies are indeed the site of viral RNA synthesis. Based on these data we conclude that, rather than being inert aggregates of nucleocapsids, ebolavirus inclusion bodies are in fact complex and dynamic structures and an important site at which viral RNA replication takes place.

Distributed effects of biological sex define sex-typical motor behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans.

PubMed

Mowrey, William R; Bennett, Jessica R; Portman, Douglas S

2014-01-29

Sex differences in shared behaviors (for example, locomotion and feeding) are a nearly universal feature of animal biology. Though these behaviors may share underlying neural programs, their kinematics can exhibit robust differences between males and females. The neural underpinnings of these differences are poorly understood because of the often-untested assumption that they are determined by sex-specific body morphology. Here, we address this issue in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which features two sexes with distinct body morphologies but similar locomotor circuitry and body muscle. Quantitative behavioral analysis shows that C. elegans and related nematodes exhibit significant sex differences in the dynamics and geometry of locomotor body waves, such that the male is generally faster. Using a recently proposed model of locomotor wave propagation, we show that sex differences in both body mechanics and the intrinsic dynamics of the motor system can contribute to kinematic differences in distinct mechanical contexts. By genetically sex-reversing the properties of specific tissues and cells, however, we find that sex-specific locomotor frequency in C. elegans is determined primarily by the functional modification of shared sensory neurons. Further, we find that sexual modification of body wall muscle together with the nervous system is required to alter body wave speed. Thus, rather than relying on a single focus of modification, sex differences in motor dynamics require independent modifications to multiple tissue types. Our results suggest shared motor behaviors may be sex-specifically optimized though distributed modifications to several aspects of morphology and physiology.

Distributed Effects of Biological Sex Define Sex-Typical Motor Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

PubMed Central

Mowrey, William R.; Bennett, Jessica R.

2014-01-01

Sex differences in shared behaviors (for example, locomotion and feeding) are a nearly universal feature of animal biology. Though these behaviors may share underlying neural programs, their kinematics can exhibit robust differences between males and females. The neural underpinnings of these differences are poorly understood because of the often-untested assumption that they are determined by sex-specific body morphology. Here, we address this issue in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which features two sexes with distinct body morphologies but similar locomotor circuitry and body muscle. Quantitative behavioral analysis shows that C. elegans and related nematodes exhibit significant sex differences in the dynamics and geometry of locomotor body waves, such that the male is generally faster. Using a recently proposed model of locomotor wave propagation, we show that sex differences in both body mechanics and the intrinsic dynamics of the motor system can contribute to kinematic differences in distinct mechanical contexts. By genetically sex-reversing the properties of specific tissues and cells, however, we find that sex-specific locomotor frequency in C. elegans is determined primarily by the functional modification of shared sensory neurons. Further, we find that sexual modification of body wall muscle together with the nervous system is required to alter body wave speed. Thus, rather than relying on a single focus of modification, sex differences in motor dynamics require independent modifications to multiple tissue types. Our results suggest shared motor behaviors may be sex-specifically optimized though distributed modifications to several aspects of morphology and physiology. PMID:24478342

Analytic solution of field distribution and demagnetization function of ideal hollow cylindrical field source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiaonong; Lu, Dingwei; Xu, Xibin; Yu, Yang; Gu, Min

2017-09-01

The Halbach type hollow cylindrical permanent magnet array (HCPMA) is a volume compact and energy conserved field source, which have attracted intense interests in many practical applications. Here, using the complex variable integration method based on the Biot-Savart Law (including current distributions inside the body and on the surfaces of magnet), we derive analytical field solutions to an ideal multipole HCPMA in entire space including the interior of magnet. The analytic field expression inside the array material is used to construct an analytic demagnetization function, with which we can explain the origin of demagnetization phenomena in HCPMA by taking into account an ideal magnetic hysteresis loop with finite coercivity. These analytical field expressions and demagnetization functions provide deeper insight into the nature of such permanent magnet array systems and offer guidance in designing optimized array system.

Dopaminergic neurons encode a distributed, asymmetric representation of temperature in Drosophila.

PubMed

Tomchik, Seth M

2013-01-30

Dopaminergic circuits modulate a wide variety of innate and learned behaviors in animals, including olfactory associative learning, arousal, and temperature-preference behavior. It is not known whether distinct or overlapping sets of dopaminergic neurons modulate these behaviors. Here, I have functionally characterized the dopaminergic circuits innervating the Drosophila mushroom body with in vivo calcium imaging and conditional silencing of genetically defined subsets of neurons. Distinct subsets of PPL1 dopaminergic neurons innervating the vertical lobes of the mushroom body responded to decreases in temperature, but not increases, with rapidly adapting bursts of activity. PAM neurons innervating the horizontal lobes did not respond to temperature shifts. Ablation of the antennae and maxillary palps reduced, but did not eliminate, the responses. Genetic silencing of dopaminergic neurons innervating the vertical mushroom body lobes substantially reduced behavioral cold avoidance, but silencing smaller subsets of these neurons had no effect. These data demonstrate that overlapping dopaminergic circuits encode a broadly distributed, asymmetric representation of temperature that overlays regions implicated previously in learning, memory, and forgetting. Thus, diverse behaviors engage overlapping sets of dopaminergic neurons that encode multimodal stimuli and innervate a single anatomical target, the mushroom body.

Modeling of transdermal fluorescence measurements from first-in-human clinical trials for renal function determination using fluorescent tracer agent MB-102

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shultz, Kimberly M.; Debreczeny, Martin P.; Dorshow, Richard B.; Keating, Jennifer E.; Bechtel, Kate L.

2017-02-01

The fluorescent tracer agent 3,6-diamino-2,5-bisN-[(1R)-1-carboxy-2-hydroxyethyl]carbamoylpyrazine, designated MB-102, is cleared from the body solely by the kidneys. A prototype noninvasive fluorescence detection device has been developed for monitoring transdermal fluorescence after bolus intravenous injection of MB-102 in order to measure kidney function. A mathematical model of the detected fluorescence signal was created for evaluation of observed variations in agent kinetics across body locations and for analysis of candidate instrument geometries. The model comprises pharmacokinetics of agent distribution within body compartments, local diffusion of the agent within the skin, Monte Carlo photon transport through tissue, and ray tracing of the instrument optics. Data from eight human subjects with normal renal function and a range of skin colors shows good agreement with simulated data. Body site dependence of equilibration kinetics was explored using the model to find the local vasculature-to-interstitial diffusion time constant, blood volume fraction, and interstitial volume fraction. Finally, candidate instrument geometries were evaluated using the model. While an increase in source-detector separation was found to increase sensitivity to tissue optical properties, it reduced the relative intensity of the background signal with minimal effect on the measured equilibration kinetics.

Evaluation of cluster expansions and correlated one-body properties of nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moustakidis, Ch. C.; Massen, S. E.; Panos, C. P.; Grypeos, M. E.; Antonov, A. N.

2001-07-01

Three different cluster expansions for the evaluation of correlated one-body properties of s-p and s-d shell nuclei are compared. Harmonic oscillator wave functions and Jastrow-type correlations are used, while analytical expressions are obtained for the charge form factor, density distribution, and momentum distribution by truncating the expansions and using a standard Jastrow correlation function f. The harmonic oscillator parameter b and the correlation parameter β have been determined by a least-squares fit to the experimental charge form factors in each case. The information entropy of nuclei in position space (Sr) and momentum space (Sk) according to the three methods are also calculated. It is found that the larger the entropy sum, S=Sr+Sk (the net information content of the system), the smaller the values of χ2. This indicates that maximal S is a criterion of the quality of a given nuclear model, according to the maximum entropy principle. Only two exceptions to this rule, out of many cases examined, were found. Finally an analytic expression for the so-called ``healing'' or ``wound'' integrals is derived with the function f considered, for any state of the relative two-nucleon motion, and their values in certain cases are computed and compared.

Genome-wide DNA methylomes from discrete developmental stages reveal the predominance of non-CpG methylation in Tribolium castaneum

PubMed Central

Song, Xiaowen; Huang, Fei; Liu, Juanjuan; Li, Chengjun; Gao, Shanshan; Wu, Wei; Zhai, Mengfan; Yu, Xiaojuan; Xiong, Wenfeng; Xie, Jia

2017-01-01

Abstract Cytosine DNA methylation is a vital epigenetic regulator of eukaryotic development. Whether this epigenetic modification occurs in Tribolium castaneum has been controversial, its distribution pattern and functions have not been established. Here, using bisulphite sequencing (BS-Seq), we confirmed the existence of DNA methylation and described the methylation profiles of the four life stages of T. castaneum. In the T. castaneum genome, both symmetrical CpG and non-CpG methylcytosines were observed. Symmetrical CpG methylation, which was catalysed by DNMT1 and occupied a small part in T. castaneum methylome, was primarily enriched in gene bodies and was positively correlated with gene expression levels. Asymmetrical non-CpG methylation, which was predominant in the methylome, was strongly concentrated in intergenic regions and introns but absent from exons. Gene body methylation was negatively correlated with gene expression levels. The distribution pattern and functions of this type of methylation were similar only to the methylome of Drosophila melanogaster, which further supports the existence of a novel methyltransferase in the two species responsible for this type of methylation. This first life-cycle methylome of T. castaneum reveals a novel and unique methylation pattern, which will contribute to the further understanding of the variety and functions of DNA methylation in eukaryotes. PMID:28449092

Polonium assimilation and retention in mule deer and pronghorn antelope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sejkora, K.J.

Excretion kinetics and tissue distribution of polonium-210 in mule deer and pronghorn were studied. Each animal in a captive herd of 7 mule deer and 2 pronghorn received an intraruminal injection of 4.4 ..mu..Ci of polonium chloride. Feces and urine were collected periodically over a 43-day period and daily excretion rate for each pathway was regressed as a function of time. Assimilation fractions of 0.40 and 0.51 were calculated for mule deer (n=2) and 0.60 for a pronghorn. Body burden retention functions were calculated from integrated excretion rate functions. Polonium burdens in muscle, liver, and kidney were calculated as amore » fraction of body burden from serially-sacrificed animals. Background tissue burdens in mule deer were comparable to those of other ruminants reported in the literature. Hypothetical cases were assumed which combined feeding rate of mule deer, forage concentrations of polonium, retention function, tissue burden fraction, and human intake to estimate human radiation dose. 26 references.« less

Extraction, isolation and characterisation of oil bodies from pumpkin seeds for therapeutic use.

PubMed

Adams, Gary G; Imran, Shahwar; Wang, Sheng; Mohammad, Abubaker; Kok, M Samil; Gray, David A; Channell, Guy A; Harding, Stephen E

2012-10-15

Pumpkin, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family has been used frequently as functional medicines for therapeutic use. Several phytochemicals such as polysaccharides, phenolic glycosides, 13-hydroxy-9Z, 11E-octadecatrienoic acid from the leaves of pumpkin, proteins from germinated seeds, have been isolated. Here the influence of pH, ionic strength, and temperature on the properties and stability of oil bodies from pumpkin (Cucurbita) were determined with a view to patterning oil body size and structure for future therapeutic intervention. Oil bodies from pumpkin seeds were extracted, isolated, characterised using optical microscopy, zeta potential and particle size distribution obtained. During microscopic analysis, the oil bodies were more intact and in an integrated form at the time of extraction but were ruptured with time. Water extracted oil bodies were spherical for all four layers where cream had larger oil bodies then upper curd. Lower curd and supernatant had considerably smaller size with lower curd densely packed and seemed to be rich in oil bodies than any of the four layers. At pH 3, in the absence of salt, the zeta potential is approximately +30 mV, but as the salt concentration increases, the ζ potential rises at 10 mM but then decreases over the salt range. This trend continues for the upper curd, lower curd and the supernatant and the degree of the reduction (mV) in zeta potential is of the order cream

Body size and the division of niche space: food and predation differentially shape the distribution of Serengeti grazers.

PubMed

Hopcraft, J Grant C; Anderson, T Michael; Pérez-Vila, Saleta; Mayemba, Emilian; Olff, Han

2012-01-01

1. Theory predicts that small grazers are regulated by the digestive quality of grass, while large grazers extract sufficient nutrients from low-quality forage and are regulated by its abundance instead. In addition, predation potentially affects populations of small grazers more than large grazers, because predators have difficulty capturing and handling large prey. 2. We analyse the spatial distribution of five grazer species of different body size in relation to gradients of food availability and predation risk. Specifically, we investigate how the quality of grass, the abundance of grass biomass and the associated risks of predation affect the habitat use of small, intermediate and large savanna grazers at a landscape level. 3. Resource selection functions of five mammalian grazer species surveyed over a 21-year period in Serengeti are calculated using logistic regressions. Variables included in the analyses are grass nitrogen, rainfall, topographic wetness index, woody cover, drainage lines, landscape curvature, water and human habitation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to aggregate predictor variables into 'composites' representing food quality, food abundance and predation risk. Subsequently, SEM is used to investigate species' habitat use, defined as their recurrence in 5 × 5 km cells across repeated censuses. 4. The distribution of small grazers is constrained by predation and food quality, whereas the distribution of large grazers is relatively unconstrained. The distribution of the largest grazer (African buffalo) is primarily associated with forage abundance but not predation risk, while the distributions of the smallest grazers (Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle) are associated with high grass quality and negatively with the risk of predation. The distributions of intermediate sized grazers (Coke's hartebeest and topi) suggest they optimize access to grass biomass of sufficient quality in relatively predator-safe areas. 5. The results illustrate how top-down (vegetation-mediated predation risk) and bottom-up factors (biomass and nutrient content of vegetation) predictably contribute to the division of niche space for herbivores that vary in body size. Furthermore, diverse grazing assemblages are composed of herbivores of many body sizes (rather than similar body sizes), because these herbivores best exploit the resources of different habitat types. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2011 British Ecological Society.

Germline DNA methylation in reef corals: patterns and potential roles in response to environmental change.

PubMed

Dimond, James L; Roberts, Steven B

2016-04-01

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark that plays an inadequately understood role in gene regulation, particularly in nonmodel species. Because it can be influenced by the environment, DNA methylation may contribute to the ability of organisms to acclimatize and adapt to environmental change. We evaluated the distribution of gene body methylation in reef-building corals, a group of organisms facing significant environmental threats. Gene body methylation in six species of corals was inferred from in silico transcriptome analysis of CpG O/E, an estimate of germline DNA methylation that is highly correlated with patterns of methylation enrichment. Consistent with what has been documented in most other invertebrates, all corals exhibited bimodal distributions of germline methylation suggestive of distinct fractions of genes with high and low levels of methylation. The hypermethylated fractions were enriched with genes with housekeeping functions, while genes with inducible functions were highly represented in the hypomethylated fractions. High transcript abundance was associated with intermediate levels of methylation. In three of the coral species, we found that genes differentially expressed in response to thermal stress and ocean acidification exhibited significantly lower levels of methylation. These results support a link between gene body hypomethylation and transcriptional plasticity that may point to a role of DNA methylation in the response of corals to environmental change. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Melatonin membrane receptors in peripheral tissues: Distribution and functions

PubMed Central

Slominski, Radomir M.; Reiter, Russel J.; Schlabritz-Loutsevitch, Natalia; Ostrom, Rennolds S.; Slominski, Andrzej T.

2012-01-01

Many of melatonin’s actions are mediated through interaction with the G-protein coupled membrane bound melatonin receptors type 1 and type 2 (MT1 and MT2, respectively) or, indirectly with nuclear orphan receptors from the RORα/RZR family. Melatonin also binds to the quinone reductase II enzyme, previously defined the MT3 receptor. Melatonin receptors are widely distributed in the body; herein we summarize their expression and actions in non-neural tissues. Several controversies still exist regarding, for example, whether melatonin binds the RORα/RZR family. Studies of the peripheral distribution of melatonin receptors are important since they are attractive targets for immunomodulation, regulation of endocrine, reproductive and cardiovascular functions, modulation of skin pigmentation, hair growth, cancerogenesis, and aging. Melatonin receptor agonists and antagonists have an exciting future since they could define multiple mechanisms by which melatonin modulates the complexity of such a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. PMID:22245784

[Human body meridian spatial decision support system for clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion].

PubMed

Wu, Dehua

2016-01-01

The spatial position and distribution of human body meridian are expressed limitedly in the decision support system (DSS) of acupuncture and moxibustion at present, which leads to the failure to give the effective quantitative analysis on the spatial range and the difficulty for the decision-maker to provide a realistic spatial decision environment. Focusing on the limit spatial expression in DSS of acupuncture and moxibustion, it was proposed that on the basis of the geographic information system, in association of DSS technology, the design idea was developed on the human body meridian spatial DSS. With the 4-layer service-oriented architecture adopted, the data center integrated development platform was taken as the system development environment. The hierarchical organization was done for the spatial data of human body meridian via the directory tree. The structured query language (SQL) server was used to achieve the unified management of spatial data and attribute data. The technologies of architecture, configuration and plug-in development model were integrated to achieve the data inquiry, buffer analysis and program evaluation of the human body meridian spatial DSS. The research results show that the human body meridian spatial DSS could reflect realistically the spatial characteristics of the spatial position and distribution of human body meridian and met the constantly changeable demand of users. It has the powerful spatial analysis function and assists with the scientific decision in clinical treatment and teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion. It is the new attempt to the informatization research of human body meridian.

Toward the detection of gravitational waves under non-Gaussian noises I. Locally optimal statistic.

PubMed

Yokoyama, Jun'ichi

2014-01-01

After reviewing the standard hypothesis test and the matched filter technique to identify gravitational waves under Gaussian noises, we introduce two methods to deal with non-Gaussian stationary noises. We formulate the likelihood ratio function under weakly non-Gaussian noises through the Edgeworth expansion and strongly non-Gaussian noises in terms of a new method we call Gaussian mapping where the observed marginal distribution and the two-body correlation function are fully taken into account. We then apply these two approaches to Student's t-distribution which has a larger tails than Gaussian. It is shown that while both methods work well in the case the non-Gaussianity is small, only the latter method works well for highly non-Gaussian case.

Approximation of Optimal Infinite Dimensional Compensators for Flexible Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gibson, J. S.; Mingori, D. L.; Adamian, A.; Jabbari, F.

1985-01-01

The infinite dimensional compensator for a large class of flexible structures, modeled as distributed systems are discussed, as well as an approximation scheme for designing finite dimensional compensators to approximate the infinite dimensional compensator. The approximation scheme is applied to develop a compensator for a space antenna model based on wrap-rib antennas being built currently. While the present model has been simplified, it retains the salient features of rigid body modes and several distributed components of different characteristics. The control and estimator gains are represented by functional gains, which provide graphical representations of the control and estimator laws. These functional gains also indicate the convergence of the finite dimensional compensators and show which modes the optimal compensator ignores.

Plasmablasts and plasma cells: reconsidering teleost immune system organization.

PubMed

Ye, Jianmin; Kaattari, Ilsa; Kaattari, Stephen

2011-12-01

Comparative immunologists have expended extensive efforts in the characterization of early fish B cell development; however, analysis of the post-antigen induction stages of antibody secreting cell (ASC) differentiation has been limited. In contrast, work with murine ASCs has resolved the physically and functionally distinct cells known as plasmablasts, the short-lived plasma cells and long-lived plasma cells. Teleost ASCs are now known to also possess comparable subpopulations, which can greatly differ in such basic functions as lifespan, antigen sensitivity, antibody secretion rate, differentiative potential, and distribution within the body. Understanding the mechanisms by which these subpopulations are produced and distributed is essential for both basic understanding in comparative immunology and practical vaccine engineering. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ride quality flight testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swaim, R. L.

1978-01-01

The ride quality experienced by passengers is a function of airframe rigid-body, elastic dynamic responses, autopilot, and stability augmentation system control inputs. A frequency response method has been developed to select sinusoidal elevator input time histories yielding vertical load factor distributions, within a given limit, as a function of fuselage station. The numerical technique is illustrated by applying two-degree-of-freedom short-period and first symmetric mode equations of motion to a B-1 aircraft at Mach 0.85 during sea level flight conditions.

About the HEFCE: An Introduction to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Guide. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higher Education Funding Council for England, Bristol.

This report describes the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and its role and responsibilities. The HEFCE was formed in 1992 to administer higher education functions in England. As a nondepartmental public body, the HEFCE has some autonomy from the government even though it administers public money. The HEFCE distributes public…

Sexual dimorphisms in genetic loci linked to body fat distribution

PubMed Central

Pulit, Sara L.; Karaderi, Tugce

2017-01-01

Obesity is a chronic condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is a risk factor for a number of other diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obesity confers an enormous, costly burden on both individuals and public health more broadly. Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes. Body fat distribution is distinct from overall obesity in measurement, but studies of body fat distribution can yield insights into the risk factors for and causes of overall obesity. Sexual dimorphism in body fat distribution is present throughout life. Though sexual dimorphism is subtle in early stages of life, it is attenuated in puberty and during menopause. This phenomenon could be, at least in part, due to the influence of sex hormones on the trait. Findings from recent large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for various measures of body fat distribution (including waist-to-hip ratio, hip or waist circumference, trunk fat percentage and the ratio of android and gynoid fat percentage) emphasize the strong sexual dimorphism in the genetic regulation of fat distribution traits. Importantly, sexual dimorphism is not observed for overall obesity (as assessed by body mass index or total fat percentage). Notably, the genetic loci associated with body fat distribution, which show sexual dimorphism, are located near genes that are expressed in adipose tissues and/or adipose cells. Considering the epidemiological and genetic evidence, sexual dimorphism is a prominent feature of body fat distribution. Research that specifically focuses on sexual dimorphism in fat distribution can provide novel insights into human physiology and into the development of obesity and its comorbidities, as well as yield biological clues that will aid in the improvement of disease prevention and treatment. PMID:28073971

Sexual dimorphisms in genetic loci linked to body fat distribution.

PubMed

Pulit, Sara L; Karaderi, Tugce; Lindgren, Cecilia M

2017-02-28

Obesity is a chronic condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is a risk factor for a number of other diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obesity confers an enormous, costly burden on both individuals and public health more broadly. Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes. Body fat distribution is distinct from overall obesity in measurement, but studies of body fat distribution can yield insights into the risk factors for and causes of overall obesity. Sexual dimorphism in body fat distribution is present throughout life. Though sexual dimorphism is subtle in early stages of life, it is attenuated in puberty and during menopause. This phenomenon could be, at least in part, due to the influence of sex hormones on the trait. Findings from recent large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for various measures of body fat distribution (including waist-to-hip ratio, hip or waist circumference, trunk fat percentage and the ratio of android and gynoid fat percentage) emphasize the strong sexual dimorphism in the genetic regulation of fat distribution traits. Importantly, sexual dimorphism is not observed for overall obesity (as assessed by body mass index or total fat percentage). Notably, the genetic loci associated with body fat distribution, which show sexual dimorphism, are located near genes that are expressed in adipose tissues and/or adipose cells. Considering the epidemiological and genetic evidence, sexual dimorphism is a prominent feature of body fat distribution. Research that specifically focuses on sexual dimorphism in fat distribution can provide novel insights into human physiology and into the development of obesity and its comorbidities, as well as yield biological clues that will aid in the improvement of disease prevention and treatment. © 2017 The Author(s).

2dFLenS and KiDS: determining source redshift distributions with cross-correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Andrew; Blake, Chris; Amon, Alexandra; Erben, Thomas; Glazebrook, Karl; Harnois-Deraps, Joachim; Heymans, Catherine; Hildebrandt, Hendrik; Joudaki, Shahab; Klaes, Dominik; Kuijken, Konrad; Lidman, Chris; Marin, Felipe A.; McFarland, John; Morrison, Christopher B.; Parkinson, David; Poole, Gregory B.; Radovich, Mario; Wolf, Christian

2017-03-01

We develop a statistical estimator to infer the redshift probability distribution of a photometric sample of galaxies from its angular cross-correlation in redshift bins with an overlapping spectroscopic sample. This estimator is a minimum-variance weighted quadratic function of the data: a quadratic estimator. This extends and modifies the methodology presented by McQuinn & White. The derived source redshift distribution is degenerate with the source galaxy bias, which must be constrained via additional assumptions. We apply this estimator to constrain source galaxy redshift distributions in the Kilo-Degree imaging survey through cross-correlation with the spectroscopic 2-degree Field Lensing Survey, presenting results first as a binned step-wise distribution in the range z < 0.8, and then building a continuous distribution using a Gaussian process model. We demonstrate the robustness of our methodology using mock catalogues constructed from N-body simulations, and comparisons with other techniques for inferring the redshift distribution.

Study of vitamin A distribution in rats by laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhmeteli, K. T.; Ekaladze, E. N.; Jaliashvli, Z. V.; Medoidze, T. D.; Melikishvili, Z. G.; Merkviladze, N. Z.; Papava, M. B.; Tushurashvili, P. R.

2008-06-01

We applied the laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) to investigate intestinal and liver tissues of normal male Wistar rats fed with vitamin A. The special procedure based on intensity spectral functions fitting was developed for the recognition of vitamin A in different tissues. Based on this procedure it is demonstrated that the LIFS can be used to monitor vitamin A deposition and distribution in the body of rat, which is essential for understanding the mechanism of formation of the vitamin A rich droplets, as the mechanism of vitamin A mobilization.

A limiting analysis for edge effects in angle-ply laminates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, P. W.; Herakovich, C. T.

1976-01-01

A zeroth order solution for edge effects in angle ply composite laminates using perturbation techniques and a limiting free body approach was developed. The general method of solution for laminates is developed and then applied to the special case of a graphite/epoxy laminate. Interlaminar stress distributions are obtained as a function of the laminate thickness to width ratio h/b and compared to existing numerical results. The solution predicts stable, continuous stress distributions, determines finite maximum tensile interlaminar normal stress for two laminates, and provides mathematical evidence for singular interlaminar shear stresses.

[Aristotle on the function of blood in the processes of life].

PubMed

Jori, Alberto

2005-01-01

This contribution explains some aspects of the Aristotelian conception of blood. According to Aristotle, blood is an homogeneous part of the body. It is producted in the heart of the warmest animals through the "cooking" of the nourishment, and then it is distributed all over the body, where it has non only the function to nourish the different organs and to induce their growth, but it also passes on the sense-data. Furthermore in the male creatures blood is the starting-point of the production - through a further "cooking" - of semen. On the contrary in the creatures of the female sex, whose body is colder such a tranformation of blood in semen doesn't happen. In the copulation the semen of the male works as bearer of the form and efficient cause, while the female blood acts as matter The outcome of the ag6n that takes place between the two factors determines for its part the sex of the offspring.

Disaggregation of small, cohesive rubble pile asteroids due to YORP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheeres, D. J.

2018-04-01

The implication of small amounts of cohesion within relatively small rubble pile asteroids is investigated with regard to their evolution under the persistent presence of the YORP effect. We find that below a characteristic size, which is a function of cohesive strength, density and other properties, rubble pile asteroids can enter a "disaggregation phase" in which they are subject to repeated fissions after which the formation of a stabilizing binary system is not possible. Once this threshold is passed rubble pile asteroids may be disaggregated into their constituent components within a finite time span. These constituent components will have their own spin limits - albeit potentially at a much higher spin rate due to the greater strength of a monolithic body. The implications of this prediction are discussed and include modification of size distributions, prevalence of monolithic bodies among meteoroids and the lifetime of small rubble pile bodies in the solar system. The theory is then used to place constraints on the strength of binary asteroids characterized as a function of their type.

"You See Yourself Like in a Mirror": The Effects of Internet-Mediated Personal Networks on Body Image and Eating Disorders.

PubMed

Pallotti, Francesca; Tubaro, Paola; Casilli, Antonio A; Valente, Thomas W

2018-09-01

Body image issues associated with eating disorders involve attitudinal and perceptual components: individuals' dissatisfaction with body shape or weight, and inability to assess body size correctly. While prior research has mainly explored social pressures produced by the media, fashion, and advertising industries, this paper focuses on the effects of personal networks on body image, particularly in the context of internet communities. We use data collected on a sample of participants to websites on eating disorders, and map their personal networks. We specify and estimate a model for the joint distribution of attitudinal and perceptual components of body image as a function of network-related characteristics and attributional factors. Supported by information gathered through in-depth interviews, the empirical estimates provide evidence that personal networks can be conducive to positive body image development, and that the influence of personal networks varies significantly by body size. We situate our discussion in current debates about the effects of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication networks on eating disorders and related behaviors.

Ubiquilin/Dsk2 promotes inclusion body formation and vacuole (lysosome)-mediated disposal of mutated huntingtin.

PubMed

Chuang, Kun-Han; Liang, Fengshan; Higgins, Ryan; Wang, Yanchang

2016-07-01

Ubiquilin proteins contain a ubiquitin-like domain (UBL) and ubiquitin-associated domain(s) that interact with the proteasome and ubiquitinated substrates, respectively. Previous work established the link between ubiquilin mutations and neurodegenerative diseases, but the function of ubiquilin proteins remains elusive. Here we used a misfolded huntingtin exon I containing a 103-polyglutamine expansion (Htt103QP) as a model substrate for the functional study of ubiquilin proteins. We found that yeast ubiquilin mutant (dsk2Δ) is sensitive to Htt103QP overexpression and has a defect in the formation of Htt103QP inclusion bodies. Our evidence further suggests that the UBL domain of Dsk2 is critical for inclusion body formation. Of interest, Dsk2 is dispensable for Htt103QP degradation when Htt103QP is induced for a short time before noticeable inclusion body formation. However, when the inclusion body forms after a long Htt103QP induction, Dsk2 is required for efficient Htt103QP clearance, as well as for autophagy-dependent delivery of Htt103QP into vacuoles (lysosomes). Therefore our data indicate that Dsk2 facilitates vacuole-mediated clearance of misfolded proteins by promoting inclusion body formation. Of importance, the defect of inclusion body formation in dsk2 mutants can be rescued by human ubiquilin 1 or 2, suggesting functional conservation of ubiquilin proteins. © 2016 Chuang et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Medical applications of neutron inelastic scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kehayias, Joseph J.; Banuk-Waitekus, Anathea; Valtuena, Silvia; Sheahan, Charles A.

1999-10-01

A sealed, D-T, pulsed neutron generator is used for the in vivo measurement of body carbon and oxygen by neutron inelastic scattering. The generator is operated at 10 KHz, at a neutron output of about 2 X 107 n/s/4(pi) . Gamma ray spectra are collected with two B4Ge3O12 crystal detectors. The measurements are used to measure fat and lean content and distribution in the body, with minimal radiation exposure (0.08 mSv). When combined with other measurements (such as total body potassium), this whole body scanning device provides us with the `quality of lean mass', a measurable outcome of treatments designed to improve nutritional status and function. The method is used in studies of human nutrition and for assessing the efficacy of new anti-obesity and anti-cachexia pharmaceuticals.

Genetic variants determining body fat distribution and sex hormone-binding globulin among Chinese female young adults.

PubMed

Shi, Juan; Li, Lijuan; Hong, Jie; Qi, Lu; Cui, Bin; Gu, Weiqiong; Zhang, Yifei; Miao, Lin; Wang, Rui; Wang, Weiqing; Ning, Guang

2014-11-01

Measures of body fat distribution (i.e. waist : hip ratio [WHR]) are major risk factors for diabetes, independent of overall adiposity. The genetic variants related to body fat distribution show sexual dimorphism and particularly affect females. Substantial literature supports a role for sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of the genetic risk score of body fat distribution with SHBG levels and insulin resistance in young (14-30 years) Chinese females. In all, 675 young Chinese females were evaluated in the present study. A genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated on the basis of 12 established variants associated with body fat distribution. The main outcome variable was serum SHBG levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The GRS of body fat distribution was significantly associated with decreasing serum SHBG levels (P = 0.018), independent of body mass index and WHR. In addition, the GRS and SHBG showed additive effects on HOMA-IR (P = 0.004). The GRS of body fat distribution reflects serum SHBG levels, and the GRS and SHBG jointly influence the risk of insulin resistance. © 2014 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Brain evolution and development: adaptation, allometry and constraint

PubMed Central

Barton, Robert A.

2016-01-01

Phenotypic traits are products of two processes: evolution and development. But how do these processes combine to produce integrated phenotypes? Comparative studies identify consistent patterns of covariation, or allometries, between brain and body size, and between brain components, indicating the presence of significant constraints limiting independent evolution of separate parts. These constraints are poorly understood, but in principle could be either developmental or functional. The developmental constraints hypothesis suggests that individual components (brain and body size, or individual brain components) tend to evolve together because natural selection operates on relatively simple developmental mechanisms that affect the growth of all parts in a concerted manner. The functional constraints hypothesis suggests that correlated change reflects the action of selection on distributed functional systems connecting the different sub-components, predicting more complex patterns of mosaic change at the level of the functional systems and more complex genetic and developmental mechanisms. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive but make different predictions. We review recent genetic and neurodevelopmental evidence, concluding that functional rather than developmental constraints are the main cause of the observed patterns. PMID:27629025

Body Size Diversity and Frequency Distributions of Neotropical Cichlid Fishes (Cichliformes: Cichlidae: Cichlinae)

PubMed Central

Steele, Sarah E.; López-Fernández, Hernán

2014-01-01

Body size is an important correlate of life history, ecology and distribution of species. Despite this, very little is known about body size evolution in fishes, particularly freshwater fishes of the Neotropics where species and body size diversity are relatively high. Phylogenetic history and body size data were used to explore body size frequency distributions in Neotropical cichlids, a broadly distributed and ecologically diverse group of fishes that is highly representative of body size diversity in Neotropical freshwater fishes. We test for divergence, phylogenetic autocorrelation and among-clade partitioning of body size space. Neotropical cichlids show low phylogenetic autocorrelation and divergence within and among taxonomic levels. Three distinct regions of body size space were identified from body size frequency distributions at various taxonomic levels corresponding to subclades of the most diverse tribe, Geophagini. These regions suggest that lineages may be evolving towards particular size optima that may be tied to specific ecological roles. The diversification of Geophagini appears to constrain the evolution of body size among other Neotropical cichlid lineages; non-Geophagini clades show lower species-richness in body size regions shared with Geophagini. Neotropical cichlid genera show less divergence and extreme body size than expected within and among tribes. Body size divergence among species may instead be present or linked to ecology at the community assembly scale. PMID:25180970

Preliminary study on the time-related changes of the infrared thermal images of the human body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ziru; Zhang, Xusheng; Lin, Gang; Chen, Zhigang

2009-08-01

It is of great importance to study the manifestations and the influencing factors of the time-related changes of infrared thermal images (ITI) of human body since the variable body surface temperature distribution seriously affected the application of ITI in medicine. In this paper, manifestations of time-related changes of the ITI of human body from three double-blind randomized trials and their correlation with meteorological factors (e.g. temperature, pressure, humidity, cold front passage and tropical cyclone landing) were studied. The trials were placebo or drug controlled studying the influences of Chinese medicine health food (including Shengsheng capsule with immunity adjustment function, Shengan capsule with sleep improvement function and Shengyi capsule with the function of helping to decrease serum lipid) on the ITI of human body. In the first thirty-six days of the trials images were scanned every six days and image data in the seven observation time spots (including the 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 day of the trial) were used for the time-related study. For every subject the scanned time was fixed in the day within two hours. The ITI features which could reflect the functions of the health foods were studied. The indexes of the features were relative magnitude (temperature difference between the viewing area and the reference area). Results showed that the variation tendencies of the trial group and control group were basically the same in placebo controlled trials and some of the long-term effects of Chinese medicine health food could be reflected significantly in certain time spots in the first thirty-six days. Time-related changes of the ITI of human body were closely related with meteorological factors but there were other influencing factors still need to be studied. As the ITI of human body could reflect the influences of Chinese medicine health foods and are closely related with meteorology, there are bright prospects for the application of ITI in health monitor.

Gradual Crossover from Subdiffusion to Normal Diffusion: A Many-Body Effect in Protein Surface Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Pan; Liang, Yihao; Xu, Qin; Mamontov, Eugene; Li, Jinglai; Xing, Xiangjun; Hong, Liang

2018-06-01

Dynamics of hydration water is essential for the function of biomacromolecules. Previous studies have demonstrated that water molecules exhibit subdiffusion on the surface of biomacromolecules; yet the microscopic mechanism remains vague. Here, by performing neutron scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, and analytic modeling on hydrated perdeuterated protein powders, we found water molecules jump randomly between trapping sites on protein surfaces, whose waiting times obey a broad distribution, resulting in subdiffusion. Moreover, the subdiffusive exponent gradually increases with observation time towards normal diffusion due to a many-body volume-exclusion effect.

A test of the adhesion approximation for gravitational clustering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melott, Adrian L.; Shandarin, Sergei; Weinberg, David H.

1993-01-01

We quantitatively compare a particle implementation of the adhesion approximation to fully non-linear, numerical 'N-body' simulations. Our primary tool, cross-correlation of N-body simulations with the adhesion approximation, indicates good agreement, better than that found by the same test performed with the Zel-dovich approximation (hereafter ZA). However, the cross-correlation is not as good as that of the truncated Zel-dovich approximation (TZA), obtained by applying the Zel'dovich approximation after smoothing the initial density field with a Gaussian filter. We confirm that the adhesion approximation produces an excessively filamentary distribution. Relative to the N-body results, we also find that: (a) the power spectrum obtained from the adhesion approximation is more accurate than that from ZA or TZA, (b) the error in the phase angle of Fourier components is worse than that from TZA, and (c) the mass distribution function is more accurate than that from ZA or TZA. It appears that adhesion performs well statistically, but that TZA is more accurate dynamically, in the sense of moving mass to the right place.

A test of the adhesion approximation for gravitational clustering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melott, Adrian L.; Shandarin, Sergei F.; Weinberg, David H.

1994-01-01

We quantitatively compare a particle implementation of the adhesion approximation to fully nonlinear, numerical 'N-body' simulations. Our primary tool, cross-correlation of N-body simulations with the adhesion approximation, indicates good agreement, better than that found by the same test performed with the Zel'dovich approximation (hereafter ZA). However, the cross-correlation is not as good as that of the truncated Zel'dovich approximation (TZA), obtained by applying the Zel'dovich approximation after smoothing the initial density field with a Gaussian filter. We confirm that the adhesion approximation produces an excessively filamentary distribution. Relative to the N-body results, we also find that: (a) the power spectrum obtained from the adhesion approximation is more accurate that that from ZA to TZA, (b) the error in the phase angle of Fourier components is worse that that from TZA, and (c) the mass distribution function is more accurate than that from ZA or TZA. It appears that adhesion performs well statistically, but that TZA is more accurate dynamically, in the sense of moving mass to the right place.

Effective equilibrium states in mixtures of active particles driven by colored noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wittmann, René; Brader, J. M.; Sharma, A.; Marconi, U. Marini Bettolo

2018-01-01

We consider the steady-state behavior of pairs of active particles having different persistence times and diffusivities. To this purpose we employ the active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model, where the particles are driven by colored noises with exponential correlation functions whose intensities and correlation times vary from species to species. By extending Fox's theory to many components, we derive by functional calculus an approximate Fokker-Planck equation for the configurational distribution function of the system. After illustrating the predicted distribution in the solvable case of two particles interacting via a harmonic potential, we consider systems of particles repelling through inverse power-law potentials. We compare the analytic predictions to computer simulations for such soft-repulsive interactions in one dimension and show that at linear order in the persistence times the theory is satisfactory. This work provides the toolbox to qualitatively describe many-body phenomena, such as demixing and depletion, by means of effective pair potentials.

Cholinergic Interneurons Are Differentially Distributed in the Human Striatum

PubMed Central

Bernácer, Javier; Prensa, Lucía; Giménez-Amaya, José Manuel

2007-01-01

Background The striatum (caudate nucleus, CN, and putamen, Put) is a group of subcortical nuclei involved in planning and executing voluntary movements as well as in cognitive processes. Its neuronal composition includes projection neurons, which connect the striatum with other structures, and interneurons, whose main roles are maintaining the striatal organization and the regulation of the projection neurons. The unique electrophysiological and functional properties of the cholinergic interneurons give them a crucial modulating function on the overall striatal response. Methodology/Principle Findings This study was carried out using stereological methods to examine the volume and density (cells/mm3) of these interneurons, as visualized by choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity, in the following territories of the CN and Put of nine normal human brains: 1) precommissural head; 2) postcommissural head; 3) body; 4) gyrus and 5) tail of the CN; 6) precommissural and 7) postcommissural Put. The distribution of ChAT interneurons was analyzed with respect to the topographical, functional and chemical territories of the dorsal striatum. The CN was more densely populated by cholinergic neurons than the Put, and their density increased along the anteroposterior axis of the striatum with the CN body having the highest neuronal density. The associative territory of the dorsal striatum was by far the most densely populated. The striosomes of the CN precommissural head and the postcommissural Put contained the greatest number of ChAT-ir interneurons. The intrastriosomal ChAT-ir neurons were abundant on the periphery of the striosomes throughout the striatum. Conclusions/Significance All these data reveal that cholinergic interneurons are differentially distributed in the distinct topographical and functional territories of the human dorsal striatum, as well as in its chemical compartments. This heterogeneity may indicate that the posterior aspects of the CN require a special integration of information by interneurons. Interestingly, these striatal regions have been very much left out in functional studies. PMID:18080007

Mass functions from the excursion set model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiotelis, Nicos; Del Popolo, Antonino

2017-11-01

Aims: We aim to study the stochastic evolution of the smoothed overdensity δ at scale S of the form δ(S) = ∫0S K(S,u)dW(u), where K is a kernel and dW is the usual Wiener process. Methods: For a Gaussian density field, smoothed by the top-hat filter, in real space, we used a simple kernel that gives the correct correlation between scales. A Monte Carlo procedure was used to construct random walks and to calculate first crossing distributions and consequently mass functions for a constant barrier. Results: We show that the evolution considered here improves the agreement with the results of N-body simulations relative to analytical approximations which have been proposed from the same problem by other authors. In fact, we show that an evolution which is fully consistent with the ideas of the excursion set model, describes accurately the mass function of dark matter haloes for values of ν ≤ 1 and underestimates the number of larger haloes. Finally, we show that a constant threshold of collapse, lower than it is usually used, it is able to produce a mass function which approximates the results of N-body simulations for a variety of redshifts and for a wide range of masses. Conclusions: A mass function in good agreement with N-body simulations can be obtained analytically using a lower than usual constant collapse threshold.

The 482Ser of PPARGC1A and 12Pro of PPARG2 Alleles Are Associated with Reduction of Metabolic Risk Factors Even Obesity in a Mexican-Mestizo Population.

PubMed

Vázquez-Del Mercado, Mónica; Guzmán-Ornelas, Milton-Omar; Corona Meraz, Fernanda-Isadora; Ríos-Ibarra, Clara-Patricia; Reyes-Serratos, Eduardo-Alejandro; Castro-Albarran, Jorge; Ruíz-Quezada, Sandra-Luz; Navarro-Hernández, Rosa-Elena

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between functional polymorphisms Gly482Ser in PPARGC1A and Pro12Ala in PPARG2 with the presence of obesity and metabolic risk factors. We included 375 individuals characterized as Mexican-Mestizos and classified by the body mass index (BMI). Body dimensions and distribution of body fat were measured. The HOMA-IR and adiposity indexes were calculated. Adipokines and metabolic profile quantification were performed by ELISA and routine methods. Genetic polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A difference between obese and nonobese subjects in polymorphism PPARGC1A distribution was observed. Among obese individuals, carriers of genotype 482Gly/Gly were observed to have decreased body fat, BMI, and body fat ratio versus 482Ser/Ser carriers and increased resistin and leptin levels in carriers Gly+ phenotype versus Gly- phenotype. Subjects with PPARG2 Ala- phenotype (genotype 12Pro/Pro) showed a decreased HOMA-IR index versus individuals with Ala+ phenotype (genotypes 12Pro/Ala plus 12Ala/Ala). We propose that, in obese Mexican-Mestizos, the combination of alleles 482Ser in PPARGC1A and 12Pro in PPARG2 represents a reduced metabolic risk profile, even when the adiposity indexes are increased.

The 482Ser of PPARGC1A and 12Pro of PPARG2 Alleles Are Associated with Reduction of Metabolic Risk Factors Even Obesity in a Mexican-Mestizo Population

PubMed Central

Vázquez-Del Mercado, Mónica; Guzmán-Ornelas, Milton-Omar; Corona Meraz, Fernanda-Isadora; Ríos-Ibarra, Clara-Patricia; Reyes-Serratos, Eduardo-Alejandro; Castro-Albarran, Jorge; Ruíz-Quezada, Sandra-Luz; Navarro-Hernández, Rosa-Elena

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between functional polymorphisms Gly482Ser in PPARGC1A and Pro12Ala in PPARG2 with the presence of obesity and metabolic risk factors. We included 375 individuals characterized as Mexican-Mestizos and classified by the body mass index (BMI). Body dimensions and distribution of body fat were measured. The HOMA-IR and adiposity indexes were calculated. Adipokines and metabolic profile quantification were performed by ELISA and routine methods. Genetic polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A difference between obese and nonobese subjects in polymorphism PPARGC1A distribution was observed. Among obese individuals, carriers of genotype 482Gly/Gly were observed to have decreased body fat, BMI, and body fat ratio versus 482Ser/Ser carriers and increased resistin and leptin levels in carriers Gly+ phenotype versus Gly− phenotype. Subjects with PPARG2 Ala− phenotype (genotype 12Pro/Pro) showed a decreased HOMA-IR index versus individuals with Ala+ phenotype (genotypes 12Pro/Ala plus 12Ala/Ala). We propose that, in obese Mexican-Mestizos, the combination of alleles 482Ser in PPARGC1A and 12Pro in PPARG2 represents a reduced metabolic risk profile, even when the adiposity indexes are increased. PMID:26185753

Finite element modeling for predicting the contact pressure between a foam mattress and the human body in a supine position.

PubMed

Lee, Wookjin; Won, Byeong Hee; Cho, Seong Wook

2017-01-01

In this paper, we generated finite element (FE) models to predict the contact pressure between a foam mattress and the human body in a supine position. Twenty-year-old males were used for three-dimensional scanning to produce the FE human models, which was composed of skin and muscle tissue. A linear elastic isotropic material model was used for the skin, and the Mooney-Rivlin model was used for the muscle tissue because it can effectively represent the nonlinear behavior of muscle. The contact pressure between the human model and the mattress was predicted by numerical simulation. The human models were validated by comparing the body pressure distribution obtained from the same human subject when he was lying on two different mattress types. The experimental results showed that the slope of the lower part of the mattress caused a decrease in the contact pressure at the heels, and the effect of bone structure was most pronounced in the scapula. After inserting a simple structure to function as the scapula, the contact pressure predicted by the FE human models was consistent with the experimental body pressure distribution for all body parts. These results suggest that the models proposed in this paper will be useful to researchers and designers of products related to the prevention of pressure ulcers.

Cardiovascular reflexes during rest and exercise modified by gravitational stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonde-petersen, Flemming

The hypotheses tested were whether variations in central venous pressure via the low pressure baroreceptors would take over or modify the arterial baroreceptor function, and further to which extent local and "whole body" hydrostatic stresses influence blood flow distribution. We investigated total forearm and skin blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography and 133-Xe clearance) and cardiac output (rebreathing method) among other parameters. Hypo-and hypergravitational stresses were simulated by LBNP, LBPP, water immersion and lowering of the arm. The changes in flow distribution in the arm were ascribed to arterial baroreceptor function and not to low pressure baroreceptor activity. The enhancement of venous return during water immersion increased exercise tolerance during heat stress presumably due both to increased stroke volume and decreased venous pooling. The response to sustained handgrip exercise during LBNP and LBPP was not different from control measurements and the effects explained by arterial baroreceptor function. Application of exercise and local hydrostatic stresses in combination with gravitational stresses represent an interesting model for further study of the mechanisms behind the distribution of cardiac output to the peripheral organs.

A quantitative analysis of aerosols inside an armored vehicle perforated by a kinetic energy penetrator containing tungsten, nickel, and cobalt.

PubMed

Gold, Kenneth; Cheng, Yung Sung; Holmes, Thomas D

2007-04-01

These tests were conducted to develop a database that could be used to assess risks to soldiers from exposure to aerosolized metallic particulates when the crew compartment of an Abrams tank is perforated by a kinetic energy penetrator. Quantitative data are reported for aerosols produced by kinetic energy penetrators containing tungsten, nickel, and cobalt. The following are addressed: (1) concentrations and rates of particle settling inside the vehicle, (2) particle size distribution, (3) inhalable and respirable particulates, (4) distribution of aerosol particles by mass, and (5) particle shapes. The scenario described in this report simulates a rare occurrence. The lessons learned, however, highlight a requirement for developing protocols for analyses of metals in body fluids and urine as soon as practical, and also for implementing targeted postdeployment medical surveillance programs that monitor both body burden for respired metals and pulmonary function.

Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou problems: Passage from Boltzmann to q-statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagchi, Debarshee; Tsallis, Constantino

2018-02-01

The Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) one-dimensional Hamiltonian includes a quartic term which guarantees ergodicity of the system in the thermodynamic limit. Consistently, the Boltzmann factor P(ε) ∼e-βε describes its equilibrium distribution of one-body energies, and its velocity distribution is Maxwellian, i.e., P(v) ∼e - βv2 /2. We consider here a generalized system where the quartic coupling constant between sites decays as 1 / dijα (α ≥ 0 ;dij = 1 , 2 , …) . Through first-principle molecular dynamics we demonstrate that, for large α (above α ≃ 1), i.e., short-range interactions, Boltzmann statistics (based on the additive entropic functional SB [ P(z) ] = - k ∫ dzP(z) ln P(z)) is verified. However, for small values of α (below α ≃ 1), i.e., long-range interactions, Boltzmann statistics dramatically fails and is replaced by q-statistics (based on the nonadditive entropic functional Sq [ P(z) ] = k(1 - ∫ dz[ P(z) ]q) /(q - 1) , with S1 =SB). Indeed, the one-body energy distribution is q-exponential, P(ε) ∼ eqε-βε ε ≡[ 1 +(qε - 1) βε ε ]-1 /(qε - 1) with qε > 1, and its velocity distribution is given by P(v) ∼ eqv-βvv2 / 2 with qv > 1. Moreover, within small error bars, we verify qε =qv = q, which decreases from an extrapolated value q ≃ 5 / 3 to q = 1 when α increases from zero to α ≃ 1, and remains q = 1 thereafter.

Models of GexSe1-x

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malouin, Marc-André.; Mousseau, Normand

2008-03-01

We present numerical models of chalcogenide glasses constructed using the effective two and three body interaction potential developed by Mauro and Varshneya [1] combined with the activation-relaxation technique (ART nouveau) [2]. Structures are prepared starting from a random distribution, avoiding biases and crystalline remnants. Structural properties are studied mainly via characteristic system measurements including partial and total radial distribution functions, bond angle distributions, mean coordinations and bonds population. Results are shown for GexSe1-x for various x concentrations and compared to both experimental measurements and ab initio simulation results. [1] J.C. Mauro and A.K. Varshneya, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 89 [7] 2323-6 (2006). [2] R. Malek and N. Mousseau, Phys. Rev. E 62, 7723 (2000).

A fast approach to designing airfoils from given pressure distribution in compressible flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daripa, Prabir

1987-01-01

A new inverse method for aerodynamic design of airfols is presented for subcritical flows. The pressure distribution in this method can be prescribed as a function of the arc length of the as-yet unknown body. This inverse problem is shown to be mathematically equivalent to solving only one nonlinear boundary value problem subject to known Dirichlet data on the boundary. The solution to this problem determines the airfoil, the freestream Mach number, and the upstream flow direction. The existence of a solution to a given pressure distribution is discussed. The method is easy to implement and extremely efficient. A series of results for which comparisons are made with the known airfoils is presented.

Evolution of the snake body form reveals homoplasy in amniote Hox gene function.

PubMed

Head, Jason J; Polly, P David

2015-04-02

Hox genes regulate regionalization of the axial skeleton in vertebrates, and changes in their expression have been proposed to be a fundamental mechanism driving the evolution of new body forms. The origin of the snake-like body form, with its deregionalized pre-cloacal axial skeleton, has been explained as either homogenization of Hox gene expression domains, or retention of standard vertebrate Hox domains with alteration of downstream expression that suppresses development of distinct regions. Both models assume a highly regionalized ancestor, but the extent of deregionalization of the primaxial domain (vertebrae, dorsal ribs) of the skeleton in snake-like body forms has never been analysed. Here we combine geometric morphometrics and maximum-likelihood analysis to show that the pre-cloacal primaxial domain of elongate, limb-reduced lizards and snakes is not deregionalized compared with limbed taxa, and that the phylogenetic structure of primaxial morphology in reptiles does not support a loss of regionalization in the evolution of snakes. We demonstrate that morphometric regional boundaries correspond to mapped gene expression domains in snakes, suggesting that their primaxial domain is patterned by a normally functional Hox code. Comparison of primaxial osteology in fossil and modern amniotes with Hox gene distributions within Amniota indicates that a functional, sequentially expressed Hox code patterned a subtle morphological gradient along the anterior-posterior axis in stem members of amniote clades and extant lizards, including snakes. The highly regionalized skeletons of extant archosaurs and mammals result from independent evolution in the Hox code and do not represent ancestral conditions for clades with snake-like body forms. The developmental origin of snakes is best explained by decoupling of the primaxial and abaxial domains and by increases in somite number, not by changes in the function of primaxial Hox genes.

Procedure to Measure Effect of Excess Body Mass on Musculoskeleture: I. Foundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaibani, Saami J.

2008-03-01

Increasing levels of obesity are having an increasingly adverse impact on individual and societal health. While much effort is directed to the harmful consequences of excess body mass on the cardiovascular system, there is relatively little research on how obesity compromises the response of the musculoskeletal system across the complete range of body types. This shortfall is addressed here by a comprehensive physics-based approach to produce a wide spectrum of representative adults, who are carefully chosen to cover both sexes, a full spread of percentiles for stature, and multiple weight levels. The latter encompass healthy, overweight and obese conditions defined by the standard parameter, body mass index (BMI). The distribution of body mass is computed for female and male subjects at all height percentiles and values of BMI to generate a detailed description of a diverse population. This cohort can then be examined for more advanced aspects of musculoskeleture, an important precursor for which is included here by calculating the extent of excess body mass at each body part as a function of BMI.

Optimized Hypernetted-Chain Solutions for Helium -4 Surfaces and Metal Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Guo-Xin

This thesis is a study of inhomogeneous Bose systems such as liquid ('4)He slabs and inhomogeneous Fermi systems such as the electron gas in metal films, at zero temperature. Using a Jastrow-type many-body wavefunction, the ground state energy is expressed by means of Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood -Yvon and Hypernetted-Chain techniques. For Bose systems, Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for the one- and two -body functions and systematic approximation methods are physically motivated. It is shown that the optimized variational method includes a self-consistent summation of ladder- and ring-diagrams of conventional many-body theory. For Fermi systems, a linear potential model is adopted to generate the optimized Hartree-Fock basis. Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for the two-body correlations which serve to screen the strong bare Coulomb interaction. The optimization of the pair correlation leads to an expression of correlation energy in which the state averaged RPA part is separated. Numerical applications are presented for the density profile and pair distribution function for both ('4)He surfaces and metal surfaces. Both the bulk and surface energies are calculated in good agreement with experiments.

LRP5 regulates human body fat distribution by modulating adipose progenitor biology in a dose- and depot-specific fashion.

PubMed

Loh, Nellie Y; Neville, Matt J; Marinou, Kyriakoula; Hardcastle, Sarah A; Fielding, Barbara A; Duncan, Emma L; McCarthy, Mark I; Tobias, Jonathan H; Gregson, Celia L; Karpe, Fredrik; Christodoulides, Constantinos

2015-02-03

Common variants in WNT pathway genes have been associated with bone mass and fat distribution, the latter predicting diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. Rare mutations in the WNT co-receptors LRP5 and LRP6 are similarly associated with bone and cardiometabolic disorders. We investigated the role of LRP5 in human adipose tissue. Subjects with gain-of-function LRP5 mutations and high bone mass had enhanced lower-body fat accumulation. Reciprocally, a low bone mineral density-associated common LRP5 allele correlated with increased abdominal adiposity. Ex vivo LRP5 expression was higher in abdominal versus gluteal adipocyte progenitors. Equivalent knockdown of LRP5 in both progenitor types dose-dependently impaired β-catenin signaling and led to distinct biological outcomes: diminished gluteal and enhanced abdominal adipogenesis. These data highlight how depot differences in WNT/β-catenin pathway activity modulate human fat distribution via effects on adipocyte progenitor biology. They also identify LRP5 as a potential pharmacologic target for the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LRP5 Regulates Human Body Fat Distribution by Modulating Adipose Progenitor Biology in a Dose- and Depot-Specific Fashion

PubMed Central

Loh, Nellie Y.; Neville, Matt J.; Marinou, Kyriakoula; Hardcastle, Sarah A.; Fielding, Barbara A.; Duncan, Emma L.; McCarthy, Mark I.; Tobias, Jonathan H.; Gregson, Celia L.; Karpe, Fredrik; Christodoulides, Constantinos

2015-01-01

Summary Common variants in WNT pathway genes have been associated with bone mass and fat distribution, the latter predicting diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. Rare mutations in the WNT co-receptors LRP5 and LRP6 are similarly associated with bone and cardiometabolic disorders. We investigated the role of LRP5 in human adipose tissue. Subjects with gain-of-function LRP5 mutations and high bone mass had enhanced lower-body fat accumulation. Reciprocally, a low bone mineral density-associated common LRP5 allele correlated with increased abdominal adiposity. Ex vivo LRP5 expression was higher in abdominal versus gluteal adipocyte progenitors. Equivalent knockdown of LRP5 in both progenitor types dose-dependently impaired β-catenin signaling and led to distinct biological outcomes: diminished gluteal and enhanced abdominal adipogenesis. These data highlight how depot differences in WNT/β-catenin pathway activity modulate human fat distribution via effects on adipocyte progenitor biology. They also identify LRP5 as a potential pharmacologic target for the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders. PMID:25651180

Physiology and pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis.

PubMed

Palmer, Biff F; Clegg, Deborah J

2016-12-01

Total body potassium content and proper distribution of potassium across the cell membrane is of critical importance for normal cellular function. Potassium homeostasis is maintained by several different methods. In the kidney, total body potassium content is achieved by alterations in renal excretion of potassium in response to variations in intake. Insulin and beta-adrenergic tone play critical roles in maintaining the internal distribution of potassium under normal conditions. Despite homeostatic pathways designed to maintain potassium levels within the normal range, disorders of altered potassium homeostasis are common. The clinical approach to designing effective treatments relies on understanding the pathophysiology and regulatory influences which govern the internal distribution and external balance of potassium. Here we provide an overview of the key regulatory aspects of normal potassium physiology. This review is designed to provide an overview of potassium homeostasis as well as provide references of seminal papers to guide the reader into a more in depth discussion of the importance of potassium balance. This review is designed to be a resource for educators and well-informed clinicians who are teaching trainees about the importance of potassium balance. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Theory and Simulation of Self- and Mutual-Diffusion of Carrier Density and Temperature in Semiconductor Lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Jian-Zhong; Cheung, Samson H.; Ning, C. Z.

2001-01-01

Carrier diffusion and thermal conduction play a fundamental role in the operation of high-power, broad-area semiconductor lasers. Restricted geometry, high pumping level and dynamic instability lead to inhomogeneous spatial distribution of plasma density, temperature, as well as light field, due to strong light-matter interaction. Thus, modeling and simulation of such optoelectronic devices rely on detailed descriptions of carrier dynamics and energy transport in the system. A self-consistent description of lasing and heating in large-aperture, inhomogeneous edge- or surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) require coupled diffusion equations for carrier density and temperature. In this paper, we derive such equations from the Boltzmann transport equation for the carrier distributions. The derived self- and mutual-diffusion coefficients are in general nonlinear functions of carrier density and temperature including many-body interactions. We study the effects of many-body interactions on these coefficients, as well as the nonlinearity of these coefficients for large-area VCSELs. The effects of mutual diffusions on carrier and temperature distributions in gain-guided VCSELs will be also presented.

Seasonal cycles, phylogenetic assembly, and functional diversity of orchid bee communities.

PubMed

Ramírez, Santiago R; Hernández, Carlos; Link, Andres; López-Uribe, Margarita M

2015-05-01

Neotropical rainforests sustain some of the most diverse terrestrial communities on Earth. Euglossine (or orchid) bees are a diverse lineage of insect pollinators distributed throughout the American tropics, where they provide pollination services to a staggering diversity of flowering plant taxa. Elucidating the seasonal patterns of phylogenetic assembly and functional trait diversity of bee communities can shed new light into the mechanisms that govern the assembly of bee pollinator communities and the potential effects of declining bee populations. Male euglossine bees collect, store, and accumulate odoriferous compounds (perfumes) to subsequently use during courtship display. Thus, synthetic chemical baits can be used to attract and monitor euglossine bee populations. We conducted monthly censuses of orchid bees in three sites in the Magdalena valley of Colombia - a region where Central and South American biotas converge - to investigate the structure, diversity, and assembly of euglossine bee communities through time in relation to seasonal climatic cycles. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that phylogenetic community structure and functional trait diversity changed in response to seasonal rainfall fluctuations. All communities exhibited strong to moderate phylogenetic clustering throughout the year, with few pronounced bursts of phylogenetic overdispersion that coincided with the transition from wet-to-dry seasons. Despite the heterogeneous distribution of functional traits (e.g., body size, body mass, and proboscis length) and the observed seasonal fluctuations in phylogenetic diversity, we found that functional trait diversity, evenness, and divergence remained constant during all seasons in all communities. However, similar to the pattern observed with phylogenetic diversity, functional trait richness fluctuated markedly with rainfall in all sites. These results emphasize the importance of considering seasonal fluctuations in community assembly and provide a glimpse to the potential effects that climatic alterations may have on both pollinator communities and the ecosystem services they provide.

Anthropometric and Mass Distribution Characteristics of the Adult Female. Revised

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

syst ms, and development of body prostheses. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Anthropometry , Anatomical Axis, Body Document is available to the...COLLECTION............ . . . ....................... 3 The Subjects ..................................... 3 Anthropometry ...OF TAB&ES Table No. Anthropometry and Mass Distribution Data for the Total Body and Its Segment4: 1 Head

Histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the calcareous corpuscles and eggs of Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum.

PubMed

Khalifa, Refaat M A; Mazen, Nawal A M; Marawan, Aziza M A; Thabit, Hasnaa T M

2011-08-01

Calcareous corpuscles were noticed by several previous workers to be present in larval and adult cestodes without knowing their function. However, nothing was mentioned in the available literature about distribution of these corpuscles and their density, structure and composition in different parts of the body of different cestodes. Hence, in the present work, a comparative study of their distribution, density, histochemical and ultrastructural characters in different parts of the body was performed in Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum. Due to the presence of the eggs in their gravid segments, their histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics were also studied. It was found that the size, location and density of the calcareous bodies were different in different body parts of the same and the other cestode. Histochemically, the main component of these corpuscles was calcium; while other constituents as polysaccharides, lipids, protrins and mucopolysaccharides were found in their outer rim. Ultrastructurally, they were quite similar in the two studied cestodes and different stages of their development were exhibited. Histochemically, the eggs of both cestodes were similar in their contents. However, some ultrastructural differences have been demonstrated particularly in relation to the size and shape of the rods in the embryophore and the structures in between the embryophore and onchosphere.

Toward the detection of gravitational waves under non-Gaussian noises I. Locally optimal statistic

PubMed Central

YOKOYAMA, Jun’ichi

2014-01-01

After reviewing the standard hypothesis test and the matched filter technique to identify gravitational waves under Gaussian noises, we introduce two methods to deal with non-Gaussian stationary noises. We formulate the likelihood ratio function under weakly non-Gaussian noises through the Edgeworth expansion and strongly non-Gaussian noises in terms of a new method we call Gaussian mapping where the observed marginal distribution and the two-body correlation function are fully taken into account. We then apply these two approaches to Student’s t-distribution which has a larger tails than Gaussian. It is shown that while both methods work well in the case the non-Gaussianity is small, only the latter method works well for highly non-Gaussian case. PMID:25504231

Episodic swimming in the larval zebrafish is generated by a spatially distributed spinal network with modular functional organization

PubMed Central

Wiggin, Timothy D.; Anderson, Tatiana M.; Eian, John; Peck, Jack H.

2012-01-01

Despite the diverse methods vertebrates use for locomotion, there is evidence that components of the locomotor central pattern generator (CPG) are conserved across species. When zebrafish begin swimming early in development, they perform short episodes of activity separated by periods of inactivity. Within these episodes, the trunk flexes with side-to-side alternation and the traveling body wave progresses rostrocaudally. To characterize the distribution of the swimming CPG along the rostrocaudal axis, we performed transections of the larval zebrafish spinal cord and induced fictive swimming using N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). In both intact and spinalized larvae, bursting is found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the spinal cord, and the properties of fictive swimming observed were dependent on the concentration of NMDA. We isolated series of contiguous spinal segments by performing multiple spinal transections on the same larvae. Although series from all regions of the spinal cord have the capacity to produce bursts, the capacity to produce organized episodes of fictive swimming has a rostral bias: in the rostral spinal cord, only 12 contiguous body segments are necessary, whereas 23 contiguous body segments are necessary in the caudal spinal cord. Shorter series of segments were often active but produced either continuous rhythmic bursting or sporadic, nonrhythmic bursting. Both episodic and continuous bursting alternated between the left and right sides of the body and showed rostrocaudal progression, demonstrating the functional dissociation of the circuits responsible for episodic structure and fine burst timing. These findings parallel results in mammalian locomotion, and we propose a hierarchical model of the larval zebrafish swimming CPG. PMID:22572943

New optimization scheme to obtain interaction potentials for oxide glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundararaman, Siddharth; Huang, Liping; Ispas, Simona; Kob, Walter

2018-05-01

We propose a new scheme to parameterize effective potentials that can be used to simulate atomic systems such as oxide glasses. As input data for the optimization, we use the radial distribution functions of the liquid and the vibrational density of state of the glass, both obtained from ab initio simulations, as well as experimental data on the pressure dependence of the density of the glass. For the case of silica, we find that this new scheme facilitates finding pair potentials that are significantly more accurate than the previous ones even if the functional form is the same, thus demonstrating that even simple two-body potentials can be superior to more complex three-body potentials. We have tested the new potential by calculating the pressure dependence of the elastic moduli and found a good agreement with the corresponding experimental data.

Computer re-sampling for demographically representative user populations in anthropometry: a case of doorway and clear floor space widths.

PubMed

Paquet, Victor; Joseph, Caroline; D'Souza, Clive

2012-01-01

Anthropometric studies typically require a large number of individuals that are selected in a manner so that demographic characteristics that impact body size and function are proportionally representative of a user population. This sampling approach does not allow for an efficient characterization of the distribution of body sizes and functions of sub-groups within a population and the demographic characteristics of user populations can often change with time, limiting the application of the anthropometric data in design. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how demographically representative user populations can be developed from samples that are not proportionally representative in order to improve the application of anthropometric data in design. An engineering anthropometry problem of door width and clear floor space width is used to illustrate the value of the approach.

Statistical detection of patterns in unidimensional distributions by continuous wavelet transforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baluev, R. V.

2018-04-01

Objective detection of specific patterns in statistical distributions, like groupings or gaps or abrupt transitions between different subsets, is a task with a rich range of applications in astronomy: Milky Way stellar population analysis, investigations of the exoplanets diversity, Solar System minor bodies statistics, extragalactic studies, etc. We adapt the powerful technique of the wavelet transforms to this generalized task, making a strong emphasis on the assessment of the patterns detection significance. Among other things, our method also involves optimal minimum-noise wavelets and minimum-noise reconstruction of the distribution density function. Based on this development, we construct a self-closed algorithmic pipeline aimed to process statistical samples. It is currently applicable to single-dimensional distributions only, but it is flexible enough to undergo further generalizations and development.

Genome-wide DNA methylomes from discrete developmental stages reveal the predominance of non-CpG methylation in Tribolium castaneum.

PubMed

Song, Xiaowen; Huang, Fei; Liu, Juanjuan; Li, Chengjun; Gao, Shanshan; Wu, Wei; Zhai, Mengfan; Yu, Xiaojuan; Xiong, Wenfeng; Xie, Jia; Li, Bin

2017-10-01

Cytosine DNA methylation is a vital epigenetic regulator of eukaryotic development. Whether this epigenetic modification occurs in Tribolium castaneum has been controversial, its distribution pattern and functions have not been established. Here, using bisulphite sequencing (BS-Seq), we confirmed the existence of DNA methylation and described the methylation profiles of the four life stages of T. castaneum. In the T. castaneum genome, both symmetrical CpG and non-CpG methylcytosines were observed. Symmetrical CpG methylation, which was catalysed by DNMT1 and occupied a small part in T. castaneum methylome, was primarily enriched in gene bodies and was positively correlated with gene expression levels. Asymmetrical non-CpG methylation, which was predominant in the methylome, was strongly concentrated in intergenic regions and introns but absent from exons. Gene body methylation was negatively correlated with gene expression levels. The distribution pattern and functions of this type of methylation were similar only to the methylome of Drosophila melanogaster, which further supports the existence of a novel methyltransferase in the two species responsible for this type of methylation. This first life-cycle methylome of T. castaneum reveals a novel and unique methylation pattern, which will contribute to the further understanding of the variety and functions of DNA methylation in eukaryotes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute.

Resistivity and phase in localized BIA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiffman, C. A.; Aaron, R.; Amoss, V.; Therrien, J.; Coomler, K.

1999-10-01

We describe a system for highly reproducible non-invasive rf impedance measurements as a function of position along body segments such as the thigh. Results are reported for mainly healthy male and female subjects ranging in age from 19 to 65 and in body-mass index from 15 to 40. A principal conclusion is that the phase of the impedance falls monotonically with increasing distance from the knee, with average values substantially above what is found using standard, whole-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). To compensate for thigh shape, the data are further analysed using an anatomical model based on reasonable approximations for the distributions of muscle, fat and bone, yielding values of the effective resistivity for current flow parallel to the muscle fibres. The phase and resistivity results are discussed with reference to the whole-body BIA study of maintenance haemodialysis patients by Chertow et al, and in regard to possible physiological correlations observed in this work.

Collective many-body bounce in the breathing-mode oscillations of a Tonks-Girardeau gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atas, Y. Y.; Bouchoule, I.; Gangardt, D. M.; Kheruntsyan, K. V.

2017-10-01

We analyze the breathing-mode oscillations of a harmonically quenched Tonks-Giradeau (TG) gas using an exact finite-temperature dynamical theory. We predict a striking collective manifestation of impenetrability—a collective many-body bounce effect. The effect, although being invisible in the evolution of the in situ density profile of the gas, can be revealed through a nontrivial periodic narrowing of its momentum distribution, taking place at twice the rate of the fundamental breathing-mode frequency. We identify physical regimes for observing the many-body bounce and construct the respective nonequilibrium phase diagram as a function of the quench strength and the initial temperature of the gas. We also develop a finite-temperature hydrodynamic theory of the TG gas wherein the many-body bounce is explained by an increased thermodynamic pressure during the isentropic compression cycle, which acts as a potential barrier for the particles to bounce off.

Variational Calculation of the Ground State of Closed-Shell Nuclei Up to $A$ = 40

DOE PAGES

Lonardoni, Diego; Lovato, Alessandro; Pieper, Steven C.; ...

2017-08-31

Variational calculations of ground-state properties of 4He, 16O and 40Ca are carried out employing realistic phenomenological two- and three-nucleon potentials. The trial wave function includes twoand three-body correlations acting on a product of single-particle determinants. Expectation values are evaluated with a cluster expansion for the spin-isospin dependent correlations considering up to five-body cluster terms. The optimal wave function is obtained by minimizing the energy expectation value over a set of up to 20 parameters by means of a nonlinear optimization library. We present results for the binding energy, charge radius, point density, single-nucleon momentum distribution, charge form factor, and Coulombmore » sum rule. We find that the employed three-nucleon interaction becomes repulsive for A ≥ 16. In 16O the inclusion of such a force provides a better description of the properties of the nucleus. In 40Ca instead, the repulsive behavior of the three-body interaction fails to reproduce experimental data for the charge radius and the charge form factor. We find that the high-momentum region of the momentum distributions, determined by the short-range terms of nuclear correlations, exhibit a universal behavior independent of the particular nucleus. The comparison of the Coulomb sum rules for 4He, 16O, and 40Ca reported in this work will help elucidate in-medium modifications of the nucleon form factors.« less

Habitat structure and body size distributions: Cross-ecosystem comparison for taxa with determinate and indeterminate growth

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nash, Kirsty L.; Allen, Craig R.; Barichievy, Chris; Nystrom, Magnus; Sundstrom, Shana M.; Graham, Nicholas A.J.

2014-01-01

Habitat structure across multiple spatial and temporal scales has been proposed as a key driver of body size distributions for associated communities. Thus, understanding the relationship between habitat and body size is fundamental to developing predictions regarding the influence of habitat change on animal communities. Much of the work assessing the relationship between habitat structure and body size distributions has focused on terrestrial taxa with determinate growth, and has primarily analysed discontinuities (gaps) in the distribution of species mean sizes (species size relationships or SSRs). The suitability of this approach for taxa with indeterminate growth has yet to be determined. We provide a cross-ecosystem comparison of bird (determinate growth) and fish (indeterminate growth) body mass distributions using four independent data sets. We evaluate three size distribution indices: SSRs, species size–density relationships (SSDRs) and individual size–density relationships (ISDRs), and two types of analysis: looking for either discontinuities or abundance patterns and multi-modality in the distributions. To assess the respective suitability of these three indices and two analytical approaches for understanding habitat–size relationships in different ecosystems, we compare their ability to differentiate bird or fish communities found within contrasting habitat conditions. All three indices of body size distribution are useful for examining the relationship between cross-scale patterns of habitat structure and size for species with determinate growth, such as birds. In contrast, for species with indeterminate growth such as fish, the relationship between habitat structure and body size may be masked when using mean summary metrics, and thus individual-level data (ISDRs) are more useful. Furthermore, ISDRs, which have traditionally been used to study aquatic systems, present a potentially useful common currency for comparing body size distributions across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Some remarks on elastic crack-tip stress fields.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, J. R.

1972-01-01

It is shown that if the displacement field and stress intensity factor are known as functions of crack length for any symmetrical load system acting on a linear elastic body in plane strain, then the stress intensity factor for any other symmetrical load system whatsoever on the same body may be directly determined. The result is closely related to Bueckner's (1970) weight function, through which the stress intensity factor is expressed as a sum of work-like products between applied forces and values of the weight function at their points of application. An example of the method is given wherein the solution for a crack in a remotely uniform stress field is used to generate the expression for the stress intensity factor due to an arbitrary traction distribution on the faces of a crack. A corresponding theory is developed in an appendix for three-dimensional crack problems, although this appears to be directly useful chiefly for problems in which there is axial symmetry.

Insulin Action in Brain Regulates Systemic Metabolism and Brain Function

PubMed Central

Kleinridders, André; Ferris, Heather A.; Cai, Weikang

2014-01-01

Insulin receptors, as well as IGF-1 receptors and their postreceptor signaling partners, are distributed throughout the brain. Insulin acts on these receptors to modulate peripheral metabolism, including regulation of appetite, reproductive function, body temperature, white fat mass, hepatic glucose output, and response to hypoglycemia. Insulin signaling also modulates neurotransmitter channel activity, brain cholesterol synthesis, and mitochondrial function. Disruption of insulin action in the brain leads to impairment of neuronal function and synaptogenesis. In addition, insulin signaling modulates phosphorylation of tau protein, an early component in the development of Alzheimer disease. Thus, alterations in insulin action in the brain can contribute to metabolic syndrome, and the development of mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. PMID:24931034

Individual 3D measurements of end users to personalize work wear clothing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mielicka, E.; Napieralska, L.; Jasińska, I.; Jarzyna, V.

2017-10-01

Body silhouette 3D measurements need to be performed separately in each country due to significant ethnic differences in body silhouette which preclude the transfer of European data to particular countries. Systematic research allows to update information on the population body silhouette and body proportions as well as select the size changes possible to implement in clothing construction modifications. The diversity in body silhouettes and sizes as well as the issue of clothing fitting encourage clothing producers to provide work wear clothing based on individual measurements of the end users’ bodies. In the framework of the carried research, the group of construction workers was selected as the target group of the analysed work wear clothing users. 42 construction workers, men only, were measured. The body silhouette measurement process was non-contact and was carried out with the use of 3D body scanner. The collected data on the body silhouette allowed to select sizes used to construct the work wear clothing and identify the clothing size. The selected measurement points of the body silhouette underwent statistical analysis to determine the distribution of random variables, here body sizes. The variables distribution characteristics were calculated. On that basis, the fitting appraisal of work wear clothing with respect to the size of the finished product corresponding to the adequate size of individually measured worker/end user was performed. The size overview of the work wear clothing used by the specific professional group and the appraisal of the size fitting to the body silhouette took into consideration the work wear clothing ergonomic functionality with respect to the body posture when performing the tasks, design and clothing construction. The analysis based on the currently gathered end users’ remarks and objections concerning the clothing fitting and performed body silhouette measurements allows to modify the existing work wear clothing for the selected group of end users. The research was aimed at the improvement of the work wear clothing fitting thanks to personalization based on individual body measurements at the stage of construction design.

Effects of dietary medium-chain triglycerides on plasma lipids and lipoprotein distribution and food aversion in cats.

PubMed

Trevizan, Luciano; de Mello Kessler, Alexandre; Bigley, Karen E; Anderson, Wendy H; Waldron, Mark K; Bauer, John E

2010-04-01

To determine possible diet aversion and lipid and lipoprotein alterations in cats fed diets containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). 19 clinically normal adult female cats. Cats were assigned to 2 groups (low MCT diet [n = 10] and high MCT diet [9]) and fed the diets for 9 weeks according to metabolic body weight (100 kcal of metabolizable energy [ME] x kg(-0.67)/d). Daily consumption records and weekly body weight and body condition score (BCS) were used to adjust amounts fed and calculate daily ME factors for each cat to maintain ideal BCS. Blood samples were obtained after withholding food on days 0, 14, 28, and 56 for measurement of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations and lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests were performed. No diet differences were found for food consumption, body weight, BCS, and ME factors. A significant increase in plasma triglyceride concentration was detected for the high MCT diet; however, values were within the reference ranges. No diet effects were observed for total cholesterol concentrations or lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions, although increases over time were observed. Inclusion of MCT in diets of cats did not result in feed refusal and had minimal effects on lipid metabolism. Such diets may be useful for both clinically normal cats and cats with metabolic disorders. The MCT oils are an example of a bioactive dietary lipid that may benefit feline metabolism and can serve as a useful functional food ingredient for cats.

Assessment of functional liver reserve: old and new in 99mTc-sulfur colloid scintigraphy.

PubMed

Matesan, Manuela M; Bowen, Stephen R; Chapman, Tobias R; Miyaoka, Robert S; Velez, James W; Wanner, Michele F; Nyflot, Matthew J; Apisarnthanarax, Smith; Vesselle, Hubert J

2017-07-01

A semiquantitative assessment of hepatic reticuloendothelial system function using colloidal particles scintigraphy has been proposed previously as a surrogate for liver function evaluation. In this article, we present an updated method for the overall assessment of technetium-99m (Tc)-sulfur colloid (SC) biodistribution that combines information from planar and attenuation-corrected Tc-SC single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. The imaging protocol described here was developed as an easy-to-implement method to assess overall and regional liver function changes associated with chronic liver disease. Thirty patients with chronic liver disease and primary liver cancers underwent Tc-SC whole-body planar imaging and upper-abdomen SPECT/computed tomography (CT) imaging before external beam radiation therapy. Liver plus spleen and bone marrow counts as a fraction of whole-body total counts were calculated from SC planar imaging. Attenuation correction Tc-SC images were rigidly coregistered with treatment planning CT images that contained liver and spleen regions-of-interest. Ratios of total liver counts to total spleen counts were obtained from the aligned Tc-SC SPECT and CT images, and were subsequently used to separate liver plus spleen counts obtained on the planar images. This hybrid SPECT/CT and planar scintigraphy approach yielded an updated estimation of whole-body SC distribution. These biodistribution estimates were compared with historical data for reference. Statistical associations of Tc-SC biodistribution to liver function parameters and liver disease scoring systems (Child-Pugh) were evaluated by Spearman rank correlation. Percentages of Tc-SC uptake ranged from 19.3 to 77.3% for the liver; 3.4 to 40.7% for the spleen; and 19.0 to 56.7% for the bone marrow. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a significant statistical association between Child-Pugh score and bone marrow uptake at 0.55 (P≤0.05), liver uptake at 0.71 (P≤0.001), spleen uptake at 0.56 (P≤0.05), and spleen plus bone marrow uptake at 0.71 (P≤0.001). There was also a good correlation of SC uptake percentages with individual quantitative liver function components such as albumin and total bilirubin, and qualitative liver function components (varices, portal hypertension, ascites). For albumin: r=0.64 (P<0.001) compared with liver uptake percentage from the whole-body counts, r=0.49 (P<0.001) compared with splenic uptake percentage, and r=0.45 (P≤0.05) compared with bone marrow uptake percentage. We describe a novel liver function quantitative assessment method that combines whole-body planar images and SPECT/CT attenuation-corrected images of Tc-SC distribution. Attenuation-corrected SC images provide valuable regional liver function information, which is a unique feature compared with other imaging methods available. The results of our study indicate that the Tc-SC uptake by the liver, spleen, and bone marrow correlates with liver function parameters in patients with diffuse liver disease and the correlation with liver disease severity is slightly better for liver uptake percentages than for individual values of bone marrow and spleen uptake percentages.

Analyzing the errors of DFT approximations for compressed water systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfè, D.; Bartók, A. P.; Csányi, G.; Gillan, M. J.

2014-07-01

We report an extensive study of the errors of density functional theory (DFT) approximations for compressed water systems. The approximations studied are based on the widely used PBE and BLYP exchange-correlation functionals, and we characterize their errors before and after correction for 1- and 2-body errors, the corrections being performed using the methods of Gaussian approximation potentials. The errors of the uncorrected and corrected approximations are investigated for two related types of water system: first, the compressed liquid at temperature 420 K and density 1.245 g/cm3 where the experimental pressure is 15 kilobars; second, thermal samples of compressed water clusters from the trimer to the 27-mer. For the liquid, we report four first-principles molecular dynamics simulations, two generated with the uncorrected PBE and BLYP approximations and a further two with their 1- and 2-body corrected counterparts. The errors of the simulations are characterized by comparing with experimental data for the pressure, with neutron-diffraction data for the three radial distribution functions, and with quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) benchmarks for the energies of sets of configurations of the liquid in periodic boundary conditions. The DFT errors of the configuration samples of compressed water clusters are computed using QMC benchmarks. We find that the 2-body and beyond-2-body errors in the liquid are closely related to similar errors exhibited by the clusters. For both the liquid and the clusters, beyond-2-body errors of DFT make a substantial contribution to the overall errors, so that correction for 1- and 2-body errors does not suffice to give a satisfactory description. For BLYP, a recent representation of 3-body energies due to Medders, Babin, and Paesani [J. Chem. Theory Comput. 9, 1103 (2013)] gives a reasonably good way of correcting for beyond-2-body errors, after which the remaining errors are typically 0.5 mEh ≃ 15 meV/monomer for the liquid and the clusters.

Analyzing the errors of DFT approximations for compressed water systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alfè, D.; London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL, London WC1H 0AH; Thomas Young Centre, UCL, London WC1H 0AH

We report an extensive study of the errors of density functional theory (DFT) approximations for compressed water systems. The approximations studied are based on the widely used PBE and BLYP exchange-correlation functionals, and we characterize their errors before and after correction for 1- and 2-body errors, the corrections being performed using the methods of Gaussian approximation potentials. The errors of the uncorrected and corrected approximations are investigated for two related types of water system: first, the compressed liquid at temperature 420 K and density 1.245 g/cm{sup 3} where the experimental pressure is 15 kilobars; second, thermal samples of compressed watermore » clusters from the trimer to the 27-mer. For the liquid, we report four first-principles molecular dynamics simulations, two generated with the uncorrected PBE and BLYP approximations and a further two with their 1- and 2-body corrected counterparts. The errors of the simulations are characterized by comparing with experimental data for the pressure, with neutron-diffraction data for the three radial distribution functions, and with quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) benchmarks for the energies of sets of configurations of the liquid in periodic boundary conditions. The DFT errors of the configuration samples of compressed water clusters are computed using QMC benchmarks. We find that the 2-body and beyond-2-body errors in the liquid are closely related to similar errors exhibited by the clusters. For both the liquid and the clusters, beyond-2-body errors of DFT make a substantial contribution to the overall errors, so that correction for 1- and 2-body errors does not suffice to give a satisfactory description. For BLYP, a recent representation of 3-body energies due to Medders, Babin, and Paesani [J. Chem. Theory Comput. 9, 1103 (2013)] gives a reasonably good way of correcting for beyond-2-body errors, after which the remaining errors are typically 0.5 mE{sub h} ≃ 15 meV/monomer for the liquid and the clusters.« less

The small numbers of large Kuiper Belt objects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwamb, Megan E.; Brown, Michael E.; Fraser, Wesley C., E-mail: mschwamb@asiaa.sinica.edu.tw

2014-01-01

We explore the brightness distribution of the largest and brightest (m(R) < 22) Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). We construct a luminosity function of the dynamically excited or hot Kuiper Belt (orbits with inclinations >5°) from the very brightest to m(R) = 23. We find for m(R) ≲ 23, a single slope appears to describe the luminosity function. We estimate that ∼12 KBOs brighter than m(R) ∼ 19.5 are present in the Kuiper Belt today. With nine bodies already discovered this suggests that the inventory of bright KBOs is nearly complete.

Analytical YORP torques model with an improved temperature distribution function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breiter, S.; Vokrouhlický, D.; Nesvorný, D.

2010-01-01

Previous models of the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect relied either on the zero thermal conductivity assumption, or on the solutions of the heat conduction equations assuming an infinite body size. We present the first YORP solution accounting for a finite size and non-radial direction of the surface normal vectors in the temperature distribution. The new thermal model implies the dependence of the YORP effect in rotation rate on asteroids conductivity. It is shown that the effect on small objects does not scale as the inverse square of diameter, but rather as the first power of the inverse.

Edge effects in angle-ply composite laminates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, P. W.; Herakovich, C. T.

1977-01-01

This paper presents the results of a zeroth-order solution for edge effects in angle-ply composite laminates obtained using perturbation techniques and a limiting free body approach. The general solution for edge effects in laminates of arbitrary angle ply is applied to the special case of a (+ or - 45)s graphite/epoxy laminate. Interlaminar stress distributions are obtained as a function of the laminate thickness-to-width ratio and compared to finite difference results. The solution predicts stable, continuous stress distributions, determines finite maximum tensile interlaminar normal stress and provides mathematical evidence for singular interlaminar shear stresses in (+ or - 45) graphite/epoxy laminates.

Fluid balance concepts in medicine: Principles and practice

PubMed Central

Roumelioti, Maria-Eleni; Glew, Robert H; Khitan, Zeid J; Rondon-Berrios, Helbert; Argyropoulos, Christos P; Malhotra, Deepak; Raj, Dominic S; Agaba, Emmanuel I; Rohrscheib, Mark; Murata, Glen H; Shapiro, Joseph I; Tzamaloukas, Antonios H

2018-01-01

The regulation of body fluid balance is a key concern in health and disease and comprises three concepts. The first concept pertains to the relationship between total body water (TBW) and total effective solute and is expressed in terms of the tonicity of the body fluids. Disturbances in tonicity are the main factor responsible for changes in cell volume, which can critically affect brain cell function and survival. Solutes distributed almost exclusively in the extracellular compartment (mainly sodium salts) and in the intracellular compartment (mainly potassium salts) contribute to tonicity, while solutes distributed in TBW have no effect on tonicity. The second body fluid balance concept relates to the regulation and measurement of abnormalities of sodium salt balance and extracellular volume. Estimation of extracellular volume is more complex and error prone than measurement of TBW. A key function of extracellular volume, which is defined as the effective arterial blood volume (EABV), is to ensure adequate perfusion of cells and organs. Other factors, including cardiac output, total and regional capacity of both arteries and veins, Starling forces in the capillaries, and gravity also affect the EABV. Collectively, these factors interact closely with extracellular volume and some of them undergo substantial changes in certain acute and chronic severe illnesses. Their changes result not only in extracellular volume expansion, but in the need for a larger extracellular volume compared with that of healthy individuals. Assessing extracellular volume in severe illness is challenging because the estimates of this volume by commonly used methods are prone to large errors in many illnesses. In addition, the optimal extracellular volume may vary from illness to illness, is only partially based on volume measurements by traditional methods, and has not been determined for each illness. Further research is needed to determine optimal extracellular volume levels in several illnesses. For these reasons, extracellular volume in severe illness merits a separate third concept of body fluid balance. PMID:29359117

Drude weight fluctuations in many-body localized systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippone, Michele; Brouwer, Piet W.; Eisert, Jens; von Oppen, Felix

2016-11-01

We numerically investigate the distribution of Drude weights D of many-body states in disordered one-dimensional interacting electron systems across the transition to a many-body localized phase. Drude weights are proportional to the spectral curvatures induced by magnetic fluxes in mesoscopic rings. They offer a method to relate the transition to the many-body localized phase to transport properties. In the delocalized regime, we find that the Drude weight distribution at a fixed disorder configuration agrees well with the random-matrix-theory prediction P (D ) ∝(γ2+D2) -3 /2 , although the distribution width γ strongly fluctuates between disorder realizations. A crossover is observed towards a distribution with different large-D asymptotics deep in the many-body localized phase, which however differs from the commonly expected Cauchy distribution. We show that the average distribution width <γ >, rescaled by L Δ ,Δ being the average level spacing in the middle of the spectrum and L the systems size, is an efficient probe of the many-body localization transition, as it increases (vanishes) exponentially in the delocalized (localized) phase.

The regional abundance and size distribution of lakes and reservoirs in the United States and implication for estimates of global lake extent

USGS Publications Warehouse

McDonald, Cory P.; Rover, Jennifer; Stets, Edward G.; Striegl, Robert G.

2012-01-01

We analyzed complete geospatial data for the 3.5 million lakes and reservoirs larger than 0.001 km2, with a combined surface area of 131,000 km2, in the contiguous United States (excluding the Laurentian Great Lakes) and identified their regional distribution characteristics. For Alaska, we also analyzed (1) incomplete data that suggest that the state contains 1–2.5 million lakes larger than 0.001 km2 covering over 50,000 km2 and (2) localized high-resolution (5 m) data that suggest that the number of very small water bodies (< 0.001 km2) may be comparable with the number of lakes > 0.001 km2 in some areas. The Pareto distribution cannot accurately describe the lake abundance-size relationship across the entire size spectrum, and extrapolation of this density function to small size classes has likely resulted in the overestimation of the number of small lakes in the world. While small water bodies dominate in terms of numbers, they are not numerous enough to dominate in terms of surface area, as has been previously suggested. Extending our results to the global scale suggests that there are on the order of 64 million water bodies larger than 0.001 km2 in the world, with a total surface area of approximately 3.8 million km2.

Chronobiological Hypothesis about the Association Between Height Growth Seasonality and Geographical Differences in Body Height According to Effective Day Length

PubMed Central

Higuchi, Yukito

2016-01-01

Studies on growth hormone therapy in children have shown that height velocity is greater in summer than in winter and that this difference increases with latitude. It is hypothesized that summer daylight is a causative factor and that geographical distribution of body height will approximate the distribution of summer day length over time. This is an ecological analysis of prefecture-level data on the height of Japanese youth. Mesh climatic data of effective day length were collated. While height velocity was greatest during the summer, the height of Japanese youth was strongly and negatively correlated with the distribution of winter effective day length. Therefore, it is anticipated that summer height velocity is greater according to winter day length (dark period). This may be due to epigenetic modifications, involving reversible DNA methylation and thyroid hormone regulation found in the reproductive system of seasonal breeding vertebrates. If the function is applicable to humans, summer height growth may quantitatively increase with winter day length, and height growth seasonality can be explained by thyroid hormone activities that-induced by DNA methylation-change depending on the seasonal difference in day length. Moreover, geographical differences in body height may be caused by geographical differences in effective day length, which could influence melatonin secretion among subjects who spend a significant time indoors.

Positron emitter labeled enzyme inhibitors

DOEpatents

Fowler, Joanna S.; MacGregor, Robert R.; Wolf, Alfred P.; Langstrom, Bengt

1990-01-01

This invention involves a new strategy for imaging and mapping enzyme activity in the living human and animal body using positron emitter-labeled suicide enzyme inactivators or inhibitors which become covalently bound to the enzyme as a result of enzymatic catalysis. Two such suicide inactivators for monoamine oxidase have been labeled with carbon-11 and used to map the enzyme subtypes in the living human and animal body using PET. By using positron emission tomography to image the distribution of radioactivity produced by the body penetrating radiation emitted by carbon-11, a map of functionally active monoamine oxidase activity is obtained. Clorgyline and L-deprenyl are suicide enzyme inhibitors and irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase. When these inhibitors are labeled with carbon-11 they provide selective probes for monoamine oxidase localization and reactivity in vivo using positron emission tomography.

The Cross-Sectional Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Waist-Hip Ratio and Cognitive Performance in Postmenopausal Women Enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI)

PubMed Central

Kerwin, Diana R.; Zhang, Yinghua; Kotchen, Jane Morley; Espeland, Mark A.; Van Horn, Linda; McTigue, Kathleen M.; Robinson, Jennifer G.; Powell, Lynda; Kooperberg, Charles; Coker, Laura H.; Hoffmann, Raymond

2010-01-01

OBJECTIVES To determine if body weight (BMI) is independently associated with cognitive function in postmenopausal women and the relationship between body fat distribution as estimated by waist-hip-ratio (WHR) and cognitive function. DESIGN Cross-sectional data analysis SETTING Baseline data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone trials. PARTICIPANTS 8745 postmenopausal women aged 65–79 years, free of clinical evidence of dementia and completed baseline evaluation in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone trials. MEASUREMENTS Participants completed a Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE), health and lifestyle questionnaires, and standardized measurements of height, weight, body circumferences and blood pressure. Statistical analysis of associations between 3MSE scores, BMI and WHR after controlling for known confounders. RESULTS With the exception of smoking and exercise, vascular disease risk factors, including hypertension, waist measurement, heart disease and diabetes, were significantly associated with 3MSE score and were included as co-variables in subsequent analyses. BMI was inversely related to 3MSE scores, for every 1 unit increase in BMI, 3MSE decrease 0.988 (p=.0001) after adjusting for age, education and vascular disease risk factors. BMI had the most pronounced association with poorer cognitive functioning scores among women with smaller waist measurements. Among women with the highest WHR, cognitive scores increased with BMI. CONCLUSION Increasing BMI is associated with poorer cognitive function in women with smaller WHR. Higher WHR, estimating central fat mass, is associated with higher cognitive function in this cross-sectional study. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism for this association. PMID:20646100

Three month intervention with protein and energy rich supplements improve muscle function and quality of life in malnourished patients with non-neoplastic gastrointestinal disease--a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Norman, Kristina; Kirchner, Henriette; Freudenreich, Manuela; Ockenga, Johann; Lochs, Herbert; Pirlich, Matthias

2008-02-01

Malnutrition is a common problem in patients with digestive disease and is associated with impaired outcome. We investigated the effect of a three-month post-hospital nutritional intervention with high protein and energy supplements on body composition, muscle function and quality of life (QoL) in malnourished GI patients. Eighty malnourished patients with benign digestive disease were randomized to receive either oral nutritional supplements (ONS) for three months in addition to dietary counselling (DC) (ONS patients) or only dietary counselling (DC patients). Nutritional status was determined with the subjective global assessment, body composition by bioelectrical impedance and anthropometry, muscle function with hand-grip strength and peak flow. QoL was assessed by the 36-item short-form questionnaire. Age, body cell mass (BCM), muscle function, gender distribution and QoL did not differ between ONS patients (n=38) and DC patients (n=42) at baseline. Body weight and BCM improved significantly in both groups after three months. However, hand-grip strength (26.1+/-11.3-31.5+/-10.1 kg, p<0.0001) and peak flow (329.2+/-124.0-388.9+/-108.4 l /min, p=0.004) improved only in the ONS patients and remained unchanged in the DC patients. Similarly, all eight scales of the QoL improved in the ONS patients compared with merely three in the DC patients. DC patients experienced significantly more readmissions (n=20) than ONS patients (n=10) during the study period (p=0.041). A three month intervention with high protein oral supplements improves outcome in malnourished patients with digestive disease in terms of functional status, QoL and rehospitalization.

Differential models of twin correlations in skew for body-mass index (BMI).

PubMed

Tsang, Siny; Duncan, Glen E; Dinescu, Diana; Turkheimer, Eric

2018-01-01

Body Mass Index (BMI), like most human phenotypes, is substantially heritable. However, BMI is not normally distributed; the skew appears to be structural, and increases as a function of age. Moreover, twin correlations for BMI commonly violate the assumptions of the most common variety of the classical twin model, with the MZ twin correlation greater than twice the DZ correlation. This study aimed to decompose twin correlations for BMI using more general skew-t distributions. Same sex MZ and DZ twin pairs (N = 7,086) from the community-based Washington State Twin Registry were included. We used latent profile analysis (LPA) to decompose twin correlations for BMI into multiple mixture distributions. LPA was performed using the default normal mixture distribution and the skew-t mixture distribution. Similar analyses were performed for height as a comparison. Our analyses are then replicated in an independent dataset. A two-class solution under the skew-t mixture distribution fits the BMI distribution for both genders. The first class consists of a relatively normally distributed, highly heritable BMI with a mean in the normal range. The second class is a positively skewed BMI in the overweight and obese range, with lower twin correlations. In contrast, height is normally distributed, highly heritable, and is well-fit by a single latent class. Results in the replication dataset were highly similar. Our findings suggest that two distinct processes underlie the skew of the BMI distribution. The contrast between height and weight is in accord with subjective psychological experience: both are under obvious genetic influence, but BMI is also subject to behavioral control, whereas height is not.

An equivalent body surface charge model representing three-dimensional bioelectrical activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

He, B.; Chernyak, Y. B.; Cohen, R. J.

1995-01-01

A new surface-source model has been developed to account for the bioelectrical potential on the body surface. A single-layer surface-charge model on the body surface has been developed to equivalently represent bioelectrical sources inside the body. The boundary conditions on the body surface are discussed in relation to the surface-charge in a half-space conductive medium. The equivalent body surface-charge is shown to be proportional to the normal component of the electric field on the body surface just outside the body. The spatial resolution of the equivalent surface-charge distribution appears intermediate between those of the body surface potential distribution and the body surface Laplacian distribution. An analytic relationship between the equivalent surface-charge and the surface Laplacian of the potential was found for a half-space conductive medium. The effects of finite spatial sampling and noise on the reconstruction of the equivalent surface-charge were evaluated by computer simulations. It was found through computer simulations that the reconstruction of the equivalent body surface-charge from the body surface Laplacian distribution is very stable against noise and finite spatial sampling. The present results suggest that the equivalent body surface-charge model may provide an additional insight to our understanding of bioelectric phenomena.

Investigation of Some Wake Vortex Characteristics of an Inclined Ogive-Cylinder Body at Mach Number 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jorgensen, Leland H; Perkins, Edward W

1958-01-01

For a body consisting of a fineness-ratio-3 ogival nose tangent to a cylindrical afterbody 7.3 diameters long, pitot-pressure distributions in the flow field, pressure distributions over the body, and downwash distributions along a line through the vortex centers have been measured for angles of attack to 20 degrees. The Reynolds numbers, based on body diameter, were 0.15 x 10 to the 6th power and 0.44 x 10 to the 6th power. Comparisons of computed and measured vortex paths and downwash distributions are made. (author)

Long-lasting improvements in liver fat and metabolism despite body weight regain after dietary weight loss.

PubMed

Haufe, Sven; Haas, Verena; Utz, Wolfgang; Birkenfeld, Andreas L; Jeran, Stephanie; Böhnke, Jana; Mähler, Anja; Luft, Friedrich C; Schulz-Menger, Jeanette; Boschmann, Michael; Jordan, Jens; Engeli, Stefan

2013-11-01

Weight loss reduces abdominal and intrahepatic fat, thereby improving metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Yet, many patients regain weight after successful diet-induced weight loss. Long-term changes in abdominal and liver fat, along with liver test results and insulin resistance, are not known. We analyzed 50 overweight to obese subjects (46 ± 9 years of age; BMI, 32.5 ± 3.3 kg/m2; women, 77%) who had participated in a 6-month hypocaloric diet and were randomized to either reduced carbohydrates or reduced fat content. Before, directly after diet, and at an average of 24 (range, 17-36) months follow-up, we assessed body fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging and markers of liver function and insulin resistance. Body weight decreased with diet but had increased again at follow-up. Subjects also partially regained abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. In contrast, intrahepatic fat decreased with diet and remained reduced at follow-up (7.8 ± 9.8% [baseline], 4.5 ± 5.9% [6 months], and 4.7 ± 5.9% [follow-up]). Similar patterns were observed for markers of liver function, whole-body insulin sensitivity, and hepatic insulin resistance. Changes in intrahepatic fat und intrahepatic function were independent of macronutrient composition during intervention and were most effective in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at baseline. A 6-month hypocaloric diet induced improvements in hepatic fat, liver test results, and insulin resistance despite regaining of weight up to 2 years after the active intervention. Body weight and adiposity measurements may underestimate beneficial long-term effects of dietary interventions.

Bodies for Anatomy Education in Medical Schools: An Overview of the Sources of Cadavers Worldwide.

PubMed

Habicht, Juri L; Kiessling, Claudia; Winkelmann, Andreas

2018-03-20

The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) recommended in 2012 that only donated bodies be used for anatomy teaching and research. However, in many countries around the world, anatomists still depend on bodies that do not stem from voluntary donations by the deceased, but rather are "unclaimed." A broad search of the literature was conducted to produce a baseline overview of the sources of cadavers used for anatomy teaching in undergraduate medical curricula on a global scale. Information from the literature search was supplemented with data from a 2016-2017 survey of selected senior local anatomists. Of 165 countries with medical schools, information was gathered for 71. In 22 (32%) of the 68 countries that use cadavers for anatomy teaching, body donation is the exclusive source of bodies. However, in most other countries, unclaimed bodies remain the main (n = 18, 26%) or exclusive (n = 21, 31%) source. Some countries import cadavers from abroad, mainly from the United States or India. In one country, bodies of executed persons are given to anatomy departments. The heterogeneous geographical distribution of body sources cannot easily be accounted for, but religion, culture, and folk beliefs about what should happen to bodies after death seem to play a role. Implementation of the IFAA recommendations still has a long way to go, but it is encouraging that functioning body donation programs exist on all continents and that there are examples of recent rises in donations and of anatomists initiating new donation programs.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.

Radiation exposure and risk assessment for critical female body organs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atwell, William; Weyland, Mark D.; Hardy, Alva C.

1991-01-01

Space radiation exposure limits for astronauts are based on recommendations of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. These limits now include the age at exposure and sex of the astronaut. A recently-developed computerized anatomical female (CAF) model is discussed in detail. Computer-generated, cross-sectional data are presented to illustrate the completeness of the CAF model. By applying ray-tracing techniques, shield distribution functions have been computed to calculate absorbed dose and dose equivalent values for a variety of critical body organs (e.g., breasts, lungs, thyroid gland, etc.) and mission scenarios. Specific risk assessments, i.e., cancer induction and mortality, are reviewed.

Evolution of Scientific and Technical Information Distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Esler, Sandra; Nelson, Michael L.

1998-01-01

World Wide Web (WWW) and related information technologies are transforming the distribution of scientific and technical information (STI). We examine 11 recent, functioning digital libraries focusing on the distribution of STI publications, including journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports. We introduce 4 main categories of digital library projects: based on the architecture (distributed vs. centralized) and the contributor (traditional publisher vs. authoring individual/organization). Many digital library prototypes merely automate existing publishing practices or focus solely on the digitization of the publishing cycle output, not sampling and capturing elements of the input. Still others do not consider for distribution the large body of "gray literature." We address these deficiencies in the current model of STI exchange by suggesting methods for expanding the scope and target of digital libraries by focusing on a greater source of technical publications and using "buckets," an object-oriented construct for grouping logically related information objects, to include holdings other than technical publications.

Gravitational potential wells and the cosmic bulk flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yuyu; Kumar, Abhinav; Feldman, Hume; Watkins, Richard

2016-03-01

The bulk flow is a volume average of the peculiar velocities and a useful probe of the mass distribution on large scales. The gravitational instability model views the bulk flow as a potential flow that obeys a Maxwellian Distribution. We use two N-body simulations, the LasDamas Carmen and the Horizon Run, to calculate the bulk flows of various sized volumes in the simulation boxes. Once we have the bulk flow velocities as a function of scale, we investigate the mass and gravitational potential distribution around the volume. We found that matter densities can be asymmetrical and difficult to detect in real surveys, however, the gravitational potential and its gradient may provide better tools to investigate the underlying matter distribution. This study shows that bulk flows are indeed potential flows and thus provides information on the flow sources. We also show that bulk flow magnitudes follow a Maxwellian distribution on scales > 10h-1 Mpc.

The Role of Facial and Body Hair Distribution in Women's Judgments of Men's Sexual Attractiveness.

PubMed

Dixson, Barnaby J W; Rantala, Markus J

2016-05-01

Facial and body hair are some of the most visually conspicuous and sexually dimorphic of all men's secondary sexual traits. Both are androgen dependent, requiring the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone via the enzyme 5α reductase 2 for their expression. While previous studies on the attractiveness of facial and body hair are equivocal, none have accounted as to how natural variation in their distribution may influence male sexual attractiveness. In the present study, we quantified men's facial and body hair distribution as either very light, light, medium, or heavy using natural photographs. We also tested whether women's fertility influenced their preferences for beards and body hair by comparing preferences among heterosexual women grouped according their fertility (high fertility, low fertility, and contraceptive use). Results showed that men with more evenly and continuously distributed facial hair from the lower jaw connecting to the mustache and covering the cheeks were judged as more sexually attractive than individuals with more patchy facial hair. Men with body hair were less attractive than when clean shaven, with the exception of images depicting some hair around the areolae, pectoral region, and the sternum that were significantly more attractive than clean-shaven bodies. However, there was no effect of fertility on women's preferences for men's beard or body hair distribution. These results suggest that the distribution of facial and body hair influences male attractiveness to women, possibly as an indication of masculine development and the synthesis of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone via 5α reductase.

Statistical perturbations in personal exposure meters caused by the human body in dynamic outdoor environments.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Begoña; Blas, Juan; Lorenzo, Rubén M; Fernández, Patricia; Abril, Evaristo J

2011-04-01

Personal exposure meters (PEM) are routinely used for the exposure assessment to radio frequency electric or magnetic fields. However, their readings are subject to errors associated with perturbations of the fields caused by the presence of the human body. This paper presents a novel analysis method for the characterization of this effect. Using ray-tracing techniques, PEM measurements have been emulated, with and without an approximation of this shadowing effect. In particular, the Global System for Mobile Communication mobile phone frequency band was chosen for its ubiquity and, specifically, we considered the case where the subject is walking outdoors in a relatively open area. These simulations have been contrasted with real PEM measurements in a 35-min walk. Results show a good agreement in terms of root mean square error and E-field cumulative distribution function (CDF), with a significant improvement when the shadowing effect is taken into account. In particular, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test provides a P-value of 0.05 when considering the shadowing effect, versus a P-value of 10⁻¹⁴ when this effect is ignored. In addition, although the E-field levels in the absence of a human body have been found to follow a Nakagami distribution, a lognormal distribution fits the statistics of the PEM values better than the Nakagami distribution. As a conclusion, although the mean could be adjusted by using correction factors, there are also other changes in the CDF that require particular attention due to the shadowing effect because they might lead to a systematic error. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Modulating nanoparticle superlattice structure using proteins with tunable bond distributions

DOE PAGES

McMillan, Janet R.; Brodin, Jeffrey D.; Millan, Jaime A.; ...

2017-01-25

Here, we investigate the use of proteins with tunable DNA modification distributions to modulate nanoparticle superlattice structure. Using Beta-galactosidase (βgal) as a model system, we have employed the orthogonal chemical reactivities of surface amines and thiols to synthesize protein-DNA conjugates with 36 evenly distributed or 8 specifically positioned oligonucleotides. When assembled into crystalline superlattices with AuNPs, we find that the distribution of DNA modifications modulates the favored structure: βgal with uniformly distributed DNA bonding elements results in body-centered cubic crystals, whereas DNA functionalization of cysteines results in AB 2 packing. We probe the role of protein oligonucleotide number and conjugatemore » size on this observation, which revealed the importance of oligonucleotide distribution and number in this observed assembly behavior. These results indicate that proteins with defined DNA-modification patterns are powerful tools to control the nanoparticle superlattices architecture, and establish the importance of oligonucleotide distribution in the assembly behavior of protein-DNA conjugates.« less

Prey dispersal rate affects prey species composition and trait diversity in response to multiple predators in metacommunities.

PubMed

Howeth, Jennifer G; Leibold, Mathew A

2010-09-01

1. Recent studies indicate that large-scale spatial processes can alter local community structuring mechanisms to determine local and regional assemblages of predators and their prey. In metacommunities, this may occur when the functional diversity represented in the regional predator species pool interacts with the rate of prey dispersal among local communities to affect prey species diversity and trait composition at multiple scales. 2. Here, we test for effects of prey dispersal rate and spatially and temporally heterogeneous predation from functionally dissimilar predators on prey structure in pond mesocosm metacommunities. An experimental metacommunity consisted of three pond mesocosm communities supporting two differentially size-selective invertebrate predators and their zooplankton prey. In each metacommunity, two communities maintained constant predation and supported either Gyrinus sp. (Coleoptera) or Notonecta ungulata (Hemiptera) predators generating a spatial prey refuge while the third community supported alternating predation from Gyrinus sp. and N. ungulata generating a temporal prey refuge. Mesocosm metacommunities were connected at either low (0.7% day(-1)) or high (10% day(-1)) planktonic prey dispersal. The diversity, composition and body size of zooplankton prey were measured at local and regional (metacommunity) scales. 3. Metacommunities experiencing the low prey dispersal rate supported the greatest regional prey species diversity (H') and evenness (J'). Neither dispersal rate nor predation regime affected local prey diversity or evenness. The spatial prey refuge at low dispersal maintained the largest difference in species composition and body size diversity between communities under Gyrinus and Notonecta predation, suggesting that species sorting was operating at the low dispersal rate. There was no effect of dispersal rate on species diversity or body size distribution in the temporal prey refuge. 4. The frequency distribution, but not the range, of prey body sizes within communities depended upon prey dispersal rate and predator identity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that prey dispersal rate can moderate the strength of predation to influence prey species diversity and the local frequency distribution of prey traits in metacommunities supporting ecologically different predators.

Compartmentalized Regulation of Parkin-Mediated Mitochondrial Quality Control in the Drosophila Nervous System In Vivo.

PubMed

Sung, Hyun; Tandarich, Lauren C; Nguyen, Kenny; Hollenbeck, Peter J

2016-07-13

In neurons, the normal distribution and selective removal of mitochondria are considered essential for maintaining the functions of the large asymmetric cell and its diverse compartments. Parkin, a E3 ubiquitin ligase associated with familial Parkinson's disease, has been implicated in mitochondrial dynamics and removal in cells including neurons. However, it is not clear how Parkin functions in mitochondrial turnover in vivo, or whether Parkin-dependent events of the mitochondrial life cycle occur in all neuronal compartments. Here, using the live Drosophila nervous system, we investigated the involvement of Parkin in mitochondrial dynamics, distribution, morphology, and removal. Contrary to our expectations, we found that Parkin-deficient animals do not accumulate senescent mitochondria in their motor axons or neuromuscular junctions; instead, they contain far fewer axonal mitochondria, and these displayed normal motility behavior, morphology, and metabolic state. However, the loss of Parkin did produce abnormal tubular and reticular mitochondria restricted to the motor cell bodies. In addition, in contrast to drug-treated, immortalized cells in vitro, mature motor neurons rarely displayed Parkin-dependent mitophagy. These data indicate that the cell body is the focus of Parkin-dependent mitochondrial quality control in neurons, and argue that a selection process allows only healthy mitochondria to pass from cell bodies to axons, perhaps to limit the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction. Parkin has been proposed to police mitochondrial fidelity by binding to dysfunctional mitochondria via PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and targeting them for autophagic degradation. However, it is unknown whether and how the PINK1/Parkin pathway regulates the mitochondrial life cycle in neurons in vivo Using Drosophila motor neurons, we show that parkin disruption generates an abnormal mitochondrial network in cell bodies in vivo and reduces the number of axonal mitochondria without producing any defects in their axonal transport, morphology, or metabolic state. Furthermore, while cultured neurons display Parkin-dependent axonal mitophagy, we find this is vanishingly rare in vivo under normal physiological conditions. Thus, both the spatial distribution and mechanism of mitochondrial quality control in vivo differ substantially from those observed in vitro. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/367375-17$15.00/0.

Compartmentalized Regulation of Parkin-Mediated Mitochondrial Quality Control in the Drosophila Nervous System In Vivo

PubMed Central

Sung, Hyun; Tandarich, Lauren C.; Nguyen, Kenny

2016-01-01

In neurons, the normal distribution and selective removal of mitochondria are considered essential for maintaining the functions of the large asymmetric cell and its diverse compartments. Parkin, a E3 ubiquitin ligase associated with familial Parkinson's disease, has been implicated in mitochondrial dynamics and removal in cells including neurons. However, it is not clear how Parkin functions in mitochondrial turnover in vivo, or whether Parkin-dependent events of the mitochondrial life cycle occur in all neuronal compartments. Here, using the live Drosophila nervous system, we investigated the involvement of Parkin in mitochondrial dynamics, distribution, morphology, and removal. Contrary to our expectations, we found that Parkin-deficient animals do not accumulate senescent mitochondria in their motor axons or neuromuscular junctions; instead, they contain far fewer axonal mitochondria, and these displayed normal motility behavior, morphology, and metabolic state. However, the loss of Parkin did produce abnormal tubular and reticular mitochondria restricted to the motor cell bodies. In addition, in contrast to drug-treated, immortalized cells in vitro, mature motor neurons rarely displayed Parkin-dependent mitophagy. These data indicate that the cell body is the focus of Parkin-dependent mitochondrial quality control in neurons, and argue that a selection process allows only healthy mitochondria to pass from cell bodies to axons, perhaps to limit the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Parkin has been proposed to police mitochondrial fidelity by binding to dysfunctional mitochondria via PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and targeting them for autophagic degradation. However, it is unknown whether and how the PINK1/Parkin pathway regulates the mitochondrial life cycle in neurons in vivo. Using Drosophila motor neurons, we show that parkin disruption generates an abnormal mitochondrial network in cell bodies in vivo and reduces the number of axonal mitochondria without producing any defects in their axonal transport, morphology, or metabolic state. Furthermore, while cultured neurons display Parkin-dependent axonal mitophagy, we find this is vanishingly rare in vivo under normal physiological conditions. Thus, both the spatial distribution and mechanism of mitochondrial quality control in vivo differ substantially from those observed in vitro. PMID:27413149

Imaging methods for analyzing body composition in human obesity and cardiometabolic disease.

PubMed

Seabolt, Lynn A; Welch, E Brian; Silver, Heidi J

2015-09-01

Advances in the technological qualities of imaging modalities for assessing human body composition have been stimulated by accumulating evidence that individual components of body composition have significant influences on chronic disease onset, disease progression, treatment response, and health outcomes. Importantly, imaging modalities have provided a systematic method for differentiating phenotypes of body composition that diverge from what is considered normal, that is, having low bone mass (osteopenia/osteoporosis), low muscle mass (sarcopenia), high fat mass (obesity), or high fat with low muscle mass (sarcopenic obesity). Moreover, advances over the past three decades in the sensitivity and quality of imaging not just to discern the amount and distribution of adipose and lean tissue but also to differentiate layers or depots within tissues and cells is enhancing our understanding of distinct mechanistic, metabolic, and functional roles of body composition within human phenotypes. In this review, we focus on advances in imaging technologies that show great promise for future investigation of human body composition and how they are being used to address the pandemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. © 2015 New York Academy of Sciences.

Interaction of wave with a body submerged below an ice sheet with multiple arbitrarily spaced cracks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Z. F.; Wu, G. X.; Ji, C. Y.

2018-05-01

The problem of wave interaction with a body submerged below an ice sheet with multiple arbitrarily spaced cracks is considered, based on the linearized velocity potential theory together with the boundary element method. The ice sheet is modeled as a thin elastic plate with uniform properties, and zero bending moment and shear force conditions are enforced at the cracks. The Green function satisfying all the boundary conditions including those at cracks, apart from that on the body surface, is derived and is expressed in an explicit integral form. The boundary integral equation for the velocity potential is constructed with an unknown source distribution over the body surface only. The wave/crack interaction problem without the body is first solved directly without the need for source. The convergence and comparison studies are undertaken to show the accuracy and reliability of the solution procedure. Detailed numerical results through the hydrodynamic coefficients and wave exciting forces are provided for a body submerged below double cracks and an array of cracks. Some unique features are observed, and their mechanisms are analyzed.

Distribution and probable physiological role of esterases in reproductive, digestive, and fat-body tissues of the adult cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh.

PubMed

Jones, B R; Bancroft, H R

1986-06-01

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to examine gut, Malpighian tube, fat-body, testes, and ovarioles tissues of the adult cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. Esterases for which the inheritance has been reported previously by Terranova using whole-body homogenates were detected in dissected tissues and the probable physiological function of each allozyme is suggested. EST-1 occurs most frequently in ovarioles and female fat bodies. EST-2 is most often found in fat bodies and may be important in lipid turnover. No sex difference was observed. EST-3S is found in fat bodies and reproductive tissue, while EST-3F is always located in gut tissues, indicating that EST-3 is not controlled by a single autosomal locus with two codominant alleles as previously reported. EST-4, the most abundant esterase, can be detected in gut tissue at any age and is probably involved in digestion. EST-5 contains four allozymes which appear most frequently in testes and may be important during reproduction.

Modeling and Simulation of Variable Mass, Flexible Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tobbe, Patrick A.; Matras, Alex L.; Wilson, Heath E.

2009-01-01

The advent of the new Ares I launch vehicle has highlighted the need for advanced dynamic analysis tools for variable mass, flexible structures. This system is composed of interconnected flexible stages or components undergoing rapid mass depletion through the consumption of solid or liquid propellant. In addition to large rigid body configuration changes, the system simultaneously experiences elastic deformations. In most applications, the elastic deformations are compatible with linear strain-displacement relationships and are typically modeled using the assumed modes technique. The deformation of the system is approximated through the linear combination of the products of spatial shape functions and generalized time coordinates. Spatial shape functions are traditionally composed of normal mode shapes of the system or even constraint modes and static deformations derived from finite element models of the system. Equations of motion for systems undergoing coupled large rigid body motion and elastic deformation have previously been derived through a number of techniques [1]. However, in these derivations, the mode shapes or spatial shape functions of the system components were considered constant. But with the Ares I vehicle, the structural characteristics of the system are changing with the mass of the system. Previous approaches to solving this problem involve periodic updates to the spatial shape functions or interpolation between shape functions based on system mass or elapsed mission time. These solutions often introduce misleading or even unstable numerical transients into the system. Plus, interpolation on a shape function is not intuitive. This paper presents an approach in which the shape functions are held constant and operate on the changing mass and stiffness matrices of the vehicle components. Each vehicle stage or component finite element model is broken into dry structure and propellant models. A library of propellant models is used to describe the distribution of mass in the fuel tank or Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) case for various propellant levels. Based on the mass consumed by the liquid engine or SRB, the appropriate propellant model is coupled with the dry structure model for the stage. Then using vehicle configuration data, the integrated vehicle model is assembled and operated on by the constant system shape functions. The system mode shapes and frequencies can then be computed from the resulting generalized mass and stiffness matrices for that mass configuration. The rigid body mass properties of the vehicle are derived from the integrated vehicle model. The coupling terms between the vehicle rigid body motion and elastic deformation are also updated from the constant system shape functions and the integrated vehicle model. This approach was first used to analyze variable mass spinning beams and then prototyped into a generic dynamics simulation engine. The resulting code was tested against Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV-)class problems worked in the TREETOPS simulation package and by Wilson [2]. The Ares I System Integration Laboratory (SIL) is currently being developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to test vehicle avionics hardware and software in a hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) environment and certify that the integrated system is prepared for flight. The Ares I SIL utilizes the Ares Real-Time Environment for Modeling, Integration, and Simulation (ARTEMIS) tool to simulate the launch vehicle and stimulate avionics hardware. Due to the presence of vehicle control system filters and the thrust oscillation suppression system, which are tuned to the structural characteristics of the vehicle, ARTEMIS must incorporate accurate structural models of the Ares I launch vehicle. The ARTEMIS core dynamics simulation models the highly coupled nature of the vehicle flexible body dynamics, propellant slosh, and vehicle nozzle inertia effects combined with mass and flexible body properties that vary significant with time during the flight. All forces that act on the vehicle during flight must be simulated, including deflected engine thrust force, spatially distributed aerodynamic forces, gravity, and reaction control jet thrust forces. These forces are used to excite an integrated flexible vehicle, slosh, and nozzle dynamics model for the vehicle stack that simulates large rigid body translations and rotations along with small elastic deformations. Highly effective matrix math operations on a distributed, threaded high-performance simulation node allow ARTEMIS to retain up to 30 modes of flex for real-time simulation. Stage elements that separate from the stack during flight are propagated as independent rigid six degrees of freedom (6DOF) bodies. This paper will present the formulation of the resulting equations of motion, solutions to example problems, and describe the resulting dynamics simulation engine within ARTEMIS.

Birth Size and Later Central Obesity Among Adolescent Girls of Asian, White, and Mixed Ethnicities

PubMed Central

Vijayadeva, Vinutha; Grove, John; Lim, Unhee; Le Marchand, Loic

2013-01-01

Birth size has important implications for health and disease in adulthood. This study examined the association of birth size with central body fat distribution in late adolescence. Data were from a cross-sectional survey of adolescent girls (N = 143, 13–18y) of Asian, White and Mixed Asian-white ethnicity collected in 2005–2007 in Hawai‘i, USA. Central body fat distribution was assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and birth size from birth certificates and parent recall. Food diaries (3-day) were used to determine energy intake and metabolic equivalents of energy expenditure. The proportion of Asian ancestry was determined by questions and anthropometry was performed. T-tests compared groups, and multiple regression examined predictors of central body fat distribution, adjusting for potential confounders. Asian girls had a lower mean weight and gestational age at birth than White girls, and a lower mean dietary fat intake in adolescence. Girls of Asian and Mixed Asian-white ancestry had a more body fat distribution than White girls. Lower birth weight was associated with greater central body fat distribution (0.1 or 10% higher central body fat distribution for every 10 grams lower birth weight), after adjusting for age, ancestry, physical activity, energy intake, and bi-iliac breadth, and gestational age. Further adjusting for birth length attenuated the birth weight effect, and shorter birth length was the significant predictor of central body fat distribution. (0.1 or 10% higher central body fat distribution for every 0.01mm shorter length). If confirmed, these findings would suggest that linear growth may be more relevant to metabolic programming than growth in mass. PMID:23467588

Birth size and later central obesity among adolescent girls of Asian, White, and Mixed ethnicities.

PubMed

Novotny, Rachel; Vijayadeva, Vinutha; Grove, John; Lim, Unhee; Le Marchand, Loic

2013-02-01

Birth size has important implications for health and disease in adulthood. This study examined the association of birth size with central body fat distribution in late adolescence. Data were from a cross-sectional survey of adolescent girls (N = 143, 13-18y) of Asian, White and Mixed Asian-white ethnicity collected in 2005-2007 in Hawai'i, USA. Central body fat distribution was assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and birth size from birth certificates and parent recall. Food diaries (3-day) were used to determine energy intake and metabolic equivalents of energy expenditure. The proportion of Asian ancestry was determined by questions and anthropometry was performed. T-tests compared groups, and multiple regression examined predictors of central body fat distribution, adjusting for potential confounders. Asian girls had a lower mean weight and gestational age at birth than White girls, and a lower mean dietary fat intake in adolescence. Girls of Asian and Mixed Asian-white ancestry had a more body fat distribution than White girls. Lower birth weight was associated with greater central body fat distribution (0.1 or 10% higher central body fat distribution for every 10 grams lower birth weight), after adjusting for age, ancestry, physical activity, energy intake, and bi-iliac breadth, and gestational age. Further adjusting for birth length attenuated the birth weight effect, and shorter birth length was the significant predictor of central body fat distribution. (0.1 or 10% higher central body fat distribution for every 0.01mm shorter length). If confirmed, these findings would suggest that linear growth may be more relevant to metabolic programming than growth in mass.

Induced Ellipticity for Inspiraling Binary Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Randall, Lisa; Xianyu, Zhong-Zhi

2018-01-01

Although gravitational waves tend to erase eccentricity of an inspiraling binary system, ellipticity can be generated in the presence of surrounding matter. We present a semianalytical method for understanding the eccentricity distribution of binary black holes (BHs) in the presence of a supermassive BH in a galactic center. Given a matter distribution, we show how to determine the resultant eccentricity analytically in the presence of both tidal forces and evaporation up to one cutoff and one matter-distribution-independent function, paving the way for understanding the environment of detected inspiraling BHs. We furthermore generalize Kozai–Lidov dynamics to situations where perturbation theory breaks down for short time intervals, allowing more general angular momentum exchange, such that eccentricity is generated even when all bodies orbit in the same plane.

Functional anatomy and adaptation of male gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with comparison to male orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).

PubMed

Zihlman, Adrienne L; McFarland, Robin K; Underwood, Carol E

2011-11-01

Great apes diversified during the Miocene in Old World forests. Two lineages, gorillas in Africa and orangutans in Asia, have sexual dimorphisms of super-sized males, though they presumably diverged from a smaller common ancestor. We test the hypothesis that they increased in body mass independently and convergently, and that their many postcranial differences reflect locomotor differences. Whole body dissections of five adult male gorillas and four adult male orangutans allowed quantification of body mass distribution to limb segments, of body composition (muscle, bone, skin, and fat relative to total body mass), and of muscle distribution and proportions. Results demonstrate that gorilla forelimb anatomy accommodates shoulder joint mobility for vertical climbing and reaching while maintaining joint stability during quadrupedal locomotion. The heavily muscled hind limbs are equipped for propulsion and weight-bearing over relatively stable substrates on the forest floor. In contrast, orangutan forelimb length, muscle mass, and joint construction are modified for strength and mobility in climbing, bridging, and traveling over flexible supports through the forest canopy. Muscles of hip, knee, and ankle joints provide rotational and prehensile strength essential for moving on unstable and discontinuous branches. We conclude that anatomical similarities are due to common ancestry and that differences in postcranial anatomy reflect powerful selection for divergent locomotor adaptations. These data further support the evolutionary conclusion that gorillas fall with chimpanzees and humans as part of the African hominoid radiation; orangutans are a specialized outlier. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Measuring Dark Matter With MilkyWay@home

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shelton, Siddhartha; Newberg, Heidi Jo; Arsenault, Matthew; Bauer, Jacob; Desell, Travis; Judd, Roland; Magdon-Ismail, Malik; Newby, Matthew; Rice, Colin; Thompson, Jeffrey; Ulin, Steve; Weiss, Jake; Widrow, Larry

2016-01-01

We perform N-body simulations of two component dwarf galaxies (dark matter and stars follow separate distributions) falling into the Milky Way and the forming of tidal streams. Using MilkyWay@home we optimize the parameters of the progenitor dwarf galaxy and the orbital time to fit the simulated distribution of stars along the tidal stream to the observed distribution of stars. Our initial dwarf galaxy models are constructed with two separate Plummer profiles (one for the dark matter and one for the baryonic matter), sampled using a generalized distribution function for spherically symmetric systems. We perform rigorous testing to ensure that our simulated galaxies are in virial equilibrium, and stable over a simulation time. The N-body simulations are performed using a Barnes-Hut Tree algorithm. Optimization traverses the likelihood surface from our six model parameters using particle swarm and differential evolution methods. We have generated simulated data with known model parameters that are similar to those of the Orphan Stream. We show that we are able to recover a majority of our model parameters, and most importantly the mass-to-light ratio of the now disrupted progenitor galaxy, using MilkyWay@home. This research is supported by generous gifts from the Marvin Clan, Babette Josephs, Manit Limlamai, and the MilkyWay@home volunteers.

THE STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF PLANET ORBITS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tremaine, Scott, E-mail: tremaine@ias.edu

2015-07-10

The final “giant-impact” phase of terrestrial planet formation is believed to begin with a large number of planetary “embryos” on nearly circular, coplanar orbits. Mutual gravitational interactions gradually excite their eccentricities until their orbits cross and they collide and merge; through this process the number of surviving bodies declines until the system contains a small number of planets on well-separated, stable orbits. In this paper we explore a simple statistical model for the orbit distribution of planets formed by this process, based on the sheared-sheet approximation and the ansatz that the planets explore uniformly all of the stable region ofmore » phase space. The model provides analytic predictions for the distribution of eccentricities and semimajor axis differences, correlations between orbital elements of nearby planets, and the complete N-planet distribution function, in terms of a single parameter, the “dynamical temperature,” that is determined by the planetary masses. The predicted properties are generally consistent with N-body simulations of the giant-impact phase and with the distribution of semimajor axis differences in the Kepler catalog of extrasolar planets. A similar model may apply to the orbits of giant planets if these orbits are determined mainly by dynamical evolution after the planets have formed and the gas disk has disappeared.« less

Edgeworth streaming model for redshift space distortions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlemann, Cora; Kopp, Michael; Haugg, Thomas

2015-09-01

We derive the Edgeworth streaming model (ESM) for the redshift space correlation function starting from an arbitrary distribution function for biased tracers of dark matter by considering its two-point statistics and show that it reduces to the Gaussian streaming model (GSM) when neglecting non-Gaussianities. We test the accuracy of the GSM and ESM independent of perturbation theory using the Horizon Run 2 N -body halo catalog. While the monopole of the redshift space halo correlation function is well described by the GSM, higher multipoles improve upon including the leading order non-Gaussian correction in the ESM: the GSM quadrupole breaks down on scales below 30 Mpc /h whereas the ESM stays accurate to 2% within statistical errors down to 10 Mpc /h . To predict the scale-dependent functions entering the streaming model we employ convolution Lagrangian perturbation theory (CLPT) based on the dust model and local Lagrangian bias. Since dark matter halos carry an intrinsic length scale given by their Lagrangian radius, we extend CLPT to the coarse-grained dust model and consider two different smoothing approaches operating in Eulerian and Lagrangian space, respectively. The coarse graining in Eulerian space features modified fluid dynamics different from dust while the coarse graining in Lagrangian space is performed in the initial conditions with subsequent single-streaming dust dynamics, implemented by smoothing the initial power spectrum in the spirit of the truncated Zel'dovich approximation. Finally, we compare the predictions of the different coarse-grained models for the streaming model ingredients to N -body measurements and comment on the proper choice of both the tracer distribution function and the smoothing scale. Since the perturbative methods we considered are not yet accurate enough on small scales, the GSM is sufficient when applied to perturbation theory.

Combining Taxonomic and Functional Approaches to Unravel the Spatial Distribution of an Amazonian Butterfly Community.

PubMed

Graça, Márlon B; Morais, José W; Franklin, Elizabeth; Pequeno, Pedro A C L; Souza, Jorge L P; Bueno, Anderson Saldanha

2016-04-01

This study investigated the spatial distribution of an Amazonian fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage by linking species taxonomic and functional approaches. We hypothesized that: 1) vegetation richness (i.e., resources) and abundance of insectivorous birds (i.e., predators) should drive changes in butterfly taxonomic composition, 2) larval diet breadth should decrease with increase of plant species richness, 3) small-sized adults should be favored by higher abundance of birds, and 4) communities with eyespot markings should be able to exploit areas with higher predation pressure. Fruit-feeding butterflies were sampled with bait traps and insect nets across 25 km(2) of an Amazonian ombrophilous forest in Brazil. We measured larval diet breadth, adult body size, and wing marking of all butterflies. Our results showed that plant species richness explained most of the variation in butterfly taxonomic turnover. Also, community average diet breadth decreased with increase of plant species richness, which supports our expectations. In contrast, community average body size increased with the abundance of birds, refuting our hypothesis. We detected no influence of environmental gradients on the occurrence of species with eyespot markings. The association between butterfly taxonomic and functional composition points to a mediator role of the functional traits in the environmental filtering of butterflies. The incorporation of the functional approach into the analyses allowed for the detection of relationships that were not observed using a strictly taxonomic perspective and provided an extra insight into comprehending the potential adaptive strategies of butterflies. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Functional traits help to explain half-century long shifts in pollinator distributions.

PubMed

Aguirre-Gutiérrez, Jesús; Kissling, W Daniel; Carvalheiro, Luísa G; WallisDeVries, Michiel F; Franzén, Markus; Biesmeijer, Jacobus C

2016-04-15

Changes in climate and land use can have important impacts on biodiversity. Species respond to such environmental modifications by adapting to new conditions or by shifting their geographic distributions towards more suitable areas. The latter might be constrained by species' functional traits that influence their ability to move, reproduce or establish. Here, we show that functional traits related to dispersal, reproduction, habitat use and diet have influenced how three pollinator groups (bees, butterflies and hoverflies) responded to changes in climate and land-use in the Netherlands since 1950. Across the three pollinator groups, we found pronounced areal range expansions (>53%) and modelled range shifts towards the north (all taxa: 17-22 km), west (bees: 14 km) and east (butterflies: 11 km). The importance of specific functional traits for explaining distributional changes varied among pollinator groups. Larval diet preferences (i.e. carnivorous vs. herbivorous/detritivorous and nitrogen values of host plants, respectively) were important for hoverflies and butterflies, adult body size for hoverflies, and flight period length for all groups. Moreover, interactions among multiple traits were important to explain species' geographic range shifts, suggesting that taxon-specific multi-trait analyses are needed to predict how global change will affect biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Body fluid regulation in micro-gravity differs from that on Earth: an overview.

PubMed

Drummer, C; Gerzer, R; Baisch, F; Heer, M

2000-01-01

Similar to the response to central hypervolemic conditions on Earth, the shift of blood volume from the legs to the upper part of the body in astronauts entering micro-gravity should, in accordance with the Henry-Gauer mechanism, mediate diuresis and natriuresis. However, fluid balance and kidney function experiments during various space missions resulted in the surprising observation that the responses qualitatively differ from those observed during simulations of hypervolemia on Earth. There is some evidence that the attenuated responses of the kidney while entering weightlessness, and also later during space flight, may be caused by augmented fluid distribution to extravascular compartments compared to conditions on Earth. A functional decoupling of the kidney may also contribute to the observation that renal responses during exposure to micro-gravity are consistently weaker than those during simulation experiments before space flight. Deficits in body mass after landing have always been interpreted as an indication of absolute fluid loss early during space missions. However, recent data suggest that body mass changes during space flight are rather the consequences of hypocaloric nutrition and can be overcome by improved nutrition schemes. Finally, sodium-retaining humoral systems are activated during space flight and may contribute to a new steady-state of metabolic balances with a pronounced increase in body sodium compared to respective conditions on Earth. A revision of the classical "micro-gravity fluid shift" scheme is required.

Body size distribution of the dinosaurs.

PubMed

O'Gorman, Eoin J; Hone, David W E

2012-01-01

The distribution of species body size is critically important for determining resource use within a group or clade. It is widely known that non-avian dinosaurs were the largest creatures to roam the Earth. There is, however, little understanding of how maximum species body size was distributed among the dinosaurs. Do they share a similar distribution to modern day vertebrate groups in spite of their large size, or did they exhibit fundamentally different distributions due to unique evolutionary pressures and adaptations? Here, we address this question by comparing the distribution of maximum species body size for dinosaurs to an extensive set of extant and extinct vertebrate groups. We also examine the body size distribution of dinosaurs by various sub-groups, time periods and formations. We find that dinosaurs exhibit a strong skew towards larger species, in direct contrast to modern day vertebrates. This pattern is not solely an artefact of bias in the fossil record, as demonstrated by contrasting distributions in two major extinct groups and supports the hypothesis that dinosaurs exhibited a fundamentally different life history strategy to other terrestrial vertebrates. A disparity in the size distribution of the herbivorous Ornithischia and Sauropodomorpha and the largely carnivorous Theropoda suggests that this pattern may have been a product of a divergence in evolutionary strategies: herbivorous dinosaurs rapidly evolved large size to escape predation by carnivores and maximise digestive efficiency; carnivores had sufficient resources among juvenile dinosaurs and non-dinosaurian prey to achieve optimal success at smaller body size.

Body Size Distribution of the Dinosaurs

PubMed Central

O’Gorman, Eoin J.; Hone, David W. E.

2012-01-01

The distribution of species body size is critically important for determining resource use within a group or clade. It is widely known that non-avian dinosaurs were the largest creatures to roam the Earth. There is, however, little understanding of how maximum species body size was distributed among the dinosaurs. Do they share a similar distribution to modern day vertebrate groups in spite of their large size, or did they exhibit fundamentally different distributions due to unique evolutionary pressures and adaptations? Here, we address this question by comparing the distribution of maximum species body size for dinosaurs to an extensive set of extant and extinct vertebrate groups. We also examine the body size distribution of dinosaurs by various sub-groups, time periods and formations. We find that dinosaurs exhibit a strong skew towards larger species, in direct contrast to modern day vertebrates. This pattern is not solely an artefact of bias in the fossil record, as demonstrated by contrasting distributions in two major extinct groups and supports the hypothesis that dinosaurs exhibited a fundamentally different life history strategy to other terrestrial vertebrates. A disparity in the size distribution of the herbivorous Ornithischia and Sauropodomorpha and the largely carnivorous Theropoda suggests that this pattern may have been a product of a divergence in evolutionary strategies: herbivorous dinosaurs rapidly evolved large size to escape predation by carnivores and maximise digestive efficiency; carnivores had sufficient resources among juvenile dinosaurs and non-dinosaurian prey to achieve optimal success at smaller body size. PMID:23284818

Influence of weight and body fat distribution on bone density in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Murillo-Uribe, A; Carranza-Lira, S; Martínez-Trejo, N; Santos-González, J

2000-01-01

To determine whether obesity or body fat distribution induces a greater modification on bone remodeling biochemistry (BRB) and bone density in postmenopausal women. One hundred and thirteen postmenopausal patients were studied. They were initially divided according to body mass index (BMI), and afterwards by waist-hip ratio (WHR) as well as combinations of the two factors. Hormone measurements and assessments of BRB were also done. Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry from the lumbar column and hip was performed with Lunar DPXL equipment, and the standard deviation in relation to young adult (T) and age-matched subjects (Z) was calculated. Statistical analysis was done by the Mann-Whitney U test. The relation of BMI and WHR with the variables was calculated by simple regression analysis. When divided according to BMI, there was greater bone density in the femoral neck in those with normal weight. After dividing according to WHR, the Z scores had a trend to a lesser decrease in those with upper level body fat distribution. Divided according to BMI and WHR, obese patients with upper-level body fat distribution had greater bone density in the lumbar column than those with normal weight and lower-level body fat distribution. With the same WHR, those with normal weight had greater bone density than those who were obese. A beneficial effect of upper-level body fat distribution on bone density was found. It is greater than that from obesity alone, and obesity and upper-level body fat distribution have an additive effect on bone density.

Effect of arch type and Body Mass Index on plantar pressure distribution during stance phase of gait.

PubMed

O'Brien, Davida Louise; Tyndyk, Magdalena

2014-01-01

Several factors have been associated with the presence of abnormally high plantar foot pressure including: (i) increased body weight, (ii) foot structure and (iii) walking strategy. It is predicted that the biomechanics of the foot is influenced by the structure of the foot, primarily the Medial Longitudinal Arch. The objective of this study was to examine if Body Mass Index and the foot arch have a direct effect on dynamic peak plantar pressure for healthy subjects. Following a clinical lower limb examination, the Tekscan HR mat was utilised for this study, plantar pressure was profiled at specific events during stance phase of gait including heel strike, midstance and toe off. Results indicated to the preferable normal arch as this produced a low plantar pressure distribution in all cases. The 2nd and 3rd metatarsal head region recorded the highest pressure for all arch types during dynamic analysis. The lowest pressure for the normal and overweight BMI was at toe-off. While the obese BMI group showed highest pressure during toe-off. The obese BMI flat arch subcategory indicated to functional ambulation differences. Future work involves comparing this healthy database to a demographically matched diabetic group.

Distributed digital signal processors for multi-body flexible structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Gordon K. F.

1992-01-01

Multi-body flexible structures, such as those currently under investigation in spacecraft design, are large scale (high-order) dimensional systems. Controlling and filtering such structures is a computationally complex problem. This is particularly important when many sensors and actuators are located along the structure and need to be processed in real time. This report summarizes research activity focused on solving the signal processing (that is, information processing) issues of multi-body structures. A distributed architecture is developed in which single loop processors are employed for local filtering and control. By implementing such a philosophy with an embedded controller configuration, a supervising controller may be used to process global data and make global decisions as the local devices are processing local information. A hardware testbed, a position controller system for a servo motor, is employed to illustrate the capabilities of the embedded controller structure. Several filtering and control structures which can be modeled as rational functions can be implemented on the system developed in this research effort. Thus the results of the study provide a support tool for many Control/Structure Interaction (CSI) NASA testbeds such as the Evolutionary model and the nine-bay truss structure.

An analysis of laminar free-convection flow and heat transfer about a flat plate paralled to the direction of the generating body force

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ostrach, Simon

1953-01-01

The free-convection flow and heat transfer (generated by a body force) about a flat plate parallel to the direction of the body force are formally analyzed and the type of flow is found to be dependent on the Grashof number alone. For large Grashof numbers (which are of interest in aeronautics), the flow is of the boundary-layer type and the problem is reduced in a formal manner, which is analogous to Prandtl's forced-flow boundary-layer theory, to the simultaneous solution of two ordinary differential equations subject to the proper boundary conditions. Velocity and temperature distributions for Prandtl numbers of 0.01, 0.72, 0.733, 1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 are computed, and it is shown that velocities and Nusselt numbers of the order of magnitude of those encountered in forced-convection flows may be obtained in free-convection flows. The theoretical and experimental velocity and temperature distributions are in good agreement. A flow and a heat-transfer parameter, from which the important physical quantities such as shear stress and heat-transfer rate can be computed, are derived as functions of Prandtl number alone.

Somatosensory Representations Link the Perception of Emotional Expressions and Sensory Experience.

PubMed

Kragel, Philip A; LaBar, Kevin S

2016-01-01

Studies of human emotion perception have linked a distributed set of brain regions to the recognition of emotion in facial, vocal, and body expressions. In particular, lesions to somatosensory cortex in the right hemisphere have been shown to impair recognition of facial and vocal expressions of emotion. Although these findings suggest that somatosensory cortex represents body states associated with distinct emotions, such as a furrowed brow or gaping jaw, functional evidence directly linking somatosensory activity and subjective experience during emotion perception is critically lacking. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and multivariate decoding techniques, we show that perceiving vocal and facial expressions of emotion yields hemodynamic activity in right somatosensory cortex that discriminates among emotion categories, exhibits somatotopic organization, and tracks self-reported sensory experience. The findings both support embodied accounts of emotion and provide mechanistic insight into how emotional expressions are capable of biasing subjective experience in those who perceive them.

[Bone metabolism and cardiovascular function update. Estrogen and its therapeutic potential for bone and vascular health].

PubMed

Ohta, Hiroaki

2014-07-01

Despite its long-standing role as a "guardian angel" for the female body, estrogen has recently been dethroned from its status as an "elixir" and its use has been restricted due to its oncogenic potential as well as its coagulation system-associated risk. However, it is recognized that estrogen not only works against bone resorption but also improves vascular function. In this regard, it is suggested that estrogen may have a role in improving deteriorated bone quality through its antioxidant action, while this same effect with the SERMs, which may be accounted for by the presence of estrogen, remains yet to be established. Not only evidence needs to be accumulated to support the vascular effects of the SERMs, but their pleiotropic, rather than extra-skeletal, effects, as likely mediated by the estrogen receptors distributed throughout the body, remain to be elucidated.

Long-term exposure to zero-g and the gastro-intestinal tract function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccormack, Percial D.

1989-01-01

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) function is described with emphasis placed on its important role to smooth, delay, and modify sudden fluid load stress applied to the fluid distribution control system in the body. Two basic components of the GIT are considered: stomach dynamics, which involves storage, mixing, and discharge of food into the intestine after addition of gastric juices; and absorption of water and electrolytes from the small intestine. A dynamic model of these components is described, along with performance characteristics computed consecutively for one g and zero g conditions. The main impact of the zero g condition appears to be through a change in osmotic driven transport across the gut wall. A dramatic change in transport characteristics is predicted with implication for many body systems (the immune system in particular) during long-term exposure to zero g. Experimental measurements in zero g are needed to evaluate these predictions.

Somatosensory Representations Link the Perception of Emotional Expressions and Sensory Experience123

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Abstract Studies of human emotion perception have linked a distributed set of brain regions to the recognition of emotion in facial, vocal, and body expressions. In particular, lesions to somatosensory cortex in the right hemisphere have been shown to impair recognition of facial and vocal expressions of emotion. Although these findings suggest that somatosensory cortex represents body states associated with distinct emotions, such as a furrowed brow or gaping jaw, functional evidence directly linking somatosensory activity and subjective experience during emotion perception is critically lacking. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and multivariate decoding techniques, we show that perceiving vocal and facial expressions of emotion yields hemodynamic activity in right somatosensory cortex that discriminates among emotion categories, exhibits somatotopic organization, and tracks self-reported sensory experience. The findings both support embodied accounts of emotion and provide mechanistic insight into how emotional expressions are capable of biasing subjective experience in those who perceive them. PMID:27280154

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sheaffer, P.; Lemar, P.; Honton, E. J.

The Universal Interconnection Technology (UIT) Workshop - sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Distributed Energy and Electric Reliability (DEER) Program, and Distribution and Interconnection R&D - was held July 25-26, 2002, in Chicago, Ill., to: (1) Examine the need for a modular universal interconnection technology; (2) Identify UIT functional and technical requirements; (3) Assess the feasibility of and potential roadblocks to UIT; (4) Create an action plan for UIT development. These proceedings begin with an overview of the workshop. The body of the proceedings provides a series of industry representative-prepared papers on UIT functions and features, present interconnection technology,more » approaches to modularization and expandability, and technical issues in UIT development as well as detailed summaries of group discussions. Presentations, a list of participants, a copy of the agenda, and contact information are provided in the appendices of this document.« less

Inference of relativistic electron spectra from measurements of inverse Compton radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craig, I. J. D.; Brown, J. C.

1980-07-01

The inference of relativistic electron spectra from spectral measurement of inverse Compton radiation is discussed for the case where the background photon spectrum is a Planck function. The problem is formulated in terms of an integral transform that relates the measured spectrum to the unknown electron distribution. A general inversion formula is used to provide a quantitative assessment of the information content of the spectral data. It is shown that the observations must generally be augmented by additional information if anything other than a rudimentary two or three parameter model of the source function is to be derived. It is also pointed out that since a similar equation governs the continuum spectra emitted by a distribution of black-body radiators, the analysis is relevant to the problem of stellar population synthesis from galactic spectra.

Nutritional status and body fat distribution in children and adolescentes with Cystic Fibrosis.

PubMed

Chaves, Célia Regina Moutinho de Miranda; Cunha, Ana Lúcia Pereira da; Costa, Ana Carolina da; Costa, Roseli de Souza Santos da; Lacerda, Speranza Vieira

2015-11-01

assessing the nutritional status and body fat distribution in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Fifty-six (56) 8-18 year old patients were assessed for fat distribution by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, for nutritional status by height/age, and for body mass index to age and dietary intake by 24-hour dietary recall. Approximately 50% of the sample showed adequate nutritional status. Most of it showed inadequate caloric and lipid intake. BMI/age was the nutritional indicator that best showed the increased percentage of trunk fat, android/gynecoidratio and trunk fat/total fat ratio. Patients with Pancreatic Insufficiency and eutrophic individuals showed higher median android/gynecoidratio. Increased abdominal adiposity was evidenced by DXA. The BMI did not identify decreased lean body mass. However, when body mass was high, it was significant for abdominal adiposity. The anthropometric assessment of patients with cystic fibrosis should be associated with body composition and body fat distribution to obtain an earlier malnutrition and cardiometabolic risk factor diagnosis.

Body fat distribution, in particular visceral fat, is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women.

PubMed

Elffers, Theodora W; de Mutsert, Renée; Lamb, Hildo J; de Roos, Albert; Willems van Dijk, Ko; Rosendaal, Frits R; Jukema, J Wouter; Trompet, Stella

2017-01-01

Body fat distribution is, next to overall obesity, an important risk factor for cardiometabolic outcomes in the general population. In particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Since it is unclear whether body fat distribution is also important in men and women with obesity we investigated the associations between measures of body fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk factors in men and women with obesity. In this cross-sectional analysis of obese men and women (BMI≥30 kg/m2) included in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity Study, waist:hip ratio(WHR), waist circumference, and MRI-based abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (aSAT) and VAT were determined. Associations between measures of body fat distribution and presence of ≥1 risk factor, such as hypertension or hypertriglyceridemia, were examined using logistic regression analyses; stratified by sex and adjusted for age, ethnicity, education, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and depending on the association additionally for total body fat or VAT. We included 2,983 obese individuals (57% women) with a mean age of 56 and standard deviation (SD) of 6 and mean BMI of 34.0 kg/m2 (4.0), after exclusion of individuals with missing values of cardiometabolic risk factors (n = 33). 241 individuals were obese without other cardiometabolic risk factors. In obese women, all measures of body fat distribution except aSAT (OR per SD:0.76, 95%CI: 0.53, 1.10) were associated with having ≥1 cardiometabolic risk factor, of which VAT most strongly associated (5.77; 3.02, 11.01). In obese men, associations of body fat distribution and the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors were attenuated. (e.g. VAT:1.42; 0.84, 2.41). In obese women, but less so in men, measures of body fat distribution, of which VAT most strongly, are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Multiphase flow modeling of a crude-oil spill site with a bimodal permeability distribution

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dillard, Leslie A.; Essaid, Hedeff I.; Herkelrath, William N.

1997-01-01

Fluid saturation, particle-size distribution, and porosity measurements were obtained from 269 core samples collected from six boreholes along a 90-m transect at a subregion of a crude-oil spill site, the north pool, near Bemidji, Minnesota. The oil saturation data, collected 11 years after the spill, showed an irregularly shaped oil body that appeared to be affected by sediment spatial variability. The particle-size distribution data were used to estimate the permeability (k) and retention curves for each sample. An additional 344 k estimates were obtained from samples previously collected at the north pool. The 613 k estimates were distributed bimodal lognormally with the two population distributions corresponding to the two predominant lithologies: a coarse glacial outwash deposit and fine-grained interbedded lenses. A two-step geostatistical approach was used to generate a conditioned realization of k representing the bimodal heterogeneity. A cross-sectional multiphase flow model was used to simulate the flow of oil and water in the presence of air along the north pool transect for an 11-year period. The inclusion of a representation of the bimodal aquifer heterogeneity was crucial for reproduction of general features of the observed oil body. If the bimodal heterogeneity was characterized, hysteresis did not have to be incorporated into the model because a hysteretic effect was produced by the sediment spatial variability. By revising the relative permeability functional relation, an improved reproduction of the observed oil saturation distribution was achieved. The inclusion of water table fluctuations in the model did not significantly affect the simulated oil saturation distribution.

The distribution and stratification of persistent organic pollutants and fatty acids in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) blubber.

PubMed

Ellisor, Debra; McLellan, William; Koopman, Heather; Schwacke, Lori; McFee, Wayne; Kucklick, John

2013-10-01

Blubber has been used for decades to monitor exposure of marine mammals to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, little is known about POP variability as a function of blubber depth and across the body of the animal. Remote blubber biopsy sampling (e.g, projectile biopsy) is the most common technique used to acquire samples from free-swimming animals, yet such techniques may result in variable sampling. It is important to understand whether blubber stratification or body location affects POP concentration or the concentration of other important blubber constituents such as fatty acids (FA). To investigate the influence of sampling depth and location on POP concentration, full depth blubber samples were taken from one stranded bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) at six different body sites to assess variation in FA distribution and contaminant storage with body location. Three of the samples from different body locations were separated into histologically distinct layers to examine the effect of blubber depth and body location on POPs and FAs. In this individual, both POPs and FAs were heterogeneous with blubber depth and body location. POP concentrations were significantly greater in ventral (average ΣPBDEs 1350 ng/g lipid) and anterior (average ΣPCBs 28,700 ng/g lipid) body locations and greater in the superficial blubber layer (average ΣPCBs 35,500 ng/g lipid) when compared to the deep (8390 ng/g lipid) and middle (23,700 ng/g lipid) layers. Proportionally more dietary FAs were found in dorsal blubber and in middle and deep layers relative to other locations while the reverse was true for biosynthesized FAs. Stratification was further examined in blubber from the same body location in five additional stranded bottlenose dolphins. Although FAs were stratified with blubber depth, lipid-normalized POPs were not significantly different with depth, indicating that POP concentrations can vary in an individual with blubber depth though the direction of POP stratification is not consistent among individuals. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Item response modeling: a psychometric assessment of the children's fruit, vegetable, water, and physical activity self-efficacy scales among Chinese children.

PubMed

Wang, Jing-Jing; Chen, Tzu-An; Baranowski, Tom; Lau, Patrick W C

2017-09-16

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of four self-efficacy scales (i.e., self-efficacy for fruit (FSE), vegetable (VSE), and water (WSE) intakes, and physical activity (PASE)) and to investigate their differences in item functioning across sex, age, and body weight status groups using item response modeling (IRM) and differential item functioning (DIF). Four self-efficacy scales were administrated to 763 Hong Kong Chinese children (55.2% boys) aged 8-13 years. Classical test theory (CTT) was used to examine the reliability and factorial validity of scales. IRM was conducted and DIF analyses were performed to assess the characteristics of item parameter estimates on the basis of children's sex, age and body weight status. All self-efficacy scales demonstrated adequate to excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α: 0.79-0.91). One FSE misfit item and one PASE misfit item were detected. Small DIF were found for all the scale items across children's age groups. Items with medium to large DIF were detected in different sex and body weight status groups, which will require modification. A Wright map revealed that items covered the range of the distribution of participants' self-efficacy for each scale except VSE. Several self-efficacy scales' items functioned differently by children's sex and body weight status. Additional research is required to modify the four self-efficacy scales to minimize these moderating influences for application.

Genetic risk scores for body fat distribution attenuate weight loss in women during dietary intervention.

PubMed

Svendstrup, M; Allin, K H; Sørensen, T I A; Hansen, T H; Grarup, N; Hansen, T; Vestergaard, H

2018-03-01

The well-established link between body fat distribution and metabolic health has been suggested to act through an impact on the remodeling capacity of the adipose tissue. Remodeling of the adipose tissue has been shown to affect body fat distribution and might affect the ability to lose weight. We aimed to study the effect of weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs) on weight loss based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with waist-hip-ratio adjusted for body mass index (WHRadjBMI). We included 707 participants (533 women and 174 men) from the NUGENOB multi-center 10-week diet intervention study with weekly weight measurements. We created 3 GRSs, one including all reported WHRadjBMI SNPs (GRS total ), one including only SNPs with genome-wide significance in women or with significantly greater effect in women (GRS women ), and one excluding SNPs in the GRS women (GRS men ). The data were analyzed in a mixed linear model framework. The GRS total and GRS women attenuated weight loss in women. The effect was strongest for the GRS women with an effect of 2.21 g per risk allele per day (95% confidence intereval (CI) (0.90;3.52), P=0.0009). Adjustment for WHR, basal metabolic rate or diet compliance did not affect the result. The GRSs had no effect on weight loss in men. The VEGFA rs1358980-T strongly attenuated weight loss in both men and women (β=15.95 g per risk allele per day, (3.16;26.74), P=0.013) and (β=15.95 g per risk allele per day, (2.58;13.53), P=0.004), respectively). Our findings suggest that genetic variants influencing body fat distribution attenuate weight loss in women independently on the effect on WHR. The stronger effect of the GRS women implies heterogenic effects of the WHRadjBMI variants on weight loss. A strong effect of rs1358980-T in the VEGFA locus suggests that angiogenesis plays a role, but this needs confirmation from functional studies.

State-of-the-art measurements in human body composition: A moving frontier of clinical importance.

PubMed

Gallagher, D; Shaheen, I; Zafar, K

2008-01-01

The measurement of human body composition allows for the estimation of body tissues, organs, and their distributions in living persons without inflicting harm. From a nutritional perspective, the interest in body composition has increased multi-fold with the global increase in the prevalence of obesity and its complications. The latter has driven in part the need for improved measurement methods with greater sensitivity and precision. There is no single gold standard for body-composition measurements in-vivo. All methods incorporate assumptions that do not apply in all individuals and the more accurate models are derived by using a combination of measurements, thereby reducing the importance of each assumption. This review will discuss why the measurement of body composition or human phenotyping is important; discuss new areas where the measurement of body composition (human phenotyping) is recognized as having important application; and will summarize recent advances made in new methodology. Reference will also be made to areas we cannot yet measure due to the lack of appropriate measurement methodologies, most especially measurements methods that provide information on kinetic states (not just static state) and metabolic function.

State-of-the-art measurements in human body composition: A moving frontier of clinical importance

PubMed Central

Gallagher, D.; Shaheen, I.; Zafar, K.

2010-01-01

The measurement of human body composition allows for the estimation of body tissues, organs, and their distributions in living persons without inflicting harm. From a nutritional perspective, the interest in body composition has increased multi-fold with the global increase in the prevalence of obesity and its complications. The latter has driven in part the need for improved measurement methods with greater sensitivity and precision. There is no single gold standard for body-composition measurements in-vivo. All methods incorporate assumptions that do not apply in all individuals and the more accurate models are derived by using a combination of measurements, thereby reducing the importance of each assumption. This review will discuss why the measurement of body composition or human phenotyping is important; discuss new areas where the measurement of body composition (human phenotyping) is recognized as having important application; and will summarize recent advances made in new methodology. Reference will also be made to areas we cannot yet measure due to the lack of appropriate measurement methodologies, most especially measurements methods that provide information on kinetic states (not just static state) and metabolic function. PMID:21234275

Observations of Titan 3C-4 Transtage Fragmentation Debris

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cowardin, Heather; Seitzer, P.; Abercromby, K.; Barker, E.; Cardona, T.; Krisko, P.; Lederer, S.

2013-01-01

The fragmentation of a Titan 3C-4 Transtage (1968-081) on 21 February 1992 is one of only two known break-ups in or near geosynchronous orbit. The original rocket body and 24 pieces of debris are currently being tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network (SSN). The rocket body (SSN# 3432) and several of the original fragments (SSN# 25000, 25001, 30000, and 33511) were observed in survey mode during 2004-2010 using the 0.6-m Michigan Orbital DEbris Survey Telescope (MODEST) in Chile using a broad R filter. This paper will present a size distribution for all calibrated magnitude data acquired on MODEST. Size distribution plots will also be shown using historical models for small fragmentation debris (down to 10 cm) believed to be associated with the Titan break-up. In November 2010, visible broadband photometry (Johnson/Kron-Cousins BVRI) was acquired with the 0.9-m Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS) at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile on several Titan fragments (SSN# 25001, 33509, 33510) and the parent rocket body. Color index data will be used to determine the fragment brightness distribution and how the data compares to spacecraft materials measured in the laboratory using similar photometric measurement techniques. In 2012, the SSN added 16 additional fragments to the catalogue. MODEST acquired magnitude data on ten Titan fragments in late 2012 and early 2013. The magnitude distribution of all the observed fragments are analyzed as a function of time. In order to better characterize the breakup fragments spectral measurements were acquired on the original rocket body and five Titan fragments using the 6.5-m Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. The telescopic spectra are compared with laboratory acquired spectra of materials (e.g., Aluminum and various paints) and categorized based on known absorption features for spacecraft materials.

Principles of Considering the Effect of the Limited Volume of a System on Its Thermodynamic State

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tovbin, Yu. K.

2018-01-01

The features of a system with a finite volume that affect its thermodynamic state are considered in comparison to describing small bodies in macroscopic phases. Equations for unary and pair distribution functions are obtained using difference derivatives of a discrete statistical sum. The structure of the equation for the free energy of a system consisting of an ensemble of volume-limited regions with different sizes and a full set of equations describing a macroscopic polydisperse system are discussed. It is found that the equations can be applied to molecular adsorption on small faces of microcrystals, to bound and isolated pores of a polydisperse material, and to describe the spinodal decomposition of a fluid in brief periods of time and high supersaturations of the bulk phase when each local region functions the same on average. It is shown that as the size of a system diminishes, corrections must be introduced for the finiteness of the system volume and fluctuations of the unary and pair distribution functions.

Regional cutaneous microvascular flow responses during gravitational and LBNP stresses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Breit, Gregory A.; Watenpaugh, Donald E.; Ballard, Richard E.; Murthy, Gita; Hargens, Alan R.

1993-01-01

Due to the regional variability of local hydrostatic pressures, microvascular flow responses to gravitational stress probably vary along the length of the body. Although these differences in local autoregulation have been observed previously during whole-body tilting, they have not been investigated during application of artificial gravitational stresses, such as lower body negative pressure or high gravity centrifugation. Although these stresses can create equivalent G-levels at the feet, they result in distinct distributions of vascular transmural pressure along the length of the body, and should consequently elicit different magnitudes and distributions of microvascular response. In the present study, the effects of whole-body tilting and lower body negative pressure on the level and distribution of microvascular flows within skin along the length of the body were compared.

Best Phd thesis Prize: Statistical analysis of ALFALFA galaxies: insights in galaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papastergis, E.

2013-09-01

We use the rich dataset of local universe galaxies detected by the ALFALFA 21cm survey to study the statistical properties of gas-bearing galaxies. In particular, we measure the number density of galaxies as a function of their baryonic mass ("baryonic mass function") and rotational velocity ("velocity width function"), and we characterize their clustering properties ("two-point correlation function"). These statistical distributions are determined by both the properties of dark matter on small scales, as well as by the complex baryonic processes through which galaxies form over cosmic time. We interpret the ALFALFA measurements with the aid of publicly available cosmological N-body simulations and we present some key results related to galaxy formation and small-scale cosmology.

Arabidopsis ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 protein required for leaf morphogenesis consistently forms speckles during mitosis of tobacco BY-2 cells via signals in its specific sequence.

PubMed

Luo, Lilan; Ando, Sayuri; Sasabe, Michiko; Machida, Chiyoko; Kurihara, Daisuke; Higashiyama, Tetsuya; Machida, Yasunori

2012-09-01

Leaf primordia with high division and developmental competencies are generated around the periphery of stem cells at the shoot apex. Arabidopsis ASYMMETRIC-LEAVES2 (AS2) protein plays a key role in the regulation of many genes responsible for flat symmetric leaf formation. The AS2 gene, expressed in leaf primordia, encodes a plant-specific nuclear protein containing an AS2/LOB domain with cysteine repeats (C-motif). AS2 proteins are present in speckles in and around the nucleoli, and in the nucleoplasm of some leaf epidermal cells. We used the tobacco cultured cell line BY-2 expressing the AS2-fused yellow fluorescent protein to examine subnuclear localization of AS2 in dividing cells. AS2 mainly localized to speckles (designated AS2 bodies) in cells undergoing mitosis and distributed in a pairwise manner during the separation of sets of daughter chromosomes. Few interphase cells contained AS2 bodies. Deletion analyses showed that a short stretch of the AS2 amino-terminal sequence and the C-motif play negative and positive roles, respectively, in localizing AS2 to the bodies. These results suggest that AS2 bodies function to properly distribute AS2 to daughter cells during cell division in leaf primordia; and this process is controlled at least partially by signals encoded by the AS2 sequence itself.

Depth-related trends in morphological and functional diversity of demersal fish assemblages in the western Mediterranean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farré, Marc; Tuset, Víctor M.; Cartes, Joan E.; Massutí, Enric; Lombarte, Antoni

2016-09-01

The morphological and functional traits of fishes are key factors defining the ecological and biological habits of species within ecosystems. However, little is known about how the depth gradient affects these factors. In the present study, several demersal fish assemblages from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean Sea) along a wide depth range (40-2200 m) were morphologically, functionally and ecologically described. The morphological characterization of communities was performed using geometric morphometric methods, while the functional structures were obtained by the functional categorization of species and the application of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA). The results revealed that morphospaces presented less richness of body forms as depth increases, although they showed a progressive spreading of species toward the periphery, with a proliferation of more extreme body traits, demonstrating lower morphological redundancy. In addition, a trend toward the elongation of body shape was also observed with depth. Moreover, functional diversity increased with bathymetry up to 1400 m, where it sharply decreased downwards. This decrease was parallel to a progressive fall of H‧ (ecological diversity) up to 2200 m. Functional redundancy progressively decreased until the deepest assemblage (more constantly in the deeper levels), which was almost exclusively dominated by benthopelagic wandering species feeding on suprabenthos. Redundancy analysis (RDA) demonstrated that both morphological and functional spaces showed high variation along the bathymetric range. Mantel test indicated that the majority of species presented similar spatial distribution within the morphospace and functional space, although in the functional space the more abundant species were always located at the periphery. These results demonstrate that the assessment of the morpho-functional variation between marine communities helps to understand the processes that affect the structure and functioning of communities, such as resource partitioning, trophic interactions, or interspecific relationships within ecosystem such as coexistence and dominance.

Comparison of Radiation Pressure Perturbations on Rocket Bodies and Debris at Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

has highlighted the need for physically consistent radiation pressure and Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function ( BRDF ) models . This paper...seeks to evaluate the impact of BRDF -consistent radiation pres- sure models compared to changes in the other BRDF parameters. The differences in...orbital position arising because of changes in the shape, attitude, angular rates, BRDF parameters, and radiation pressure model are plotted as a

Functionally different α-synuclein inclusions yield insight into Parkinson’s disease pathology

PubMed Central

Raiss, Christian C.; Braun, Theresa S.; Konings, Irene B. M.; Grabmayr, Heinrich; Hassink, Gerco C.; Sidhu, Arshdeep; le Feber, Joost; Bausch, Andreas R.; Jansen, Casper; Subramaniam, Vinod; Claessens, Mireille M. A. E.

2016-01-01

The formation of α-synuclein (α-S) amyloid aggregates, called Lewy bodies (LBs), is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The function of LBs in the disease process is however still unclear; they have been associated with both neuroprotection and toxicity. To obtain insight into this contradiction, we induced the formation of α-S inclusions, using three different induction methods in SH-SY5Y cells and rat-derived primary neuronal cells. Using confocal and STED microscopy we observed induction-dependent differences in α-S inclusion morphology, location and function. The aggregation of α-S in functionally different compartments correlates with the toxicity of the induction method measured in viability assays. The most cytotoxic treatment largely correlates with the formation of proteasome-associated, juxta-nuclear inclusions. With less toxic methods cytosolic deposits that are not associated with the proteasome are more prevalent. The distribution of α-S over at least two different types of inclusions is not limited to cell models, but is also observed in primary neuronal cells and in human mesencephalon. The existence of functionally different LBs, in vivo and in vitro, gives important insights in the impact of Lewy Body formation on neuronal functioning and may thereby provide a platform for discovering therapeutics. PMID:26984067

Positron emitter labeled enzyme inhibitors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fowler, J.S.; MacGregor, R.R.; Wolf, A.P.

This invention involves a new strategy for imaging and mapping enzyme activity in the living human and animal body using positron emitter-labeled suicide enzyme inactivators or inhibitors which become covalently bound to the enzyme as a result of enzymatic catalysis. Two such suicide inactivators for monoamine oxidase have been labeled with carbon-11 and used to map the enzyme subtypes in the living human and animal body using PET. By using positron emission tomography to image the distribution of radioactivity produced by the body penetrating radiation emitted by carbon-11, a map of functionally active monoamine oxidase activity is obtained. Clorgyline andmore » L-deprenyl are suicide enzyme inhibitors and irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase. When these inhibitors are labeled with carbon-11 they provide selective probes for monoamine oxidase localization and reactivity in vivo using positron emission tomography.« less

Positron emitter labeled enzyme inhibitors

DOEpatents

Fowler, J.S.; MacGregor, R.R.; Wolf, A.P.

1987-05-22

This invention involved a new strategy for imaging and mapping enzyme activity in the living human and animal body using positron emitter-labeled suicide enzyme inactivators or inhibitors which become covalently bound to the enzyme as a result of enzymatic catalysis. Two such suicide in activators for monoamine oxidase have been labeled with carbon-11 and used to map the enzyme subtypes in the living human and animal body using PET. By using positron emission tomography to image the distribution of radioactivity produced by the body penetrating radiation emitted by carbon-11, a map of functionally active monoamine oxidase activity is obtained. Clorgyline and L-deprenyl are suicide enzyme inhibitors and irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase. When these inhibitors are labeled with carbon-11 they provide selective probes for monoamine oxidase localization and reactivity in vivo using positron emission tomography. 2 figs.

Positron emitter labeled enzyme inhibitors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fowler, J.S.; MacGregor, R.R.; Wolf, A.P.

This invention involved a new strategy for imaging and mapping enzyme activity in the living human and animal body using positron emitter-labeled suicide enzyme inactivators or inhibitors which become covalently bound to the enzyme as a result of enzymatic catalysis. Two such suicide in activators for monoamine oxidase have been labeled with carbon-11 and used to map the enzyme subtypes in the living human and animal body using PET. By using positron emission tomography to image the distribution of radioactivity produced by the body penetrating radiation emitted by carbon-11, a map of functionally active monoamine oxidase activity is obtained. Clorgylinemore » and L-deprenyl are suicide enzyme inhibitors and irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase. When these inhibitors are labeled with carbon-11 they provide selective probes for monoamine oxidase localization and reactivity in vivo using positron emission tomography. 2 figs.« less

Battery-free, wireless sensors for full-body pressure and temperature mapping

PubMed Central

Han, Seungyong; Kim, Jeonghyun; Won, Sang Min; Ma, Yinji; Kang, Daeshik; Xie, Zhaoqian; Lee, Kyu-Tae; Chung, Ha Uk; Banks, Anthony; Min, Seunghwan; Heo, Seung Yun; Davies, Charles R.; Lee, Jung Woo; Lee, Chi-Hwan; Kim, Bong Hoon; Li, Kan; Zhou, Yadong; Wei, Chen; Feng, Xue; Huang, Yonggang; Rogers, John A.

2018-01-01

Thin, soft, skin-like sensors capable of precise, continuous measurements of physiological health have broad potential relevance to clinical health care. Use of sensors distributed over a wide area for full-body, spatiotemporal mapping of physiological processes would be a considerable advance for this field. We introduce materials, device designs, wireless power delivery and communication strategies, and overall system architectures for skin-like, battery-free sensors of temperature and pressure that can be used across the entire body. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations of the sensor operation and the modes for wireless addressing define the key features of these systems. Studies with human subjects in clinical sleep laboratories and in adjustable hospital beds demonstrate functionality of the sensors, with potential implications for monitoring of circadian cycles and mitigating risks for pressure-induced skin ulcers. PMID:29618561

Tissue densities in developing avian embryos. [under acceleration stresses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, A. H.; Abbott, U. K.; Morzenti, A.

1984-01-01

The density changes in the components of the incubated egg, the embryo, and the embryo's body parts were measured in the course of 21 days of incubation. In the first two-thirds of the incubation period there is a sequence of increasing density among egg contents: amniotic fluid, embryo, yolk, and albumin. As a result, the embryo is located at the bottom of the amniotic fluid, but at the top of the albumin. This position provides the embryo with mechanical protection and a proximity to the egg's air cell. The observed density changes and the asymmetry of these changes among various body parts of the embryo suggest a functional relationship. The density distributions among the body parts are particularly important in gravitational investigations of embryogenesis since they will produce forces tending to dislocate parts of the embryo.

Effect of annealing on structural changes and oxygen diffusion in amorphous HfO2 using classical molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Wenqing; Kumari, Niru; Gibson, Gary; Jeon, Yoocharn; Henze, Dick; Silverthorn, Sarah; Bash, Cullen; Kumar, Satish

2018-02-01

Non-volatile memory is a promising alternative to present memory technologies. Oxygen vacancy diffusion has been widely accepted as one of the reasons for the resistive switching mechanism of transition-metal-oxide based resistive random access memory. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation is applied to investigate the diffusion coefficient and activation energy of oxygen in amorphous hafnia. Two sets of empirical potential, Charge-Optimized Many-Body (COMB) and Morse-BKS (MBKS), were considered to investigate the structural and diffusion properties at different temperatures. COMB predicts the activation energy of 0.53 eV for the temperature range of 1000-2000 K, while MBKS predicts 2.2 eV at high temperature (1600-2000 K) and 0.36 eV at low temperature (1000-1600 K). Structural changes and appearance of nano-crystalline phases with increasing temperature might affect the activation energy of oxygen diffusion predicted by MBKS, which is evident from the change in coordination number distribution and radial distribution function. None of the potentials make predictions that are fully consistent with density functional theory simulations of both the structure and diffusion properties of HfO2. This suggests the necessity of developing a better multi-body potential that considers charge exchange.

Vesicular transport protein Arf6 modulates cytoskeleton dynamics for polar body extrusion in mouse oocyte meiosis.

PubMed

Duan, Xing; Zhang, Hao-Lin; Pan, Meng-Hao; Zhang, Yu; Sun, Shao-Chen

2018-02-01

Arf6 (ADP-ribosylation factor 6) is known to play important roles in membrane dynamics through the regulation of actin filament reorganization for multiple cellular processes such as cytokinesis, phagocytosis, cell migration and tumor cell invasion. However, the functions of Arf6 in mammalian oocyte meiosis have not been clarified. In present study we showed that Arf6 expressed in mouse oocytes and was mainly distributed around the spindle during meiosis. Depletion of Arf6 by morpholino microinjection caused oocytes failing to extrude first polar body. Further analysis indicated that Arf6 knock down caused the aberrant actin distribution, which further induced the failure of meiotic spindle movement. And the loss of oocyte polarity also confirmed this. The regulation of Arf6 on actin filaments in mouse oocytes might be due to its effects on the phosphorylation level of cofilin and the expression of Arp2/3 complex. Moreover, we found that the decrease of Arf6 caused the disruption of spindle formation, indicating the multiple roles of Arf6 on cytoskeleton dynamics in meiosis. In summary, our results indicated that Arf6 was involved in mouse oocyte meiosis through its functional roles in actin-mediated spindle movement and spindle organization. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cranial and mandibular shape variation in the genus Carollia (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Colombia: biogeographic patterns and morphological modularity.

PubMed

López-Aguirre, Camilo; Pérez-Torres, Jairo; Wilson, Laura A B

2015-01-01

Neotropical bats of the genus Carollia are widely studied due to their abundance, distribution and relevance for ecosystems. However, the ecomorphological boundaries of these species are poorly differentiated, and consequently correspondence between their geographic distribution, ecological plasticity and morphological variation remains unclear. In this study, patterns of cranial and mandibular morphological variation were assessed for Carollia brevicauda, C. castanea and C. perspicillata from Colombia. Using geometric morphometrics, morphological variation was examined with respect to: differences in intraspecific variation, morphological modularity and integration, and biogeographic patterns. Patterns of intraspecific variation were different for each species in both cranial and mandibular morphology, with functional differences apparent according to diet. Cranial modularity varied between species whereas mandibular modularity did not. High cranial and mandibular correlation reflects Cranium-Mandible integration as a functional unit. Similarity between the biogeographic patterns in C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata indicates that the Andes do not act as a barrier but rather as an independent region, isolating the morphology of Andean populations of larger-bodied species. The biogeographic pattern for C. castanea was not associated with the physiography of the Andes, suggesting that large body size does not benefit C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata in maintaining homogeneous morphologies among populations.

Cranial and mandibular shape variation in the genus Carollia (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Colombia: biogeographic patterns and morphological modularity

PubMed Central

Pérez-Torres, Jairo; Wilson, Laura A. B.

2015-01-01

Neotropical bats of the genus Carollia are widely studied due to their abundance, distribution and relevance for ecosystems. However, the ecomorphological boundaries of these species are poorly differentiated, and consequently correspondence between their geographic distribution, ecological plasticity and morphological variation remains unclear. In this study, patterns of cranial and mandibular morphological variation were assessed for Carollia brevicauda, C. castanea and C. perspicillata from Colombia. Using geometric morphometrics, morphological variation was examined with respect to: differences in intraspecific variation, morphological modularity and integration, and biogeographic patterns. Patterns of intraspecific variation were different for each species in both cranial and mandibular morphology, with functional differences apparent according to diet. Cranial modularity varied between species whereas mandibular modularity did not. High cranial and mandibular correlation reflects Cranium-Mandible integration as a functional unit. Similarity between the biogeographic patterns in C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata indicates that the Andes do not act as a barrier but rather as an independent region, isolating the morphology of Andean populations of larger-bodied species. The biogeographic pattern for C. castanea was not associated with the physiography of the Andes, suggesting that large body size does not benefit C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata in maintaining homogeneous morphologies among populations. PMID:26413433

GOTHIC: Gravitational oct-tree code accelerated by hierarchical time step controlling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miki, Yohei; Umemura, Masayuki

2017-04-01

The tree method is a widely implemented algorithm for collisionless N-body simulations in astrophysics well suited for GPU(s). Adopting hierarchical time stepping can accelerate N-body simulations; however, it is infrequently implemented and its potential remains untested in GPU implementations. We have developed a Gravitational Oct-Tree code accelerated by HIerarchical time step Controlling named GOTHIC, which adopts both the tree method and the hierarchical time step. The code adopts some adaptive optimizations by monitoring the execution time of each function on-the-fly and minimizes the time-to-solution by balancing the measured time of multiple functions. Results of performance measurements with realistic particle distribution performed on NVIDIA Tesla M2090, K20X, and GeForce GTX TITAN X, which are representative GPUs of the Fermi, Kepler, and Maxwell generation of GPUs, show that the hierarchical time step achieves a speedup by a factor of around 3-5 times compared to the shared time step. The measured elapsed time per step of GOTHIC is 0.30 s or 0.44 s on GTX TITAN X when the particle distribution represents the Andromeda galaxy or the NFW sphere, respectively, with 224 = 16,777,216 particles. The averaged performance of the code corresponds to 10-30% of the theoretical single precision peak performance of the GPU.

Latitudinal variation in the shape of the species body size distribution: an analysis using freshwater fishes.

PubMed

Knouft, Jason H

2004-05-01

Many taxonomic and ecological assemblages of species exhibit a right-skewed body size-frequency distribution when characterized at a regional scale. Although this distribution has been frequently described, factors influencing geographic variation in the distribution are not well understood, nor are mechanisms responsible for distribution shape. In this study, variation in the species body size-frequency distributions of 344 regional communities of North American freshwater fishes is examined in relation to latitude, species richness, and taxonomic composition. Although the distribution of all species of North American fishes is right-skewed, a negative correlation exists between latitude and regional community size distribution skewness, with size distributions becoming left-skewed at high latitudes. This relationship is not an artifact of the confounding relationship between latitude and species richness in North American fishes. The negative correlation between latitude and regional community size distribution skewness is partially due to the geographic distribution of families of fishes and apparently enhanced by a nonrandom geographic distribution of species within families. These results are discussed in the context of previous explanations of factors responsible for the generation of species size-frequency distributions related to the fractal nature of the environment, energetics, and evolutionary patterns of body size in North American fishes.

Body fat distribution in perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed but uninfected children in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: outcomes from the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Associations between abnormal body fat distribution and clinical variables are poorly understood in pediatric HIV disease. Our objective was to compare total body fat and its distribution in perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children and to evaluate associations with clin...

Anorexia Nervosa and Body Fat Distribution: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

El Ghoch, Marwan; Calugi, Simona; Lamburghini, Silvia; Dalle Grave, Riccardo

2014-01-01

The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic review of body fat distribution before and after partial and complete weight restoration in individuals with anorexia nervosa. Literature searches, study selection, method development and quality appraisal were performed independently by two authors, and data was synthesized using a narrative approach. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently analyzed. The review had five main findings. First, during anorexia nervosa adolescent females lose more central body fat, while adult females more peripheral fat. Second, partial weight restoration leads to greater fat mass deposition in the trunk region than other body regions in adolescent females. Third, after short-term weight restoration, whether partial or complete, adults show a central adiposity phenotype with respect to healthy age-matched controls. Fourth, central fat distribution is associated with increased insulin resistance, but does not adversely affect eating disorder psychopathology or cause psychological distress in female adults. Fifth, the abnormal central fat distribution seems to normalize after long-term maintenance of complete weight restoration, indicating that preferential central distribution of body fat is a transitory phenomenon. However, a discrepancy in the findings has been noted, especially between adolescents and adults; besides age and gender, these appear to be related to differences in the methodology and time of body composition assessments. The PROSPERO Registry—Anorexia Nervosa and Body Fat Distribution: A Systematic Review (CRD42014008738). PMID:25251296

Optimization of prosthetic foot stiffness to reduce metabolic cost and intact knee loading during below-knee amputee walking: a theoretical study.

PubMed

Fey, Nicholas P; Klute, Glenn K; Neptune, Richard R

2012-11-01

Unilateral below-knee amputees develop abnormal gait characteristics that include bilateral asymmetries and an elevated metabolic cost relative to non-amputees. In addition, long-term prosthesis use has been linked to an increased prevalence of joint pain and osteoarthritis in the intact leg knee. To improve amputee mobility, prosthetic feet that utilize elastic energy storage and return (ESAR) have been designed, which perform important biomechanical functions such as providing body support and forward propulsion. However, the prescription of appropriate design characteristics (e.g., stiffness) is not well-defined since its influence on foot function and important in vivo biomechanical quantities such as metabolic cost and joint loading remain unclear. The design of feet that improve these quantities could provide considerable advancements in amputee care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to couple design optimization with dynamic simulations of amputee walking to identify the optimal foot stiffness that minimizes metabolic cost and intact knee joint loading. A musculoskeletal model and distributed stiffness ESAR prosthetic foot model were developed to generate muscle-actuated forward dynamics simulations of amputee walking. Dynamic optimization was used to solve for the optimal muscle excitation patterns and foot stiffness profile that produced simulations that tracked experimental amputee walking data while minimizing metabolic cost and intact leg internal knee contact forces. Muscle and foot function were evaluated by calculating their contributions to the important walking subtasks of body support, forward propulsion and leg swing. The analyses showed that altering a nominal prosthetic foot stiffness distribution by stiffening the toe and mid-foot while making the ankle and heel less stiff improved ESAR foot performance by offloading the intact knee during early to mid-stance of the intact leg and reducing metabolic cost. The optimal design also provided moderate braking and body support during the first half of residual leg stance, while increasing the prosthesis contributions to forward propulsion and body support during the second half of residual leg stance. Future work will be directed at experimentally validating these results, which have important implications for future designs of prosthetic feet that could significantly improve amputee care.

Education policies and health inequalities: evidence from changes in the distribution of Body Mass Index in France, 1981-2003.

PubMed

Etile, Fabrice

2014-03-01

This paper contributes to the debate over the effectiveness of education policies in reducing overall health inequalities as compared to public health actions directed at the less-educated. Recentered Influence Function (RIF) regressions are used to decompose the contribution of education to the changing distribution of Body Mass Index (BMI) in France, between 1981 and 2003, into a composition effect (the shift in population education due to a massive educational expansion), and a structure effect (a changing educational gradient in BMI). Educational expansion has reduced overall BMI inequality by 3.4% for women and 2.3% for men. However, the structure effect on its own has produced a 10.9% increase in overall inequality for women, due to a steeper education gradient starting from the second quartile of the distribution. This structure effect on overall inequality is also large (7.6%) for men, albeit insignificant as it remains concentrated in the last decile. Educational expansion policies can thus reduce overall BMI inequalities; but attention must still be paid to the BMI gradient in education even for policies addressing overall rather than socioeconomic health inequalities. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vitamin C in Health and Disease: Its Role in the Metabolism of Cells and Redox State in the Brain.

PubMed

Figueroa-Méndez, Rodrigo; Rivas-Arancibia, Selva

2015-01-01

Ever since Linus Pauling published his studies, the effects of vitamin C have been surrounded by contradictory results. This may be because its effects depend on a number of factors such as the redox state of the body, the dose used, and also on the tissue metabolism. This review deals with vitamin C pharmacokinetics and its participation in neurophysiological processes, as well as its role in the maintenance of redox balance. The distribution and the concentration of vitamin C in the organs depend on the ascorbate requirements of each and on the tissue distribution of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 and 2 (SVCT1 and SVCT2). This determines the specific distribution pattern of vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C is involved in the physiology of the nervous system, including the support and the structure of the neurons, the processes of differentiation, maturation, and neuronal survival; the synthesis of catecholamine, and the modulation of neurotransmission. This antioxidant interacts with self-recycling mechanisms, including its participation in the endogenous antioxidant system. We conclude that the pharmacokinetic properties of ascorbate are related to the redox state and its functions and effects in tissues.

Vitamin C in Health and Disease: Its Role in the Metabolism of Cells and Redox State in the Brain

PubMed Central

Figueroa-Méndez, Rodrigo; Rivas-Arancibia, Selva

2015-01-01

Ever since Linus Pauling published his studies, the effects of vitamin C have been surrounded by contradictory results. This may be because its effects depend on a number of factors such as the redox state of the body, the dose used, and also on the tissue metabolism. This review deals with vitamin C pharmacokinetics and its participation in neurophysiological processes, as well as its role in the maintenance of redox balance. The distribution and the concentration of vitamin C in the organs depend on the ascorbate requirements of each and on the tissue distribution of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 and 2 (SVCT1 and SVCT2). This determines the specific distribution pattern of vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C is involved in the physiology of the nervous system, including the support and the structure of the neurons, the processes of differentiation, maturation, and neuronal survival; the synthesis of catecholamine, and the modulation of neurotransmission. This antioxidant interacts with self-recycling mechanisms, including its participation in the endogenous antioxidant system. We conclude that the pharmacokinetic properties of ascorbate are related to the redox state and its functions and effects in tissues. PMID:26779027

Neuropeptide Y distribution in human brain.

PubMed

Adrian, T E; Allen, J M; Bloom, S R; Ghatei, M A; Rossor, M N; Roberts, G W; Crow, T J; Tatemoto, K; Polak, J M

Tatemoto and Mutt recently used the presence of a C-terminal NH2 group to identify and isolate a new peptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), from porcine brain. This 36 amino acid peptide was subsequently shown to be active on isolated vas deferens, vascular smooth muscle and pancreatic acinar cells in very low molar concentrations. In view of these potent effects we have now investigated its distribution in the human brain by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. High concentrations of NPY have been found, exceeding those of cholecystokinin and somatostatin, hitherto considered to be the most abundant neuropeptides. The distribution of NPY was different from that of any other peptide system described, being particularly concentrated in the basal ganglia, amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated a large number of NPY neuronal cell bodies especially in the caudate and putamen. Immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies were also clearly localized in cortical areas, particularly layers V and VI. NPY, a newly discovered peptide with potent biological activity, thus seems to be among the most abundant of human neuropeptides. The massive numbers of NPY neurones in the basal ganglia suggest NPY to be of fundamental importance in the control of human motor function.

Comparison of joint space versus task force load distribution optimization for a multiarm manipulator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soloway, Donald I.; Alberts, Thomas E.

1989-01-01

It is often proposed that the redundancy in choosing a force distribution for multiple arms grasping a single object should be handled by minimizing a quadratic performance index. The performance index may be formulated in terms of joint torques or in terms of the Cartesian space force/torque applied to the body by the grippers. The former seeks to minimize power consumption while the latter minimizes body stresses. Because the cost functions are related to each other by a joint angle dependent transformation on the weight matrix, it might be argued that either method tends to reduce power consumption, but clearly the joint space minimization is optimal. A comparison of these two options is presented with consideration given to computational cost and power consumption. Simulation results using a two arm robot system are presented to show the savings realized by employing the joint space optimization. These savings are offset by additional complexity, computation time and in some cases processor power consumption.

Probability, geometry, and dynamics in the toss of a thick coin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yong, Ee Hou; Mahadevan, L.

2011-12-01

When a thick cylindrical coin is tossed in the air and lands without bouncing on an inelastic substrate, it ends up on its face or its side. We account for the rigid body dynamics of spin and precession and calculate the probability distribution of heads, tails, and sides for a thick coin as a function of its dimensions and the distribution of its initial conditions. Our theory yields a simple expression for the aspect ratio of homogeneous coins with a prescribed frequency of heads or tails compared to sides, which we validate using data from the results of tossing coins of different aspect ratios.

Bio-inspired sensing and control for disturbance rejection and stabilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gremillion, Gregory; Humbert, James S.

2015-05-01

The successful operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in dynamic environments demands robust stability in the presence of exogenous disturbances. Flying insects are sensor-rich platforms, with highly redundant arrays of sensors distributed across the insect body that are integrated to extract rich information with diminished noise. This work presents a novel sensing framework in which measurements from an array of accelerometers distributed across a simulated flight vehicle are linearly combined to directly estimate the applied forces and torques with improvements in SNR. In simulation, the estimation performance is quantified as a function of sensor noise level, position estimate error, and sensor quantity.

The Lunar Rock Size Frequency Distribution from Diviner Infrared Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elder, C. M.; Hayne, P. O.; Piqueux, S.; Bandfield, J.; Williams, J. P.; Ghent, R. R.; Paige, D. A.

2016-12-01

Knowledge of the rock size frequency distribution on a planetary body is important for understanding its geologic history and for selecting landing sites. The rock size frequency distribution can be estimated by counting rocks in high resolution images, but most bodies in the solar system have limited areas with adequate coverage. We propose an alternative method to derive and map rock size frequency distributions using multispectral thermal infrared data acquired at multiple times during the night. We demonstrate this new technique for the Moon using data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Diviner radiometer in conjunction with three dimensional thermal modeling, leveraging the differential cooling rates of different rock sizes. We assume an exponential rock size frequency distribution, which has been shown to yield a good fit to rock populations in various locations on the Moon, Mars, and Earth [2, 3] and solve for the best radiance fits as a function of local time and wavelength. This method presents several advantages: 1) unlike other thermally derived rock abundance techniques, it is sensitive to rocks smaller than the diurnal skin depth; 2) it does not result in apparent decrease in rock abundance at night; and 3) it can be validated using images taken at the lunar surface. This method yields both the fraction of the surface covered in rocks of all sizes and the exponential factor, which defines the rate of drop-off in the exponential function at large rock sizes. We will present maps of both these parameters for the Moon, and provide a geological interpretation. In particular, this method reveals rocks in the lunar highlands that are smaller than previous thermal methods could detect. [1] Bandfield J. L. et al. (2011) JGR, 116, E00H02. [2] Golombek and Rapp (1997) JGR, 102, E2, 4117-4129. [3] Cintala, M.J. and K.M. McBride (1995) NASA Technical Memorandum 104804.

Generalized Jastrow variational method for liquid3He-4He mixtures at T=0 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirabbaszadeh, K.

1989-07-01

The ground state energy of a dilute solution of mass-3 fermions in liquid4He is analyzed by a variational procedure based on the Jastrow many body theory. The antisymmetry of the wave function for fermions is incorporated following the procedure given by Lado, Inguva, and Smith. A set of coupled integrodifferential equations is solved in the hypernetted chain approximation yielding expressions for the binding energy of3He-4He mixtures; the radial distribution function is given together with the total energy for various values of density and the interparticle separation r s.

[Magnesium disorder in metabolic bone diseases].

PubMed

Ishii, Akira; Imanishi, Yasuo

2012-08-01

Magnesium is abundantly distributed among the body. The half of the magnesium exists in the bone. In addition, magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation in vertebrates and essential for maintaining physiological function of the cells. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that magnesium deficiency is a risk factor for osteoporosis. The mechanism of bone fragility caused by magnesium deficiency has been intensely studied using animal models of magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency causes decreased osteoblastic function and increased number of osteoclasts. Magnesium deficiency also accelerates mineralization in bone. These observations suggest that disturbed bone metabolic turnover and mineralization causes bone fragility.

[Roles of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor in the male reproductive system].

PubMed

Chen, Kai-hong; Zhang, Xian; Jiang, Xue-wu

2016-02-01

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), also known as G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), was identified in the recent years as a functional membrane receptor different from the classical nuclear estrogen receptors. This receptor is widely expressed in the cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and the urogenital system. It is responsible for the mediation of nongenomic effects associated with estrogen and its derivatives, participating in the physiological activities of the body. The present study reviews the molecular structure, subcellular localization, signaling pathways, distribution, and function of GPER in the male reproductive system.

Large-scale brain networks in affective and social neuroscience: Towards an integrative functional architecture of the brain

PubMed Central

Barrett, Lisa Feldman; Satpute, Ajay

2013-01-01

Understanding how a human brain creates a human mind ultimately depends on mapping psychological categories and concepts to physical measurements of neural response. Although it has long been assumed that emotional, social, and cognitive phenomena are realized in the operations of separate brain regions or brain networks, we demonstrate that it is possible to understand the body of neuroimaging evidence using a framework that relies on domain general, distributed structure-function mappings. We review current research in affective and social neuroscience and argue that the emerging science of large-scale intrinsic brain networks provides a coherent framework for a domain-general functional architecture of the human brain. PMID:23352202

Long-Lasting Improvements in Liver Fat and Metabolism Despite Body Weight Regain After Dietary Weight Loss

PubMed Central

Haufe, Sven; Haas, Verena; Utz, Wolfgang; Birkenfeld, Andreas L.; Jeran, Stephanie; Böhnke, Jana; Mähler, Anja; Luft, Friedrich C.; Schulz-Menger, Jeanette; Boschmann, Michael; Jordan, Jens; Engeli, Stefan

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVE Weight loss reduces abdominal and intrahepatic fat, thereby improving metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Yet, many patients regain weight after successful diet-induced weight loss. Long-term changes in abdominal and liver fat, along with liver test results and insulin resistance, are not known. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed 50 overweight to obese subjects (46 ± 9 years of age; BMI, 32.5 ± 3.3 kg/m2; women, 77%) who had participated in a 6-month hypocaloric diet and were randomized to either reduced carbohydrates or reduced fat content. Before, directly after diet, and at an average of 24 (range, 17–36) months follow-up, we assessed body fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging and markers of liver function and insulin resistance. RESULTS Body weight decreased with diet but had increased again at follow-up. Subjects also partially regained abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. In contrast, intrahepatic fat decreased with diet and remained reduced at follow-up (7.8 ± 9.8% [baseline], 4.5 ± 5.9% [6 months], and 4.7 ± 5.9% [follow-up]). Similar patterns were observed for markers of liver function, whole-body insulin sensitivity, and hepatic insulin resistance. Changes in intrahepatic fat und intrahepatic function were independent of macronutrient composition during intervention and were most effective in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at baseline. CONCLUSIONS A 6-month hypocaloric diet induced improvements in hepatic fat, liver test results, and insulin resistance despite regaining of weight up to 2 years after the active intervention. Body weight and adiposity measurements may underestimate beneficial long-term effects of dietary interventions. PMID:23963894

The cross-sectional relationship between body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and cognitive performance in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative.

PubMed

Kerwin, Diana R; Zhang, Yinghua; Kotchen, Jane Morley; Espeland, Mark A; Van Horn, Linda; McTigue, Kathleen M; Robinson, Jennifer G; Powell, Lynda; Kooperberg, Charles; Coker, Laura H; Hoffmann, Raymond

2010-08-01

To determine whether body mass index (BMI) is independently associated with cognitive function in postmenopausal women and the relationship between body fat distribution as estimated by waist-hip ratio (WHR). Cross-sectional data analysis. Baseline data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone trials. Eight thousand seven hundred forty-five postmenopausal women aged 65 to 79 free of clinical evidence of dementia who completed the baseline evaluation in the WHI hormone trials. Participants completed a Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE), health and lifestyle questionnaires, and standardized measurements of height, weight, body circumference, and blood pressure. Statistical analysis was performed of associations between 3MSE score, BMI, and WHR after controlling for known confounders. With the exception of smoking and exercise, vascular disease risk factors, including hypertension, waist measurement, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus, were significantly associated with 3MSE score and were included as covariables in subsequent analyses. BMI was inversely related to 3MSE score; for every 1-unit increase in BMI, 3MSE score decreased 0.988 points (P<.001) after adjusting for age, education, and vascular disease risk factors. BMI had the most pronounced association with poorer cognitive functioning scores in women with smaller waist measurements. In women with the highest WHR, cognitive scores increased with BMI. Higher BMI was associated with poorer cognitive function in women with smaller WHR. Higher WHR, estimating central fat mass, was associated with higher cognitive function in this cross-sectional study. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism for this association. © 2010, Copyright the Authors. Journal compilation © 2010, No claim to original US government works.

Predictors of body satisfaction: differences between older men and women's perceptions of their body functioning and appearance.

PubMed

de Souto Barreto, Philipe; Ferrandez, Anne-Marie; Guihard-Costa, Anne-Marie

2011-04-01

This article examines the predictors of body satisfaction among older men and women. A self-reported questionnaire on body satisfaction (focused on body appearance and functioning), health, physical activity, and sociodemographic characteristics was completed by 384 older adults twice, at a year's interval. Women (n = 243) were on average 70.3 ± 7.9 years old, and men 70.9 ± 7.5 years old. Body mass index was found to be the strongest predictor of satisfaction with body appearance for both genders, along with body functioning in the case of men. Regarding satisfaction with body functioning, functional limitations were women's most important predictor of satisfaction, whereas for men body appearance was more important. Men seemed to link satisfaction with body appearance more closely to body functioning than did women. Gender differences suggest that interventions to improve body satisfaction must be gender specific, particularly those relating to body functioning.

Postmenopausal weight status, body composition and body fat distribution in relation to parameters of menstrual and reproductive history.

PubMed

Kirchengast, S; Gruber, D; Sator, M; Huber, J

1999-10-24

In the present study the association between menstrual and reproductive history patterns and weight status, fat distribution and body composition during postmenopause was tested. In 106 healthy postmenopausal women ranging in age from 48 to 58 years (x = 53.7 year) the weight status was classified according to the recommendations of the WHO. Additionally body composition was estimated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and fat distribution was calculated using the fat distribution index. Weight status, body composition and fat distribution were correlated with self-reported parameters of menstrual and reproductive history (age at menarche, average cycle length, number of births, age at first and last birth, average pregnancy weight gain, age at menopause). It was shown that number of births, age at first birth and pregnancy weight gain were related significantly to the postmenopausal weight status, body composition and fat distribution. An early first birth a low number of births and a high weight gain during pregnancies can be assumed as risk factors for overweight, a higher amount of adipose tissue, android fat patterning and therefore for the development of the metabolic syndrome during postmenopause. In contrast no adverse effect of menstrual and reproductive parameters on postmenopausal bone mass was found.

Redshift-space distortions with the halo occupation distribution - II. Analytic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tinker, Jeremy L.

2007-01-01

We present an analytic model for the galaxy two-point correlation function in redshift space. The cosmological parameters of the model are the matter density Ωm, power spectrum normalization σ8, and velocity bias of galaxies αv, circumventing the linear theory distortion parameter β and eliminating nuisance parameters for non-linearities. The model is constructed within the framework of the halo occupation distribution (HOD), which quantifies galaxy bias on linear and non-linear scales. We model one-halo pairwise velocities by assuming that satellite galaxy velocities follow a Gaussian distribution with dispersion proportional to the virial dispersion of the host halo. Two-halo velocity statistics are a combination of virial motions and host halo motions. The velocity distribution function (DF) of halo pairs is a complex function with skewness and kurtosis that vary substantially with scale. Using a series of collisionless N-body simulations, we demonstrate that the shape of the velocity DF is determined primarily by the distribution of local densities around a halo pair, and at fixed density the velocity DF is close to Gaussian and nearly independent of halo mass. We calibrate a model for the conditional probability function of densities around halo pairs on these simulations. With this model, the full shape of the halo velocity DF can be accurately calculated as a function of halo mass, radial separation, angle and cosmology. The HOD approach to redshift-space distortions utilizes clustering data from linear to non-linear scales to break the standard degeneracies inherent in previous models of redshift-space clustering. The parameters of the occupation function are well constrained by real-space clustering alone, separating constraints on bias and cosmology. We demonstrate the ability of the model to separately constrain Ωm,σ8 and αv in models that are constructed to have the same value of β at large scales as well as the same finger-of-god distortions at small scales.

[Migration from a rural zone to an urban one is associated with android distribution of body fat in obese women].

PubMed

González-Barranco, J; López-Alvarenga, J C; Roiz-Simancas, M; Bravo-García, A L; Fanghänel-Salmón, G; Laviada Arrigunaga, E; Castaño, L R; García Tapia, M P

2001-01-01

Studies about migration to industrialized countries have shown an increased prevalence of diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemias, all of them related to android body fat distribution. Migration status might be influence body fat distribution but it has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between body fat distribution and migration from rural to urban areas in Mexico. This sequential sample of 433 women were seen in the outpatient obesity clinic of four federal states: Tabasco (n = 81), Mexico City (n = 166), Coahuila (n = 80), and Yucatan (n = 106). Migration history from rural to urban area, familial history of diabetes, ages of onset of obesity, height and weight circumferences were obtained. A regression logistic model was used and maintained as dependent variable body fat distribution. Age and federal state were considered as confounders and they adjusted the model. Migrating women from rural to urban area were 121 (27.9%). The waist circumference was higher in Tabasco (102.2 +/- 12 cm), and lesser in Yucatan (93.6 +/- 15 cm, p < 0.001); no differences were found for hip circumference. The logistic regression model showed that body fat distribution is associated to migration from rural to urban area, and also to diabetes of mother and age of onset of obesity. Migrating from rural to urban area is a risk factor for android body fat distribution and this risk increases with age, history of diabetes in mother and adulthood onset o obesity.

Plexin D1 determines body fat distribution by regulating the type V collagen microenvironment in visceral adipose tissue.

PubMed

Minchin, James E N; Dahlman, Ingrid; Harvey, Christopher J; Mejhert, Niklas; Singh, Manvendra K; Epstein, Jonathan A; Arner, Peter; Torres-Vázquez, Jesús; Rawls, John F

2015-04-07

Genome-wide association studies have implicated PLEXIN D1 (PLXND1) in body fat distribution and type 2 diabetes. However, a role for PLXND1 in regional adiposity and insulin resistance is unknown. Here we use in vivo imaging and genetic analysis in zebrafish to show that Plxnd1 regulates body fat distribution and insulin sensitivity. Plxnd1 deficiency in zebrafish induced hyperplastic morphology in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and reduced lipid storage. In contrast, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) growth and morphology were unaffected, resulting in altered body fat distribution and a reduced VAT:SAT ratio in zebrafish. A VAT-specific role for Plxnd1 appeared conserved in humans, as PLXND1 mRNA was positively associated with hypertrophic morphology in VAT, but not SAT. In zebrafish plxnd1 mutants, the effect on VAT morphology and body fat distribution was dependent on induction of the extracellular matrix protein collagen type V alpha 1 (col5a1). Furthermore, after high-fat feeding, zebrafish plxnd1 mutant VAT was resistant to expansion, and excess lipid was disproportionately deposited in SAT, leading to an even greater exacerbation of altered body fat distribution. Plxnd1-deficient zebrafish were protected from high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance, and human VAT PLXND1 mRNA was positively associated with type 2 diabetes, suggesting a conserved role for PLXND1 in insulin sensitivity. Together, our findings identify Plxnd1 as a novel regulator of VAT growth, body fat distribution, and insulin sensitivity in both zebrafish and humans.

The distribution of dragonfly larvae in a South Carolina stream: relationships with sediment type, body size, and the presence of other larvae.

PubMed

Worthen, Wade B; Horacek, Henry Joseph

2015-01-01

Dragonfly larvae were sampled in Little Creek, Greenville, SC. The distributions of five common species were described relative to sediment type, body size, and the presence of other larvae. In total, 337 quadrats (1 m by 0.5 m) were sampled by kick seine. For each quadrat, the substrate was classified as sand, sand-cobble mix, cobble, coarse, or rock, and water depth and distance from bank were measured. Larvae were identified to species, and the lengths of the body, head, and metafemur were measured. Species were distributed differently across sediment types: sanddragons, Progomphus obscurus (Rambur) (Odonata: Gomphidae), were common in sand; twin-spotted spiketails, Cordulegaster maculata Selys (Odonata: Cordulegastridae), preferred a sand-cobble mix; Maine snaketails, Ophiogomphus mainensis Packard (Odonata: Gomphidae), preferred cobble and coarse sediments; fawn darners, Boyeria vinosa (Say) (Odonata: Aeshnidae), preferred coarse sediments; and Eastern least clubtails, Stylogomphus albistylus (Hagen) (Odonata: Gomphidae), preferred coarse and rock sediments. P. obscurus and C. maculata co-occurred more frequently than expected by chance, as did O. mainensis, B. vinosa, and S. albistylus. Mean size varied among species, and species preferences contributed to differences in mean size across sediment types. There were significant negative associations among larval size classes: small larvae (<12 mm) occurred less frequently with large larvae (>15 mm) than expected by chance, and large larvae were alone in quadrats more frequently than other size classes. Species may select habitats at a large scale based on sediment type and their functional morphology, but small scale distributions are consistent with competitive displacement or intraguild predation. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.

Mapping of enkephalins and adrenocorticotropic hormone in the squirrel monkey brainstem.

PubMed

Duque-Díaz, Ewing; Díaz-Cabiale, Zaida; Narváez, José Angel; Coveñas, Rafael

2017-03-01

An immunocytochemical technique has been used to study for the first time the distribution of fibers and cell bodies containing leucine-enkephalin (leu-enk), methionine-enkephalin (met-enk) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the whole brainstem of the squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus. Cell bodies containing leu-enk or met-enk were found in the superior colliculus and the formatio reticularis tegmenti mesencephali, respectively. No immunoreactive cell bodies containing ACTH were observed. Leu-enk-immunoreactive fibers were observed in 40 brainstem nuclei/tracts/regions, fibers containing met-enk were found in 38 brainstem nuclei/tracts/regions and fibers containing ACTH were found in 26 nuclei/tracts/regions. In the latter case, the density of immunoreactive fibers was always low. A high/moderate density of leu-enk- or met-enk-immunoreactive fibers were found in 18 and 16 brainstem nuclei/tracts/regions, respectively. The distribution of immunoreactive fibers containing leu-enk or met-enk was quite similar, with both leu-enk and met-enk observed in 82.5 % of the squirrel monkey brainstem nuclei/tracts/regions. This relationship is less marked for met-enk and ACTH (60.5 %) and even lower for leu-enk and ACTH (52.5 %). In 42.5 % of the nuclei/tracts/regions of the squirrel monkey brainstem (colliculus superior, substantia grisea centralis, nucleus interpeduncularis, nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, nucleus tractus solitarii, nucleus parabrachialis, formatio reticularis, substantia nigra), we observed fibers containing all three neuropeptides. The widespread distribution reported here suggests that enkephalins and ACTH can be involved in several physiological functions. The distribution of the immunoreactive fibers reported here is quite similar to that previously reported for enkephalins and ACTH in Macaca species and humans.

Human body temperature and new approaches to constructing temperature-sensitive bacterial vaccines

PubMed Central

White, Matthew D.; Bosio, Catharine M.; Duplantis, Barry N.

2012-01-01

Many of the live human and animal vaccines that are currently in use are attenuated by virtue of their temperature-sensitive (TS) replication. These vaccines are able to function because they can take advantage of sites in mammalian bodies that are cooler than the core temperature, where TS vaccines fail to replicate. In this article, we discuss the distribution of temperature in the human body, and relate how the temperature differential can be exploited for designing and using TS vaccines. We also examine how one of the coolest organs of the body, the skin, contains antigen-processing cells that can be targeted to provoke the desired immune response from a TS vaccine. We describe traditional approaches to making TS vaccines, and highlight new information and technologies that are being used to create a new generation of engineered TS vaccines. We pay particular attention to the recently described technology of substituting essential genes from Arctic bacteria for their homologues in mammalian pathogens as a way of creating TS vaccines. PMID:21626408

Human body temperature and new approaches to constructing temperature-sensitive bacterial vaccines.

PubMed

White, Matthew D; Bosio, Catharine M; Duplantis, Barry N; Nano, Francis E

2011-09-01

Many of the live human and animal vaccines that are currently in use are attenuated by virtue of their temperature-sensitive (TS) replication. These vaccines are able to function because they can take advantage of sites in mammalian bodies that are cooler than the core temperature, where TS vaccines fail to replicate. In this article, we discuss the distribution of temperature in the human body, and relate how the temperature differential can be exploited for designing and using TS vaccines. We also examine how one of the coolest organs of the body, the skin, contains antigen-processing cells that can be targeted to provoke the desired immune response from a TS vaccine. We describe traditional approaches to making TS vaccines, and highlight new information and technologies that are being used to create a new generation of engineered TS vaccines. We pay particular attention to the recently described technology of substituting essential genes from Arctic bacteria for their homologues in mammalian pathogens as a way of creating TS vaccines.

Collective many-body bounce in the breathing-mode oscillations of a finite-temperature Tonks-Girardeau gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kheruntsyan, Karen; Atas, Yasar; Bouchoule, Isabelle; Gangardt, Dimitri

2017-04-01

We analyse the breathing-mode oscillations of a harmonically quenched Tonks-Giradeau (TG) gas using an exact finite-temperature dynamical theory. We predict a striking collective manifestation of impenetrability-a collective many-body bounce effect. The effect, while being invisible in the evolution of the in situ density profile of the gas, can be revealed through a nontrivial periodic narrowing of its momentum distribution, taking place at twice the rate of the fundamental breathing-mode frequency of oscillations of the density profile. We identify physical regimes for observing the many-body bounce and construct the respective nonequilibrium phase diagram as a function of the quench strength and the initial equilibrium temperature of the gas. We also develop a finite-temperature hydrodynamic theory of the TG gas, wherein the many-body bounce is explained by an increased thermodynamic pressure during the isentropic compression cycle, which acts as a potential barrier for the particles to bounce off.

The effect of habitat geology on calcium intake and calcium status of wild rodents.

PubMed

Shore, R F; Balment, R J; Yalden, D W

1991-12-01

Calcium is essential for normal physiological function, reproduction and growth in mammals but its distribution in the natural environment is heterogeneous. Spatial variation in calcium soil content is especially marked in the Peak District, United Kingdom, where both calcium-rich limestone and calcium-poor gritstone rock types occur. Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus (L) and bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780) from limestone areas had significantly higher calcium concentrations in stomach contents and in faeces compared with their counterparts from gritstone areas. Calcium status was assessed from serum calcium concentration, femur weight, ash content of the body, calcium concentration in the femur and body ash. There was no significant difference in serum calcium concentration, femur calcium concentration and body ash calcium concentration between animals from the limestone and the gritstone. However, on the limestone, bank voles, but not wood mice, had significantly heavier femora and a greater proportion of ash in the body compared with their gritstone counterparts.

A novel approach for fit analysis of thermal protective clothing using three-dimensional body scanning.

PubMed

Lu, Yehu; Song, Guowen; Li, Jun

2014-11-01

The garment fit played an important role in protective performance, comfort and mobility. The purpose of this study is to quantify the air gap to quantitatively characterize a three-dimensional (3-D) garment fit using a 3-D body scanning technique. A method for processing of scanned data was developed to investigate the air gap size and distribution between the clothing and human body. The mesh model formed from nude and clothed body was aligned, superimposed and sectioned using Rapidform software. The air gap size and distribution over the body surface were analyzed. The total air volume was also calculated. The effects of fabric properties and garment size on air gap distribution were explored. The results indicated that average air gap of the fit clothing was around 25-30 mm and the overall air gap distribution was similar. The air gap was unevenly distributed over the body and it was strongly associated with the body parts, fabric properties and garment size. The research will help understand the overall clothing fit and its association with protection, thermal and movement comfort, and provide guidelines for clothing engineers to improve thermal performance and reduce physiological burden. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Ground and Low-Lying Excited States of Interacting Electron Systems: A Survey and Some Critical Analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farid, Behnam

1999-12-01

In this contribution we deal with a number of theoretical aspects concerning physics of systems of interacting electrons. Our discussions, although amenable to appropriate generalisations, are subject to some limitations. To name, we deal with systems of spin-less fermions — or those of spin-compensated fermions with spin —, with nondegenerate ground states, and those in which relativistic effects are negligible; we disregard ionic motions and deal with "normal" (not superconducting, for instance) systems that are in addition free from randomly distributed impurities. We restrict our considerations to the absolute zero of temperature. The Green and response functions feature in our theoretical considerations. Here we give especial attention to the analytic properties of these functions for complex values of energy. We discuss how, both fundamentally and from the practical viewpoint, ground and low-lying excited-states properties can be obtained from these correlation functions. Characterising low-lying excited states by means of elementary excitations, we deal with both those that are particle-like (the Landau quasi-particles) and those that are collective (plasmons, excitation in the total distribution of electrons). We devote some space to discussions concerning the domain of validity and breakdown of the many-body perturbation theory, specifically that for the single-particle Green function and the self-energy operator. Extensive analysis of the asymptotic behaviour of dynamic correlation functions in the limits of small and large energies reveal the significance of the Kohn-Sham-like Hamiltonians within the context of the many-body perturbation theory. In view of this, at places we pay especial attention to a number of the existing density-functional theories (including the ones for the single-particle reduced density matrix and time-dependent external potentials). We discuss in some detail a number of issues that are specific to the (phenomenological) Landau Fermi-liquid theory and their justification within the framework of the many-body perturbation theory. In doing so we touch upon a number of characteristic features specific to Fermi-liquid (as oppsed to marginal Fermi- and Luttinger-liquid) systems. Finally, we put one particular approximation scheme for the self-energy operator, known as the the GW scheme, under magnifying glass and observe it in many of its facets.

Mechanisms underlying rhythmic locomotion: body–fluid interaction in undulatory swimming

PubMed Central

Chen, J.; Friesen, W. O.; Iwasaki, T.

2011-01-01

Swimming of fish and other animals results from interactions of rhythmic body movements with the surrounding fluid. This paper develops a model for the body–fluid interaction in undulatory swimming of leeches, where the body is represented by a chain of rigid links and the hydrodynamic force model is based on resistive and reactive force theories. The drag and added-mass coefficients for the fluid force model were determined from experimental data of kinematic variables during intact swimming, measured through video recording and image processing. Parameter optimizations to minimize errors in simulated model behaviors revealed that the resistive force is dominant, and a simple static function of relative velocity captures the essence of hydrodynamic forces acting on the body. The model thus developed, together with the experimental kinematic data, allows us to investigate temporal and spatial (along the body) distributions of muscle actuation, body curvature, hydrodynamic thrust and drag, muscle power supply and energy dissipation into the fluid. We have found that: (1) thrust is generated continuously along the body with increasing magnitude toward the tail, (2) drag is nearly constant along the body, (3) muscle actuation waves travel two or three times faster than the body curvature waves and (4) energy for swimming is supplied primarily by the mid-body muscles, transmitted through the body in the form of elastic energy, and dissipated into the water near the tail. PMID:21270304

Central Body Fat Distribution Associates with Unfavorable Renal Hemodynamics Independent of Body Mass Index

PubMed Central

Zelle, Dorien M.; Bakker, Stephan J.L.; Navis, Gerjan

2013-01-01

Central distribution of body fat is associated with a higher risk of renal disease, but whether it is the distribution pattern or the overall excess weight that underlies this association is not well understood. Here, we studied the association between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), which reflects central adiposity, and renal hemodynamics in 315 healthy persons with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.9 kg/m2 and a mean 125I-iothalamate GFR of 109 ml/min per 1.73 m2. In multivariate analyses, WHR was associated with lower GFR, lower effective renal plasma flow, and higher filtration fraction, even after adjustment for sex, age, mean arterial pressure, and BMI. Multivariate models produced similar results regardless of whether the hemodynamic measures were indexed to body surface area. Thus, these results suggest that central body fat distribution, independent of BMI, is associated with an unfavorable pattern of renal hemodynamic measures that could underlie the increased renal risk reported in observational studies. PMID:23578944

Macroscale patterns in body size of intertidal crustaceans provide insights on climate change effects.

PubMed

Jaramillo, Eduardo; Dugan, Jenifer E; Hubbard, David M; Contreras, Heraldo; Duarte, Cristian; Acuña, Emilio; Schoeman, David S

2017-01-01

Predicting responses of coastal ecosystems to altered sea surface temperatures (SST) associated with global climate change, requires knowledge of demographic responses of individual species. Body size is an excellent metric because it scales strongly with growth and fecundity for many ectotherms. These attributes can underpin demographic as well as community and ecosystem level processes, providing valuable insights for responses of vulnerable coastal ecosystems to changing climate. We investigated contemporary macroscale patterns in body size among widely distributed crustaceans that comprise the majority of intertidal abundance and biomass of sandy beach ecosystems of the eastern Pacific coasts of Chile and California, USA. We focused on ecologically important species representing different tidal zones, trophic guilds and developmental modes, including a high-shore macroalga-consuming talitrid amphipod (Orchestoidea tuberculata), two mid-shore scavenging cirolanid isopods (Excirolana braziliensis and E. hirsuticauda), and a low-shore suspension-feeding hippid crab (Emerita analoga) with an amphitropical distribution. Significant latitudinal patterns in body sizes were observed for all species in Chile (21° - 42°S), with similar but steeper patterns in Emerita analoga, in California (32°- 41°N). Sea surface temperature was a strong predictor of body size (-4% to -35% °C-1) in all species. Beach characteristics were subsidiary predictors of body size. Alterations in ocean temperatures of even a few degrees associated with global climate change are likely to affect body sizes of important intertidal ectotherms, with consequences for population demography, life history, community structure, trophic interactions, food-webs, and indirect effects such as ecosystem function. The consistency of results for body size and temperature across species with different life histories, feeding modes, ecological roles, and microhabitats inhabiting a single widespread coastal ecosystem, and for one species, across hemispheres in this space-for-time substitution, suggests predictions of ecosystem responses to thermal effects of climate change may potentially be generalised, with important implications for coastal conservation.

Dynamic relationships between body size, species richness, abundance, and energy use in a shallow marine epibenthic faunal community

PubMed Central

Labra, Fabio A; Hernández-Miranda, Eduardo; Quiñones, Renato A

2015-01-01

We study the temporal variation in the empirical relationships among body size (S), species richness (R), and abundance (A) in a shallow marine epibenthic faunal community in Coliumo Bay, Chile. We also extend previous analyses by calculating individual energy use (E) and test whether its bivariate and trivariate relationships with S and R are in agreement with expectations derived from the energetic equivalence rule. Carnivorous and scavenger species representing over 95% of sample abundance and biomass were studied. For each individual, body size (g) was measured and E was estimated following published allometric relationships. Data for each sample were tabulated into exponential body size bins, comparing species-averaged values with individual-based estimates which allow species to potentially occupy multiple size classes. For individual-based data, both the number of individuals and species across body size classes are fit by a Weibull function rather than by a power law scaling. Species richness is also a power law of the number of individuals. Energy use shows a piecewise scaling relationship with body size, with energetic equivalence holding true only for size classes above the modal abundance class. Species-based data showed either weak linear or no significant patterns, likely due to the decrease in the number of data points across body size classes. Hence, for individual-based size spectra, the SRA relationship seems to be general despite seasonal forcing and strong disturbances in Coliumo Bay. The unimodal abundance distribution results in a piecewise energy scaling relationship, with small individuals showing a positive scaling and large individuals showing energetic equivalence. Hence, strict energetic equivalence should not be expected for unimodal abundance distributions. On the other hand, while species-based data do not show unimodal SRA relationships, energy use across body size classes did not show significant trends, supporting energetic equivalence. PMID:25691966

Macroscale patterns in body size of intertidal crustaceans provide insights on climate change effects

PubMed Central

Dugan, Jenifer E.; Hubbard, David M.; Contreras, Heraldo; Duarte, Cristian; Acuña, Emilio; Schoeman, David S.

2017-01-01

Predicting responses of coastal ecosystems to altered sea surface temperatures (SST) associated with global climate change, requires knowledge of demographic responses of individual species. Body size is an excellent metric because it scales strongly with growth and fecundity for many ectotherms. These attributes can underpin demographic as well as community and ecosystem level processes, providing valuable insights for responses of vulnerable coastal ecosystems to changing climate. We investigated contemporary macroscale patterns in body size among widely distributed crustaceans that comprise the majority of intertidal abundance and biomass of sandy beach ecosystems of the eastern Pacific coasts of Chile and California, USA. We focused on ecologically important species representing different tidal zones, trophic guilds and developmental modes, including a high-shore macroalga-consuming talitrid amphipod (Orchestoidea tuberculata), two mid-shore scavenging cirolanid isopods (Excirolana braziliensis and E. hirsuticauda), and a low-shore suspension-feeding hippid crab (Emerita analoga) with an amphitropical distribution. Significant latitudinal patterns in body sizes were observed for all species in Chile (21° - 42°S), with similar but steeper patterns in Emerita analoga, in California (32°- 41°N). Sea surface temperature was a strong predictor of body size (-4% to -35% °C-1) in all species. Beach characteristics were subsidiary predictors of body size. Alterations in ocean temperatures of even a few degrees associated with global climate change are likely to affect body sizes of important intertidal ectotherms, with consequences for population demography, life history, community structure, trophic interactions, food-webs, and indirect effects such as ecosystem function. The consistency of results for body size and temperature across species with different life histories, feeding modes, ecological roles, and microhabitats inhabiting a single widespread coastal ecosystem, and for one species, across hemispheres in this space-for-time substitution, suggests predictions of ecosystem responses to thermal effects of climate change may potentially be generalised, with important implications for coastal conservation. PMID:28481897

Mapping Thermal Habitat of Ectotherms Based on Behavioral Thermoregulation in a Controlled Thermal Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fei, T.; Skidmore, A.; Liu, Y.

2012-07-01

Thermal environment is especially important to ectotherm because a lot of physiological functions rely on the body temperature such as thermoregulation. The so-called behavioural thermoregulation function made use of the heterogeneity of the thermal properties within an individual's habitat to sustain the animal's physiological processes. This function links the spatial utilization and distribution of individual ectotherm with the thermal properties of habitat (thermal habitat). In this study we modelled the relationship between the two by a spatial explicit model that simulates the movements of a lizard in a controlled environment. The model incorporates a lizard's transient body temperatures with a cellular automaton algorithm as a way to link the physiology knowledge of the animal with the spatial utilization of its microhabitat. On a larger spatial scale, 'thermal roughness' of the habitat was defined and used to predict the habitat occupancy of the target species. The results showed the habitat occupancy can be modelled by the cellular automaton based algorithm at a smaller scale, and can be modelled by the thermal roughness index at a larger scale.

The Discovery of Water Channels (Aquaporins).

PubMed

Brown, Dennis

2017-01-01

The movement of water into and out of cells is a fundamental biological process that is essential for life. Such water movement not only regulates the activity of individual cells but also is responsible for the functioning of many organ systems and for maintaining whole body water balance. It had long been suspected that water movement across biological cell membranes was in some way enhanced or facilitated by pores or channels, but the search to identify these channels was long and tedious. As is often the case in science, the secret of the water channel was eventually discovered by chance in 1992 by Peter Agre and his colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who were working on red blood cell membrane proteins. This "first" water channel was originally named CHIP28 and is now known as aquaporin 1. Agre received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003 for this discovery. There are currently 13 known aquaporins in mammals, distributed in most tissues, but many more have been identified in lower organisms and in the plant kingdom. The involvement of aquaporins in processes such as urinary concentration and body fluid homeostasis, brain function, glandular secretion, skin hydration, male fertility, hearing, vision, and most important body functions that can be imagined are now all under intense scientific scrutiny. Moreover, defects in aquaporin function have been related to various disease conditions and pathological states. This brief review will discuss their background, discovery, and function in selected bodily processes, especially focusing on hydration. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Spectral decomposition of seismic data with reassigned smoothed pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiaoyang; Liu, Tianyou

2009-07-01

Seismic signals are nonstationary mainly due to absorption and attenuation of seismic energy in strata. Referring to spectral decomposition of seismic data, the conventional method using short-time Fourier transform (STFT) limits temporal and spectral resolution by a predefined window length. Continuous-wavelet transform (CWT) uses dilation and translation of a wavelet to produce a time-scale map. However, the wavelets utilized should be orthogonal in order to obtain a satisfactory resolution. The less applied, Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) being superior in energy distribution concentration, is confronted with cross-terms interference (CTI) when signals are multi-component. In order to reduce the impact of CTI, Cohen class uses kernel function as low-pass filter. Nevertheless it also weakens energy concentration of auto-terms. In this paper, we employ smoothed pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution (SPWVD) with Gauss kernel function to reduce CTI in time and frequency domain, then reassign values of SPWVD (called reassigned SPWVD) according to the center of gravity of the considering energy region so that distribution concentration is maintained simultaneously. We conduct the method above on a multi-component synthetic seismic record and compare with STFT and CWT spectra. Two field examples reveal that RSPWVD potentially can be applied to detect low-frequency shadows caused by hydrocarbons and to delineate the space distribution of abnormal geological body more precisely.

Modular decomposition of metabolic reaction networks based on flux analysis and pathway projection.

PubMed

Yoon, Jeongah; Si, Yaguang; Nolan, Ryan; Lee, Kyongbum

2007-09-15

The rational decomposition of biochemical networks into sub-structures has emerged as a useful approach to study the design of these complex systems. A biochemical network is characterized by an inhomogeneous connectivity distribution, which gives rise to several organizational features, including modularity. To what extent the connectivity-based modules reflect the functional organization of the network remains to be further explored. In this work, we examine the influence of physiological perturbations on the modular organization of cellular metabolism. Modules were characterized for two model systems, liver and adipocyte primary metabolism, by applying an algorithm for top-down partition of directed graphs with non-uniform edge weights. The weights were set by the engagement of the corresponding reactions as expressed by the flux distribution. For the base case of the fasted rat liver, three modules were found, carrying out the following biochemical transformations: ketone body production, glucose synthesis and transamination. This basic organization was further modified when different flux distributions were applied that describe the liver's metabolic response to whole body inflammation. For the fully mature adipocyte, only a single module was observed, integrating all of the major pathways needed for lipid storage. Weaker levels of integration between the pathways were found for the early stages of adipocyte differentiation. Our results underscore the inhomogeneous distribution of both connectivity and connection strengths, and suggest that global activity data such as the flux distribution can be used to study the organizational flexibility of cellular metabolism. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Constraints on Particle Sizes in Saturn's G Ring from Ring Plane Crossing Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Throop, H. B.; Esposito, L. W.

1996-09-01

The ring plane crossings in 1995--96 allowed earth-based observations of Saturn's diffuse rings (Nicholson et al., Nature 272, 1996; De Pater et al. Icarus 121, 1996) at a phase angle of alpha ~ 5 deg . We calculate the G ring reflectance for steady state distributions of dust to km-sized bodies from a range of physical models which track the evolution of the G ring from its initial formation following the disruption of a progenitor satellite (Canup & Esposito 1996, \\ Icarus,\\ in press). We model scattering from the ring's small particles using an exact T-matrix method for nonspherical, absorptive particles (Mishchenko et al. 1996, \\ JGR Atmo., in press), large particles using the phase function and spectrum of Europa, and intermediate particles using a linear combination of the small and large limits. Two distinct particle size distributions from the CE96 model fit the observed spectrum. The first is that of a dusty ring, with the majority of ring reflectance in dust particles of relatedly shallow power law size distribution exponent q ~ 2.5. The second has equal reflectances from a) dust in the range q ~ 3.5 -- 6.5 and b) macroscopic bodies > 1 mm. In this second case, the respective slightly blue and red components combine to form the observed relatively flat spectrum. Although light scattering in backscatter is not sufficient to completely constrain the G ring size distribution, the distributions predicted by the CE96 model can explain the earth-based observations.

Purine ionotropic (P2X) receptors.

PubMed

Köles, L; Fürst, S; Illes, P

2007-01-01

Purinergic signaling is involved in the proper functioning of virtually all organs of the body. Although in some cases purines have a major influence on physiological functions (e.g. thrombocyte aggregation), more often they are just background modulators contributing to fine tuning of biological events. However, under pathological conditions, when a huge amount of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) can reach the extracellular space, their significance is increasing. ATP and its various degradation products activate membrane receptors divided into two main classes: the metabotropic P2Y and the ionotropic P2X family. This latter group, the purine ionotropic receptor, is the object of this review. After providing a description about the distribution and functional properties of P2X receptors in the body, their pharmacology will be summarized. In the second part of this review, the role of purines in those organ systems and body functions will be highlighted, where the (patho)physiological role of P2X receptors has been suggested or is even well established. Besides the regulation of organ systems, for instance in the cardiovascular, respiratory, genitourinary or gastrointestinal system, some special issues will also be discussed, such as the role of P2X receptors in pain, tumors, central nervous system (CNS) injury and embryonic development. Several examples will indicate that purine ionotropic receptors might serve as attractive targets for pharmacological interventions in various diseases, and that selective ligands for these receptors will probably constitute important future therapeutic tools in humans.

MNPBEM - A Matlab toolbox for the simulation of plasmonic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hohenester, Ulrich; Trügler, Andreas

2012-02-01

MNPBEM is a Matlab toolbox for the simulation of metallic nanoparticles (MNP), using a boundary element method (BEM) approach. The main purpose of the toolbox is to solve Maxwell's equations for a dielectric environment where bodies with homogeneous and isotropic dielectric functions are separated by abrupt interfaces. Although the approach is in principle suited for arbitrary body sizes and photon energies, it is tested (and probably works best) for metallic nanoparticles with sizes ranging from a few to a few hundreds of nanometers, and for frequencies in the optical and near-infrared regime. The toolbox has been implemented with Matlab classes. These classes can be easily combined, which has the advantage that one can adapt the simulation programs flexibly for various applications. Program summaryProgram title: MNPBEM Catalogue identifier: AEKJ_v1_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEKJ_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: GNU General Public License v2 No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 15 700 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 891 417 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Matlab 7.11.0 (R2010b) Computer: Any which supports Matlab 7.11.0 (R2010b) Operating system: Any which supports Matlab 7.11.0 (R2010b) RAM: ⩾1 GByte Classification: 18 Nature of problem: Solve Maxwell's equations for dielectric particles with homogeneous dielectric functions separated by abrupt interfaces. Solution method: Boundary element method using electromagnetic potentials. Running time: Depending on surface discretization between seconds and hours.

Accurate mass and velocity functions of dark matter haloes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Comparat, Johan; Prada, Francisco; Yepes, Gustavo; Klypin, Anatoly

2017-08-01

N-body cosmological simulations are an essential tool to understand the observed distribution of galaxies. We use the MultiDark simulation suite, run with the Planck cosmological parameters, to revisit the mass and velocity functions. At redshift z = 0, the simulations cover four orders of magnitude in halo mass from ˜1011M⊙ with 8783 874 distinct haloes and 532 533 subhaloes. The total volume used is ˜515 Gpc3, more than eight times larger than in previous studies. We measure and model the halo mass function, its covariance matrix w.r.t halo mass and the large-scale halo bias. With the formalism of the excursion-set mass function, we explicit the tight interconnection between the covariance matrix, bias and halo mass function. We obtain a very accurate (<2 per cent level) model of the distinct halo mass function. We also model the subhalo mass function and its relation to the distinct halo mass function. The set of models obtained provides a complete and precise framework for the description of haloes in the concordance Planck cosmology. Finally, we provide precise analytical fits of the Vmax maximum velocity function up to redshift z < 2.3 to push for the development of halo occupation distribution using Vmax. The data and the analysis code are made publicly available in the Skies and Universes data base.

Reconstruction of internal density distributions in porous bodies from laser ultrasonic data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, Yichi; Goldman, Jeffrey A.; Wadley, Haydn N. G.

1992-01-01

It is presently shown that, for density-reconstruction problems in which information about the inhomogeneity is known a priori, the nonlinear least-squares algorithm yields satisfactory results on the basis of limited projection data. The back-projection algorithm, which obviates assumptions about the objective function to be reconstructed, does not recover the boundary of the inhomogeneity when the number of projections is limited and ray-bending is ignored.

Singularity in the Laboratory Frame Angular Distribution Derived in Two-Body Scattering Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dick, Frank; Norbury, John W.

2009-01-01

The laboratory (lab) frame angular distribution derived in two-body scattering theory exhibits a singularity at the maximum lab scattering angle. The singularity appears in the kinematic factor that transforms the centre of momentum (cm) angular distribution to the lab angular distribution. We show that it is caused in the transformation by the…

Thouless energy and multifractality across the many-body localization transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serbyn, Maksym; Papić, Z.; Abanin, Dmitry A.

2017-09-01

Thermal and many-body localized phases are separated by a dynamical phase transition of a new kind. We analyze the distribution of off-diagonal matrix elements of local operators across this transition in two different models of disordered spin chains. We show that the behavior of matrix elements can be used to characterize the breakdown of thermalization and to extract the many-body Thouless energy. We find that upon increasing the disorder strength the system enters a critical region around the many-body localization transition. The properties of the system in this region are: (i) the Thouless energy becomes smaller than the level spacing, (ii) the matrix elements show critical dependence on the energy difference, and (iii) the matrix elements, viewed as amplitudes of a fictitious wave function, exhibit strong multifractality. This critical region decreases with the system size, which we interpret as evidence for a diverging correlation length at the many-body localization transition. Our findings show that the correlation length becomes larger than the accessible system sizes in a broad range of disorder strength values and shed light on the critical behavior near the many-body localization transition.

Effect of air gap on apparent temperature of body wearing various sizes of T-shirt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takatera, M.; Uchiyama, E.; Zhu, C.; Kim, KO; Ishizawa, H.

2017-10-01

We investigated the effect of air gap on the apparent temperature. Using the developed thermocouple fabric and a thermal manikin, we measured temperature distribution of the measuring garments due to the change of T-shirt sizes. We were able to measure the apparent temperature distribution at points near a body while wearing different sizes of T-shirts. It was observed that the temperature distribution depending on different air gap between clothing and body. The apparent temperature depends on garment size and place. The effect of air gap on apparent temperature of body was experimentally confirmed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belsom, Keith Cletus; McMahan, Kevin Weston; Thomas, Larry Lou

A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine generally includes a main body having an upstream end axially separated from a downstream end. The main body at least partially defines a fuel supply passage that extends through the upstream end and at least partially through the main body. A fuel distribution manifold is disposed at the downstream end of the main body. The fuel distribution manifold includes a plurality of axially extending passages that extend through the fuel distribution manifold. A plurality of fuel injection ports defines a flow path between the fuel supply passage and each of the plurality ofmore » axially extending passages.« less

Non-dispersive phloem-protein bodies (NPBs) of Populus trichocarpa consist of a SEOR protein and do not respond to cell wounding and Ca2+

PubMed Central

Mullendore, Daniel L.; Ross-Elliott, Timothy; Liu, Yan; Hellmann, Hanjo H.; Roalson, Eric H.

2018-01-01

Differentiating sieve elements in the phloem of angiosperms produce abundant phloem-specific proteins before their protein synthesis machinery is degraded. These P-proteins initially form dense bodies, which disperse into individual filaments when the sieve element matures. In some cases, however, the dense protein agglomerations remain intact and are visible in functional sieve tubes as non-dispersive P-protein bodies, or NPBs. Species exhibiting NPBs are distributed across the entire angiosperm clade. We found that NPBs in the model tree, Populus trichocarpa, resemble the protein bodies described from other species of the order Malpighiales as they all consist of coaligned tubular fibrils bundled in hexagonal symmetry. NPBs of all Malpighiales tested proved unresponsive to sieve tube wounding and Ca2+. The P. trichocarpa NPBs consisted of a protein encoded by a gene that in the genome database of this species had been annotated as a homolog of SEOR1 (sieve element occlusion-related 1) in Arabidopsis. Sequencing of the gene in our plants corroborated this interpretation, and we named the gene PtSEOR1. Previously characterized SEOR proteins form irregular masses of P-protein slime in functional sieve tubes. We conclude that a subgroup of these proteins is involved in the formation of NPBs at least in the Malpighiales, and that these protein bodies have no role in rapid wound responses of the sieve tube network. PMID:29682428

Type of body fat distribution in postmenopausal women and its related factors.

PubMed

Noroozi, Mahnaz; Rastegari, Zahra; Paknahad, Zamzam

2010-01-01

The type of body fat distribution has an important role for identifying risk of diseases. One of the simple anthropometric indexes for estimating type of body fat distribution is waist circumference index. This study is aimed to determine the type of body fat distribution in postmenopausal women and its related factors. This is a cross sectional descriptive analytical study. Samples were 278 postmenopausal women in Isfahan who were selected by stratified sampling and then were invited to 64 health centers of Isfahan. Data was gathered using a questionnaire and standard meter. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that in postmenopausal women the mean of waist circumference index was 93.63 (10.66) and its range was 54 to 119 cm. There was a meaningful relation between job, educational status, total pregnancies, total deliveries, age of first pregnancy, lactation history and menopausal age with waist circumference index. Results showed that the type of body fat distribution of postmenopausal women is of android type. Considering side effects of this kind of distribution, necessary teachings about healthy eating, movement and exercises must be given to women of these ages.

Impact of age and sex on normal left heart structure and function.

PubMed

Hagström, Linn; Henein, Michael Y; Karp, Kjell; Waldenström, Anders; Lindqvist, Per

2017-11-01

Accurate age- and sex-related normal reference values of ventricular structure and function are important to determine the level of dysfunction in patients. The aim of this study therefore was to document normal age range sex-related measurements of LV structural and functional measurements to serve such purpose. We evaluated left ventricular structure and function in 293 healthy subjects between 20 and 90 years with equally distributed gender. Doppler echocardiography was used including measure of both systolic and diastolic functions. Due to systolic LV function, only long axis function correlated with age (r = 0·55, P<0·01) and the correlation was stronger in females. Concerning diastolic function, there was a strong age correlation in all parameters used (r = 0·40-0·74, P<0·001). Due to LV structural changes over age, females showed a larger reduction in end-diastolic volumes, but no or trivial difference in wall thickness after the age of 60 years. Age is associated with significant normal changes in left ventricular structure and function, which should be considered when deciding on normality. These changes are related to systemic arterial changes as well as body stature, thus reflecting overall body ageing process. Furthermore, normal cardiac ageing in females might partly explain the higher prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection in females. © 2016 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Phage Therapy: Eco-Physiological Pharmacology

PubMed Central

Abedon, Stephen T.

2014-01-01

Bacterial virus use as antibacterial agents, in the guise of what is commonly known as phage therapy, is an inherently physiological, ecological, and also pharmacological process. Physiologically we can consider metabolic properties of phage infections of bacteria and variation in those properties as a function of preexisting bacterial states. In addition, there are patient responses to pathogenesis, patient responses to phage infections of pathogens, and also patient responses to phage virions alone. Ecologically, we can consider phage propagation, densities, distribution (within bodies), impact on body-associated microbiota (as ecological communities), and modification of the functioning of body “ecosystems” more generally. These ecological and physiological components in many ways represent different perspectives on otherwise equivalent phenomena. Comparable to drugs, one also can view phages during phage therapy in pharmacological terms. The relatively unique status of phages within the context of phage therapy as essentially replicating antimicrobials can therefore result in a confluence of perspectives, many of which can be useful towards gaining a better mechanistic appreciation of phage therapy, as I consider here. Pharmacology more generally may be viewed as a discipline that lies at an interface between organism-associated phenomena, as considered by physiology, and environmental interactions as considered by ecology. PMID:25031881

The sign, magnitude and potential drivers of change in surface water extent in Canadian tundra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carroll, Mark L.; Loboda, Tatiana V.

2018-04-01

The accelerated rate of warming in the Arctic has considerable implications for all components of ecosystem functioning in the High Northern Latitudes. Changes to hydrological cycle in the Arctic are particularly complex as the observed and projected warming directly impacts permafrost and leads to variable responses in surface water extent which is currently poorly characterized at the regional scale. In this study we take advantage of the 30 plus years of medium resolution (30 m) Landsat data to quantify the spatial patterns of change in the extent of water bodies in the Arctic tundra in Nunavut, Canada. Our results show a divergent pattern of change—growing surface water extent in the north-west and shrinking in the south-east—which is not a function of the overall distribution of surface water in the region. The observed changes cannot be explained by latitudinal stratification, nor is it explained by available temperature and precipitation records. However, the sign of change appears to be consistent within the boundaries of individual watersheds defined by the Canada National Hydro Network based on the random forest analysis. Using land cover maps as a proxy for ecological function we were able to link shrinking tundra water bodies to substrates with shallow soil layers (i.e. bedrock and barren landscapes) with a moderate correlation (R 2 = 0.46, p < 0.001). It has previously been reported that rising temperatures are driving a deepening of the active layer and shrinking water bodies can be associated with coarse textured soils beneath the lakes. Unlike water bodies with soil, or gravel, beneath them the water bodies that are situated on bedrock are likely cut off from ground water. Drying water bodies clustered in areas of bedrock and thin soils points to evaporation as an important driver of surface water decrease in these cases.

Novel Insights into the Echinoderm Nervous System from Histaminergic and FMRFaminergic-Like Cells in the Sea Cucumber Leptosynapta clarki

PubMed Central

Hoekstra, Luke A.; Moroz, Leonid L.; Heyland, Andreas

2012-01-01

Understanding of the echinoderm nervous system is limited due to its distinct organization in comparison to other animal phyla and by the difficulty in accessing it. The transparent and accessible, apodid sea cucumber Leptosynapta clarki provides novel opportunities for detailed characterization of echinoderm neural systems. The present study used immunohistochemistry against FMRFamide and histamine to describe the neural organization in juvenile and adult sea cucumbers. Histaminergic- and FMRFaminergic-like immunoreactivity is reported in several distinct cell types throughout the body of L. clarki. FMRFamide-like immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the buccal tentacles, esophageal region and in proximity to the radial nerve cords. Sensory-like cells in the tentacles send processes toward the circumoral nerve ring, while unipolar and bipolar cells close to the radial nerve cords display extensive processes in close association with muscle and other cells of the body wall. Histamine-like immunoreactivity was identified in neuronal somatas located in the buccal tentacles, circumoral nerve ring and in papillae distributed across the body. The tentacular cells send processes into the nerve ring, while the processes of cells in the body wall papillae extend to the surface epithelium and radial nerve cords. Pharmacological application of histamine produced a strong coordinated, peristaltic response of the body wall suggesting the role of histamine in the feeding behavior. Our immunohistochemical data provide evidence for extensive connections between the hyponeural and ectoneural nervous system in the sea cucumber, challenging previously held views on a clear functional separation of the sub-components of the nervous system. Furthermore, our data indicate a potential function of histamine in coordinated, peristaltic movements; consistent with feeding patterns in this species. This study on L. clarki illustrates how using a broader range of neurotransmitter systems can provide better insight into the anatomy, function and evolution of echinoderm nervous sytems. PMID:22970182

Energy spectra of massive two-body decay products and mass measurement

DOE PAGES

Agashe, Kaustubh; Franceschini, Roberto; Hong, Sungwoo; ...

2016-04-26

Here, we have recently established a new method for measuring the mass of unstable particles produced at hadron colliders based on the analysis of the energy distribution of a massless product from their two-body decays. The central ingredient of our proposal is the remarkable result that, for an unpolarized decaying particle, the location of the peak in the energy distribution of the observed decay product is identical to the (fixed) value of the energy that this particle would have in the rest-frame of the decaying particle, which, in turn, is a simple function of the involved masses. In addition, wemore » utilized the property that this energy distribution is symmetric around the location of peak when energy is plotted on a logarithmic scale. The general strategy was demonstrated in several specific cases, including both beyond the standard model particles, as well as for the top quark. In the present work, we generalize this method to the case of a massive decay product from a two-body decay; this procedure is far from trivial because (in general) both the above-mentioned properties are no longer valid. Nonetheless, we propose a suitably modified parametrization of the energy distribution that was used successfully for the massless case, which can deal with the massive case as well. We test this parametrization on concrete examples of energy spectra of Z bosons from the decay of a heavier supersymmetric partner of top quark (stop) into a Z boson and a lighter stop. After establishing the accuracy of this parametrization, we study a realistic application for the same process, but now including dominant backgrounds and using foreseeable statistics at LHC14, in order to determine the performance of this method for an actual mass measurement. The upshot of our present and previous work is that, in spite of energy being a Lorentz-variant quantity, its distribution emerges as a powerful tool for mass measurement at hadron colliders.« less

Choice of resolution by functional trait or taxonomy affects allometric scaling in soil food webs.

PubMed

Sechi, Valentina; Brussaard, Lijbert; De Goede, Ron G M; Rutgers, Michiel; Mulder, Christian

2015-01-01

Belowground organisms often display a shift in their mass-abundance scaling relationships due to environmental factors such as soil chemistry and atmospheric deposition. Here we present new empirical data that show strong differences in allometric scaling according to whether the resolution at the local scale is based on a taxonomic or a functional classification, while only slight differences arise according to soil environmental conditions. For the first time, isometry (an inverse 1:1 proportion) is recognized in mass-abundance relationships, providing a functional signal for constant biomass distribution in soil biota regardless of discrete trophic levels. Our findings are in contrast to those from aquatic ecosystems, in that higher trophic levels in soil biota are not a direct function of increasing body mass.

YORP torque as the function of shape harmonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breiter, Sławomir; Michalska, Hanna

2008-08-01

The second-order analytical approximation of the mean Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) torque components is given as an explicit function of the shape spherical harmonics coefficients for a sufficiently regular minor body. The results are based upon a new expression for the insolation function, significantly simpler than in previous works. Linearized plane-parallel model of the temperature distribution derived from the insolation function allows us to take into account a non-zero conductivity. Final expressions for the three average components of the YORP torque related with rotation period, obliquity and precession are given in a form of the Legendre series of the cosine of obliquity. The series have good numerical properties and can be easily truncated according to the degree of the Legendre polynomials or associated functions, with first two terms playing the principal role.

A comparative study of single-leg ground reaction forces in running lizards.

PubMed

McElroy, Eric J; Wilson, Robbie; Biknevicius, Audrone R; Reilly, Stephen M

2014-03-01

The role of different limbs in supporting and propelling the body has been studied in many species with animals appearing to have either similarity in limb function or differential limb function. Differential hindlimb versus forelimb function has been proposed as a general feature of running with a sprawling posture and as benefiting sprawled postured animals by enhancing maneuvering and minimizing joint moments. Yet only a few species have been studied and thus the generality of differential limb function in running animals with sprawled postures is unknown. We measured the limb lengths of seven species of lizard and their single-limb three-dimensional ground reaction forces during high-speed running. We found that all species relied on the hindlimb for producing accelerative forces. Braking forces were forelimb dominated in four species and equally distributed between limbs in the other three. Vertical forces were dominated by the hindlimb in three species and equally distributed between the forelimb and hindlimb in the other four. Medial forces were dominated by the hindlimb in four species and equally distributed in the other three, with all Iguanians exhibiting hindlimb-biased medial forces. Relative hindlimb to forelimb length of each species was related to variation in hindlimb versus forelimb medial forces; species with relatively longer hindlimbs compared with forelimbs exhibited medial forces that were more biased towards the hindlimbs. These results suggest that the function of individual limbs in lizards varies across species with only a single general pattern (hindlimb-dominated accelerative force) being present.

A four-body model for the breakup of Borromean nucleus 22C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyamoto, Tomokazu

A Borromean system is a bound 3-body system where no 2-body subsystems are bound. In nuclear physics, a nucleus that can be modelled as a Borromean system is called a Borromean nucleus; 6 He and 11 Li are good examples of this. Recent research suggests that this Borromean nature should also be exhibited by 22 C, the heaviest-known carbon isotope. In this PhD thesis, a schematic approach is taken to study reactions involving Borromean nuclei. Hyperspherical formalism (HH) and coordinate space Faddeev (CSF) method are used for creating their 3-body bound state wave functions. We formulate the reactions of a Borromean nucleus with a stable target at incident energies ranging from tens of (MeV) to a few hundred (MeV); we adopt a 4-body reaction model to deepen our understanding of the reaction mechanism involving Borromean nuclei. The Glauber-WKB framework is used to describe these reactions, which is well-suited for these incident energies. Introducing Watson-Migdal final state interaction, we calculate the E1 strengths for Borromean nuclei so as to elucidate their breakup mechanism and we explore the possibility of the existence of a soft dipole mode. We also calculate the differential breakup cross sections to see how the post-collision interaction can have an impact on the cross sections. As far as 22 C is concerned, it is found that the reactions are mainly focused on the forward angle region, and the contributions from the higher order terms are not significant. This implies that the non-eikonal trajectories do not play a crucial role in the reaction mechanism. Also, both E1 distributions and breakup cross sections seem to sensitive to the 2n-separation energies of the bound state wave functions, but the E1 distributions and the cross sections to 1- continuum state seem not to be sensitive to the FSIs; cross sections to 0+ and 2+ continuum states seem to be sensitive to the FSIs. Our findings does not support the view that, if an soft dipole mode exists, it is induced by the FSIs.

MAGI: many-component galaxy initializer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miki, Yohei; Umemura, Masayuki

2018-04-01

Providing initial conditions is an essential procedure for numerical simulations of galaxies. The initial conditions for idealized individual galaxies in N-body simulations should resemble observed galaxies and be dynamically stable for time-scales much longer than their characteristic dynamical times. However, generating a galaxy model ab initio as a system in dynamical equilibrium is a difficult task, since a galaxy contains several components, including a bulge, disc, and halo. Moreover, it is desirable that the initial-condition generator be fast and easy to use. We have now developed an initial-condition generator for galactic N-body simulations that satisfies these requirements. The developed generator adopts a distribution-function-based method, and it supports various kinds of density models, including custom-tabulated inputs and the presence of more than one disc. We tested the dynamical stability of systems generated by our code, representing early- and late-type galaxies, with N = 2097 152 and 8388 608 particles, respectively, and we found that the model galaxies maintain their initial distributions for at least 1 Gyr. The execution times required to generate the two models were 8.5 and 221.7 seconds, respectively, which is negligible compared to typical execution times for N-body simulations. The code is provided as open-source software and is publicly and freely available at https://bitbucket.org/ymiki/magi.

Application of local linearization and the transonic equivalence rule to the flow about slender analytic bodies at Mach numbers near 1.0

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tyson, R. W.; Muraca, R. J.

1975-01-01

The local linearization method for axisymmetric flow is combined with the transonic equivalence rule to calculate pressure distribution on slender bodies at free-stream Mach numbers from .8 to 1.2. This is an approximate solution to the transonic flow problem which yields results applicable during the preliminary design stages of a configuration development. The method can be used to determine the aerodynamic loads on parabolic arc bodies having either circular or elliptical cross sections. It is particularly useful in predicting pressure distributions and normal force distributions along the body at small angles of attack. The equations discussed may be extended to include wing-body combinations.

Analysis of the Body Distribution of Absorbed Dose in the Organs of Three Species of Fish from Sepetiba Bay

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pereira, Wagner de S; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Programa de Pos-graduacao em Biologia Marinha; Kelecom, Alphonse

2008-08-07

The body distribution of Polonium-210 in three fishes from the Sepetiba Bay (Macrodon ancylodon, Micropogonias furnieri and Mugil curema) has been studied under the approach of the Department of Energy of the United States of America (DOE) that set the limit of absorbed dose rate in biota equal to 3.5x10{sup 3} {mu}Gy/y, and that also established the relation between dose rate (D) and radionuclide concentration (c) on a fish muscle fresh weight basis, as follows: D = 5.05 ExNxC, assuming that the radionuclide distribution is homogenous among organs. Two hypotheses were tested here, using statistical tools: 1) is the bodymore » distribution of absorbed dose homogenous among organs? and 2) is the body distribution of absorbed dose identical among studied fishes? It was concluded, as expected, that the distribution among organs is heterogeneous; but, unexpectedly, that the three fishes display identical body distribution pattern, although they belong to different trophic levels. Hence, concerning absorbed dose calculation, the statement that data distribution is homogenous must be understood merely as an approximation, at least in the case of Polonium-210.« less

Evolution of the axial system in craniates: morphology and function of the perivertebral musculature

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

The axial musculoskeletal system represents the plesiomorphic locomotor engine of the vertebrate body, playing a central role in locomotion. In craniates, the evolution of the postcranial skeleton is characterized by two major transformations. First, the axial skeleton became increasingly functionally and morphologically regionalized. Second, the axial-based locomotion plesiomorphic for craniates became progressively appendage-based with the evolution of extremities in tetrapods. These changes, together with the transition to land, caused increased complexity in the planes in which axial movements occur and moments act on the body and were accompanied by profound changes in axial muscle function. To increase our understanding of the evolutionary transformations of the structure and function of the perivertebral musculature, this review integrates recent anatomical and physiological data (e.g., muscle fiber types, activation patterns) with gross-anatomical and kinematic findings for pivotal craniate taxa. This information is mapped onto a phylogenetic hypothesis to infer the putative character set of the last common ancestor of the respective taxa and to conjecture patterns of locomotor and muscular evolution. The increasing anatomical and functional complexity in the muscular arrangement during craniate evolution is associated with changes in fiber angulation and fiber-type distribution, i.e., increasing obliqueness in fiber orientation and segregation of fatigue-resistant fibers in deeper muscle regions. The loss of superficial fatigue-resistant fibers may be related to the profound gross anatomical reorganization of the axial musculature during the tetrapod evolution. The plesiomorphic function of the axial musculature -mobilization- is retained in all craniates. Along with the evolution of limbs and the subsequent transition to land, axial muscles additionally function to globally stabilize the trunk against inertial and extrinsic limb muscle forces as well as gravitational forces. Associated with the evolution of sagittal mobility and a parasagittal limb posture, axial muscles in mammals also stabilize the trunk against sagittal components of extrinsic limb muscle action as well as the inertia of the body's center of mass. Thus, the axial system is central to the static and dynamic control of the body posture in all craniates and, in gnathostomes, additionally provides the foundation for the mechanical work of the appendicular system. PMID:21306656

Molecular dynamics simulations on the local order of liquid and amorphous ZnTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rino, José Pedro; Borges, Denilson; Mota, Rita C.; Silva, Maurício A. P.

2008-05-01

Molecular dynamics studies of structural and dynamical correlations of molten and vitreous states under several conditions of density and temperature were performed. We use an effective recently proposed interatomic potential, consisting of two- and three-body covalent interactions which has successfully described the structural, dynamical, and structural phase transformation induced by pressure in ZnTe [D. S. Borges and J. P. Rino, Phys. Rev. B 72, 014107 (2005)]. The two-body term of the interaction potential consists of Coulomb interaction resulting from charge transfer, steric repulsion due to atomic sizes, charge-dipole interaction to include the effect of electronic polarizability of anions, and dipole-dipole (van der Waals) interactions. The three-body covalent term is a modification of the Stillinger-Weber potential. Molecular dynamics simulations in isobaric-isenthalpic ensemble have been performed for systems amounting to 4096 and 64 000 particles. Starting from a crystalline zinc-blende (ZB) structure, the system is initially heated until a very homogeneous liquid is obtained. The vitreous zinc telluride phase is attained by cooling the liquid at sufficiently fast cooling rates, while slower cooling rates lead to a disordered ZB crystalline structure. Two- and three-body correlations for the liquid and vitreous phases are analyzed through pair distribution functions, static structure factors, and bond angle distributions. In particular, the neutron static structure factor for the liquid phase is in very good agreement with both the reported experimental data and first-principles simulations.

Simulation of water solutions of Ni 2+ at infinite dilution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natália, M.; Cordeiro, D. S.; Ignaczak, Anna; Gomes, José A. N. F.

1993-10-01

A new ab initio pair potential is developed to describe the nickel—water interactions in Ni(II) aqueous solutions. Results of Monte Carlo simulations for the Ni(II)(H 2O) 200 system are presented for this pair potential with and without three-body classical polarization terms (the water—water interaction is described by the ab initio MCY potential). The structure of the solution around Ni(II) is discussed in terms of radial distribution functions, coordination numbers and thermal ellipsoids. The results show that the three-body terms have a non-negligible effect on the simulated solution. In fact, the experimental coordination number of six is reproduced with the full potential while a higher value is predicted when the simple pairwise-additive potential is used. The equilibrium NiO distance for the first hydration shell is also dependent on the use of the three-body terms. Comparison of our distribution functions with those obtained by neutron-diffraction experiments shows a reasonable quantitative agreement. Statistical pattern recognition analysis has also been applied to our simulations in order to better understand the local thermal motion of the water molecules around the metal ion. In this way, thermal ellipsoids have been computed (and graphically displayed) for each atom of the water molecules belonging to the Ni(II) first hydration shell. This analysis revealed that the twisting and bending motions are greater than the radial motion, and that the hydrogens have a higher mobility than the oxygens. In addition, a thermodynamic perturbation method has been incorporated in our Monte Carlo procedure in order to compute the free energy of hydration for the Ni(II) ion. Agreement between these results and the experimental ones is also sufficiently reasonable to demonstrate the feasibility of this new potential for the nickel—water interactions.

ANTICOOL: Simulating positron cooling and annihilation in atomic gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, D. G.

2018-03-01

The Fortran program ANTICOOL, developed to simulate positron cooling and annihilation in atomic gases for positron energies below the positronium-formation threshold, is presented. Given positron-atom elastic scattering phase shifts, normalised annihilation rates Zeff, and γ spectra as a function of momentum k, ANTICOOL enables the calculation of the positron momentum distribution f(k , t) as a function of time t, the time-varying normalised annihilation rate Z¯eff(t) , the lifetime spectrum and time-varying annihilation γ spectra. The capability and functionality of the program is demonstrated via a tutorial-style example for positron cooling and annihilation in room temperature helium gas, using accurate scattering and annihilation cross sections and γ spectra calculated using many-body theory as input.

[Advance of the study on LRRK2 gene in Parkinson's disease].

PubMed

Zhang, Yu; Chen, Shengdi

2008-12-01

The leucine-rich repeat kinase2 (LRRK2) has been identified to be the gene causing autosomal dominant inherited Parkinson's disease(PD)8. The clinical features of this type of PD are similar to those of idiopathic PD, but the pathological changes are diverse. The mutation types and frequencies of the LRRK2 distribute unevenly in different populations. LRRK2 is a large complex protein with multiple functions and expresses widely in human body. Sequence alignment shows that LRRK2 might be a multiple function kinase for substrate phosphorylation and might also act as a scaffolding protein. Further study on the physiological function and pathogenic mechanism of LRRK2 will help to find out the possible pathogenesis and new treatment for PD.

On the impact of neutron star binaries' natal-kick distribution on the Galactic r-process enrichment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safarzadeh, Mohammadtaher; Côté, Benoit

2017-11-01

We study the impact of the neutron star binaries' (NSBs) natal-kick distribution on the galactic r-process enrichment. We model the growth of a Milky Way type halo based on N-body simulation results and its star formation history based on multi-epoch abundance matching techniques. We consider that the NSBs that merge well beyond the galaxy's effective radius (>2 × Reff) do not contribute to the galactic r-process enrichment. Assuming a power-law delay-time distribution (DTD) function (∝t-1) with tmin = 30 Myr for binaries' coalescence time-scales and an exponential profile for their natal-kick distribution with an average value of 180 km s-1, we show that up to ˜ 40 per cent of all formed NSBs do not contribute to the r-process enrichment by z = 0, either because they merge far from the galaxy at a given redshift (up to ˜ 25 per cent) or have not yet merged by today (˜ 15 per cent). Our result is largely insensitive to the details of the DTD function. Assuming a constant coalescence time-scale of 100 Myr well approximates the adopted DTD although with 30 per cent of the NSBs ending up not contributing to the r-process enrichment. Our results, although rather dependent on the adopted natal-kick distribution, represent the first step towards estimating the impact of natal kicks and DTD functions on the r-process enrichment of galaxies that would need to be incorporated in the hydrodynamical simulations.

Porter-Thomas distribution in unstable many-body systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Volya, Alexander

We use the continuum shell model approach to explore the resonance width distribution in unstable many-body systems. The single-particle nature of a decay, the few-body character of the interaction Hamiltonian, and the collectivity that emerges in nonstationary systems due to the coupling to the continuum of reaction states are discussed. Correlations between the structures of the parent and daughter nuclear systems in the common Fock space are found to result in deviations of decay width statistics from the Porter-Thomas distribution.

Fully probabilistic seismic source inversion - Part 2: Modelling errors and station covariances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stähler, Simon C.; Sigloch, Karin

2016-11-01

Seismic source inversion, a central task in seismology, is concerned with the estimation of earthquake source parameters and their uncertainties. Estimating uncertainties is particularly challenging because source inversion is a non-linear problem. In a companion paper, Stähler and Sigloch (2014) developed a method of fully Bayesian inference for source parameters, based on measurements of waveform cross-correlation between broadband, teleseismic body-wave observations and their modelled counterparts. This approach yields not only depth and moment tensor estimates but also source time functions. A prerequisite for Bayesian inference is the proper characterisation of the noise afflicting the measurements, a problem we address here. We show that, for realistic broadband body-wave seismograms, the systematic error due to an incomplete physical model affects waveform misfits more strongly than random, ambient background noise. In this situation, the waveform cross-correlation coefficient CC, or rather its decorrelation D = 1 - CC, performs more robustly as a misfit criterion than ℓp norms, more commonly used as sample-by-sample measures of misfit based on distances between individual time samples. From a set of over 900 user-supervised, deterministic earthquake source solutions treated as a quality-controlled reference, we derive the noise distribution on signal decorrelation D = 1 - CC of the broadband seismogram fits between observed and modelled waveforms. The noise on D is found to approximately follow a log-normal distribution, a fortunate fact that readily accommodates the formulation of an empirical likelihood function for D for our multivariate problem. The first and second moments of this multivariate distribution are shown to depend mostly on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the CC measurements and on the back-azimuthal distances of seismic stations. By identifying and quantifying this likelihood function, we make D and thus waveform cross-correlation measurements usable for fully probabilistic sampling strategies, in source inversion and related applications such as seismic tomography.

Partial knowledge, entropy, and estimation

PubMed Central

MacQueen, James; Marschak, Jacob

1975-01-01

In a growing body of literature, available partial knowledge is used to estimate the prior probability distribution p≡(p1,...,pn) by maximizing entropy H(p)≡-Σpi log pi, subject to constraints on p which express that partial knowledge. The method has been applied to distributions of income, of traffic, of stock-price changes, and of types of brand-article purchases. We shall respond to two justifications given for the method: (α) It is “conservative,” and therefore good, to maximize “uncertainty,” as (uniquely) represented by the entropy parameter. (β) One should apply the mathematics of statistical thermodynamics, which implies that the most probable distribution has highest entropy. Reason (α) is rejected. Reason (β) is valid when “complete ignorance” is defined in a particular way and both the constraint and the estimator's loss function are of certain kinds. PMID:16578733

On the robustness of the q-Gaussian family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sicuro, Gabriele; Tempesta, Piergiulio; Rodríguez, Antonio; Tsallis, Constantino

2015-12-01

We introduce three deformations, called α-, β- and γ-deformation respectively, of a N-body probabilistic model, first proposed by Rodríguez et al. (2008), having q-Gaussians as N → ∞ limiting probability distributions. The proposed α- and β-deformations are asymptotically scale-invariant, whereas the γ-deformation is not. We prove that, for both α- and β-deformations, the resulting deformed triangles still have q-Gaussians as limiting distributions, with a value of q independent (dependent) on the deformation parameter in the α-case (β-case). In contrast, the γ-case, where we have used the celebrated Q-numbers and the Gauss binomial coefficients, yields other limiting probability distribution functions, outside the q-Gaussian family. These results suggest that scale-invariance might play an important role regarding the robustness of the q-Gaussian family.

On the manifestation of coexisting nontrivial equilibria leading to potential well escapes in an inhomogeneous floating body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sequeira, Dane; Wang, Xue-She; Mann, B. P.

2018-02-01

This paper examines the bifurcation and stability behavior of inhomogeneous floating bodies, specifically a rectangular prism with asymmetric mass distribution. A nonlinear model is developed to determine the stability of the upright and tilted equilibrium positions as a function of the vertical position of the center of mass within the prism. These equilibria positions are defined by an angle of rotation and a vertical position where rotational motion is restricted to a two dimensional plane. Numerical investigations are conducted using path-following continuation methods to determine equilibria solutions and evaluate stability. Bifurcation diagrams and basins of attraction that illustrate the stability of the equilibrium positions as a function of the vertical position of the center of mass within the prism are generated. These results reveal complex stability behavior with many coexisting solutions. Static experiments are conducted to validate equilibria orientations against numerical predictions with results showing good agreement. Dynamic experiments that examine potential well hopping behavior in a waveflume for various wave conditions are also conducted.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of cathepsin D from sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

PubMed

Yu, Cuiping; Cha, Yue; Wu, Fan; Xu, Xianbing; Qin, Lei; Du, Ming

2017-11-01

Cathepsin D (CTSD, EC 3.4.23.5) belongs to aspartic protease family, which is located in lysosomes and is distributed in diverse tissues and cells. CTSD has a wide variety of physiological functions, owing to its proteolytic activity in degradating proteins and peptides. In the current study, the full length cDNA of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) cathepsin D (AjCTSD) was firstly cloned, then the association between AjCTSD and sea cucumber autolysis was investigated. The full length cDNA of AjCTSD was 2896 bp, with an open reading frame (ORF) for 391 amino acids. AjCTSD was widely expressed in body wall, muscle and intestine; the expression level was the highest in intestine, followed by muscle and body wall. Compared to fresh tissues, AjCTSD expression levels were significantly increased in all examined autolytic tissues. The purified recombinant AjCTSD promoted the degradation of sea cucumber muscle. In conclusion, AjCTSD contributed to sea cucumber muscle autolysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schweizer, M.

This report summarizes progress during the past year on maturing Boron-11 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology for noninvasive determination of BNCT agents (BSH) spatially in time. Three major areas are excerpted: (1) Boron-11 MRI of BSH distributions in a canine intracranial tumor model and the first human glioblastoma patient, (2) whole body Boron-11 MRI of BSH pharmacokinetics in a rat flank tumor model, and (3) penetration of gadolinium salts through the BBB as a function of tumor growth in the canine brain.

Outsourcing neural active control to passive composite mechanics: a tissue engineered cyborg ray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gazzola, Mattia; Park, Sung Jin; Park, Kyung Soo; Park, Shirley; di Santo, Valentina; Deisseroth, Karl; Lauder, George V.; Mahadevan, L.; Parker, Kevin Kit

2016-11-01

Translating the blueprint that stingrays and skates provide, we create a cyborg swimming ray capable of orchestrating adaptive maneuvering and phototactic navigation. The impossibility of replicating the neural system of batoids fish is bypassed by outsourcing algorithmic functionalities to the body composite mechanics, hence casting the active control problem into a design, passive one. We present a first step in engineering multilevel "brain-body-flow" systems that couple sensory information to motor coordination and movement, leading to behavior. This work paves the way for the development of autonomous and adaptive artificial creatures able to process multiple sensory inputs and produce complex behaviors in distributed systems and may represent a path toward soft-robotic "embodied cognition".

The Roles of β-Oxidation and Cofactor Homeostasis in Peroxisome Distribution and Function in Arabidopsis thaliana

PubMed Central

Rinaldi, Mauro A.; Patel, Ashish B.; Park, Jaeseok; Lee, Koeun; Strader, Lucia C.; Bartel, Bonnie

2016-01-01

Key steps of essential metabolic pathways are housed in plant peroxisomes. We conducted a microscopy-based screen for anomalous distribution of peroxisomally targeted fluorescence in Arabidopsis thaliana. This screen uncovered 34 novel alleles in 15 genes affecting oil body mobilization, fatty acid β-oxidation, the glyoxylate cycle, peroxisome fission, and pexophagy. Partial loss-of-function of lipid-mobilization enzymes conferred peroxisomes clustered around retained oil bodies without other notable defects, suggesting that this microscopy-based approach was sensitive to minor perturbations, and that fatty acid β-oxidation rates in wild type are higher than required for normal growth. We recovered three mutants defective in PECTIN METHYLESTERASE31, revealing an unanticipated role in lipid mobilization for this cytosolic enzyme. Whereas mutations reducing fatty acid import had peroxisomes of wild-type size, mutations impairing fatty acid β-oxidation displayed enlarged peroxisomes, possibly caused by excess fatty acid β-oxidation intermediates in the peroxisome. Several fatty acid β-oxidation mutants also displayed defects in peroxisomal matrix protein import. Impairing fatty acid import reduced the large size of peroxisomes in a mutant defective in the PEROXISOMAL NAD+ TRANSPORTER (PXN), supporting the hypothesis that fatty acid accumulation causes pxn peroxisome enlargement. The diverse mutants isolated in this screen will aid future investigations of the roles of β-oxidation and peroxisomal cofactor homeostasis in plant development. PMID:27605050

Recent advancements in the SQUID magnetospinogram system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adachi, Yoshiaki; Kawai, Jun; Haruta, Yasuhiro; Miyamoto, Masakazu; Kawabata, Shigenori; Sekihara, Kensuke; Uehara, Gen

2017-06-01

In this study, a new superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) biomagnetic measurement system known as magnetospinogram (MSG) is developed. The MSG system is used for observation of a weak magnetic field distribution induced by the neural activity of the spinal cord over the body surface. The current source reconstruction for the observed magnetic field distribution provides noninvasive functional imaging of the spinal cord, which enables medical personnel to diagnose spinal cord diseases more accurately. The MSG system is equipped with a uniquely shaped cryostat and a sensor array of vector-type SQUID gradiometers that are designed to detect the magnetic field from deep sources across a narrow observation area over the body surface of supine subjects. The latest prototype of the MSG system is already applied in clinical studies to develop a diagnosis protocol for spinal cord diseases. Advancements in hardware and software for MSG signal processing and cryogenic components aid in effectively suppressing external magnetic field noise and reducing the cost of liquid helium that act as barriers with respect to the introduction of the MSG system to hospitals. The application of the MSG system is extended to various biomagnetic applications in addition to spinal cord functional imaging given the advantages of the MSG system for investigating deep sources. The study also includes a report on the recent advancements of the SQUID MSG system including its peripheral technologies and wide-spread applications.

Distributed antenna system and method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, Patrick W. (Inventor); Dobbins, Justin A. (Inventor)

2004-01-01

System and methods are disclosed for employing one or more radiators having non-unique phase centers mounted to a body with respect to a plurality of transmitters to determine location characteristics of the body such as the position and/or attitude of the body. The one or more radiators may consist of a single, continuous element or of two or more discrete radiation elements whose received signals are combined. In a preferred embodiment, the location characteristics are determined using carrier phase measurements whereby phase center information may be determined or estimated. A distributed antenna having a wide angle view may be mounted to a moveable body in accord with the present invention. The distributed antenna may be utilized for maintaining signal contact with multiple spaced apart transmitters, such as a GPS constellation, as the body rotates without the need for RF switches to thereby provide continuous attitude and position determination of the body.

Microscopic few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions for the analysis of the 6He exotic nucleus with different target nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aygun, M.; Kucuk, Y.; Boztosun, I.; Ibraheem, Awad A.

2010-12-01

The elastic scattering angular distributions of 6He projectile on different medium and heavy mass target nuclei including 12C, 27Al, 58Ni, 64Zn, 65Cu, 197Au, 208Pb and 209Bi have been examined by using the few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions at various energies. The microscopic real parts of the complex nuclear optical potential have been obtained by using the double-folding model for each of the density distributions and the phenomenological imaginary potentials have been taken as the Woods-Saxon type. Comparative results of the few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions together with the experimental data are presented within the framework of the optical model.

Pollinator communities in strawberry crops - variation at multiple spatial scales.

PubMed

Ahrenfeldt, E J; Klatt, B K; Arildsen, J; Trandem, N; Andersson, G K S; Tscharntke, T; Smith, H G; Sigsgaard, L

2015-08-01

Predicting potential pollination services of wild bees in crops requires knowledge of their spatial distribution within fields. Field margins can serve as nesting and foraging habitats for wild bees and can be a source of pollinators. Regional differences in pollinator community composition may affect this spill-over of bees. We studied how regional and local differences affect the spatial distribution of wild bee species richness, activity-density and body size in crop fields. We sampled bees both from the field centre and at two different types of semi-natural field margins, grass strips and hedges, in 12 strawberry fields. The fields were distributed over four regions in Northern Europe, representing an almost 1100 km long north-south gradient. Even over this gradient, daytime temperatures during sampling did not differ significantly between regions and did therefore probably not impact bee activity. Bee species richness was higher in field margins compared with field centres independent of field size. However, there was no difference between centre and margin in body-size or activity-density. In contrast, bee activity-density increased towards the southern regions, whereas the mean body size increased towards the north. In conclusion, our study revealed a general pattern across European regions of bee diversity, but not activity-density, declining towards the field interior which suggests that the benefits of functional diversity of pollinators may be difficult to achieve through spill-over effects from margins to crop. We also identified dissimilar regional patterns in bee diversity and activity-density, which should be taken into account in conservation management.

Water availability not fruitfall modulates the dry season distribution of frugivorous terrestrial vertebrates in a lowland Amazon forest

PubMed Central

Paredes, Omar Stalin Landázuri; Norris, Darren; de Oliveira, Tadeu Gomes

2017-01-01

Terrestrial vertebrate frugivores constitute one of the major guilds in tropical forests. Previous studies show that the meso-scale distribution of this group is only weakly explained by variables such as altitude and tree basal area in lowland Amazon forests. For the first time we test whether seasonally limiting resources (water and fallen fruit) affect the dry season distribution in 25 species of terrestrial vertebrates. To examine the effects of the spatial availability of fruit and water on terrestrial vertebrates we used a standardized, regularly spaced arrangement of camera-traps within 25km2 of lowland Amazon forest. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were then used to examine the influence of four variables (altitude, distance to large rivers, distance to nearest water, and presence vs absence of fruits) on the number of photos on five functional groups (all frugivores, small, medium, large and very large frugivores) and on seven of the most abundant frugivore species (Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta leporina, Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Myoprocta acouchy, Pecari tajacu and Psophia crepitans). A total of 279 independent photos of 25 species were obtained from 900 camera-trap days. For most species and three functional groups, the variation in the number of photos per camera was significantly but weakly explained by the GLMs (deviance explained ranging from 6.2 to 48.8%). Generally, we found that the presence of water availability was more important than the presence of fallen fruit for the groups and species studied. Medium frugivores, large-bodied frugivores, and two of the more abundant species (C. paca and P. crepitans) were recorded more frequently closer to water bodies; while none of the functional groups nor the most abundant species showed any significant relationship with the presence of fallen fruit. Two functional groups and two of the seven most common frugivore species assessed in the GLMs showed significant results with species-specific responses to altitude. Our findings provide a more detailed understanding of how frugivorous vertebrates cope with periods of water and fruit scarcity in lowland Amazon forests. PMID:28301589

Water availability not fruitfall modulates the dry season distribution of frugivorous terrestrial vertebrates in a lowland Amazon forest.

PubMed

Paredes, Omar Stalin Landázuri; Norris, Darren; Oliveira, Tadeu Gomes de; Michalski, Fernanda

2017-01-01

Terrestrial vertebrate frugivores constitute one of the major guilds in tropical forests. Previous studies show that the meso-scale distribution of this group is only weakly explained by variables such as altitude and tree basal area in lowland Amazon forests. For the first time we test whether seasonally limiting resources (water and fallen fruit) affect the dry season distribution in 25 species of terrestrial vertebrates. To examine the effects of the spatial availability of fruit and water on terrestrial vertebrates we used a standardized, regularly spaced arrangement of camera-traps within 25km2 of lowland Amazon forest. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were then used to examine the influence of four variables (altitude, distance to large rivers, distance to nearest water, and presence vs absence of fruits) on the number of photos on five functional groups (all frugivores, small, medium, large and very large frugivores) and on seven of the most abundant frugivore species (Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta leporina, Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Myoprocta acouchy, Pecari tajacu and Psophia crepitans). A total of 279 independent photos of 25 species were obtained from 900 camera-trap days. For most species and three functional groups, the variation in the number of photos per camera was significantly but weakly explained by the GLMs (deviance explained ranging from 6.2 to 48.8%). Generally, we found that the presence of water availability was more important than the presence of fallen fruit for the groups and species studied. Medium frugivores, large-bodied frugivores, and two of the more abundant species (C. paca and P. crepitans) were recorded more frequently closer to water bodies; while none of the functional groups nor the most abundant species showed any significant relationship with the presence of fallen fruit. Two functional groups and two of the seven most common frugivore species assessed in the GLMs showed significant results with species-specific responses to altitude. Our findings provide a more detailed understanding of how frugivorous vertebrates cope with periods of water and fruit scarcity in lowland Amazon forests.

Searching for the elusive neural substrates of body part terms: a neuropsychological study.

PubMed

Kemmerer, David; Tranel, Daniel

2008-06-01

Previous neuropsychological studies suggest that, compared to other categories of concrete entities, lexical and conceptual aspects of body part knowledge are frequently spared in brain-damaged patients. To further investigate this issue, we administered a battery of 12 tests assessing lexical and conceptual aspects of body part knowledge to 104 brain-damaged patients with lesions distributed throughout the telencephalon. There were two main outcomes. First, impaired oral naming of body parts, attributable to a disturbance of the mapping between lexical-semantic and lexical-phonological structures, was most reliably and specifically associated with lesions in the left frontal opercular and anterior/inferior parietal opercular cortices and in the white matter underlying these regions (8 patients). Also, 1 patient with body part anomia had a left occipital lesion that included the "extrastriate body area" (EBA). Second, knowledge of the meanings of body part terms was remarkably resistant to impairment, regardless of lesion site; in fact, we did not uncover a single patient who exhibited significantly impaired understanding of the meanings of these terms. In the 9 patients with body part anomia, oral naming of concrete entities was evaluated, and this revealed that 4 patients had disproportionately worse naming of body parts relative to other types of concrete entities. Taken together, these findings extend previous neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies of body part knowledge and add to our growing understanding of the nuances of how different linguistic and conceptual categories are operated by left frontal and parietal structures.

Searching for the Elusive Neural Substrates of Body Part Terms: A Neuropsychological Study

PubMed Central

Kemmerer, David; Tranel, Daniel

2010-01-01

Previous neuropsychological studies suggest that, compared to other categories of concrete entities, lexical and conceptual aspects of body part knowledge are frequently spared in brain-damaged patients. To further investigate this issue, we administered a battery of 12 tests assessing lexical and conceptual aspects of body part knowledge to 104 brain-damaged patients with lesions distributed throughout the telencephalon. There were two main outcomes. First, impaired oral naming of body parts, attributable to a disturbance of the mapping between lexical-semantic and lexical-phonological structures, was most reliably and specifically associated with lesions in the left frontal opercular and anterior/inferior parietal opercular cortices, and in the white matter underlying these regions (8 patients). Also, one patient with body part anomia had a left occipital lesion that included the “extrastriate body area” (EBA). Second, knowledge of the meanings of body part terms was remarkably resistant to impairment, regardless of lesion site; in fact, we did not uncover a single patient who exhibited significantly impaired understanding of the meanings of these terms. In the 9 patients with body part anomia, oral naming of concrete entities was evaluated, and this revealed that 4 patients had disproportionately worse naming of body parts relative to other types of concrete entities. Taken together, these findings extend previous neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging studies of body part knowledge, and add to our growing understanding of the nuances of how different linguistic and conceptual categories are operated by left frontal and parietal structures. PMID:18608319

Percolation galaxy groups and clusters in the sdss redshift survey: identification, catalogs, and the multiplicity function

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berlind, Andreas A.; Frieman, Joshua A.; Weinberg, David H.

2006-01-01

We identify galaxy groups and clusters in volume-limited samples of the SDSS redshift survey, using a redshift-space friends-of-friends algorithm. We optimize the friends-of-friends linking lengths to recover galaxy systems that occupy the same dark matter halos, using a set of mock catalogs created by populating halos of N-body simulations with galaxies. Extensive tests with these mock catalogs show that no combination of perpendicular and line-of-sight linking lengths is able to yield groups and clusters that simultaneously recover the true halo multiplicity function, projected size distribution, and velocity dispersion. We adopt a linking length combination that yields, for galaxy groups withmore » ten or more members: a group multiplicity function that is unbiased with respect to the true halo multiplicity function; an unbiased median relation between the multiplicities of groups and their associated halos; a spurious group fraction of less than {approx}1%; a halo completeness of more than {approx}97%; the correct projected size distribution as a function of multiplicity; and a velocity dispersion distribution that is {approx}20% too low at all multiplicities. These results hold over a range of mock catalogs that use different input recipes of populating halos with galaxies. We apply our group-finding algorithm to the SDSS data and obtain three group and cluster catalogs for three volume-limited samples that cover 3495.1 square degrees on the sky. We correct for incompleteness caused by fiber collisions and survey edges, and obtain measurements of the group multiplicity function, with errors calculated from realistic mock catalogs. These multiplicity function measurements provide a key constraint on the relation between galaxy populations and dark matter halos.« less

Experimental study of microbubble drag reduction on an axisymmetric body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Wuchao; Wang, Cong; Wei, Yingjie; Zhang, Xiaoshi; Wang, Wei

2018-01-01

Microbubble drag reduction on the axisymmetric body is experimentally investigated in the turbulent water tunnel. Microbubbles are created by injecting compressed air through the porous medium with various average pore sizes. The morphology of microbubble flow and the size distribution of microbubble are observed by the high-speed visualization system. Drag measurements are obtained by the balance which is presented as the function of void ratio. The results show that when the air injection flow rate is high, uniformly dispersed microbubble flow is coalesced into an air layer with the larger increment rate of drag reduction ratio. The diameter distributions of microbubble under various conditions are submitted to normal distribution. Microbubble drag reduction can be divided into three distinguishable regions in which the drag reduction ratio experiences increase stage, rapid increase stage and stability stage, respectively, corresponding to the various morphologies of microbubble flow. Moreover, drag reduction ratio increases with the decreasing pore sizes of porous medium at the identical void ratio in the area of low speeds, while the effect of pore sizes on drag reduction is reduced gradually until it disappears with the increasing free stream speeds, which indicates that smaller microbubbles have better efficiency in drag reduction. This research results help to improve the understanding of microbubble drag reduction and provides helpful references for practical applications.

Slow approach to steady motion of a concave body in a free-molecular gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuji, Tetsuro; Arai, Junichi; Kawano, Satoyuki

2015-07-01

A body in a free-molecular gas accelerated by a constant external force is considered on the basis of kinetic theory. The body is an infinitely long rectangular hollow column with one face removed, and thus it has a squarish U -shaped cross section. The concave part of the body points toward the direction of motion, and thus the gas molecules may be trapped in the concavity. Gas molecules undergo diffuse reflection on a base part, whereas specular reflection on two lateral parts. It is numerically shown that the velocity of the body approaches a terminal velocity, for which a drag force exerted by the gas counterbalances the external force, in such a way that their difference decreases in proportion to the inverse square of time for a large time. This rate of approach is slower than the known rate proportional to the inverse cube of time in the case of a body without concavity [Aoki et al., Phys. Rev. E 80, 016309 (2009), 10.1103/PhysRevE.80.016309]. Based on the detailed investigation on the velocity distribution function of gas molecules impinging on the body, it is clarified that the concavity prevents some molecules from escaping to infinity. This trapping enhances the effect of recollision between the body and the gas molecules, which is the cause of the inverse power laws, and thus leads to the slower approach.

Spatial differences between stars and brown dwarfs: a dynamical origin?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Richard J.; Andersen, Morten

2014-06-01

We use N-body simulations to compare the evolution of spatial distributions of stars and brown dwarfs in young star-forming regions. We use three different diagnostics: the ratio of stars to brown dwarfs as a function of distance from the region's centre, {R}_SSR, the local surface density of stars compared to brown dwarfs, ΣLDR, and we compare the global spatial distributions using the ΛMSR method. From a suite of 20 initially statistically identical simulations, 6/20 attain {R}_SSR ≪ 1 and ΣLDR ≪ 1 and ΛMSR ≪ 1, indicating that dynamical interactions could be responsible for observed differences in the spatial distributions of stars and brown dwarfs in star-forming regions. However, many simulations also display apparently contradictory results - for example, in some cases the brown dwarfs have much lower local densities than stars (ΣLDR ≪ 1), but their global spatial distributions are indistinguishable (ΛMSR = 1) and the relative proportion of stars and brown dwarfs remains constant across the region ({R}_SSR = 1). Our results suggest that extreme caution should be exercised when interpreting any observed difference in the spatial distribution of stars and brown dwarfs, and that a much larger observational sample of regions/clusters (with complete mass functions) is necessary to investigate whether or not brown dwarfs form through similar mechanisms to stars.

Magnetic intermittency of solar wind turbulence in the dissipation range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Zhongtian; He, Jiansen; Tu, Chuanyi; Marsch, Eckart; Wang, Linghua

2016-04-01

The feature, nature, and fate of intermittency in the dissipation range are an interesting topic in the solar wind turbulence. We calculate the distribution of flatness for the magnetic field fluctuations as a functionof angle and scale. The flatness distribution shows a "butterfly" pattern, with two wings located at angles parallel/anti-parallel to local mean magnetic field direction and main body located at angles perpendicular to local B0. This "butterfly" pattern illustrates that the flatness profile in (anti-) parallel direction approaches to the maximum value at larger scale and drops faster than that in perpendicular direction. The contours for probability distribution functions at different scales illustrate a "vase" pattern, more clear in parallel direction, which confirms the scale-variation of flatness and indicates the intermittency generation and dissipation. The angular distribution of structure function in the dissipation range shows an anisotropic pattern. The quasi-mono-fractal scaling of structure function in the dissipation range is also illustrated and investigated with the mathematical model for inhomogeneous cascading (extended p-model). Different from the inertial range, the extended p-model for the dissipation range results in approximate uniform fragmentation measure. However, more complete mathematicaland physical model involving both non-uniform cascading and dissipation is needed. The nature of intermittency may be strong structures or large amplitude fluctuations, which may be tested with magnetic helicity. In one case study, we find the heating effect in terms of entropy for large amplitude fluctuations seems to be more obvious than strong structures.

Loss of P2X7 receptor function dampens whole body energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation.

PubMed

Giacovazzo, Giacomo; Apolloni, Savina; Coccurello, Roberto

2018-05-12

The established role of ATP-responsive P2X7 receptor in inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and immune diseases is now expanding to include several aspects of metabolic dysregulation. Indeed, P2X7 receptors are involved in β cell function, insulin secretion, and liability to diabetes, and loss of P2X7 function may increase the risk of hepatic steatosis and disrupt adipogenesis. Recently, body weight gain, abnormal lipid accumulation, adipocyte hyperplasia, increased fat mass, and ectopic fat distribution have been found in P2X7 KO mice. Here, we hypothesized that such clinical picture of dysregulated lipid metabolism might be the result of altered in vivo energy metabolism. By indirect calorimetry, we assessed 24 h of energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) as quotient of carbohydrate to fat oxidation in P2X7 KO mice. Moreover, we assessed the same parameters in aged-matched WT counterparts that underwent a 7-day treatment with the P2X7 antagonist A804598. We found that loss of P2X7 function elicits a severe decrease of EE that was less pronounced in A804598-treated mice. In parallel, P2X7KO mice show a drastic increase of RER, thus indicating the occurrence of a greater ratio of carbohydrate to fat oxidation. Decreased EE and fat oxidation is predictive of body weight gain, which was here confirmed. Taken together, our data provide evidence that P2X7 loss of function produces defective energy homeostasis that, together with disrupted adipogenesis, might help to explain accumulation of adipose tissue and contribute to disclose the potential role of P2X7 in metabolic diseases.

Development of a computer-adaptive physical function instrument for Social Security Administration disability determination.

PubMed

Ni, Pengsheng; McDonough, Christine M; Jette, Alan M; Bogusz, Kara; Marfeo, Elizabeth E; Rasch, Elizabeth K; Brandt, Diane E; Meterko, Mark; Haley, Stephen M; Chan, Leighton

2013-09-01

To develop and test an instrument to assess physical function for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability programs, the SSA-Physical Function (SSA-PF) instrument. Item response theory (IRT) analyses were used to (1) create a calibrated item bank for each of the factors identified in prior factor analyses, (2) assess the fit of the items within each scale, (3) develop separate computer-adaptive testing (CAT) instruments for each scale, and (4) conduct initial psychometric testing. Cross-sectional data collection; IRT analyses; CAT simulation. Telephone and Internet survey. Two samples: SSA claimants (n=1017) and adults from the U.S. general population (n=999). None. Model fit statistics, correlation, and reliability coefficients. IRT analyses resulted in 5 unidimensional SSA-PF scales: Changing & Maintaining Body Position, Whole Body Mobility, Upper Body Function, Upper Extremity Fine Motor, and Wheelchair Mobility for a total of 102 items. High CAT accuracy was demonstrated by strong correlations between simulated CAT scores and those from the full item banks. On comparing the simulated CATs with the full item banks, very little loss of reliability or precision was noted, except at the lower and upper ranges of each scale. No difference in response patterns by age or sex was noted. The distributions of claimant scores were shifted to the lower end of each scale compared with those of a sample of U.S. adults. The SSA-PF instrument contributes important new methodology for measuring the physical function of adults applying to the SSA disability programs. Initial evaluation revealed that the SSA-PF instrument achieved considerable breadth of coverage in each content domain and demonstrated noteworthy psychometric properties. Copyright © 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Body size distributions signal a regime shift in a lake ecosystem

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spanbauer, Trisha; Allen, Craig R.; Angeler, David G.; Eason, Tarsha; Fritz, Sherilyn C.; Garmestani, Ahjond S.; Nash, Kirsty L.; Stone, Jeffery R.; Stow, Craig A.; Sundstrom, Shana M.

2016-01-01

Communities of organisms, from mammals to microorganisms, have discontinuous distributions of body size. This pattern of size structuring is a conservative trait of community organization and is a product of processes that occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we assessed whether body size patterns serve as an indicator of a threshold between alternative regimes. Over the past 7000 years, the biological communities of Foy Lake (Montana, USA) have undergone a major regime shift owing to climate change. We used a palaeoecological record of diatom communities to estimate diatom sizes, and then analysed the discontinuous distribution of organism sizes over time. We used Bayesian classification and regression tree models to determine that all time intervals exhibited aggregations of sizes separated by gaps in the distribution and found a significant change in diatom body size distributions approximately 150 years before the identified ecosystem regime shift. We suggest that discontinuity analysis is a useful addition to the suite of tools for the detection of early warning signals of regime shifts.

Insulin Resistance and Body Fat Distribution in South Asian Men Compared to Caucasian Men

PubMed Central

Lin, Ping; Seenivasan, Thanalakshmi; Livingston, Edward H.; Snell, Peter G.; Grundy, Scott M.

2007-01-01

Objective South Asians are susceptible to insulin resistance even without obesity. We examined the characteristics of body fat content, distribution and function in South Asian men and their relationships to insulin resistance compared to Caucasians. Research Design and Methods Twenty-nine South Asian and 18 Caucasian non-diabetic men (age 27±3 and 27±3 years, respectively) underwent euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp for insulin sensitivity, underwater weighing for total body fat, MRI of entire abdomen for intraperitoneal (IP) and subcutaneous abdominal (SA) fat and biopsy of SA fat for adipocyte size. Results Compared to Caucasians, in spite of similar BMI, South Asians had higher total body fat (22±6 and 15±4% of body weight; p-value<0.0001), higher SA fat (3.5±1.9 and 2.2±1.3 kg, respectively; p-value = 0.004), but no differences in IP fat (1.0±0.5 and 1.0±0.7 kg, respectively; p-value = 0.4). SA adipocyte cell size was significantly higher in South Asians (3491±1393 and 1648±864 µm2; p-value = 0.0001) and was inversely correlated with both glucose disposal rate (r-value = −0.57; p-value = 0.0008) and plasma adiponectin concentrations (r-value = −0.71; p-value<0.0001). Adipocyte size differences persisted even when SA was matched between South Asians and Caucasians. Conclusions Insulin resistance in young South Asian men can be observed even without increase in IP fat mass and is related to large SA adipocytes size. Hence ethnic excess in insulin resistance in South Asians appears to be related more to excess truncal fat and dysfunctional adipose tissue than to excess visceral fat. PMID:17726542

Trunk-to-Peripheral Fat Ratio Predicts Subsequent Blood Pressure Levels in Pubertal Children With Relatively Low Body Fat　- Three-Year Follow-up Study.

PubMed

Kouda, Katsuyasu; Ohara, Kumiko; Fujita, Yuki; Nakamura, Harunobu; Iki, Masayuki

2016-07-25

Only a few studies have examined the relationship between fat distribution measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and blood pressure (BP), and no cohort study has targeted a pediatric population. The source population comprised all students registered as fifth graders in the 2 elementary schools in Hamamatsu, Japan. Of these, 258 children participated in both baseline (at age 11) and follow-up (at age 14) surveys. Body fat distribution was assessed using trunk-to-appendicular fat ratio (TAR) and trunk-to-leg fat ratio (TLR) measured by DXA. Relationships between BP levels and fat distribution (TAR or TLR) were examined after stratification by tertiles of whole-body fat.Systolic BP at follow-up was significantly (P<0.05) associated with both TAR (boys, β=0.33; girls β=0.36) and TLR (girls β=0.35) at baseline, after adjusting for confounding factors such as baseline BP in the lowest tertile of whole-body fat. Moreover, adjusted means of systolic and diastolic BPs in girls showed a significant increase from the lowest to highest tertile of TAR within the lowest tertile of whole-body fat. Body fat distribution in childhood could predict subsequent BP levels in adolescence. Children with a relatively low body fat that is more centrally distributed tended to show relatively high BP later on. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1838-1845).

The Distribution of Galaxies’ Gravitational Field Stemming from Their Tidal Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephanovich, Vladimir; Godłowski, Włodzimierz

2015-09-01

We calculate the distribution function of astronomical objects’ (like galaxies and/or smooth halos of different kinds) gravitational fields due to their tidal interaction. For that we apply the statistical method of Chandrasekhar, used originally to calculate the famous Holtzmark distribution. We show that in our approach the distribution function is never Gaussian, its form being dictated by the potential of interaction between objects. This calculation permits us to perform a theoretical analysis of the relation between angular momentum and mass (richness) of the galaxy clusters. To do so, we follow the ideas of Catelan & Theuns and Heavens & Peacock. The main difference is that here we reduce the problem to a discrete many-body case, where all physical properties of the system are determined by the interaction potential V({{\\boldsymbol{r}}}{ij}). The essence of reduction is that we use the multipole (up to quadrupole here) expansion of Newtonian potential so that all hydrodynamic, “extended” characteristics of an object, such as its density mass, are “integrated out,” leaving its “point-like” characteristics, such as mass and quadrupole moment. In that sense we do not distinguish between galaxies and smooth components such as halos. We compare our theoretical results with observational data.

Discrete disorder models for many-body localization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janarek, Jakub; Delande, Dominique; Zakrzewski, Jakub

2018-04-01

Using exact diagonalization technique, we investigate the many-body localization phenomenon in the 1D Heisenberg chain comparing several disorder models. In particular we consider a family of discrete distributions of disorder strengths and compare the results with the standard uniform distribution. Both statistical properties of energy levels and the long time nonergodic behavior are discussed. The results for different discrete distributions are essentially identical to those obtained for the continuous distribution, provided the disorder strength is rescaled by the standard deviation of the random distribution. Only for the binary distribution significant deviations are observed.

Ability to solve riddles in patients with speech and language impairments after stroke.

PubMed

Savić, Goran

2016-01-01

Successful riddle solving requires recognition of the meaning of words, attention, concentration, memory, connectivity and analysis of riddle content, and sufficiently developed associative thinking. The aim of the study was to determine the ability to solve riddles in stroke patients who do or do not have speech and language disorders (SLDs), to determine the presence of SLDs in relation to the lesion localization, as well as to define the relationship between riddle-solving and functional impairment of a body side. The sample consisted of 88 patients. The data used included age, sex, educational level, time of stroke onset, presence of an SLD, lesion localization, and functional damage of the body side. The patients were presented with a task of solving 10 riddles. A significant SLD was present in 38.60% of the patients. Brain lesions were found distributed at 46 different brain sites. Patients with different lesion localization had different success in solving riddles. Patients with perisylvian cortex brain lesions, or patients with Wernicke and global aphasia, had the poorest results. The group with SLDs had an average success of solved riddles of 26.76% (p = 0.000). The group with right-sided functional impairments had average success of 37.14%, and the group with functional impairments of the left side of the body 56.88% (p = 0.002). Most patients with SLDs had a low ability of solving riddles. Most of the patients with left brain lesions and perisylvian cortex damage demonstrated lower ability in solving riddles in relation to patients with right hemisphere lesions.

Sweet Taste Receptor Signaling Network: Possible Implication for Cognitive Functioning

PubMed Central

Welcome, Menizibeya O.; Mastorakis, Nikos E.; Pereverzev, Vladimir A.

2015-01-01

Sweet taste receptors are transmembrane protein network specialized in the transmission of information from special “sweet” molecules into the intracellular domain. These receptors can sense the taste of a range of molecules and transmit the information downstream to several acceptors, modulate cell specific functions and metabolism, and mediate cell-to-cell coupling through paracrine mechanism. Recent reports indicate that sweet taste receptors are widely distributed in the body and serves specific function relative to their localization. Due to their pleiotropic signaling properties and multisubstrate ligand affinity, sweet taste receptors are able to cooperatively bind multiple substances and mediate signaling by other receptors. Based on increasing evidence about the role of these receptors in the initiation and control of absorption and metabolism, and the pivotal role of metabolic (glucose) regulation in the central nervous system functioning, we propose a possible implication of sweet taste receptor signaling in modulating cognitive functioning. PMID:25653876

Origin and Functions of Tissue Macrophages

PubMed Central

Epelman, Slava; Lavine, Kory J.; Randolph, Gwendalyn J.

2015-01-01

Macrophages are distributed in tissues throughout the body and contribute to both homeostasis and disease. Recently, it has become evident that most adult tissue macrophages originate during embryonic development and not from circulating monocytes. Each tissue has its own composition of embryonically derived and adult-derived macrophages, but it is unclear whether macrophages of distinct origins are functionally interchangeable or have unique roles at steady state. This new understanding also prompts reconsideration of the function of circulating monocytes. Classical Ly6chi monocytes patrol the extravascular space in resting organs, and Ly6clo nonclassical monocytes patrol the vasculature. Inflammation triggers monocytes to differentiate into macrophages, but whether resident and newly recruited macrophages possess similar functions during inflammation is unclear. Here, we define the tools used for identifying the complex origin of tissue macrophages and discuss the relative contributions of tissue niche versus ontological origin to the regulation of macrophage functions during steady state and inflammation. PMID:25035951

Verification regarding changing construction in accumulation of fat for BMI based on change with age estimated from body composition balance.

PubMed

Fujii, Katsunori; Tanaka, Nozomi; Mishima, Takaaki

2013-12-01

In the present study, a regression analysis of BMI and body fat percentage in each school year was performed with cross-sectional data in school-aged children. The qualitative changes in physique during the school-age years were examined by showing the changes in the level of body fat accu- mulation with age. The subjects were 789 boys and girls (469 boys, 320 girls) aged 7 to 14 years who participated in regular sports activities. Height, weight and body fat percentage were measured. Fat free mass was calculated by subtracting fat mass from body weight. BMI was calculated as body weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m). Regression analysis was conducted for fat percentage against BMI in boys and girls of all school years, and the level of body fat accumulation was considered, the distributions of the frequency of age change were examined. As a result, in the frequency distribution charts there was a shift from excessive fat to low fat from age 7 to 14 years. A χ2 test was then performed for these frequency distribution charts, and the results showed a significant difference in the frequency distribution in each year (P < 0.01). This trend was clearly in boys, and meaning was found in clarifying the changes with age in the body composition balance in boys and girls.

Self-consistent many-electron theory of electron work functions and surface potential characteristics for selected metals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. R.

1969-01-01

Electron work functions, surface potentials, and electron number density distributions and electric fields in the surface region of 26 metals were calculated from first principles within the free electron model. Calculation proceeded from an expression of the total energy as a functional of the electron number density, including exchange and correlation energies, as well as a first inhomogeneity term. The self-consistent solution was obtained via a variational procedure. Surface barriers were due principally to many-body effects; dipole barriers were small only for some alkali metals, becoming quite large for the transition metals. Surface energies were inadequately described by this model, which neglects atomistic effects. Reasonable results were obtained for electron work functions and surface potential characteristics, maximum electron densities varying by a factor of over 60.

Mergeable nervous systems for robots.

PubMed

Mathews, Nithin; Christensen, Anders Lyhne; O'Grady, Rehan; Mondada, Francesco; Dorigo, Marco

2017-09-12

Robots have the potential to display a higher degree of lifetime morphological adaptation than natural organisms. By adopting a modular approach, robots with different capabilities, shapes, and sizes could, in theory, construct and reconfigure themselves as required. However, current modular robots have only been able to display a limited range of hardwired behaviors because they rely solely on distributed control. Here, we present robots whose bodies and control systems can merge to form entirely new robots that retain full sensorimotor control. Our control paradigm enables robots to exhibit properties that go beyond those of any existing machine or of any biological organism: the robots we present can merge to form larger bodies with a single centralized controller, split into separate bodies with independent controllers, and self-heal by removing or replacing malfunctioning body parts. This work takes us closer to robots that can autonomously change their size, form and function.Robots that can self-assemble into different morphologies are desired to perform tasks that require different physical capabilities. Mathews et al. design robots whose bodies and control systems can merge and split to form new robots that retain full sensorimotor control and act as a single entity.

Using time-varying asymptotic length and body condition of top piscivores to indicate ecosystem regime shift in the main basin of Lake Huron: a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach

USGS Publications Warehouse

He, Ji X.; Bence, James R.; Roseman, Edward F.; Fielder, David G.; Ebener, Mark P.

2015-01-01

We evaluated the ecosystem regime shift in the main basin of Lake Huron that was indicated by the 2003 collapse of alewives, and dramatic declines in Chinook salmon abundance thereafter. We found that the period of 1995-2002 should be considered as the early phase of the final regime shift. We developed two Bayesian hierarchical models to describe time-varying growth based on the von Bertalanffy growth function and the length-mass relationship. We used asymptotic length as an index of growth potential, and predicted body mass at a given length as an index of body condition. Modeling fits to length and body mass at age of lake trout, Chinook salmon, and walleye were excellent. Based on posterior distributions, we evaluated the shifts in among-year geometric means of the growth potential and body condition. For a given top piscivore, one of the two indices responded to the regime shift much earlier than the 2003 collapse of alewives, the other corresponded to the 2003 changes, and which index provided the early signal differed among the three top piscivores.

Scale-up of nature's tissue weaving algorithms to engineer advanced functional materials.

PubMed

Ng, Joanna L; Knothe, Lillian E; Whan, Renee M; Knothe, Ulf; Tate, Melissa L Knothe

2017-01-11

We are literally the stuff from which our tissue fabrics and their fibers are woven and spun. The arrangement of collagen, elastin and other structural proteins in space and time embodies our tissues and organs with amazing resilience and multifunctional smart properties. For example, the periosteum, a soft tissue sleeve that envelops all nonarticular bony surfaces of the body, comprises an inherently "smart" material that gives hard bones added strength under high impact loads. Yet a paucity of scalable bottom-up approaches stymies the harnessing of smart tissues' biological, mechanical and organizational detail to create advanced functional materials. Here, a novel approach is established to scale up the multidimensional fiber patterns of natural soft tissue weaves for rapid prototyping of advanced functional materials. First second harmonic generation and two-photon excitation microscopy is used to map the microscopic three-dimensional (3D) alignment, composition and distribution of the collagen and elastin fibers of periosteum, the soft tissue sheath bounding all nonarticular bone surfaces in our bodies. Then, using engineering rendering software to scale up this natural tissue fabric, as well as multidimensional weaving algorithms, macroscopic tissue prototypes are created using a computer-controlled jacquard loom. The capacity to prototype scaled up architectures of natural fabrics provides a new avenue to create advanced functional materials.

Scale-up of nature’s tissue weaving algorithms to engineer advanced functional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ng, Joanna L.; Knothe, Lillian E.; Whan, Renee M.; Knothe, Ulf; Tate, Melissa L. Knothe

2017-01-01

We are literally the stuff from which our tissue fabrics and their fibers are woven and spun. The arrangement of collagen, elastin and other structural proteins in space and time embodies our tissues and organs with amazing resilience and multifunctional smart properties. For example, the periosteum, a soft tissue sleeve that envelops all nonarticular bony surfaces of the body, comprises an inherently “smart” material that gives hard bones added strength under high impact loads. Yet a paucity of scalable bottom-up approaches stymies the harnessing of smart tissues’ biological, mechanical and organizational detail to create advanced functional materials. Here, a novel approach is established to scale up the multidimensional fiber patterns of natural soft tissue weaves for rapid prototyping of advanced functional materials. First second harmonic generation and two-photon excitation microscopy is used to map the microscopic three-dimensional (3D) alignment, composition and distribution of the collagen and elastin fibers of periosteum, the soft tissue sheath bounding all nonarticular bone surfaces in our bodies. Then, using engineering rendering software to scale up this natural tissue fabric, as well as multidimensional weaving algorithms, macroscopic tissue prototypes are created using a computer-controlled jacquard loom. The capacity to prototype scaled up architectures of natural fabrics provides a new avenue to create advanced functional materials.

Theoretical relationship between vibration transmissibility and driving-point response functions of the human body.

PubMed

Dong, Ren G; Welcome, Daniel E; McDowell, Thomas W; Wu, John Z

2013-11-25

The relationship between the vibration transmissibility and driving-point response functions (DPRFs) of the human body is important for understanding vibration exposures of the system and for developing valid models. This study identified their theoretical relationship and demonstrated that the sum of the DPRFs can be expressed as a linear combination of the transmissibility functions of the individual mass elements distributed throughout the system. The relationship is verified using several human vibration models. This study also clarified the requirements for reliably quantifying transmissibility values used as references for calibrating the system models. As an example application, this study used the developed theory to perform a preliminary analysis of the method for calibrating models using both vibration transmissibility and DPRFs. The results of the analysis show that the combined method can theoretically result in a unique and valid solution of the model parameters, at least for linear systems. However, the validation of the method itself does not guarantee the validation of the calibrated model, because the validation of the calibration also depends on the model structure and the reliability and appropriate representation of the reference functions. The basic theory developed in this study is also applicable to the vibration analyses of other structures.

Galectin-3 levels relate in children to total body fat, abdominal fat, body fat distribution, and cardiac size.

PubMed

Dencker, Magnus; Arvidsson, Daniel; Karlsson, Magnus K; Wollmer, Per; Andersen, Lars B; Thorsson, Ola

2018-03-01

Galectin-3 has recently been proposed as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular disease in adults. The purpose of this investigation was to assess relationships between galectin-3 levels and total body fat, abdominal fat, body fat distribution, aerobic fitness, blood pressure, left ventricular mass, left atrial size, and increase in body fat over a 2-year period in a population-based sample of children. Our study included 170 children aged 8-11 years. Total fat mass and abdominal fat were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Body fat distribution was expressed as abdominal fat/total fat mass. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed by indirect calorimetry during a maximal exercise test and scaled to body mass. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were measured. Left atrial size, left ventricular mass, and relative wall thickness were measured by echocardiography. Frozen serum samples were analyzed for galectin-3 by the Proximity Extension Assay technique. A follow-up DXA scan was performed in 152 children 2 years after the baseline exam. Partial correlations, with adjustment for sex and age, between galectin-3 versus body fat measurements indicated weak to moderate relationships. Moreover, left atrial size, left ventricular mass, and relative wall thickness and pulse pressure were also correlated with galectin-3. Neither systolic blood pressure nor maximal oxygen uptake was correlated with galectin-3. There was also a correlation between galectin-3 and increase in total body fat over 2 years, while no such correlations were found for the other fat measurements. More body fat and abdominal fat, more abdominal body fat distribution, more left ventricular mass, and increased left atrial size were all associated with higher levels of galectin-3. Increase in total body fat over 2 years was also associated with higher levels of galectin-3. What is Known: • Galectin-3 has been linked to obesity and been proposed to be a novel biomarker for cardiovascular disease in adults. • Information on this subject in children is very scarce. What is New: • The present study demonstrates a relationship between galectin-3 levels and total body fat, abdominal fat, body fat distribution, cardiac size and geometry, and increase in total body fat over 2 years in young children.

A pilot study examining correlates of body image among women living with SCI.

PubMed

Bassett, R L; Martin Ginis, K A; Buchholz, A C

2009-06-01

Cross-sectional pilot study. To explore correlates of body image among women with spinal cord injury (SCI), within the framework of Cash's cognitive behavioral model of body image. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Women with SCI (N=11, 64% with tetraplegia) reported their functional and appearance body image (Adult Body Satisfaction Questionnaire). A 3-day recall of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), three measures of body composition (that is, weight, waist circumference, body fat) and several demographic variables were assessed as potential correlates. Appearance satisfaction was negatively correlated with all three measures of body composition and positively correlated with years postinjury. Functional satisfaction was positively correlated with years postinjury, and negatively correlated with various LTPA variables. Functional and appearance body image may improve with time following SCI. Body composition may impact satisfaction with physical appearance for some women. The negative relationship between LTPA and functional satisfaction merits further examination, as functional dissatisfaction may motivate individuals to engage in certain types and intensities of LTPA. Correlates of body image differ between appearance and functional satisfaction. Future research should examine appearance and functional satisfaction separately among women with SCI.

Ecomorphological selectivity among marine teleost fishes during the end-Cretaceous extinction

PubMed Central

Friedman, Matt

2009-01-01

Despite the attention focused on mass extinction events in the fossil record, patterns of extinction in the dominant group of marine vertebrates—fishes—remain largely unexplored. Here, I demonstrate ecomorphological selectivity among marine teleost fishes during the end-Cretaceous extinction, based on a genus-level dataset that accounts for lineages predicted on the basis of phylogeny but not yet sampled in the fossil record. Two ecologically relevant anatomical features are considered: body size and jaw-closing lever ratio. Extinction intensity is higher for taxa with large body sizes and jaws consistent with speed (rather than force) transmission; resampling tests indicate that victims represent a nonrandom subset of taxa present in the final stage of the Cretaceous. Logistic regressions of the raw data reveal that this nonrandom distribution stems primarily from the larger body sizes of victims relative to survivors. Jaw mechanics are also a significant factor for most dataset partitions but are always less important than body size. When data are corrected for phylogenetic nonindependence, jaw mechanics show a significant correlation with extinction risk, but body size does not. Many modern large-bodied, predatory taxa currently suffering from overexploitation, such billfishes and tunas, first occur in the Paleocene, when they appear to have filled the functional space vacated by some extinction victims. PMID:19276106

Ecomorphological selectivity among marine teleost fishes during the end-Cretaceous extinction.

PubMed

Friedman, Matt

2009-03-31

Despite the attention focused on mass extinction events in the fossil record, patterns of extinction in the dominant group of marine vertebrates-fishes-remain largely unexplored. Here, I demonstrate ecomorphological selectivity among marine teleost fishes during the end-Cretaceous extinction, based on a genus-level dataset that accounts for lineages predicted on the basis of phylogeny but not yet sampled in the fossil record. Two ecologically relevant anatomical features are considered: body size and jaw-closing lever ratio. Extinction intensity is higher for taxa with large body sizes and jaws consistent with speed (rather than force) transmission; resampling tests indicate that victims represent a nonrandom subset of taxa present in the final stage of the Cretaceous. Logistic regressions of the raw data reveal that this nonrandom distribution stems primarily from the larger body sizes of victims relative to survivors. Jaw mechanics are also a significant factor for most dataset partitions but are always less important than body size. When data are corrected for phylogenetic nonindependence, jaw mechanics show a significant correlation with extinction risk, but body size does not. Many modern large-bodied, predatory taxa currently suffering from overexploitation, such billfishes and tunas, first occur in the Paleocene, when they appear to have filled the functional space vacated by some extinction victims.

Comparison of the Experimental and Theoretical Distribution of Lift on a Slender Inclined Body of Revolution at M = 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perkins, Edward W; Kuehn, Donald M

1953-01-01

Pressure distributions and force characteristics have been determined for a body of revolution consisting of a fineness ratio 5.75, circular-arc, ogival nose tangent to a cylindrical afterbody for an angle-of-attack range of 0 degrees to 35.5 degrees. The free-stream Mach number was 1.98 and the free-stream Reynolds number was approximately 0.5 x 10 sup 6, based on body diameter. Comparison of the theoretical and experimental pressure distributions shows that for zero lift, either slender-body theory or higher-order theories yield results which are in good agreement with experiment. For the lifting case, good agreement with theory is found only for low angles of attack and for the region in which the body cross-sectional area is increasing in the downstream direction. Because of the effects of cross-flow separation and the effects of compressibility due to the high cross-flow Mach numbers at large angles of attack, the experimental pressure distributions differ from those predicted by potential theory. Although the flow about the inclined body was, in general, similar to that assumed as the basis for Allen's method of estimating the forces resulting from viscous effects (NACA RM A91I26), the distribution of the forces was significantly different from that assumed. Nevertheless, the lift and pitching-moment characteristics were in fair agreement with the estimated value.

Development of Global 30m Resolution Water Body Map with Permanent/Temporal Water Body Separation Using Satellite Acquired Images of Landsat GLS Datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeshima, D.; Yamazaki, D.; Yoshikawa, S.; Kanae, S.

2015-12-01

The specification of worldwide water body distribution is important for discovering hydrological cycle. Global 3-second Water Body Map (G3WBM) is a global scale map, which indicates the distribution of water body in 90m resolutions (http://hydro.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~yamadai/G3WBM/index.html). This dataset was mainly built to identify the width of river channels, which is one of major uncertainties of continental-scale river hydrodynamics models. To survey the true width of the river channel, this water body map distinguish Permanent Water Body from Temporary Water Body, which means separating river channel and flood plain. However, rivers with narrower width, which is a major case in usual river, could not be observed in this map. To overcome this problem, updating the algorithm of G3WBM and enhancing the resolutions to 30m is the goal of this research. Although this 30m-resolution water body map uses similar algorithm as G3WBM, there are many technical issues attributed to relatively high resolutions. Those are such as lack of same high-resolution digital elevation map, or contamination problem of sub-pixel scale object on satellite acquired image, or invisibility of well-vegetated water body such as swamp. To manage those issues, this research used more than 30,000 satellite images of Landsat Global Land Survey (GLS), and lately distributed topography data of Shuttle Rader Topography Mission (SRTM) 1 arc-second (30m) digital elevation map. Also the effect of aerosol, which would scatter the sun reflectance and disturb the acquired result image, was considered. Due to these revises, the global water body distribution was established in more precise resolution.

Dephosphorylation of survival motor neurons (SMN) by PPM1G/PP2Cγ governs Cajal body localization and stability of the SMN complex

PubMed Central

Petri, Sebastian; Grimmler, Matthias; Over, Sabine; Fischer, Utz; Gruss, Oliver J.

2007-01-01

The survival motor neuron (SMN) complex functions in maturation of uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles. SMN mediates the cytoplasmic assembly of Sm proteins onto uridine-rich small RNAs, and then participates in targeting RNPs to nuclear Cajal bodies (CBs). Recent studies have suggested that phosphorylation might control localization and function of the SMN complex. Here, we show that the nuclear phosphatase PPM1G/PP2Cγ interacts with and dephosphorylates the SMN complex. Small interfering RNA knockdown of PPM1G leads to an altered phosphorylation pattern of SMN and Gemin3, loss of SMN from CBs, and reduced stability of SMN. Accumulation in CBs is restored upon overexpression of catalytically active, but not that of inactive, PPM1G. This demonstrates that PPM1G's phosphatase activity is necessary to maintain SMN subcellular distribution. Concomitant knockdown of unr interacting protein (unrip), a component implicated in cytoplasmic retention of the SMN complex, also rescues the localization defects. Our data suggest that an interplay between PPM1G and unrip determine compartment-specific phosphorylation patterns, localization, and function of the SMN complex. PMID:17984321

Tactile functions after cerebral hemispherectomy.

PubMed

Backlund, H; Morin, C; Ptito, A; Bushnell, M C; Olausson, H

2005-01-01

Patients that were hemispherectomized due to brain lesions early in life sometimes have remarkably well-preserved tactile functions on their paretic body half. This has been attributed to developmental neuroplasticity. However, the tactile examinations generally have been fairly crude, and subtle deficits may not have been revealed. We investigated monofilament detection and three types of tactile directional sensibility in four hemispherectomized patients and six healthy controls. Patients were examined bilaterally on the face, forearm and lower leg. Normal subjects were examined unilaterally. Following each test of directional sensibility, subjects were asked to rate the intensity of the stimulation. On the nonparetic side, results were almost always in the normal range. On the paretic side, the patients' capacity for monofilament detection was less impaired than their directional sensibility. Despite the disturbed directional sensibility on their paretic side the patients rated tactile sensations evoked by the stimuli, on both their paretic and nonparetic body halves, as more intense than normals. Thus, mechanisms of plasticity seem adequate for tactile detection and intensity coding but not for more complex tactile functions such as directional sensibility. The reason for the high vulnerability of tactile directional sensibility may be that it depends on spatially and temporally precise afferent information processed in a distributed cortical network.

Art and the brain: a view from dementia.

PubMed

Gretton, Cosima; ffytche, Dominic H

2014-02-01

Art making encompasses a range of perceptual and cognitive functions involving widely distributed brain systems. The dementias impact on these systems in different ways, raising the possibility that each dementia has a unique artistic signature. Here we use a review of the visual art of 14 artists with dementia (five Alzheimer's disease, seven fronto-temporal dementia and two dementia with Lewy bodies) to further our understanding of the neurobiological constituents of art production and higher artistic function. Artists with Alzheimer's disease had prominent changes in spatial aspects of their art and attributes of colour and contrast. These qualities were preserved in the art of fronto-temporal dementia, which was characterised by perseverative themes and a shift towards realistic representation. The art of dementia with Lewy Bodies was characterised by simple, bizarre content. The limitations of using visual aspects of individual artworks to infer the impact of dementia on art production are discussed with the need for a wider perspective encompassing changes in cognition, emotion, creativity and artistic personality. A novel classificatory scheme is presented to help characterise neural mechanisms of higher artistic functions in future studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Three dimensional stress vector sensor array and method therefor

DOEpatents

Pfeifer, Kent Bryant; Rudnick, Thomas Jeffery

2005-07-05

A sensor array is configured based upon capacitive sensor techniques to measure stresses at various positions in a sheet simultaneously and allow a stress map to be obtained in near real-time. The device consists of single capacitive elements applied in a one or two dimensional array to measure the distribution of stresses across a mat surface in real-time as a function of position for manufacturing and test applications. In-plane and normal stresses in rolling bodies such as tires may thus be monitored.

Association of ADIPOQ +45T>G polymorphism with body fat mass and blood levels of soluble adiponectin and inflammation markers in a Mexican-Mestizo population

PubMed Central

Guzman-Ornelas, Milton-Omar; Chavarria-Avila, Efrain; Munoz-Valle, Jose-Francisco; Armas-Ramos, Laura-Elizabeth; Castro-Albarran, Jorge; Aldrete, Maria Elena Aguilar; Oregon-Romero, Edith; Mercado, Monica Vazquez-Del; Navarro-Hernandez, Rosa-Elena

2012-01-01

Purpose Obesity is a disease with genetic susceptibility characterized by an increase in storage and irregular distribution of body fat. In obese patients, the decrease in the Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) expression has been associated with a systemic low-grade inflammatory state. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between ADIPOQ +45T>G gene simple nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs2241766) with serum adiponectin (sAdiponectin), distribution of body fat storage, and inflammation markers. Subjects and methods In this cross-sectional study, 242 individuals from Western Mexico characterized as Mexican-Mestizo and classified by body mass index (BMI), were included. Anthropometrics, body composition, body fat distribution, and inflammation markers were measured by routine methods. Genotypes were characterized using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and sAdiponectin by the ELISA method. A P-value <0.05 was considered the statistically significant threshold. Results sAdiponectin is associated with BMI (P < 0.001) and the genotypes (P < 0.001 to 0.0046) GG (8169 ± 1162 ng/mL), TG (5189 ± 501 ng/mL), and TT (3741 ± 323 ng/mL), but the SNP ADIPOQ +45T>G is not associated with BMI. However, the detailed analysis showed association of this SNP with a pattern of fat distribution and correlations (P < 0.05) with inflammation markers and distribution of body fat storage (Pearson’s r = −0.169 to −0.465) were found. Conclusion In this study, we have suggested that the ADIPOQ +45G allele could be associated with distribution of body fat storage in obesity. On the other hand, as no association was observed between ADIPOQ +45T>G gene polymorphism and obesity, it cannot be concluded that the ADIPOQ +45G allele is responsible for the increase of adiponectin levels. PMID:23118546

Association of ADIPOQ +45T>G polymorphism with body fat mass and blood levels of soluble adiponectin and inflammation markers in a Mexican-Mestizo population.

PubMed

Guzman-Ornelas, Milton-Omar; Chavarria-Avila, Efrain; Munoz-Valle, Jose-Francisco; Armas-Ramos, Laura-Elizabeth; Castro-Albarran, Jorge; Aguilar Aldrete, Maria Elena; Oregon-Romero, Edith; Vazquez-Del Mercado, Monica; Navarro-Hernandez, Rosa-Elena

2012-01-01

Obesity is a disease with genetic susceptibility characterized by an increase in storage and irregular distribution of body fat. In obese patients, the decrease in the Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) expression has been associated with a systemic low-grade inflammatory state. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between ADIPOQ +45T>G gene simple nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs2241766) with serum adiponectin (sAdiponectin), distribution of body fat storage, and inflammation markers. In this cross-sectional study, 242 individuals from Western Mexico characterized as Mexican-Mestizo and classified by body mass index (BMI), were included. Anthropometrics, body composition, body fat distribution, and inflammation markers were measured by routine methods. Genotypes were characterized using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and sAdiponectin by the ELISA method. A P-value <0.05 was considered the statistically significant threshold. sAdiponectin is associated with BMI (P < 0.001) and the genotypes (P < 0.001 to 0.0046) GG (8169 ± 1162 ng/mL), TG (5189 ± 501 ng/mL), and TT (3741 ± 323 ng/mL), but the SNP ADIPOQ +45T>G is not associated with BMI. However, the detailed analysis showed association of this SNP with a pattern of fat distribution and correlations (P < 0.05) with inflammation markers and distribution of body fat storage (Pearson's r = -0.169 to -0.465) were found. In this study, we have suggested that the ADIPOQ +45G allele could be associated with distribution of body fat storage in obesity. On the other hand, as no association was observed between ADIPOQ +45T>G gene polymorphism and obesity, it cannot be concluded that the ADIPOQ +45G allele is responsible for the increase of adiponectin levels.

Collisional evolution - an analytical study for the non steady-state mass distribution.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vieira Martins, R.

1999-05-01

To study the collisional evolution of asteroidal groups one can use an analytical solution for the self-similar collision cascades. This solution is suitable to study the steady-state mass distribution of the collisional fragmentation. However, out of the steady-state conditions, this solution is not satisfactory for some values of the collisional parameters. In fact, for some values for the exponent of the mass distribution power law of an asteroidal group and its relation to the exponent of the function which describes "how rocks break" the author arrives at singular points for the equation which describes the collisional evolution. These singularities appear since some approximations are usually made in the laborious evaluation of many integrals that appear in the analytical calculations. They concern the cutoff for the smallest and the largest bodies. These singularities set some restrictions to the study of the analytical solution for the collisional equation. To overcome these singularities the author performed an algebraic computation considering the smallest and the largest bodies and he obtained the analytical expressions for the integrals that describe the collisional evolution without restriction on the parameters. However, the new distribution is more sensitive to the values of the collisional parameters. In particular the steady-state solution for the differential mass distribution has exponents slightly different from 11/6 for the usual parameters in the asteroid belt. The sensitivity of this distribution with respect to the parameters is analyzed for the usual values in the asteroidal groups. With an expression for the mass distribution without singularities, one can evaluate also its time evolution. The author arrives at an analytical expression given by a power series of terms constituted by a small parameter multiplied by the mass to an exponent, which depends on the initial power law distribution. This expression is a formal solution for the equation which describes the collisional evolution.

Spatial distribution of citizen science casuistic observations for different taxonomic groups.

PubMed

Tiago, Patrícia; Ceia-Hasse, Ana; Marques, Tiago A; Capinha, César; Pereira, Henrique M

2017-10-16

Opportunistic citizen science databases are becoming an important way of gathering information on species distributions. These data are temporally and spatially dispersed and could have limitations regarding biases in the distribution of the observations in space and/or time. In this work, we test the influence of landscape variables in the distribution of citizen science observations for eight taxonomic groups. We use data collected through a Portuguese citizen science database (biodiversity4all.org). We use a zero-inflated negative binomial regression to model the distribution of observations as a function of a set of variables representing the landscape features plausibly influencing the spatial distribution of the records. Results suggest that the density of paths is the most important variable, having a statistically significant positive relationship with number of observations for seven of the eight taxa considered. Wetland coverage was also identified as having a significant, positive relationship, for birds, amphibians and reptiles, and mammals. Our results highlight that the distribution of species observations, in citizen science projects, is spatially biased. Higher frequency of observations is driven largely by accessibility and by the presence of water bodies. We conclude that efforts are required to increase the spatial evenness of sampling effort from volunteers.

The interaction between the spatial distribution of resource patches and population density: consequences for intraspecific growth and morphology.

PubMed

Jacobson, Bailey; Grant, James W A; Peres-Neto, Pedro R

2015-07-01

How individuals within a population distribute themselves across resource patches of varying quality has been an important focus of ecological theory. The ideal free distribution predicts equal fitness amongst individuals in a 1 : 1 ratio with resources, whereas resource defence theory predicts different degrees of monopolization (fitness variance) as a function of temporal and spatial resource clumping and population density. One overlooked landscape characteristic is the spatial distribution of resource patches, altering the equitability of resource accessibility and thereby the effective number of competitors. While much work has investigated the influence of morphology on competitive ability for different resource types, less is known regarding the phenotypic characteristics conferring relative ability for a single resource type, particularly when exploitative competition predominates. Here we used young-of-the-year rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to test whether and how the spatial distribution of resource patches and population density interact to influence the level and variance of individual growth, as well as if functional morphology relates to competitive ability. Feeding trials were conducted within stream channels under three spatial distributions of nine resource patches (distributed, semi-clumped and clumped) at two density levels (9 and 27 individuals). Average trial growth was greater in high-density treatments with no effect of resource distribution. Within-trial growth variance had opposite patterns across resource distributions. Here, variance decreased at low-population, but increased at high-population densities as patches became increasingly clumped as the result of changes in the levels of interference vs. exploitative competition. Within-trial growth was related to both pre- and post-trial morphology where competitive individuals were those with traits associated with swimming capacity and efficiency: larger heads/bodies/caudal fins and less angled pectoral fins. The different degrees of within-population growth variance at the same density level found here, as a function of spatial resource distribution, provide an explanation for the inconsistencies in within-site growth variance and population regulation often noted with regard to density dependence in natural landscapes. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2015 British Ecological Society.

Complete anatomy of {overline B_d} to {overline {text{K}}^{{*0}}} (→ Kπ) ℓ + ℓ - and its angular distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matias, J.; Mescia, F.; Ramon, M.; Virto, J.

2012-04-01

We present a complete and optimal set of observables for the exclusive 4-body overline B meson decay {overline B_d} to {overline {text{K}}^{{*0}}} (→ Kπ) ℓ + ℓ -in the low dilepton mass region, that contains a maximal number of clean observables. This basis of observables is built in a systematic way. We show that all the previously defined observables and any observable that one can construct, can be expressed as a function of this basis. This set of observables contains all the information that can be extracted from the angular distribution in the cleanest possible way. We provide explicit expressions for the full and the uniangular distributions in terms of this basis. The conclusions presented here can be easily extended to the large- q 2 region. We study the sensitivity of the observables to right-handed currents and scalars. Finally, we present for the first time all the symmetries of the full distribution including massive terms and scalar contributions.

Optimal linear reconstruction of dark matter from halo catalogues

DOE PAGES

Cai, Yan -Chuan; Bernstein, Gary; Sheth, Ravi K.

2011-04-01

The dark matter lumps (or "halos") that contain galaxies have locations in the Universe that are to some extent random with respect to the overall matter distributions. We investigate how best to estimate the total matter distribution from the locations of the halos. We derive the weight function w(M) to apply to dark-matter haloes that minimizes the stochasticity between the weighted halo distribution and its underlying mass density field. The optimal w(M) depends on the range of masses of halos being used. While the standard biased-Poisson model of the halo distribution predicts that bias weighting is optimal, the simple factmore » that the mass is comprised of haloes implies that the optimal w(M) will be a mixture of mass-weighting and bias-weighting. In N-body simulations, the Poisson estimator is up to 15× noisier than the optimal. Optimal weighting could make cosmological tests based on the matter power spectrum or cross-correlations much more powerful and/or cost effective.« less

Height, adiposity and body fat distribution and breast density in young women.

PubMed

Dorgan, Joanne F; Klifa, Catherine; Shepherd, John A; Egleston, Brian L; Kwiterovich, Peter O; Himes, John H; Gabriel, Kelley; Horn, Linda; Snetselaar, Linda G; Stevens, Victor J; Barton, Bruce A; Robson, Alan M; Lasser, Norman L; Deshmukh, Snehal; Hylton, Nola M

2012-07-13

Breast density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, but determinants of breast density in young women remain largely unknown. Associations of height, adiposity and body fat distribution with percentage dense breast volume (%DBV) and absolute dense breast volume (ADBV) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 174 healthy women, 25 to 29 years old. Adiposity and body fat distribution were measured by anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while %DBV and ADBV were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. All tests of statistical significance are two-sided. Height was significantly positively associated with %DBV but not ADBV; for each standard deviation (SD) increase in height, %DBV increased by 18.7% in adjusted models. In contrast, all measures of adiposity and body fat distribution were significantly inversely associated with %DBV; a SD increase in body mass index (BMI), percentage fat mass, waist circumference and the android:gynoid fat mass ratio (A:G ratio) was each associated significantly with a 44.4 to 47.0% decrease in %DBV after adjustment for childhood BMI and other covariates. Although associations were weaker than for %DBV, all measures of adiposity and body fat distribution also were significantly inversely associated with ADBV before adjustment for childhood BMI. After adjustment for childhood BMI, however, only the DXA measures of percentage fat mass and A:G ratio remained significant; a SD increase in each was associated with a 13.8 to 19.6% decrease in ADBV. In mutually adjusted analysis, the percentage fat mass and the A:G ratio remained significantly inversely associated with %DBV, but only the A:G ratio was significantly associated with ADBV; a SD increase in the A:G ratio was associated with an 18.5% decrease in ADBV. Total adiposity and body fat distribution are independently inversely associated with %DBV, whereas in mutually adjusted analysis only body fat distribution (A:G ratio) remained significantly inversely associated with ADBV in young women. Research is needed to identify biological mechanisms underlying these associations.

Quantum chemical study of conformational fingerprints in the photoelectron spectra and (e, 2e) electron momentum distributions of n-hexane.

PubMed

Morini, F; Knippenberg, S; Deleuze, M S; Hajgató, B

2010-04-01

The main purpose of the present work is to simulate from many-body quantum mechanical calculations the results of experimental studies of the valence electronic structure of n-hexane employing photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS). This study is based on calculations of the valence ionization spectra and spherically averaged (e, 2e) electron momentum distributions for each known conformer by means of one-particle Green's function [1p-GF] theory along with the third-order algebraic diagrammatic construction [ADC(3)] scheme and using Kohn-Sham orbitals derived from DFT calculations employing the Becke 3-parameters Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) functional as approximations to Dyson orbitals. A first thermostatistical analysis of these spectra and momentum distributions employs recent estimations at the W1h level of conformational energy differences, by Gruzman et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2009, 113, 11974], and of correspondingly obtained conformer weights using MP2 geometrical, vibrational, and rotational data in thermostatistical calculations of partition functions beyond the level of the rigid rotor-harmonic oscillator approximation. Comparison is made with the results of a focal point analysis of these energy differences using this time B3LYP geometries and the corresponding vibrational and rotational partition functions in the thermostatistical analysis. Large differences are observed between these two thermochemical models, especially because of strong variations in the contributions of hindered rotations to relative entropies. In contrast, the individual ionization spectra or momentum profiles are almost insensitive to the employed geometry. This study confirms the great sensitivity of valence ionization bands and (e, 2e) momentum distributions on the molecular conformation and sheds further light on spectral fingerprints of through-space methylenic hyperconjugation, in both PES and EMS experiments.

Daily torpor and hibernation in birds and mammals

PubMed Central

RUF, THOMAS; GEISER, FRITZ

2014-01-01

Many birds and mammals drastically reduce their energy expenditure during times of cold exposure, food shortage, or drought, by temporarily abandoning euthermia, i.e., the maintenance of high body temperatures. Traditionally, two different types of heterothermy, i.e., hypometabolic states associated with low body temperatures (torpor), have been distinguished: Daily torpor, which lasts less than 24 h and is accompanied by continued foraging, versus hibernation, with torpor bouts lasting consecutive days to several weeks in animals that usually do not forage but rely on energy stores, either food caches or body energy reserves. This classification of torpor types has been challenged however, suggesting that these phenotypes may merely represent the extremes in a continuum of traits. Here, we investigate whether variables of torpor in 214 species, 43 birds and 171 mammals form a continuum or a bimodal distribution. We use Gaussian-mixture cluster analysis as well as phylogenetically informed regressions to quantitatively assess the distinction between hibernation and daily torpor and to evaluate the impact of body mass and geographical distribution of species on torpor traits. Cluster analysis clearly confirmed the classical distinction between daily torpor and hibernation. Overall, heterothermic endotherms are small on average, but hibernators are significantly heavier than daily heterotherms and also are distributed at higher average latitudes (~35°) than daily heterotherms (~25°). Variables of torpor for an average 30-g heterotherm differed significantly between daily heterotherms and hibernators. Average maximum torpor bout duration was >30-fold longer, and mean torpor bout duration >25-fold longer in hibernators. Mean minimum body temperature differed by ~13°C, and the mean minimum torpor metabolic rate was ~35% of the BMR in daily heterotherms but only 6% of basal metabolic rate in hibernators. Consequently, our analysis strongly supports the view that hibernators and daily heterotherms are functionally distinct groups that probably have been subject to disruptive selection. Arguably, the primary physiological difference between daily torpor and hibernation, which leads to a variety of derived further distinct characteristics, is the temporal control of entry into and arousal from torpor, which is governed by the circadian clock in daily heterotherms, but apparently not in hibernators. PMID:25123049

Ab initio calculation of the potential bubble nucleus 34Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duguet, T.; Somà, V.; Lecluse, S.; Barbieri, C.; Navrátil, P.

2017-03-01

Background: The possibility that an unconventional depletion (referred to as a "bubble") occurs in the center of the charge density distribution of certain nuclei due to a purely quantum mechanical effect has attracted theoretical and experimental attention in recent years. Based on a mean-field rationale, a correlation between the occurrence of such a semibubble and an anomalously weak splitting between low angular-momentum spin-orbit partners has been further conjectured. Energy density functional and valence-space shell model calculations have been performed to identify and characterize the best candidates, among which 34Si appears as a particularly interesting case. While the experimental determination of the charge density distribution of the unstable 34Si is currently out of reach, (d ,p ) experiments on this nucleus have been performed recently to test the correlation between the presence of a bubble and an anomalously weak 1 /2--3 /2- splitting in the spectrum of 35Si as compared to 37S. Purpose: We study the potential bubble structure of 34Si on the basis of the state-of-the-art ab initio self-consistent Green's function many-body method. Methods: We perform the first ab initio calculations of 34Si and 36S. In addition to binding energies, the first observables of interest are the charge density distribution and the charge root-mean-square radius for which experimental data exist in 36S. The next observable of interest is the low-lying spectroscopy of 35Si and 37S obtained from (d ,p ) experiments along with the spectroscopy of 33Al and 35P obtained from knock-out experiments. The interpretation in terms of the evolution of the underlying shell structure is also provided. The study is repeated using several chiral effective field theory Hamiltonians as a way to test the robustness of the results with respect to input internucleon interactions. The convergence of the results with respect to the truncation of the many-body expansion, i.e., with respect to the many-body correlations included in the calculation, is studied in detail. We eventually compare our predictions to state-of-the-art multireference energy density functional and shell model calculations. Results: The prediction regarding the (non)existence of the bubble structure in 34Si varies significantly with the nuclear Hamiltonian used. However, demanding that the experimental charge density distribution and the root-mean-square radius of 36S be well reproduced, along with 34Si and 36S binding energies, only leaves the NNLOsat Hamiltonian as a serious candidate to perform this prediction. In this context, a bubble structure, whose fingerprint should be visible in an electron scattering experiment of 34Si, is predicted. Furthermore, a clear correlation is established between the occurrence of the bubble structure and the weakening of the 1 /2--3 /2- splitting in the spectrum of 35Si as compared to 37S. Conclusions: The occurrence of a bubble structure in the charge distribution of 34Si is convincingly established on the basis of state-of-the-art ab initio calculations. This prediction will have to be reexamined in the future when improved chiral nuclear Hamiltonians are constructed. On the experimental side, present results act as a strong motivation to measure the charge density distribution of 34Si in future electron scattering experiments on unstable nuclei. In the meantime, it is of interest to perform one-neutron removal on 34Si and 36S in order to further test our theoretical spectral strength distributions over a wide energy range.

Body size distributions signal a regime shift in a lake ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Communities of organisms, from mammals to microorganisms, have discontinuous distributions of body size. This pattern of size structuring is a conservative trait of community organization and is a product of processes that occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we assessed whether body size patterns serve as an indicator of a threshold between alternative regimes. Over the past 7000 years, the biological communities of Foy Lake (Montana,USA) have undergone a major regime shift owing to climate change. We used a palaeoecological record of diatom communities to estimate diatom sizes, and then analysed the discontinuous distribution of organism sizes over time. We used Bayesian classification and regression tree models to determine that all time intervals exhibited aggregations of sizes separated by gaps in the distribution and found a significant change in diatom body size distributions approximately 150 years before the identified ecosystem regime shift. We suggest that discontinuity analysis is a useful addition to the suite of tools for the detection of early warning signals of regime shifts. Communities of organisms from mammals to microorganisms have discontinuous distributions of body size. This pattern of size structuring is a conservative trait of community organization and is a product of processes that occur at discrete spatial and temporal scales within ecosystems. Here, a paleoecological record of diatom community change is use

Development and assessment of healthy properties of meat and meat products designed as functional foods.

PubMed

Olmedilla-Alonso, Begoña; Jiménez-Colmenero, Francisco; Sánchez-Muniz, Francisco J

2013-12-01

This review deals with the two major aspects to be considered in the context of meat-based functional foods and human health. One involves the different strategies used to improve (increase or reduce) the presence of bioactive (healthy and unhealthy) compounds in meat and meat products in order to develop potential meat-based functional foods; these strategies are basically concerned with animal production practices, meat processing and storage, distribution and consumption conditions. Since the link between the consumption of those foods and their potentially beneficial effects (improving health and/or reducing the risk of several chronic diseases) needs to be demonstrated scientifically, the second aspect considered is related to intervention studies to examine the functional capacity of meat-based potentially functional foods in humans, discussing how the functionality of a food can be assessed in terms of its effects on health in relation to both target body functions and risk factors. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expand Your Horizon: A programme that improves body image and reduces self-objectification by training women to focus on body functionality.

PubMed

Alleva, Jessica M; Martijn, Carolien; Van Breukelen, Gerard J P; Jansen, Anita; Karos, Kai

2015-09-01

This study tested Expand Your Horizon, a programme designed to improve body image by training women to focus on the functionality of their body using structured writing assignments. Eighty-one women (Mage=22.77) with a negative body image were randomised to the Expand Your Horizon programme or to an active control programme. Appearance satisfaction, functionality satisfaction, body appreciation, and self-objectification were measured at pretest, posttest, and one-week follow-up. Following the intervention, participants in the Expand Your Horizon programme experienced greater appearance satisfaction, functionality satisfaction, and body appreciation, and lower levels of self-objectification, compared to participants in the control programme. Partial eta-squared effect sizes were of small to medium magnitude. This study is the first to show that focusing on body functionality can improve body image and reduce self-objectification in women with a negative body image. These findings provide support for addressing body functionality in programmes designed to improve body image. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determining accurate measurements of the growth rate from the galaxy correlation function in simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, Carlos; Blake, Chris; Poole, Gregory B.; Marin, Felipe

2013-04-01

We use high-resolution N-body simulations to develop a new, flexible empirical approach for measuring the growth rate from redshift-space distortions in the 2-point galaxy correlation function. We quantify the systematic error in measuring the growth rate in a 1 h-3 Gpc3 volume over a range of redshifts, from the dark matter particle distribution and a range of halo-mass catalogues with a number density comparable to the latest large-volume galaxy surveys such as the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey and the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey. Our simulations allow us to span halo masses with bias factors ranging from unity (probed by emission-line galaxies) to more massive haloes hosting luminous red galaxies. We show that the measured growth rate is sensitive to the model adopted for the small-scale real-space correlation function, and in particular that the `standard' assumption of a power-law correlation function can result in a significant systematic error in the growth-rate determination. We introduce a new, empirical fitting function that produces results with a lower (5-10 per cent) amplitude of systematic error. We also introduce a new technique which permits the galaxy pairwise velocity distribution, the quantity which drives the non-linear growth of structure, to be measured as a non-parametric stepwise function. Our (model-independent) results agree well with an exponential pairwise velocity distribution, expected from theoretical considerations, and are consistent with direct measurements of halo velocity differences from the parent catalogues. In a companion paper, we present the application of our new methodology to the WiggleZ Survey data set.

Prenatal Androgen Excess Negatively Impacts Body Fat Distribution in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PubMed Central

Bruns, Cristin M; Baum, Scott T; Colman, Ricki J; Dumesic, Daniel A; Eisner, Joel R; Jensen, Michael D; Whigham, Leah D; Abbott, David H

2008-01-01

Introduction Prenatally androgenized (PA) female rhesus monkeys share metabolic abnormalities in common with PCOS women. Early gestation exposure (E) results in insulin resistance, impaired pancreatic beta-cell function and type 2 diabetes, while late gestation exposure (L) results in supranormal insulin sensitivity that declines with increasing body mass index (BMI). Objective To determine whether PA females have altered body fat distribution. Design Five EPA, 5 LPA, and 5 control adult female monkeys underwent somatometrics, dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Five control and 5 EPA females underwent an intravenous glucose tolerance test to assess the relationship between body composition and glucoregulation. Results There were no differences in age, weight, BMI, or somatometrics. LPA females had ∼20% greater DXA-determined total fat and percent body fat, as well as total and percent abdominal fat than EPA or control females (p≤0.05). LPA females also had ∼40% more CT-determined non-visceral abdominal fat than EPA or control females (p≤0.05). The volume of visceral fat was similar among the 3 groups. EPA (R2=0.94, p≤0.01) and LPA (R2=0.53, p=0.16) females had a positive relationship between visceral fat and BMI, although not significant for LPA females. Conversely, control females had a positive relationship between non-visceral fat and BMI (R2=0.98, p≤0.001). There was a positive relationship between basal insulin and total body (R2=0.95, p≤0.007), total abdominal (R2=0.81, p≤0.04), and visceral (R2=0.82, p≤0.03) fat quantities in EPA, but not control females. Conclusions Prenatal androgenization in female rhesus monkeys induces adiposity-dependent visceral fat accumulation, and late gestation androgenization causes increased total body and non-visceral fat mass. Early gestation androgenization induces visceral fat-dependent hyperinsulinemia. The relationship between the timing of prenatal androgen exposure and body composition phenotypes in this nonhuman primate model for PCOS may provide insight into the heterogeneity of metabolic defects found in PCOS women. PMID:17471299

Prenatal androgen excess negatively impacts body fat distribution in a nonhuman primate model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

PubMed

Bruns, C M; Baum, S T; Colman, R J; Dumesic, D A; Eisner, J R; Jensen, M D; Whigham, L D; Abbott, D H

2007-10-01

Prenatally androgenized (PA) female rhesus monkeys share metabolic abnormalities in common with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. Early gestation exposure (E) results in insulin resistance, impaired pancreatic beta-cell function and type 2 diabetes, while late gestation exposure (L) results in supranormal insulin sensitivity that declines with increasing body mass index (BMI). To determine whether PA females have altered body fat distribution. Five early-treated PA (EPA), five late-treated PA (LPA) and five control adult female monkeys underwent somatometrics, dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Five control and five EPA females underwent an intravenous glucose tolerance test to assess the relationship between body composition and glucoregulation. There were no differences in age, weight, BMI or somatometrics. LPA females had approximately 20% greater DXA-determined total fat and percent body fat, as well as total and percent abdominal fat than EPA or control females (P< or =0.05). LPA females also had approximately 40% more CT-determined non-visceral abdominal fat than EPA or control females (P< or =0.05). The volume of visceral fat was similar among the three groups. EPA (R (2)=0.94, P< or =0.01) and LPA (R (2)=0.53, P=0.16) females had a positive relationship between visceral fat and BMI, although not significant for LPA females. Conversely, control females had a positive relationship between non-visceral fat and BMI (R (2)=0.98, P< or =0.001). There was a positive relationship between basal insulin and total body (R (2)=0.95, P< or =0.007), total abdominal (R (2)=0.81, P< or =0.04) and visceral (R (2)=0.82, P< or =0.03) fat quantities in EPA, but not control females. Prenatal androgenization in female rhesus monkeys induces adiposity-dependent visceral fat accumulation, and late gestation androgenization causes increased total body and non-visceral fat mass. Early gestation androgenization induces visceral fat-dependent hyperinsulinemia. The relationship between the timing of prenatal androgen exposure and body composition phenotypes in this nonhuman primate model for PCOS may provide insight into the heterogeneity of metabolic defects found in PCOS women.

Form or function: Does focusing on body functionality protect women from body dissatisfaction when viewing media images?

PubMed

Mulgrew, Kate E; Tiggemann, Marika

2018-01-01

We examined whether shifting young women's ( N =322) attention toward functionality components of media-portrayed idealized images would protect against body dissatisfaction. Image type was manipulated via images of models in either an objectified body-as-object form or active body-as-process form; viewing focus was manipulated via questions about the appearance or functionality of the models. Social comparison was examined as a moderator. Negative outcomes were most pronounced within the process-related conditions (body-as-process images or functionality viewing focus) and for women who reported greater functionality comparison. Results suggest that functionality-based depictions, reflections, and comparisons may actually produce worse outcomes than those based on appearance.

Velocity statistics of the Nagel-Schreckenberg model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bain, Nicolas; Emig, Thorsten; Ulm, Franz-Josef; Schreckenberg, Michael

2016-02-01

The statistics of velocities in the cellular automaton model of Nagel and Schreckenberg for traffic are studied. From numerical simulations, we obtain the probability distribution function (PDF) for vehicle velocities and the velocity-velocity (vv) covariance function. We identify the probability to find a standing vehicle as a potential order parameter that signals nicely the transition between free congested flow for a sufficiently large number of velocity states. Our results for the vv covariance function resemble features of a second-order phase transition. We develop a 3-body approximation that allows us to relate the PDFs for velocities and headways. Using this relation, an approximation to the velocity PDF is obtained from the headway PDF observed in simulations. We find a remarkable agreement between this approximation and the velocity PDF obtained from simulations.

Velocity statistics of the Nagel-Schreckenberg model.

PubMed

Bain, Nicolas; Emig, Thorsten; Ulm, Franz-Josef; Schreckenberg, Michael

2016-02-01

The statistics of velocities in the cellular automaton model of Nagel and Schreckenberg for traffic are studied. From numerical simulations, we obtain the probability distribution function (PDF) for vehicle velocities and the velocity-velocity (vv) covariance function. We identify the probability to find a standing vehicle as a potential order parameter that signals nicely the transition between free congested flow for a sufficiently large number of velocity states. Our results for the vv covariance function resemble features of a second-order phase transition. We develop a 3-body approximation that allows us to relate the PDFs for velocities and headways. Using this relation, an approximation to the velocity PDF is obtained from the headway PDF observed in simulations. We find a remarkable agreement between this approximation and the velocity PDF obtained from simulations.

A pilot study investigating whether focusing on body functionality can protect women from the potential negative effects of viewing thin-ideal media images.

PubMed

Alleva, Jessica M; Veldhuis, Jolanda; Martijn, Carolien

2016-06-01

This pilot study explored whether focusing on body functionality (i.e., everything the body can do) can protect women from potential harmful effects of exposure to thin-ideal images. Seventy women (Mage=20.61) completed an assignment wherein they either described the functionality of their body or the routes that they often travel (control). Afterward, participants were exposed to a series of thin-ideal images. Appearance and functionality satisfaction were measured before the assignment; appearance and functionality satisfaction, self-objectification, and body appreciation were measured after exposure. Results showed that participants who focused on body functionality experienced greater functionality satisfaction and body appreciation compared to control participants. Therefore, focusing on body functionality could be a beneficial individual-level technique that women can use to protect and promote a positive body image in the face of thin-ideal images. Research including a condition wherein participants are exposed to (product-only) control images is necessary to draw firmer conclusions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Weakly Nonergodic Dynamics in the Gross-Pitaevskii Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mithun, Thudiyangal; Kati, Yagmur; Danieli, Carlo; Flach, Sergej

2018-05-01

The microcanonical Gross-Pitaevskii (also known as the semiclassical Bose-Hubbard) lattice model dynamics is characterized by a pair of energy and norm densities. The grand canonical Gibbs distribution fails to describe a part of the density space, due to the boundedness of its kinetic energy spectrum. We define Poincaré equilibrium manifolds and compute the statistics of microcanonical excursion times off them. The tails of the distribution functions quantify the proximity of the many-body dynamics to a weakly nonergodic phase, which occurs when the average excursion time is infinite. We find that a crossover to weakly nonergodic dynamics takes place inside the non-Gibbs phase, being unnoticed by the largest Lyapunov exponent. In the ergodic part of the non-Gibbs phase, the Gibbs distribution should be replaced by an unknown modified one. We relate our findings to the corresponding integrable limit, close to which the actions are interacting through a short range coupling network.

Subcellular Nanoparticle Distribution from Light Transmission Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deatsch, Alison; Sun, Nan; Johnson, Jeffrey; Stack, Sharon; Tanner, Carol; Ruggiero, Steven

We have measured the particle-size distribution (PSD) of subcellular structures in plant and animal cells. We have employed a new technique developed by our group, Light Transmission Spectroscopy-combined with cell fractionation-to accurately measure PSDs over a wide size range: from 10 nm to 3000nm, which includes objects from the size of individual proteins to organelles. To date our experiments have included cultured human oral cells and spinach cells. These results show a power-law dependence of particle density with particle diameter, implying a universality of the packing distribution. We discuss modeling the cell as a self-similar (fractal) body comprised of spheres on all size scales. This goal of this work is to obtain a better understanding of the fundamental nature of particle packing within cells in order to enrich our knowledge of the structure, function, and interactions of sub-cellular nanostructures across cell types.

Finsler geometry of nonlinear elastic solids with internal structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clayton, J. D.

2017-02-01

Concepts from Finsler differential geometry are applied towards a theory of deformable continua with internal structure. The general theory accounts for finite deformation, nonlinear elasticity, and various kinds of structural features in a solid body. The general kinematic structure of the theory includes macroscopic and microscopic displacement fields-i.e., a multiscale representation-whereby the latter are represented mathematically by the director vector of pseudo-Finsler space, not necessarily of unit magnitude. A physically appropriate fundamental (metric) tensor is introduced, leading to affine and nonlinear connections. A deformation gradient tensor is defined via differentiation of the macroscopic motion field, and another metric indicative of strain in the body is a function of this gradient. A total energy functional of strain, referential microscopic coordinates, and horizontal covariant derivatives of the latter is introduced. Variational methods are applied to derive Euler-Lagrange equations and Neumann boundary conditions. The theory is shown to encompass existing continuum physics models such as micromorphic, micropolar, strain gradient, phase field, and conventional nonlinear elasticity models, and it can reduce to such models when certain assumptions on geometry, kinematics, and energy functionals are imposed. The theory is applied to analyze two physical problems in crystalline solids: shear localization/fracture in a two-dimensional body and cavitation in a spherical body. In these examples, a conformal or Weyl-type transformation of the fundamental tensor enables a description of dilatation associated, respectively, with cleavage surface roughness and nucleation of voids or vacancies. For the shear localization problem, the Finsler theory is able to accurately reproduce the surface energy of Griffith's fracture mechanics, and it predicts dilatation-induced toughening as observed in experiments on brittle crystals. For the cavitation problem, the Finsler theory is able to accurately reproduce the vacancy formation energy at a nanoscale resolution, and various solutions describe localized cavitation at the core of the body and/or distributed dilatation and softening associated with amorphization as observed in atomic simulations, with relative stability of solutions depending on the regularization length.

SECULAR BEHAVIOR OF EXOPLANETS: SELF-CONSISTENCY AND COMPARISONS WITH THE PLANET-PLANET SCATTERING HYPOTHESIS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Timpe, Miles; Barnes, Rory; Kopparapu, Ravikumar

2013-09-15

If mutual gravitational scattering among exoplanets occurs, then it may produce unique orbital properties. For example, two-planet systems that lie near the boundary between circulation and libration of their periapses could result if planet-planet scattering ejected a former third planet quickly, leaving one planet on an eccentric orbit and the other on a circular orbit. We first improve upon previous work that examined the apsidal behavior of known multiplanet systems by doubling the sample size and including observational uncertainties. This analysis recovers previous results that demonstrated that many systems lay on the apsidal boundary between libration and circulation. We thenmore » performed over 12,000 three-dimensional N-body simulations of hypothetical three-body systems that are unstable, but stabilize to two-body systems after an ejection. Using these synthetic two-planet systems, we test the planet-planet scattering hypothesis by comparing their apsidal behavior, over a range of viewing angles, to that of the observed systems and find that they are statistically consistent regardless of the multiplicity of the observed systems. Finally, we combine our results with previous studies to show that, from the sampled cases, the most likely planetary mass function prior to planet-planet scattering follows a power law with index -1.1. We find that this pre-scattering mass function predicts a mutual inclination frequency distribution that follows an exponential function with an index between -0.06 and -0.1.« less

The lateral somitic frontier: dorso-ventral aspects of anterio-posterior regionalization in avian embryos.

PubMed

Nowicki, Julie L; Takimoto, Ryoko; Burke, Ann Campbell

2003-02-01

Patterning events along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis of vertebrate embryos result in the distribution of muscle and bone forming a highly effective functional system. A key aspect of regionalized AP patterning results from variation in the migratory pattern of somite cells along the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis of the body. This occurs as somite cell populations expand around the axis or migrate away from the dorsal midline and cross into the lateral plate. The fate of somitic cells has been intensely studied and many details have been reported about inductive signaling from other tissues that influence somite cell fate and behavior. We are interested in understanding the specific differences between somites in particular AP regions and how these differences contribute to the global pattern of the organism. Using orthotopic transplants of segmental plate between quail and chick embryos, we have mapped the interface of the somitic and lateral plate mesoderm during the formation of the body wall in cervical and thoracic regions. This interface does not change dramatically in the mid-cervical region, but undergoes extensive changes in the thoracic region. Based on this regional mapping and consistent with the extensive literature, we suggest a revised method of classifying regions of the body wall that relies on embryonic cell lineages rather than adult functional criteria.

Determination of Efficacy of Reflexology in Managing Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Dalal, Krishna; Maran, V. Bharathi; Pandey, Ravindra M.; Tripathi, Manjari

2014-01-01

Background. The restricted usage of existing pharmacological methods which do not seem to provide the treatment of diabetic neuropathy may lead to exploring the efficacy of a complementary therapy. In this context, this paper was devoted to evaluate the efficacy of foot reflexology. This health science works on the hypothesis that the dysfunctional states of body parts could be identified by observing certain skin features and be rectified by stimulating certain specific areas mapped on feet. Method. Subjects (N = 58) with diagnosed diabetic neuropathy were randomly distributed into reflexology and control groups in which both group patients were treated with ongoing pharmacological drugs. Reflexology group patients were additionally treated holistically with the hypothesis that this therapy would bring homeostasis among body organ functions. This was a caregiver-based study with a follow-up period of 6 months. The outcome measures were pain reduction, glycemic control, nerve conductivity, and thermal and vibration sensitivities. The skin features leading to the detection of the abnormal functional states of body parts were also recorded and analyzed. Results. Reflexology group showed more improvements in all outcome measures than those of control subjects with statistical significance. Conclusion. This study exhibited the efficient utility of reflexology therapy integrated with conventional medicines in managing diabetic neuropathy. PMID:24527055

In vivo articular cartilage deformation: noninvasive quantification of intratissue strain during joint contact in the human knee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Deva D.; Cai, Luyao; Butz, Kent D.; Trippel, Stephen B.; Nauman, Eric A.; Neu, Corey P.

2016-01-01

The in vivo measurement of articular cartilage deformation is essential to understand how mechanical forces distribute throughout the healthy tissue and change over time in the pathologic joint. Displacements or strain may serve as a functional imaging biomarker for healthy, diseased, and repaired tissues, but unfortunately intratissue cartilage deformation in vivo is largely unknown. Here, we directly quantified for the first time deformation patterns through the thickness of tibiofemoral articular cartilage in healthy human volunteers. Magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions were synchronized with physiologically relevant compressive loading and used to visualize and measure regional displacement and strain of tibiofemoral articular cartilage in a sagittal plane. We found that compression (of 1/2 body weight) applied at the foot produced a sliding, rigid-body displacement at the tibiofemoral cartilage interface, that loading generated subject- and gender-specific and regionally complex patterns of intratissue strains, and that dominant cartilage strains (approaching 12%) were in shear. Maximum principle and shear strain measures in the tibia were correlated with body mass index. Our MRI-based approach may accelerate the development of regenerative therapies for diseased or damaged cartilage, which is currently limited by the lack of reliable in vivo methods for noninvasive assessment of functional changes following treatment.

The stability of perfect elliptic disks. 1: The maximum streaming case

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levine, Stephen E.; Sparke, Linda S.

1994-01-01

Self-consistent distribution functions are constructed for two-dimensional perfect elliptic disks (for which the potential is exactly integrable) in the limit of maximum streaming; these are tested for stability by N-body integration. To obtain a discrete representation for each model, simulated annealing is used to choose a set of orbits which sample the distribution function and reproduce the required density profile while carrying the greatest possible amount of angular momentum. A quiet start technique is developed to place particles on these orbits uniformly in action-angle space, making the initial conditions as smooth as possible. The roundest models exhibit spiral instabilities similar to those of cold axisymmetric disks; the most elongated models show bending instabilities like those seen in prolate systems. Between these extremes, there is a range of axial ratios 0.25 approximately less than b/a approximately less than 0.6 within which these models appear to be stable. All the methods developed in this investigation can easily be extended to integrable potentials in three dimensions.

[Research progress in the role of aquaproin-4 and inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 in spinal cord edema].

PubMed

Chen, Tiege; Dang, Yuexiu; Wang, Ming; Zhang, Dongliang; Guo, Yongqiang; Zhang, Haihong

2018-05-28

Spinal edema is a very important pathophysiological basis for secondary spinal cord injury, which affects the repair and prognosis of spinal cord injury. Aquaporin-4 is widely distributed in various organs of the body, and is highly expressed in the brain and spinal cord. Inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 is a protein found in astrocytes of central nervous system. It interacts with aquaporins in function. Aquaporin-4 and inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 play an important role in the formation and elimination of spinal cord edema, inhibition of glial scar formation and promotion of excitotoxic agents exclusion. The distribution and function of aquaporin-4 and inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 in the central nervous system and their expression after spinal cord injury have multiple effects on spinal edema. Studies of aquaporin-4 and inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 in the spinal cord may provide new ideas for the elimination and treatment of spinal edema.

NOTE: Development of modified voxel phantoms for the numerical dosimetric reconstruction of radiological accidents involving external sources: implementation in SESAME tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Courageot, Estelle; Sayah, Rima; Huet, Christelle

2010-05-01

Estimating the dose distribution in a victim's body is a relevant indicator in assessing biological damage from exposure in the event of a radiological accident caused by an external source. When the dose distribution is evaluated with a numerical anthropomorphic model, the posture and morphology of the victim have to be reproduced as realistically as possible. Several years ago, IRSN developed a specific software application, called the simulation of external source accident with medical images (SESAME), for the dosimetric reconstruction of radiological accidents by numerical simulation. This tool combines voxel geometry and the MCNP(X) Monte Carlo computer code for radiation-material interaction. This note presents a new functionality in this software that enables the modelling of a victim's posture and morphology based on non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surfaces. The procedure for constructing the modified voxel phantoms is described, along with a numerical validation of this new functionality using a voxel phantom of the RANDO tissue-equivalent physical model.

Development of modified voxel phantoms for the numerical dosimetric reconstruction of radiological accidents involving external sources: implementation in SESAME tool.

PubMed

Courageot, Estelle; Sayah, Rima; Huet, Christelle

2010-05-07

Estimating the dose distribution in a victim's body is a relevant indicator in assessing biological damage from exposure in the event of a radiological accident caused by an external source. When the dose distribution is evaluated with a numerical anthropomorphic model, the posture and morphology of the victim have to be reproduced as realistically as possible. Several years ago, IRSN developed a specific software application, called the simulation of external source accident with medical images (SESAME), for the dosimetric reconstruction of radiological accidents by numerical simulation. This tool combines voxel geometry and the MCNP(X) Monte Carlo computer code for radiation-material interaction. This note presents a new functionality in this software that enables the modelling of a victim's posture and morphology based on non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surfaces. The procedure for constructing the modified voxel phantoms is described, along with a numerical validation of this new functionality using a voxel phantom of the RANDO tissue-equivalent physical model.

Boundary-layer transition and displacement thickness effects on zero-lift drag of a series of power-law bodies at Mach 6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, G. C., Jr.; Harris, J. E.

1974-01-01

Wave and skin-friction drag have been numerically calculated for a series of power-law bodies at a Mach number of 6 and Reynolds numbers, based on body length, from 1.5 million to 9.5 million. Pressure distributions were computed on the nose by the inverse method and on the body by the method of characteristics. These pressure distributions and the measured locations of boundary-layer transition were used in a nonsimilar-boundary-layer program to determine viscous effects. A coupled iterative approach between the boundary-layer and pressure-distribution programs was used to account for boundary-layer displacement-thickness effects. The calculated-drag coefficients compared well with previously obtained experimental data.

Combining aesthetic with ecological values for landscape sustainability.

PubMed

Yang, Dewei; Luo, Tao; Lin, Tao; Qiu, Quanyi; Luo, Yunjian

2014-01-01

Humans receive multiple benefits from various landscapes that foster ecological services and aesthetic attractiveness. In this study, a hybrid framework was proposed to evaluate ecological and aesthetic values of five landscape types in Houguanhu Region of central China. Data from the public aesthetic survey and professional ecological assessment were converted into a two-dimensional coordinate system and distribution maps of landscape values. Results showed that natural landscapes (i.e. water body and forest) contributed positively more to both aesthetic and ecological values than semi-natural and human-dominated landscapes (i.e. farmland and non-ecological land). The distribution maps of landscape values indicated that the aesthetic, ecological and integrated landscape values were significantly associated with landscape attributes and human activity intensity. To combine aesthetic preferences with ecological services, the methods (i.e. field survey, landscape value coefficients, normalized method, a two-dimensional coordinate system, and landscape value distribution maps) were employed in landscape assessment. Our results could facilitate to identify the underlying structure-function-value chain, and also improve the understanding of multiple functions in landscape planning. The situation context could also be emphasized to bring ecological and aesthetic goals into better alignment.

Combining Aesthetic with Ecological Values for Landscape Sustainability

PubMed Central

Yang, Dewei; Luo, Tao; Lin, Tao; Qiu, Quanyi; Luo, Yunjian

2014-01-01

Humans receive multiple benefits from various landscapes that foster ecological services and aesthetic attractiveness. In this study, a hybrid framework was proposed to evaluate ecological and aesthetic values of five landscape types in Houguanhu Region of central China. Data from the public aesthetic survey and professional ecological assessment were converted into a two-dimensional coordinate system and distribution maps of landscape values. Results showed that natural landscapes (i.e. water body and forest) contributed positively more to both aesthetic and ecological values than semi-natural and human-dominated landscapes (i.e. farmland and non-ecological land). The distribution maps of landscape values indicated that the aesthetic, ecological and integrated landscape values were significantly associated with landscape attributes and human activity intensity. To combine aesthetic preferences with ecological services, the methods (i.e. field survey, landscape value coefficients, normalized method, a two-dimensional coordinate system, and landscape value distribution maps) were employed in landscape assessment. Our results could facilitate to identify the underlying structure-function-value chain, and also improve the understanding of multiple functions in landscape planning. The situation context could also be emphasized to bring ecological and aesthetic goals into better alignment. PMID:25050886

Sparsely-distributed organization of face and limb activations in human ventral temporal cortex

PubMed Central

Weiner, Kevin S.; Grill-Spector, Kalanit

2011-01-01

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has identified face- and body part-selective regions, as well as distributed activation patterns for object categories across human ventral temporal cortex (VTC), eliciting a debate regarding functional organization in VTC and neural coding of object categories. Using high-resolution fMRI, we illustrate that face- and limb-selective activations alternate in a series of largely nonoverlapping clusters in lateral VTC along the inferior occipital gyrus (IOG), fusiform gyrus (FG), and occipitotemporal sulcus (OTS). Both general linear model (GLM) and multivoxel pattern (MVP) analyses show that face- and limb-selective activations minimally overlap and that this organization is consistent across experiments and days. We provide a reliable method to separate two face-selective clusters on the middle and posterior FG (mFus and pFus), and another on the IOG using their spatial relation to limb-selective activations and retinotopic areas hV4, VO-1/2, and hMT+. Furthermore, these activations show a gradient of increasing face selectivity and decreasing limb selectivity from the IOG to the mFus. Finally, MVP analyses indicate that there is differential information for faces in lateral VTC (containing weakly- and highly-selective voxels) relative to non-selective voxels in medial VTC. These findings suggest a sparsely-distributed organization where sparseness refers to the presence of several face- and limb-selective clusters in VTC, and distributed refers to the presence of different amounts of information in highly-, weakly-, and non-selective voxels. Consequently, theories of object recognition should consider the functional and spatial constraints of neural coding across a series of nonoverlapping category-selective clusters that are themselves distributed. PMID:20457261

The Seismic Design of Waterfront Retaining Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

of elastic backfill behind a rigid wall .... .......... .. 134 5.2 Pressure distributions on smooth rigid wall for l-g static horizontal body force...135 5.3 Resultant force and resultant moment on smooth rigid wall for l-g static horizontal body force...distributions on smooth rigid wall for 1-g static horizontal body force clearly showed the limitations of Woods simplified procedure when this condi- tion is not

A randomised-controlled trial investigating potential underlying mechanisms of a functionality-based approach to improving women's body image.

PubMed

Alleva, Jessica M; Diedrichs, Phillippa C; Halliwell, Emma; Martijn, Carolien; Stuijfzand, Bobby G; Treneman-Evans, Georgia; Rumsey, Nichola

2018-06-01

Focusing on body functionality is a promising technique for improving women's body image. This study replicates prior research in a large novel sample, tests longer-term follow-up effects, and investigates underlying mechanisms of these effects (body complexity and body-self integration). British women (N = 261) aged 18-30 who wanted to improve their body image were randomised to Expand Your Horizon (three online body functionality writing exercises) or an active control. Trait body image was assessed at Pretest, Posttest, 1-week, and 1-month Follow-Up. To explore whether changes in body complexity and body-self integration 'buffer' the impact of negative body-related experiences, participants also completed beauty-ideal media exposure. Relative to the control, intervention participants experienced improved appearance satisfaction, functionality satisfaction, body appreciation, and body complexity at Posttest, and at both Follow-Ups. Neither body complexity nor body-self integration mediated intervention effects. Media exposure decreased state body satisfaction among intervention and control participants, but neither body complexity nor body-self integration moderated these effects. The findings underscore the value of focusing on body functionality for improving body image and show that effects persist one month post-intervention. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cloning of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) precursor cDNA and immunohistochemical detection of CRH peptide in the brain of the Japanese eel, paying special attention to gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

PubMed

Amano, Masafumi; Mizusawa, Nanami; Okubo, Kataaki; Amiya, Noriko; Mizusawa, Kanta; Chiba, Hiroaki; Yamamoto, Naoyuki; Takahashi, Akiyoshi

2014-04-01

The stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was first identified by isolation of its cDNA from the brain of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. CRH cDNA encodes a signal peptide, a cryptic peptide and CRH (41 amino acids). The sequence homology to mammalian CRH is high. Next, the distribution of CRH-immunoreactive (ir) cell bodies and fibers in the brain and pituitary were examined by immunohistochemistry. CRH-ir cell bodies were detected in several brain regions, e.g., nucleus preopticus pars magnocellularis, nucleus preopticus pars gigantocellularis and formatio reticularis superius. In the brain, CRH-ir fibers were distributed not only in the hypothalamus but also in various regions. Some CRH-ir fibers projected to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cells in the rostral pars distalis of the pituitary and also the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) cells in the pars intermedia of the pituitary. Finally, the neuroanatomical relationship between the CRH neurons and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons was examined by dual-label immunohistochemistry. CRH-ir fibers were found to be in close contact with GnRH-ir cell bodies in the hypothalamus and in the midbrain tegmentum and GnRH-ir fibers were in close contact with CRH-ir cell bodies in the nucleus preopticus pars magnocellularis. These results suggest that CRH has some physiological functions other than the stimulation of ACTH and α-MSH secretion and that reciprocal connections may exist between the CRH neurons and GnRH neurons in the brain of the Japanese eel.

Inactive and sedentary lifestyles amongst ambulatory adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background To assess physical behaviour, including physical activity and sedentary behaviour, of ambulatory adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP). We compared participant physical behaviour to that of able-bodied persons and assessed differences related to Gross Motor Functioning Classification System (GMFCS) level and CP distribution (unilateral/bilateral). Methods In 48 ambulatory persons aged 16 to 24 years with spastic CP and in 32 able-bodied controls, physical behaviour was objectively determined with an accelerometer-based activity monitor. Total duration, intensity and type of physical activity were assessed and sedentary time was determined (lying and sitting). Furthermore, distribution of walking bouts and sitting bouts was specified. Results Adolescents and young adults with CP spent 8.6% of 24 hours physically active and 79.5% sedentary, corresponding with respectively 123 minutes and 1147 minutes per 24 hours. Compared to able-bodied controls, persons with CP participated 48 minutes less in physical activities (p < 0.01) and spent 80 minutes more sedentary per 24 hours (p < 0.01). Physical behaviour was not different between persons with GMFCS level I and II and only number of short sitting bouts were significantly more prevalent in persons with bilateral CP compared to unilateral CP (p < 0.05). Conclusions Ambulatory adolescents and young adults with CP are less physically active and spend more time sedentary compared to able-bodied persons, suggesting that this group may be at increased risk for health problems related to less favourable physical behaviour. Trial registration Nederlands trial register: NTR1785 PMID:24708559

A Weight-Loss Diet Including Coffee-Derived Mannooligosaccharides Enhances Adipose Tissue Loss in Overweight Men but Not Women

PubMed Central

St-Onge, Marie-Pierre; Salinardi, Taylor; Herron-Rubin, Kristin; Black, Richard M.

2013-01-01

Mannooligosaccharides (MOS), extracted from coffee, have been shown to promote a decrease in body fat when consumed as part of free-living, weight-maintaining diets. Our objective was to determine if MOS consumption (4 g/day), in conjunction with a weight-loss diet, would lead to greater reductions in adipose tissue compartments than placebo. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled weight-loss study in which 60 overweight men and women consumed study beverages and received weekly group counseling for 12 weeks. Weight and blood pressure were measured weekly, and adipose tissue distribution was assessed at baseline and at end point using magnetic resonance imaging. A total of 54 subjects completed the study. Men consuming the MOS beverage had greater loss of body weight than men consuming the Placebo beverage (−6.0 ± 0.6% vs. −2.3 ± 0.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). Men consuming the MOS beverage also had reductions in total body volume (P < 0.0001), total (P < 0.0001), subcutaneous (P < 0.0001), and visceral (P < 0.05) adipose tissue that were greater than changes observed in those consuming the Placebo beverage. In women, changes in body weight and adipose tissue compartments were not different between groups. Adding coffee-derived MOS to a weight-loss diet enhanced both weight and adipose tissue losses in men, suggesting a potential functional use of MOS for weight management and improvement in adipose tissue distribution. More studies are needed to investigate the apparent gender difference in response to MOS consumption. PMID:21938072

Disc-halo interactions in ΛCDM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Jacob S.; Widrow, Lawrence M.; Erkal, Denis

2018-05-01

We present a new method for embedding a stellar disc in a cosmological dark matter halo and provide a worked example from a Λ cold dark matter zoom-in simulation. The disc is inserted into the halo at a redshift z = 3 as a zero-mass rigid body. Its mass and size are then increased adiabatically while its position, velocity, and orientation are determined from rigid-body dynamics. At z = 1, the rigid disc (RD) is replaced by an N-body disc whose particles sample a three-integral distribution function (DF). The simulation then proceeds to z = 0 with live disc (LD) and halo particles. By comparison, other methods assume one or more of the following: the centre of the RD during the growth phase is pinned to the minimum of the halo potential, the orientation of the RD is fixed, or the live N-body disc is constructed from a two rather than three-integral DF. In general, the presence of a disc makes the halo rounder, more centrally concentrated, and smoother, especially in the innermost regions. We find that methods in which the disc is pinned to the minimum of the halo potential tend to overestimate the amount of adiabatic contraction. Additionally, the effect of the disc on the subhalo distribution appears to be rather insensitive to the disc insertion method. The LD in our simulation develops a bar that is consistent with the bars seen in late-type spiral galaxies. In addition, particles from the disc are launched or `kicked up' to high galactic latitudes.

Scaling Theory of Entanglement at the Many-Body Localization Transition.

PubMed

Dumitrescu, Philipp T; Vasseur, Romain; Potter, Andrew C

2017-09-15

We study the universal properties of eigenstate entanglement entropy across the transition between many-body localized (MBL) and thermal phases. We develop an improved real space renormalization group approach that enables numerical simulation of large system sizes and systematic extrapolation to the infinite system size limit. For systems smaller than the correlation length, the average entanglement follows a subthermal volume law, whose coefficient is a universal scaling function. The full distribution of entanglement follows a universal scaling form, and exhibits a bimodal structure that produces universal subleading power-law corrections to the leading volume law. For systems larger than the correlation length, the short interval entanglement exhibits a discontinuous jump at the transition from fully thermal volume law on the thermal side, to pure area law on the MBL side.

Domains of importance for parents, medical professionals and youth with cerebral palsy considering treatment outcomes.

PubMed

Vargus-Adams, J N; Martin, L K

2011-03-01

The aim of this study was to assess the domains of importance in therapeutic intervention for cerebral palsy (CP) using categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health - Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY). A total of 17 youth, 19 parents and 39 medical professionals responded to the open-ended query: 'What are the things you find most important to consider when you evaluate the effects of an intervention for yourself/your child/your patient with cerebral palsy?' Surveys were either mailed or conducted on-line. Responses were coded by two reviewers using the ICF-CY and discrepancies were resolved. Responses were distributed across the ICF-CY domains of Body Functions and Structures, Activities and Participation, and Environmental Factors, as well as non-ICF-CY concepts including quality of life. The most common responses overall were pain, motor function, mobility, community life and public services. Youth identified strength, gait pattern, hand/arm use and use of assistive technologies as priorities whereas parents were concerned with motor function, communication, mobility and provision of public services. Medical professionals listed pain, function, mobility, community life and participation most often. All surveyed groups indicate a desire to see changes in body functions and structures (pain, mental function, strength, movement), activities and participation (communication, hand/arm use, walking, school, recreation/community life) and quality of life following therapeutic interventions for CP. These results demonstrate the multiple, varied concerns regarding CP across the spectrum of functioning and health. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

45 CFR 1607.4 - Functions of a governing body.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Functions of a governing body. 1607.4 Section 1607... GOVERNING BODIES § 1607.4 Functions of a governing body. (a) A governing body shall have at least four... accordance with written policies adopted by the recipient's governing body. (b) In addition to other powers...

45 CFR 1607.4 - Functions of a governing body.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Functions of a governing body. 1607.4 Section 1607... GOVERNING BODIES § 1607.4 Functions of a governing body. (a) A governing body shall have at least four... accordance with written policies adopted by the recipient's governing body. (b) In addition to other powers...

Understanding quantum work in a quantum many-body system.

PubMed

Wang, Qian; Quan, H T

2017-03-01

Based on previous studies in a single-particle system in both the integrable [Jarzynski, Quan, and Rahav, Phys. Rev. X 5, 031038 (2015)2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.5.031038] and the chaotic systems [Zhu, Gong, Wu, and Quan, Phys. Rev. E 93, 062108 (2016)1539-375510.1103/PhysRevE.93.062108], we study the the correspondence principle between quantum and classical work distributions in a quantum many-body system. Even though the interaction and the indistinguishability of identical particles increase the complexity of the system, we find that for a quantum many-body system the quantum work distribution still converges to its classical counterpart in the semiclassical limit. Our results imply that there exists a correspondence principle between quantum and classical work distributions in an interacting quantum many-body system, especially in the large particle number limit, and further justify the definition of quantum work via two-point energy measurements in quantum many-body systems.

Mitochondrial structure and dynamics as critical factors in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) caste development.

PubMed

Santos, Douglas Elias; Alberici, Luciane Carla; Hartfelder, Klaus

2016-06-01

The relationship between nutrition and phenotype is an especially challenging question in cases of facultative polyphenism, like the castes of social insects. In the honey bee, Apis mellifera, unexpected modifications in conserved signaling pathways revealed the hypoxia response as a possible mechanism underlying the regulation of body size and organ growth. Hence, the current study was designed to investigate possible causes of why the three hypoxia core genes are overexpressed in worker larvae. Parting from the hypothesis that this has an endogenous cause and is not due to differences in external oxygen levels we investigated mitochondrial numbers and distribution, as well as mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates in fat body cells of queen and worker larvae during the caste fate-critical larval stages. By immunofluorescence and electron microscopy we found higher densities of mitochondria in queen larval fat body, a finding further confirmed by a citrate synthase assay quantifying mitochondrial functional units. Oxygen consumption measurements by high-resolution respirometry revealed that queen larvae have higher maximum capacities of ATP production at lower physiological demand. Finally, the expression analysis of mitogenesis-related factors showed that the honey bee TFB1 and TFB2 homologs, and a nutritional regulator, ERR, are overexpressed in queen larvae. These results are strong evidence that the differential nutrition of queen and worker larvae by nurse bees affects mitochondrial dynamics and functionality in the fat body of these larvae, hence explaining their differential hypoxia response. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Relationship Between Body Image and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged Women.

PubMed

Afshari, Poorandokht; Houshyar, Zeinab; Javadifar, Nahid; Pourmotahari, Fatemeh; Jorfi, Maryam

2016-11-01

An individual's social and marital function, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life may, sometimes be affected by negative body image. This study is aimed at determining the relationship between body image and sexual function in middle-aged women. In this cross-sectional study, 437 middle-aged women, who were referred to various public healthcare centers in Ahvaz, Iran during 2014-2015, were selected. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were used for data collection. Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance, Spearman's correlation test, and logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Approximately 58% of the participants expressed satisfaction with their body image, 35% were mildly dissatisfied, and 7% were moderately dissatisfied with their body image. Body image had a significant negative relationship with sexual satisfaction and sexual function (p=0.005). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between body image and sexual desire (p=0.022), pain (p=0.001), sexual arousal (p<0.0005), sexual orgasm (p=0.001), and sexual satisfaction (p<0.0005). As the results indicated, body image is an important aspect of sexual health. In this study, women with a positive body image had higher sexual function valuation, compared to women with a negative body image. Also, body shape satisfaction was a predictor of sexual function.

A new approach to simulating collisionless dark matter fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Oliver; Abel, Tom; Kaehler, Ralf

2013-09-01

Recently, we have shown how current cosmological N-body codes already follow the fine grained phase-space information of the dark matter fluid. Using a tetrahedral tessellation of the three-dimensional manifold that describes perfectly cold fluids in six-dimensional phase space, the phase-space distribution function can be followed throughout the simulation. This allows one to project the distribution function into configuration space to obtain highly accurate densities, velocities and velocity dispersions. Here, we exploit this technique to show first steps on how to devise an improved particle-mesh technique. At its heart, the new method thus relies on a piecewise linear approximation of the phase-space distribution function rather than the usual particle discretization. We use pseudo-particles that approximate the masses of the tetrahedral cells up to quadrupolar order as the locations for cloud-in-cell (CIC) deposit instead of the particle locations themselves as in standard CIC deposit. We demonstrate that this modification already gives much improved stability and more accurate dynamics of the collisionless dark matter fluid at high force and low mass resolution. We demonstrate the validity and advantages of this method with various test problems as well as hot/warm dark matter simulations which have been known to exhibit artificial fragmentation. This completely unphysical behaviour is much reduced in the new approach. The current limitations of our approach are discussed in detail and future improvements are outlined.

Polymethylmethacrylate distribution is associated with recompression after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective study.

PubMed

Hou, Yu; Yao, Qi; Zhang, Genai; Ding, Lixiang; Huang, Hui

2018-01-01

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, always accompanied with pain and height loss of vertebral body, has a significant negative impact on life quality of patients. Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty is minimal invasive techniques to reconstruct the vertebral height and prevent further collapse of the fractured vertebrae by injecting polymethylmethacrylate into vertebral body. However, recompression of polymethylmethacrylate augmented vertebrae with significant vertebral height loss and aggressive local kyphotic was observed frequently after VP or KP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of polymethylmethacrylate distribution on recompression of the vertebral body after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty surgery for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. A total of 281 patients who were diagnosed with vertebral compression fracture (T5-L5) from June 2014 to June 2016 and underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty by polymethylmethacrylate were retrospectively analyzed. The X-ray films at 1 day and 12 months after surgery were compared to evaluate the recompression of operated vertebral body. Patients were divided into those without recompression (non-recompression group) and those with recompression (recompression group). Polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern, including location and relationship to endplates, was compared between the two groups by lateral X-ray film. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the potential risk factors associated with polymethylmethacrylate distribution for recompression. One hundred and six (37.7%) patients experienced recompression after surgery during the follow-up period. The polymethylmethacrylate distributed in the middle of vertebral body showed significant differences between two groups. In non-recompression group, the polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body were closer to endplates than that in the recompression group (upper: t = 31.41, p<0.001; lower: t = 12.19, p<0.001). The higher percentage of the height of polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body indicates the lower risk of recompression (odds ratio [OR]<0.01, p<0.001). The recompression group and non-recompression group showed significant difference in "contacted" polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern (polymethylmethacrylate contacted to the both upper/lower endplates) (χ2 = 66.23, p<0.001). The vertebra with a "contacted" polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern has lower risk of recompression (OR = 0.09, p<0.001). Either more polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body or "contacted" polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern had a significantly less incidence of recompression. The findings indicated that the control of polymethylmethacrylate distribution during surgery may reduce the risks of recompression after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.

Polymethylmethacrylate distribution is associated with recompression after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective study

PubMed Central

Yao, Qi; Zhang, Genai; Ding, Lixiang; Huang, Hui

2018-01-01

Background Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, always accompanied with pain and height loss of vertebral body, has a significant negative impact on life quality of patients. Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty is minimal invasive techniques to reconstruct the vertebral height and prevent further collapse of the fractured vertebrae by injecting polymethylmethacrylate into vertebral body. However, recompression of polymethylmethacrylate augmented vertebrae with significant vertebral height loss and aggressive local kyphotic was observed frequently after VP or KP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of polymethylmethacrylate distribution on recompression of the vertebral body after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty surgery for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Methods A total of 281 patients who were diagnosed with vertebral compression fracture (T5-L5) from June 2014 to June 2016 and underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty by polymethylmethacrylate were retrospectively analyzed. The X-ray films at 1 day and 12 months after surgery were compared to evaluate the recompression of operated vertebral body. Patients were divided into those without recompression (non-recompression group) and those with recompression (recompression group). Polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern, including location and relationship to endplates, was compared between the two groups by lateral X-ray film. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the potential risk factors associated with polymethylmethacrylate distribution for recompression. Results One hundred and six (37.7%) patients experienced recompression after surgery during the follow-up period. The polymethylmethacrylate distributed in the middle of vertebral body showed significant differences between two groups. In non-recompression group, the polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body were closer to endplates than that in the recompression group (upper: t = 31.41, p<0.001; lower: t = 12.19, p<0.001). The higher percentage of the height of polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body indicates the lower risk of recompression (odds ratio [OR]<0.01, p<0.001). The recompression group and non-recompression group showed significant difference in “contacted” polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern (polymethylmethacrylate contacted to the both upper/lower endplates) (χ2 = 66.23, p<0.001). The vertebra with a “contacted” polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern has lower risk of recompression (OR = 0.09, p<0.001). Conclusions Either more polymethylmethacrylate in the middle portion of vertebral body or “contacted” polymethylmethacrylate distribution pattern had a significantly less incidence of recompression. The findings indicated that the control of polymethylmethacrylate distribution during surgery may reduce the risks of recompression after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. PMID:29856859

Total body fat, abdominal fat, body fat distribution and surrogate markers for health related to adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4) in children.

PubMed

Dencker, Magnus; Danielson, Anton; Karlsson, Magnus K; Wollmer, Per; Andersen, Lars B; Thorsson, Ola

2017-04-01

The aim of the study was to assess possible relationships between adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4) and total body fat (TBF), abdominal fat, body fat distribution, aerobic fitness, blood pressure, cardiac dimensions and the increase in body fat over 2 years in a community sample of children. A cross-sectional study was used in a community sample of 170 (92 boys and 78 girls) children aged 8-11 years. TBF and abdominal fat (AFM) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). TBF was also expressed as percentage of total body mass (BF%), and body fat distribution was calculated as AFM/TBF. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2PEAK) was assessed by indirect calorimetry during a maximal exercise test and scaled to body mass. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were measured. Echocardiography was performed. Left atrial (LA) size was measured, and left ventricular mass (LVM) was calculated. A follow-up DXA scan was available in 152 children (84 boys and 68 girls). Frozen serum samples were analyzed for FABP4. Partial correlations, with adjustment for sex, between FABP4 vs. ln TBF, ln BF%, ln AFM, AFM/TBF and VO2PEAK were (r=0.69, 0.68, 0.69, 0.49 and -0.39, p<0.05 for all). Moreover, SBP, PP, LVM and LA were also weakly correlated with FABP4 (r=0.23, 0.22, 0.28 and 0.21, p<0.05 for all). Correlations between FABP4 vs. increase in TBF and AFM over 2 years were 0.29 and 0.26, p<0.05, for both. (Increase in percent body fat or change in fat distribution were not correlated.) Conclusions: Findings from this community-based cohort of young children show that increased body fat and abdominal fat, more abdominal body fat distribution, low fitness, more LVM and increased LA, increased SBP and PP were all associated with increased levels of FABP4. Increase in TBF and abdominal fat over 2 years were also associated with increased levels of FABP4.

Spatial Distribution of Small Water Body Types in Indiana Ecoregions

EPA Science Inventory

Due to their large numbers and biogeochemical activity, small water bodies (SWBs), such as ponds and wetlands, can have substantial cumulative effects on hydrologic and biogeochemical processes. Using updated National Wetland Inventory data, we describe the spatial distribution o...

Body fat content, fat distribution and adipocytokine production and their correlation with fertility markers in young adult men and women conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

PubMed

Belva, F; De Schepper, J; Roelants, M; Tournaye, H; Bonduelle, M; Provyn, S

2018-06-01

Differences in body fat content during childhood and adolescence have been described in offspring conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, data on body fat and its distribution as well as on adipocytokine production in young adults conceived by ICSI are nonexistent. We investigated if young adult men and women conceived by ICSI have a normal body fat patterning and adipocytokine production. Cohort study. One hundred twenty-seven young adults conceived by ICSI and 138 peers born after spontaneous conception. Anthropometric parameters (skinfold thickness, hip and waist circumferences), dual X-ray absorptiometry (whole body and regional) measurements and adipocytokine levels (leptin and adiponectin) were analysed in relation to fertility markers (serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B). While at age 18 years, a normal body fat distribution and normal leptin and adiponectin production was found in both male and female ICSI offspring, young men conceived by ICSI had a higher peripheral fat deposition in comparison with spontaneously conceived peers. No correlation between AMH and inhibin B with leptin or adiponectin was observed. While men conceived by ICSI, but not women, had a higher peripheral fat deposition, body fat distribution as well as mean levels of adipocytokines were not affected by the mode of conception. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Pitot-pressure distributions of the flow field of a delta-wing orbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cleary, J. W.

1972-01-01

Pitot pressure distributions of the flow field of a 0.0075-scale model of a typical delta wing shuttle orbiter are presented. Results are given for the windward and leeward sides on centerline in the angle-of-attack plane from wind tunnel tests conducted in air. Distributions are shown for three axial stations X/L = .35, .60, and .98 and for angles of attack from 0 to 60 deg. The tests were made at a Mach number of 7.4 and for Reynolds numbers based on body length from 1,500,000 to 9,000,000. The windward distributions at the two survey stations forward of the body boat tail demonstrate the compressive aspects of the flow from the shock wave to the body. Conversely, the distributions at the aft station display an expansion of the flow that is attributed to body boat tail. On the lee side, results are given at low angles of attack that illustrate the complicating aspects of the canopy on the flow field, while results are given to show the effects of flow separation at high angles of attack.

Historical Review of Lower Body Negative Pressure Research in Space Medicine.

PubMed

Campbell, Mark R; Charles, John B

2015-07-01

Cephalad redistribution of intravascular and extravascular fluid occurs as a result of weightlessness during spaceflight. This provokes cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, and autonomic nervous system responses. The resulting altered functional state can result in orthostatic hypotension and intolerance upon landing and return to a gravity environment. In-flight lower body negative pressure (LBNP) transiently restores normal body fluid distribution. Early in the U.S. space program, LBNP was devised as a way to test for orthostatic intolerance. With the development of the Skylab Program and longer duration spaceflight, it was realized that it could provide a method of monitoring orthostatic intolerance in flight and predicting the post-landing orthostatic response. LBNP was also investigated not only as an in-flight cardiovascular orthostatic stress test, but also as a countermeasure to cardiovascular deconditioning on Soviet space stations, Skylab, and the Shuttle. It is still being used by the Russian program on the International Space Station as an end-of-flight countermeasure.

Battery-free, wireless sensors for full-body pressure and temperature mapping.

PubMed

Han, Seungyong; Kim, Jeonghyun; Won, Sang Min; Ma, Yinji; Kang, Daeshik; Xie, Zhaoqian; Lee, Kyu-Tae; Chung, Ha Uk; Banks, Anthony; Min, Seunghwan; Heo, Seung Yun; Davies, Charles R; Lee, Jung Woo; Lee, Chi-Hwan; Kim, Bong Hoon; Li, Kan; Zhou, Yadong; Wei, Chen; Feng, Xue; Huang, Yonggang; Rogers, John A

2018-04-04

Thin, soft, skin-like sensors capable of precise, continuous measurements of physiological health have broad potential relevance to clinical health care. Use of sensors distributed over a wide area for full-body, spatiotemporal mapping of physiological processes would be a considerable advance for this field. We introduce materials, device designs, wireless power delivery and communication strategies, and overall system architectures for skin-like, battery-free sensors of temperature and pressure that can be used across the entire body. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations of the sensor operation and the modes for wireless addressing define the key features of these systems. Studies with human subjects in clinical sleep laboratories and in adjustable hospital beds demonstrate functionality of the sensors, with potential implications for monitoring of circadian cycles and mitigating risks for pressure-induced skin ulcers. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Local tissue air ratio in an anatomic phantom for 60Co total body irradiation.

PubMed

Vrtar, M; Purisić, A

1991-07-01

Tissue-air ratio (TAR), as the basic dosimetric function, is not ideally applicable to all important locations in total body irradiation (TBI) dosimetry because it generally refers to central ray measurements. We therefore introduced the local TAR which depends on the specific distribution of the scattering centres around the location of interest. Local TAR measurements were performed in an anatomic water phantom, produced by a sculptor, representing a patient during TBI in the real treatment position. A comparison has been made between TAR values, defined on the beam's ray at different locations in the anatomic phantom and cubic phantoms of different size. The local TAR values in the anatomic phantom, having more realistic outer surface curvatures, are lower by a few percent in most locations. We consider these values more accurate and better applicable to TBI conditions than those obtained in cubic water phantoms, even if the volume of the phantom is adapted to the particular side of the body.

Chemical Compositions and Macrophage Activation of Polysaccharides from Leon's Mane Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) in Different Maturation Stages.

PubMed

Li, Qiao-Zhen; Wu, Di; Chen, Xia; Zhou, Shuai; Liu, Yanfang; Yang, Yan; Cui, Fengjie

2015-01-01

We studied the effect of the maturation stage on the chemical compositions and macrophage activation activity of polysaccharides from the culinary-medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus. Results showed that total polysaccharides increased, whereas protein content decreased with the maturation stage development of fruiting body. Nine polysaccharide fractions, 3 from each of the maturity stages IV (small fungal spine stage), V (mid-fungal spine stage) and VI (mature), were prepared using the gradient ethanol precipitation method. The polysaccharide fraction HP4A isolated from the maturating-stage (stage IV) fruiting body had a significant difference from the fractions HP5A (stage V) and HP6A (stage VI) in the molecular weight distribution and monosaccharide compositions. Immunostimulating tests revealed that the polysaccharide fraction HP6 isolated from the mature stage (stage VI) fruiting body presented higher macrophage activation activity. Our findings provided important information for the harvest and use of H. erinaceus with higher qualities and functional benefits.

The influence of body fat distribution patterns and body mass index on MENQOL in women living in an urban area.

PubMed

Kutheerawong, L; Vichinsartvichai, P

2016-01-01

To investigate the influence of patterns of body fat distribution and body mass index (BMI) on menopause-specific quality of life in peri- and postmenopausal women living in an urban area. A total of 214 peri- and postmenopausal women, mean age 55 years, with intact uterus and no history of hormonal treatment were recruited. Anthropometric measurements were conducted as standard techniques. The Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was used to evaluate menopause-specific quality of life. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare MENQOL between body fat patterns or BMI. According to the body fat distribution patterns, 53.3% were women of the android type and 46.7% were of the gynoid type. The android body pattern was associated with worsening of vasomotor and psychosocial domains (p < 0.05). However, overweight and obese women had slightly better scores in the sexual domain of the MENQOL. Peri- and postmenopausal women with the android body pattern have lower quality of life in the vasomotor and psychosocial domains while women with normal BMI have the slightly lower quality of life in the sexual domain. The maintenance of premenopausal body proportion might mitigate the menopause-specific quality of life.

A novel method to characterize silica bodies in grasses.

PubMed

Dabney, Clemon; Ostergaard, Jason; Watkins, Eric; Chen, Changbin

2016-01-01

The deposition of silicon into epidermal cells of grass species is thought to be an important mechanism that plants use as a defense against pests and environmental stresses. There are a number of techniques available to study the size, density and distribution pattern of silica bodies in grass leaves. However, none of those techniques can provide a high-throughput analysis, especially for a great number of samples. We developed a method utilizing the autofluorescence of silica bodies to investigate their size and distribution, along with the number of carbon inclusions within the silica bodies of perennial grass species Koeleria macrantha. Fluorescence images were analyzed by image software Adobe Photoshop CS5 or ImageJ that remarkably facilitated the quantification of silica bodies in the dry ash. We observed three types of silica bodies or silica body related mineral structures. Silica bodies were detected on both abaxial and adaxial epidermis of K. macrantha leaves, although their sizes, density, and distribution patterns were different. No auto-fluorescence was detected from carbon inclusions. The combination of fluorescence microscopy and image processing software displayed efficient utilization in the identification and quantification of silica bodies in K. macrantha leaf tissues, which should applicable to biological, ecological and geological studies of grasses including forage, turf grasses and cereal crops.

Localization and regulation of PML bodies in the adult mouse brain.

PubMed

Hall, Małgorzata H; Magalska, Adriana; Malinowska, Monika; Ruszczycki, Błażej; Czaban, Iwona; Patel, Satyam; Ambrożek-Latecka, Magdalena; Zołocińska, Ewa; Broszkiewicz, Hanna; Parobczak, Kamil; Nair, Rajeevkumar R; Rylski, Marcin; Pawlak, Robert; Bramham, Clive R; Wilczyński, Grzegorz M

2016-06-01

PML is a tumor suppressor protein involved in the pathogenesis of promyelocytic leukemia. In non-neuronal cells, PML is a principal component of characteristic nuclear bodies. In the brain, PML has been implicated in the control of embryonic neurogenesis, and in certain physiological and pathological phenomena in the adult brain. Yet, the cellular and subcellular localization of the PML protein in the brain, including its presence in the nuclear bodies, has not been investigated comprehensively. Because the formation of PML bodies appears to be a key aspect in the function of the PML protein, we investigated the presence of these structures and their anatomical distribution, throughout the adult mouse brain. We found that PML is broadly expressed across the gray matter, with the highest levels in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. In the cerebral cortex PML is present exclusively in neurons, in which it forms well-defined nuclear inclusions containing SUMO-1, SUMO 2/3, but not Daxx. At the ultrastructural level, the appearance of neuronal PML bodies differs from the classic one, i.e., the solitary structure with more or less distinctive capsule. Rather, neuronal PML bodies have the form of small PML protein aggregates located in the close vicinity of chromatin threads. The number, size, and signal intensity of neuronal PML bodies are dynamically influenced by immobilization stress and seizures. Our study indicates that PML bodies are broadly involved in activity-dependent nuclear phenomena in adult neurons.

Right-sided dominance of the bilateral vestibular system in the upper brainstem and thalamus.

PubMed

Dieterich, Marianne; Kirsch, V; Brandt, T

2017-10-01

MRI diffusion tensor imaging tractography was performed on the bilateral vestibular brainstem pathways, which run from the vestibular nuclei via the paramedian and posterolateral thalamic subnuclei to the parieto-insular vestibular cortex. Twenty-one right-handed healthy subjects participated. Quantitative analysis revealed a rope-ladder-like system of vestibular pathways in the brainstem with crossings at pontine and mesencephalic levels. Three structural types of right-left fiber distributions could be delineated: (1) evenly distributed pathways at the lower pontine level from the vestibular nuclei to the pontine crossing, (2) a moderate, pontomesencephalic right-sided lateralization between the pontine and mesencephalic crossings, and (3) a further increase of the right-sided lateralization above the mesencephalic crossing leading to the thalamic vestibular subnuclei. The increasing lateralization along the brainstem was the result of an asymmetric number of pontine and mesencephalic crossing fibers which was higher for left-to-right crossings. The dominance of the right vestibular meso-diencephalic circuitry in right-handers corresponds to the right-hemispheric dominance of the vestibular cortical network. The structural asymmetry apparent in the upper brainstem might be interpreted in relation to the different functions of the vestibular system depending on their anatomical level: a symmetrical sensorimotor reflex control of eye, head, and body mediated by the lower brainstem; a lateralized right-sided upper brainstem-thalamic function as part of the dominant right-sided cortical/subcortical vestibular system that enables a global percept of body motion and orientation in space.

Spatial Distribution of Small Water Body Types across Indiana Ecoregions

EPA Science Inventory

Due to their large numbers and biogeochemical activity, small water bodies (SWB), such as ponds and wetlands, can have substantial cumulative effects on hydrologic, biogeochemical, and biological processes; yet the spatial distributions of various SWB types are often unknown. Usi...

A simple model of fluid flow and electrolyte balance in the body

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, R. J.; Neal, L.

1973-01-01

The model is basically a three-compartment model, the three compartments being the plasma, interstitial fluid and cellular fluid. Sodium, potassium, chloride and urea are the only major solutes considered explicitly. The control of body water and electrolyte distribution is affected via drinking and hormone levels. Basically, the model follows the effect of various oral input water loads on solute and water distribution throughout the body.

N-body experiments and missing mass in clusters of galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, H.; Hintzen, P.; Sofia, S.; Oegerle, W.; Scott, J.; Holman, G.

1979-01-01

It is commonly assumed that the distributions of surface density and radial-velocity dispersion in clusters of galaxies are sensitive tracers of the underlying distribution of any unseen mass. N-body experiments have been used to test this assumption. Calculations with equal-mass systems indicate that the effects of the underlying mass distribution cannot be detected by observations of the surface-density or radial-velocity distributions, and the existence of an extended binding mass in all well-studied clusters would be consistent with available observations.

Computer programs for calculating pressure distributions including vortex effects on supersonic monoplane or cruciform wing-body-tail combinations with round or elliptical bodies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dillenius, M. F. E.; Nielsen, J. N.

1979-01-01

Computer programs are presented which are capable of calculating detailed aerodynamic loadings and pressure distributions acting on pitched and rolled supersonic missile configurations which utilize bodies of circular or elliptical cross sections. The applicable range of angle of attack is up to 20 deg, and the Mach number range is 1.3 to about 2.5. Effects of body and fin vortices are included in the methods, as well as arbitrary deflections of canard or fin panels.

Sex and sex steroids: impact on the kinetics of fatty acids underlying body shape.

PubMed

Santosa, Sylvia; Jensen, Michael D

2014-10-01

Adult humans have a remarkable sexual dimorphism in body shape. Men tend to store relatively more fat in the upper body whereas women store more fat in the lower body. We do not have a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying these differences, but we know that people who preferentially store abdominal fat are at greater risk of metabolic disease. It is also known that the changes in sex steroid concentrations during puberty and again with advancing age are accompanied by changes in body fat distribution. The objective of this review is to describe what has been learned regarding the mechanisms underlying changes in regional body fat distribution that occur as a result of changes in sex hormones and to delineate effects of sex steroids in modulating body composition.