Stable learning of functional maps in self-organizing spiking neural networks with continuous synaptic plasticity

PubMed Central

Srinivasa, Narayan; Jiang, Qin

2013-01-01

This study describes a spiking model that self-organizes for stable formation and maintenance of orientation and ocular dominance maps in the visual cortex (V1). This self-organization process simulates three development phases: an early experience-independent phase, a late experience-independent phase and a subsequent refinement phase during which experience acts to shape the map properties. The ocular dominance maps that emerge accommodate the two sets of monocular inputs that arise from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) to layer 4 of V1. The orientation selectivity maps that emerge feature well-developed iso-orientation domains and fractures. During the last two phases of development the orientation preferences at some locations appear to rotate continuously through ±180° along circular paths and referred to as pinwheel-like patterns but without any corresponding point discontinuities in the orientation gradient maps. The formation of these functional maps is driven by balanced excitatory and inhibitory currents that are established via synaptic plasticity based on spike timing for both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The stability and maintenance of the formed maps with continuous synaptic plasticity is enabled by homeostasis caused by inhibitory plasticity. However, a prolonged exposure to repeated stimuli does alter the formed maps over time due to plasticity. The results from this study suggest that continuous synaptic plasticity in both excitatory neurons and interneurons could play a critical role in the formation, stability, and maintenance of functional maps in the cortex. PMID:23450808

Statistical-mechanical analysis of self-organization and pattern formation during the development of visual maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obermayer, K.; Blasdel, G. G.; Schulten, K.

1992-05-01

We report a detailed analytical and numerical model study of pattern formation during the development of visual maps, namely, the formation of topographic maps and orientation and ocular dominance columns in the striate cortex. Pattern formation is described by a stimulus-driven Markovian process, the self-organizing feature map. This algorithm generates topologically correct maps between a space of (visual) input signals and an array of formal ``neurons,'' which in our model represents the cortex. We define order parameters that are a function of the set of visual stimuli an animal perceives, and we demonstrate that the formation of orientation and ocular dominance columns is the result of a global instability of the retinoptic projection above a critical value of these order parameters. We characterize the spatial structure of the emerging patterns by power spectra, correlation functions, and Gabor transforms, and we compare model predictions with experimental data obtained from the striate cortex of the macaque monkey with optical imaging. Above the critical value of the order parameters the model predicts a lateral segregation of the striate cortex into (i) binocular regions with linear changes in orientation preference, where iso-orientation slabs run perpendicular to the ocular dominance bands, and (ii) monocular regions with low orientation specificity, which contain the singularities of the orientation map. Some of these predictions have already been verified by experiments.

Functional imaging with cellular resolution reveals precise micro-architecture in visual cortex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohki, Kenichi; Chung, Sooyoung; Ch'ng, Yeang H.; Kara, Prakash; Reid, R. Clay

2005-02-01

Neurons in the cerebral cortex are organized into anatomical columns, with ensembles of cells arranged from the surface to the white matter. Within a column, neurons often share functional properties, such as selectivity for stimulus orientation; columns with distinct properties, such as different preferred orientations, tile the cortical surface in orderly patterns. This functional architecture was discovered with the relatively sparse sampling of microelectrode recordings. Optical imaging of membrane voltage or metabolic activity elucidated the overall geometry of functional maps, but is averaged over many cells (resolution >100µm). Consequently, the purity of functional domains and the precision of the borders between them could not be resolved. Here, we labelled thousands of neurons of the visual cortex with a calcium-sensitive indicator in vivo. We then imaged the activity of neuronal populations at single-cell resolution with two-photon microscopy up to a depth of 400µm. In rat primary visual cortex, neurons had robust orientation selectivity but there was no discernible local structure; neighbouring neurons often responded to different orientations. In area 18 of cat visual cortex, functional maps were organized at a fine scale. Neurons with opposite preferences for stimulus direction were segregated with extraordinary spatial precision in three dimensions, with columnar borders one to two cells wide. These results indicate that cortical maps can be built with single-cell precision.

Topographic shear and the relation of ocular dominance columns to orientation columns in primate and cat visual cortex.

PubMed

Wood, Richard J.; Schwartz, Eric L.

1999-03-01

Shear has been known to exist for many years in the topographic structure of the primary visual cortex, but has received little attention in the modeling literature. Although the topographic map of V1 is largely conformal (i.e. zero shear), several groups have observed topographic shear in the region of the V1/V2 border. Furthermore, shear has also been revealed by anisotropy of cortical magnification factor within a single ocular dominance column. In the present paper, we make a functional hypothesis: the major axis of the topographic shear tensor provides cortical neurons with a preferred direction of orientation tuning. We demonstrate that isotropic neuronal summation of a sheared topographic map, in the presence of additional random shear, can provide the major features of cortical functional architecture with the ocular dominance column system acting as the principal source of the shear tensor. The major principal axis of the shear tensor determines the direction and its eigenvalues the relative strength of cortical orientation preference. This hypothesis is then shown to be qualitatively consistent with a variety of experimental results on cat and monkey orientation column properties obtained from optical recording and from other anatomical and physiological techniques. In addition, we show that a recent result of Das and Gilbert (Das, A., & Gilbert, C. D., 1997. Distortions of visuotopic map match orientation singularities in primary visual cortex. Nature, 387, 594-598) is consistent with an infinite set of parameterized solutions for the cortical map. We exploit this freedom to choose a particular instance of the Das-Gilbert solution set which is consistent with the full range of local spatial structure in V1. These results suggest that further relationships between ocular dominance columns, orientation columns, and local topography may be revealed by experimental testing.

Functional Connectivity of Resting Hemodynamic Signals in Submillimeter Orientation Columns of the Visual Cortex.

PubMed

Vasireddi, Anil K; Vazquez, Alberto L; Whitney, David E; Fukuda, Mitsuhiro; Kim, Seong-Gi

2016-09-07

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging has been increasingly used for examining connectivity across brain regions. The spatial scale by which hemodynamic imaging can resolve functional connections at rest remains unknown. To examine this issue, deoxyhemoglobin-weighted intrinsic optical imaging data were acquired from the visual cortex of lightly anesthetized ferrets. The neural activity of orientation domains, which span a distance of 0.7-0.8 mm, has been shown to be correlated during evoked activity and at rest. We performed separate analyses to assess the degree to which the spatial and temporal characteristics of spontaneous hemodynamic signals depend on the known functional organization of orientation columns. As a control, artificial orientation column maps were generated. Spatially, resting hemodynamic patterns showed a higher spatial resemblance to iso-orientation maps than artificially generated maps. Temporally, a correlation analysis was used to establish whether iso-orientation domains are more correlated than orthogonal orientation domains. After accounting for a significant decrease in correlation as a function of distance, a small but significant temporal correlation between iso-orientation domains was found, which decreased with increasing difference in orientation preference. This dependence was abolished when using artificially synthetized orientation maps. Finally, the temporal correlation coefficient as a function of orientation difference at rest showed a correspondence with that calculated during visual stimulation suggesting that the strength of resting connectivity is related to the strength of the visual stimulation response. Our results suggest that temporal coherence of hemodynamic signals measured by optical imaging of intrinsic signals exists at a submillimeter columnar scale in resting state.

Coarse-Scale Biases for Spirals and Orientation in Human Visual Cortex

PubMed Central

Heeger, David J.

2013-01-01

Multivariate decoding analyses are widely applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, but there is controversy over their interpretation. Orientation decoding in primary visual cortex (V1) reflects coarse-scale biases, including an over-representation of radial orientations. But fMRI responses to clockwise and counter-clockwise spirals can also be decoded. Because these stimuli are matched for radial orientation, while differing in local orientation, it has been argued that fine-scale columnar selectivity for orientation contributes to orientation decoding. We measured fMRI responses in human V1 to both oriented gratings and spirals. Responses to oriented gratings exhibited a complex topography, including a radial bias that was most pronounced in the peripheral representation, and a near-vertical bias that was most pronounced near the foveal representation. Responses to clockwise and counter-clockwise spirals also exhibited coarse-scale organization, at the scale of entire visual quadrants. The preference of each voxel for clockwise or counter-clockwise spirals was predicted from the preferences of that voxel for orientation and spatial position (i.e., within the retinotopic map). Our results demonstrate a bias for local stimulus orientation that has a coarse spatial scale, is robust across stimulus classes (spirals and gratings), and suffices to explain decoding from fMRI responses in V1. PMID:24336733

The impact of orientation filtering on face-selective neurons in monkey inferior temporal cortex.

PubMed

Taubert, Jessica; Goffaux, Valerie; Van Belle, Goedele; Vanduffel, Wim; Vogels, Rufin

2016-02-16

Faces convey complex social signals to primates. These signals are tolerant of some image transformations (e.g. changes in size) but not others (e.g. picture-plane rotation). By filtering face stimuli for orientation content, studies of human behavior and brain responses have shown that face processing is tuned to selective orientation ranges. In the present study, for the first time, we recorded the responses of face-selective neurons in monkey inferior temporal (IT) cortex to intact and scrambled faces that were filtered to selectively preserve horizontal or vertical information. Guided by functional maps, we recorded neurons in the lateral middle patch (ML), the lateral anterior patch (AL), and an additional region located outside of the functionally defined face-patches (CONTROL). We found that neurons in ML preferred horizontal-passed faces over their vertical-passed counterparts. Neurons in AL, however, had a preference for vertical-passed faces, while neurons in CONTROL had no systematic preference. Importantly, orientation filtering did not modulate the firing rate of neurons to phase-scrambled face stimuli in any recording region. Together these results suggest that face-selective neurons found in the face-selective patches are differentially tuned to orientation content, with horizontal tuning in area ML and vertical tuning in area AL.

Preferred orientation of albumin adsorption on a hydrophilic surface from molecular simulation.

PubMed

Hsu, Hao-Jen; Sheu, Sheh-Yi; Tsay, Ruey-Yug

2008-12-01

In general, non-specific protein adsorption follows a two-step procedure, i.e. first adsorption onto a surface in native form, and a subsequent conformational change on the surface. In order to predict the subsequent conformational change, it is important to determine the preferred orientation of an adsorbed protein in the first step of the adsorption. In this work, a method based on finding the global minimum of the interaction potential energy of an adsorbed protein has been developed to delineate the preferred orientations for the adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) on a model surface with a hydrophilic self-assembled monolayer (SAM). For computational efficiency, solvation effects were greatly simplified by only including the dampening of electrostatic effects while neglecting contributions due to the competition of water molecules for the functional groups on the surface. A contour map obtained by systematic rotation of a molecule in conjunction with perpendicular motion to the surface gives the minimum interaction energy of the adsorbed molecule at various adsorption orientations. Simulation results show that for an -OH terminated SAM surface, a "back-on" orientation of HSA is the preferred orientation. The projection area of this adsorption orientation corresponds with the "triangular-side-on" adsorption of a heart shaped HSA molecule. The method proposed herein is able to provide results which are consistent with those predicted by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations with a substantially less computing cost. The high computing efficiency of the current method makes it possible to be implemented as a design tool for the control of protein adsorption on surfaces; however, before this can be fully realized, these methods must be further developed to enable interaction free energy to be calculated in place of potential energy, along with a more realistic representation of solvation effects.

The structure of pairwise correlation in mouse primary visual cortex reveals functional organization in the absence of an orientation map.

PubMed

Denman, Daniel J; Contreras, Diego

2014-10-01

Neural responses to sensory stimuli are not independent. Pairwise correlation can reduce coding efficiency, occur independent of stimulus representation, or serve as an additional channel of information, depending on the timescale of correlation and the method of decoding. Any role for correlation depends on its magnitude and structure. In sensory areas with maps, like the orientation map in primary visual cortex (V1), correlation is strongly related to the underlying functional architecture, but it is unclear whether this correlation structure is an essential feature of the system or arises from the arrangement of cells in the map. We assessed the relationship between functional architecture and pairwise correlation by measuring both synchrony and correlated spike count variability in mouse V1, which lacks an orientation map. We observed significant pairwise synchrony, which was organized by distance and relative orientation preference between cells. We also observed nonzero correlated variability in both the anesthetized (0.16) and awake states (0.18). Our results indicate that the structure of pairwise correlation is maintained in the absence of an underlying anatomical organization and may be an organizing principle of the mammalian visual system preserved by nonrandom connectivity within local networks. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Adaptation Shifts Preferred Orientation of Tuning Curve in the Mouse Visual Cortex

PubMed Central

Jeyabalaratnam, Jeyadarshan; Bharmauria, Vishal; Bachatene, Lyes; Cattan, Sarah; Angers, Annie; Molotchnikoff, Stéphane

2013-01-01

In frontalized mammals it has been demonstrated that adaptation produces shift of the peak of the orientation tuning curve of neuron following frequent or lengthier presentation of a non-preferred stimulus. Depending on the duration of adaptation the shift is attractive (toward the adapter) or repulsive (away from the adapter). Mouse exhibits a salt-and-pepper cortical organization of orientation maps, hence this species may respond differently to adaptation. To examine this question, we determined the effect of twelve minutes of adaptation to one particular orientation on neuronal orientation tuning curves in V1 of anesthetized mice. Multi-unit activity of neurons in V1 was recorded in a conventional fashion. Cells were stimulated with sine-wave drifting gratings whose orientation tilted in steps. Results revealed that similarly to cats and monkeys, majority of cells shifted their optimal orientation in the direction of the adapter while a small proportion exhibited a repulsive shift. Moreover, initially untuned cells showing poor tuning curves reacted to adaptation by displaying sharp orientation selectivity. It seems that modification of the cellular property following adaptation is a general phenomenon observed in all mammals in spite of the different organization pattern of the visual cortex. This study is of pertinence to comprehend the mechanistic pathways of brain plasticity. PMID:23717586

Subcortical orientation biases explain orientation selectivity of visual cortical cells.

PubMed

Vidyasagar, Trichur R; Jayakumar, Jaikishan; Lloyd, Errol; Levichkina, Ekaterina V

2015-04-01

The primary visual cortex of carnivores and primates shows an orderly progression of domains of neurons that are selective to a particular orientation of visual stimuli such as bars and gratings. We recorded from single-thalamic afferent fibers that terminate in these domains to address the issue whether the orientation sensitivity of these fibers could form the basis of the remarkable orientation selectivity exhibited by most cortical cells. We first performed optical imaging of intrinsic signals to obtain a map of orientation domains on the dorsal aspect of the anaesthetized cat's area 17. After confirming using electrophysiological recordings the orientation preferences of single neurons within one or two domains in each animal, we pharmacologically silenced the cortex to leave only the afferent terminals active. The inactivation of cortical neurons was achieved by the superfusion of either kainic acid or muscimol. Responses of single geniculate afferents were then recorded by the use of high impedance electrodes. We found that the orientation preferences of the afferents matched closely with those of the cells in the orientation domains that they terminated in (Pearson's r = 0.633, n = 22, P = 0.002). This suggests a possible subcortical origin for cortical orientation selectivity. © 2015 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

A spherical model for orientation and spatial-frequency tuning in a cortical hypercolumn.

PubMed Central

Bressloff, Paul C; Cowan, Jack D

2003-01-01

A theory is presented of the way in which the hypercolumns in primary visual cortex (V1) are organized to detect important features of visual images, namely local orientation and spatial-frequency. Given the existence in V1 of dual maps for these features, both organized around orientation pinwheels, we constructed a model of a hypercolumn in which orientation and spatial-frequency preferences are represented by the two angular coordinates of a sphere. The two poles of this sphere are taken to correspond, respectively, to high and low spatial-frequency preferences. In Part I of the paper, we use mean-field methods to derive exact solutions for localized activity states on the sphere. We show how cortical amplification through recurrent interactions generates a sharply tuned, contrast-invariant population response to both local orientation and local spatial frequency, even in the case of a weakly biased input from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). A major prediction of our model is that this response is non-separable with respect to the local orientation and spatial frequency of a stimulus. That is, orientation tuning is weaker around the pinwheels, and there is a shift in spatial-frequency tuning towards that of the closest pinwheel at non-optimal orientations. In Part II of the paper, we demonstrate that a simple feed-forward model of spatial-frequency preference, unlike that for orientation preference, does not generate a faithful representation when amplified by recurrent interactions in V1. We then introduce the idea that cortico-geniculate feedback modulates LGN activity to generate a faithful representation, thus providing a new functional interpretation of the role of this feedback pathway. Using linear filter theory, we show that if the feedback from a cortical cell is taken to be approximately equal to the reciprocal of the corresponding feed-forward receptive field (in the two-dimensional Fourier domain), then the mismatch between the feed-forward and cortical frequency representations is eliminated. We therefore predict that cortico-geniculate feedback connections innervate the LGN in a pattern determined by the orientation and spatial-frequency biases of feed-forward receptive fields. Finally, we show how recurrent cortical interactions can generate cross-orientation suppression. PMID:14561324

Deformation microstructures and magnetite texture development in synthetic shear zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Till, Jessica L.; Moskowitz, Bruce M.

2014-08-01

We present observations of deformation features in magnetite from synthetic magnetite-bearing silicate aggregates deformed between 1000 °C and 1200 °C in transpressional shear experiments with strains of up to 300%. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and shape preferred orientation (SPO) analysis were combined with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to characterize the magnetite deformation fabrics and intragrain microstructures. Crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) in magnetite is very weak in all deformed samples and does not vary as a function of either temperature or shear strain. Magnetic anisotropy and SPO increase strongly with both strain and deformation temperature and indicate that strain partitioning between magnetite and the plagioclase matrix decreases at higher temperatures. EBSD orientation mapping of individual magnetite particles revealed substantial dispersions in intragrain orientation, analogous to undulose extinction, after deformation at 1000 and 1100 °C, indicating that dislocation creep processes were active in magnetite despite the lack of a well-developed CPO. Geometrical analysis of crystallographic orientation dispersions from grain map data indicates that low-angle grain boundary formation in magnetite could have been accommodated by slip on {110} or {100} planes, but no evidence for dominant slip on the expected {111} planes was found. Evidence for activation of multiple slip systems was seen in some magnetite grains and could be partially responsible for the lack of CPO in magnetite. These results suggest that, at least in polyphase rocks, crystallographic textures in magnetite may be inherently weak or slow to develop and CPO alone is not an adequate indicator of magnetite deformation mechanisms. These results may aid in the interpretation of deformation textures in other spinel-structured phases such as chromite and ringwoodite.

Random waves in the brain: Symmetries and defect generation in the visual cortex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schnabel, M.; Kaschube, M.; Löwel, S.; Wolf, F.

2007-06-01

How orientation maps in the visual cortex of the brain develop is a matter of long standing debate. Experimental and theoretical evidence suggests that their development represents an activity-dependent self-organization process. Theoretical analysis [1] exploring this hypothesis predicted that maps at an early developmental stage are realizations of Gaussian random fields exhibiting a rigorous lower bound for their densities of topological defects, called pinwheels. As a consequence, lower pinwheel densities, if observed in adult animals, are predicted to develop through the motion and annihilation of pinwheel pairs. Despite of being valid for a large class of developmental models this result depends on the symmetries of the models and thus of the predicted random field ensembles. In [1] invariance of the orientation map's statistical properties under independent space rotations and orientation shifts was assumed. However, full rotation symmetry appears to be broken by interactions of cortical neurons, e.g. selective couplings between groups of neurons with collinear orientation preferences [2]. A recently proposed new symmetry, called shift-twist symmetry [3], stating that spatial rotations have to occur together with orientation shifts in order to be an appropriate symmetry transformation, is more consistent with this organization. Here we generalize our random field approach to this important symmetry class. We propose a new class of shift-twist symmetric Gaussian random fields and derive the general correlation functions of this ensemble. It turns out that despite strong effects of the shift-twist symmetry on the structure of the correlation functions and on the map layout the lower bound on the pinwheel densities remains unaffected, predicting pinwheel annihilation in systems with low pinwheel densities.

Radial Bias Is Not Necessary For Orientation Decoding

PubMed Central

Pratte, Michael S.; Sy, Jocelyn L.; Swisher, Jascha D.; Tong, Frank

2015-01-01

Multivariate pattern analysis can be used to decode the orientation of a viewed grating from fMRI signals in early visual areas. Although some studies have reported identifying multiple sources of the orientation information that make decoding possible, a recent study argued that orientation decoding is only possible because of a single source: a coarse-scale retinotopically organized preference for radial orientations. Here we aim to resolve these discrepant findings. We show that there were subtle, but critical, experimental design choices that led to the erroneous conclusion that a radial bias is the only source of orientation information in fMRI signals. In particular, we show that the reliance on a fast temporal-encoding paradigm for spatial mapping can be problematic, as effects of space and time become conflated and lead to distorted estimates of a voxel’s orientation or retinotopic preference. When we implement minor changes to the temporal paradigm or to the visual stimulus itself, by slowing the periodic rotation of the stimulus or by smoothing its contrast-energy profile, we find significant evidence of orientation information that does not originate from radial bias. In an additional block-paradigm experiment where space and time were not conflated, we apply a formal model comparison approach and find that many voxels exhibit more complex tuning properties than predicted by radial bias alone or in combination with other known coarse-scale biases. Our findings support the conclusion that radial bias is not necessary for orientation decoding. In addition, our study highlights potential limitations of using temporal phase-encoded fMRI designs for characterizing voxel tuning properties. PMID:26666900

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility versus lattice- and shape-preferred orientation in the Lac Tio hemo-ilmenite ore body (Grenville province, Quebec)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolle, Olivier; Charlier, Bernard; Bascou, Jérôme; Diot, Hervé; McEnroe, Suzanne A.

2014-08-01

The Lac Tio hemo-ilmenite ore body crops out in the outer portion of the 1.06 Ga Lac Allard anorthosite, a member of the Havre-Saint-Pierre anorthosite suite from the Grenville province of North America. It is made up of ilmenitite (commonly with more than 95% hemo-ilmenite) associated with noritic lithologies and anorthosite. The present study compares the magnetic fabric of the ore body, as deduced from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements, with the crystallographic and shape fabrics, obtained from lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) and shape-preferred orientation (SPO) measurements made using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and 3D image analysis, respectively. Room-temperature hysteresis measurements, thermomagnetic curves and values of the bulk magnetic susceptibility reveal a magnetic mineralogy dominated by a mixed contribution of hemo-ilmenite and magnetite. The hemo-ilmenite grains display a LPO characterized by a strong preferred orientation of the basal (0001) plane of ilmenite along which hematite was exsolved. This LPO and the magnetic fabric fit well (angle between the crystallographic c-axis and the axis of minimum susceptibility ≤ ca. 15° for most samples), and the latter is thus strongly influenced by the hemo-ilmenite magneto-crystalline anisotropy. A magnetite SPO, concordant with the hemo-ilmenite LPO, may also influence and even dominate the magnetic fabric. The rock shape fabric is coaxial with the magnetic fabric that can thus be used to perform detailed structural mapping. Interpretation of the magnetic fabric and field structural data suggests that the Lac Tio ore body would be a sag point at the margin of the Lac Allard anorthosite, deformed by ballooning during the final stage of diapiric emplacement of the anorthosite body.

A linear model fails to predict orientation selectivity of cells in the cat visual cortex.

PubMed Central

Volgushev, M; Vidyasagar, T R; Pei, X

1996-01-01

1. Postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) evoked by visual stimulation in simple cells in the cat visual cortex were recorded using in vivo whole-cell technique. Responses to small spots of light presented at different positions over the receptive field and responses to elongated bars of different orientations centred on the receptive field were recorded. 2. To test whether a linear model can account for orientation selectivity of cortical neurones, responses to elongated bars were compared with responses predicted by a linear model from the receptive field map obtained from flashing spots. 3. The linear model faithfully predicted the preferred orientation, but not the degree of orientation selectivity or the sharpness of orientation tuning. The ratio of optimal to non-optimal responses was always underestimated by the model. 4. Thus non-linear mechanisms, which can include suppression of non-optimal responses and/or amplification of optimal responses, are involved in the generation of orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex. PMID:8930828

Virtual environment navigation with look-around mode to explore new real spaces by people who are blind.

PubMed

Lahav, Orly; Gedalevitz, Hadas; Battersby, Steven; Brown, David; Evett, Lindsay; Merritt, Patrick

2018-05-01

This paper examines the ability of people who are blind to construct a mental map and perform orientation tasks in real space by using Nintendo Wii technologies to explore virtual environments. The participant explores new spaces through haptic and auditory feedback triggered by pointing or walking in the virtual environments and later constructs a mental map, which can be used to navigate in real space. The study included 10 participants who were congenitally or adventitiously blind, divided into experimental and control groups. The research was implemented by using virtual environments exploration and orientation tasks in real spaces, using both qualitative and quantitative methods in its methodology. The results show that the mode of exploration afforded to the experimental group is radically new in orientation and mobility training; as a result 60% of the experimental participants constructed mental maps that were based on map model, compared with only 30% of the control group participants. Using technology that enabled them to explore and to collect spatial information in a way that does not exist in real space influenced the ability of the experimental group to construct a mental map based on the map model. Implications for rehabilitation The virtual cane system for the first time enables people who are blind to explore and collect spatial information via the look-around mode in addition to the walk-around mode. People who are blind prefer to use look-around mode to explore new spaces, as opposed to the walking mode. Although the look-around mode requires users to establish a complex collecting and processing procedure for the spatial data, people who are blind using this mode are able to construct a mental map as a map model. For people who are blind (as for the sighted) construction of a mental map based on map model offers more flexibility in choosing a walking path in a real space, accounting for changes that occur in the space.

The effect of synaptic plasticity on orientation selectivity in a balanced model of primary visual cortex

PubMed Central

Gonzalo Cogno, Soledad; Mato, Germán

2015-01-01

Orientation selectivity is ubiquitous in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mammals. In cats and monkeys, V1 displays spatially ordered maps of orientation preference. Instead, in mice, squirrels, and rats, orientation selective neurons in V1 are not spatially organized, giving rise to a seemingly random pattern usually referred to as a salt-and-pepper layout. The fact that such different organizations can sharpen orientation tuning leads to question the structural role of the intracortical connections; specifically the influence of plasticity and the generation of functional connectivity. In this work, we analyze the effect of plasticity processes on orientation selectivity for both scenarios. We study a computational model of layer 2/3 and a reduced one-dimensional model of orientation selective neurons, both in the balanced state. We analyze two plasticity mechanisms. The first one involves spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), while the second one considers the reconnection of the interactions according to the preferred orientations of the neurons. We find that under certain conditions STDP can indeed improve selectivity but it works in a somehow unexpected way, that is, effectively decreasing the modulated part of the intracortical connectivity as compared to the non-modulated part of it. For the reconnection mechanism we find that increasing functional connectivity leads, in fact, to a decrease in orientation selectivity if the network is in a stable balanced state. Both counterintuitive results are a consequence of the dynamics of the balanced state. We also find that selectivity can increase due to a reconnection process if the resulting connections give rise to an unstable balanced state. We compare these findings with recent experimental results. PMID:26347615

How to generate a sound-localization map in fish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Hemmen, J. Leo

2015-03-01

How sound localization is represented in the fish brain is a research field largely unbiased by theoretical analysis and computational modeling. Yet, there is experimental evidence that the axes of particle acceleration due to underwater sound are represented through a map in the midbrain of fish, e.g., in the torus semicircularis of the rainbow trout (Wubbels et al. 1997). How does such a map arise? Fish perceive pressure gradients by their three otolithic organs, each of which comprises a dense, calcareous, stone that is bathed in endolymph and attached to a sensory epithelium. In rainbow trout, the sensory epithelia of left and right utricle lie in the horizontal plane and consist of hair cells with equally distributed preferred orientations. We model the neuronal response of this system on the basis of Schuijf's vector detection hypothesis (Schuijf et al. 1975) and introduce a temporal spike code of sound direction, where optimality of hair cell orientation θj with respect to the acceleration direction θs is mapped onto spike phases via a von-Mises distribution. By learning to tune in to the earliest synchronized activity, nerve cells in the midbrain generate a map under the supervision of a locally excitatory, yet globally inhibitory visual teacher. Work done in collaboration with Daniel Begovic. Partially supported by BCCN - Munich.

Salient region detection by fusing bottom-up and top-down features extracted from a single image.

PubMed

Tian, Huawei; Fang, Yuming; Zhao, Yao; Lin, Weisi; Ni, Rongrong; Zhu, Zhenfeng

2014-10-01

Recently, some global contrast-based salient region detection models have been proposed based on only the low-level feature of color. It is necessary to consider both color and orientation features to overcome their limitations, and thus improve the performance of salient region detection for images with low-contrast in color and high-contrast in orientation. In addition, the existing fusion methods for different feature maps, like the simple averaging method and the selective method, are not effective sufficiently. To overcome these limitations of existing salient region detection models, we propose a novel salient region model based on the bottom-up and top-down mechanisms: the color contrast and orientation contrast are adopted to calculate the bottom-up feature maps, while the top-down cue of depth-from-focus from the same single image is used to guide the generation of final salient regions, since depth-from-focus reflects the photographer's preference and knowledge of the task. A more general and effective fusion method is designed to combine the bottom-up feature maps. According to the degree-of-scattering and eccentricities of feature maps, the proposed fusion method can assign adaptive weights to different feature maps to reflect the confidence level of each feature map. The depth-from-focus of the image as a significant top-down feature for visual attention in the image is used to guide the salient regions during the fusion process; with its aid, the proposed fusion method can filter out the background and highlight salient regions for the image. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art models on three public available data sets.

Sex-role orientation associations with college students' body-image preferences.

PubMed

Johnson, H Durell; Lamont, Janine; Monacelli, Jennifer; Vojick, Alex

2004-12-01

Sex roles dictate acceptable attitudes and preferences for men and women. Further, perception of ideal body type is one attitude and preference that may be associated with sex-role orientation. Therefore, the current study examined the association between sex-role orientation and men's and women's reports of their preferred body type and their views of others' preferred body type for men and women. Responses from 172 university students indicated sex-role associations with participants' personal body-type preferences and participants' perceptions of the body types others prefer. Analysis indicates that a more masculine sex-role orientation was associated with men's and women's perceptions of larger ideal body images. Results are discussed in terms of the association between sex-role orientation and possible susceptibility to societal standards of ideal body images.

Planck intermediate results: XXXVIII. E- and B-modes of dust polarization from the magnetized filamentary structure of the interstellar medium

DOE PAGES

Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Arnaud, M.; ...

2016-02-09

The quest for a B-mode imprint from primordial gravity waves on the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) requires the characterization of foreground polarization from Galactic dust. In this paper, we present a statistical study of the filamentary structure of the 353 GHz Planck Stokes maps at high Galactic latitude, relevant to the study of dust emission as a polarized foreground to the CMB. We filter the intensity and polarization maps to isolate filaments in the range of angular scales where the power asymmetry between E-modes and B-modes is observed. Using the Smoothed Hessian Major Axis Filament Finder (SMAFF),more » we identify 259 filaments at high Galactic latitude, with lengths larger or equal to 2° (corresponding to 3.5 pc in length for a typical distance of 100 pc). Thesefilaments show a preferred orientation parallel to the magnetic field projected onto the plane of the sky, derived from their polarization angles. We present mean maps of the filaments in Stokes I, Q, U, E, and B, computed by stacking individual images rotated to align the orientations of the filaments. Combining the stacked images and the histogram of relative orientations, we estimate the mean polarization fraction of the filaments to be 11%. Furthermore, we show that the correlation between the filaments and the magnetic field orientations may account for the E and B asymmetry and the C ℓ TE/C ℓ EE ratio, reported in the power spectra analysis of the Planck353 GHz polarization maps. Finally, future models of the dust foreground for CMB polarization studies will need to take into account the observed correlation between the dust polarization and the structure of interstellar matter.« less

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

Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Arnaud, M.

The quest for a B-mode imprint from primordial gravity waves on the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) requires the characterization of foreground polarization from Galactic dust. In this paper, we present a statistical study of the filamentary structure of the 353 GHz Planck Stokes maps at high Galactic latitude, relevant to the study of dust emission as a polarized foreground to the CMB. We filter the intensity and polarization maps to isolate filaments in the range of angular scales where the power asymmetry between E-modes and B-modes is observed. Using the Smoothed Hessian Major Axis Filament Finder (SMAFF),more » we identify 259 filaments at high Galactic latitude, with lengths larger or equal to 2° (corresponding to 3.5 pc in length for a typical distance of 100 pc). Thesefilaments show a preferred orientation parallel to the magnetic field projected onto the plane of the sky, derived from their polarization angles. We present mean maps of the filaments in Stokes I, Q, U, E, and B, computed by stacking individual images rotated to align the orientations of the filaments. Combining the stacked images and the histogram of relative orientations, we estimate the mean polarization fraction of the filaments to be 11%. Furthermore, we show that the correlation between the filaments and the magnetic field orientations may account for the E and B asymmetry and the C ℓ TE/C ℓ EE ratio, reported in the power spectra analysis of the Planck353 GHz polarization maps. Finally, future models of the dust foreground for CMB polarization studies will need to take into account the observed correlation between the dust polarization and the structure of interstellar matter.« less

Receptive-field subfields of V2 neurons in macaque monkeys are adult-like near birth.

PubMed

Zhang, Bin; Tao, Xiaofeng; Shen, Guofu; Smith, Earl L; Ohzawa, Izumi; Chino, Yuzo M

2013-02-06

Infant primates can discriminate texture-defined form despite their relatively low visual acuity. The neuronal mechanisms underlying this remarkable visual capacity of infants have not been studied in nonhuman primates. Since many V2 neurons in adult monkeys can extract the local features in complex stimuli that are required for form vision, we used two-dimensional dynamic noise stimuli and local spectral reverse correlation to measure whether the spatial map of receptive-field subfields in individual V2 neurons is sufficiently mature near birth to capture local features. As in adults, most V2 neurons in 4-week-old monkeys showed a relatively high degree of homogeneity in the spatial matrix of facilitatory subfields. However, ∼25% of V2 neurons had the subfield map where the neighboring facilitatory subfields substantially differed in their preferred orientations and spatial frequencies. Over 80% of V2 neurons in both infants and adults had "tuned" suppressive profiles in their subfield maps that could alter the tuning properties of facilitatory profiles. The differences in the preferred orientations between facilitatory and suppressive profiles were relatively large but extended over a broad range. Response immaturities in infants were mild; the overall strength of facilitatory subfield responses was lower than that in adults, and the optimal correlation delay ("latency") was longer in 4-week-old infants. These results suggest that as early as 4 weeks of age, the spatial receptive-field structure of V2 neurons is as complex as in adults and the ability of V2 neurons to compare local features of neighboring stimulus elements is nearly adult like.

Orientation Preferences and Motion Sickness Induced in a Virtual Reality Environment.

PubMed

Chen, Wei; Chao, Jian-Gang; Zhang, Yan; Wang, Jin-Kun; Chen, Xue-Wen; Tan, Cheng

2017-10-01

Astronauts' orientation preferences tend to correlate with their susceptibility to space motion sickness (SMS). Orientation preferences appear universally, since variable sensory cue priorities are used between individuals. However, SMS susceptibility changes after proper training, while orientation preferences seem to be intrinsic proclivities. The present study was conducted to investigate whether orientation preferences change if susceptibility is reduced after repeated exposure to a virtual reality (VR) stimulus environment that induces SMS. A horizontal supine posture was chosen to create a sensory context similar to weightlessness, and two VR devices were used to produce a highly immersive virtual scene. Subjects were randomly allocated to an experimental group (trained through exposure to a provocative rotating virtual scene) and a control group (untrained). All subjects' orientation preferences were measured twice with the same interval, but the experimental group was trained three times during the interval, while the control group was not. Trained subjects were less susceptible to SMS, with symptom scores reduced by 40%. Compared with untrained subjects, trained subjects' orientation preferences were significantly different between pre- and posttraining assessments. Trained subjects depended less on visual cues, whereas few subjects demonstrated the opposite tendency. Results suggest that visual information may be inefficient and unreliable for body orientation and stabilization in a rotating visual scene, while reprioritizing preferences for different sensory cues was dynamic and asymmetric between individuals. The present findings should facilitate customization of efficient and proper training for astronauts with different sensory prioritization preferences and dynamic characteristics.Chen W, Chao J-G, Zhang Y, Wang J-K, Chen X-W, Tan C. Orientation preferences and motion sickness induced in a virtual reality environment. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(10):903-910.

Study on preferred crystal orientations of Mg-Zr-O composite protective layer in AC-PDP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bingang, G.; Chunliang, L.; Zhongxiao, S.; Liu, L.; Yufeng, F.; Xing, X.; Duowang, F.

2006-11-01

In order to study the preferred crystal orientations of Mg-Zr-O composite protective layers in PDP, Mg-Zr-O composite protective layers were deposited by Electron-beam Evaporator using (MgO+ZrO{2}) powder mixture as evaporation source material. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to determine preferred crystal orientations of Mg-Zr-O composite protective layers, surface morphologies of films were analyzed by FESEM and voltage characteristics were examined in a testing macroscopic discharge cell of AC-PDP. On the basis of experimental analysis, the influence of oxide addition and deposition conditions on preferred orientations of Mg-Zr-O composite protective layers were investigated. The results showed that the preferred orientations of Mg-Zr-O films were determined by lattice distortion of MgO crystal. The deposition conditions have great effects on the preferred orientations of Mg-Zr-O films. The preferred orientations affect voltage characteristics through affecting surface morphology of Mg-Zr-O films. A small amount of Zr solution in MgO can decrease firing voltage compared with using pure MgO film. Firing voltage is closely related with the [ ZrO{2}/(MgO+ZrO{2})] ratio of evaporation source materials.

Shock induced damage in copper: A before and after, three-dimensional study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menasche, David B.; Lind, Jonathan; Li, Shiu Fai; Kenesei, Peter; Bingert, John F.; Lienert, Ulrich; Suter, Robert M.

2016-04-01

We report on the microstructural features associated with the formation of incipient spall and damage in a fully recrystallized, high purity copper sample. Before and after ballistic shock loading, approximately 0.8 mm3 of the sample's crystal lattice orientation field is mapped using non-destructive near-field High Energy Diffraction Microscopy. Absorption contrast tomography is used to image voids after loading. This non-destructive interrogation of damage initiation allows for novel characterization of spall points vis-a-vis microstructural features and a fully 3D examination of microstructural topology and its influence on incipient damage. The spalled region is registered with and mapped back onto the pre-shock orientation field. As expected, the great majority of voids occur at grain boundaries and higher order microstructural features; however, we find no statistical preference for particular grain boundary types. The damaged region contains a large volume of Σ-3 (60 °<111 >) connected domains with a large area fraction of incoherent Σ-3 boundaries.

Spider texture and amphibole preferred orientations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shelley, David

1994-05-01

Foliation in blueschist facies chert from California is defined by layers of oriented alkali-amphibole which consistently curve towards and converge on pyrite (and possibly pyrrhotite) crystals. These foliation nodes, not previously described, are called here 'spider texture'. The texture is interpreted in terms of perturbations of the stress field in a matrix undergoing strain about rigid pyrite (or pyrrhotite) crystals, and it has important implications for understanding the mechanisms of amphibole preferred orientation development. Geometrical relationships between spider texture, pressure shadows and quartz preferred orientations suggest that amphiboles grew with a strong preferred orientation along planes of maximum shearing stress. The mechanism of foliation and preferred orientation development probably involved competitive anisotropic growth of amphibole prisms within the small gaps that open at steps on shear planes, followed by additional (micro-) porphyroblastic growth. The first stage of the mechanism is similar to slickenfibre development.

Preferred crystallographic orientation in the ice I ← II transformation and the flow of ice II

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bennett, K.; Wenk, H.-R.; Durham, W.B.; Stern, L.A.; Kirby, S.H.

1997-01-01

The preferred crystallographic orientation developed during the ice I ← II transformation and during the plastic flow of ice II was measured in polycrystalline deuterium oxide (D2O) specimens using low-temperature neutron diffraction. Samples partially transformed from ice I to II under a non-hydrostatic stress developed a preferred crystallographic orientation in the ice II. Samples of pure ice II transformed from ice I under a hydrostatic stress and then when compressed axially, developed a strong preferred orientation of compression axes parallel to (1010). A match to the observed preferred orientation using the viscoplastic self-consistent theory was obtained only when (1010) [0001] was taken as the predominant slip system in ice II.

Large-scale modeling of the primary visual cortex: influence of cortical architecture upon neuronal response.

PubMed

McLaughlin, David; Shapley, Robert; Shelley, Michael

2003-01-01

A large-scale computational model of a local patch of input layer 4 [Formula: see text] of the primary visual cortex (V1) of the macaque monkey, together with a coarse-grained reduction of the model, are used to understand potential effects of cortical architecture upon neuronal performance. Both the large-scale point neuron model and its asymptotic reduction are described. The work focuses upon orientation preference and selectivity, and upon the spatial distribution of neuronal responses across the cortical layer. Emphasis is given to the role of cortical architecture (the geometry of synaptic connectivity, of the ordered and disordered structure of input feature maps, and of their interplay) as mechanisms underlying cortical responses within the model. Specifically: (i) Distinct characteristics of model neuronal responses (firing rates and orientation selectivity) as they depend upon the neuron's location within the cortical layer relative to the pinwheel centers of the map of orientation preference; (ii) A time independent (DC) elevation in cortico-cortical conductances within the model, in contrast to a "push-pull" antagonism between excitation and inhibition; (iii) The use of asymptotic analysis to unveil mechanisms which underly these performances of the model; (iv) A discussion of emerging experimental data. The work illustrates that large-scale scientific computation--coupled together with analytical reduction, mathematical analysis, and experimental data, can provide significant understanding and intuition about the possible mechanisms of cortical response. It also illustrates that the idealization which is a necessary part of theoretical modeling can outline in sharp relief the consequences of differing alternative interpretations and mechanisms--with final arbiter being a body of experimental evidence whose measurements address the consequences of these analyses.

2-D Density and Directional Analysis of Fault Systems in the Zagros Region (Iran) on a Regional Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashemi, Seyed Naser; Baizidi, Chavare

2018-04-01

In this paper, 2-D spatial variation of the frequency and length density and frequency-length relation of large-scale faults in the Zagros region (Iran), as a typical fold-and-thrust belt, were examined. Moreover, the directional analysis of these faults as well as the scale dependence of the orientations was studied. For this purpose, a number of about 8000 faults with L ≥ 1.0 km were extracted from the geological maps covering the region, and then, the data sets were analyzed. The overall pattern of the frequency/length distribution of the total faults of the region acceptably fits with a power-law relation with exponent 1.40, with an obvious change in the gradient in L = 12.0 km. In addition, maps showing the spatial variation of fault densities over the region indicate that the maximum values of the frequency and length density of the faults are attributed to the northeastern part of the region and parallel to the suture zone, respectively, and the fault density increases towards the central parts of the belt. Moreover, the directional analysis of the fault trends gives a dominant preferred orientation trend of 300°-330° and the assessment of the scale dependence of the fault directions demonstrates that larger faults show higher degrees of preferred orientations. As a result, it is concluded that the evolutionary path of the faulting process in this region can be explained by increasing the number of faults rather than the growth in the fault lengths and also it seems that the regional-scale faults in this region are generated by a nearly steady-state tectonic stress regime.

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) map number onto space

PubMed Central

Drucker, Caroline B.; Brannon, Elizabeth M.

2014-01-01

Humans map number onto space. However, the origins of this association, and particularly the degree to which it depends upon cultural experience, are not fully understood. Here we provide the first demonstration of a number-space mapping in a non-human primate. We trained four adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to select the fourth position from the bottom of a five-element vertical array. Monkeys maintained a preference to choose the fourth position through changes in the appearance, location, and spacing of the vertical array. We next asked whether monkeys show a spatially-oriented number mapping by testing their responses to the same five-element stimulus array rotated ninety degrees into a horizontal line. In these horizontal probe trials, monkeys preferentially selected the fourth position from the left, but not the fourth position from the right. Our results indicate that rhesus macaques map number onto space, suggesting that the association between number and space in human cognition is not purely a result of cultural experience and instead has deep evolutionary roots. PMID:24762923

Microstructural evolution and rheology of quartz in a mid-crustal shear zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahl, Jeffrey M.; Skemer, Philip

2016-06-01

We present microstructural and crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) data on quartz deformed in the middle crust to explore the interaction and feedback between dynamic recrystallization, deformation processes, and CPO evolution. The sample investigated here is a moderately deformed quartz-rich mylonite from the Blue Ridge in Virginia. We have created high-resolution crystallographic orientation maps using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of 51 isolated quartz porphyroclasts with recrystallized grain fractions ranging from 10 to 100%. Recrystallized grains are internally undeformed and display crystallographic orientations dispersed around the orientation of the associated parent porphyroclast. We document a systematic decrease in fabric intensity with recrystallization, suggesting that progressive deformation of the recrystallized domains involves processes that can weaken a pre-existing CPO. Relationships between recrystallization fraction and shear strain suggest that complete microstructural re-equilibration requires strains in excess of γ = 5. Variation in the degree of recrystallization implies that strain was accumulated heterogeneously, and that a steady-state microstructure and rheology were not achieved.

Non-Abelian vortex lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tallarita, Gianni; Peterson, Adam

2018-04-01

We perform a numerical study of the phase diagram of the model proposed in [M. Shifman, Phys. Rev. D 87, 025025 (2013)., 10.1103/PhysRevD.87.025025], which is a simple model containing non-Abelian vortices. As per the case of Abrikosov vortices, we map out a region of parameter space in which the system prefers the formation of vortices in ordered lattice structures. These are generalizations of Abrikosov vortex lattices with extra orientational moduli in the vortex cores. At sufficiently large lattice spacing the low energy theory is described by a sum of C P (1 ) theories, each located on a vortex site. As the lattice spacing becomes smaller, when the self-interaction of the orientational field becomes relevant, only an overall rotation in internal space survives.

Subject Preference Regarding Three Psychotherapy Orientations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollis, Thomas G.

Research has shown that therapy preference affects both the quality of the initial therapy session and treatment outcome. To determine personality characteristics which would affect subjects' preference of therapeutic orientation and to obtain qualitative information about subjects' therapy preferences, 203 community college students indicated…

Form preferences in successive discrimination learning of young chicks.

PubMed

Zolman, J F; Pursley, D G; Hall, J A; Sahley, C L

1975-12-01

In four experiments the effects of form and orientation pecking preferences of 1- and 3-day old Vantress X Arbor Acre chicks on successive discrimination learning were determined, using heat reinforcement. Major findings were as follows: (a) The young chick has both circle and verticle orientation pecking preferences that are present during at least the first 3 days after hatching; (b) when either of these preferred cues is the nonreinforced cue, the young chick has difficulty in learning not to respond to it but learns quickly not to respond to an unpreferred cue (e.g., triangle and horizontal oriented dots or bar); and (c) these pecking preferences can be modified by heat reinforcement, and the effects of this conditioning is evidenct in subsequent extinction and retention tests. The main conclusion from these experiments is that form and orientation preferences, like brightness and color preferences, are important developmental constraints on conditioning of the young chick.

Axial-type olivine crystallographic preferred orientations: The effect of strain geometry on mantle texture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatzaras, Vasileios; Kruckenberg, Seth C.; Cohen, Shaina M.; Medaris, L. Gordon; Withers, Anthony C.; Bagley, Brian

2016-07-01

The effect of finite strain geometry on crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) is poorly constrained in the upper mantle. Specifically, the relationship between shape preferred orientation (SPO) and CPO in mantle rocks remains unclear. We analyzed a suite of 40 spinel peridotite xenoliths from Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica. X-ray computed tomography allows for quantification of spinel SPO, which ranges from prolate to oblate shape. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis reveals a range of olivine CPO patterns, including A-type, axial-[010], axial-[100], and B-type patterns. Until now, these CPO types were associated with different deformation conditions, deformation mechanisms, or strain magnitudes. Microstructures and deformation mechanism maps suggest that deformation in all studied xenoliths is dominated by dislocation-accommodated grain boundary sliding. For the range of temperatures (780-1200°C), extraction depths (39-72 km), differential stresses (2-60 MPa), and water content (up to 500 H/106Si) of the xenolith suite, variations in olivine CPO do not correlate with changes in deformation conditions. Here we establish for the first time in naturally deformed mantle rocks that finite strain geometry controls the development of axial-type olivine CPOs; axial-[010] and axial-[100] CPOs form in relation to oblate and prolate fabric ellipsoids, respectively. Girdling of olivine crystal axes results from intracrystalline slip with activation of multiple slip systems and grain boundary sliding. Our results demonstrate that mantle deformation may deviate from simple shear. Olivine texture in field studies and seismic anisotropy in geophysical investigations can provide critical constraints for the 3-D strain in the upper mantle.

[Dynamics of tuning to orientation of cross-like figures in neurons from the cat visual cortex].

PubMed

Lazareva, N A; Tsutskiridze, D Iu; Shevelev, I A; Novikova, R V; Tikhomirov, A S; Sharaev, G A

2003-01-01

Dynamics of tuning to orientation of flashing light bar and to orientation of cross-like figure was studied by a temporal slices method in 87 neurons of the cat primary visual cortex. Tuning was plotted by spikes number in the entire response and in its successive fragments with a step of 20 ms. It was found that successive dynamic shift of preferred orientation of a bar was typical for 87% units, white such shift of preferred orientation of a cross was met in 75% of cases. Comparison of tuning dynamics for bar and cross allowed to separate units into three groups: the first one (58.6% of cases) with larger dynamic shift of a bar preferred orientation then of a cross (74.9 +/- 5.8 degrees [symbol: see text] 29.8 +/- 4.1 degrees, correspondingly, p < 0.00001), the second group (21.5%) with opposite effect (24.2 +/- 5.2 degrees and 69.2 +/- 10.0 degrees, p < 0.0002) and the third group (19.8%) without significant shift of preferred orientation of bar and cross and without difference in their dynamics. Possible mechanisms of the preferred orientation dynamics and its difference for bar and cross are discussed.

Preference for sex of first child among women classified as androgynous and nonandrogynous.

PubMed

Marleau, J D; Berthiaume, M; Saucier, J F; David, H; Borgeat, F; Bernazzani, O

1998-02-01

This paper examined the relation between gender-role orientation and the preference for sex of firstborn child in 212 pregnant nulliparous women. The Bem Sex-role Inventory was used to assess gender-role orientation of participants. Analysis suggested that gender-role orientation, as measured does not effectively predict the preference for sex of firstborn child.

A test of the hypothesis that impact-induced fractures are preferred sites for later tectonic activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Solomon, Sean C.; Duxbury, Elizabeth D.

1987-01-01

Impact cratering has been an important process in the solar system. The cratering event is generally accompanied by faulting in adjacent terrain. Impact-induced faults are nearly ubiquitous over large areas on the terrestrial planets. The suggestion is made that these fault systems, particularly those associated with the largest impact features are preferred sites for later deformation in response to lithospheric stresses generated by other processes. The evidence is a perceived clustering of orientations of tectonic features either radial or concentric to the crater or basin in question. An opportunity exists to test this suggestion more directly on Earth. The terrestrial continents contain more than 100 known or probable impact craters, with associated geological structures mapped to varying levels of detail. Prime facie evidence for reactivation of crater-induced faults would be the occurrence of earthquakes on these faults in response to the intraplate stress field. Either an alignment of epicenters with mapped fault traces or fault plane solutions indicating slip on a plane approximately coincident with that inferred for a crater-induced fault would be sufficient to demonstrate such an association.

Anatomical Reconstruction and Functional Imaging Reveal an Ordered Array of Skylight Polarization Detectors in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Bleul, Christiane; Baumann-Klausener, Franziska; Labhart, Thomas; Dickinson, Michael H.

2016-01-01

Many insects exploit skylight polarization as a compass cue for orientation and navigation. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, photoreceptors R7 and R8 in the dorsal rim area (DRA) of the compound eye are specialized to detect the electric vector (e-vector) of linearly polarized light. These photoreceptors are arranged in stacked pairs with identical fields of view and spectral sensitivities, but mutually orthogonal microvillar orientations. As in larger flies, we found that the microvillar orientation of the distal photoreceptor R7 changes in a fan-like fashion along the DRA. This anatomical arrangement suggests that the DRA constitutes a detector for skylight polarization, in which different e-vectors maximally excite different positions in the array. To test our hypothesis, we measured responses to polarized light of varying e-vector angles in the terminals of R7/8 cells using genetically encoded calcium indicators. Our data confirm a progression of preferred e-vector angles from anterior to posterior in the DRA, and a strict orthogonality between the e-vector preferences of paired R7/8 cells. We observed decreased activity in photoreceptors in response to flashes of light polarized orthogonally to their preferred e-vector angle, suggesting reciprocal inhibition between photoreceptors in the same medullar column, which may serve to increase polarization contrast. Together, our results indicate that the polarization-vision system relies on a spatial map of preferred e-vector angles at the earliest stage of sensory processing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The fly's visual system is an influential model system for studying neural computation, and much is known about its anatomy, physiology, and development. The circuits underlying motion processing have received the most attention, but researchers are increasingly investigating other functions, such as color perception and object recognition. In this work, we investigate the early neural processing of a somewhat exotic sense, called polarization vision. Because skylight is polarized in an orientation that is rigidly determined by the position of the sun, this cue provides compass information. Behavioral experiments have shown that many species use the polarization pattern in the sky to direct locomotion. Here we describe the input stage of the fly's polarization-vision system. PMID:27170135

Skeletal growth phases of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa shown by scanning electron microscope and electron backscatter diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mouchi, Vincent; Vonlanthen, Pierre; Verrecchia, Eric P.; Crowley, Quentin G.

2016-04-01

Lophelia pertusa is a cold-water coral, which may form reefs by the association of multiple coralites within which a polyp lives. Each individual polyp builds an aragonite skeleton by an initial phase of early mineralization (traditionally referred to as centres of calcification) from which aragonite fibres grow in thickening deposits. The skeleton wall features successive optically opaque and translucent bands previously attributed to different regimes of growth as either uniform in crystal orientation (translucent bands) or with a chaotic organization (opaque bands). The processes involved in any organizational changes are still unknown. Microlayers in the coral wall, which represent separate periods of skeletal growth, have been recently identified and described. These growth patterns are readily visible under scanning electron microscope (SEM) after etching in dilute formic acid, but they do not necessarily form continuously visible structures. Here we present high quality SEM images and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps to study aragonite fibre orientation across the wall of L. pertusa. Both microlayers and opaque and translucent bands are compared to the crystallographic orientation of the aragonite fibres. EBSD maps and SEM images indicate that aragonite fibres do not exhibit a chaotic orientation, even in opaque bands. The absence of continuity of microlayers is partially explained by an association of multiple crystallographic preferred orientations of aragonite fibres. In the case of L. pertusa, careful textural characterisation is necessary prior to elemental or isotope analysis in order to select a skeletal transect representing a linear and continuous time period.

User Preferences in Image Map Using

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vondráková, A.; Vozenilek, V.

2016-06-01

In the process of map making, the attention is given to the resulting image map (to be accurate, readable, and suit the primary purpose) and its user aspects. Current cartography understands the user issues as all matters relating to user perception, map use and also user preferences. Most commercial cartographic production is strongly connected to economic circumstances. Companies are discovering user's interests and market demands. However, is it sufficient to focus just on the user's preferences? Recent research on user aspects at Palacký University Olomouc addresses a much wider scope of user aspects. The user's preferences are very often distorting - the users think that the particular image map is kind, beautiful, and useful and they wants to buy it (or use it - it depends on the form of the map production). But when the same user gets the task to use practically this particular map (such as finding the shortest way), so the user concludes that initially preferred map is useless, and uses a map, that was worse evaluated according to his preferences. It is, therefore, necessary to evaluate not only the correctness of image maps and their aesthetics but also to assess the user perception and other user issues. For the accomplishment of such testing, eye-tracking technology is a useful tool. The research analysed how users read image maps, or if they prefer image maps over traditional maps. The eye tracking experiment on the comparison of the conventional and image map reading was conducted. The map readers were asked to solve few simple tasks with either conventional or image map. The readers' choice of the map to solve the task was one of investigated aspect of user preferences. Results demonstrate that the user preferences and user needs are often quite different issues. The research outcomes show that it is crucial to implement map user testing into the cartographic production process.

The influence of preferred orientation and poling temperature on the polarization switching current in PZT thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Mi; Zhang, Weikang; Zhang, Zebin; Zhang, Ping; Lan, Kuibo

2017-07-01

In this paper, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) thin films with different preferred orientation were prepared on platinized silicon substrates by a modified sol-gel method. Our results indicate that the polarization switching current in PZT thin films is dependent on preferred orientation and poling temperature. In our measurements, (111)-oriented PZT has a larger polarization switching current than randomly oriented PZT, and with the increase of the degree of (111) preferred orientation and the poling temperature, the polarization switching current gradually increase. Considering the contact of PZT thin film with electrodes, the space-charged limited conduction (SCLC) combined with domain switching mechanism may be responsible for such phenomena. By analyzing the conduction data, we found the interface-limited Schottky emission (ES) and bulk-limited Poole-Frenkel hopping (PF) are not suitable for our samples.

Preference bias of head orientation in choosing between two non-durables.

PubMed

Funaya, Hiroyuki; Shibata, Tomohiro

2015-01-01

The goal of this study is to investigate how customers' gaze, head and body orientations reflect their choices. Although the relationship between human choice and gaze behavior has been well-studied, other behaviors such as head and body are unknown. We conducted a two-alternatives-forced-choice task to examine (1) whether preference bias, i.e., a positional bias in gaze, head and body toward the item that was later chosen, exists in choice, (2) when preference bias is observed and when prediction of the resulting choice becomes possible (3) whether human choice is affected when the body orientations are manipulated. We used real non-durable products (cheap snacks and clothing) on a shopping shelf. The results showed that there was a significant preference bias in head orientation at the beginning 1 s when the subjects stood straight toward the shelf, and that the head orientation was more biased toward the selected item than the gaze and the center of pressure at the ending 1 s. Manipulating body orientation did not affect the result of choice. The preference bias detected by observing the head orientation would be useful in marketing science for predicting customers' choice.

Adventures with Maps.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hofferber, Michael

1989-01-01

Orienteering--the game of following a map to find predetermined locations--can spark interest and develop skills in map making and map reading. This article gives background on orienteering; describes indoor and outdoor orienteering activities; offers suggestions for incorporating orienteering into science, math, and language arts; and provides a…

Self-Other Orientations and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santee, Richard T.

1975-01-01

A modified version of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) was administered to measure self and other orientations on 15 personality variables. The respondents were shown to have different preferences for themselves than for others. (Author/DEP)

Roughness of Ti Substrates for Control of the Preferred Orientation of TiO 2 Nanotube Arrays as a New Orientation Factor

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

Seong, Won Mo; Kim, Dong Hoe; Park, Ik Jae

2015-06-11

We report the surface roughness of a Ti substrate as a critical factor for controlling the degree of the preferred orientation of anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) which are synthesized by anodization and a subsequent annealing process. The degree of the preferred orientation to the (004) plane of the anatase crystal structure has a strong dependency on the root-mean-square roughness (Sq) of the initial Ti substrate when the roughness-controlled substrates are anodized in an ethylene glycol-based electrolyte containing ~2 wt % of water. Highly preferred oriented NTAs were obtained from low-Sq (<10 nm) substrates, which were accompanied by uniform poremore » distribution and low concentration of hydroxyl ions in as-anodized amorphous NTAs. The mechanism of the preferred oriented crystallization of nanometer-scaled tube walls is explained considering the microscopic geometrical uniformity of the oxide barrier and nanopores at the early stage of anodization, which affected the local electric field and thus the insertion of the hydroxyl group into the amorphous TiO2 tube walls.« less

Learning style preference and student aptitude for concept maps.

PubMed

Kostovich, Carol T; Poradzisz, Michele; Wood, Karen; O'Brien, Karen L

2007-05-01

Acknowledging that individuals' preferences for learning vary, faculty in an undergraduate nursing program questioned whether a student's learning style is an indicator of aptitude in developing concept maps. The purpose of this research was to describe the relationship between nursing students' learning style preference and aptitude for concept maps. The sample included 120 undergraduate students enrolled in the adult health nursing course. Students created one concept map and completed two instruments: the Learning Style Survey and the Concept Map Survey. Data included Learning Style Survey scores, grade for the concept map, and grade for the adult health course. No significant difference was found between learning style preference and concept map grades. Thematic analysis of the qualitative survey data yielded further insight into students' preferences for creating concept maps.

Can Retinal Ganglion Cell Dipoles Seed Iso-Orientation Domains in the Visual Cortex?

PubMed Central

Schottdorf, Manuel; Eglen, Stephen J.; Wolf, Fred; Keil, Wolfgang

2014-01-01

It has been argued that the emergence of roughly periodic orientation preference maps (OPMs) in the primary visual cortex (V1) of carnivores and primates can be explained by a so-called statistical connectivity model. This model assumes that input to V1 neurons is dominated by feed-forward projections originating from a small set of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The typical spacing between adjacent cortical orientation columns preferring the same orientation then arises via Moiré-Interference between hexagonal ON/OFF RGC mosaics. While this Moiré-Interference critically depends on long-range hexagonal order within the RGC mosaics, a recent statistical analysis of RGC receptive field positions found no evidence for such long-range positional order. Hexagonal order may be only one of several ways to obtain spatially repetitive OPMs in the statistical connectivity model. Here, we investigate a more general requirement on the spatial structure of RGC mosaics that can seed the emergence of spatially repetitive cortical OPMs, namely that angular correlations between so-called RGC dipoles exhibit a spatial structure similar to that of OPM autocorrelation functions. Both in cat beta cell mosaics as well as primate parasol receptive field mosaics we find that RGC dipole angles are spatially uncorrelated. To help assess the level of these correlations, we introduce a novel point process that generates mosaics with realistic nearest neighbor statistics and a tunable degree of spatial correlations of dipole angles. Using this process, we show that given the size of available data sets, the presence of even weak angular correlations in the data is very unlikely. We conclude that the layout of ON/OFF ganglion cell mosaics lacks the spatial structure necessary to seed iso-orientation domains in the primary visual cortex. PMID:24475081

Can retinal ganglion cell dipoles seed iso-orientation domains in the visual cortex?

PubMed

Schottdorf, Manuel; Eglen, Stephen J; Wolf, Fred; Keil, Wolfgang

2014-01-01

It has been argued that the emergence of roughly periodic orientation preference maps (OPMs) in the primary visual cortex (V1) of carnivores and primates can be explained by a so-called statistical connectivity model. This model assumes that input to V1 neurons is dominated by feed-forward projections originating from a small set of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The typical spacing between adjacent cortical orientation columns preferring the same orientation then arises via Moiré-Interference between hexagonal ON/OFF RGC mosaics. While this Moiré-Interference critically depends on long-range hexagonal order within the RGC mosaics, a recent statistical analysis of RGC receptive field positions found no evidence for such long-range positional order. Hexagonal order may be only one of several ways to obtain spatially repetitive OPMs in the statistical connectivity model. Here, we investigate a more general requirement on the spatial structure of RGC mosaics that can seed the emergence of spatially repetitive cortical OPMs, namely that angular correlations between so-called RGC dipoles exhibit a spatial structure similar to that of OPM autocorrelation functions. Both in cat beta cell mosaics as well as primate parasol receptive field mosaics we find that RGC dipole angles are spatially uncorrelated. To help assess the level of these correlations, we introduce a novel point process that generates mosaics with realistic nearest neighbor statistics and a tunable degree of spatial correlations of dipole angles. Using this process, we show that given the size of available data sets, the presence of even weak angular correlations in the data is very unlikely. We conclude that the layout of ON/OFF ganglion cell mosaics lacks the spatial structure necessary to seed iso-orientation domains in the primary visual cortex.

Multiple groups of orientation-selective visual mechanisms underlying rapid orientated-line detection.

PubMed Central

Foster, D H; Westland, S

1998-01-01

Visual search for an edge or line element differing in orientation from a background of other edge or line elements can be performed rapidly and effortlessly. In this study, based on psychophysical measurements with ten human observers, threshold values of the angle between a target and background line elements were obtained as functions of background-element orientation, in brief masked displays. A repeated-loess analysis of the threshold functions suggested the existence of several groups of orientation-selective mechanisms contributing to rapid orientated-line detection; specifically, coarse, intermediate and fine mechanisms with preferred orientations spaced at angles of approximately 90 degrees, 35 degrees, and 10 degrees-25 degrees, respectively. The preferred orientations of coarse and some intermediate mechanisms coincided with the vertical or horizontal of the frontoparallel plane, but the preferred orientations of fine mechanisms varied randomly from observer to observer, possibly reflecting individual variations in neuronal sampling characteristics. PMID:9753784

Three-dimensional visual feature representation in the primary visual cortex

PubMed Central

Tanaka, Shigeru; Moon, Chan-Hong; Fukuda, Mitsuhiro; Kim, Seong-Gi

2011-01-01

In the cat primary visual cortex, it is accepted that neurons optimally responding to similar stimulus orientations are clustered in a column extending from the superficial to deep layers. The cerebral cortex is, however, folded inside a skull, which makes gyri and fundi. The primary visual area of cats, area 17, is located on the fold of the cortex called the lateral gyrus. These facts raise the question of how to reconcile the tangential arrangement of the orientation columns with the curvature of the gyrus. In the present study, we show a possible configuration of feature representation in the visual cortex using a three-dimensional (3D) self-organization model. We took into account preferred orientation, preferred direction, ocular dominance and retinotopy, assuming isotropic interaction. We performed computer simulation only in the middle layer at the beginning and expanded the range of simulation gradually to other layers, which was found to be a unique method in the present model for obtaining orientation columns spanning all the layers in the flat cortex. Vertical columns of preferred orientations were found in the flat parts of the model cortex. On the other hand, in the curved parts, preferred orientations were represented in wedge-like columns rather than straight columns, and preferred directions were frequently reversed in the deeper layers. Singularities associated with orientation representation appeared as warped lines in the 3D model cortex. Direction reversal appeared on the sheets that were delimited by orientation-singularity lines. These structures emerged from the balance between periodic arrangements of preferred orientations and vertical alignment of same orientations. Our theoretical predictions about orientation representation were confirmed by multi-slice, high-resolution functional MRI in the cat visual cortex. We obtained a close agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental observations. The present study throws a doubt about the conventional columnar view of orientation representation, although more experimental data are needed. PMID:21724370

Three-dimensional visual feature representation in the primary visual cortex.

PubMed

Tanaka, Shigeru; Moon, Chan-Hong; Fukuda, Mitsuhiro; Kim, Seong-Gi

2011-12-01

In the cat primary visual cortex, it is accepted that neurons optimally responding to similar stimulus orientations are clustered in a column extending from the superficial to deep layers. The cerebral cortex is, however, folded inside a skull, which makes gyri and fundi. The primary visual area of cats, area 17, is located on the fold of the cortex called the lateral gyrus. These facts raise the question of how to reconcile the tangential arrangement of the orientation columns with the curvature of the gyrus. In the present study, we show a possible configuration of feature representation in the visual cortex using a three-dimensional (3D) self-organization model. We took into account preferred orientation, preferred direction, ocular dominance and retinotopy, assuming isotropic interaction. We performed computer simulation only in the middle layer at the beginning and expanded the range of simulation gradually to other layers, which was found to be a unique method in the present model for obtaining orientation columns spanning all the layers in the flat cortex. Vertical columns of preferred orientations were found in the flat parts of the model cortex. On the other hand, in the curved parts, preferred orientations were represented in wedge-like columns rather than straight columns, and preferred directions were frequently reversed in the deeper layers. Singularities associated with orientation representation appeared as warped lines in the 3D model cortex. Direction reversal appeared on the sheets that were delimited by orientation-singularity lines. These structures emerged from the balance between periodic arrangements of preferred orientations and vertical alignment of the same orientations. Our theoretical predictions about orientation representation were confirmed by multi-slice, high-resolution functional MRI in the cat visual cortex. We obtained a close agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental observations. The present study throws a doubt about the conventional columnar view of orientation representation, although more experimental data are needed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) map number onto space.

PubMed

Drucker, Caroline B; Brannon, Elizabeth M

2014-07-01

Humans map number onto space. However, the origins of this association, and particularly the degree to which it depends upon cultural experience, are not fully understood. Here we provide the first demonstration of a number-space mapping in a non-human primate. We trained four adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to select the fourth position from the bottom of a five-element vertical array. Monkeys maintained a preference to choose the fourth position through changes in the appearance, location, and spacing of the vertical array. We next asked whether monkeys show a spatially-oriented number mapping by testing their responses to the same five-element stimulus array rotated ninety degrees into a horizontal line. In these horizontal probe trials, monkeys preferentially selected the fourth position from the left, but not the fourth position from the right. Our results indicate that rhesus macaques map number onto space, suggesting that the association between number and space in human cognition is not purely a result of cultural experience and instead has deep evolutionary roots. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Making sense of sparse rating data in collaborative filtering via topographic organization of user preference patterns.

PubMed

Polcicová, Gabriela; Tino, Peter

2004-01-01

We introduce topographic versions of two latent class models (LCM) for collaborative filtering. Latent classes are topologically organized on a square grid. Topographic organization of latent classes makes orientation in rating/preference patterns captured by the latent classes easier and more systematic. The variation in film rating patterns is modelled by multinomial and binomial distributions with varying independence assumptions. In the first stage of topographic LCM construction, self-organizing maps with neural field organized according to the LCM topology are employed. We apply our system to a large collection of user ratings for films. The system can provide useful visualization plots unveiling user preference patterns buried in the data, without loosing potential to be a good recommender model. It appears that multinomial distribution is most adequate if the model is regularized by tight grid topologies. Since we deal with probabilistic models of the data, we can readily use tools from probability and information theories to interpret and visualize information extracted by our system.

Widespread evidence of cooperative DNA binding by transcription factors in Drosophila development

PubMed Central

Kazemian, Majid; Pham, Hannah; Wolfe, Scot A.; Brodsky, Michael H.; Sinha, Saurabh

2013-01-01

Regulation of eukaryotic gene transcription is often combinatorial in nature, with multiple transcription factors (TFs) regulating common target genes, often through direct or indirect mutual interactions. Many individual examples of cooperative binding by directly interacting TFs have been identified, but it remains unclear how pervasive this mechanism is during animal development. Cooperative TF binding should be manifest in genomic sequences as biased arrangements of TF-binding sites. Here, we explore the extent and diversity of such arrangements related to gene regulation during Drosophila embryogenesis. We used the DNA-binding specificities of 322 TFs along with chromatin accessibility information to identify enriched spacing and orientation patterns of TF-binding site pairs. We developed a new statistical approach for this task, specifically designed to accurately assess inter-site spacing biases while accounting for the phenomenon of homotypic site clustering commonly observed in developmental regulatory regions. We observed a large number of short-range distance preferences between TF-binding site pairs, including examples where the preference depends on the relative orientation of the binding sites. To test whether these binding site patterns reflect physical interactions between the corresponding TFs, we analyzed 27 TF pairs whose binding sites exhibited short distance preferences. In vitro protein–protein binding experiments revealed that >65% of these TF pairs can directly interact with each other. For five pairs, we further demonstrate that they bind cooperatively to DNA if both sites are present with the preferred spacing. This study demonstrates how DNA-binding motifs can be used to produce a comprehensive map of sequence signatures for different mechanisms of combinatorial TF action. PMID:23847101

Widespread evidence of cooperative DNA binding by transcription factors in Drosophila development.

PubMed

Kazemian, Majid; Pham, Hannah; Wolfe, Scot A; Brodsky, Michael H; Sinha, Saurabh

2013-09-01

Regulation of eukaryotic gene transcription is often combinatorial in nature, with multiple transcription factors (TFs) regulating common target genes, often through direct or indirect mutual interactions. Many individual examples of cooperative binding by directly interacting TFs have been identified, but it remains unclear how pervasive this mechanism is during animal development. Cooperative TF binding should be manifest in genomic sequences as biased arrangements of TF-binding sites. Here, we explore the extent and diversity of such arrangements related to gene regulation during Drosophila embryogenesis. We used the DNA-binding specificities of 322 TFs along with chromatin accessibility information to identify enriched spacing and orientation patterns of TF-binding site pairs. We developed a new statistical approach for this task, specifically designed to accurately assess inter-site spacing biases while accounting for the phenomenon of homotypic site clustering commonly observed in developmental regulatory regions. We observed a large number of short-range distance preferences between TF-binding site pairs, including examples where the preference depends on the relative orientation of the binding sites. To test whether these binding site patterns reflect physical interactions between the corresponding TFs, we analyzed 27 TF pairs whose binding sites exhibited short distance preferences. In vitro protein-protein binding experiments revealed that >65% of these TF pairs can directly interact with each other. For five pairs, we further demonstrate that they bind cooperatively to DNA if both sites are present with the preferred spacing. This study demonstrates how DNA-binding motifs can be used to produce a comprehensive map of sequence signatures for different mechanisms of combinatorial TF action.

The stream net as an indicator of cryptic systematic fracturing in Louisiana

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCulloh, R.P.

2003-01-01

The stream net in many parts of Louisiana includes straight reaches with preferred alignment in a few directions, with some examples spanning tens of kilometers. In places the reaches form classic rectangular drainage patterns. These characteristics are obvious on maps at a variety of scales, and are recognizable on some portion of nearly every 7.5-minute quadrangle in the state, excepting those quadrangles situated entirely within the Ho??ocene coastal marshes or the Holocene flood plains of the larger rivers. Such patterns of lineaments are reminiscent of patterns associated with systematic fracturing in other regions. In Louisiana, however, verification and measurement of fractures that may exist in the vicinity of rectilinear drainage anomalies is problematic because surface deposits are comparatively young and sparsely exposed, and tend, especially near waterways, to be heavily weathered and vegetated. An indirect approach to evaluating the potential influence on drainage by fracturing involves evaluating the frequency distribution of stream-course orientations based on its degree of similarity with that of the strikes of previously mapped or reported fractures (faults and/or joints). A rose diagram of orientation frequencies for the stream net of the entire state, created utilizing a publicly available line dataset processed into 100-m segments (N 290,000), shows a nonrandom distribution with three visually identifiable trends: the strongest, oriented essentially N-S; a subsidiary trend oriented N20??-30??W; and a weak trend oriented N80??-90??W. The entire population of orientations yields a mean direction of N17.5??W ?? 4.2?? with a probability of 95 percent. The strike frequencies of mapped faults show little correspondence with these trends. This suggests, if mapped faults are at least representative of actual faults, that insofar as apparent lineaments reflect structure and not the influence of a south-southeasterly regional drainage gradient, they predominantly reveal the influence of joints. These could reflect either a Quaternary stress regime, or propagation in young sediment of a structural pattern in underlying older strata. The data available at present do not compel either interpretation, though in south Louisiana at least, where reactivated early Tertiary growth faults have surface expression that in places is juxtaposed with differently oriented drainage lineaments, propagation of a preexisting pattern from depth appears plausible. Widespread systematic fracturing in this predominantly Quaternary coastal-plain setting could have important implications for groundwater flow and for other processes that depend substantially on permeability.

Investigation of the Relationships Between Personality Types of Eighth-Grade Science Students and Cognitive Preference Orientation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Novak, John Anthony

This study investigated the relationship among personality types, cognitive preference orientation, science achievement, intelligence, attitudes toward science and scientists, sex, and geographic area of eighth-grade science students using the following four instruments: (1) Myers-Briggs Type Indication (MBTI); (2) Cognitive Preference Examination…

A study on aircraft map display location and orientation. [effects of map display location on manual piloting performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baty, D. L.; Wempe, T. E.; Huff, E. M.

1973-01-01

Six airline pilots participated in a fixed-base simulator study to determine the effects of two Horizontal Situation Display (HSD/map) panel locations relative to the Vertical Situation Display (VSD), and of three map orientations on manual piloting performance. Pilot comments and opinions were formally obtained. Significant performance differences were found between wind conditions, and among pilots, but not between map locations and orientations. The results also illustrate the potential tracking accuracy of such a display. Recommendations concerning display location and map orientation are made.

Left and right brain-oriented hemisity subjects show opposite behavioral preferences.

PubMed

Morton, Bruce E

2012-01-01

Recently, three independent, intercorrelated biophysical measures have provided the first quantitative measures of a binary form of behavioral laterality called "Hemisity," a term referring to inherent opposite right or left brain-oriented differences in thinking and behavioral styles. Crucially, the right or left brain-orientation of individuals assessed by these methods was later found to be essentially congruent with the thicker side of their ventral gyrus of the anterior cingulate cortex (vgACC) as revealed by a 3 min MRI procedure. Laterality of this putative executive structural element has thus become the primary standard defining individual hemisity. Here, the behavior of 150 subjects, whose hemisity had been calibrated by MRI, was assessed using five MRI-calibrated preference questionnaires, two of which were new. Right and left brain-oriented subjects selected opposite answers (p > 0.05) for 47 of the 107 "either-or," forced choice type preference questionnaire items. The resulting 30 hemisity subtype preference differences were present in several areas. These were: (1) in logical orientation, (2) in type of consciousness, (3) in fear level and sensitivity, (4) in social-professional orientation, and (5) in pair bonding-spousal dominance style. The right and left brain-oriented hemisity subtype subjects, sorted on the anatomical basis of upon which brain side their vgACC was thickest, showed 30 significant differences in their "either-or" type of behavioral preferences.

A study on aircraft map display location and orientation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baty, D. L.; Wempe, T.; Huff, E.

1973-01-01

Six airline pilots participated in a fixed-based simulator study to determine the effects of two horizontal situation display (HSD/map) panel locations relative to the vertical situation display (VSD), and of three map orientations on manual piloting performance. Pilot comments and opinions were formally obtained. Significant performance differences were found between wind conditions and among pilots but not between map locations and orientations. The results also illustrate the potential tracking accuracy of such a display. Recommendations concerning display location and map orientation are made.

A study on aircraft map display location and orientation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baty, D. L.; Wempe, T. E.; Huff, E. M.

1974-01-01

Six airline pilots participated in a fixed-base simulator study to determine the effects of two horizontal situation display (HSD/map) panel locations relative to the vertical situation display (VSD), and of three map orientations on manual piloting performance. Pilot comments and opinions were formally obtained. Significant performance differences were found between wind conditions and among pilots, but not between map locations and orientations. The results also illustrate the potential tracking accuracy of such a display. Recommendations concerning display location and map orientation are made.

The relation between gender role orientation and fear and anxiety in nonclinic-referred children.

PubMed

Muris, Peter; Meesters, Cor; Knoops, Miranda

2005-06-01

This study examined the relation between gender role orientation and fear and anxiety in a sample of nonclinic-referred children (N = 209) ages 10 to 13 years. Children and their parents completed questionnaires assessing children's gender role orientation, toy and activity preferences, and fear and anxiety. Results generally indicated that femininity and a preference for girls' toys and activities were positively associated with fear and anxiety, whereas masculinity and a preference for boys' toys and activities were negatively related to these emotions. Furthermore, gender role orientation accounted for more of the variance in fear and anxiety scores than the child's sex.

Gibbon travel paths are goal oriented.

PubMed

Asensio, Norberto; Brockelman, Warren Y; Malaivijitnond, Suchinda; Reichard, Ulrich H

2011-05-01

Remembering locations of food resources is critical for animal survival. Gibbons are territorial primates which regularly travel through small and stable home ranges in search of preferred, limited and patchily distributed resources (primarily ripe fruit). They are predicted to profit from an ability to memorize the spatial characteristics of their home range and may increase their foraging efficiency by using a 'cognitive map' either with Euclidean or with topological properties. We collected ranging and feeding data from 11 gibbon groups (Hylobates lar) to test their navigation skills and to better understand gibbons' 'spatial intelligence'. We calculated the locations at which significant travel direction changes occurred using the change-point direction test and found that these locations primarily coincided with preferred fruit sources. Within the limits of biologically realistic visibility distances observed, gibbon travel paths were more efficient in detecting known preferred food sources than a heuristic travel model based on straight travel paths in random directions. Because consecutive travel change-points were far from the gibbons' sight, planned movement between preferred food sources was the most parsimonious explanation for the observed travel patterns. Gibbon travel appears to connect preferred food sources as expected under the assumption of a good mental representation of the most relevant sources in a large-scale space.

Distract or reappraise? Age-related differences in emotion-regulation choice.

PubMed

Scheibe, Susanne; Sheppes, Gal; Staudinger, Ursula M

2015-12-01

Does aging impact strategy choice with regard to regulating negative emotions? Based on the assumption that older adults are highly motivated to quickly defuse negative states, we predicted that older adults, relative to young adults, would show an increased preference for distraction (a cognitive disengagement strategy) over reappraisal (a cognitive engagement strategy) in the face of negative material. A stronger preference for distraction, in turn, should be associated with higher affective well-being at older ages, as it helps to avoid high physiological arousal. Young (19-28 years, n = 38) and older (65-75 years, n = 39) adults completed a laboratory task of emotion-regulation choice in which they viewed negative pictures of high and low intensity and chose between distraction and reappraisal to regulate their emotional response. Confirming predictions, age was associated with an increased preference to choose distraction over reappraisal. Among older but not young adults, the relative preference for distraction to reappraisal predicted higher state-affective well-being. In addition, across age groups, the preference for distraction over reappraisal was positively predicted by stimulus intensity and negatively by cognitive resources. Findings support the notion of an age-related shift toward disengagement strategies to regulate negative emotions, which maps onto older adults' prohedonic orientation and holds affective benefits. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Automatically Generated Vegetation Density Maps with LiDAR Survey for Orienteering Purpose

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrovič, Dušan

2018-05-01

The focus of our research was to automatically generate the most adequate vegetation density maps for orienteering purpose. Application Karttapullatuin was used for automated generation of vegetation density maps, which requires LiDAR data to process an automatically generated map. A part of the orienteering map in the area of Kazlje-Tomaj was used to compare the graphical display of vegetation density. With different settings of parameters in the Karttapullautin application we changed the way how vegetation density of automatically generated map was presented, and tried to match it as much as possible with the orienteering map of Kazlje-Tomaj. Comparing more created maps of vegetation density the most suitable parameter settings to automatically generate maps on other areas were proposed, too.

Anatomical Reconstruction and Functional Imaging Reveal an Ordered Array of Skylight Polarization Detectors in Drosophila.

PubMed

Weir, Peter T; Henze, Miriam J; Bleul, Christiane; Baumann-Klausener, Franziska; Labhart, Thomas; Dickinson, Michael H

2016-05-11

Many insects exploit skylight polarization as a compass cue for orientation and navigation. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, photoreceptors R7 and R8 in the dorsal rim area (DRA) of the compound eye are specialized to detect the electric vector (e-vector) of linearly polarized light. These photoreceptors are arranged in stacked pairs with identical fields of view and spectral sensitivities, but mutually orthogonal microvillar orientations. As in larger flies, we found that the microvillar orientation of the distal photoreceptor R7 changes in a fan-like fashion along the DRA. This anatomical arrangement suggests that the DRA constitutes a detector for skylight polarization, in which different e-vectors maximally excite different positions in the array. To test our hypothesis, we measured responses to polarized light of varying e-vector angles in the terminals of R7/8 cells using genetically encoded calcium indicators. Our data confirm a progression of preferred e-vector angles from anterior to posterior in the DRA, and a strict orthogonality between the e-vector preferences of paired R7/8 cells. We observed decreased activity in photoreceptors in response to flashes of light polarized orthogonally to their preferred e-vector angle, suggesting reciprocal inhibition between photoreceptors in the same medullar column, which may serve to increase polarization contrast. Together, our results indicate that the polarization-vision system relies on a spatial map of preferred e-vector angles at the earliest stage of sensory processing. The fly's visual system is an influential model system for studying neural computation, and much is known about its anatomy, physiology, and development. The circuits underlying motion processing have received the most attention, but researchers are increasingly investigating other functions, such as color perception and object recognition. In this work, we investigate the early neural processing of a somewhat exotic sense, called polarization vision. Because skylight is polarized in an orientation that is rigidly determined by the position of the sun, this cue provides compass information. Behavioral experiments have shown that many species use the polarization pattern in the sky to direct locomotion. Here we describe the input stage of the fly's polarization-vision system. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/365397-08$15.00/0.

Texture inheritance from austenite to 7 M martensite in Ni-Mn-Ga melt-spun ribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zongbin; Jiang, Yiwen; Li, Zhenzhuang; Yang, Yiqiao; Yang, Bo; Zhang, Yudong; Esling, Claude; Zhao, Xiang; Zuo, Liang

In this work, Ni53Mn22Ga25 and Ni51Mn27Ga22 ribbons with austenite and 7 M martensite at room temperature respectively, were prepared by melt-spinning. Through the detailed crystallographic analyses, the preferred orientation in ribbons was confirmed. It is shown that the austenite in Ni53Mn22Ga25 ribbons forms a preferred orientation with {4 0 0}A in parallel to ribbon plane, whereas the 7 M martensite in Ni51Mn27Ga22 ribbons develops the preferred orientation with {2 0 -20}7M, {2 0 20}7M, and {0 4 0}7M crystallographic planes parallel to the ribbon plane. Since {2 0 -20}7M, {2 0 20}7M, and {0 4 0}7M are originated from {4 0 0}A, the preferred orientation in ribbons thus can be inherited after the martensitic transformation. Such texture inheritance is attributed to the intrinsic orientation relationship between austenite and 7 M martensite.

Ambient illumination switches contrast preference of specific retinal processing streams

PubMed Central

Pearson, James T.

2015-01-01

Contrast, a fundamental feature of visual scenes, is encoded in a distributed manner by ∼20 retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types, which stream visual information to the brain. RGC types respond preferentially to positive (ONpref) or negative (OFFpref) contrast and differ in their sensitivity to preferred contrast and responsiveness to nonpreferred stimuli. Vision operates over an enormous range of mean light levels. The influence of ambient illumination on contrast encoding across RGC types is not well understood. Here, we used large-scale multielectrode array recordings to characterize responses of mouse RGCs under lighting conditions spanning five orders in brightness magnitude. We identify three functional RGC types that switch contrast preference in a luminance-dependent manner (Sw1-, Sw2-, and Sw3-RGCs). As ambient illumination increases, Sw1- and Sw2-RGCs shift from ONpref to OFFpref and Sw3-RGCs from OFFpref to ONpref. In all cases, transitions in contrast preference are reversible and track light levels. By mapping spatiotemporal receptive fields at different mean light levels, we find that changes in input from ON and OFF pathways in receptive field centers underlie shifts in contrast preference. Sw2-RGCs exhibit direction-selective responses to motion stimuli. Despite changing contrast preference, direction selectivity of Sw2-RGCs and other RGCs as well as orientation-selective responses of RGCs remain stable across light levels. PMID:25995351

Preferences for a patient-centered role orientation: association with patient-information-seeking behavior and clinical markers of health.

PubMed

Baldwin, Austin S; Cvengros, Jamie A; Christensen, Alan J; Ishani, Areef; Kaboli, Peter J

2008-02-01

Few data exist examining how patients' preferred role orientation (patient-centered or provider-centered) is associated with "patient-centered" behavior and clinical markers of health. The purpose of the study is to investigate how patients' preferred role orientation is associated with information-seeking behavior and clinical markers of health in a chronically ill population. Participants were 189 hypertensive patients, at two VA Medical Centers and four community-based clinics, who completed measures of preferred role orientation and medication information seeking. Lab values of patients' blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c were used as clinical markers. Preference for a patient-centered role was associated with seeking medication information from various sources (e.g., the internet [OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05-1.23]) and with the number of sources from which patients obtained information (beta = .21, p = 0.005). However, patient-centered preferences were also associated with higher systolic blood pressure (beta = 0.16, p = 0.04), higher diastolic blood pressure (beta = .15, p = 0.04), and higher LDL cholesterol (beta = 0.17, p = 0.04). There was no association with glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (beta = -0.10, p = 0.36). Patients who preferred a patient-centered role engaged in behavior consistent with their preferences, but had higher blood pressure and less favorable lipid levels. These findings are discussed in terms of the nature and treatment of certain chronic conditions that may explain why a patient-centered role orientation is associated with a less favorable clinical profile in some contexts.

Integrating landscape analysis and planning: a multi-scale approach for oriented management of tourist recreation.

PubMed

de Aranzabal, Itziar; Schmitz, María F; Pineda, Francisco D

2009-11-01

Tourism and landscape are interdependent concepts. Nature- and culture-based tourism are now quite well developed activities and can constitute an excellent way of exploiting the natural resources of certain areas, and should therefore be considered as key objectives in landscape planning and management in a growing number of countries. All of this calls for careful evaluation of the effects of tourism on the territory. This article focuses on an integrated spatial method for landscape analysis aimed at quantifying the relationship between preferences of visitors and landscape features. The spatial expression of the model relating types of leisure and recreational preferences to the potential capacity of the landscape to meet them involves a set of maps showing degrees of potential visitor satisfaction. The method constitutes a useful tool for the design of tourism planning and management strategies, with landscape conservation as a reference.

Moiré-reduction method for slanted-lenticular-based quasi-three-dimensional displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Zhenfeng; Surman, Phil; Zhang, Lei; Rawat, Rahul; Wang, Shizheng; Zheng, Yuanjin; Sun, Xiao Wei

2016-12-01

In this paper we present a method for determining the preferred slanted angle for a lenticular film that minimizes moiré patterns in quasi-three-dimensional (Q3D) displays. We evaluate the preferred slanted angles of the lenticular film for the stripe-type sub-pixel structure liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Additionally, the sub-pixels mapping algorithm of the specific angle is proposed to assign the images to either the right or left eye channel. A Q3D display prototype is built. Compared with the conventional SLF, this newly implemented Q3D display can not only eliminate moiré patterns but also provide 3D images in both portrait and landscape orientations. It is demonstrated that the developed slanted lenticular film (SLF) provides satisfactory 3D images by employing a compact structure, minimum moiré patterns and stabilized 3D contrast.

[Orientation hypercolumns of the visual cortex: ring model].

PubMed

Smirnova, E Iu; Chizhov, A V

2011-01-01

A hypercolumn of the visual cortex is a functional unit formed of the neighbouring columns whose neurons respond to a stimulus of particular orientation. The function of the hypercolumn is to amplify the orientation tuning of visually evoked responses. According to the conventional simple model of a hypercolumn, neuronal populations with different orientation preferences are distributed on a ring. Every population is described by the frequency (FR) model. To determine the limitations of the FR-ring model, it was compared with a more detailed ring model, which takes into account the distribution of neurons of each population according to their voltage values. In the case of the leaky integrate-and-fire neurons, every neural population is described by the Fokker-Planck (FP) equation. The mapping of parameters was obtained. The simulations revealed differences in the behaviour of the two models. Contrary to the FR model, the model based on the Fokker-Planck equation reacts faster to a change in stimulus orientation. The Fokker-Planck ring model gives a steady-state solution in the form of waves of activity travelling on the ring, whereas the FR ring model presents amplitude instability for the same parameter set. The FR ring model reproduces the characteristic effects of the ring model: the virtual rotation and the symmetry breaking.

The Map in Our Head Is Not Oriented North: Evidence from a Real-World Environment.

PubMed

Brunyé, Tad T; Burte, Heather; Houck, Lindsay A; Taylor, Holly A

2015-01-01

Like most physical maps, recent research has suggested that cognitive maps of familiar environments may have a north-up orientation. We demonstrate that north orientation is not a necessary feature of cognitive maps and instead may arise due to coincidental alignment between cardinal directions and the built and natural environment. Experiment 1 demonstrated that pedestrians have difficulty pointing north while navigating a familiar real-world environment with roads, buildings, and green spaces oriented oblique to cardinal axes. Instead, north estimates tended to be parallel or perpendicular to roads. In Experiment 2, participants did not demonstrate privileged memory access when oriented toward north while making relative direction judgments. Instead, retrieval was fastest and most accurate when orientations were aligned with roads. In sum, cognitive maps are not always oriented north. Rather, in some real-world environments they can be oriented with respect to environment-specific features, serving as convenient reference systems for organizing and using spatial memory.

TripAdvisor^{N-D}: A Tourism-Inspired High-Dimensional Space Exploration Framework with Overview and Detail.

PubMed

Nam, Julia EunJu; Mueller, Klaus

2013-02-01

Gaining a true appreciation of high-dimensional space remains difficult since all of the existing high-dimensional space exploration techniques serialize the space travel in some way. This is not so foreign to us since we, when traveling, also experience the world in a serial fashion. But we typically have access to a map to help with positioning, orientation, navigation, and trip planning. Here, we propose a multivariate data exploration tool that compares high-dimensional space navigation with a sightseeing trip. It decomposes this activity into five major tasks: 1) Identify the sights: use a map to identify the sights of interest and their location; 2) Plan the trip: connect the sights of interest along a specifyable path; 3) Go on the trip: travel along the route; 4) Hop off the bus: experience the location, look around, zoom into detail; and 5) Orient and localize: regain bearings in the map. We describe intuitive and interactive tools for all of these tasks, both global navigation within the map and local exploration of the data distributions. For the latter, we describe a polygonal touchpad interface which enables users to smoothly tilt the projection plane in high-dimensional space to produce multivariate scatterplots that best convey the data relationships under investigation. Motion parallax and illustrative motion trails aid in the perception of these transient patterns. We describe the use of our system within two applications: 1) the exploratory discovery of data configurations that best fit a personal preference in the presence of tradeoffs and 2) interactive cluster analysis via cluster sculpting in N-D.

Orientations of linear stone arrangements in New South Wales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamacher, Duane W.; Fuller, Robert S.; Norris, Ray P.

2012-12-01

We test the hypothesis that Aboriginal linear stone arrangements in New South Wales (NSW) are oriented to cardinal directions. We accomplish this by measuring the azimuths of stone arrangements described in site cards from the NSW Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System. We then survey a subset of these sites to test the accuracy of information recorded on the site cards. We find a preference recorded in the site cards for cardinal orientations among azimuths. The field surveys show that the site cards are reasonably accurate, but the surveyors probably did not correct for magnetic declinations. Using Monte Carlo statistics, we show that these preferred orientations did not occur by chance and that Aboriginal people deliberately aligned these arrangements to the approximate cardinal directions. We briefly explore possible reasons for these preferred orientations and highlight the need for future work.

Three-quarter views are subjectively good because object orientation is uncertain.

PubMed

Niimi, Ryosuke; Yokosawa, Kazuhiko

2009-04-01

Because the objects that surround us are three-dimensional, their appearance and our visual perception of them change depending on an object's orientation relative to a viewpoint. One of the most remarkable effects of object orientation is that viewers prefer three-quarter views over others, such as front and back, but the exact source of this preference has not been firmly established. We show that object orientation perception of the three-quarter view is relatively imprecise and that this impreciseness is related to preference for this view. Human vision is largely insensitive to variations among different three-quarter views (e.g., 45 degrees vs. 50 degrees ); therefore, the three-quarter view is perceived as if it corresponds to a wide range of orientations. In other words, it functions as the typical representation of the object.

Polymorphic Nature of Iron and Degree of Lattice Preferred Orientation Beneath the Earth's Inner Core Boundary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattesini, Maurizio; Belonoshko, Anatoly B.; Tkalčić, Hrvoje

2018-01-01

Deciphering the polymorphic nature and the degree of iron lattice-preferred orientation in the Earth's inner core holds a key to understanding the present status and evolution of the inner core. A multiphase lattice-preferred orientation pattern is obtained for the top 350 km of the inner core by means of the ab initio based Candy Wrapper Velocity Model coupled to a Monte Carlo phase discrimination scheme. The achieved geographic distribution of lattice alignment is characterized by two regions of freezing, namely within South America and the Western Central Pacific, that exhibit an uncommon high degree of lattice orientation. In contrast, widespread regions of melting of relatively weak lattice ordering permeate the rest of the inner core. The obtained multiphase lattice-preferred orientation pattern is in line with mantle-constrained geodynamo simulations and allows to setup an ad hoc mineral physics scenario for the complex Earth's inner core. It is found that the cubic phase of iron is the dominating iron polymorph in the outermost part of the inner core.

Mentoring Women in STEM: A Collegiate Investigation of Mentors and Proteges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leavey, Nicole

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States lags behind that of other industrialized nations. Despite national efforts to enhance the quality of STEM education for students, progress remains elusive. Underperformance is evident in measures of outcomes, participation, and retention. In particular, inequity persists in the attraction and retention of women to STEM fields. Mentoring is heavily cited as a means to improve our national efforts to fortify STEM education. This research explores mentoring styles, gender preferences, and differential impact on outcomes. The results challenge conventional wisdom that women prefer and benefit from a style of mentoring that is different from the preferred style of men. This study found that male and female proteges do not desire different types of mentoring. In fact, male and female proteges desire task-oriented mentoring when compared to relationship-oriented mentoring styles. However, female proteges prefer to be mentored by female mentors and male proteges prefer to be mentored by male mentors. In addition, with respect to gender, mentors do not differ in the type of mentoring they employ. Additionally, results of the study indicate that task-oriented mentoring style may bring incremental explanatory power with regard to intention to pursue STEM careers. This research implicates STEM program design in university settings. Gender-focused STEM programs are advised to focus on preferences and mentoring type, but not in the conventional way. This research indicates that women in STEM disciplines are not expressing a preference for relationship-oriented mentoring type and do benefit from task-oriented mentoring styles.

Vasopressin eliminates the expression of familiar odor bias in neonatal female mice through V1aR

PubMed Central

Hammock, Elizabeth A.D.; Law, Caitlin S.; Levitt, Pat

2014-01-01

Summary V1aR has a well established role in the neural regulation of adult mammalian social behavior. The role of V1aR in developmentally emerging social behavior is less well understood. We mapped V1aR at post-natal day 8 (P8) and demonstrate developmentally-specific expression in the neocortex and hippocampus. We tested the ability of male and female C57BL/6J mice to show orienting bias to a familiar odor at this age. We demonstrate that females, but not males, show an orienting bias for odors previously paired with the mother, which is eliminated by V1aR signaling. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and the vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) acting within the forebrain are involved in social behavior in adult animals. Much less is known about the function of V1aR in neurobehavioral development. In the present study, at post-natal day 8 (P8) in neonatal C57BL/6J mice, we map V1aR and use an olfactory exposure paradigm to assess a role for V1aR on olfactory preferences. In addition to V1aR in the lateral septum and ventral tegmental area, we observe V1aR in the neocortex and hippocampus, not typically observed in adult mice, implicating a developmental sensitive period for V1aR to modulate these brain areas in an experience-dependent manner. Males and females were tested on P8 for orienting preferences after exposure to a non-social odor, presented either when the mother was in the home cage (contingent) or when the mother had been removed from the home cage (not contingent). Wild-type female mice show a selective orienting bias toward the exposed odor, but only in the contingent condition. Males did not show orienting bias after either training condition. Female Avpr1a-/- mice showed strong familiar odor bias, regardless of the training condition. This finding led us to test the ability of AVP to diminish odor bias in females. Central application of AVP eliminated odor bias in Avpr1a+/+, but not Avpr1a-/- female mice. Together, these data indicate that AVP acting at V1aR eliminates the expression of familiar odor bias in neonatal mice. This suggests a developmental role for AVP on familiarity bias, which has implications for species-typical life history trajectories of social learning and natal dispersal. PMID:23261858

[Temporal orientation and a course of alcohol addiction therapy].

PubMed

Chodkiewicz, Jan; Nowakowska, Katarzyna

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was assess the meaning of preferred temporal orientation for results of alcohol dependence therapy. One hundred and sixteen (116) (95 men and 21 women) alcohol addict patients were evaluated at the beginning of the alcohol addiction outpatient therapy. The temporal orientation and attitude for time was assessed by using Temporal Orientation Questionnaire-AION and Carpe Diem, Fatalism and Hedonism Scale by Sobol-Kwapinska. The results showed that alcohol addict patients were in the highest degree focused on the past and the present in the hedonism and fatalism dimensions, while being relatively focused in the lowest degree on the present carpe diem dimension and the future at the beginning of the therapy. Men and women at the beginning of the therapy varied in some dimensions of temporal orientation. The differences occurred also between patients who finished and discontinued alcohol dependence therapy. Patients at the begging of alcohol addiction therapy prefer past and present temporal orientation. 1. There are differences between temporal orientation preferred by men and women. 2. Future temporal orientation is beneficial to finish addiction therapy by addict men. 3. Women who finish therapy are focused more on the past and hedonistic present orientation than women who discontinued therapy.

Career Orientations and Career Route Preferences in R&D Organisations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petroni, Alberto

2000-01-01

A survey of 151 Italian scientists and engineers and case studies of a career development system for technical professionals revealed that career orientation (as measured by Schein's career anchors) is a useful predictor of career route preferences. (Author/JOW)

Development of chemically vapor deposited rhenium emitters of (0001) preferred crystal orientation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, L.; Hudson, R. G.

1973-01-01

Rhenium thermionic emitters were prepared by the pyrolysis of rhenium chlorides formed by the chlorination of rhenium pellets. The impurity contents, microstructures, degrees of (0001) preferred crystal orientation, and vacuum electron work functions of these emitters were determined as a function of deposition parameters, such as substrate temperature, rhenium pellet temperature and chlorine flow rate. A correlation between vacuum electron work function and degree of (0001) preferred crystal orientation was established. Conditions for depositing porosity-free rhenium emitters of high vacuum electron work functions were defined. Finally, three cylindrical rhenium emitters were prepared under the optimum deposition conditions.

How shared preferences in music create bonds between people: values as the missing link.

PubMed

Boer, Diana; Fischer, Ronald; Strack, Micha; Bond, Michael H; Lo, Eva; Lam, Jason

2011-09-01

How can shared music preferences create social bonds between people? A process model is developed in which music preferences as value-expressive attitudes create social bonds via conveyed value similarity. The musical bonding model links two research streams: (a) music preferences as indicators of similarity in value orientations and (b) similarity in value orientations leading to social attraction. Two laboratory experiments and one dyadic field study demonstrated that music can create interpersonal bonds between young people because music preferences can be cues for similar or dissimilar value orientations, with similarity in values then contributing to social attraction. One study tested and ruled out an alternative explanation (via personality similarity), illuminating the differential impact of perceived value similarity versus personality similarity on social attraction. Value similarity is the missing link in explaining the musical bonding phenomenon, which seems to hold for Western and non-Western samples and in experimental and natural settings.

Development of magnetic and elastic anisotropies in slates during progressive deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrouda, František; Pros, Zdeněk; Wohlgemuth, Jiří

1993-05-01

Magnetic and elastic anisotropies were investigated in rocks of the Nízký Jeseník Mountains (northeast Bohemian Massif) ranging in lithology from almost unmetamorphosed sediments, through slate, to phyllite, and showing a range of structural styles from sedimentary, through spaced and slaty cleavage, to metamorphic schistosity. In unmetamorphosed and undeformed sedimentary rocks, both the anisotropies display close relationships to the sedimentary fabric. During the development of the spaced and slaty cleavage they are gradually re-oriented into the attitudes of the deformational fabrics, and in the rocks with metamorphic schistosity they are fully related to the deformational fabric elements, which can be oriented in a very different way from the original sedimentary structures. The magnetic anisotropy is mostly due to the preferred orientation of phyllosilicates generated during very weak regional metamorphism, and subordinately due to the preferred orientation of magnetite. The elastic anisotropy is probably controlled by the preferred orientation of phyllosilicates and by the existence of oriented systems of microcracks.

Drainage lineaments in late Quaternary sediments, Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parishes, Louisiana

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

Birdseye, R.U.; Christians, G.L.; Olson, J.L.

1988-09-01

Analysis of conventional aerial photographs, NHAP imagery, and topographic maps covering Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parishes in southeastern Louisiana reveals fine-textured parallel sets of drainage lineaments and numerous fluvial anomalies. Linear physiographic features include stream channels, natural levees, stream valleys, rectangular drainage patterns, and terrace scarps. Late Pleistocene and Holocene surfaces are involved, but only small drainages are affected and no such control is exerted on the Mississippi river. Most lineaments show preferred northeast and northwest trends. Orientations of mapped joint systems are similar to lineament orientations, which suggests that trends of physiographic lineaments are controlled by underlying structure.more » Several surface faults are mapped in the northern portion of the region, all of which strike essentially east-west. Salt domes are located in the subsurface to the south; however, they have no geomorphic expression and do not seem to be associated with the lineaments. Therefore, joints rather than faults or salt diapirs are a likely structural control. Joints may provide paths of weakness along which surface drainage might develop preferentially. Thus, joints probably exert an important control on the geomorphology of the region. The joint pattern appears to be related to the local distribution of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata, and may result from regional subsidence due to the thick accumulation of deltaic sediments. Conclusive subsurface data are currently unavailable, and shallow seismic surveys in the future may strengthen the case for an interpretation of structural control of drainage.« less

Formation of highly preferred orientation of β-Sn grains in solidified Cu/SnAgCu/Cu micro interconnects under temperature gradient effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, N.; Zhong, Y.; Dong, W.; Huang, M. L.; Ma, H. T.; Wong, C. P.

2017-02-01

β-Sn grain orientation and configuration are becoming crucial factors to dominate the lifetime of solder interconnects in three-dimensional integrated circuit packaging. In this paper, we found that a temperature gradient during solidification significantly dominated the orientation and configuration of the final β-Sn grains in Cu/SnAgCu/Cu micro interconnects. Being different from the random orientations and growth fronts meeting or cyclic twin boundary forming near the center after homogeneous temperature bonding, the β-Sn grains solidified under a certain temperature gradient were observed to follow a highly preferred orientation with their c-axis departing from the direction of temperature gradient by about 45°-88°. Meanwhile, these preferred oriented β-Sn grains consisted of low angle grain boundary structures with misorientation in the range of 0°-15°. The mechanism was explained in terms of the anisotropy and directional growth of β-Sn grains. The results pave the way for grain orientation control in 3D packaging technology.

Local sensitivity to stimulus orientation and spatial frequency within the receptive fields of neurons in visual area 2 of macaque monkeys

PubMed Central

Tao, X.; Zhang, B.; Smith, E. L.; Nishimoto, S.; Ohzawa, I.

2012-01-01

We used dynamic dense noise stimuli and local spectral reverse correlation methods to reveal the local sensitivities of neurons in visual area 2 (V2) of macaque monkeys to orientation and spatial frequency within their receptive fields. This minimized the potentially confounding assumptions that are inherent in stimulus selections. The majority of neurons exhibited a relatively high degree of homogeneity for the preferred orientations and spatial frequencies in the spatial matrix of facilitatory subfields. However, about 20% of all neurons showed maximum orientation differences between neighboring subfields that were greater than 25 deg. The neurons preferring horizontal or vertical orientations showed less inhomogeneity in space than the neurons preferring oblique orientations. Over 50% of all units also exhibited suppressive profiles, and those were more heterogeneous than facilitatory profiles. The preferred orientation and spatial frequency of suppressive profiles differed substantially from those of facilitatory profiles, and the neurons with suppressive subfields had greater orientation selectivity than those without suppressive subfields. The peak suppression occurred with longer delays than the peak facilitation. These results suggest that the receptive field profiles of the majority of V2 neurons reflect the orderly convergence of V1 inputs over space, but that a subset of V2 neurons exhibit more complex response profiles having both suppressive and facilitatory subfields. These V2 neurons with heterogeneous subfield profiles could play an important role in the initial processing of complex stimulus features. PMID:22114163

Thermoregulatory behavior and orientation preference in bearded dragons.

PubMed

Black, Ian R G; Tattersall, Glenn J

2017-10-01

The regulation of body temperature is a critical function for animals. Although reliant on ambient temperature as a heat source, reptiles, and especially lizards, make use of multiple voluntary and involuntary behaviors to thermoregulate, including postural changes in body orientation, either toward or away from solar sources of heat. This thermal orientation may also result from a thermoregulatory drive to maintain precise control over cranial temperatures or a rostrally-driven sensory bias. The purpose of this work was to examine thermal orientation behavior in adult and neonatal bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), to ascertain its prevalence across different life stages within a laboratory situation and its interaction with behavioral thermoregulation. Both adult and neonatal bearded dragons were placed in a thermal gradient and allowed to voluntarily select temperatures for up to 8h to observe the presence and development of a thermoregulatory orientation preference. Both adult and neonatal dragons displayed a non-random orientation, preferring to face toward a heat source while achieving mean thermal preferences of ~ 33-34°C. Specifically, adult dragons were more likely to face a heat source when at cooler ambient temperatures and less likely at warmer temperatures, suggesting that orientation behavior counter-balances local selected temperatures but contributes to their thermoregulatory response. Neonates were also more likely to select cooler temperatures when facing a heat source, but required more experience before this orientation behavior emerged. Combined, these results demonstrate the importance of orientation to behavioral thermoregulation in multiple life stages of bearded dragons. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long adaptation reveals mostly attractive shifts of orientation tuning in cat primary visual cortex.

PubMed

Ghisovan, N; Nemri, A; Shumikhina, S; Molotchnikoff, S

2009-12-15

In the adult brain, sensory cortical neurons undergo transient changes of their response properties following prolonged exposure to an appropriate stimulus (adaptation). In cat V1, orientation-selective cells shift their preferred orientation after being adapted to a non-preferred orientation. There are conflicting reports as to the direction of those shifts, towards (attractive) or away (repulsive) from the adapter. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying attractive shifts remain unexplained. In the present investigation we show that attractive shifts are the most frequent outcome of a 12 min adaptation. Overall, cells displaying selectivity for oblique orientations exhibit significantly larger shifts than cells tuned to cardinal orientations. In addition, cells selective to cardinal orientations had larger shift amplitudes when the absolute difference between the original preferred orientation and the adapting orientation increased. Conversely, cells tuned to oblique orientations exhibited larger shift amplitudes when this absolute orientation difference was narrower. Hence, neurons tuned to oblique contours appear to show more plasticity in response to small perturbations. Two different mechanisms appear to produce attractive and repulsive orientation shifts. Attractive shifts result from concurrent response depression on the non-adapted flank and selective response facilitation on the adapted flank of the orientation tuning curve. In contrast, repulsive shifts are caused solely by response depression on the adapted flank. We suggest that an early mechanism leads to repulsive shifts while attractive shifts engage a subsequent late facilitation. A potential role for attractive shifts may be improved stimulus discrimination around the adapting orientation.

Parents' assessment of circadian preference in elementary school-aged children: Validity and relations to educational outcomes.

PubMed

Scherrer, Vsevolod; Roberts, Richard; Preckel, Franzis

2016-01-01

Meta-analyses suggest that morning-oriented students obtain better school grades than evening-oriented students. This finding has generally been found for students in high school using self-report data for the assessment of circadian preference. Two studies (N = 2718/192) investigated whether these findings generalize across samples (i.e. elementary school-aged students) and methods (i.e. parent reports). These studies also explored whether the relation between circadian preference and school achievement could be explained within an expectancy-value framework. To this end, the Lark-Owl Chronotype Indicator (LOCI) was modified to obtain parents' evaluations of their children's circadian preference, while students completed a battery of assessments designed to explore the test-criterion evidence. Structural equation modeling and correlational analyses revealed: (1) morning and evening orientation were two separable factors of children's circadian preference; (2) correlations with behavioral (e.g. sleep and eating times) and psychological (e.g. cognitive ability) data supported the test-criterion validity of both factors; (3) morning orientation was positively related to school achievement and (4) consistent with an expectancy-value framework this relation was mediated by children's academic self-concept (ASC). These findings have important research and policy implications for considering circadian preference in the schooling of elementary students.

Influence of magnetic field on zebrafish activity and orientation in a plus maze.

PubMed

Osipova, Elena A; Pavlova, Vera V; Nepomnyashchikh, Valentin A; Krylov, Viacheslav V

2016-01-01

We describe an impact of the geomagnetic field (GMF) and its modification on zebrafish's orientation and locomotor activity in a plus maze with four arms oriented to the north, east, south and west. Zebrafish's directional preferences were bimodal in GMF: they visited two arms oriented in opposed directions (east-west) most frequently. This bimodal preference remained stable for same individuals across experiments divided by several days. When the horizontal GMF component was turned 90° clockwise, the preference accordingly shifted by 90° to arms oriented to the north and south. Other modifications of GMF (reversal of both vertical and horizontal GMF components; reversal of vertical component only; and reversal of horizontal component only) did not exert any discernible effect on the orientation of zebrafish. The 90° turn of horizontal component also resulted in a significant increase of fish's locomotor activity in comparison with the natural GMF. This increase became even more pronounced when the horizontal component was repeatedly turned by 90° and back with 1min interval between turns. Our results show that GMF and its variations should be taken into account when interpreting zebrafish's directional preferences and locomotor activity in mazes and other experimental devices. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Preferred orientation of nanoscale order at the surface of amorphous Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5} films

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

Tony Li, Tian; Abelson, John R.; Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1308 W. Main St., Urbana, Illinois 61801

2013-11-11

We report evidence that as-deposited amorphous Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5} thin films contain nanoscale clusters that exhibit a preferred orientation, attributed to the earliest stages of heterogeneous nucleation. Fluctuation transmission electron microscopy reveals structural order in the samples, but (220)-related contributions are suppressed. When homogeneous nucleation is promoted via electron bombardment, the sample remains diffraction amorphous but the (220) contribution appears. We simulated data for randomly oriented nanoscale order using ab initio molecular-dynamics models of Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5}. The simulated (220) contribution always has larger magnitude than higher-order signals; thus, the lack of the experimental signal indicates a significantmore » preferred orientation.« less

Critical CuI buffer layer surface density for organic molecular crystal orientation change

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

Ahn, Kwangseok; Kim, Jong Beom; Lee, Dong Ryeol, E-mail: drlee@ssu.ac.kr

We have determined the critical surface density of the CuI buffer layer inserted to change the preferred orientation of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) crystals grown on the buffer layer. X-ray reflectivity measurements were performed to obtain the density profiles of the buffer layers and out-of-plane and 2D grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction measurements were performed to determine the preferred orientations of the molecular crystals. Remarkably, it was found that the preferred orientation of the CuPc film is completely changed from edge-on (1 0 0) to face-on (1 1 −2) by a CuI buffer layer with a very low surface density, so low thatmore » a large proportion of the substrate surface is bare.« less

Applying parallel factor analysis and Tucker-3 methods on sensory and instrumental data to establish preference maps: case study on sweet corn varieties.

PubMed

Gere, Attila; Losó, Viktor; Györey, Annamária; Kovács, Sándor; Huzsvai, László; Nábrádi, András; Kókai, Zoltán; Sipos, László

2014-12-01

Traditional internal and external preference mapping methods are based on principal component analysis (PCA). However, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and Tucker-3 methods could be a better choice. To evaluate the methods, preference maps of sweet corn varieties will be introduced. A preference map of eight sweet corn varieties was established using PARAFAC and Tucker-3 methods. Instrumental data were also integrated into the maps. The triplot created by the PARAFAC model explains better how odour is separated from texture or appearance, and how some varieties are separated from others. Internal and external preference maps were created using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and Tucker-3 models employing both sensory (trained panel and consumers) and instrumental parameters simultaneously. Triplots of the applied three-way models have a competitive advantage compared to the traditional biplots of the PCA-based external preference maps. The solution of PARAFAC and Tucker-3 is very similar regarding the interpretation of the first and third factors. The main difference is due to the second factor as it differentiated the attributes better. Consumers who prefer 'super sweet' varieties (they place great emphasis especially on taste) are much younger and have significantly higher incomes, and buy sweet corn products rarely (once a month). Consumers who consume sweet corn products mainly because of their texture and appearance are significantly older and include a higher ratio of men. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Experienced migratory songbirds do not display goal-ward orientation after release following a cross-continental displacement: an automated telemetry study.

PubMed

Kishkinev, Dmitry; Heyers, Dominik; Woodworth, Bradley K; Mitchell, Greg W; Hobson, Keith A; Norris, D Ryan

2016-11-23

The ability to navigate implies that animals have the capability to compensate for geographical displacement and return to their initial goal or target. Although some species are capable of adjusting their direction after displacement, the environmental cues used to achieve this remain elusive. Two possible cues are geomagnetic parameters (magnetic map hypothesis) or atmospheric odour-forming gradients (olfactory map hypothesis). In this study, we examined both of these hypotheses by surgically deactivating either the magnetic or olfactory sensory systems in experienced white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) captured in southern Ontario, Canada, during spring migration. Treated, sham-treated, and intact birds were then displaced 2,200 km west to Saskatchewan, Canada. Tracking their initial post-displacement migration using an array of automated VHF receiving towers, we found no evidence in any of the groups for compensatory directional response towards their expected breeding grounds. Our results suggest that white-throated sparrows may fall back to a simple constant-vector orientation strategy instead of performing true navigation after they have been geographically displaced to an unfamiliar area during spring migration. Such a basic strategy may be more common than currently thought in experienced migratory birds and its occurrence could be determined by habitat preferences or range size.

Experienced migratory songbirds do not display goal-ward orientation after release following a cross-continental displacement: an automated telemetry study

PubMed Central

Kishkinev, Dmitry; Heyers, Dominik; Woodworth, Bradley K.; Mitchell, Greg W.; Hobson, Keith A.; Norris, D. Ryan

2016-01-01

The ability to navigate implies that animals have the capability to compensate for geographical displacement and return to their initial goal or target. Although some species are capable of adjusting their direction after displacement, the environmental cues used to achieve this remain elusive. Two possible cues are geomagnetic parameters (magnetic map hypothesis) or atmospheric odour-forming gradients (olfactory map hypothesis). In this study, we examined both of these hypotheses by surgically deactivating either the magnetic or olfactory sensory systems in experienced white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) captured in southern Ontario, Canada, during spring migration. Treated, sham-treated, and intact birds were then displaced 2,200 km west to Saskatchewan, Canada. Tracking their initial post-displacement migration using an array of automated VHF receiving towers, we found no evidence in any of the groups for compensatory directional response towards their expected breeding grounds. Our results suggest that white-throated sparrows may fall back to a simple constant-vector orientation strategy instead of performing true navigation after they have been geographically displaced to an unfamiliar area during spring migration. Such a basic strategy may be more common than currently thought in experienced migratory birds and its occurrence could be determined by habitat preferences or range size. PMID:27876843

Late-kinematic timing of orogenic gold deposits and significance for computer-based exploration techniques with emphasis on the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Groves, D.I.; Goldfarb, R.J.; Knox-Robinson, C. M.; Ojala, J.; Gardoll, S.; Yun, G.Y.; Holyland, P.

2000-01-01

Orogenic gold deposits are a widespread coherent group of epigenetic ore deposits that are sited in accretionary or collisional orogens. They formed over a large crustal-depth range from deep-seated low-salinity H2O-CO2 + CH4 + N2 ore fluids and with Au transported as thio-complexes. Regional structures provide the main control on deposit distribution. In many terranes, first-order faults or shear zones appear to have controlled regional fluid flow, with greatest ore-fluid fluxes in, and adjacent to, lower-order faults, shear zones and/or large folds. Highly competent and/or chemically reactive rocks are the most common hosts to the larger deposits. Focusing of supralithostatic ore fluids into dilatant zones appears to occur late during the evolutionary history of the host terranes, normally within D3 or D4 in a D1-D4 deformation sequence. Reactivation of suitably oriented pre-existing structures during a change in far-field stress orientation is a factor common to many deposits, and repeated reactivation may account for multiple mineralization episodes in some larger deposits. Absolute robust ages of mineralization support their late-kinematic timing, and, in general, suggest that deposits formed diachronously towards the end of the 100 to 200 m.y. long evolutionary history of hosting orogens. For example, in the Yilgarn Block, a region specifically emphasised in this study, orogenic gold deposits formed in the time interval between 40 and 90 m.y., with most about 60 to 70 m.y., after the youngest widespread basic-ultrabasic volcanism and towards the end of felsic magmatism. The late timing of orogenic gold deposits is pivotal to geologically-based exploration methodologies. This is because the present structural geometries of: (i) the deposits, (ii) the hosting goldfields, and (iii) the enclosing terranes are all essentially similar to those during gold mineralization, at least in their relative position to each other. Thus, interpretation of geological maps and cross-sections and three-dimensional models can be used to accurately simulate the physical conditions that existed at the time of ore deposition. It is particularly significant that the deposits are commonly related to repetitive and predictable geometries, such as structural heterogeneities within or adjacent to first-order structures, around rigid granitoid bodies, or in specific "locked-up" fold-thrust structures. Importantly, the two giant greenstone-hosted goldfields, Kalgoorlie and Timmins, show a remarkably similar geometry at the regional scale. Computer-based stress mapping and GIS-based prospectivity mapping are two computer-based quantitative methodologies that can utilize and take advantage of the late timing aspect of this deposit type to provide important geological aids in exploration, both in broad regions and more localized goldfields. Both require an accurate and consistent solid geology map, stress mapping requires knowledge of the far-field stresses during mineralization, and the empirical prospectivity mapping requires data from a significant number of known deposits in the terrane. The Kalgoorlie Terrane, in the Yilgarn Block, meets these criteria, and illustrates the potential of these methodologies in the exploration for orogenic gold deposits. Low minimum stress anomalies, interpreted to represent dilational zones during gold-related deformation, coincide well with the positions of known goldfields rather than individual gold deposits in the terrane, and there are additional as-yet unexplained anomalies. The prospectivity analysis confirms that predictable and repetitive factors controlling the siting of deposits are: (i) proximity to, and orientation and curvature of, granitoid-greenstone contacts, (ii) proximity to segments of crustal faults which strike in a preferred direction, (iii) proximity to specific lithological contacts which have similar preferred strike, (iv) proximity to anticlinal structures, and (v) the presence of preferred

Behind the mask of method: political orientation and constitutional interpretive preferences.

PubMed

Furgeson, Joshua R; Babcock, Linda; Shane, Peter M

2008-12-01

Debate about how to best interpret the Constitution often revolves around interpretive methodologies (e.g., originalism or expansive interpretation). This article examines whether individuals' political orientation influences the methodologies they prefer to use to interpret the Constitution. We study this proposed relationship using a survey of federal law clerks and an experimental study with college students. The survey results indicate that, compared to conservatives, liberal clerks prefer the current meaning or the most plausible appealing meaning of the constitutional text, while conservatives prefer the original meaning of the text. Liberal clerks also prefer to interpret the Constitution much more expansively. The second study manipulates the policy implications of expansive interpretation and finds this manipulation differentially affects liberals' and conservatives' expansiveness preferences.

Dynamics of Stability of Orientation Maps Recorded with Optical Imaging.

PubMed

Shumikhina, S I; Bondar, I V; Svinov, M M

2018-03-15

Orientation selectivity is an important feature of visual cortical neurons. Optical imaging of the visual cortex allows for the generation of maps of orientation selectivity that reflect the activity of large populations of neurons. To estimate the statistical significance of effects of experimental manipulations, evaluation of the stability of cortical maps over time is required. Here, we performed optical imaging recordings of the visual cortex of anesthetized adult cats. Monocular stimulation with moving clockwise square-wave gratings that continuously changed orientation and direction was used as the mapping stimulus. Recordings were repeated at various time intervals, from 15 min to 16 h. Quantification of map stability was performed on a pixel-by-pixel basis using several techniques. Map reproducibility showed clear dynamics over time. The highest degree of stability was seen in maps recorded 15-45 min apart. Averaging across all time intervals and all stimulus orientations revealed a mean shift of 2.2 ± 0.1°. There was a significant tendency for larger shifts to occur at longer time intervals. Shifts between 2.8° (mean ± 2SD) and 5° were observed more frequently at oblique orientations, while shifts greater than 5° appeared more frequently at cardinal orientations. Shifts greater than 5° occurred rarely overall (5.4% of cases) and never exceeded 11°. Shifts of 10-10.6° (0.7%) were seen occasionally at time intervals of more than 4 h. Our findings should be considered when evaluating the potential effect of experimental manipulations on orientation selectivity mapping studies. Copyright © 2018 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatial frequency-dependent feedback of visual cortical area 21a modulating functional orientation column maps in areas 17 and 18 of the cat.

PubMed

Huang, Luoxiu; Chen, Xin; Shou, Tiande

2004-02-20

The feedback effect of activity of area 21a on orientation maps of areas 17 and 18 was investigated in cats using intrinsic signal optical imaging. A spatial frequency-dependent decrease in response amplitude of orientation maps to grating stimuli was observed in areas 17 and 18 when area 21a was inactivated by local injection of GABA, or by a lesion induced by liquid nitrogen freezing. The decrease in response amplitude of orientation maps of areas 17 and 18 after the area 21a inactivation paralleled the normal response without the inactivation. Application in area 21a of bicuculline, a GABAa receptor antagonist caused an increase in response amplitude of orientation maps of area 17. The results indicate a positive feedback from high-order visual cortical area 21a to lower-order areas underlying a spatial frequency-dependent mechanism.

An Inquiry-Oriented Curriculum in Map Making and Map Interpretation for the Intermediate Grades.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janeway, W. Whitney

This publication contains class activities and provocative inquiry questions for intermediate-grade teachers to use to involve students in map making and map interpretation. The author believes that the only things that are needed to develop an inquiry-oriented unit on mapping are a good map, a small group of students, and a perceptive teacher who…

Preference for attractiveness and thinness in a partner: influence of internalization of the thin ideal and shape/weight dissatisfaction in heterosexual women, heterosexual men, lesbians, and gay men.

PubMed

Legenbauer, Tanja; Vocks, Silja; Schäfer, Corinna; Schütt-Strömel, Sabine; Hiller, Wolfgang; Wagner, Christof; Vögele, Claus

2009-06-01

This study assesses whether characteristics of one's own body image influences preferences of attractiveness in a partner. The role of gender and sexual orientation is also considered. Heterosexual women (n=67), lesbian women (n=73), heterosexual men (n=61) and gay men (n=82) participated in an internet survey assessing attitudes towards the body and preferences of attractiveness in a partner. Men in particular were found to prefer attractive partners, regardless of sexual orientation. Weight/shape dissatisfaction was found to be a negative predictor for heterosexual men and women. For gay men, preferences were better explained by internalization and weight/shape dissatisfaction. No such associations were found in the lesbian group. Levels of weight/shape dissatisfaction and internalization of socio-cultural slenderness ideals influence expectations of thinness and attractiveness in a partner with this effect being modified by gender and sexual orientation.

Modeling and mapping urban bicyclists' preferences for trail environments.

Treesearch

Dawn Wiberg-Carlson; Herbert Schroeder

1992-01-01

Derives a model for predicting preferences of seventh and eighth graders for settings along an urban bicycle trail. The rises and falls in preference along the length of the trail are profiled and mapped to display the areas of highest and lowest perceived quality.

Recrystallized arrays of bismuth nanowires with trigonal orientation.

PubMed

Limmer, Steven J; Yelton, W Graham; Erickson, Kristopher J; Medlin, Douglas L; Siegal, Michael P

2014-01-01

We demonstrate methods to improve the crystalline-quality of free-standing Bi nanowires arrays on a Si substrate and enhance the preferred trigonal orientation for thermoelectric performance by annealing the arrays above the 271.4 °C Bi melting point. The nanowires maintain their geometry during melting due to the formation of a thin Bi-oxide protective shell that contains the molten Bi. Recrystallizing nanowires from the melt improves crystallinity; those cooled rapidly demonstrate a strong trigonal orientation preference.

Preference for human body odors is influenced by gender and sexual orientation.

PubMed

Martins, Yolanda; Preti, George; Crabtree, Christina R; Runyan, Tamar; Vainius, Aldona A; Wysocki, Charles J

2005-09-01

Human body odor may contribute to selection of partners. If so, sexual orientation may influence preference for and perhaps production of human body odors. In a test of these hypotheses, heterosexual and homosexual males and females made two-alternative forced-choice preference judgments for body odors obtained from other heterosexual and homosexual males and females. Subjects chose between odors from (a) heterosexual males and gay males, (b) heterosexual males and heterosexual females, (c) heterosexual females and lesbians, and (d) gay males and lesbians. Results indicate that differences in body odor are detected and responded to on the basis of, in part, an individual's gender and sexual orientation. Possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.

Map Reading beyond Information Given: The Expert Orienteers' Internal Knowledge about Terrain.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murakoshi, Shin

1990-01-01

Compares novice and expert orienteers' map interpretation skills. Subjects asked to judge terrain from maps, including conditions inferable without corresponding map symbols. Experts' interpretation of identical symbols implies use of experiential knowledge. Internal knowledge characteristics discussed in terms of episodic-semantic memory…

Social Dominance Orientation, Right-Wing Authoritarianism, Sexism, and Prejudice toward Women in the Workforce

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christopher, Andrew N.; Wojda, Mark R.

2008-01-01

This study examined how social dominance orientation (SDO) and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) were related to two different forms of prejudice against working women: employment skepticism and traditional role preference. Three hundred forty-nine American adults completed measures of SDO, RWA, employment skepticism, traditional role preference,…

Correlative Light and Scanning X-Ray Scattering Microscopy of Healthy and Pathologic Human Bone Sections

PubMed Central

Giannini, C.; Siliqi, D.; Bunk, O.; Beraudi, A.; Ladisa, M.; Altamura, D.; Stea, S.; Baruffaldi, F.

2012-01-01

Scanning small and wide angle X-ray scattering (scanning SWAXS) experiments were performed on healthy and pathologic human bone sections. Via crystallographic tools the data were transformed into quantitative images and as such compared with circularly polarized light (CPL) microscopy images. SWAXS and CPL images allowed extracting information of the mineral nanocrystalline phase embedded, with and without preferred orientation, in the collagen fibrils, mapping local changes at sub-osteon resolution. This favorable combination has been applied for the first time to biopsies of dwarfism syndrome and Paget's disease to shed light onto the cortical structure of natural bone in healthy and pathologic sections. PMID:22666538

Human Occipital and Parietal GABA Selectively Influence Visual Perception of Orientation and Size.

PubMed

Song, Chen; Sandberg, Kristian; Andersen, Lau Møller; Blicher, Jakob Udby; Rees, Geraint

2017-09-13

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in human brain. The level of GABA varies substantially across individuals, and this variability is associated with interindividual differences in visual perception. However, it remains unclear whether the association between GABA level and visual perception reflects a general influence of visual inhibition or whether the GABA levels of different cortical regions selectively influence perception of different visual features. To address this, we studied how the GABA levels of parietal and occipital cortices related to interindividual differences in size, orientation, and brightness perception. We used visual contextual illusion as a perceptual assay since the illusion dissociates perceptual content from stimulus content and the magnitude of the illusion reflects the effect of visual inhibition. Across individuals, we observed selective correlations between the level of GABA and the magnitude of contextual illusion. Specifically, parietal GABA level correlated with size illusion magnitude but not with orientation or brightness illusion magnitude; in contrast, occipital GABA level correlated with orientation illusion magnitude but not with size or brightness illusion magnitude. Our findings reveal a region- and feature-dependent influence of GABA level on human visual perception. Parietal and occipital cortices contain, respectively, topographic maps of size and orientation preference in which neural responses to stimulus sizes and stimulus orientations are modulated by intraregional lateral connections. We propose that these lateral connections may underlie the selective influence of GABA on visual perception. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in human visual system, varies substantially across individuals. This interindividual variability in GABA level is linked to interindividual differences in many aspects of visual perception. However, the widespread influence of GABA raises the question of whether interindividual variability in GABA reflects an overall variability in visual inhibition and has a general influence on visual perception or whether the GABA levels of different cortical regions have selective influence on perception of different visual features. Here we report a region- and feature-dependent influence of GABA level on human visual perception. Our findings suggest that GABA level of a cortical region selectively influences perception of visual features that are topographically mapped in this region through intraregional lateral connections. Copyright © 2017 Song, Sandberg et al.

Formation of (111) orientation-controlled ferroelectric orthorhombic HfO{sub 2} thin films from solid phase via annealing

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

Mimura, Takanori; Katayama, Kiliha; Shimizu, Takao

2016-08-01

0.07YO{sub 1.5}-0.93HfO{sub 2} (YHO7) films were prepared on various substrates by pulse laser deposition at room temperature and subsequent heat treatment to enable a solid phase reaction. (111)-oriented 10 wt. % Sn-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3}(ITO)//(111) yttria-stabilized zirconia, (111)Pt/TiO{sub x}/SiO{sub 2}/(001)Si substrates, and (111)ITO/(111)Pt/TiO{sub x}/SiO{sub 2}/(001)Si substrates were employed for film growth. In this study, X-ray diffraction measurements including θ–2θ measurements, reciprocal space mappings, and pole figure measurements were used to study the films. The film on (111)ITO//(111)yttria-stabilized zirconia was an (111)-orientated epitaxial film with ferroelectric orthorhombic phase; the film on (111)ITO/(111)Pt/TiO{sub x}/SiO{sub 2}/(001)Si was an (111)-oriented uniaxial textured film with ferroelectricmore » orthorhombic phase; and no preferred orientation was observed for the film on the (111)Pt/TiO{sub x}/SiO{sub 2}/(001)Si substrate, which does not contain ITO. Polarization–hysteresis measurements confirmed that the films on ITO covered substrates had saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops. A remanent polarization (P{sub r}) of 9.6 and 10.8 μC/cm{sup 2} and coercive fields (E{sub c}) of 1.9 and 2.0 MV/cm were obtained for the (111)-oriented epitaxial and uniaxial textured YHO7 films, respectively. These results demonstrate that the (111)-oriented ITO bottom electrodes play a key role in controlling the orientation and ferroelectricity of the phase formation of the solid films deposited at room temperature.« less

Cognitive Processes in Orienteering: A Review.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seiler, Roland

1996-01-01

Reviews recent research on information processing and decision making in orienteering. The main cognitive demands investigated were selection of relevant map information for route choice, comparison between map and terrain in map reading and in relocation, and quick awareness of mistakes. Presents a model of map reading based on results. Contains…

Spontaneous expression of magnetic compass orientation in an epigeic rodent: the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveriusová, Ludmila; Němec, Pavel; Pavelková, Zuzana; Sedláček, František

2014-07-01

Magnetoreception has been convincingly demonstrated in only a few mammalian species. Among rodents, magnetic compass orientation has been documented in four species of subterranean mole rats and two epigeic (i.e. active above ground) species—the Siberian hamster and the C57BL/6J mouse. The mole rats use the magnetic field azimuth to determine compass heading; their directional preference is spontaneous and unimodal, and their magnetic compass is magnetite-mediated. By contrast, the primary component of orientation response is learned in the hamster and the mouse, but both species also exhibit a weak spontaneous bimodal preference in the natural magnetic field. To determine whether the magnetic compass of wild epigeic rodents features the same functional properties as that of laboratory rodents, we investigated magnetic compass orientation in the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Cricetidae, Rodentia). The voles exhibited a robust spontaneous bimodal directional preference, i.e. built nests and slept preferentially along the north-south axis, and deflected their directional preference according to a shift in the direction of magnetic north, clearly indicating that they were deriving directional information from the magnetic field. Thus, bimodal, axially symmetrical directional choice seems to be a common feature shared by epigeic rodents. However, spontaneous directional preference in the bank vole appeared to be more pronounced than that reported in the hamster and the mouse. These findings suggest that bank voles are well suited for future studies investigating the adaptive significance and mechanisms of magnetic orientation in epigeic rodents.

Spontaneous expression of magnetic compass orientation in an epigeic rodent: the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus.

PubMed

Oliveriusová, Ludmila; Němec, Pavel; Pavelková, Zuzana; Sedláček, František

2014-07-01

Magnetoreception has been convincingly demonstrated in only a few mammalian species. Among rodents, magnetic compass orientation has been documented in four species of subterranean mole rats and two epigeic (i.e. active above ground) species-the Siberian hamster and the C57BL/6J mouse. The mole rats use the magnetic field azimuth to determine compass heading; their directional preference is spontaneous and unimodal, and their magnetic compass is magnetite-mediated. By contrast, the primary component of orientation response is learned in the hamster and the mouse, but both species also exhibit a weak spontaneous bimodal preference in the natural magnetic field. To determine whether the magnetic compass of wild epigeic rodents features the same functional properties as that of laboratory rodents, we investigated magnetic compass orientation in the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Cricetidae, Rodentia). The voles exhibited a robust spontaneous bimodal directional preference, i.e. built nests and slept preferentially along the north-south axis, and deflected their directional preference according to a shift in the direction of magnetic north, clearly indicating that they were deriving directional information from the magnetic field. Thus, bimodal, axially symmetrical directional choice seems to be a common feature shared by epigeic rodents. However, spontaneous directional preference in the bank vole appeared to be more pronounced than that reported in the hamster and the mouse. These findings suggest that bank voles are well suited for future studies investigating the adaptive significance and mechanisms of magnetic orientation in epigeic rodents.

Thickness effects on the texture development of fluorine-doped SnO2 thin films: The role of surface and strain energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Consonni, V.; Rey, G.; Roussel, H.; Bellet, D.

2012-02-01

Polycrystalline fluorine-doped SnO2 thin films have been grown by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis with a thickness varying in the range of 40 to 600 nm. A texture transition from ⟨110⟩ to ⟨100⟩ and ⟨301⟩ crystallographic orientations has experimentally been shown by x-ray diffraction measurements as film thickness is increased, showing that a process of abnormal grain growth has occurred. The texture effects are considered within a thermodynamic approach, in which the minimization of total free energy constitutes the driving force for grain growth. For very small film thickness, it is found that the ⟨110⟩ preferred orientation is due to surface energy minimization, as the (110) planes have the lowest surface energy in the rutile structure. In contrast, as film thickness is increased, the ⟨100⟩ and ⟨301⟩ crystallographic orientations are progressively predominant, owing to elastic strain energy minimization in which the anisotropic character is considered in the elastic biaxial modulus. A texture map is eventually determined, revealing the expected texture as a function of elastic strain and film thickness.

Zebrafish respond to the geomagnetic field by bimodal and group-dependent orientation.

PubMed

Takebe, Akira; Furutani, Toshiki; Wada, Tatsunori; Koinuma, Masami; Kubo, Yoko; Okano, Keiko; Okano, Toshiyuki

2012-01-01

A variety of animals use Earth's magnetic field as a reference for their orientation behaviour. Although distinctive magnetoreception mechanisms have been postulated for many migrating or homing animals, the molecular mechanisms are still undefined. In this study, we found that zebrafish, a model organism suitable for genetic manipulation, responded to a magnetic field as weak as the geomagnetic field. Without any training, zebrafish were individually released into a circular arena that was placed in an artificial geomagnetic field, and their preferred magnetic directions were recorded. Individuals from five out of the seven zebrafish groups studied, groups mostly comprised of the offspring of predetermined pairs, showed bidirectional orientation with group-specific preferences regardless of close kinships. The preferred directions did not seem to depend on gender, age or surrounding environmental factors, implying that directional preference was genetically defined. The present findings may facilitate future study on the molecular mechanisms underlying magnetoreception.

Retinal constraints on orientation specificity in cat visual cortex.

PubMed

Schall, J D; Vitek, D J; Leventhal, A G

1986-03-01

Most retinal ganglion cells (Levick and Thibos, 1982) and cortical cells (Leventhal, 1983; Leventhal et al., 1984) subserving peripheral vision respond best to stimuli that are oriented radially, i.e., like the spokes of a wheel with the area centralis at the hub. We have extended this work by comparing directly the distributions of orientations represented in topographically corresponding regions of retina and visual cortex. Both central and peripheral regions were studied. The relations between the orientations of neighboring ganglion cells and the manner in which the overrepresentation of radial orientations is accommodated in the functional architecture of visual cortex were also studied. Our results are based on an analysis of the orientations of the dendritic fields of 1296 ganglion cells throughout the retina and the preferred orientations of 1389 cells located in retinotopically corresponding regions of cortical areas 17, 18, and 19 in the cat. We find that horizontal and vertical orientations are overrepresented in regions of both retina and visual cortex subserving the central 5 degrees of vision. The distributions of the orientations of retinal ganglion cells and cortical cells subserving the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal meridians outside the area centralis differ significantly. The distribution of the preferred orientations of the S (simple) cells in areas 17, 18 and 19 subserving a given part of the retina corresponds to the distribution of the dendritic field orientations of the ganglion cells in that part of retina. The distribution of the preferred orientations of C (complex) cells with narrow receptive fields in area 17 but not C cells with wide receptive fields in areas 17, 18, or 19 subserving a given part of the retina matches the distribution of the orientations of the ganglion cells in that part of retina. The orientations of all of the alpha-cells in 5-9 mm2 patches of retina along the horizontal, vertical, and oblique meridians were determined. A comparison of the orientations of neighboring cells indicates that other than a mutual tendency to be oriented radially, ganglion cells with similar orientations are not clustered in the retina. Reconstructions of electrode penetrations into regions of visual cortex representing peripheral retina indicate that columns subserving radial orientations are wider than those subserving nonradial orientations. Our results provide evidence that the distribution of the preferred orientations of simple cells in visual cortex subserving any region of the visual field matches the distribution of the orientations of the ganglion cells subserving the same region of the visual field.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Magnetic anisotropy and magnetite textures from experimental shear deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Till, Jessica; Moskowitz, Bruce

2015-04-01

Magnetite is a common accessory mineral in crustal rocks and exerts a dominant influence on the magnetic anisotropy of rocks when present. Therefore the deformation behavior of magnetite strongly determines how magnetic fabric develops with increasing strain in a deforming rock. Here we show results from experimental deformation of magnetite-silicate aggregates in high-temperature transpressional shear experiments (1000-1200°C) under moderate shear stresses (10-130 MPa) using a gas-medium deformation apparatus. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, shape preferred orientation (SPO) of magnetite, and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were each used to characterize the magnetite deformation fabrics and intragrain microstructures. Magnetic anisotropy and SPO each increase strongly with increasing strain, which ranged between 100-300%. An interesting feature of the deformation fabrics is that both magnetite SPO and magnetic fabric intensity are stronger at higher temperatures, indicating that strain partitioning between magnetite and the plagioclase matrix decreases at higher temperatures. Although flow laws for magnetite predict it to be weaker than dry plagioclase at the experimental conditions, the temperature-dependence of the fabric strength indicates that magnetite is more viscous than the "wet" plagioclase used in the experiments. In contrast to the magnetic and shape fabrics, crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of magnetite is very weak in all deformed samples. In EBSD orientation mapping of individual particles, incipient subgrain boundary formation is evident in magnetite grains, indicating that dislocation creep processes were active in magnetite despite the lack of a well-developed CPO. The weak magnetite CPOs are primarily attributed to multiple slip systems acting in parallel. These findings support the observations of previous studies that crystallographic textures in cubic minerals such as magnetite may be inherently weak or slow to develop and that CPO alone is not always a reliable indicator of deformation mechanisms.

Scleral Biomechanics in the Aging Monkey Eye

PubMed Central

Girard, Michaël J. A.; Suh, J-K. Francis; Bottlang, Michael; Burgoyne, Claude F.; Downs, J. Crawford

2010-01-01

Purpose To investigate the age-related differences in the inhomogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear biomechanical properties of posterior sclera from old (22.9 ± 5.3 years) and young (1.5 ± 0.7 years) rhesus monkeys. Methods The posterior scleral shell of each eye was mounted on a custom-built pressurization apparatus, then intraocular pressure (IOP) was elevated from 5 to 45 mmHg while the 3D displacements of the scleral surface were measured using speckle interferometry. Each scleral shell geometry was digitally reconstructed from data generated by a 3D digitizer (topography) and 20 MHz ultrasounds (thickness). An inverse finite element (FE) method incorporating a fiber-reinforced constitutive model was used to extract a unique set of biomechanical properties for each eye. Displacements, thickness, stress, strain, tangent modulus, structural stiffness, and preferred collagen fiber orientation were mapped for each posterior sclera. Results The model yielded 3-D deformations of posterior sclera that matched well with those observed experimentally. The posterior sclera exhibited inhomogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear mechanical behavior. The sclera was significantly thinner (p = 0.038), and tangent modulus and structural stiffness were significantly higher in old monkeys (p < 0.0001). On average, scleral collagen fibers were circumferentially oriented around the optic nerve head (ONH). We found no difference in the preferred collagen fiber orientation and fiber concentration factor between age groups. Conclusions Posterior sclera from old monkeys is significantly stiffer than that from young monkeys and is therefore subject to higher stresses but lower strains at all levels of IOP. Age-related stiffening of the sclera may significantly influence ONH biomechanics, and potentially contribute to age-related susceptibility to glaucomatous vision loss. PMID:19494203

Gender identity rather than sexual orientation impacts on facial preferences.

PubMed

Ciocca, Giacomo; Limoncin, Erika; Cellerino, Alessandro; Fisher, Alessandra D; Gravina, Giovanni Luca; Carosa, Eleonora; Mollaioli, Daniele; Valenzano, Dario R; Mennucci, Andrea; Bandini, Elisa; Di Stasi, Savino M; Maggi, Mario; Lenzi, Andrea; Jannini, Emmanuele A

2014-10-01

Differences in facial preferences between heterosexual men and women are well documented. It is still a matter of debate, however, how variations in sexual identity/sexual orientation may modify the facial preferences. This study aims to investigate the facial preferences of male-to-female (MtF) individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) and the influence of short-term/long-term relationships on facial preference, in comparison with healthy subjects. Eighteen untreated MtF subjects, 30 heterosexual males, 64 heterosexual females, and 42 homosexual males from university students/staff, at gay events, and in Gender Clinics were shown a composite male or female face. The sexual dimorphism of these pictures was stressed or reduced in a continuous fashion through an open-source morphing program with a sequence of 21 pictures of the same face warped from a feminized to a masculinized shape. An open-source morphing program (gtkmorph) based on the X-Morph algorithm. MtF GD subjects and heterosexual females showed the same pattern of preferences: a clear preference for less dimorphic (more feminized) faces for both short- and long-term relationships. Conversely, both heterosexual and homosexual men selected significantly much more dimorphic faces, showing a preference for hyperfeminized and hypermasculinized faces, respectively. These data show that the facial preferences of MtF GD individuals mirror those of the sex congruent with their gender identity. Conversely, heterosexual males trace the facial preferences of homosexual men, indicating that changes in sexual orientation do not substantially affect preference for the most attractive faces. © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Perceptual-cognitive skills and performance in orienteering.

PubMed

Guzmán, José F; Pablos, Ana M; Pablos, Carlos

2008-08-01

The goal was analysis of the perceptual-cognitive skills associated with sport performance in orienteering in a sample of 22 elite and 17 nonelite runners. Variables considered were memory, basic orienteering techniques, map reading, symbol knowledge, map-terrain-map identification, and spatial organisation. A computerised questionnaire was developed to measure the variables. The reliability of the test (agreement between experts) was 90%. Findings suggested that competence in performing basic orienteering techniques efficiently was a key variable differentiating between the elite and the nonelite athletes. The results are discussed in comparison with previous studies.

Collectivists' contingency and autonomy as predictors of buffet preferences among Taiwanese adolescents.

PubMed

Chiou, Wen-Bin

2006-01-01

In a culture or society with high collectivism, contingent orientation and constrained autonomy are the prominent characteristics of adolescents' self-construal. This article examined whether Taiwanese adolescents' contingency and autonomy were associated with their prevalent preferences for buffet consumption. Findings in a panel survey indicated that contingency was positively correlated with adolescents' buffet preference, whereas autonomy was negatively correlated. Moreover, the results showed that adolescents' contingent orientation and perceived autonomy could predict their subsequent buffet preference over a half-year period. A laboratory experiment showed that adolescents who perceived lower autonomy exhibited greater preferences for buffet over the other diet consumption. In general, the results suggest that collectivist adolescents' contingency and autonomy were related to their trait-like preferences for buffet, and the state-like preferences for buffet were affected by their perceived levels of autonomy. Findings provide further insights into the impact of adolescents' self-construal on their diet consumption.

Prenatal programming of sexual partner preference: the ram model.

PubMed

Roselli, C E; Stormshak, F

2009-03-01

In our laboratory, the domestic ram is used as an experimental model to study the early programming of neural mechanisms underlying same-sex partner preference. This interest developed from the observation that approximately 8% of domestic rams are sexually attracted to other rams (male-oriented) in contrast to the majority of rams that are attracted to oestrous ewes (female-oriented). One prominent feature of sexual differentiation in many species is the presence of a sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus that is larger in males than in females. Lesion studies in rats and ferrets implicate the SDN in the expression of sexual preferences. We discovered an ovine SDN (oSDN) in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus that is smaller in male- than in female-oriented rams and similar in size to the oSDN of ewes. Neurones of the oSDN show abundant aromatase expression that is also reduced in male-oriented compared to female-oriented rams. This observation suggests that sexual partner preferences are neurologically hard-wired and could be influenced by hormones. Aromatase-containing neurones constitute a nascent oSDN as early as day 60 of gestation, which becomes sexually dimorphic by day 135 of gestation when it is two-fold larger in males than in females. Exposure of fetal female lambs to exogenous testosterone from days 30-90 of gestation resulted in a masculinised oSDN. These data demonstrate that the oSDN develops prenatally and may influence adult sexual preferences. Surprisingly, inhibition of aromatase activity in the brain of ram foetuses during the critical period did not interfere with defeminisation of adult sexual partner preference or oSDN volume. These results fail to support an essential role for neural aromatase in the sexual differentiation of sheep brain and behaviour. Thus, we propose that oSDN morphology and male-typical partner preferences may instead be programmed through an androgen receptor mechanism not involving aromatisation.

Sex-oriented stable matchings of the marriage problem with correlated and incomplete information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldarelli, Guido; Capocci, Andrea; Laureti, Paolo

2001-10-01

In the stable marriage problem two sets of agents must be paired according to mutual preferences, which may happen to conflict. We present two generalizations of its sex-oriented version, aiming to take into account correlations between the preferences of agents and costly information. Their effects are investigated both numerically and analytically.

Formation and characterization of preferred oriented perovskite thin films on single-crystalline substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Lung-Chien; Chen, Cheng-Chiang; Hsiung Chang, Sheng; Lee, Kuan-Lin; Tseng, Zong-Liang; Chen, Sheng-Hui; Kuo, Hao-Chung

2018-06-01

Three single-crystalline (Al2O3, GaN/Al2O3 and InAs) substrates are used to assist the formation of crystallographically preferred oriented CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) thin films. The estimation of the lattice mismatch at the MAPbI3/substrate interface and water-droplet contact angle experiments indicate that the formation of a preferred oriented MAPbI3 thin film is induced by the single-crystalline substrate and is insensitive to the surface wettibility of the substrate. Moreover, the experimental results suggest that the lattice mismatch at the MAPbI3/single-crystalline semiconductor interface can strongly influence the photovoltaic performance of tandem solar cells.

Human Infants' Preference for Left-to-Right Oriented Increasing Numerical Sequences

PubMed Central

de Hevia, Maria Dolores; Girelli, Luisa; Addabbo, Margaret; Macchi Cassia, Viola

2014-01-01

While associations between number and space, in the form of a spatially oriented numerical representation, have been extensively reported in human adults, the origins of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. The commonly accepted view is that this number-space association is a product of human invention, with accounts proposing that culture, symbolic knowledge, and mathematics education are at the roots of this phenomenon. Here we show that preverbal infants aged 7 months, who lack symbolic knowledge and mathematics education, show a preference for increasing magnitude displayed in a left-to-right spatial orientation. Infants habituated to left-to-right oriented increasing or decreasing numerical sequences showed an overall higher looking time to new left-to-right oriented increasing numerical sequences at test (Experiment 1). This pattern did not hold when infants were presented with the same ordinal numerical information displayed from right to left (Experiment 2). The different pattern of results was congruent with the presence of a malleable, context-dependent baseline preference for increasing, left-to-right oriented, numerosities (Experiment 3). These findings are suggestive of an early predisposition in humans to link numerical order with a left-to-right spatial orientation, which precedes the acquisition of symbolic abilities, mathematics education, and the acquisition of reading and writing skills. PMID:24802083

Aragonite pseudomorphs in high-pressure marbles of Syros, Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brady, John B.; Markley, Michelle J.; Schumacher, John C.; Cheney, John T.; Bianciardi, Grace A.

2004-01-01

Numerous rod-shaped calcite crystals occur in the blueschist to eclogite facies marbles of Syros, Greece. The rods show a shape-preferred orientation, and the long axes of the rods are oriented at a large angle to foliation. The crystals also have a crystallographic-preferred orientation: calcite c-axes are oriented parallel to the long axes of the rods. Based on their chemical composition, shape, and occurrence in high-pressure marbles, these calcite crystals are interpreted as topotactic pseudomorphs after aragonite that developed a crystallographic-preferred orientation during peak metamorphism. This interpretation is consistent with deformation of aragonite by dislocation creep, which has been observed in laboratory experiments but has not been previously reported on the basis of field evidence. Subsequent to the high-pressure deformation of the aragonite marbles, the aragonite recrystallized statically into coarse rod-shaped crystals, maintaining the crystallographic orientation developed during deformation. During later exhumation, aragonite reverted to calcite, and the marbles experienced little further deformation, at least in the pseudomorph-rich layers. Some shearing of pseudomorph-bearing marble layers did occur and is indicated by twinning of calcite and by a variable inclination of the pseudomorphs relative to foliation.

Preferred reporting items for studies mapping onto preference-based outcome measures: The MAPS statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-01-01

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. The primary audiences for the MAPS statement are researchers reporting mapping studies, the funders of the research, and peer reviewers and editors involved in assessing mapping studies for publication. A de novo list of 29 candidate reporting items and accompanying explanations was created by a working group comprised of six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. Following a two-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, a final set of 23 items deemed essential for transparent reporting, and accompanying explanations, was developed. The items are contained in a user friendly 23 item checklist. They are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely: (i) title and abstract; (ii) introduction; (iii) methods; (iv) results; (v) discussion; and (vi) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by seven health economics and quality of life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in five years' time.

Preferred Reporting Items for Studies Mapping onto Preference-Based Outcome Measures: The MAPS Statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-10-01

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite the publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. The primary audiences for the MAPS statement are researchers reporting mapping studies, the funders of the research, and peer reviewers and editors involved in assessing mapping studies for publication. A de novo list of 29 candidate reporting items and accompanying explanations was created by a working group comprising six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. Following a two-round modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, a final set of 23 items deemed essential for transparent reporting, and accompanying explanations, was developed. The items are contained in a user-friendly 23-item checklist. They are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely: (1) title and abstract; (2) introduction; (3) methods; (4) results; (5) discussion; and (6) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by seven health economics and quality-of-life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in 5 years' time.

Using galvanostatic electroforming of Bi 1–xSb x nanowires to control composition, crystallinity, and orientation

DOE PAGES

Limmer, Steven J.; Medlin, Douglas L.; Siegal, Michael P.; ...

2014-12-03

When using galvanostatic pulse deposition, we studied the factors influencing the quality of electroformed Bi 1–xSb x nanowires with respect to composition, crystallinity, and preferred orientation for high thermoelectric performance. Two nonaqueous baths with different Sb salts were investigated. The Sb salts used played a major role in both crystalline quality and preferred orientations. Nanowire arrays electroformed using an SbI 3 -based chemistry were polycrystalline with no preferred orientation, whereas arrays electroformed from an SbCl 3-based chemistry were strongly crystallographically textured with the desired trigonal orientation for optimal thermoelectric performance. From the SbCl 3 bath, the electroformed nanowire arraysmore » were optimized to have nanocompositional uniformity, with a nearly constant composition along the nanowire length. Moreover, nanowires harvested from the center of the array had an average composition of Bi 0.75 Sb 0.25. However, the nanowire compositions were slightly enriched in Sb in a small region near the edges of the array, with the composition approaching Bi 0.70Sb 0.30.« less

Sexual behaviour of rams: male orientation and its endocrine correlates.

PubMed

Resko, J A; Perkins, A; Roselli, C E; Stellflug, J N; Stormshak, F K

1999-01-01

The components of heterosexual behaviour in rams are reviewed as a basis for understanding partner preference behaviour. A small percentage of rams will not mate with oestrous females and if given a choice will display courtship behaviour towards another ram in preference to a female. Some of the endocrine profiles of these male-oriented rams differ from those of heterosexual controls. These differences include reduced serum concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and oestrone, reduced capacity to produce testosterone in vitro, and reduced capacity to aromatize androgens in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus of the brain. Our observation that aromatase activity is significantly lower in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area of male-oriented rams than in female-oriented rams may indicate an important neurochemical link to sexual behaviour that should be investigated. The defect in steroid hormone production by the adult testes of the male-oriented ram may represent a defect that can be traced to the fetal testes. If this contention is correct, partner preference behaviour of rams may also be traceable to fetal development and represent a phenomenon of sexual differentiation.

Preferred Reporting Items for Studies Mapping onto Preference-Based Outcome Measures: The MAPS Statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-10-01

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. In the absence of previously published reporting checklists or reporting guidance documents, a de novo list of reporting items was created by a working group comprising six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. A two-round, modified Delphi survey, with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, was used to identify a list of essential reporting items from this larger list. From the initial de novo list of 29 candidate items, a set of 23 essential reporting items was developed. The items are presented numerically and categorized within six sections: (1) title and abstract; (2) introduction; (3) methods; (4) results; (5) discussion; and (6) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS Explanation and Elaboration paper. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of the reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by seven health economics and quality-of-life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in 5 years' time.

Preferred Reporting Items for Studies Mapping onto Preference-Based Outcome Measures: The MAPS Statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-08-01

"Mapping" onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite the publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist that aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. In the absence of previously published reporting checklists or reporting guidance documents, a de novo list of reporting items was created by a working group comprised of 6 health economists and 1 Delphi methodologist. A 2-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies, and the biomedical journal editorial community was used to identify a list of essential reporting items from this larger list. From the initial de novo list of 29 candidate items, a set of 23 essential reporting items was developed. The items are presented numerically and categorized within 6 sections, namely: (i) title and abstract; (ii) introduction; (iii) methods; (iv) results; (v) discussion; and (vi) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency, and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by 7 health economics and quality-of-life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in 5 years.

Can Infants' Orientation to Social Stimuli Predict Later Joint Attention Skills?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schietecatte, Inge; Roeyers, Herbert; Warreyn, Petra

2012-01-01

From the moment infants are born, they seem to prefer orienting to social stimuli, over objects and non-social stimuli. This preference lasts throughout adulthood and is believed to play a crucial role in social-communicative development. By following up a group of infants at the age of 6, 8, and 12 months, this study explored the role of social…

Neural coding underlying the cue preference for celestial orientation

PubMed Central

el Jundi, Basil; Warrant, Eric J.; Byrne, Marcus J.; Khaldy, Lana; Baird, Emily; Smolka, Jochen; Dacke, Marie

2015-01-01

Diurnal and nocturnal African dung beetles use celestial cues, such as the sun, the moon, and the polarization pattern, to roll dung balls along straight paths across the savanna. Although nocturnal beetles move in the same manner through the same environment as their diurnal relatives, they do so when light conditions are at least 1 million-fold dimmer. Here, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that the celestial cue preference differs between nocturnal and diurnal beetles in a manner that reflects their contrasting visual ecologies. We also demonstrate how these cue preferences are reflected in the activity of compass neurons in the brain. At night, polarized skylight is the dominant orientation cue for nocturnal beetles. However, if we coerce them to roll during the day, they instead use a celestial body (the sun) as their primary orientation cue. Diurnal beetles, however, persist in using a celestial body for their compass, day or night. Compass neurons in the central complex of diurnal beetles are tuned only to the sun, whereas the same neurons in the nocturnal species switch exclusively to polarized light at lunar light intensities. Thus, these neurons encode the preferences for particular celestial cues and alter their weighting according to ambient light conditions. This flexible encoding of celestial cue preferences relative to the prevailing visual scenery provides a simple, yet effective, mechanism for enabling visual orientation at any light intensity. PMID:26305929

Neural coding underlying the cue preference for celestial orientation.

PubMed

el Jundi, Basil; Warrant, Eric J; Byrne, Marcus J; Khaldy, Lana; Baird, Emily; Smolka, Jochen; Dacke, Marie

2015-09-08

Diurnal and nocturnal African dung beetles use celestial cues, such as the sun, the moon, and the polarization pattern, to roll dung balls along straight paths across the savanna. Although nocturnal beetles move in the same manner through the same environment as their diurnal relatives, they do so when light conditions are at least 1 million-fold dimmer. Here, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that the celestial cue preference differs between nocturnal and diurnal beetles in a manner that reflects their contrasting visual ecologies. We also demonstrate how these cue preferences are reflected in the activity of compass neurons in the brain. At night, polarized skylight is the dominant orientation cue for nocturnal beetles. However, if we coerce them to roll during the day, they instead use a celestial body (the sun) as their primary orientation cue. Diurnal beetles, however, persist in using a celestial body for their compass, day or night. Compass neurons in the central complex of diurnal beetles are tuned only to the sun, whereas the same neurons in the nocturnal species switch exclusively to polarized light at lunar light intensities. Thus, these neurons encode the preferences for particular celestial cues and alter their weighting according to ambient light conditions. This flexible encoding of celestial cue preferences relative to the prevailing visual scenery provides a simple, yet effective, mechanism for enabling visual orientation at any light intensity.

Curriculum Orientations of Virtual Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singleton, Nicole Y.

2013-01-01

This study explored the curriculum orientation preferences of K-12 public school teachers who provided instruction in virtual settings (n = 47) in a midwestern state. Curriculum orientations were explored using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative assessments data revealed a pattern of curriculum orientations similar to teachers working in…

Relationship between open-circuit voltage in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell and peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation near its absorber surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chantana, J.; Watanabe, T.; Teraji, S.; Kawamura, K.; Minemoto, T.

2013-11-01

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) absorbers with various Ga/III, Ga/(In+Ga), profiles are prepared by the so-called "multi-layer precursor method" using multi-layer co-evaporation of material sources. It is revealed that open-circuit voltage (VOC) of CIGS solar cell is primarily dependent on averaged Ga/III near the surface of its absorber. This averaged Ga/III is well predicted by peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation of CIGS film near its surface investigated by glancing-incidence X-ray diffraction with 0.1° incident angle. Finally, the peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation is proposed as a measure of VOC before solar cell fabrication.

Oriented molecular sieve membranes by heteroepitaxial growth.

PubMed

Jeong, Hae-Kwon; Krohn, John; Sujaoti, Khristina; Tsapatsis, Michael

2002-11-06

Heteroepitaxial growth of titanosilicates (ETS-10 and ETS-4) is reported. Using this heteroepitaxial growth, oriented ETS-10/-4 membranes have been fabricated, demonstrating a novel way to achieve preferred orientation of molecular sieve films.

Planck intermediate results: XXXII. The relative orientation between the magnetic field and structures traced by interstellar dust

DOE PAGES

Adam, R.; Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; ...

2016-02-09

The role of the magnetic field in the formation of the filamentary structures observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) is a debated topic owing to the paucity of relevant observations needed to test existing models. The Planck all-sky maps of linearly polarized emission from dust at 353 GHz provide the required combination of imaging and statistics to study the correlation between the structures of the Galactic magnetic field and of interstellar matter over the whole sky, both in the diffuse ISM and in molecular clouds. The data reveal that structures, or ridges, in the intensity map have counterparts in themore » Stokes Q and/or U maps. In this paper, we focus our study on structures at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes, which cover two orders of magnitude in column density, from 10 20 to 10 22 cm -2. We measure the magnetic field orientation on the plane ofthe sky from the polarization data, and present an algorithm to estimate the orientation of the ridges from the dust intensity map. We use analytical models to account for projection effects. Comparing polarization angles on and off the structures, we estimate the mean ratio between the strengths of the turbulent and mean components of the magnetic field to be between 0.6 and 1.0, with a preferred value of 0.8. We find that the ridges are usually aligned with the magnetic field measured on the structures. This statistical trend becomes more striking for increasing polarization fraction and decreasing column density. There is no alignment for the highest column density ridges. We interpret the increase in alignment with polarization fraction as a consequence of projection effects. We present maps to show that the decrease in alignment for high column density is not due to a loss of correlation between the distribution of matter and the geometry of the magnetic field. In molecular complexes, we also observe structures perpendicular to the magnetic field, which, statistically, cannot be accounted for by projection effects. This first statistical study of the relative orientation between the matter structures and the magnetic field in the ISM points out that, at the angular scales probed by Planck, the field geometry projected on the plane of the sky is correlated with the distribution of matter. In the diffuse ISM, the structures of matter are usually aligned with the magnetic field, while perpendicular structures appear in molecular clouds. Finally, we discuss our results in the context of models and MHD simulations, which attempt to describe the respective roles of turbulence, magnetic field, and self-gravity in the formation of structures in the magnetized ISM.« less

Planck intermediate results. XXXII. The relative orientation between the magnetic field and structures traced by interstellar dust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Planck Collaboration; Adam, R.; Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Alves, M. I. R.; Arnaud, M.; Arzoumanian, D.; Ashdown, M.; Aumont, J.; Baccigalupi, C.; Banday, A. J.; Barreiro, R. B.; Bartolo, N.; Battaner, E.; Benabed, K.; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Bernard, J.-P.; Bersanelli, M.; Bielewicz, P.; Bonaldi, A.; Bonavera, L.; Bond, J. R.; Borrill, J.; Bouchet, F. R.; Boulanger, F.; Bracco, A.; Burigana, C.; Butler, R. C.; Calabrese, E.; Cardoso, J.-F.; Catalano, A.; Chamballu, A.; Chiang, H. C.; Christensen, P. R.; Colombi, S.; Colombo, L. P. L.; Combet, C.; Couchot, F.; Crill, B. P.; Curto, A.; Cuttaia, F.; Danese, L.; Davies, R. D.; Davis, R. J.; de Bernardis, P.; de Rosa, A.; de Zotti, G.; Delabrouille, J.; Dickinson, C.; Diego, J. M.; Dole, H.; Donzelli, S.; Doré, O.; Douspis, M.; Ducout, A.; Dupac, X.; Efstathiou, G.; Elsner, F.; Enßlin, T. A.; Eriksen, H. K.; Falgarone, E.; Ferrière, K.; Finelli, F.; Forni, O.; Frailis, M.; Fraisse, A. A.; Franceschi, E.; Frejsel, A.; Galeotta, S.; Galli, S.; Ganga, K.; Ghosh, T.; Giard, M.; Gjerløw, E.; González-Nuevo, J.; Górski, K. M.; Gregorio, A.; Gruppuso, A.; Guillet, V.; Hansen, F. K.; Hanson, D.; Harrison, D. L.; Henrot-Versillé, S.; Hernández-Monteagudo, C.; Herranz, D.; Hildebrandt, S. R.; Hivon, E.; Hobson, M.; Holmes, W. A.; Hovest, W.; Huffenberger, K. M.; Hurier, G.; Jaffe, A. H.; Jaffe, T. R.; Jones, W. C.; Juvela, M.; Keihänen, E.; Keskitalo, R.; Kisner, T. S.; Kneissl, R.; Knoche, J.; Kunz, M.; Kurki-Suonio, H.; Lagache, G.; Lamarre, J.-M.; Lasenby, A.; Lattanzi, M.; Lawrence, C. R.; Leonardi, R.; Levrier, F.; Liguori, M.; Lilje, P. B.; Linden-Vørnle, M.; López-Caniego, M.; Lubin, P. M.; Macías-Pérez, J. F.; Maffei, B.; Maino, D.; Mandolesi, N.; Maris, M.; Marshall, D. J.; Martin, P. G.; Martínez-González, E.; Masi, S.; Matarrese, S.; Mazzotta, P.; Melchiorri, A.; Mendes, L.; Mennella, A.; Migliaccio, M.; Miville-Deschênes, M.-A.; Moneti, A.; Montier, L.; Morgante, G.; Mortlock, D.; Munshi, D.; Murphy, J. A.; Naselsky, P.; Natoli, P.; Nørgaard-Nielsen, H. U.; Noviello, F.; Novikov, D.; Novikov, I.; Oppermann, N.; Oxborrow, C. A.; Pagano, L.; Pajot, F.; Paoletti, D.; Pasian, F.; Perdereau, O.; Perotto, L.; Perrotta, F.; Pettorino, V.; Piacentini, F.; Piat, M.; Plaszczynski, S.; Pointecouteau, E.; Polenta, G.; Ponthieu, N.; Popa, L.; Pratt, G. W.; Prunet, S.; Puget, J.-L.; Rachen, J. P.; Reach, W. T.; Reinecke, M.; Remazeilles, M.; Renault, C.; Ristorcelli, I.; Rocha, G.; Roudier, G.; Rubiño-Martín, J. A.; Rusholme, B.; Sandri, M.; Santos, D.; Savini, G.; Scott, D.; Soler, J. D.; Spencer, L. D.; Stolyarov, V.; Sudiwala, R.; Sunyaev, R.; Sutton, D.; Suur-Uski, A.-S.; Sygnet, J.-F.; Tauber, J. A.; Terenzi, L.; Toffolatti, L.; Tomasi, M.; Tristram, M.; Tucci, M.; Umana, G.; Valenziano, L.; Valiviita, J.; Van Tent, B.; Vielva, P.; Villa, F.; Wade, L. A.; Wandelt, B. D.; Wehus, I. K.; Wiesemeyer, H.; Yvon, D.; Zacchei, A.; Zonca, A.

2016-02-01

The role of the magnetic field in the formation of the filamentary structures observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) is a debated topic owing to the paucity of relevant observations needed to test existing models. The Planck all-sky maps of linearly polarized emission from dust at 353 GHz provide the required combination of imaging and statistics to study the correlation between the structures of the Galactic magnetic field and of interstellar matter over the whole sky, both in the diffuse ISM and in molecular clouds. The data reveal that structures, or ridges, in the intensity map have counterparts in the Stokes Q and/or U maps. We focus our study on structures at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes, which cover two orders of magnitude in column density, from 1020 to 1022 cm-2. We measure the magnetic field orientation on the plane ofthe sky from the polarization data, and present an algorithm to estimate the orientation of the ridges from the dust intensity map. We use analytical models to account for projection effects. Comparing polarization angles on and off the structures, we estimate the mean ratio between the strengths of the turbulent and mean components of the magnetic field to be between 0.6 and 1.0, with a preferred value of 0.8. We find that the ridges are usually aligned with the magnetic field measured on the structures. This statistical trend becomes more striking for increasing polarization fraction and decreasing column density. There is no alignment for the highest column density ridges. We interpret the increase in alignment with polarization fraction as a consequence of projection effects. We present maps to show that the decrease in alignment for high column density is not due to a loss of correlation between the distribution of matter and the geometry of the magnetic field. In molecular complexes, we also observe structures perpendicular to the magnetic field, which, statistically, cannot be accounted for by projection effects. This first statistical study of the relative orientation between the matter structures and the magnetic field in the ISM points out that, at the angular scales probed by Planck, the field geometry projected on the plane of the sky is correlated with the distribution of matter. In the diffuse ISM, the structures of matter are usually aligned with the magnetic field, while perpendicular structures appear in molecular clouds. We discuss our results in the context of models and MHD simulations, which attempt to describe the respective roles of turbulence, magnetic field, and self-gravity in the formation of structures in the magnetized ISM.

Planck intermediate results: XXXII. The relative orientation between the magnetic field and structures traced by interstellar dust

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

Adam, R.; Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.

The role of the magnetic field in the formation of the filamentary structures observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) is a debated topic owing to the paucity of relevant observations needed to test existing models. The Planck all-sky maps of linearly polarized emission from dust at 353 GHz provide the required combination of imaging and statistics to study the correlation between the structures of the Galactic magnetic field and of interstellar matter over the whole sky, both in the diffuse ISM and in molecular clouds. The data reveal that structures, or ridges, in the intensity map have counterparts in themore » Stokes Q and/or U maps. In this paper, we focus our study on structures at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes, which cover two orders of magnitude in column density, from 10 20 to 10 22 cm -2. We measure the magnetic field orientation on the plane ofthe sky from the polarization data, and present an algorithm to estimate the orientation of the ridges from the dust intensity map. We use analytical models to account for projection effects. Comparing polarization angles on and off the structures, we estimate the mean ratio between the strengths of the turbulent and mean components of the magnetic field to be between 0.6 and 1.0, with a preferred value of 0.8. We find that the ridges are usually aligned with the magnetic field measured on the structures. This statistical trend becomes more striking for increasing polarization fraction and decreasing column density. There is no alignment for the highest column density ridges. We interpret the increase in alignment with polarization fraction as a consequence of projection effects. We present maps to show that the decrease in alignment for high column density is not due to a loss of correlation between the distribution of matter and the geometry of the magnetic field. In molecular complexes, we also observe structures perpendicular to the magnetic field, which, statistically, cannot be accounted for by projection effects. This first statistical study of the relative orientation between the matter structures and the magnetic field in the ISM points out that, at the angular scales probed by Planck, the field geometry projected on the plane of the sky is correlated with the distribution of matter. In the diffuse ISM, the structures of matter are usually aligned with the magnetic field, while perpendicular structures appear in molecular clouds. Finally, we discuss our results in the context of models and MHD simulations, which attempt to describe the respective roles of turbulence, magnetic field, and self-gravity in the formation of structures in the magnetized ISM.« less

Towards the XML schema measurement based on mapping between XML and OO domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rakić, Gordana; Budimac, Zoran; Heričko, Marjan; Pušnik, Maja

2017-07-01

Measuring quality of IT solutions is a priority in software engineering. Although numerous metrics for measuring object-oriented code already exist, measuring quality of UML models or XML Schemas is still developing. One of the research questions in the overall research leaded by ideas described in this paper is whether we can apply already defined object-oriented design metrics on XML schemas based on predefined mappings. In this paper, basic ideas for mentioned mapping are presented. This mapping is prerequisite for setting the future approach to XML schema quality measuring with object-oriented metrics.

Leadership styles in nursing management: preferred and perceived.

PubMed

Sellgren, Stina; Ekvall, Göran; Tomson, Göran

2006-07-01

The aim was to explore nursing leadership regarding what nurse managers and subordinates see as important and to explore subordinates' opinions of their nurse manager's performance in reality. Background The manager's style can be fundamental for subordinates' acceptance of change and in motivating them to achieve stated visions and goals and high quality of care. Nurse managers (n=77) and 10 of each included nurse manager's subordinates received a questionnaire to assess 'preferred' leadership behaviour in three dimensions: change, production and employee/relation orientations. The same questionnaire was used to assess subordinates' opinions of their manager's leadership behaviour. There are statistically significant differences in opinions of preferred leadership between managers and subordinates, especially related to production and relation orientation. The subordinates' perception of real leadership behaviour has lower mean values than their preferred leadership behaviour in all three dimensions. Subordinates prefer managers with more clearly expressed leadership behaviour than managers themselves prefer and demonstrate.

An exploratory study of death anxiety and trainees' choice of theoretical orientation.

PubMed

Belviso, Francesco; Gaubatz, Michael D

2013-01-01

This study investigated the association between therapist trainees' death anxiety and their preference for "objective" (i.e., quantitative and rational) over "subjective" (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.

An exploratory study of death anxiety and trainees' choice of theoretical orientation.

PubMed

Belviso, Francesco; Gaubatz, Michael D

This study investigated the association between therapist-trainees' death anxiety and their preference for "objective" (i.e., quantitative and rational) over "subjective" (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post-hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.

Asymmetric information and user orientation in general practice: Exploring the agency relationship in a best-worst scaling study.

PubMed

Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov; Hess, Stephane; Kjær, Trine

2016-12-01

This study uses a best-worst scaling experiment to test whether general practitioners (GPs) act as perfect agents for the patients in the consultation; and if not, whether this is due to asymmetric information and/or other motivations than user orientation. Survey data were collected from 775 GPs and 1379 Danish citizens eliciting preferences for a consultation. Sequential models allowing for within-person preference heterogeneity and heteroskedasticity between best and worst choices were estimated. We show that GPs do not always act as perfect agents and that this non-alignment stems from GPs being both unable and unwilling to do so. Unable since GPs have imperfect information about patients' preferences, and unwilling since they are also motivated by other factors than user orientation. Our findings highlight the need for multi-pronged strategies targeting different motivational factors to ensure that GPs act in correspondence with patients' preferences in areas where alignment is warranted. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanometres-resolution Kikuchi patterns from materials science specimens with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction in the scanning electron microscope.

PubMed

Brodusch, N; Demers, H; Gauvin, R

2013-04-01

A charge-coupled device camera of an electron backscattered diffraction system in a scanning electron microscope was positioned below a thin specimen and transmission Kikuchi patterns were collected. Contrary to electron backscattered diffraction, transmission electron forward scatter diffraction provides phase identification and orientation mapping at the nanoscale. The minimum Pd particle size for which a Kikuchi diffraction pattern was detected and indexed reliably was 5.6 nm. An orientation mapping resolution of 5 nm was measured at 30 kV. The resolution obtained with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction was of the same order of magnitude than that reported in electron nanodiffraction in the transmission electron microscope. An energy dispersive spectrometer X-ray map and a transmission electron forward scatter diffraction orientation map were acquired simultaneously. The high-resolution chemical, phase and orientation maps provided at once information on the chemical form, orientation and coherency of precipitates in an aluminium-lithium 2099 alloy. © 2013 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2013 Royal Microscopical Society.

Electronic structure and its external electric field modulation of PbPdO2 ultrathin slabs with (002) and (211) preferred orientations.

PubMed

Yang, Yanmin; Zhong, Kehua; Xu, Guigui; Zhang, Jian-Min; Huang, Zhigao

2017-07-31

The Electronic structure of PbPdO 2 with (002) and (211) preferred orientations were investigated using first-principles calculation. The calculated results indicate that, (002) and (211) orientations exhibit different electric field dependence of band-gap and carrier concentration. The small band gap and more sensitive electric field modulation of band gap were found in (002) orientation. Moreover, the electric field modulation of the resistivity up to 3-4 orders of magnitude is also observed in (002) slab, which reveals that origin of colossal electroresistance. Lastly, electric field modulation of band gap is well explained. This work should be significant for repeating the colossal electroresistance.

Experience modulates the influence of gonadal hormones on sexual orientation of male rats.

PubMed

Matuszczyk, J V; Larsson, K

1994-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether heterosexual experience influences the male's partner preference and the role of gonadal hormones, including several androgens and estradiol, on female-oriented behavior. In the first experiment, the animals were exposed to a four-stimuli test situation including a sexually active male, a castrated male, an estrous female, and an ovariectomized (ovx) female. Castrated naive and experienced male rats were implanted with either testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), or an empty tubing (blank) and compared to intact naive and experienced male rats. None of the naive animals, whether castrated or intact, showed a consistent preference for any of the four stimuli. Whereas when sexually experienced, only intact and T-treated males showed a female-oriented preference. In the second experiment, the animals were allowed to choose between an active male and an estrous female. Castrated naive male rats were implanted with either T, E2, or DHT, or injected daily SC with the synthetic nonaromatizable androgen, methyltrienelone (R 1881). Two groups of intact males, one consisting of experienced and the other of naive animals, were also included in this experiment. The experienced intact males showed a significant preference for the estrous female, while the intact naive males showed no preference for either of the two stimuli. After the animals had gained heterosexual experience, intact and androgen-treated males showed a significant preference for the female. Neither the administration of R 1881 nor E2 promoted a female-oriented behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Curriculum Design Orientations Preference Scale of Teachers: Validity and Reliability Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bas, Gokhan

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable scale for preferences of teachers in regard of their curriculum design orientations. Because there was no scale development study similar to this one in Turkey, it was considered as an urgent need to develop such a scale in the study. The sample of the research consisted of 300…

Preferred reporting items for studies mapping onto preference-based outcome measures: the MAPS statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2016-02-01

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards (MAPS) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. In the absence of previously published reporting checklists or reporting guidance documents, a de novo list of reporting items was created by a working group comprised of six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. A two-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community was used to identify a list of essential reporting items from this larger list. From the initial de novo list of 29 candidate items, a set of 23 essential reporting items was developed. The items are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely (1) title and abstract; (2) introduction; (3) methods; (4) results; (5) discussion; and (6) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by seven health economics and quality of life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in 5 years' time.

PREFERRED REPORTING ITEMS FOR STUDIES MAPPING ONTO PREFERENCE-BASED OUTCOME MEASURES: THE MAPS STATEMENT.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-01-01

"Mapping" onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. In the absence of previously published reporting checklists or reporting guidance documents, a de novo list of reporting items was created by a working group comprised of six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. A two-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies, and the biomedical journal editorial community was used to identify a list of essential reporting items from this larger list. From the initial de novo list of twenty-nine candidate items, a set of twenty-three essential reporting items was developed. The items are presented numerically and categorized within six sections, namely: (i) title and abstract, (ii) introduction, (iii) methods, (iv) results, (v) discussion, and (vi) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document. It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency. and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by seven health economics and quality of life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in five years' time.

Temporal-frequency tuning of cross-orientation suppression in the cat striate cortex.

PubMed

Allison, J D; Smith, K R; Bonds, A B

2001-01-01

A sinusoidal mask grating oriented orthogonally to and superimposed onto an optimally oriented base grating reduces a cortical neuron's response amplitude. The spatial selectivity of cross-orientation suppression (XOR) has been described, so for this paper we investigated the temporal properties of XOR. We recorded from single striate cortical neurons (n = 72) in anesthetized and paralyzed cats. After quantifying the spatial and temporal characteristics of each cell's excitatory response to a base grating, we measured the temporal-frequency tuning of XOR by systematically varying the temporal frequency of a mask grating placed at a null orientation outside of the cell's excitatory orientation domain. The average preferred temporal frequency of the excitatory response of the neurons in our sample was 3.8 (+/- 1.5 S.D.) Hz. The average cutoff frequency for the sample was 16.3 (+/- 1.7) Hz. The average preferred temporal frequency (7.0 +/- 2.6 Hz) and cutoff frequency (20.4 +/- 6.9 Hz) of the XOR were significantly higher. The differences averaged 1.1 (+/- 0.6) octaves for the peaks and 0.3 (+/- 0.4) octaves for the cutoffs. The XOR mechanism's preference for high temporal frequencies suggests a possible extrastriate origin for the effect and could help explain the low-pass temporal-frequency response profile displayed by most striate cortical neurons.

Trail Orienteering: An Effective Way To Practice Map Interpretation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horizons, 1999

1999-01-01

Discusses a type of orienteering developed in Great Britain to allow people with physical disabilities to compete on equal terms. Sites are viewed from a wheelchair-accessible main route. The main skill is interpreting the maps at each site, not finding the sites. Describes differences from standard orienteering, how sites work, and essential…

The Degree of Early Life Stress Predicts Decreased Medial Prefrontal Activations and the Shift from Internally to Externally Guided Decision Making: An Exploratory NIRS Study during Resting State and Self-Oriented Task

PubMed Central

Nakao, Takashi; Matsumoto, Tomoya; Morita, Machiko; Shimizu, Daisuke; Yoshimura, Shinpei; Northoff, Georg; Morinobu, Shigeru; Okamoto, Yasumasa; Yamawaki, Shigeto

2013-01-01

Early life stress (ELS), an important risk factor for psychopathology in mental disorders, is associated neuronally with decreased functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) in the resting state. Moreover, it is linked with greater deactivation in DMN during a working memory task. Although DMN shows large amplitudes of very low-frequency oscillations (VLFO) and strong involvement during self-oriented tasks, these features’ relation to ELS remains unclear. Therefore, our preliminary study investigated the relationship between ELS and the degree of frontal activations during a resting state and self-oriented task using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). From 22 healthy participants, regional hemodynamic changes in 43 front-temporal channels were recorded during 5 min resting states, and execution of a self-oriented task (color-preference judgment) and a control task (color-similarity judgment). Using a child abuse and trauma scale, ELS was quantified. We observed that ELS showed a negative correlation with medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activation during both resting state and color-preference judgment. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between ELS and MPFC activation during color-similarity judgment. Additionally, we observed that ELS and the MPFC activation during color-preference judgment were associated behaviorally with the rate of similar color choice in preference judgment, which suggests that, for participants with higher ELS, decisions in the color-preference judgment were based on an external criterion (color similarity) rather than an internal criterion (subjective preference). Taken together, our neuronal and behavioral findings show that high ELS is related to lower MPFC activation during both rest and self-oriented tasks. This is behaviorally manifest in an abnormal shift from internally to externally guided decision making, even under circumstances where internal guidance is required. PMID:23840186

Comparison of three orientation and mobility aids for individuals with blindness: Verbal description, audio-tactile map and audio-haptic map.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, Konstantinos; Koustriava, Eleni; Koukourikos, Panagiotis; Kartasidou, Lefkothea; Barouti, Marialena; Varveris, Asimis; Misiou, Marina; Zacharogeorga, Timoclia; Anastasiadis, Theocharis

2017-01-01

Disorientation and inability of wayfinding are phenomena with a great frequency for individuals with visual impairments during the process of travelling novel environments. Orientation and mobility aids could suggest important tools for the preparation of a more secure and cognitively mapped travelling. The aim of the present study was to examine if spatial knowledge structured after an individual with blindness had studied the map of an urban area that was delivered through a verbal description, an audio-tactile map or an audio-haptic map, could be used for detecting in the area specific points of interest. The effectiveness of the three aids with reference to each other was also examined. The results of the present study highlight the effectiveness of the audio-tactile and the audio-haptic maps as orientation and mobility aids, especially when these are compared to verbal descriptions.

Structural hysteresis in dragline spider silks induced by supercontraction: an X-ray fiber micro-diffraction study

DOE PAGES

Sampath, Sujatha; Yarger, Jeffery L.

2014-11-27

Interaction with water causes shrinkage and significant changes in the structure of spider dragline silks, which has been referred to as supercontraction in the literature. Preferred orientation or alignment of protein chains with respect to the fiber axis is extensively changed during this supercontraction process. Synchrotron X-ray micro-fiber diffraction experiments have been performed on Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia major and minor ampullate dragline spider fibers in the native dry, contracted (by immersion in water) and restretched (from contracted) states. Changes in the orientation of β-sheet nanocrystallites and the oriented component of the amorphous network have been determined from wide-anglemore » X-ray diffraction patterns. While both the crystalline and amorphous components lose preferred orientation on wetting with water, the nano-crystallites regain their orientation on wet-restretching, whereas the oriented amorphous components only partially regain their orientation. Dragline major ampullate silks in both the species contract more than their minor ampullate silks.« less

Relationship between open-circuit voltage in Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} solar cell and peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation near its absorber surface

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

Chantana, J., E-mail: jakapan@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp; Minemoto, T.; Watanabe, T.

2013-11-25

Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} (CIGS) absorbers with various Ga/III, Ga/(In+Ga), profiles are prepared by the so-called “multi-layer precursor method” using multi-layer co-evaporation of material sources. It is revealed that open-circuit voltage (V{sub OC}) of CIGS solar cell is primarily dependent on averaged Ga/III near the surface of its absorber. This averaged Ga/III is well predicted by peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation of CIGS film near its surface investigated by glancing-incidence X-ray diffraction with 0.1° incident angle. Finally, the peak position of (220/204) preferred orientation is proposed as a measure of V{sub OC} before solar cell fabrication.

Strong quantum scarring by local impurities

PubMed Central

Luukko, Perttu J. J.; Drury, Byron; Klales, Anna; Kaplan, Lev; Heller, Eric J.; Räsänen, Esa

2016-01-01

We discover and characterise strong quantum scars, or quantum eigenstates resembling classical periodic orbits, in two-dimensional quantum wells perturbed by local impurities. These scars are not explained by ordinary scar theory, which would require the existence of short, moderately unstable periodic orbits in the perturbed system. Instead, they are supported by classical resonances in the unperturbed system and the resulting quantum near-degeneracy. Even in the case of a large number of randomly scattered impurities, the scars prefer distinct orientations that extremise the overlap with the impurities. We demonstrate that these preferred orientations can be used for highly efficient transport of quantum wave packets across the perturbed potential landscape. Assisted by the scars, wave-packet recurrences are significantly stronger than in the unperturbed system. Together with the controllability of the preferred orientations, this property may be very useful for quantum transport applications. PMID:27892510

Strong quantum scarring by local impurities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luukko, Perttu J. J.; Drury, Byron; Klales, Anna; Kaplan, Lev; Heller, Eric J.; Räsänen, Esa

2016-11-01

We discover and characterise strong quantum scars, or quantum eigenstates resembling classical periodic orbits, in two-dimensional quantum wells perturbed by local impurities. These scars are not explained by ordinary scar theory, which would require the existence of short, moderately unstable periodic orbits in the perturbed system. Instead, they are supported by classical resonances in the unperturbed system and the resulting quantum near-degeneracy. Even in the case of a large number of randomly scattered impurities, the scars prefer distinct orientations that extremise the overlap with the impurities. We demonstrate that these preferred orientations can be used for highly efficient transport of quantum wave packets across the perturbed potential landscape. Assisted by the scars, wave-packet recurrences are significantly stronger than in the unperturbed system. Together with the controllability of the preferred orientations, this property may be very useful for quantum transport applications.

Strong quantum scarring by local impurities.

PubMed

Luukko, Perttu J J; Drury, Byron; Klales, Anna; Kaplan, Lev; Heller, Eric J; Räsänen, Esa

2016-11-28

We discover and characterise strong quantum scars, or quantum eigenstates resembling classical periodic orbits, in two-dimensional quantum wells perturbed by local impurities. These scars are not explained by ordinary scar theory, which would require the existence of short, moderately unstable periodic orbits in the perturbed system. Instead, they are supported by classical resonances in the unperturbed system and the resulting quantum near-degeneracy. Even in the case of a large number of randomly scattered impurities, the scars prefer distinct orientations that extremise the overlap with the impurities. We demonstrate that these preferred orientations can be used for highly efficient transport of quantum wave packets across the perturbed potential landscape. Assisted by the scars, wave-packet recurrences are significantly stronger than in the unperturbed system. Together with the controllability of the preferred orientations, this property may be very useful for quantum transport applications.

A cross-cultural perspective on the preference for potential effect: an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis approach.

PubMed

Sun, Xiaomin; Xu, Dan; Luo, Fang; Wei, Zihan; Wei, Cong; Xue, Gang

2015-01-01

A recent paper [Tormala ZL, Jia JS, Norton MI (2012). The preference for potential. Journal of personality and social psychology, 103: 567-583] demonstrated that persons often prefer potential rather than achievement when evaluating others, because information regarding potential evokes greater interest and processing, resulting in more favorable evaluations. This research aimed to expand on this finding by asking two questions: (a) Is the preference for potential effect replicable in other cultures? (b) Is there any other mechanism that accounts for this preference for potential? To answer these two questions, we replicated Tormala et al.'s study in multiple cities (17 studies with 1,128 participants) in China using an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis approach to test our hypothesis. Our results showed that the preference for potential effect found in the US is also robust in China. Moreover, we also found a pro-youth bias behind the preference for potential effect. To be specific, persons prefer a potential-oriented applicant rather than an achievement-oriented applicant, partially because they believe that the former is younger than the latter.

The curious history of Tethys as evidenced by irregular craters and variable tectonism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferguson, S. N.; Rhoden, A.; Nayak, M.; Asphaug, E. I.

2017-12-01

At first glance, the surface of Saturn's moon Tethys appears dominated by craters and its large canyon system, Ithaca Chasma. However, high-resolution Cassini imagery reveals a surface rife with curious geologic features, perhaps indicative of non-heliocentric impact populations and, potentially, a history of tectonic activity. We mapped three regions on Tethys to survey the diversity of features present on the surface, determine crater counts for each region, map and analyze fracture patterns, and identify constraints on the impactor populations. One study region is just south and west of the Odysseus impact basin (R1), and the other two regions sit slightly west of Ithaca Chasma (R2 and R3). The regions were imaged at average resolutions of 200m/pix, which is adequate to identify craters down to D=1km. Of 1200 total craters counted, we have identified 195 elliptical craters and 28 polygonal craters. Elliptical craters likely form from slow, oblique impacts, whereas polygonal craters are indicative of underlying tectonic structure. We identified 605 small craters, D=1-2km, across the three regions; we find that R1 has many more 1-10 km craters than R2 and R3. We also mapped 367 linear features. The median and range of orientations of the linear features vary across the regions. Despite their proximity, the orientations of lineations in R2 and R3 are not consistent with the orientation of Ithaca Chasma. This could be suggestive of different epochs of tectonic activity on Tethys. When compared with R2 and R3, R1 has more small craters, more lineations, and a preferred orientation of lineations that is distinct from the other two regions. Possible causes for a larger population of small craters in R1 include secondary craters from Odysseus and oblique impacts from debris ejected from Tethys' co-orbital moons, which should create many more 1km craters in R1 than the other regions. Due to the oblique impact angles predicted for incoming co-orbital debris, these impacts may have also produced some of the lineations observed in R1. Oblique impacts can also form elliptical craters, but that would imply much larger debris than expected from the craters presently observed on the co-orbitals. We discuss additional analysis and implications of Tethys' curious geologic features on its bombardment and tectonic history.

Automated method to differentiate between native and mirror protein models obtained from contact maps.

PubMed

Kurczynska, Monika; Kotulska, Malgorzata

2018-01-01

Mirror protein structures are often considered as artifacts in modeling protein structures. However, they may soon become a new branch of biochemistry. Moreover, methods of protein structure reconstruction, based on their residue-residue contact maps, need methodology to differentiate between models of native and mirror orientation, especially regarding the reconstructed backbones. We analyzed 130 500 structural protein models obtained from contact maps of 1 305 SCOP domains belonging to all 7 structural classes. On average, the same numbers of native and mirror models were obtained among 100 models generated for each domain. Since their structural features are often not sufficient for differentiating between the two types of model orientations, we proposed to apply various energy terms (ETs) from PyRosetta to separate native and mirror models. To automate the procedure for differentiating these models, the k-means clustering algorithm was applied. Using total energy did not allow to obtain appropriate clusters-the accuracy of the clustering for class A (all helices) was no more than 0.52. Therefore, we tested a series of different k-means clusterings based on various combinations of ETs. Finally, applying two most differentiating ETs for each class allowed to obtain satisfying results. To unify the method for differentiating between native and mirror models, independent of their structural class, the two best ETs for each class were considered. Finally, the k-means clustering algorithm used three common ETs: probability of amino acid assuming certain values of dihedral angles Φ and Ψ, Ramachandran preferences and Coulomb interactions. The accuracies of clustering with these ETs were in the range between 0.68 and 0.76, with sensitivity and selectivity in the range between 0.68 and 0.87, depending on the structural class. The method can be applied to all fully-automated tools for protein structure reconstruction based on contact maps, especially those analyzing big sets of models.

Automated method to differentiate between native and mirror protein models obtained from contact maps

PubMed Central

Kurczynska, Monika

2018-01-01

Mirror protein structures are often considered as artifacts in modeling protein structures. However, they may soon become a new branch of biochemistry. Moreover, methods of protein structure reconstruction, based on their residue-residue contact maps, need methodology to differentiate between models of native and mirror orientation, especially regarding the reconstructed backbones. We analyzed 130 500 structural protein models obtained from contact maps of 1 305 SCOP domains belonging to all 7 structural classes. On average, the same numbers of native and mirror models were obtained among 100 models generated for each domain. Since their structural features are often not sufficient for differentiating between the two types of model orientations, we proposed to apply various energy terms (ETs) from PyRosetta to separate native and mirror models. To automate the procedure for differentiating these models, the k-means clustering algorithm was applied. Using total energy did not allow to obtain appropriate clusters–the accuracy of the clustering for class A (all helices) was no more than 0.52. Therefore, we tested a series of different k-means clusterings based on various combinations of ETs. Finally, applying two most differentiating ETs for each class allowed to obtain satisfying results. To unify the method for differentiating between native and mirror models, independent of their structural class, the two best ETs for each class were considered. Finally, the k-means clustering algorithm used three common ETs: probability of amino acid assuming certain values of dihedral angles Φ and Ψ, Ramachandran preferences and Coulomb interactions. The accuracies of clustering with these ETs were in the range between 0.68 and 0.76, with sensitivity and selectivity in the range between 0.68 and 0.87, depending on the structural class. The method can be applied to all fully-automated tools for protein structure reconstruction based on contact maps, especially those analyzing big sets of models. PMID:29787567

Preferred reporting items for studies mapping onto preference-based outcome measures: The MAPS statement.

PubMed

Petrou, Stavros; Rivero-Arias, Oliver; Dakin, Helen; Longworth, Louise; Oppe, Mark; Froud, Robert; Gray, Alastair

2015-08-01

'Mapping' onto generic preference-based outcome measures is increasingly being used as a means of generating health utilities for use within health economic evaluations. Despite publication of technical guides for the conduct of mapping research, guidance for the reporting of mapping studies is currently lacking. The MAPS (MApping onto Preference-based measures reporting Standards) statement is a new checklist, which aims to promote complete and transparent reporting of mapping studies. The primary audiences for the MAPS statement are researchers reporting mapping studies, the funders of the research, and peer reviewers and editors involved in assessing mapping studies for publication.A de novo list of 29 candidate reporting items and accompanying explanations was created by a working group comprised of six health economists and one Delphi methodologist. Following a two-round, modified Delphi survey with representatives from academia, consultancy, health technology assessment agencies and the biomedical journal editorial community, a final set of 23 items deemed essential for transparent reporting, and accompanying explanations, was developed. The items are contained in a user friendly 23 item checklist. They are presented numerically and categorised within six sections, namely: (i) title and abstract; (ii) introduction; (iii) methods; (iv) results; (v) discussion; and (vi) other. The MAPS statement is best applied in conjunction with the accompanying MAPS explanation and elaboration document.It is anticipated that the MAPS statement will improve the clarity, transparency and completeness of reporting of mapping studies. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the MAPS statement is being co-published by eight health economics and quality of life journals, and broader endorsement is encouraged. The MAPS working group plans to assess the need for an update of the reporting checklist in five years' time.This statement was published jointly in Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Journal of Medical Economics, Medical Decision Making, PharmacoEconomics, and Quality of Life Research.

Using a Modelling Language for Supporting University Students' Orienting Activity When Studying Research Methods

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kosonen, Kari; Ilomäki, Liisa; Lakkala, Minna

2015-01-01

The present study focuses on examining how digitally guided conceptual mapping can be used in orienting students in higher education to learn complex domain content and practices. The outcomes of conceptual mapping were investigated as the orienting bases created by the students that used digitalized conceptual tools to construct an external…

Library Orientation Methods, Mental Maps, and Public Services Planning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ridgeway, Trish

Two library orientation methods, a self-guided cassette walking tour and a slide-tape program, were administered to 202 freshmen students to determine if moving through the library increased students' ability to develop a mental map of the library. An effort was made to ensure that the two orientation programs were equivalent. Results from the 148…

Student Orientations to Independent Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Alice; Jones, Douglas

1996-01-01

A study investigated the relationship of 46 college students' preferred teaching method (conventional lecture versus independent study package) and their own approaches to study (surface, deep, achieving). Results indicated that while students preferred the conventional lecture method, preference did not correlate with their study approach and…

Non-invasive imaging of the crystalline structure within a human tooth.

PubMed

Egan, Christopher K; Jacques, Simon D M; Di Michiel, Marco; Cai, Biao; Zandbergen, Mathijs W; Lee, Peter D; Beale, Andrew M; Cernik, Robert J

2013-09-01

The internal crystalline structure of a human molar tooth has been non-destructively imaged in cross-section using X-ray diffraction computed tomography. Diffraction signals from high-energy X-rays which have large attenuation lengths for hard biomaterials have been collected in a transmission geometry. Coupling this with a computed tomography data acquisition and mathematically reconstructing their spatial origins, diffraction patterns from every voxel within the tooth can be obtained. Using this method we have observed the spatial variations of some key material parameters including nanocrystallite size, organic content, lattice parameters, crystallographic preferred orientation and degree of orientation. We have also made a link between the spatial variations of the unit cell lattice parameters and the chemical make-up of the tooth. In addition, we have determined how the onset of tooth decay occurs through clear amorphization of the hydroxyapatite crystal, and we have been able to map the extent of decay within the tooth. The described method has strong prospects for non-destructive probing of mineralized biomaterials. Copyright © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using oriented peptide array libraries to evaluate methylarginine-specific antibodies and arginine methyltransferase substrate motifs

PubMed Central

Gayatri, Sitaram; Cowles, Martis W.; Vemulapalli, Vidyasiri; Cheng, Donghang; Sun, Zu-Wen; Bedford, Mark T.

2016-01-01

Signal transduction in response to stimuli relies on the generation of cascades of posttranslational modifications that promote protein-protein interactions and facilitate the assembly of distinct signaling complexes. Arginine methylation is one such modification, which is catalyzed by a family of nine protein arginine methyltransferases, or PRMTs. Elucidating the substrate specificity of each PRMT will promote a better understanding of which signaling networks these enzymes contribute to. Although many PRMT substrates have been identified, and their methylation sites mapped, the optimal target motif for each of the nine PRMTs has not been systematically addressed. Here we describe the use of Oriented Peptide Array Libraries (OPALs) to methodically dissect the preferred methylation motifs for three of these enzymes – PRMT1, CARM1 and PRMT9. In parallel, we show that an OPAL platform with a fixed methylarginine residue can be used to validate the methyl-specific and sequence-specific properties of antibodies that have been generated against different PRMT substrates, and can also be used to confirm the pan nature of some methylarginine-specific antibodies. PMID:27338245

Simultaneous orientation and thickness mapping in transmission electron microscopy

DOE PAGES

Tyutyunnikov, Dmitry; Özdöl, V. Burak; Koch, Christoph T.

2014-12-04

In this paper we introduce an approach for simultaneous thickness and orientation mapping of crystalline samples by means of transmission electron microscopy. We show that local thickness and orientation values can be extracted from experimental dark-field (DF) image data acquired at different specimen tilts. The method has been implemented to automatically acquire the necessary data and then map thickness and crystal orientation for a given region of interest. We have applied this technique to a specimen prepared from a commercial semiconductor device, containing multiple 22 nm technology transistor structures. The performance and limitations of our method are discussed and comparedmore » to those of other techniques available.« less

Pito Deep reveals spatial/temporal variability of accretionary processes in the lower oceanic crust at fast-spread MOR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

John, B. E.; Cheadle, M. J.; Gee, J. S.; Coogan, L. A.; Gillis, K. M.

2017-12-01

During January and February 2017, the 42-day RV Atlantis PMaG cruise mapped and sampled in-situ fast spread lower crust for 35 km along a flow line at Pito Deep Rift (northeastern Easter microplate). There, ridge-perpendicular escarpments bound Pito Deep and expose up to 3 km sections of crust parallel to the paleo-spreading direction, providing a unique opportunity to test models for the architecture of fast spread lower ocean crust (the plutonic section). Shipboard operations included a >57,000 km2 multi-beam survey; ten Sentry dives over 70 km2 (nominal m-scale resolution) to facilitate acquisition of detailed magnetic and bathymetric data, and optimize Jason II dive siting for rock sampling and geologic mapping; nine Jason II dives in 4 areas, recovering >400 samples of gabbroic lower crust, of which 80% are approximately oriented. Combined Sentry mapping and Jason II sampling and imaging of one area, provides the most detailed documentation of in situ gabbroic crust (>3 km2 of seafloor, over 1000+m vertical section) ever completed. Significantly, the area exposes distinct lateral variation in rock type: in the west 100m of Fe-Ti oxide rich gabbroic rocks overly gabbro and olivine gabbro; however, to the east, exposures of primitive, layered troctolitic rocks extend to within 100m below the dike-gabbro transition. Equivalent troctolitic rocks are found 13 km to the southeast parallel to a flow line, implying shallow primitive rocks are a characteristic feature of EPR lower crust at this location. The high-level position of troctolitic rocks is best explained by construction in a shallow, near steady-state melt lens at a ridge segment center, with some form of gabbro glacier flow active during formation of at least the uppermost lower ocean crust (Perk et al., 2007). Lateral variation in rock type (adjacent oxide gabbro, gabbro, olivine-rich gabbro and troctolite) over short distances taken with complexity in magmatic fabric orientation (mineral and grain size layering, mineral shape preferred orientation/foliation) on the 100m-scale is perhaps surprising. Post cruise evaluation is required to determine how much of this variability is due to rift related tectonics and/or slumping. If such deformation is limited, our mapping will require adding complexity to current models of fast spread lower ocean crust.

Changes in running pattern due to fatigue and cognitive load in orienteering.

PubMed

Millet, Guillaume Y; Divert, Caroline; Banizette, Marion; Morin, Jean-Benoit

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of fatigue on running biomechanics in normal running, in normal running with a cognitive task, and in running while map reading. Nineteen international and less experienced orienteers performed a fatiguing running exercise of duration and intensity similar to a classic distance orienteering race on an instrumented treadmill while performing mental arithmetic, an orienteering simulation, and control running at regular intervals. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance did not reveal any significant difference between mental arithmetic and control running for any of the kinematic and kinetic parameters analysed eight times over the fatiguing protocol. However, these parameters were systematically different between the orienteering simulation and the other two conditions (mental arithmetic and control running). The adaptations in orienteering simulation running were significantly more pronounced in the elite group when step frequency, peak vertical ground reaction force, vertical stiffness, and maximal downward displacement of the centre of mass during contact were considered. The effects of fatigue on running biomechanics depended on whether the orienteers read their map or ran normally. It is concluded that adding a cognitive load does not modify running patterns. Therefore, all changes in running pattern observed during the orienteering simulation, particularly in elite orienteers, are the result of adaptations to enable efficient map reading and/or potentially prevent injuries. Finally, running patterns are not affected to the same extent by fatigue when a map reading task is added.

Concept Maps as Instructional Tools for Improving Learning of Phase Transitions in Object-Oriented Analysis and Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shin, Shin-Shing

2016-01-01

Students attending object-oriented analysis and design (OOAD) courses typically encounter difficulties transitioning from requirements analysis to logical design and then to physical design. Concept maps have been widely used in studies of user learning. The study reported here, based on the relationship of concept maps to learning theory and…

A numerical and experimental investigation on seismic anisotropy of Finero Peridotite, Ivrea-Verbano Zone, northern Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Xin; Frehner, Marcel; Zappone, Alba; Kunze, Karsten

2014-05-01

We present a combined experimental and numerical study on Finero Peridotite to investigate the major factors creating its seismic anisotropy. We extrapolate the ultrasonic seismic wave velocity measured in a hydrostatic pressure vessel to 0 MPa and 250 MPa confining pressure to compare with numerical simulations at atmospheric pressure and to restore the velocity at in-situ lower crustal conditions, respectively. A linear relation between confining pressure and seismic velocity above 80 MPa reveals the intrinsic mechanical property of the bulk rock without the interference of cracks. To visualize the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) we use the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method and create crystallographic orientation maps and pole figures. The first also reveals the shape preferred orientation (SPO). We found that very weak CPO but significant SPO exist in most of the peridotite. The Voigt and Reuss bounds as well as the Hill average (VRH) are calculated from EBSD data to visualize seismic velocity and to calculate anisotropy in the form of velocity pole figures. We perform finite element (FE) simulations of wave propagation on the EBSD crystallographic orientation maps to calculate the effective wave velocity at different propagation angles, hence estimate the anisotropy numerically. In fracture-free models the FE simulation results agree well with the Hill average. In one case of a sample containing fractures the FE simulation yields similar minimal velocity as the laboratory measurement, which lies outside the VR bounds. This is a warning that care has to be taken when using VRH averages in fractured rocks. All three velocity estimates (hydrostatic pressure vessel, VRH average, and FE simulation) result in equally weak seismic anisotropy. This is mainly the consequence of weak CPO. Although SPO is significantly stronger it has minor influence on anisotropy. Hydrous minerals influence the seismic anisotropy only when their modal composition is large enough to allow waves to propagate preferentially through them. Unlike hornblende, phlogopite is not proven to be a major source for the seismic anisotropy due to its small modal composition. Seismic velocity is also influenced by the source frequency distribution. A lower-frequency source in the FE simulations results in lower effective velocity regardless of sample orientation. The frequency spectrum of the propagating wave is modified from source to receiver due to scattering at the mineral grains, thus leading to effective negative attenuation factors peaked at around 1-3 MHz depending on the source spectrum. However, compared with other factors, such as CPO, SPO, fractures, or hydrous mineral phases, the effect of the source frequency distribution is minor, but may be influential when extrapolated to seismic frequencies (Hz-kHz). This study provides a comprehensive method combining laboratory measurements, EBSD data, and numerical simulations to estimate seismic anisotropy. Future work may focus on modeling the influence of different pore fluids or more complex fracture geometries on seismic velocity and anisotropy. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project UPseis, 200021_143319).

Preference Versus Prejudice: A Multimethod Analysis of Children's Discrepant Racial Choices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Teplin, Linda A.

1977-01-01

A study compared 398 children's racial preferences in an imaginary setting with their responses in a more reality-oriented situation. Discrepant responses to the two measurements indicate that racial/ethnic preferences in imagination are neither indicative nor predictive of prejudicial behavior. (Author)

Sexual orientation and shifts in preferences for a partner's body attributes in short-term versus long-term mating contexts.

PubMed

Lucas, Margery; Koff, Elissa; Grossmith, Samantha; Migliorini, Robyn

2011-06-01

This study assessed the effects of short- and long-term mating contexts on preferences for body characteristics of potential relationship partners in lesbians and heterosexual women. Lesbians (n = 41) rated figure drawings and computer-generated images of women that varied in body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and breast size; heterosexual women (n = 95) rated computer-generated images of men that varied in muscularity and body fat. Both lesbians and heterosexual women showed a shift in preferences toward more physically attractive partners for shortterm relationships. All body aspects were affected, except that heterosexual women did not show a preference shift for male body fat. The results were interpreted in terms of a mating trade-off strategy in which mate preferences are the consequence of cost/benefit analyses and suggest that preferences for physical attributes of sexual partners may be shared by members of the same sex regardless of sexual orientation.

Left-right facial orientation of familiar faces: developmental aspects of « the mere exposure hypothesis ».

PubMed

Amestoy, Anouck; Bouvard, Manuel P; Cazalets, Jean-René

2010-01-01

We investigated the developmental aspect of sensitivity to the orientation of familiar faces by asking 38 adults and 72 children from 3 to 12 years old to make a preference choice between standard and mirror images of themselves and of familiar faces, presented side-by-side or successively. When familiar (parental) faces were presented simultaneously, 3- to 5-year-olds showed no preference, but by age 5-7 years an adult-like preference for the standard image emerged. Similarly, the adult-like preference for the mirror image of their own face emerged by 5-7 years of age. When familiar or self faces were presented successively, 3- to 7-year-olds showed no preference, and adult-like preference for the standard image emerged by age 7-12 years. These results suggest the occurrence of a developmental process in the perception of familiar face asymmetries which is retained in memory related to knowledge about faces.

Development of spatial preferences for counting and picture naming.

PubMed

Knudsen, Birgit; Fischer, Martin H; Aschersleben, Gisa

2015-11-01

The direction of object enumeration reflects children's enculturation but previous work on the development of such spatial preferences has been inconsistent. Therefore, we documented directional preferences in finger counting, object counting, and picture naming for children (4 groups from 3 to 6 years, N = 104) and adults (N = 56). We found a right-side preference for finger counting in 3- to 6-year-olds and a left-side preference for counting objects and naming pictures by 6 years of age. Children were consistent in their special preferences when comparing object counting and picture naming, but not in other task pairings. Finally, spatial preferences were not related to cardinality comprehension. These results, together with other recent work, suggest a gradual development of spatial-numerical associations from early non-directional mappings into culturally constrained directional mappings.

Geography and Orienteering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, W. P.

1972-01-01

Orienteering is a rapidly growing sport, developed in Sweden, which has great possibilities for education in geography. It can be conceived as an organizing device for outdoor work and as a basis for developing map skills and for map construction. (Author)

Astronomical Orientations of Bora Ceremonial Grounds in Southeast Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuller, Robert S.; Hamacher, Duane W.; Norris, Ray P.

2013-12-01

Ethnographic evidence indicates that bora (initiation) ceremonial sites in southeast Australia, which typically comprise a pair of circles connected by a pathway, are symbolically reflected in the Milky Way as the 'Sky Bora'. This evidence also indicates that the position of the Sky Bora signifies the time of year when initiation ceremonies are held. We use archaeological data to test the hypothesis that southeast Australian bora grounds have a preferred orientation to the position of the Milky Way in the night sky in August, when the plane of the galaxy from Crux to Sagittarius is roughly vertical in the evening sky to the south-southwest. We accomplish this by measuring the orientations of 68 bora grounds using a combination of data from the archaeological literature, and site cards in the New South Wales Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System database. We find that bora grounds have a preferred orientation to the south and southwest, consistent with the Sky Bora hypothesis. Monte Carlo statistics show that these preferences were not the result of chance alignments, but were deliberate.

Influence of time orientation on food choice: Case study with cookie labels.

PubMed

Tórtora, Giuliana; Ares, Gastón

2018-04-01

Time orientation can influence health-related behaviors, including food consumption. The aim of the present work was to study the influence of time orientation on food choice, using cookie labels as case study. A choice-conjoint task was designed using labels differing in type of cookie (chocolate chips vs. granola), front-of-pack nutrition information (nutritional warnings vs. Facts Up Front system) and nutritional claim (no claim vs. "0% cholesterol. 0% trans fat"). An online study was conducted, in which 155 participants evaluated 8 pairs of cookie labels and selected the one they would buy if they were in the supermarket. Then, they were asked to complete a consideration of future consequences scale (CFC) adapted to eating habits, as well as a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics. Time orientation influenced participants' choices of cookies labels; particularly the importance attached to type of cookie. Participants with greater consideration of future consequences preferred the granola cookies, associated with health, while those who prioritized immediate consequences preferred chocolate chip cookies. In addition, nutritional warnings discouraged choice regardless of participants' time orientation. Results from the present work provide additional evidence of the influence of time preferences on food choices and suggest that strategies to stimulate and generate a more future-oriented perspective on eating habits could contribute to more healthful food choices. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Time Preferences, Mental Health and Treatment Utilization.

PubMed

Eisenberg, Daniel; Druss, Benjamin G

2015-09-01

In all countries of the world, fewer than half of people with mental disorders receive treatment. This treatment gap is commonly attributed to factors such as consumers' limited knowledge, negative attitudes, and financial constraints. In the context of other health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, behavioral economists have emphasized time preferences and procrastination as additional barriers. These factors might also be relevant to mental health. We examine conceptually and empirically how lack of help-seeking for mental health conditions might be related to time preferences and procrastination. Our conceptual discussion explores how the interrelationships between time preferences and mental health treatment utilization could fit into basic microeconomic theory. The empirical analysis uses survey data of student populations from 12 colleges and universities in 2011 (the Healthy Minds Study, N=8,806). Using standard brief measures of discounting, procrastination, and mental health (depression and anxiety symptoms), we examine the conditional correlations between indicators of present-orientation (discount rate and procrastination) and mental health symptoms. The conceptual discussion reveals a number of potential relationships that would be useful to examine empirically. In the empirical analysis depression is significantly associated with procrastination and discounting. Treatment utilization is significantly associated with procrastination but not discounting. The empirical results are generally consistent with the idea that depression increases present orientation (reduces future orientation), as measured by discounting and procrastination. These analyses have notable limitations that will require further examination in future research: the measures are simple and brief, and the estimates may be biased from true causal effects because of omitted variables and reverse causality. There are several possibilities for future research, including: (i) observational, longitudinal studies with detailed data on mental health, time preferences, and help-seeking; (ii) experimental studies that examine immediate or short-term responses and connections between these variables; (iii) randomized trials of mental health therapies that include outcome measures of time preferences and procrastination; and, (iv) intervention studies that test strategies to influence help-seeking by addressing time preferences and present orientation.

The orientation of the mineral crystals in the radius and tibia of the sheep, and its variation with age.

PubMed Central

Bacon, G E; Goodship, A E

1991-01-01

The direction of preferred orientation of the hydroxyapatite crystals in both the tibia and radius of the sheep is close to the long axis of the bone, notwithstanding the angle of about 30 degrees which, for the tibia, exists between the long axis and the direction of principal dynamic strain during locomotion. For both bones the orientation of the cranial cortex, which is a tension surface during locomotion, is about 40% larger than the caudal. The variation with age of the magnitude of the preferred orientation for the sheep bones is contrasted with what has been reported earlier for the human femur. Notably, for the sheep, both bones show substantial orientation at birth--having increased steadily during gestation--so that the animal is able to stand and walk at the outset. PMID:1817133

Can infants' orientation to social stimuli predict later joint attention skills?

PubMed

Schietecatte, Inge; Roeyers, Herbert; Warreyn, Petra

2012-06-01

From the moment infants are born, they seem to prefer orienting to social stimuli, over objects and non-social stimuli. This preference lasts throughout adulthood and is believed to play a crucial role in social-communicative development. By following up a group of infants at the age of 6, 8, and 12 months, this study explored the role of social orienting in the early development of joint attention skills. The expected association between social orienting and joint attention was partially confirmed. Social orienting in real-life photographs of everyday situations was not related to later joint attention skills, however fixation to the eyes in a neutral face was related to response to joint attention skills, and fixation to the eyes in a dynamic video clip of a talking person was predictive of initiating joint attention skills. Several alternative interpretations of the results are discussed. ©2011 The British Psychological Society.

The basis of orientation decoding in human primary visual cortex: fine- or coarse-scale biases?

PubMed

Maloney, Ryan T

2015-01-01

Orientation signals in human primary visual cortex (V1) can be reliably decoded from the multivariate pattern of activity as measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The precise underlying source of these decoded signals (whether by orientation biases at a fine or coarse scale in cortex) remains a matter of some controversy, however. Freeman and colleagues (J Neurosci 33: 19695-19703, 2013) recently showed that the accuracy of decoding of spiral patterns in V1 can be predicted by a voxel's preferred spatial position (the population receptive field) and its coarse orientation preference, suggesting that coarse-scale biases are sufficient for orientation decoding. Whether they are also necessary for decoding remains an open question, and one with implications for the broader interpretation of multivariate decoding results in fMRI studies. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

An experimental approach in revisiting the magnetic orientation of cattle.

PubMed

Weijers, Debby; Hemerik, Lia; Heitkönig, Ignas M A

2018-01-01

In response to the increasing number of observational studies on an apparent south-north orientation in non-homing, non-migrating terrestrial mammals, we experimentally tested the alignment hypothesis using strong neodymium magnets on the resting orientation of individual cattle in Portugal. Contrary to the hypothesis, the 34 cows in the experiment showed no directional preference, neither with, nor without a strong neodymium magnet fixed to their collar. The concurrently performed 2,428 daytime observations-excluding the hottest part of the day-of 659 resting individual cattle did not show a south-north alignment when at rest either. The preferred compass orientation of these cows was on average 130 degrees from the magnetic north (i.e., south east). Cow compass orientation correlated significantly with sun direction, but not with wind direction. In as far as we can determine, this is the first experimental test on magnetic orientation in larger, non-homing, non-migrating mammals. These experimental and observational findings do not support previously published suggestions on the magnetic south-north alignment in these mammals.

Surgery clerkship orientation: evaluating temporal changes in student orientation needs.

PubMed

O'Neill, Conor; Moore, Jesse; Callas, Peter

2016-08-01

Surgery clerkship students at our institution receive a standardized orientation covering objectives, requirements, grading, and expectations. Limited data exist regarding the student perceptions of this approach. Surveys were provided to students to rate the importance of orientation topics and their satisfaction with topic conclusion. Scores between student groupings over the clerkship year were analyzed with Student t tests and analysis of variance with Scheffe adjustments. Significant differences in the mean importance rating between topics exists (P < .0001) as well as among satisfaction scores for topics (P < .0005). Early clerkship students value course expectations higher than later students (P = .03). Early clerkship students want more time devoted to hospital tours and expectations compared with later students (31% vs 8%). Orientation needs for students change over the clerkship year. Beginning students prefer basic direction for time spent on the ward. Later students prefer information regarding shelf preparation. Surgery course directors can adapt the orientation based on the experience of clerkship students. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Young doctors' preferences for payment systems: the influence of gender and personality traits.

PubMed

Abelsen, Birgit; Olsen, Jan Abel

2015-08-19

Activity-based payment contracts are common among doctors, but to what extent are they preferred? The aim of this paper is to elicit young doctors' preferences for alternative payment systems before they have adapted to an existing system. We examine the existence of gender differences and the extent to which personality traits determine preferences. A cross-sectional survey of all final-year medical students and all interns in Norway examined the extent to which preferences for different payment systems depend on gender and personality traits. Data analysis relied on one-way ANOVA and multinomial logistic regression. The current activity-based payment systems were the least preferred, both in hospitals (16.6%) and in general practice (19.7%). The contrasting alternative "fixed salary" achieved similar relative support. Approximately half preferred the hybrid alternative. When certainty associated with a payment system increased, its appeal rose for women and individuals who are less prestige-oriented, risk-tolerant or effort-tolerant. Activity-based systems were preferred among status- and income-oriented respondents. The vast majority of young doctors prefer payment systems that are less activity-based than the current contracts offered in the Norwegian health service. Recruitment and retention in less prestigious medical specialities might improve if young doctors could choose payment systems corresponding with their diverse preferences.

Bivariate and Multivariate Associations between Trait Listening Goals and Trait Communicator Preferences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keaton, Shaughan A.; Keteyian, Robert V.; Bodie, Graham D.

2014-01-01

This article provides validity evidence for a measure of listening goals by showing theoretically consistent relationships with an existing communication preference questionnaire. Participants (N = 257) were administered trait measures for listening goals and communicator preferences. The four listening goals--relational, task-oriented,…

Senior High School Students' Preference and Reasoning Modes about Nuclear Energy Use.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Fang-Ying; Anderson, O. Roger

2003-01-01

Examines senior high school students' cognitive orientation toward scientific or social information, designated as information preference, and associated preferential reasoning modes when presented with an environmental issue concerning nuclear energy usage. Investigates the association of information preference variable with academic and personal…

Correlated Preferences for Male Facial Masculinity and Partner Traits in Gay and Bisexual Men in China.

PubMed

Zheng, Lijun; Zheng, Yong

2015-07-01

Previous studies have documented the correlation between preferences for male facial masculinity and perceived masculinity: women who rate their male partner as more masculine tend to prefer more masculine faces. Men's self-rated masculinity predicts their female partner's preference for masculinity. This study examined the association between other trait preferences and preference for male facial masculinity among 556 gay and bisexual men across multiple cities in China. Participants were asked to choose the three most important traits in a romantic partner from a list of 23 traits. Each participant was then asked to choose a preferred face in each of 10 pairs of male faces presented sequentially, with each pair consisting of a masculinized and feminized version of the same base face. The results indicated that preferences for health and status-related traits were correlated with preferences for male facial masculinity in gay and bisexual men in China; individuals who were more health- or status-oriented in their preferences for a romantic partner preferred more masculine male faces than individuals with lower levels of these orientations. The findings have implications for the correlated preferences for facial masculinity and health- and status-related traits and may be related to perceived health and dominance/aggression of masculine faces based on a sample of non-Western gay and bisexual men.

Esthetic smile preferences and the orientation of the maxillary occlusal plane.

PubMed

Kattadiyil, Mathew T; Goodacre, Charles J; Naylor, W Patrick; Maveli, Thomas C

2012-12-01

The anteroposterior orientation of the maxillary occlusal plane has an important role in the creation, assessment, and perception of an esthetic smile. However, the effect of the angle at which this plane is visualized (the viewing angle) in a broad smile has not been quantified. The purpose of this study was to assess the esthetic preferences of dental professionals and nondentists by using 3 viewing angles of the anteroposterior orientation of the maxillary occlusal plane. After Institutional Review Board approval, standardized digital photographic images of the smiles of 100 participants were recorded by simultaneously triggering 3 cameras set at different viewing angles. The top camera was positioned 10 degrees above the occlusal plane (camera #1, Top view); the center camera was positioned at the level of the occlusal plane (camera #2, Center view); and the bottom camera was located 10 degrees below the occlusal plane (camera #3, Bottom view). Forty-two dental professionals and 31 nondentists (persons from the general population) independently evaluated digital images of each participant's smile captured from the Top view, Center view, and Bottom view. The 73 evaluators were asked individually through a questionnaire to rank the 3 photographic images of each patient as 'most pleasing,' 'somewhat pleasing,' or 'least pleasing,' with most pleasing being the most esthetic view and the preferred orientation of the occlusal plane. The resulting esthetic preferences were statistically analyzed by using the Friedman test. In addition, the participants were asked to rank their own images from the 3 viewing angles as 'most pleasing,' 'somewhat pleasing,' and 'least pleasing.' The 73 evaluators found statistically significant differences in the esthetic preferences between the Top and Bottom views and between the Center and Bottom views (P<.001). No significant differences were found between the Top and Center views. The Top position was marginally preferred over the Center, and both were significantly preferred over the Bottom position. When the participants evaluated their own smiles, a significantly greater number (P< .001) preferred the Top view over the Center or the Bottom views. No significant differences were found in preferences based on the demographics of the evaluators when comparing age, education, gender, profession, and race. The esthetic preference for the maxillary occlusal plane was influenced by the viewing angle with the higher (Top) and center views preferred by both dental and nondental evaluators. The participants themselves preferred the higher view of their smile significantly more often than the center or lower angle views (P<.001). Copyright © 2012 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dynamic visual attention: motion direction versus motion magnitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bur, A.; Wurtz, P.; Müri, R. M.; Hügli, H.

2008-02-01

Defined as an attentive process in the context of visual sequences, dynamic visual attention refers to the selection of the most informative parts of video sequence. This paper investigates the contribution of motion in dynamic visual attention, and specifically compares computer models designed with the motion component expressed either as the speed magnitude or as the speed vector. Several computer models, including static features (color, intensity and orientation) and motion features (magnitude and vector) are considered. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations are performed by comparing the computer model output with human saliency maps obtained experimentally from eye movement recordings. The model suitability is evaluated in various situations (synthetic and real sequences, acquired with fixed and moving camera perspective), showing advantages and inconveniences of each method as well as preferred domain of application.

The Use of Concept Maps in Creating a Short Video with Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gocsál, Ákos; Tóth, Renáta

2016-01-01

This paper presents the results of an experimental project in which media students created a short video. The students in groups of 4 or 5 used concept maps for collected their ideas about organizing the project. The analysis of the concept maps revealed that two groups were product-oriented, one group was workflow-oriented, and two groups used…

Using object-oriented classification and high-resolution imagery to map fuel types in a Mediterranean region.

Treesearch

L. Arroyo; S.P. Healey; W.B. Cohen; D. Cocero; J.A. Manzanera

2006-01-01

Knowledge of fuel load and composition is critical in fighting, preventing, and understanding wildfires. Commonly, the generation of fuel maps from remotely sensed imagery has made use of medium-resolution sensors such as Landsat. This paper presents a methodology to generate fuel type maps from high spatial resolution satellite data through object-oriented...

A Time Sequence-Oriented Concept Map Approach to Developing Educational Computer Games for History Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chu, Hui-Chun; Yang, Kai-Hsiang; Chen, Jing-Hong

2015-01-01

Concept maps have been recognized as an effective tool for students to organize their knowledge; however, in history courses, it is important for students to learn and organize historical events according to the time of their occurrence. Therefore, in this study, a time sequence-oriented concept map approach is proposed for developing a game-based…

A Gaze-Driven Evolutionary Algorithm to Study Aesthetic Evaluation of Visual Symmetry

PubMed Central

Bertamini, Marco; Jones, Andrew; Holmes, Tim; Zanker, Johannes M.

2016-01-01

Empirical work has shown that people like visual symmetry. We used a gaze-driven evolutionary algorithm technique to answer three questions about symmetry preference. First, do people automatically evaluate symmetry without explicit instruction? Second, is perfect symmetry the best stimulus, or do people prefer a degree of imperfection? Third, does initial preference for symmetry diminish after familiarity sets in? Stimuli were generated as phenotypes from an algorithmic genotype, with genes for symmetry (coded as deviation from a symmetrical template, deviation–symmetry, DS gene) and orientation (0° to 90°, orientation, ORI gene). An eye tracker identified phenotypes that were good at attracting and retaining the gaze of the observer. Resulting fitness scores determined the genotypes that passed to the next generation. We recorded changes to the distribution of DS and ORI genes over 20 generations. When participants looked for symmetry, there was an increase in high-symmetry genes. When participants looked for the patterns they preferred, there was a smaller increase in symmetry, indicating that people tolerated some imperfection. Conversely, there was no increase in symmetry during free viewing, and no effect of familiarity or orientation. This work demonstrates the viability of the evolutionary algorithm approach as a quantitative measure of aesthetic preference. PMID:27433324

Early Hormonal Influences on Childhood Sex-Typed Activity and Playmate Preferences: Implications for the Development of Sexual Orientation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berenbaum, Sheri A.; Snyder, Elizabeth

1995-01-01

Examined hormonal influences on activity and playmate preferences in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) age 2.5 to 12 years and their relatives. Found that girls with CAH preferred boys' toys and activities, whereas boys with CAH did not differ significantly from controls. Activity and playmate preferences were not related. (MDM)

Neurons in cat V1 show significant clustering by degree of tuning

PubMed Central

Ziskind, Avi J.; Emondi, Al A.; Kurgansky, Andrei V.; Rebrik, Sergei P.

2015-01-01

Neighboring neurons in cat primary visual cortex (V1) have similar preferred orientation, direction, and spatial frequency. How diverse is their degree of tuning for these properties? To address this, we used single-tetrode recordings to simultaneously isolate multiple cells at single recording sites and record their responses to flashed and drifting gratings of multiple orientations, spatial frequencies, and, for drifting gratings, directions. Orientation tuning width, spatial frequency tuning width, and direction selectivity index (DSI) all showed significant clustering: pairs of neurons recorded at a single site were significantly more similar in each of these properties than pairs of neurons from different recording sites. The strength of the clustering was generally modest. The percent decrease in the median difference between pairs from the same site, relative to pairs from different sites, was as follows: for different measures of orientation tuning width, 29–35% (drifting gratings) or 15–25% (flashed gratings); for DSI, 24%; and for spatial frequency tuning width measured in octaves, 8% (drifting gratings). The clusterings of all of these measures were much weaker than for preferred orientation (68% decrease) but comparable to that seen for preferred spatial frequency in response to drifting gratings (26%). For the above properties, little difference in clustering was seen between simple and complex cells. In studies of spatial frequency tuning to flashed gratings, strong clustering was seen among simple-cell pairs for tuning width (70% decrease) and preferred frequency (71% decrease), whereas no clustering was seen for simple-complex or complex-complex cell pairs. PMID:25652921

The genetic architecture of reproductive isolation in Louisiana irises: pollination syndromes and pollinator preferences.

PubMed

Martin, Noland H; Sapir, Yuval; Arnold, Michael L

2008-04-01

In animal-pollinated plants, pollinator preferences for divergent floral forms can lead to partial reproductive isolation. We describe regions of plant genomes that affect pollinator preferences for two species of Louisiana Irises, Iris brevicaulis and Iris fulva, and their artificial hybrids. Iris brevicaulis and I. fulva possess bee and bird-pollination syndromes, respectively. Hummingbirds preferred I. fulva and under-visited both I. brevicaulis and backcrosses toward this species. Lepidopterans preferred I. fulva and backcrosses toward I. fulva, but also under-visited I. brevicaulis and I. brevicaulis backcrosses. Bumblebees preferred I. brevicaulis and F1 hybrids and rarely visited I. fulva. Although all three pollen vectors preferred one or the other species, these preferences did not prevent visitation to other hybrid/parental classes. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, in reciprocal BC1 mapping populations, defined the genetic architecture of loci that affected pollinator behavior. We detected six and nine QTLs that affected pollinator visitation rates in the BCIb and BCIf mapping populations, respectively, with as many as three QTLs detected for each trait. Overall, this study reflects the possible role of quantitative genetic factors in determining (1) reproductive isolation, (2) the pattern of pollinator-mediated genetic exchange, and thus (3) hybrid zone evolution.

Identifying the ideal profile of French yogurts for different clusters of consumers.

PubMed

Masson, M; Saint-Eve, A; Delarue, J; Blumenthal, D

2016-05-01

Identifying the sensory properties that affect consumer preferences for food products is an important feature of product development. Different methods, such as external preference mapping or partial least squares regression, are used to establish relationships between sensory data and consumer preferences and to identify sensory attributes that drive consumer preferences, by highlighting optimum products. Plain French yogurts were evaluated by a sensory profiling method performed by 12 trained judges. In parallel, 180 consumers were asked to score their overall liking and complete a cognitive restraint questionnaire. After hierarchical cluster analysis on the liking scores, preference mapping using a quadratic regression model was performed. Five clusters of consumers were identified as a function of different preference patterns. Contrary to our expectations, fat levels were not discriminating. For each cluster, the results of preference mapping enabled the identification of optimum products. A comparison of the 5 sensory profiles revealed numerous differences between key sensory attributes. For example, one consumer cluster had a strong preference for products perceived as very thick, grainy, but with a less flowing texture, less sticky, whey presence and color, in contrast to other clusters. In addition, each segment of consumers was characterized according to the results of the cognitive restraint questionnaire. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Selective loss of orientation column maps in visual cortex during brief elevation of intraocular pressure.

PubMed

Chen, Xin; Sun, Chao; Huang, Luoxiu; Shou, Tiande

2003-01-01

To compare the orientation column maps elicited by different spatial frequency gratings in cortical area 17 of cats before and during brief elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP was elevated by injecting saline into the anterior chamber of a cat's eye through a syringe needle. The IOP was elevated enough to cause a retinal perfusion pressure (arterial pressure minus IOP) of approximately 30 mm Hg during a brief elevation of IOP. The visual stimulus gratings were varied in spatial frequency, whereas other parameters were kept constant. The orientation column maps of the cortical area 17 were monocularly elicited by drifting gratings of different spatial frequencies and revealed by a brain intrinsic signal optical imaging system. These maps were compared before and during short-term elevation of IOP. The response amplitude of the orientation maps in area 17 decreased during a brief elevation of IOP. This decrease was dependent on the retinal perfusion pressure but not on the absolute IOP. The location of the most visible maps was spatial-frequency dependent. The blurring or loss of the pattern of the orientation maps was most severe when high-spatial-frequency gratings were used and appeared most significantly on the posterior part of the exposed cortex while IOP was elevated. However, the basic patterns of the maps remained unchanged. Changes in cortical signal were not due to changes in the optics of the eye with elevation of IOP. A stable normal IOP is essential for maintaining normal visual cortical functions. During a brief and high elevation of IOP, the cortical processing of high-spatial-frequency visual information was diminished because of a selectively functional decline of the retinogeniculocortical X pathway by a mechanism of retinal circulation origin.

Enhancing scattering images for orientation recovery with diffusion map

DOE PAGES

Winter, Martin; Saalmann, Ulf; Rost, Jan M.

2016-02-12

We explore the possibility for orientation recovery in single-molecule coherent diffractive imaging with diffusion map. This algorithm approximates the Laplace-Beltrami operator, which we diagonalize with a metric that corresponds to the mapping of Euler angles onto scattering images. While suitable for images of objects with specific properties we show why this approach fails for realistic molecules. Here, we introduce a modification of the form factor in the scattering images which facilitates the orientation recovery and should be suitable for all recovery algorithms based on the distance of individual images. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America

Parallel tempering Monte Carlo simulations of lysozyme orientation on charged surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yun; Zhou, Jian; Jiang, Shaoyi

2010-02-01

In this work, the parallel tempering Monte Carlo (PTMC) algorithm is applied to accurately and efficiently identify the global-minimum-energy orientation of a protein adsorbed on a surface in a single simulation. When applying the PTMC method to simulate lysozyme orientation on charged surfaces, it is found that lysozyme could easily be adsorbed on negatively charged surfaces with "side-on" and "back-on" orientations. When driven by dominant electrostatic interactions, lysozyme tends to be adsorbed on negatively charged surfaces with the side-on orientation for which the active site of lysozyme faces sideways. The side-on orientation agrees well with the experimental results where the adsorbed orientation of lysozyme is determined by electrostatic interactions. As the contribution from van der Waals interactions gradually dominates, the back-on orientation becomes the preferred one. For this orientation, the active site of lysozyme faces outward, which conforms to the experimental results where the orientation of adsorbed lysozyme is co-determined by electrostatic interactions and van der Waals interactions. It is also found that despite of its net positive charge, lysozyme could be adsorbed on positively charged surfaces with both "end-on" and back-on orientations owing to the nonuniform charge distribution over lysozyme surface and the screening effect from ions in solution. The PTMC simulation method provides a way to determine the preferred orientation of proteins on surfaces for biosensor and biomaterial applications.

Job Seekers' Perceptions of Teleworking: A Cognitive Mapping Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerrin, Maire; Hone, Kate

2001-01-01

College students (n=40) and nonstudent job seekers (n=20) rated four dimensions of telework. Results were plotted in cognitive maps. Students preferred office work to telework, citing lack of social interaction. Nonstudents, slightly older and more likely to be parents, slightly preferred telework. Targeting recruitment to account for these…

Towards 3D crystal orientation reconstruction using automated crystal orientation mapping transmission electron microscopy (ACOM-TEM).

PubMed

Kobler, Aaron; Kübel, Christian

2018-01-01

To relate the internal structure of a volume (crystallite and phase boundaries) to properties (electrical, magnetic, mechanical, thermal), a full 3D reconstruction in combination with in situ testing is desirable. In situ testing allows the crystallographic changes in a material to be followed by tracking and comparing the individual crystals and phases. Standard transmission electron microscopy (TEM) delivers a projection image through the 3D volume of an electron-transparent TEM sample lamella. Only with the help of a dedicated TEM tomography sample holder is an accurate 3D reconstruction of the TEM lamella currently possible. 2D crystal orientation mapping has become a standard method for crystal orientation and phase determination while 3D crystal orientation mapping have been reported only a few times. The combination of in situ testing with 3D crystal orientation mapping remains a challenge in terms of stability and accuracy. Here, we outline a method to 3D reconstruct the crystal orientation from a superimposed diffraction pattern of overlapping crystals without sample tilt. Avoiding the typically required tilt series for 3D reconstruction enables not only faster in situ tests but also opens the possibility for more stable and more accurate in situ mechanical testing. The approach laid out here should serve as an inspiration for further research and does not make a claim to be complete.

The Meaning of Being Predominantly Present-Oriented in Middle Age and in Non-Western Context.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shirai, Toshiaki

This paper describes a study of time orientation and preferences of people in western and nonwestern cultures at various life stages. Data were gathered by means of a literature review and a time orientation questionnaire completed by 1,657 individuals in Belgium and Japan. Findings of the study suggest that the time orientation that enhances…

Map and Compass Skills for the Secondary School (Understanding Topographic Maps, Developing Compass Skills, and Orienteering). Instructional Activities Series IA/S-18.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Larkin, Robert P.

This activity is one of a series of 17 teacher-developed instructional activities for geography at the secondary-grade level described in SO 009 140. The activity investigates the development of compass skills, map skills, and orienteering. It employs the educational-games approach. Given specific exercises and instructions, students become…

Three-dimensional full-field X-ray orientation microscopy

PubMed Central

Viganò, Nicola; Tanguy, Alexandre; Hallais, Simon; Dimanov, Alexandre; Bornert, Michel; Batenburg, Kees Joost; Ludwig, Wolfgang

2016-01-01

A previously introduced mathematical framework for full-field X-ray orientation microscopy is for the first time applied to experimental near-field diffraction data acquired from a polycrystalline sample. Grain by grain tomographic reconstructions using convex optimization and prior knowledge are carried out in a six-dimensional representation of position-orientation space, used for modelling the inverse problem of X-ray orientation imaging. From the 6D reconstruction output we derive 3D orientation maps, which are then assembled into a common sample volume. The obtained 3D orientation map is compared to an EBSD surface map and local misorientations, as well as remaining discrepancies in grain boundary positions are quantified. The new approach replaces the single orientation reconstruction scheme behind X-ray diffraction contrast tomography and extends the applicability of this diffraction imaging technique to material micro-structures exhibiting sub-grains and/or intra-granular orientation spreads of up to a few degrees. As demonstrated on textured sub-regions of the sample, the new framework can be extended to operate on experimental raw data, thereby bypassing the concept of orientation indexation based on diffraction spot peak positions. This new method enables fast, three-dimensional characterization with isotropic spatial resolution, suitable for time-lapse observations of grain microstructures evolving as a function of applied strain or temperature. PMID:26868303

Career plans for male-dominated occupations among female seniors in religious and secular high schools.

PubMed

Rich, Y; Golan, R

1992-01-01

This study investigated the hypothesis that the religious beliefs of young women significantly affect their career planning. All female seniors (N = 315) in one public religious and two public secular high schools in Israel responded to inventories examining their (1) orientation to homemaking or career, (2) interest in male-dominated occupations, and (3) preference for male-dominated occupations. Results from regression analyses indicated that young women from the secular schools, as compared to those from the religious school, expressed greater interest in and preference for male-dominated occupations. In addition, religious orientation, more than other background variables, had predictive power for interest in and preference for male-dominated occupations.

3D topology of orientation columns in visual cortex revealed by functional optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Nakamichi, Yu; Kalatsky, Valery A; Watanabe, Hideyuki; Sato, Takayuki; Rajagopalan, Uma Maheswari; Tanifuji, Manabu

2018-04-01

Orientation tuning is a canonical neuronal response property of six-layer visual cortex that is encoded in pinwheel structures with center orientation singularities. Optical imaging of intrinsic signals enables us to map these surface two-dimensional (2D) structures, whereas lack of appropriate techniques has not allowed us to visualize depth structures of orientation coding. In the present study, we performed functional optical coherence tomography (fOCT), a technique capable of acquiring a 3D map of the intrinsic signals, to study the topology of orientation coding inside the cat visual cortex. With this technique, for the first time, we visualized columnar assemblies in orientation coding that had been predicted from electrophysiological recordings. In addition, we found that the columnar structures were largely distorted around pinwheel centers: center singularities were not rigid straight lines running perpendicularly to the cortical surface but formed twisted string-like structures inside the cortex that turned and extended horizontally through the cortex. Looping singularities were observed with their respective termini accessing the same cortical surface via clockwise and counterclockwise orientation pinwheels. These results suggest that a 3D topology of orientation coding cannot be fully anticipated from 2D surface measurements. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the utility of fOCT as an in vivo mesoscale imaging method for mapping functional response properties of cortex in the depth axis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used functional optical coherence tomography (fOCT) to visualize three-dimensional structure of the orientation columns with millimeter range and micrometer spatial resolution. We validated vertically elongated columnar structure in iso-orientation domains. The columnar structure was distorted around pinwheel centers. An orientation singularity formed a string with tortuous trajectories inside the cortex and connected clockwise and counterclockwise pinwheel centers in the surface orientation map. The results were confirmed by comparisons with conventional optical imaging and electrophysiological recordings.

METALLURGY OF ZIRCALOY-2. PART II. THE EFFECTS OF FABRICATION VARIABLES ON THE PREFERRED ORIENTATION AND ANISOTROPY OF STRAIN BEHAVIOR

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

Rittenhouse, P.L.; Picklesimer, M.L.

1961-02-01

The preferred orientation and anisotropy of strain behavior of Zircaloy- 2 were studied as functions of fabrication variables. An inverse-pole-figure technique was used for the preferred orientation determinations. Evaluation of the effects of the fabrication variables on the anisotropy of strain behavior was accomplished by a contractile strainaxial strain analysis. An analysis of strain behavior in the normal direction was developed on the basis of theory of plastic flow of anisotropic metals. A simple intuitively derivable relation was found to exist between the strainstrain analysis and the preferred orientation data. Correlations of the strain-strain data with true-stress-truestrain diagrams and mechanicalmore » properties were attempted. The preferred orientation of Zircaloy-2 produced by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory-Homogeneous Reactor Project (ORNL- HRP) metallurgy fabrication schedule (ingot breakdown at 1500 to 1900 deg F, major reduction at 1800 to 1900 deg F or 1350 to 1450 deg F, a heat treatment of 30 min at 1800 at 1550 deg F followed by a water quench or rapid air cool to below 1200 deg F, a final reduction of 25 to 40% at 1000 deg F. and a 3O-min anneal at 1400 to 1425 deg F) was weak compared to that of most of the other schedules investigated. Elimination of the beta heat treatment (1800 to 1850 deg F for 30 min) between the major reduction and final reduction steps resulted in a material with a high degree of preferred orienation and with a state of pseudoisotropy in ihe rolling plane. A unique and quite high degree of preferred orientaion was developed when the ORNL-HRP metallurgy fabrication procedure was used, but the ingot axis was in the transverse rather than the rolling direction of the finished plate permitting more contractile sirain to occur in the normal direction than in either the rolling or transverse directions. The strain-strain analyses of the materials were consistent with the conclusions reached by the preferred orientation analyses. The effects of cross rolling on the anisotropy of strain behavior of Zircaloy-2 were found to depend on the type of cross rolling (unidirectional or rotational), the temperature of cross rolling, and the stage of fabrication at which the cross rolling was done. Unidirectional cross rolling at 1000 deg F after beta heat treatment caused only a slight increase in anisotropy of strain behavior over that for straight-rolled material, but roiational cross rolling at 1000 deg F after beta heat treatment resulted in a material with a state of isotropy of strain behavior only in the rolling plane. Rotational cross rolling before beta heat treatment, for one material at 1450 deg F and for another from 1900 deg F, produced different states or degrees of anisotropy of strain behavior. Because of flow constraints which exist in sheettype tensile specimens with width-to-thickness ratios > 1.0, it is imperative that round tensile specimens be used in the contractile strain-axial strain analysis. Since the principal axes of anisotropy are generally not the major sheet directions, they must be found by the preferred orientation analysis. (auth)« less

Homosexual mating preferences from an evolutionary perspective: sexual selection theory revisited.

PubMed

Gobrogge, Kyle L; Perkins, Patrick S; Baker, Jessica H; Balcer, Kristen D; Breedlove, S Marc; Klump, Kelly L

2007-10-01

Studies in evolutionary psychology and sexual selection theory show that heterosexual men prefer younger mating partners than heterosexual women in order to ensure reproductive success. However, previous research has generally not examined differences in mating preferences as a function of sexual orientation or the type of relationship sought in naturalistic settings. Given that homosexual men seek partners for reasons other than procreation, they may exhibit different mating preferences than their heterosexual counterparts. Moreover, mating preferences may show important differences depending on whether an individual is seeking a long-term versus a short-term relationship. The purpose of the present study was to examine these issues by comparing partner preferences in terms of age and relationship type between homosexual and heterosexual men placing internet personal advertisements. Participants included 439 homosexual and 365 heterosexual men who placed internet ads in the U.S. or Canada. Ads were coded for the participant's age, relationship type (longer-term or short-term sexual encounter) sought, and partner age preferences. Significantly more homosexual than heterosexual men sought sexual encounters, although men (regardless of sexual orientation) seeking sexual encounters preferred a significantly wider age range of partners than men seeking longer-term relationships. These findings suggest that partner preferences are independent of evolutionary drives to procreate, since both types of men preferred similar ages in their partners. In addition, they highlight the importance of examining relationship type in evolutionary studies of mating preferences, as men's partner preferences show important differences depending upon the type of relationship sought.

Influence of substrate modification and C-terminal truncation on the active site structure of substrate-bound heme oxygenase from Neisseriae meningitidis; A 1H NMR study†

PubMed Central

Peng, Dungeng; Satterlee, James D.; Ma, Li-Hua; Dallas, Jerry L.; Smith, Kevin M.; Zhang, Xuhong; Sato, Michihiko; La Mar, Gerd N.

2011-01-01

Heme oxygenase, HO, from the pathogenic bacterium N. meningitidis, NmHO, which secures host iron, shares many properties with mammalian HOs, but also exhibits some key differences. The crystal structure appears more compact and the crystal-undetected C-terminus interacts with substrate in solution. The unique nature of substrate-protein, specifically pyrrole-I/II-helix-2, peripheral interactions in NmHO are probed by 2D 1H NMR to reveal unique structural features controlling substrate orientation. The thermodynamics of substrate orientational isomerism are mapped for substrates with individual vinyl → methyl → hydrogen substitutions and with enzyme C-terminal deletions. NmHO exhibits significantly stronger orientational preference, reflecting much stronger and selective pyrrole-I/II interactions with the protein matrix, than in mammalian HOs. Thus, replacing bulky vinyls with hydrogens results in a 180° rotation of substrate about the α,γ-meso axis in the active site. A "collapse" of the substrate pocket as substrate size decreases is reflected in movement of helix-2 toward the substrate as indicated by significant and selective increased NOESY cross peak intensity, increase in steric Fe-CN tilt reflected in the orientation of the major magnetic axis, and decrease in steric constraints controlling the rate of aromatic ring reorientation. The active site of NmHO appears "stressed" for native protohemin and its "collapse" upon replacing vinyls by hydrogen leads to a factor ~102 increase in substrate affinity. Interaction of the C-terminus with the active site destabilizes the crystallographic protohemin orientation by ~0.7 kcal/mol, which is consistent with optimizing the His207-Asp27 H-bond. Implications of the active site "stress" for product release are discussed. PMID:21870860

Fishing for Northern Pike in Minnesota: A comparison of anglers and dark house spearers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schroeder, Susan A.; Fulton, David C.

2014-01-01

In order to project fishing effort and demand of individuals targeting Northern Pike Esox lucius in Minnesota, it is important to understand the catch orientations, management preferences, and site choice preferences of those individuals. Northern Pike are specifically targeted by about 35% of the approximately 1.5 million licensed anglers in Minnesota and by approximately 14,000–15,000 dark house spearers. Dark house spearing is a traditional method of harvesting fish through the ice in winter. Mail surveys were distributed to three research strata: anglers targeting Northern Pike, dark house spearing license holders spearing Northern Pike, and dark house spearing license holders angling for Northern Pike. Dark house spearers, whether spearing or angling, reported a stronger orientation toward keeping Northern Pike than did anglers. Anglers reported a stronger orientation toward catching large Northern Pike than did dark house spearers when spearing or angling. Northern Pike regulations were the most important attribute affecting site choice for respondents in all three strata. Models for all strata indicated a preference for lakes without protected slot limits. However, protected slot limits had a stronger negative influence on lake preference for dark house spearing licensees (whether spearing or angling) than for anglers.

Coupling mesodomain positional ordering to intra-domain orientational ordering in block copolymer assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, Christopher; Reddy, Abhiram; Prasad, Ishan; Grason, Gregory

Block copolymer (BCP) melts form a number of symmetric microphases, e.g. columnar or double gyroid phases. BCPs with a block composed of chiral monomers are observed to form bulk phases with broken chiral symmetry e.g. a phase of hexagonally ordered helical mesodomains. Other new structures may be possible, e.g. double gyroid with preferred chirality which has potential photonic applications. One approach to understanding chirality transfer from monomer to the bulk is to use self consistent field theory (SCFT) and incorporate an orientational order parameter with a preference for handed twist in chiral block segments, much like the texture of cholesteric liquid crystal. Polymer chains in achiral BCPs exhibit orientational ordering which couples to the microphase geometry; a spontaneous preference for ordering may have an effect on the geometry. The influence of a preference for chiral polar (vectorial) segment order has been studied to some extent, though the influence of coupling to chiral tensorial (nematic) order has not yet been developed. We present a computational approach using SCFT with vector and tensor order which employs well developed pseudo-spectral methods. Using this we explore how tensor order influences which structures form, and if it can promote chiral phases.

Crystallographic orientation of the c-axis of biological apatite as a new index of the quality of subchondral bone in knee joint osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Lee, Jee-Wook; Kobayashi, Akio; Nakano, Takayoshi

2017-05-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the preferred orientation of biological apatite (BAp) as a new index of the quality of subchondral bone (SB) in knee joint osteoarthritis (OA). Ten OA and five normal knee joints were obtained. Thickness, quantity and bone mineral density (BMD) of SB were analyzed at the medial condyle of the femur in dry conditions by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. In addition, the preferred crystallographic orientation of the c-axis of BAp was evaluated as bone quality parameter using a microbeam X-ray diffractometer technique. BMD and thickness of SB were significantly increased in OA specimens compared to normal knee specimens (P < 0.01), and the preferred orientation of the c-axis of BAp along the normal direction of SB surface was significantly higher in OA specimens (P < 0.01), reflecting the change in stress of concentration in the pathological portion without cartilage. SB sclerosis in OA results in both proliferation of bone tissues and enhanced degree of preferential alignment of the c-axis of BAp. Our findings could have major implications for the diagnosis of clinical studies, including pathologic elucidation in OA.

Text Simplification Using Consumer Health Vocabulary to Generate Patient-Centered Radiology Reporting: Translation and Evaluation.

PubMed

Qenam, Basel; Kim, Tae Youn; Carroll, Mark J; Hogarth, Michael

2017-12-18

Radiology reporting is a clinically oriented form of documentation that reflects critical information for patients about their health care processes. Realizing its importance, many medical institutions have started providing radiology reports in patient portals. The gain, however, can be limited because of medical language barriers, which require a way for customizing these reports for patients. The open-access, collaborative consumer health vocabulary (CHV) is a terminology system created for such purposes and can be the basis of lexical simplification processes for clinical notes. The aim of this study was to examine the comprehensibility and suitability of CHV in simplifying radiology reports for consumers. This was done by characterizing the content coverage and the lexical similarity between the terms in the reports and the CHV-preferred terms. The overall procedure was divided into the following two main stages: (1) translation and (2) evaluation. The translation process involved using MetaMap to link terms in the reports to CHV concepts. This is followed by replacing the terms with CHV-preferred terms using the concept names and sources table (MRCONSO) in the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Metathesaurus. In the second stage, medical terms in the reports and general terms that are used to describe medical phenomena were selected and evaluated by comparing the words in the original reports with the translated ones. The evaluation includes measuring the content coverage, investigating lexical similarity, and finding trends in missing concepts. Of the 792 terms selected from the radiology reports, 695 of them could be mapped directly to CHV concepts, indicating a content coverage of 88.5%. A total of 51 of the concepts (53%, 51/97) that could not be mapped are names of human anatomical structures and regions, followed by 28 anatomical descriptions and pathological variations (29%, 28/97). In addition, 12 radiology techniques and projections represented 12% of the unmapped concepts, whereas the remaining six concepts (6%, 12/97) were physiological descriptions. The rate of lexical similarity between the CHV-preferred terms and the terms in the radiology reports was approximately 72.6%. The CHV covered a high percentage of concepts found in the radiology reports, but unmapped concepts are associated with areas that are commonly found in radiology reporting. CHV terms also showed a high percentage of lexical similarity with terms in the reports, which contain a myriad of medical jargon. This suggests that many CHV terms might not be suitable for lay consumers who would not be facile with radiology-specific vocabulary. Therefore, further patient-centered content changes are needed of the CHV to increase its usefulness and facilitate its integration into consumer-oriented applications. ©Basel Qenam, Tae Youn Kim, Mark J Carroll, Michael Hogarth. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 18.12.2017.

Surface cracks as a long-term record of Andean plate boundary segmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveless, J. P.; Allmendinger, R. W.; Pritchard, M. E.

2007-12-01

Meter-scale surface cracks throughout the northern Chilean and southern Peruvian forearcs provide a long-term record of seismic segmentation along the Andean plate boundary. The cracks, mapped on high-resolution satellite imagery, show strong preferred orientations over large regions and the mean strikes of cracks vary systematically as a function of position along the margin. The spatial scale of this variation suggests that stress fields operating with similar dimensions, namely those produced by strong subduction zone earthquakes, are primarily responsible for crack evolution. The orientations of cracks are consistent with the static and dynamic coseismic stress fields calculated for several recent and historical earthquakes on distinct segments of the subduction interface. Field observations indicate that the cracks have experienced multiple episodes of opening and proximal age evidence suggests that they represent deformation as old as several hundred thousand years. We invert the crack orientation data to solve for plausible slip distributions on the Iquique, Chile segment of the margin (19°--23° S), which last ruptured in a M~8--9 event in 1877. We find that concentrations of coseismic slip resolved by the inversion coincide spatially with negative gravity anomalies, consistent with recent studies correlating subduction zone earthquake slip with forearc structure. These results suggest that distinct seismic segments or asperities on the subduction interface define characteristic earthquakes with rupture dimensions and magnitudes that are similar over many seismic cycles.

Surface cracks as a long-term record of Andean plate boundary segmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveless, J. P.; Allmendinger, R. W.; Pritchard, M. E.

2004-12-01

Meter-scale surface cracks throughout the northern Chilean and southern Peruvian forearcs provide a long-term record of seismic segmentation along the Andean plate boundary. The cracks, mapped on high-resolution satellite imagery, show strong preferred orientations over large regions and the mean strikes of cracks vary systematically as a function of position along the margin. The spatial scale of this variation suggests that stress fields operating with similar dimensions, namely those produced by strong subduction zone earthquakes, are primarily responsible for crack evolution. The orientations of cracks are consistent with the static and dynamic coseismic stress fields calculated for several recent and historical earthquakes on distinct segments of the subduction interface. Field observations indicate that the cracks have experienced multiple episodes of opening and proximal age evidence suggests that they represent deformation as old as several hundred thousand years. We invert the crack orientation data to solve for plausible slip distributions on the Iquique, Chile segment of the margin (19°--23° S), which last ruptured in a M~8--9 event in 1877. We find that concentrations of coseismic slip resolved by the inversion coincide spatially with negative gravity anomalies, consistent with recent studies correlating subduction zone earthquake slip with forearc structure. These results suggest that distinct seismic segments or asperities on the subduction interface define characteristic earthquakes with rupture dimensions and magnitudes that are similar over many seismic cycles.

Lineations and structural mapping of Io's paterae and mountains: Implications for internal stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahern, Alexandra A.; Radebaugh, Jani; Christiansen, Eric H.; Harris, Ronald A.; Tass, E. Shannon

2017-11-01

The mountains of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io are tall, steep, and tectonic in origin, yet their precise modes of formation and their associations with volcanic paterae are not fully understood. Global spatial statistics of paterae and mountains and their associated lineations reveal that both types of features are more common at low latitudes and tectonic lineations have preferred orientations, whereas straight patera margins are randomly oriented. Additionally, structurally controlled lineations tend to cluster with each other, and in areas of high concentrations these tectonic lineations are shorter in length than their global average. These results indicate that global-scale (rather than local or regional) processes are involved in forming Io's tectonic structures, but that the diversity of mountain characteristics and the collapse of paterae adjacent to mountain complexes are more locally controlled. Regional structural mapping of the Hi'iaka, Shamshu, Tohil, and Zal regions reveals Io's mountains reside in large, fault-bounded crustal blocks that have undergone modification through local responses of subsurface structures to variable stresses. Strike-slip motion along reactivated faults led to the formation of transpressional and transtensional features, creating tall peaks and low basins, some of which are now occupied by paterae. We propose Io's mountains result from a combination of crustal stresses involving global and local-scale processes, dominantly volcanic loading and tidal flexing. These stresses sometimes are oriented at oblique angles to pre-existing faults, reactivating them as reverse, normal, or strike-slip faults, modifying the large, cohesive crustal blocks that many of Io's mountains reside in. Further degradation of mountains and burial of faults has occurred from extensive volcanism, mass wasting, gravitational collapse, and erosion by sublimation and sapping of sulfur-rich layers. This model of fault-bounded blocks being modified by global stresses and local structural response accounts for the variation and patterns of mountain sizes, shapes, and orientations, along with their isolation and interactions with other features. It also provides a context for the operation and extent of global and regional stresses in shaping Io's surface.

Preferred growth orientation and microsegregation behaviors of eutectic in a nickel-based single-crystal superalloy

PubMed Central

Ma, Dexin; Bührig-Polaczek, Andreas

2015-01-01

A nickel-based single-crystal superalloy was employed to investigate the preferred growth orientation behavior of the (γ + γ′) eutectic and the effect of these orientations on the segregation behavior. A novel solidification model for the eutectic island was proposed. At the beginning of the eutectic island’s crystallization, the core directly formed from the liquid by the eutectic reaction, and then preferably grew along [100] direction. The crystallization of the eutectic along [110] always lagged behind that in [100] direction. The eutectic growth in [100] direction terminated on impinging the edge of the dendrites or another eutectic island. The end of the eutectic island’s solidification terminates due to the encroachment of the eutectic liquid/solid interface at the dendrites or another eutectic island in [110] direction. The distribution of the alloying elements depended on the crystalline axis. The degree of the alloying elements’ segregation was lower along [100] than [110] direction with increasing distance from the eutectic island’s center. PMID:27877773

Revealing the preferred interlayer orientations and stackings of two-dimensional bilayer gallium selenide crystals.

PubMed

Li, Xufan; Basile, Leonardo; Yoon, Mina; Ma, Cheng; Puretzky, Alexander A; Lee, Jaekwang; Idrobo, Juan C; Chi, Miaofang; Rouleau, Christopher M; Geohegan, David B; Xiao, Kai

2015-02-23

Characterizing and controlling the interlayer orientations and stacking orders of two-dimensional (2D) bilayer crystals and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures is crucial to optimize their electrical and optoelectronic properties. The four polymorphs of layered gallium selenide (GaSe) crystals that result from different layer stackings provide an ideal platform to study the stacking configurations in 2D bilayer crystals. Through a controllable vapor-phase deposition method, bilayer GaSe crystals were selectively grown and their two preferred 0° or 60° interlayer rotations were investigated. The commensurate stacking configurations (AA' and AB stacking) in as-grown bilayer GaSe crystals are clearly observed at the atomic scale, and the Ga-terminated edge structure was identified using scanning transmission electron microscopy. Theoretical analysis reveals that the energies of the interlayer coupling are responsible for the preferred orientations among the bilayer GaSe crystals. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Theoretical Orientation and Personality of the Therapist: A Graduate Student Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivanovic, Mirka

2011-01-01

The current study adds to the literature--and addresses several identified limitations--about the relationship between therapist trainees' personality traits and their preference for a particular theoretical orientation(s). Therapist trainees (N = 197) in a Clinical Psy.D program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology completed a paper…

Accessibility versus Accuracy in Retrieving Spatial Memory: Evidence for Suboptimal Assumed Headings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yerramsetti, Ashok; Marchette, Steven A.; Shelton, Amy L.

2013-01-01

Orientation dependence in spatial memory has often been interpreted in terms of accessibility: Object locations are encoded relative to a reference orientation that affords the most accurate access to spatial memory. An open question, however, is whether people naturally use this "preferred" orientation whenever recalling the space. We…

An experimental approach in revisiting the magnetic orientation of cattle

PubMed Central

Weijers, Debby; Hemerik, Lia; Heitkönig, Ignas M. A.

2018-01-01

In response to the increasing number of observational studies on an apparent south-north orientation in non-homing, non-migrating terrestrial mammals, we experimentally tested the alignment hypothesis using strong neodymium magnets on the resting orientation of individual cattle in Portugal. Contrary to the hypothesis, the 34 cows in the experiment showed no directional preference, neither with, nor without a strong neodymium magnet fixed to their collar. The concurrently performed 2,428 daytime observations—excluding the hottest part of the day—of 659 resting individual cattle did not show a south-north alignment when at rest either. The preferred compass orientation of these cows was on average 130 degrees from the magnetic north (i.e., south east). Cow compass orientation correlated significantly with sun direction, but not with wind direction. In as far as we can determine, this is the first experimental test on magnetic orientation in larger, non-homing, non-migrating mammals. These experimental and observational findings do not support previously published suggestions on the magnetic south-north alignment in these mammals. PMID:29641517

Mechanism of competitive grain growth in a curvilinear channel of crystal-sorter during the orientational solidification of nickel-based heat-resistant alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monastyrskiy, V. P.; Pozdnyakov, A. N.; Ershov, M. Yu.; Monastyrskiy, A. V.

2017-07-01

Using numerical simulation in the ProCAST program complex, the conditions of the solidification of heat-resistant nickel alloy in curvilinear channels of a ceramic mold have been investigated. It has been shown that, in practically important cases, the vector of the temperature gradient is oriented along the axis of the curvilinear channel. In a spiral crystal selector, a cyclic change in the preferred direction of growth occurs because of the cyclic change in the direction of the vector of the temperature gradient. The fact that the vector of the temperature gradient is almost always directed along the axis of the curvilinear channel makes it possible to govern the orientation of the vector of the temperature gradient in space and, therefore, to obtain a grain with the preferred crystallographic orientation. Based on the results of this investigation, a method of the grain selection with a desired azimuthal orientation is proposed.

a Study of Sasin-Animal Sky Map on Chonmunryucho

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hong-Jin; Park, Myeong-Gu

2003-03-01

Chon-Mun-Ryu-Cho, written (edited) by Lee Sun-Ji during the period of King Se-Jong, is a representative astronomy book of Cho-Sun (A.D. 1392 -1910) Dynasty. We find and study in the first page of the book; the description of 28 oriental constellations as a Sasin (four mythical oriental animals)-animal sky map which is not widely known yet. The map consists of four groups of constellations, each of which represents the Sasin: Chang-Ryong (dragon), Baek-Ho (tigers with Ki-Rin [Oriental giraffe]), Ju-Jak (Chinese phoenix), Hyun-Mu (a tortoise interwined with a snake). Each group (animals) spans 2˜7 of 28 oriental constellations As we know from the illustration of the Chon-Sang-Yol-Cha-Bun-Ya-Ji-Do a representative sky map of Cho-Sun Dynasty, astronomy in Cho-Sun Dynasty is closely related to that in Go-Gu-Ryer (B.C. 37 -A.D. 668) Dynasty. Since these Sasin-animals appear in most mural paintings of Go-Gu-Ryer tombs, visualization of sky with these animal constellations could have been established as early as in Go-Gu-Ryer Dynasty. We also reconstruct this ''A Sasin-animal Korean sky map'' based on the shapes of the Sasin and Ki-Rin from Go-Gu-Ryer paintings and 28 oriental constellations in Chon-Sang-Yol-Cha-Bun-Ya-Ji-Do.

Sex-Specificity in the Reward Value of Facial Attractiveness.

PubMed

Hahn, Amanda C; Fisher, Claire I; DeBruine, Lisa M; Jones, Benedict C

2016-05-01

Studies of the sex-specificity of sexual arousal in adults (i.e., the tendency to respond more strongly to preferred-sex individuals than non-preferred sex individuals) have suggested that heterosexual men, homosexual men, and homosexual women show stronger sex-specific responses than do heterosexual women. Evidence for a similar pattern of results in studies investigating the reward value of faces is equivocal. Consequently, we investigated the effects of (1) sexual orientation (homosexual vs. heterosexual), (2) sex (male vs. female), (3) image sex (preferred-sex vs. non-preferred-sex), and (4) the physical attractiveness of the individual shown in the image on the reward value of faces. Participants were 130 heterosexual men, 130 homosexual men, 130 heterosexual women, and 130 homosexual women. The reward value of faces was assessed using a standard key-press task. Multilevel modeling of responses indicated that images of preferred-sex individuals were more rewarding than images of non-preferred-sex individuals and that this preferred-sex bias was particularly pronounced when more physically attractive faces were presented. These effects were not qualified by interactions involving either the sexual orientation or the sex of our participants, however, suggesting that the preferred-sex bias in the reward value of faces is similar in heterosexual men, homosexual men, heterosexual women, and homosexual women.

Bra strap orientations and designs to minimise bra strap discomfort and pressure during sport and exercise in women with large breasts.

PubMed

Coltman, Celeste E; McGhee, Deirdre E; Steele, Julie R

2015-01-01

Bra straps are a primary source of discomfort during sport and exercise, particularly for women with large breasts. This study aimed to investigate the effects of altering bra strap orientation and design on bra strap comfort, pressure and breast support in women with large breasts. This is a descriptive laboratory study. Bra strap discomfort (visual analogue scale, 0 to 10), pressure (custom-designed 10 mm 2 calibrated pressure sensor, 0.5 to 24 kPa range, 50 Hz, S2011, Novel GmbH, Munich, Germany, placed under the right bra strap at the crest of each participant's shoulder), preference ranking and vertical breast displacement (VBD; Optotrak Certus® motion capture system, 200 Hz, Northern Digital, Ontario, Canada) data during dynamic treadmill running and static upright standing (pressure only) were collected for 23 active women with large breasts (D+ cup size) while they wore an encapsulation sports bra with six different bra strap conditions (two bra strap orientations: vertical and cross-back; three bra strap designs: standard width, wide and gel). Bra strap discomfort was significantly less ( p  ≤ 0.001) in the vertical compared to the cross-back strap orientation, which was the most preferred orientation despite no significant difference in strap pressure. The wide strap design had the lowest discomfort scores, significantly lower strap pressure compared to the standard width and gel strap designs ( p  < 0.001), and was equally the most preferred design with the gel straps. There was no significant difference in VBD among the six strap conditions. Bra straps that are vertically orientated and wide (approximately 4.5 cm in width) are preferable for women with large breasts during sport and exercise to minimise bra strap pressure and discomfort. The addition of gel pads under bra straps may also decrease discomfort and prevent straps slipping off the shoulders, although this notion warrants further investigation.

Mapping cardiac fiber orientations from high-resolution DTI to high-frequency 3D ultrasound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Xulei; Wang, Silun; Shen, Ming; Zhang, Xiaodong; Wagner, Mary B.; Fei, Baowei

2014-03-01

The orientation of cardiac fibers affects the anatomical, mechanical, and electrophysiological properties of the heart. Although echocardiography is the most common imaging modality in clinical cardiac examination, it can only provide the cardiac geometry or motion information without cardiac fiber orientations. If the patient's cardiac fiber orientations can be mapped to his/her echocardiography images in clinical examinations, it may provide quantitative measures for diagnosis, personalized modeling, and image-guided cardiac therapies. Therefore, this project addresses the feasibility of mapping personalized cardiac fiber orientations to three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image volumes. First, the geometry of the heart extracted from the MRI is translated to 3D ultrasound by rigid and deformable registration. Deformation fields between both geometries from MRI and ultrasound are obtained after registration. Three different deformable registration methods were utilized for the MRI-ultrasound registration. Finally, the cardiac fiber orientations imaged by DTI are mapped to ultrasound volumes based on the extracted deformation fields. Moreover, this study also demonstrated the ability to simulate electricity activations during the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) process. The proposed method has been validated in two rat hearts and three canine hearts. After MRI/ultrasound image registration, the Dice similarity scores were more than 90% and the corresponding target errors were less than 0.25 mm. This proposed approach can provide cardiac fiber orientations to ultrasound images and can have a variety of potential applications in cardiac imaging.

Universal transition from unstructured to structured neural maps

PubMed Central

Sartori, Fabio; Cuntz, Hermann

2017-01-01

Neurons sharing similar features are often selectively connected with a higher probability and should be located in close vicinity to save wiring. Selective connectivity has, therefore, been proposed to be the cause for spatial organization in cortical maps. Interestingly, orientation preference (OP) maps in the visual cortex are found in carnivores, ungulates, and primates but are not found in rodents, indicating fundamental differences in selective connectivity that seem unexpected for closely related species. Here, we investigate this finding by using multidimensional scaling to predict the locations of neurons based on minimizing wiring costs for any given connectivity. Our model shows a transition from an unstructured salt-and-pepper organization to a pinwheel arrangement when increasing the number of neurons, even without changing the selectivity of the connections. Increasing neuronal numbers also leads to the emergence of layers, retinotopy, or ocular dominance columns for the selective connectivity corresponding to each arrangement. We further show that neuron numbers impact overall interconnectivity as the primary reason for the appearance of neural maps, which we link to a known phase transition in an Ising-like model from statistical mechanics. Finally, we curated biological data from the literature to show that neural maps appear as the number of neurons in visual cortex increases over a wide range of mammalian species. Our results provide a simple explanation for the existence of salt-and-pepper arrangements in rodents and pinwheel arrangements in the visual cortex of primates, carnivores, and ungulates without assuming differences in the general visual cortex architecture and connectivity. PMID:28468802

Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks

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

Preston, Benjamin L

2011-01-01

There is growing demand among stakeholders across public and private institutions for spatially-explicit information regarding vulnerability to climate change at the local scale. However, the challenges associated with mapping the geography of climate change vulnerability are non-trivial, both conceptually and technically, suggesting the need for more critical evaluation of this practice. Here, we review climate change vulnerability mapping in the context of four key questions that are fundamental to assessment design. First, what are the goals of the assessment? A review of published assessments yields a range of objective statements that emphasize problem orientation or decision-making about adaptation actions. Second,more » how is the assessment of vulnerability framed? Assessments vary with respect to what values are assessed (vulnerability of what) and the underlying determinants of vulnerability that are considered (vulnerability to what). The selected frame ultimately influences perceptions of the primary driving forces of vulnerability as well as preferences regarding management alternatives. Third, what are the technical methods by which an assessment is conducted? The integration of vulnerability determinants into a common map remains an emergent and subjective practice associated with a number of methodological challenges. Fourth, who participates in the assessment and how will it be used to facilitate change? Assessments are often conducted under the auspices of benefiting stakeholders, yet many lack direct engagement with stakeholders. Each of these questions is reviewed in turn by drawing on an illustrative set of 45 vulnerability mapping studies appearing in the literature. A number of pathways for placing vulnerability« less

Fabric analysis of quartzites with negative magnetic susceptibility - Does AMS provide information of SPO or CPO of quartz?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renjith, A. R.; Mamtani, Manish A.; Urai, Janos L.

2016-01-01

We ask the question whether petrofabric data from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) analysis of deformed quartzites gives information about shape preferred orientation (SPO) or crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of quartz. Since quartz is diamagnetic and has a negative magnetic susceptibility, 11 samples of nearly pure quartzites with a negative magnetic susceptibility were chosen for this study. After performing AMS analysis, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis was done in thin sections prepared parallel to the K1K3 plane of the AMS ellipsoid. Results show that in all the samples quartz SPO is sub-parallel to the orientation of the magnetic foliation. However, in most samples no clear correspondance is observed between quartz CPO and K1 (magnetic lineation) direction. This is contrary to the parallelism observed between K1 direction and orientation of quartz c-axis in the case of undeformed single quartz crystal. Pole figures of quartz indicate that quartz c-axis tends to be parallel to K1 direction only in the case where intracrystalline deformation of quartz is accommodated by prism slip. It is therefore established that AMS investigation of quartz from deformed rocks gives information of SPO. Thus, it is concluded that petrofabric information of quartzite obtained from AMS is a manifestation of its shape anisotropy and not crystallographic preferred orientation.

Consequences of Beauty: Effects of Rater Sex and Sexual Orientation on the Visual Exploration and Evaluation of Attractiveness in Real World Scenes

PubMed Central

Mitrovic, Aleksandra; Tinio, Pablo P. L.; Leder, Helmut

2016-01-01

One of the key behavioral effects of attractiveness is increased visual attention to attractive people. This effect is often explained in terms of evolutionary adaptations, such as attractiveness being an indicator of good health. Other factors could influence this effect. In the present study, we explored the modulating role of sexual orientation on the effects of attractiveness on exploratory visual behavior. Heterosexual and homosexual men and women viewed natural-looking scenes that depicted either two women or two men who varied systematically in levels of attractiveness (based on a pre-study). Participants’ eye movements and attractiveness ratings toward the faces of the depicted people were recorded. The results showed that although attractiveness had the largest influence on participants’ behaviors, participants’ sexual orientations strongly modulated the effects. With the exception of homosexual women, all participant groups looked longer and more often at attractive faces that corresponded with their sexual orientations. Interestingly, heterosexual and homosexual men and homosexual women looked longer and more often at the less attractive face of their non-preferred sex than the less attractive face of their preferred sex, evidence that less attractive faces of the preferred sex might have an aversive character. These findings provide evidence for the important role that sexual orientation plays in guiding visual exploratory behavior and evaluations of the attractiveness of others. PMID:27047365

Consequences of Beauty: Effects of Rater Sex and Sexual Orientation on the Visual Exploration and Evaluation of Attractiveness in Real World Scenes.

PubMed

Mitrovic, Aleksandra; Tinio, Pablo P L; Leder, Helmut

2016-01-01

One of the key behavioral effects of attractiveness is increased visual attention to attractive people. This effect is often explained in terms of evolutionary adaptations, such as attractiveness being an indicator of good health. Other factors could influence this effect. In the present study, we explored the modulating role of sexual orientation on the effects of attractiveness on exploratory visual behavior. Heterosexual and homosexual men and women viewed natural-looking scenes that depicted either two women or two men who varied systematically in levels of attractiveness (based on a pre-study). Participants' eye movements and attractiveness ratings toward the faces of the depicted people were recorded. The results showed that although attractiveness had the largest influence on participants' behaviors, participants' sexual orientations strongly modulated the effects. With the exception of homosexual women, all participant groups looked longer and more often at attractive faces that corresponded with their sexual orientations. Interestingly, heterosexual and homosexual men and homosexual women looked longer and more often at the less attractive face of their non-preferred sex than the less attractive face of their preferred sex, evidence that less attractive faces of the preferred sex might have an aversive character. These findings provide evidence for the important role that sexual orientation plays in guiding visual exploratory behavior and evaluations of the attractiveness of others.

The role of clinical experience, diagnosis, and theoretical orientation in the treatment of posttraumatic and dissociative disorders: A vignette and survey investigation.

PubMed

Dorahy, Martin J; Lewis-Fernández, Roberto; Krüger, Christa; Brand, Bethany L; Şar, Vedat; Ewing, Jan; Martínez-Taboas, Alfonso; Stavropoulos, Pam; Middleton, Warwick

2017-01-01

Controversy exists regarding the merits of exposure-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) versus a phased approach when prominent dissociative symptoms are present. The first aim of this study was to examine the degree to which diagnosing dissociation in two traumatized patients' vignettes influenced clinicians' preference for phase-oriented treatment and whether clinicians' treatment experience contributed to their treatment preference. The second aim was to assess the extent to which participants had observed traumatized patients worsen when treated with exposure therapy or phase-oriented therapy and whether the theoretical orientation and treatment experience of the clinician were related to the observed deterioration. In the tradition of expert and practitioner surveys, 263 clinicians completed a survey of their diagnoses and treatment preferences for two vignettes and their treatment experience, theoretical orientation, and observations of patients' deterioration. When a marked degree of dissociation was noted in the PTSD vignette, respondents favored phased approaches regardless of the diagnosis given. Reports of having observed patient deterioration during both exposure and phased therapy were predicted by years of experience. Psychodynamic therapists reported more observations of worsening during exposure therapy than cognitive behavior therapy therapists. Clinical experience treating PTSD may heighten awareness of negative therapeutic effects, potentially because experienced clinicians have a lower threshold for detecting such effects and because they are referred more challenging cases.

Demonstration of Tuning to Stimulus Orientation in the Human Visual Cortex: A High-Resolution fMRI Study with a Novel Continuous and Periodic Stimulation Paradigm

PubMed Central

Sun, Pei; Gardner, Justin L.; Costagli, Mauro; Ueno, Kenichi; Waggoner, R. Allen; Tanaka, Keiji; Cheng, Kang

2013-01-01

Cells in the animal early visual cortex are sensitive to contour orientations and form repeated structures known as orientation columns. At the behavioral level, there exist 2 well-known global biases in orientation perception (oblique effect and radial bias) in both animals and humans. However, their neural bases are still under debate. To unveil how these behavioral biases are achieved in the early visual cortex, we conducted high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments with a novel continuous and periodic stimulation paradigm. By inserting resting recovery periods between successive stimulation periods and introducing a pair of orthogonal stimulation conditions that differed by 90° continuously, we focused on analyzing a blood oxygenation level-dependent response modulated by the change in stimulus orientation and reliably extracted orientation preferences of single voxels. We found that there are more voxels preferring horizontal and vertical orientations, a physiological substrate underlying the oblique effect, and that these over-representations of horizontal and vertical orientations are prevalent in the cortical regions near the horizontal- and vertical-meridian representations, a phenomenon related to the radial bias. Behaviorally, we also confirmed that there exists perceptual superiority for horizontal and vertical orientations around horizontal and vertical meridians, respectively. Our results, thus, refined the neural mechanisms of these 2 global biases in orientation perception. PMID:22661413

The Use of Uas for Rapid 3d Mapping in Geomatics Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teo, Tee-Ann; Tian-Yuan Shih, Peter; Yu, Sz-Cheng; Tsai, Fuan

2016-06-01

With the development of technology, UAS is an advance technology to support rapid mapping for disaster response. The aim of this study is to develop educational modules for UAS data processing in rapid 3D mapping. The designed modules for this study are focused on UAV data processing from available freeware or trial software for education purpose. The key modules include orientation modelling, 3D point clouds generation, image georeferencing and visualization. The orientation modelling modules adopts VisualSFM to determine the projection matrix for each image station. Besides, the approximate ground control points are measured from OpenStreetMap for absolute orientation. The second module uses SURE and the orientation files from previous module for 3D point clouds generation. Then, the ground point selection and digital terrain model generation can be archived by LAStools. The third module stitches individual rectified images into a mosaic image using Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor). The last module visualizes and measures the generated dense point clouds in CloudCompare. These comprehensive UAS processing modules allow the students to gain the skills to process and deliver UAS photogrammetric products in rapid 3D mapping. Moreover, they can also apply the photogrammetric products for analysis in practice.

Layperson's preference regarding orientation of the transverse occlusal plane and commissure line from the frontal perspective.

PubMed

Silva, Bruno Pereira; Jiménez-Castellanos, Emilio; Finkel, Sivan; Macias, Inmaculada Redondo; Chu, Stephen J

2017-04-01

Facial asymmetries in features such as lip commissure and interpupillary plane canting have been described as common conditions affecting smile esthetics. When presented with these asymmetries, the clinician must choose the reference line with which to orient the transverse occlusal plane of the planned dental restorations. The purpose of the online survey described in this study was to determine lay preferences regarding the transverse occlusal plane orientation in faces that display a cant of the commissure line viewed from the frontal perspective. From a digitally created symmetrical facial model with the transverse occlusal plane and commissure line parallel to the interpupillary line (horizontal) and a model constructed in a previous study (control), a new facial model was created with 3 degrees of cant of the commissure line. Three digital tooth mountings were designed with different transverse occlusal plane orientations: parallel to the interpupillary line (A), parallel to the commissure line (B), and the mean angulation plane formed between the interpupillary and commissure line (C), resulting in a total of 4 images. All images, including the control, were organized into 6 pairs and evaluated by 247 selected laypersons through an online Web site survey. Each participant was asked to choose the more attractive face from each of the 6 pairs of images. The control image was preferred by 72.9% to 74.5% of the participants compared with the other 3 images, all of which represented a commissure line cant. Among the 3 pairs which represent a commissure line cant, 59.1% to 61.1% preferred a transverse plane of occlusion cant (B and C) compared with a plane of occlusion parallel to the interpupillary, line and 61.1% preferred a plane of occlusion parallel to the commissure line (B) compared with the mean angulation plane (C). Laypeople prefer faces with a commissure line and transverse occlusal plane parallel to the horizontal plane or horizon. When faces present a commissure line cant, laypeople prefer a transverse occlusal plane with a similar and coincident cant. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Apprehensions and Expectations of the Adoption of Systematically Planned, Outcome-Oriented Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savaya, Riki; Altschuler, Dorit; Melamed, Sharon

2013-01-01

Objectives: The study examined social workers' apprehensions and expectations of the impending adoption of systematically planned, empirically based, outcome-oriented practice (SEOP). Method: Employing a mixed methods longitudinal design, the study used concept mapping to identify and map workers' apprehensions and expectations and a self-reported…

A Filtering Method to Reveal Crystalline Patterns from Atom Probe Microscopy Desorption Maps

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-26

Gault, S.P. Ringer, J.M. Cairney, Atom probe crystallography : characterization of grain boundary orientation relationships in nanocrystalline...J.M. Cairney, Atom probe crystallography : atomic- scale 3-D orientation mapping, Scr. Mater. 66 (11) (2012) 907. L. Yao /MethodsX 3 (2016) 268–273 273

Competency Mapping Framework for Regulating Professionally Oriented Degree Programmes in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perera, Srinath; Babatunde, Solomon Olusola; Zhou, Lei; Pearson, John; Ekundayo, Damilola

2017-01-01

Recognition of the huge variation between professional graduate degree programmes and employer requirements, especially in the construction industry, necessitated a need for assessing and developing competencies that aligned with professionally oriented programmes. The purpose of this research is to develop a competency mapping framework (CMF) in…

X-ray texture analysis of paper coating pigments and the correlation with chemical composition analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roine, J.; Tenho, M.; Murtomaa, M.; Lehto, V.-P.; Kansanaho, R.

2007-10-01

The present research experiments the applicability of x-ray texture analysis in investigating the properties of paper coatings. The preferred orientations of kaolin, talc, ground calcium carbonate, and precipitated calcium carbonate particles used in four different paper coatings were determined qualitatively based on the measured crystal orientation data. The extent of the orientation, namely, the degree of the texture of each pigment, was characterized quantitatively using a single parameter. As a result, the effect of paper calendering is clearly seen as an increase on the degree of texture of the coating pigments. The effect of calendering on the preferred orientation of kaolin was also evident in an independent energy dispersive spectrometer analysis on micrometer scale and an electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis on nanometer scale. Thus, the present work proves x-ray texture analysis to be a potential research tool for characterizing the properties of paper coating layers.

The Relative Importance of Language in Guiding Social Preferences Through Development

PubMed Central

Esseily, Rana; Somogyi, Eszter; Guellai, Bahia

2016-01-01

In this paper, we review evidence from infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to tackle the question of how individuals orient preferences and actions toward social partners and how these preferences change over development. We aim at emphasizing the importance of language in guiding categorization relatively to other cues such as age, race and gender. We discuss the importance of language as part of a communication system that orients infants and older children’s attention toward relevant information in their environment and toward affiliated social partners who are potential sources of knowledge. We argue that other cues (visually perceptible features) are less reliable in informing individuals whether others share a common knowledge and whether they can be source of information. PMID:27812345

The Relative Importance of Language in Guiding Social Preferences Through Development.

PubMed

Esseily, Rana; Somogyi, Eszter; Guellai, Bahia

2016-01-01

In this paper, we review evidence from infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to tackle the question of how individuals orient preferences and actions toward social partners and how these preferences change over development. We aim at emphasizing the importance of language in guiding categorization relatively to other cues such as age, race and gender. We discuss the importance of language as part of a communication system that orients infants and older children's attention toward relevant information in their environment and toward affiliated social partners who are potential sources of knowledge. We argue that other cues (visually perceptible features) are less reliable in informing individuals whether others share a common knowledge and whether they can be source of information.

Crystallographic orientation mapping with an electron backscattered diffraction technique in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconductor tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, T. T.; Li, S.; Oh, J. T.; Gao, W.; Liu, H. K.; Dou, S. X.

2001-02-01

It is believed that grain boundaries act as weak links in limiting the critical current density (Jc) of bulk high-Tc superconductors. The weak-link problem can be greatly reduced by elimination or minimization of large-angle grain boundaries. It has been reported that the distribution of the Jc in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x (Bi2223) superconductor tapes presents a parabolic relationship in the transverse cross section of the tapes, with the lowest currents occurring at the centre of the tapes. It was proposed that the Jc distribution is strongly dependent on the local crystallographic orientation distribution of the Bi2223 oxides. However, the local three-dimensional crystallographic orientation distribution of Bi2223 crystals in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x superconductor tapes has not yet been experimentally determined. In this work, the electron backscattered diffraction technique was employed to map the crystallographic orientation distribution, determine the misorientation of grain boundaries and also map the misorientation distribution in Bi2223 superconductor tapes. Through crystallographic orientation mapping, the relationship between the crystallographic orientation distribution, the boundary misorientation distribution and the fabrication parameters may be understood. This can be used to optimize the fabrication processes thus increasing the critical current density in Bi2223 superconductor tapes.

Gravity orientation tuning in macaque anterior thalamus.

PubMed

Laurens, Jean; Kim, Byounghoon; Dickman, J David; Angelaki, Dora E

2016-12-01

Gravity may provide a ubiquitous allocentric reference to the brain's spatial orientation circuits. Here we describe neurons in the macaque anterior thalamus tuned to pitch and roll orientation relative to gravity, independently of visual landmarks. We show that individual cells exhibit two-dimensional tuning curves, with peak firing rates at a preferred vertical orientation. These results identify a thalamic pathway for gravity cues to influence perception, action and spatial cognition.

Strong Recurrent Networks Compute the Orientation-Tuning of Surround Modulation in Primate V1

PubMed Central

Shushruth, S.; Mangapathy, Pradeep; Ichida, Jennifer M.; Bressloff, Paul C.; Schwabe, Lars; Angelucci, Alessandra

2012-01-01

In macaque primary visual cortex (V1) neuronal responses to stimuli inside the receptive field (RF) are modulated by stimuli in the RF surround. This modulation is orientation-specific. Previous studies suggested that for some cells this specificity may not be fixed, but changes with the stimulus orientation presented to the RF. We demonstrate, in recording studies, that this tuning behavior is instead highly prevalent in V1 and, in theoretical work, that it arises only if V1 operates in a regime of strong local recurrence. Strongest surround suppression occurs when the stimuli in the RF and the surround are iso-oriented, and strongest facilitation when the stimuli are cross-oriented. This is the case even when the RF is sub-optimally activated by a stimulus of non-preferred orientation, but only if this stimulus can activate the cell when presented alone. This tuning behavior emerges from the interaction of lateral inhibition (via the surround pathways), which is tuned to the RF’s preferred orientation, with weakly-tuned, but strong, local recurrent connections, causing maximal withdrawal of recurrent excitation at the feedforward input orientation. Thus, horizontal and feedback modulation of strong recurrent circuits allows the tuning of contextual effects to change with changing feedforward inputs. PMID:22219292

Patterns of tooth wear associated with methamphetamine use.

PubMed

Richards, J R; Brofeldt, B T

2000-08-01

Methamphetamine (MAP) abuse is a significant worldwide problem. This prospective study was conducted to determine if MAP users had distinct patterns of tooth wear. Methamphetamine users were identified and interviewed about their duration and preferred route of MAP use. Study participants were interviewed in the emergency department of a large urban university hospital serving a geographic area with a high rate of illicit MAP production and consumption. Tooth wear was documented for each study participant and scored using a previously validated index and demographic information was obtained using a questionnaire. Forty-three MAP patients were interviewed. Preferred route of administration was injection (37%) followed by snorting (33%). Patients who preferentially snorted MAP had significantly higher tooth wear in the anterior maxillary teeth than patients who injected, smoked, or ingested MAP (P = 0.005). Patients who use MAP have distinct patterns of wear based on route of administration. This difference may be explained anatomically.

Relief influence on the spatial distribution of the Atlantic Forest cover on the Ibiúna Plateau, SP.

PubMed

Silva, W G; Metzger, J P; Simões, S; Simonetti, C

2007-08-01

Several studies suggest that, on a large scale, relief conditions influence the Atlantic Forest cover. The aim of this work was to explore these relationships on a local scale, in Caucaia do Alto, on the Ibiúna Plateau. Within an area of about 78 km(2), the distribution of forest cover, divided into two successional stages, was associated with relief attribute data (slope, slope orientation and altitude). The mapping of the vegetation was based on the interpretation of stereoscopic pairs of aerial photographs, from April 2000, on a scale of 1:10,000, while the relief attributes were obtained by geoprocessing from digitalized topographic maps on a scale of 1:10,000. Statistical analyses, based on qui-square tests, revealed that there was a more extensive forest cover, irrespective of the successional stage, in steeper areas (>10 degrees) located at higher altitudes (>923 m), but no influence of the slope orientation. There was no sign of direct influence of relief on the forest cover through environmental gradients that might have contributed to the forest regeneration. Likewise, there was no evidence that these results could have been influenced by the distance from roads or urban areas or with respect to permanent preservation areas. Relief seems to influence the forest cover indirectly, since agricultural land use is preferably made in flatter and lower areas. These results suggest a general distribution pattern of the forest remnants, independent of the scale of study, on which relief indirectly has a strong influence, since it determines human occupation.

The Relation between Gender Role Orientation and Fear and Anxiety in Nonclinic-Referred Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muris, Peter; Meesters, Cor; Knoops, Miranda

2005-01-01

This study examined the relation between gender role orientation and fear and anxiety in a sample of nonclinic-referred children (N = 209) ages 10 to 13 years. Children and their parents completed questionnaires assessing children's gender role orientation, toy and activity preferences, and fear and anxiety. Results generally indicated that…

On the Life Orientations of the Young People of the Volga Region

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iavon, S. V.

2011-01-01

Social and economic transformations in Russia have had an influence on all spheres of society. The value orientations of young people have been influenced by the market economy, and this has led to a new type of adaptive behavior, in which preference is given to material value orientations, growth of individualism, pragmatism, and hedonistic…

The Dynamic and Correlation of the Value Orientations and Life Goals of Urban Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Selivanova, Z. K.

2014-01-01

One of the scientific techniques in the study of value orientations and preferences consists of determining adolescents' attitudes toward personality qualities. It is well known that the model of a personality as an ideal construct formed in a person's consciousness correlates with value orientations and life goals. Its study permits us to…

The ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus, aromatase, and sexual partner preferences in sheep.

PubMed

Roselli, C E; Stormshak, F

2010-02-28

We are using the domestic ram as an experimental model to examine the role of aromatase in the development of sexual partner preferences. This interest has arisen because of the observation that as many as 8% of domestic rams are sexually attracted to other rams (male-oriented) in contrast to the majority of rams that are attracted to estrous ewes (female-oriented). Our findings demonstrate that aromatase expression is enriched in a cluster of neurons in the medial preoptic nucleus called the ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus (oSDN). The size of the oSDN is associated with a ram's sexual partner preference, such that the nucleus is 2-3 times larger in rams that are attracted to females (female-oriented) than in rams that are attracted to other rams (male-oriented). Moreover, the volume of the oSDN in male-oriented rams is similar to the volume in ewes. These volume differences are not influenced by adult concentrations of serum testosterone. Instead, we found that the oSDN is already present in late gestation lamb fetuses (approximately day 135 of gestation) when it is approximately 2-fold greater in males than in females. Exposure of genetic female fetuses to exogenous testosterone during the critical period for sexual differentiation masculinizes oSDN volume and aromatase expression when examined subsequently on day 135. The demonstration that the oSDN is organized prenatally by testosterone exposure suggests that the brain of the male-oriented ram may be under-androgenized during development. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring Filament Orientation: A New Quantitative, Local Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, C.-E.; Dawson, J. R.; Cunningham, M. R.; Jones, P. A.; Novak, G.; Fissel, L. M.

2017-09-01

The relative orientation between filamentary structures in molecular clouds and the ambient magnetic field provides insight into filament formation and stability. To calculate the relative orientation, a measurement of filament orientation is first required. We propose a new method to calculate the orientation of the one-pixel-wide filament skeleton that is output by filament identification algorithms such as filfinder. We derive the local filament orientation from the direction of the intensity gradient in the skeleton image using the Sobel filter and a few simple post-processing steps. We call this the “Sobel-gradient method.” The resulting filament orientation map can be compared quantitatively on a local scale with the magnetic field orientation map to then find the relative orientation of the filament with respect to the magnetic field at each point along the filament. It can also be used for constructing radial profiles for filament width fitting. The proposed method facilitates automation in analyses of filament skeletons, which is imperative in this era of “big data.”

Large-scale fabrication of single crystalline tin nanowire arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Bin; Yang, Dachi; Liang, Minghui; Zhi, Linjie

2010-09-01

Large-scale single crystalline tin nanowire arrays with preferred lattice orientation along the [100] direction were fabricated in porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membranes by the electrodeposition method using copper nanorod as a second electrode.Large-scale single crystalline tin nanowire arrays with preferred lattice orientation along the [100] direction were fabricated in porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membranes by the electrodeposition method using copper nanorod as a second electrode. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details and the information for single crystalline copper nanorods. See DOI: 10.1039/c0nr00206b

Analysis of Crystallographic Structure of a Japanese Sword by the Pulsed Neutron Transmission Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kino, K.; Ayukawa, N.; Kiyanagi, Y.; Uchida, T.; Uno, S.; Grazzi, F.; Scherillo, A.

We measured two-dimensional transmission spectra of pulsed neutron beams for a Japanese sword sample. Atom density, crystalline size, and preferred orientation of crystals were obtained using the RITS code. The position dependence of the atomic density is consistent with the shape of the sample. The crystalline size is very small and shows position dependence, which is understood by the unique structure of Japanese swords. The preferred orientation has strong position dependence. Our study shows the usefulness of the pulsed neutron transmission method for cultural metal artifacts.

Use of descriptive analysis and preference mapping for early-stage assessment of new and established apples.

PubMed

Cliff, Margaret A; Stanich, Kareen; Lu, Ran; Hampson, Cheryl R

2016-04-01

This research compared four new apple selections with 16 established apples using descriptive analysis (DA), instrumental analyses and preference mapping, in order to identify suitable selections for commercialization and further research. DA revealed that the new apple selections (PARC1, PARC2, PARC3, PARC4) were very similar in texture/mouthfeel (T) but differed in their flavor (F) and appearance (A) characteristics. Preference mapping revealed that consumers' T preferences were driven primarily by crispness, juiciness and lack of skin toughness, while F preferences were driven by sweetness, lack of tartness and presence of fruity flavor. Consumers' A preferences were driven by a high percentage of red color and degree of striping. The majority of consumers had similar T (82-85%) and F (88-92%) preferences for the early- and mid/late-harvest apples. In contrast, consumers' A preferences were differentiated into three subgroups (60%, 24%, 16%) for the early-harvest apples, but not for the mid/late-harvest apples. The new apple selections were among those most liked for T, F and A. This early-stage consumer research confirmed that the new apples were comparable, if not superior, to the established apples. As such, it provided the necessary feedback to industry to proceed with commercialization and optimization of cultural and storage practices. © 2015 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Route Planning and Route Choice: An Empirical Investigation into Information Processing and Decision Making in Orienteering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seiler, Roland

1989-01-01

Investigates kinds of map information selected and supplementary information desired by experienced orienteers. Reports that, based on lab and field studies, that contour lines were the most important map information, followed by information reducing physical or technical requirements. Concludes action theory is applicable to decision-making…

Orientation and phase mapping in the transmission electron microscope using precession-assisted diffraction spot recognition: state-of-the-art results.

PubMed

Viladot, D; Véron, M; Gemmi, M; Peiró, F; Portillo, J; Estradé, S; Mendoza, J; Llorca-Isern, N; Nicolopoulos, S

2013-10-01

A recently developed technique based on the transmission electron microscope, which makes use of electron beam precession together with spot diffraction pattern recognition now offers the possibility to acquire reliable orientation/phase maps with a spatial resolution down to 2 nm on a field emission gun transmission electron microscope. The technique may be described as precession-assisted crystal orientation mapping in the transmission electron microscope, precession-assisted crystal orientation mapping technique-transmission electron microscope, also known by its product name, ASTAR, and consists in scanning the precessed electron beam in nanoprobe mode over the specimen area, thus producing a collection of precession electron diffraction spot patterns, to be thereafter indexed automatically through template matching. We present a review on several application examples relative to the characterization of microstructure/microtexture of nanocrystalline metals, ceramics, nanoparticles, minerals and organics. The strengths and limitations of the technique are also discussed using several application examples. ©2013 The Authors. Journal of Microscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Microscopical Society.

Color is processed less efficiently than orientation in change detection but more efficiently in visual search.

PubMed

Huang, Liqiang

2015-05-01

Basic visual features (e.g., color, orientation) are assumed to be processed in the same general way across different visual tasks. Here, a significant deviation from this assumption was predicted on the basis of the analysis of stimulus spatial structure, as characterized by the Boolean-map notion. If a task requires memorizing the orientations of a set of bars, then the map consisting of those bars can be readily used to hold the overall structure in memory and will thus be especially useful. If the task requires visual search for a target, then the map, which contains only an overall structure, will be of little use. Supporting these predictions, the present study demonstrated that in comparison to stimulus colors, bar orientations were processed more efficiently in change-detection tasks but less efficiently in visual search tasks (Cohen's d = 4.24). In addition to offering support for the role of the Boolean map in conscious access, the present work also throws doubts on the generality of processing visual features. © The Author(s) 2015.

Developing a Very Low Vision Orientation and Mobility Test Battery (O&M-VLV).

PubMed

Finger, Robert P; Ayton, Lauren N; Deverell, Lil; O'Hare, Fleur; McSweeney, Shane C; Luu, Chi D; Fenwick, Eva K; Keeffe, Jill E; Guymer, Robyn H; Bentley, Sharon A

2016-09-01

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of an assessment of vision-related orientation and mobility (O&M) tasks in persons with severe vision loss. These tasks may be used for future low vision rehabilitation clinical assessments or as outcome measures in vision restoration trials. Forty legally blind persons (mean visual acuity logMAR 2.3, or hand movements) with advanced retinitis pigmentosa participated in the Orientation & Mobility-Very Low Vision (O&M-VLV) subtests from the Low Vision Assessment of Daily Activities (LoVADA) protocol. Four categories of tasks were evaluated: route travel in three indoor hospital environments, a room orientation task (the "cafe"), a visual exploration task (the "gallery"), and a modified version of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which assesses re-orientation and route travel. Spatial cognition was assessed using the Stuart Tactile Maps test. Visual acuity and visual fields were measured. A generalized linear regression model showed that a number of measures in the O&M-VLV tasks were related to residual visual function. The percentage of preferred walking speed without an aid on three travel routes was associated with visual field (p < 0.01 for all routes) whereas the number of contacts with obstacles during route travel was associated with acuity (p = 0.001). TUG-LV task time was associated with acuity (p = 0.003), as was the cafe time and distance traveled (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). The gallery score was the only measure that was significantly associated with both residual acuity and fields (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The O&M-VLV was designed to capture key elements of O&M performance in persons with severe vision loss, which is a population not often studied previously. Performance on these tasks was associated with both binocular visual acuity and visual field. This new protocol includes assessments of orientation, which may be of benefit in vision restoration clinical trials.

Birth Position, Neonatal Head Position Preference, and Hand Preference in 19-Week-Old-Infants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodwin, Rhoda S.

This study investigated the hypotheses that 1) infants delivered from a left occiput anterior or transverse position (LOA/LOT) would exhibit a right supine head orientation in the neonatal examination and a right hand preference at 19 weeks of age; and 2) infants delivered from a right occiput anterior or transverse position (ROA/ROT) would…

Cells Recognize and Prefer Bone-like Hydroxyapatite: Biochemical Understanding of Ultrathin Mineral Platelets in Bone.

PubMed

Liu, Cuilian; Zhai, Halei; Zhang, Zhisen; Li, Yaling; Xu, Xurong; Tang, Ruikang

2016-11-09

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanocrystallites in all types of bones are distinguished by their ultrathin characteristics, which are uniaxially oriented with fibrillar collagen to uniquely expose the (100) faces. We speculate that living organisms prefer the specific crystal morphology and orientation of HAP because of the interactions between cells and crystals at the mineral-cell interface. Here, bone-like platy HAP (p-HAP) and two different rod-like HAPs were synthesized to investigate the ultrathin mineral modulating effect on cell bioactivity and bone generation. Cell viability and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were significantly promoted by the platy HAP with (100) faces compared to rod-like HAPs with (001) faces as the dominant crystal orientation, which indicated that MSCs can recognize the crystal face and prefer the (100) HAP faces. This face-specific preference is dependent on the selective adsorption of fibronectin (FN), a plasma protein that plays a central role in cell adhesion, on the HAP surface. This selective adsorption is further confirmed by molecule dynamics (MD) simulation. Our results demonstrate that it is an intelligent choice for cells to use ultrathin HAP with a large (100) face as a basic building block in the hierarchical structure of bone, which is crucial to the promotion of MSCs osteoinductions during bone formation.

Veteran satisfaction and treatment preferences in response to a posttraumatic stress disorder specialty clinic orientation group.

PubMed

Schumm, Jeremiah A; Walter, Kristen H; Bartone, Anne S; Chard, Kathleen M

2015-06-01

To maximize accessibility to evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has widely disseminated cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) therapy to VA clinicians. However, there is a lack of research on veteran preferences when presented with a range of psychotherapy and medication options. This study uses a mixed-method approach to explore veteran satisfaction with a VA PTSD specialty clinic pre-treatment orientation group, which provides education about available PTSD treatment options. This study also tested differences in treatment preference in response to the group. Participants were 183 US veterans. Most were White, male, and referred to the clinic by a VA provider. Results indicated high satisfaction with the group in providing an overview of services and helping to inform treatment choice. Most preferred psychotherapy plus medications (63.4%) or psychotherapy only (30.1%). Participants endorsed a significantly stronger preference for CPT versus other psychotherapies. PE was significantly preferred over nightmare resolution therapy and present-centered therapy, and both PE and cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy were preferred over virtual reality exposure therapy. Results suggest that by informing consumers about evidence-based treatments for PTSD, pre-treatment educational approaches may increase consumer demand for these treatment options. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

On the use of response surface methodology to predict and interpret the preferred c-axis orientation of sputtered AlN thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczyk, J.; Horny, N.; Tricoteaux, A.; Jouan, P.-Y.; Zadam, M.

2008-01-01

This paper deals with experimental design applied to response surface methodology (RSM) in order to determine the influence of the discharge conditions on preferred c-axis orientation of sputtered AlN thin films. The thin films have been deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering on Si (1 0 0) substrates. The preferred orientation was evaluated using a conventional Bragg-Brentano X-ray diffractometer ( θ-2 θ) with the CuKα radiation. We have first determined the experimental domain for 3 parameters: sputtering pressure (2-6 mTorr), discharge current (312-438 mA) and nitrogen percentage (17-33%). For the setup of the experimental design we have used a three factors Doehlert matrix which allows the use of the statistical response surface methodology (RSM) in a spherical domain. A four dimensional surface response, which represents the (0 0 0 2) peak height as a function of sputtering pressure, discharge current and nitrogen percentage, was obtained. It has been found that the main interaction affecting the preferential c-axis orientation was the pressure-nitrogen percentage interaction. It has been proved that a Box-Cox transformation is a very useful method to interpret and discuss the experimental results and leads to predictions in good agreement with experiments.

Revealing the preferred interlayer orientations and stackings of two-dimensional bilayer gallium selenide crystals

DOE PAGES

Li, Xufan; Basile Carrasco, Leonardo A.; Yoon, Mina; ...

2015-01-21

Characterizing and controlling the interlayer orientations and stacking order of bilayer two-dimensional (2D) crystals and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure is crucial to optimize their electrical and optoelectronic properties. The four polymorphs of layered gallium selenide (GaSe) that result from different layer stacking provide an ideal platform to study the stacking configurations in bilayer 2D crystals. Here, through a controllable vapor-phase deposition method we selectively grow bilayer GaSe crystals and investigate their two preferred 0° or 60° interlayer rotations. The commensurate stacking configurations (AA' and AB-stacking) in as-grown 2D bilayer GaSe crystals are clearly observed at the atomic scale andmore » the Ga-terminated edge structure are identified for the first time by using atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Theoretical analysis of the interlayer coupling energetics vs. interlayer rotation angle reveals that the experimentally-observed orientations are energetically preferred among the bilayer GaSe crystal polytypes. Here, the combined experimental and theoretical characterization of the GaSe bilayers afforded by these growth studies provide a pathway to reveal the atomistic relationships in interlayer orientations responsible for the electronic and optical properties of bilayer 2D crystals and vdW heterostructures.« less

Texture and elastic anisotropy of a mylonitic anorthosite from the Morin Shear Zone (Quebec, Canada)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gómez Barreiro, Juan; Wenk, Hans-Rudolf; Vogel, Sven

2015-02-01

A sample of anorthosite from the granulite facies Morin Shear Zone (Quebec, Canada) was investigated for crystal preferred orientation and elastic anisotropy. Time-of-flight neutron diffraction data obtained with the HIPPO diffractometer at LANSCE were analyzed with the Rietveld method to obtain orientation distribution functions of the principal phases (plagioclase, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene). Texture and microstructures are compatible with the plastic deformation of the aggregate under high-T conditions. All mineral phases depict a significant preferred orientation that could be related to the general top-to-the north shearing history of the Morin Shear Zone. Texture patterns suggest that (010)[001] in plagioclase and (110)[001] in clinopyroxene are likely dominant slip systems. Using preferred orientation data P- and S-waves velocities and elastic anisotropy were calculated and compared with previous studies to explore elastic properties of rocks with different pyroxene-plagioclase mixtures. P-wave velocity, S-wave splitting and anisotropy increase with clinopyroxene content. Seismic anisotropy is linked to the texture symmetry which can lead to large deviations between actual anisotropy and that measured along Cartesian XYZ sample directions (lineation/foliation reference frame). This is significant for the prediction and interpretation of seismic data, particularly for monoclinic or triclinic texture symmetries.

The Impact of Theoretical Orientation and Training on Preference for Diagnostic Models of Personality Pathology.

PubMed

Paggeot, Amy; Nelson, Sharon; Huprich, Steven

2017-01-01

The role of theoretical orientation in determining preference for different methods of diagnosis has been largely unexplored. The goal of the present study was to explore ratings of the usefulness of 4 diagnostic methods after applying them to a patient: prototype ratings derived from the SWAP-II, the DSM-5 Section III specific personality disorders, the DSM-5 Section III trait model, and prototype ratings derived from the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM). Three hundred and twenty-nine trainees in APA-accredited doctoral programs and internships rated one of their current patients with each of the 4 diagnostic methods. Individuals who classified their theoretical orientation as "cognitive- behavioral" displayed a significantly greater preference for the proposed DSM-5 personality disorder prototypes when compared to individuals who classified their orientation as "psychodynamic/psychoanalytic," while individuals who considered themselves psychodynamic or psychoanalytic rated the PDM as significantly more useful than those who considered themselves cognitive-behavioral. Individuals who classified their graduate program as a PsyD program were also more likely to rate the DSM-5 Section III and PDM models as more useful diagnostic methods than individuals who classified their graduate program as a PhD program. Implications and future directions will be discussed. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Assessing Volunteered Geographic Information (vgi) Quality Based on CONTRIBUTORS' Mapping Behaviours

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bégin, D.; Devillers, R.; Roche, S.

2013-05-01

VGI changed the mapping landscape by allowing people that are not professional cartographers to contribute to large mapping projects, resulting at the same time in concerns about the quality of the data produced. While a number of early VGI studies used conventional methods to assess data quality, such approaches are not always well adapted to VGI. Since VGI is a user-generated content, we posit that features and places mapped by contributors largely reflect contributors' personal interests. This paper proposes studying contributors' mapping processes to understand the characteristics and quality of the data produced. We argue that contributors' behaviour when mapping reflects contributors' motivation and individual preferences in selecting mapped features and delineating mapped areas. Such knowledge of contributors' behaviour could allow for the derivation of information about the quality of VGI datasets. This approach was tested using a sample area from OpenStreetMap, leading to a better understanding of data completeness for contributor's preferred features.

Consumer preferences, internal color and reduction of shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli in cooked hamburgers.

PubMed

Røssvoll, Elin; Sørheim, Oddvin; Heir, Even; Møretrø, Trond; Olsen, Nina Veflen; Langsrud, Solveig

2014-02-01

The aim of this study was to relate consumer preferences and preparation of hamburgers to color change, internal temperature and reduction of shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O157 and the "Big Six" (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145) under two ground beef packaging scenarios: 75% O2 MAP and vacuum. 75% O2 MAP hamburgers cooked to 60 °C core temperature appeared done and showed less internal red color (lower a*) than corresponding vacuum hamburgers. Similar STEC reduction (<4 log10) was found for both hamburgers at core temperatures ≤ 66 °C. In a representative survey (N=1046) most consumers reported to judge hamburger doneness by the color and many preferred undercooked hamburgers. Premature browning of 75% O2 MAP hamburgers represents a risk of foodborne illness, when considering consumers' food handling practices. The risk is even greater if such ground beef is prepared by consumers who prefer undercooked hamburgers and judge doneness by color. © 2013.

Social motivation and implicit theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Burnside, Kimberly; Wright, Kristyn; Poulin-Dubois, Diane

2017-11-01

According to the social motivation theory of autism, children who develop Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have early deficits in social motivation, which is expressed by decreased attention to social information. These deficits are said to lead to impaired socio-cognitive development, such as theory of mind (ToM). There is little research focused on the relation between social motivation and ToM in this population. The goal of the present study was to investigate the link between one aspect of social motivation, social orienting, and ToM in preschoolers with ASD. It was expected that, in contrast to typically developing (TD) children, children with ASD would show impaired performance on tasks measuring social orienting and ToM. It was also expected that children's performance on the social orienting tasks would be correlated with their performance on the ToM task. A total of 17 children with ASD and 16 TD children participated in this study. Participants completed two social orienting tasks, a face preference task and a biological motion preference task, as well an implicit false belief task. Results reveal that TD children, but not children with ASD, exhibited social preference as measured by a preference for faces and biological motion. Furthermore, children with ASD tended to perform worse on the ToM task compared to their TD counterparts. Performance on the social motivation tasks and the ToM task tended to be related but only for the TD children. These findings suggest that ToM is multifaceted and that motivational deficits might have downstream effects even on implicit ToM. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1834-1844. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The goal of the present study was to examine the link between poor attention to social information and mindreading abilities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results demonstrated that children with ASD tended to perform worse than neurotypical children on both social orienting and theory of mind tasks. Preference for human faces and motion tended to be related but only for the neurotypical children. These findings provide partial support for the social motivation theory. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modeling agent's preferences by its designer's social value orientation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuckerman, Inon; Cheng, Kan-Leung; Nau, Dana S.

2018-03-01

Human social preferences have been shown to play an important role in many areas of decision-making. There is evidence from the social science literature that human preferences in interpersonal interactions depend partly on a measurable personality trait called, Social Value Orientation (SVO). Automated agents are often written by humans to serve as their delegates when interacting with other agents. Thus, one might expect an agent's behaviour to be influenced by the SVO of its human designer. With that in mind, we present the following: first, we explore, discuss and provide a solution to the question of how SVO tests that were designed for humans can be used to evaluate agents' social preferences. Second, we show that in our example domain there is a medium-high positive correlation between the social preferences of agents and their human designers. Third, we exemplify how the SVO information of the designer can be used to improve the performance of some other agents playing against those agents, and lastly, we develop and exemplify the behavioural signature SVO model which allows us to better predict performances when interactions are repeated and behaviour is adapted.

Temperament and self-based correlates of cooperative, competitive and individualistic learning preferences.

PubMed

Gocłowska, Małgorzata A; Aldhobaiban, Nawal; Elliot, Andrew J; Murayama, Kou; Kobeisy, Ahmed; Abdelaziz, Ashraf

2017-06-01

People vary in the extent to which they prefer cooperative, competitive or individualistic achievement tasks. In this research, we conducted two studies designed to investigate correlates and possible roots of these social interdependence orientations, namely approach and avoidance temperament, general self-efficacy, implicit theories of intelligence, and contingencies of self-worth based in others' approval, competition and academic competence. The results indicated that approach temperament, general self-efficacy and incremental theory were positively related, and entity theory was negatively related to cooperative preferences (|r| range from .11 to .41); approach temperament, general self-efficacy, competition contingencies and academic competence contingencies were positively related to competitive preferences (|r| range from .16 to .46); and avoidance temperament, entity theory, competitive contingencies and academic competence contingencies were positively related, and incremental theory was negatively related to individualistic preferences (|r| range from .09 to .15). The findings are discussed with regard to the meaning of each of the three social interdependence orientations, cultural differences among the observed relations and implications for practitioners. © 2015 International Union of Psychological Science.

Structured polarized light microscopy (SPLM) for mapping collagen fiber orientation of ocular tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bin; Brazile, Bryn; Jan, Ning-Jiun; Voorhees, Andrew P.; Sigal, Ian A.

2018-02-01

Glaucoma is a disease characterized by progressive and irreversible vision loss leading to blindness. This vision loss is believed to be largely determined by the biomechanics of the optic nerve head region. Optic nerve head biomechanics, in turn, is determined by the properties of the constituent collagen. However, it is challenging to visualize and quantify collagen morphology and orientation in situ, and therefore often studies of the region collagen have used histological sections. Here we describe SPLM, a novel imaging technique that combines structured light illumination and polarized light microscopy (PLM) to enable collagen fiber visualization and fiber orientation mapping without requiring tissue sectioning. We developed a custom automated SPLM imaging system based on an upright microscope and a digital micromirror device (DMD) projector. The high spatial frequency patterns were used to achieve effective background suppression. Enhanced scattering sensitivity with SPLM resulted in images with highly improved visibility of collagen structures, even of tissues covered by pigment. SPLM produced improved fiber orientation maps from superficial layers compared to depth-averaged orientation from regular PLM. SPLM imaging provides valuable information of collagen fiber morphology and orientation in situ thus strengthening the study of ocular collagen fiber biomechanics and glaucoma.

Microfabric and Structures in Glacial Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monz, M.; Hudleston, P. J.

2017-12-01

Similar to rocks in active orogens, glacial ice develops both structures and fabrics that reflect deformation. Crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO), associated with mechanical anisotropy, develops as ice deforms, and as in rock, directly reflects the conditions and mechanisms of deformation and influences the overall strength. This project aims to better constrain the rheologic properties of natural ice through microstructural analysis and to establish the relationship of microfabric to macroscale structures. The focus is on enigmatic fabric patterns found in coarse grained, "warm" (T > -10oC) ice deep in ice sheets and in valley glaciers. Deformation mechanisms that produce such patterns are poorly understood. Detailed mapping of surface structures, including bedding, foliation, and blue bands (bubble-free veins of ice), was done in the ablation zone of Storglaciären, a polythermal valley glacier in northern Sweden. Microstructural studies on samples from a transect across the ablation zone were carried out in a cold room. Crystal size was too large for use of electron backscattered diffraction to determine CPO, therefore a Rigsby universal stage, designed specifically for ice, was used. In thick and thin sections, recrystallized grains are locally variable in both size (1mm-7cm in one thin section) and shape and clearly reflect recrystallization involving highly mobile grain boundaries. Larger crystals are often branching, and appear multiple times throughout one thin section. There is a clear shape preferred orientation that is generally parallel with foliation defined by bubble alignment and concentration. Locally, there appears to be an inverse correlation between bubble concentration and smoothness of grain boundaries. Fabric in samples that have undergone prolonged shear display roughly symmetrical multimaxima patterns centered around the pole to foliation. The angular distances between maxima suggest a possible twin relationship that may have developed from a preexisting single-maximum fabric.

Architecture of near-surface magma transport in the Columbia River Flood Basalts as defined by a career's worth of feeder dike mapping: The legacy dataset of William H. Taubeneck

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karlstrom, L.; Morriss, M. C.; Nasholds, M. W.

2016-12-01

The Miocene Columbia River Flood Basalts (CRFB) are the youngest, best preserved, and most thoroughly studied Large Igneous Province on Earth. The Grande Ronde basalts erupted 150,000 km3in less than 100 kyr ( 72% of the CRFB volume) from a network of feeder dikes, the Chief Joseph dike swarm, exposed in SE Washington, NE Oregon, and W Idaho, USA. William H. Taubeneck (1923-2016) spent several decades mapping CRFB dikes. His extensive, meticulous field work defined the spatial extent and dominant trends in the Chief Joseph dike swarm, providing a key constraint for theories of CRFB emplacement and their deep origin. However, these measurements were never published nor made public. We are revitalizing Taubeneck's maps, notebooks, and numerous unpublished geochemical analyses, synthesizing his work with other published and mapped dikes and field checking select measurements to ensure accurate interpretation. This dataset should lead to increased understandings of the CRFB shallow plumbing system and flood basalt eruptive dynamics in general. Preliminary analysis of 4,410 mapped CRFB feeder dike segments from Taubeneck and other workers reveals systematic trends in both dike orientation and lithology of host rock. Average dike orientation strikes to the north-northwest across 400 km. Orientations are generally parallel to the cratonic boundary, but appear generally unaffected by a major transition in craton position and also exhibit minor trends with near orthogonal orientations. Dike spatial density peaks in Paleozoic to Cenozoic accreted terranes. Exposed dikes are concentrated among Jurassic and Cretaceous plutons, which host 53% of mapped dikes and accommodate the largest variability in dike orientation. Preliminary investigations suggest variations of feeder dike thickness with depth in the plumbing system as preserved through exposure in the uplifted Wallowa Mountains, although this is complicated by evidence for dikes that accommodated multiple injections and uncertain duration of flow. Ongoing work aims to resolve these issues. Summary figure: (a) Dikes mapped by Taubeneck and others versus latitude. (b) Dike orientation. (c) Paleozoic and Mesozoic accreted terranes and the cratonic margin. Dikes are mostly exposed in the Baker and Wallowa Terranes. (d) Dike host rock lithology.

Magnetic and clast fabrics as measurements of grain-scale processes within the Death Valley shallow crustal detachment faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayman, Nicholas W.; Housen, B. A.; Cladouhos, T. T.; Livi, K.

2004-05-01

The rock product of shallow-crustal faulting includes fine-grained breccia and clay-rich gouge. Many gouges and breccias have a fabric produced by distributed deformation. The orientation of fabric elements provides constraints on the kinematics of fault slip and is the structural record of intrafault strain not accommodated by planar and penetrative surfaces. However, it can be difficult to quantify the deformational fabric of fault rocks, especially the preferred orientations of fine-grained minerals, or to uniquely determine the relationship between fabric geometry and finite strain. Here, we present the results of a fabric study of gouge and breccia sampled from low-angle normal (detachment) faults in the Black Mountains, Death Valley, CA. We measured a preferred orientation of the long axes of the clasts inherited from the crystalline footwall of the fault and compared the shape preferred orientation to the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of the fault rocks. The two measurements of fabric exhibit systematic similarities and differences in orientation and anisotropy that are compatible with the large-scale kinematics of fault slip. The dominant carriers of the magnetic susceptibility are micron- and sub-micron scale iron oxides and clay minerals. Therefore even the finest grains in the fault rock were sensitive to the distributed deformation and the micro-mechanics of particle interaction must have departed from those assumed by the passive-marker kinematic model that best explains the fabric.

Lattice-Preferred Orientation in Deformed Novaculite - Comparison of in-situ Results Using BEARTEX and Post-Mortem EBSD Analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willenweber, A.; Thomas, S.; Burnley, P. C.

2012-12-01

The Berkeley Texture Package BEARTEX is a Windows-based computer software that combines various algorithms to analyze lattice-preferred orientation in polycrystalline materials. BEARTEX was initially designed to interpret diffraction intensity data from pole figure goniometers. Recently it has been successfully used to process synthetic forsterite powder diffraction data from in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction taken during deformation (Bollinger et al. 2012). Our study aims to test the practicability of using BEARTEX to analyze the evolution of lattice-preferred orientation in natural polycrystalline quartz (novaculite) during deformation. In-situ X-ray diffraction data was collected during the deformation of novaculite at 2.5 GPa and up to 1000 °C in a D-DIA apparatus using the ten-element energy-dispersive detector at the NSLS beamline X17B2. Diffraction intensities are a function of crystal orientation, expressed in azimuth angle η and pole distance ψ. The latter is the angle between the normal of a given diffraction plane and the vertical direction of the D-DIA apparatus - our principal stress direction during compression. Orientation-dependent diffraction intensities were corrected for different responses of the single detectors and x-ray absorption effects of the anvils. Orientation distributions (ODs) and inverse pole figures were calculated using BEARTEX. In addition, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses were carried out on the deformed novaculite samples. Generated pole figures were compared with those derived from BEARTEX. Textural properties of our novaculite starting material complicated the BEARTEX analyses. The relatively strong variation of grain sizes in our natural specimens caused non-random diffraction intensity distributions. Those lead to non-random distributions of crystal orientations when analyzed with BEARTEX, although pole figures from EBSD data clearly show random crystal orientations. In an attempt to solve this problem, we employed a scanning routine when recording in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and so collected diffraction from multiple sample volumes rather than from one single spot. Here, we will present a comparison of pole figures derived from independent BEARTEX and EBSD analyses for a series of novaculite experiments and discuss the practicability of BEARTEX to analyze the evolution of lattice-preferred orientation in natural polycrystalline quartz. REFERENCES C. BOLLINGER, S. MERKEL AND P. RATERRON (2012): In situ quantitative analysis of stress and texture development in forsterite aggregates deformed at 6 GPa and 1373 K. J. Appl. Cryst., 45, 263-271.

Citizenship Orientations in a Divided Society: A Comparison of Three Groups of Israeli Junior-High Students--Secular Jews, Religious Jews, and Israeli Arabs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sabbagh, Clara; Resh, Nura

2014-01-01

This study identifies major preferences for combinations of rights and duties (henceforth, citizenship orientations), as reflected in the political worldview of Israeli junior-high school students. Two distinct orientations were found, termed here as "liberal" and "ethno-republican". In order to contextualize the examination of…

Measuring implicit gender-role orientation: the gender initial preference task.

PubMed

Stieger, Stefan; Burger, Christoph; Schiller, Franziska R; Schulze, Esther K; Voracek, Martin

2014-01-01

Individuals prefer their name letters over nonname letters, which is known as the name-letter effect (NLE). This research aimed to examine a possible NLE for gender-role orientation (GRO) by rating letters for their gender-typicality in an initial preference task (Gender-IPT). Indeed, a clear NLE appeared: Men rated their initials as more male-typical, whereas women rated them as more female-typical. The Gender-IPT showed good convergent validity with other direct and indirect (Gender Implicit Association Test) measures of GRO as well as predictive validity with sensation seeking and gender-typical everyday life behaviors. The Gender-IPT seems to be a useful and practical indirect measure to assess GRO in a short, convenient, and computer-independent way, complementing other indirect measures of GRO.

A New Species of Corynoneura Winnertz from Oriental China (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae).

PubMed

Fang, Xiangliang; Wang, Xinhua; Fu, Yue

2014-11-19

A new species of Corynoneura Winnertz (1846) from Oriental China, C. ecphora sp. n. is described and illustrated as male. A distribution map of adult males in Oriental China is given. A key to known males of Oriental China is provided.

Orientation control of barium titanate films using metal oxide nanosheet layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchida, Hiroshi; Oi, Tomotake; Noguchi, Keito; Moki, Shota; Kim, Jin Woon; Shima, Hiromi; Nishida, Ken; Kiguchi, Takanori; Akama, Akihiko; Konno, Toyohiko J.; Funakubo, Hiroshi

2016-10-01

In the present work, we aim to achieve the preferred crystal orientation of chemical solution deposition (CSD)-derived BaTiO3 films on ubiquitous Si wafers with the assistance of Ca2Nb3O10 nanosheet (ns-CN) template layers. The ns-CN on platinized Si (Pt/Si) substrates aligned the BaTiO3(100) plane to the substrate surface, because of the favorable lattice matching of the ns-CN (001) plane. The CSD process in air required a high crystallization temperature of 900 °C for the preferred crystal orientation of BaTiO3(100) because of the BaCO3 byproduct generated during the combustion reaction of the precursor gel. The processing in vacuum to remove CO2 species enhanced the crystal orientation even at the crystallization temperature of 800 °C, although it can generate oxygen vacancies (\\text{V}\\text{O}{} \\bullet \\bullet ) that cause distorted polarization behavior under an applied field higher than approximately 150 kV/cm. The relative dielectric constant (εr) of the (100)-oriented BaTiO3 film on the ns-CN-supported Pt/Si substrate (ns-CN/Pt/Si) was generally larger than that of the randomly oriented film on Pt/Si, depending on the degree of crystal orientation.

Grain orientations and grain boundaries in tungsten nonotendril fuzz grown under divertor-like conditions

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

Parish, Chad M.; Wang, Kun; Doerner, Russel P.

2016-09-19

We grew nanotendril “fuzz” on tungsten via plasma exposure and performed transmission Kikuchi diffraction (tKD) in scanning electron microscopy of isolated nanotendrils. 900 °C, 10 23 He/m 2sec, 4 × 10 26 He/m 2 exposure of tungsten produced a deep and fully developed nanotendril mat. tKD of isolated nanotendrils indicated that there was no preferred crystallographic direction oriented along the long axes of the tendrils, and the grain boundary character showed slightly preferential orientations. In conclusion, tendril growth is sufficiently non-equilibrium to prevent any preference of growth direction to manifest measurably, and that new high-angle boundaries (with new grains andmore » grain-growth axes) nucleate randomly along the tendrils during growth.« less

Heart rate variability is associated with social value orientation in males but not females.

PubMed

Lischke, Alexander; Mau-Moeller, Anett; Jacksteit, Robert; Pahnke, Rike; Hamm, Alfons O; Weippert, Matthias

2018-05-09

Phylogenetic and neurobiological theories suggest that inter-individual differences in high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) are associated with inter-individual differences in social behavior and social cognition. To test these theories, we investigated whether individuals with high and low HF-HRV would show different preferences for cooperative behavior in social contexts. We recorded resting state HF-HRV in 84 healthy individuals before they completed the Social Value Orientation task, a well-established measure of cooperative preferences. HF-HRV was derived from short-term (300 s) and ultra-short-term (60 s, 120 s) recordings of participants' heart rate to determine the robustness of possible findings. Irrespective of recording length, we found a sex-dependent association between inter-individual differences in HF-HRV and inter-individual differences in social value orientation: The preference for cooperation was more pronounced among individuals with high as compared low HF-HRV, albeit only in male and not in female participants. These findings suggest that males with high HF-HRV are more inclined to engage in cooperative behavior than males with low HF-HRV.

Correlation between crystallographic anisotropy and dendritic orientation selection of binary magnesium alloys.

PubMed

Du, Jinglian; Guo, Zhipeng; Zhang, Ang; Yang, Manhong; Li, Mei; Xiong, Shoumei

2017-10-19

Both synchrotron X-ray tomography and EBSD characterization revealed that the preferred growth directions of magnesium alloy dendrite change as the type and amount of solute elements. Such growth behavior was further investigated by evaluating the orientation-dependent surface energy and the subsequent crystallographic anisotropy via ab-initio calculations based on density functional theory and hcp lattice structure. It was found that for most binary magnesium alloys, the preferred growth direction of the α-Mg dendrite in the basal plane is always [Formula: see text], and independent on either the type or concentration of the additional elements. In non-basal planes, however, the preferred growth direction is highly dependent on the solute concentration. In particular, for Mg-Al alloys, this direction changes from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] as the Al-concentration increased, and for Mg-Zn alloys, this direction changes from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] as the Zn-content varied. Our results provide a better understanding on the dendritic orientation selection and morphology transition of magnesium alloys at the atomic level.

Orienteering Map and Compass: A Guide and Outline to Its Science and Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Mel; Burton, VirLynn

This orienteering manual is used to teach map and compass skills to elementary school students on an overnight outdoor experience administered by volunteers. Although the experience is aimed at elementary students, student teachers have the opportunity to participate as instructors. After a few words to the volunteers on maximizing learning among…

Reconstitutional Mutagenesis of the Maize P Gene by Short-Range Ac Transpositions

PubMed Central

Moreno, M. A.; Chen, J.; Greenblatt, I.; Dellaporta, S. L.

1992-01-01

The tendency for Ac to transpose over short intervals has been utilized to develop insertional mutagenesis and fine structure genetic mapping strategies in maize. We recovered excisions of Ac from the P gene and insertions into nearby chromosomal sites. These closely linked Ac elements reinserted into the P gene, reconstituting over 250 unstable variegated alleles. Reconstituted alleles condition a variety of variegation patterns that reflect the position and orientation of Ac within the P gene. Molecular mapping and DNA sequence analyses have shown that reinsertion sites are dispersed throughout a 12.3-kb chromosomal region in the promoter, exons and introns of the P gene, but in some regions insertions sites were clustered in a nonrandom fashion. Transposition profiles and target site sequence data obtained from these studies have revealed several features of Ac transposition including its preference for certain target sites. These results clearly demonstrate the tendency of Ac to transpose to nearby sites in both proximal and distal directions from the donor site. With minor modifications, reconstitutional mutagenesis should be applicable to many Ac-induced mutations in maize and in other plant species and can possibly be extended to other eukaryotic transposon systems as well. PMID:1325389

Collagen organization in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease: an x-ray diffraction study.

PubMed

Hadian, Mojtaba; Corcoran, Brendan M; Han, Richard I; Grossmann, J Günter; Bradshaw, Jeremy P

2007-10-01

Collagen fibrils, a major component of mitral valve leaflets, play an important role in defining shape and providing mechanical strength and flexibility. Histopathological studies show that collagen fibrils undergo dramatic changes in the course of myxomatous mitral valve disease in both dogs and humans. However, little is known about the detailed organization of collagen in this disease. This study was designed to analyze and compare collagen fibril organization in healthy and lesional areas of myxomatous mitral valves of dogs, using synchrotron small-angle x-ray diffraction. The orientation, density, and alignment of collagen fibrils were mapped across six different valves. The findings reveal a preferred collagen alignment in the main body of the leaflets between two commissures. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data showed significant differences between affected and lesion-free areas in terms of collagen content, fibril alignment, and total tissue volume. Regression analysis of the amount of collagen compared to the total tissue content at each point revealed a significant relationship between these two parameters in lesion-free but not in affected areas. This is the first time this technique has been used to map collagen fibrils in cardiac tissue; the findings have important applications to human cardiology.

a Method for Simultaneous Aerial and Terrestrial Geodata Acquisition for Corridor Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina, P.; Blázquez, M.; Sastre, J.; Colomina, I.

2015-08-01

In this paper, we present mapKITE, a new mobile, simultaneous terrestrial and aerial, geodata collection and post-processing method. On one side, the method combines a terrestrial mobile mapping system (TMMS) with an unmanned aerial mapping one, both equipped with remote sensing payloads (at least, a nadir-looking visible-band camera in the UA) by means of which aerial and terrestrial geodata are acquired simultaneously. This tandem geodata acquisition system is based on a terrestrial vehicle (TV) and on an unmanned aircraft (UA) linked by a 'virtual tether', that is, a mechanism based on the real-time supply of UA waypoints by the TV. By means of the TV-to-UA tether, the UA follows the TV keeping a specific relative TV-to-UA spatial configuration enabling the simultaneous operation of both systems to obtain highly redundant and complementary geodata. On the other side, mapKITE presents a novel concept for geodata post-processing favoured by the rich geometrical aspects derived from the mapKITE tandem simultaneous operation. The approach followed for sensor orientation and calibration of the aerial images captured by the UA inherits the principles of Integrated Sensor Orientation (ISO) and adds the pointing-and-scaling photogrammetric measurement of a distinctive element observed in every UA image, which is a coded target mounted on the roof of the TV. By means of the TV navigation system, the orientation of the TV coded target is performed and used in the post-processing UA image orientation approach as a Kinematic Ground Control Point (KGCP). The geometric strength of a mapKITE ISO network is therefore high as it counts with the traditional tie point image measurements, static ground control points, kinematic aerial control and the new point-and-scale measurements of the KGCPs. With such a geometry, reliable system and sensor orientation and calibration and eventual further reduction of the number of traditional ground control points is feasible. The different technical concepts, challenges and breakthroughs behind mapKITE are presented in this paper, such as the TV-to-UA virtual tether and the use of KGCP measurements for UA sensor orientation. In addition, the use in mapKITE of new European GNSS signals such as the Galileo E5 AltBOC is discussed. Because of the critical role of GNSS technologies and the potential impact on the corridor mapping market, the European Commission and the European GNSS Agency, in the frame of the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020," have recently awarded the "mapKITE" project to an international consortium of organizations coordinated by GeoNumerics S.L.

[Patient orientation and reference to the ICF as challenges in outcome assessment in rehabilitation].

PubMed

Farin, E

2008-04-01

Measuring the results of rehabilitation interventions presents a number of issues regarding content and method, two of which have been selected for discussion in view of the findings of current research--the significance of patient orientation and the relation to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, ICF. Compilation of patients' treatment goals, expectations and preferences, patient participation in the development of assessment instruments, compilation of patients' evaluations of treatment results and consideration of the subjectivity of the physician as well as interaction between patient and physician were discussed with respect to involving patients in measuring results. The ICF is a terminology system presenting a uniform international classification for describing health conditions that could assume the function of a common language for the members of various occupations involved in medical rehabilitation. Orienting the measurement of results to the ICF is an obvious next step. This can promote patient orientation, as the categories used by the ICF--in particular for the domains of activities and participation--are formulated in terms relevant to daily routine and are thus pertinent to the patients' lifestyle. The consequences resulting from this overview concern future research needs on the one hand, and on the other hand tips for carrying out a patient-oriented, ICF-based measurement of results. The need for research becomes especially clear regarding the measurement of results based on patient preferences, the determination of the participation relevance perceived by the patient as a criterion for "patient significance" (analogous to "clinical significance"), the integration and weighting of patient and physician assessments of success, the consideration of physicians' subjective concepts and patients' communication preferences, and the design of new, ICF-oriented assessment instruments.

Vocational Preferences of Daughters of Alcoholics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gade, Eldon M.; Goodman, Ronald E.

1975-01-01

This study was designed to examine the vocational interests of daughters of alcoholics. Mixed support was provided for the assumption that their vocational choices are nonperson oriented. Data did support the prediction of high scores on the realistic and intellectual scales of Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory. (SJL)

Are personal values of importance in the stigmatization of people with mental illness?

PubMed

Norman, Ross Mg; Sorrentino, Richard; Windell, Deborah; Manchanda, Rahul

2008-12-01

To investigate the relation of responses to the Schwartz Value Scale to preferred social distance to a person with either schizophrenia or depression. The influence of personal value priorities on discrimination has been investigated in several contexts, but seldom with reference to social distance towards those with mental illness. University students (n = 200) completed the Schwartz Value Scale, as well as a measure of beliefs about mental illness and preferred social distance with reference to a vignette describing a person with either schizophrenia or depression. Consistent with past findings, respondents indicated a preference for greater social distance for schizophrenia than depression, and beliefs about likelihood of socially inappropriate behaviour and danger were correlated with social distance. Self-transcendence value orientation was a significant independent predictor of preference for less social distance. These findings were not influenced by a social desirability bias. Value orientation makes a significant contribution to the prediction of social distance towards those with mental illness. Evaluation of value-based interventions to reduce such discrimination appears warranted.

Sensory quality of fresh French and Dutch market tomatoes: a preference mapping study with Italian consumers.

PubMed

Sinesio, Fiorella; Cammareri, Maria; Moneta, Elisabetta; Navez, Brigitte; Peparaio, Marina; Causse, Mathilde; Grandillo, Silvana

2010-01-01

Sensory properties are important elements to evaluate the qualities of vegetable products and are also determinant factors in purchasing decision. Here we report the Italian results of a preference mapping study conducted within a larger European project with the aim of describing the preferences of European consumers in regard to the diversity of traditional and modern tomato varieties, available on the market. This study has allowed the assessment of fruit quality at 3 levels: objective description of sensory properties, consumer preference tests, and physicochemical measurements. A set of 16 tomato cultivars, with different fruit sizes and shapes, was described and classified according to 18 sensory attributes including flavor, appearance, and texture characteristics. The same cultivars were evaluated by 179 consumers in a "preference mapping" experiment with the goal of identifying the preferred varieties and the reasons for the choice. The consumer data are referred to hedonic ratings (aspect liking and overall liking), familiarity for the analyzed cultivars, and individual features collected by a questionnaire. A hierarchical analysis of the clusters allowed to distinguish, within the sampled Italian consumers, 4 segments with different preferences which represented 19%, 25%, 41%, and 15% of the population, respectively. A partial least square regression model allowed the identification of the sensory attributes that best described consumer cluster preferences for tomato cultivars. Both texture and flavor descriptors were important drivers of consumer preferences, but the relevance (predictive value) of individual descriptors to model tomato liking was different for each consumer segment. Information on demographic and behavioral characteristics, usage habits, and factors relevant for purchasing were also provided on the 4 groups of consumers.

Large magnetoresistance in a directionally solidified Ni44.5Co5.1Mn37.1In13.3 magnetic shape memory alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zongbin; Hu, Wei; Chen, Fenghua; Zhang, Mingang; Li, Zhenzhuang; Yang, Bo; Zhao, Xiang; Zuo, Liang

2018-04-01

Polycrystalline Ni44.5Co5.1Mn37.1In13.3 alloy with coarse columnar-shaped grains and 〈0 0 1〉A preferred orientation was prepared by directional solidification. Due to the strong magnetostructural coupling, inverse martensitic transformation can be induced by the magnetic field, resulting in large negative magnetoresistance up to -58% under the field of 3 T. Such significant field controlled functional behaviors should be attributed to the coarse grains and strong preferred orientation in the directionally solidified alloy.

Measuring Filament Orientation: A New Quantitative, Local Approach

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

Green, C.-E.; Cunningham, M. R.; Jones, P. A.

The relative orientation between filamentary structures in molecular clouds and the ambient magnetic field provides insight into filament formation and stability. To calculate the relative orientation, a measurement of filament orientation is first required. We propose a new method to calculate the orientation of the one-pixel-wide filament skeleton that is output by filament identification algorithms such as filfinder. We derive the local filament orientation from the direction of the intensity gradient in the skeleton image using the Sobel filter and a few simple post-processing steps. We call this the “Sobel-gradient method.” The resulting filament orientation map can be compared quantitativelymore » on a local scale with the magnetic field orientation map to then find the relative orientation of the filament with respect to the magnetic field at each point along the filament. It can also be used for constructing radial profiles for filament width fitting. The proposed method facilitates automation in analyses of filament skeletons, which is imperative in this era of “big data.”.« less

Robust and Accurate Image-Based Georeferencing Exploiting Relative Orientation Constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavegn, S.; Blaser, S.; Nebiker, S.; Haala, N.

2018-05-01

Urban environments with extended areas of poor GNSS coverage as well as indoor spaces that often rely on real-time SLAM algorithms for camera pose estimation require sophisticated georeferencing in order to fulfill our high requirements of a few centimeters for absolute 3D point measurement accuracies. Since we focus on image-based mobile mapping, we extended the structure-from-motion pipeline COLMAP with georeferencing capabilities by integrating exterior orientation parameters from direct sensor orientation or SLAM as well as ground control points into bundle adjustment. Furthermore, we exploit constraints for relative orientation parameters among all cameras in bundle adjustment, which leads to a significant robustness and accuracy increase especially by incorporating highly redundant multi-view image sequences. We evaluated our integrated georeferencing approach on two data sets, one captured outdoors by a vehicle-based multi-stereo mobile mapping system and the other captured indoors by a portable panoramic mobile mapping system. We obtained mean RMSE values for check point residuals between image-based georeferencing and tachymetry of 2 cm in an indoor area, and 3 cm in an urban environment where the measurement distances are a multiple compared to indoors. Moreover, in comparison to a solely image-based procedure, our integrated georeferencing approach showed a consistent accuracy increase by a factor of 2-3 at our outdoor test site. Due to pre-calibrated relative orientation parameters, images of all camera heads were oriented correctly in our challenging indoor environment. By performing self-calibration of relative orientation parameters among respective cameras of our vehicle-based mobile mapping system, remaining inaccuracies from suboptimal test field calibration were successfully compensated.

Orienteering: A Thinging Man's Sport or It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

August, Irwin

1974-01-01

Orienteering is land navigation through unknown countryside with map and compass. This article describes an orienteering program in the Action Education Curriculum, State University of New York, College at Purchase. (KM)

Orienteering: A Swedish Way of Life.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oliver, Rick

1984-01-01

Orienteering involves navigating over an unfamiliar route with a map and a compass and locating control markers as quickly as possible. Originating in Sweden, orienting began primarily as a military event and has grown into "a sport for all." Suggested activities in orienteering to conduct in school conclude the article. (ERB)

Attention-Orienting and Attention-Holding Effects of Faces on 4- to 8-Month-Old Infants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeNicola, Christopher A.; Holt, Nicholas A.; Lambert, Amy J.; Cashon, Cara H.

2013-01-01

Attention-orienting and attention-holding effects of faces were investigated in a sample of 64 children, aged 4 to 8 months old. A visual preference task was used, in which pairs of faces and toys were presented in eight 10-second trials. Effects of age and sitting-ability were examined. Attention-orienting toward faces was measured using the…

Adolescent trust and trustworthiness: role of gender and social value orientation.

PubMed

Derks, Jeffrey; Lee, Nikki C; Krabbendam, Lydia

2014-12-01

Trusting others is an essential feature of adolescent development. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in trusting behavior using an experimental game and relate these to the underlying social preferences. 206 adolescents (Mage = 15.1 years, 51% girls) performed a series of one-shot Trust Games to measure their levels of trust and trustworthiness. Social value orientation, or the preference to maximize one's own outcomes (proself) or both the outcomes of self and other (prosocial) was assessed using the Triple Dominance Measure. Boys were more trusting than girls, but no gender differences on trustworthiness were found. Prosocials were more trusting and trustworthy than proselfs. In addition, gender and social value orientation were independent predictors of trust (but not trustworthiness). These findings show that the higher levels of trust in boys are not the result of a gender difference in prosocial orientation. Copyright © 2014 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The solvation structures of cellulose microfibrils in ionic liquids.

PubMed

Mostofian, Barmak; Smith, Jeremy C; Cheng, Xiaolin

2011-12-01

The use of ionic liquids for non-derivatized cellulose dissolution promises an alternative method for the thermochemical pretreatment of biomass that may be more efficient and environmentally acceptable than more conventional techniques in aqueous solution. Here, we performed equilibrium MD simulations of a cellulose microfibril in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmimCl) and compared the solute structure and the solute-solvent interactions at the interface with those from corresponding simulations in water. The results indicate a higher occurrence of solvent-exposed orientations of cellulose surface hydroxymethyl groups in BmimCl than in water. Moreover, spatial and radial distribution functions indicate that hydrophilic surfaces are a preferred site of interaction between cellulose and the ionic liquid. In particular, hydroxymethyl groups on the hydrophilic fiber surface adopt a different conformation from their counterparts oriented towards the fiber's core. Furthermore, the glucose units with these solvent-oriented hydroxymethyls are surrounded by the heterocyclic organic cation in a preferred parallel orientation, suggesting a direct and distinct interaction scheme between cellulose and BmimCl.

A spherical electron-channelling pattern map for use in quartz petrofabric analysis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lloyd, G.E.; Ferguson, C.C.

1986-01-01

Electron channelling patterns (ECP's) are formed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) by the interaction between the incident electrons and the lattice of crystalline specimens. The patterns are unique for a particular crystallographic orientation and are therefore of considerable potential in petrofabric studies provided they can be accurately indexed. Indexing requires an ECP-map of the crystallographic stereogram or unit triangle covering all possible orientations and hence ECP patterns. Due to the presence of long-range distortions in planar ECP-maps, it is more convenient to construct the maps over a spherical surface. This also facilitates the indexing of individual ECP's. A spherical ECP-map for quartz is presented together with an example of its use in petrofabric analysis. ?? 1986.

Magnetic and Structural characterization of Co nanowires using advanced electron microscopy techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cantu-Valle, Jesus; Ruiz-Zepeda, Francisco; Sanchez, John Eder; Mendoza-Santoyo, Fernando; Ponnce, Arturo; UTSA Team

2015-03-01

We report the magnetic imaging and crystalline structure of high aspect ratio cobalt nanowires. Experimental results of magnetization reversal in cobalt nanowires are presented to illustrate the functionality of the in situ magnetization process through the manipulation of the objective lens. By making use of this applicability, we measure the magnetization and show experimental evidence of the magnetic flux distribution in polycrystalline cobalt nanowires using off-axis electron holography. The retrieved phase map can distinguishes the magnetic contribution from the crystalline contribution with high accuracy. To determine the size and orientation of the grains within the Co nanowires, PED-assisted orientation mapping was performed. Finally, the magnetic analysis performed at individual nanowires was correlated with the crystalline orientation map, obtained by PED-assisted crystal phase orientation mapping. The large shape anisotropy determines the mayor magnetization direction rather than the magneto-crystalline anisotropy in the studied nanowires. The combination of the two techniques allowed us to directly visualize the effects of the crystallographic texture on the magnetization of the nanowire. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. B.J.H. Stadler for providing the samples and financial support from NSF PREM #DMR 0934218, CONACYT, #215762 and Department of Defense #64756-RT-REP.

How do they make it look so easy? The expert orienteer's cognitive advantage.

PubMed

Eccles, David W; Arsal, Guler

2015-01-01

Expertise in sport can appear so extraordinary that it is difficult to imagine how "normal" individuals may achieve it. However, in this review, we show that experts in the sport of orienteering, which requires on-foot navigation using map and compass through wild terrain, can make the difficult look easy because they have developed a cognitive advantage. Specifically, they have acquired knowledge of cognitive and behavioural strategies that allow them to circumvent natural limitations on attention. Cognitive strategies include avoiding peaks of demand on attention by distributing the processing of map information over time and reducing the need to attend to the map by simplifying the navigation required to complete a race. Behavioural strategies include reducing the visual search required of the map by physically arranging and rearranging the map display during races. It is concluded that expertise in orienteering can be partly attributed to the circumvention of natural limitations on attention achieved via the employment of acquired cognitive and behavioural strategies. Thus, superior performance in sport may not be the possession of only a privileged few; it may be available to all aspiring athletes.

The Performance of a Tight Ins/gnss/photogrammetric Integration Scheme for Land Based MMS Applications in Gnss Denied Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Chien-Hsun; Chiang, Kai-Wei

2016-06-01

The early development of mobile mapping system (MMS) was restricted to applications that permitted the determination of the elements of exterior orientation from existing ground control. Mobile mapping refers to a means of collecting geospatial data using mapping sensors that are mounted on a mobile platform. Research works concerning mobile mapping dates back to the late 1980s. This process is mainly driven by the need for highway infrastructure mapping and transportation corridor inventories. In the early nineties, advances in satellite and inertial technology made it possible to think about mobile mapping in a different way. Instead of using ground control points as references for orienting the images in space, the trajectory and attitude of the imager platform could now be determined directly. Cameras, along with navigation and positioning sensors are integrated and mounted on a land vehicle for mapping purposes. Objects of interest can be directly measured and mapped from images that have been georeferenced using navigation and positioning sensors. Direct georeferencing (DG) is the determination of time-variable position and orientation parameters for a mobile digital imager. The most common technologies used for this purpose today are satellite positioning using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and inertial navigation using an Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU). Although either technology used along could in principle determine both position and orientation, they are usually integrated in such a way that the IMU is the main orientation sensor, while the GNSS receiver is the main position sensor. However, GNSS signals are obstructed due to limited number of visible satellites in GNSS denied environments such as urban canyon, foliage, tunnel and indoor that cause the GNSS gap or interfered by reflected signals that cause abnormal measurement residuals thus deteriorates the positioning accuracy in GNSS denied environments. This study aims at developing a novel method that uses ground control points to maintain the positioning accuracy of the MMS in GNSS denied environments. At last, this study analyses the performance of proposed method using about 20 check-points through DG process.

Relating Teachers' Whistleblowing Tendency and Personal Features: Machiavellianism, Religiosity, and Utilitarianism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gökçe, Asiye Toker

2015-01-01

This study examines relationships between religiosity and value orientation of teachers, and preference for whistleblowing modes. Three hypotheses were developed, and tested related to the relationships between utilitarianism, religiosity, Machiavellianism and preference for various forms of whistleblowing. To analyse the data obtained from a…

Leadership Preferences of Indian and Non-Indian Athletes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malloy, D. C.; Nilson, R. N.

1991-01-01

Among 86 Indian and non-Indian volleyball competitors, non-Indian players indicated significantly greater preferences for leadership that involved democratic behavior, autocratic behavior, or social support. Indians may adapt their behavior by participating in non-Indian games, without changing their traditional value orientations. Contains 22…

Mapping local orientation of aligned fibrous scatterers for cancerous tissues using backscattering Mueller matrix imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Honghui; Sun, Minghao; Zeng, Nan; Du, E.; Liu, Shaoxiong; Guo, Yihong; Wu, Jian; He, Yonghong; Ma, Hui

2014-10-01

Polarization measurements are sensitive to the microstructure of tissues and can be used to detect pathological changes. Many tissues contain anisotropic fibrous structures. We obtain the local orientation of aligned fibrous scatterers using different groups of the backscattering Mueller matrix elements. Experiments on concentrically well-aligned silk fibers and unstained human papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues show that the m22, m33, m23, and m32 elements have better contrast but higher degeneracy for the extraction of orientation angles. The m12 and m13 elements show lower contrast, but allow us to determine the orientation angle for the fibrous scatterers along all directions. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations based on the sphere-cylinder scattering model indicate that the oblique incidence of the illumination beam introduces some errors in the orientation angles obtained by both methods. Mapping the local orientation of anisotropic tissues may not only provide information on pathological changes, but can also give new leads to reduce the orientation dependence of polarization measurements.

Preferred orientation in experimentally deformed stishovite: implications for deformation mechanisms

DOE PAGES

Kaercher, Pamela M.; Zepeda-Alarcon, Eloisa; Prakapenka, Vitali B.; ...

2014-11-07

Although the crystal structure of the high pressure SiO 2 polymorph stishovite has been studied in detail, little is known about the development of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) during deformation in stishovite. Insight into CPO and associated deformation mechanics of stishovite would provide important information for understanding subduction of quartz-bearing crustal rocks into the mantle. To study CPO development, we converted a natural sample of flint to stishovite in a laser heated diamond anvil cell and compressed the stishovite aggregate up to 38 GPa. We collected diffraction patterns in radial geometry to examine in situ development of crystallographic preferred orientationmore » and find that (001) poles preferentially align with the compression direction. Viscoplastic self-consistent modeling suggests the most likely slip systems at high pressure and ambient temperature are pyramidal and basal slip.« less

Sexual orientation of male mouse offspring prenatally exposed to ethanol.

PubMed

Watabe, T; Endo, A

1994-01-01

Pregnant mice were intubated with either low (2 g/kg) or high (4 g/kg) dose of ethanol twice daily throughout the last third of the gestational period (from dg14 to dg18: gestational day; plug positive = dg 0). Ninety days after birth, the sexual orientation test was conducted on male offspring. This test was designed to observe a two-choice preference for either male or female partners in a setting in which the test animal could move freely between the two incentive compartments within which a stud male and an estrous female had been placed. We found that young adult males that had been exposed to ethanol prenatally have a decreased preference for the opposite sex and an increased preference for the same sex as a partner, although their physical development was apparently unaffected.

High-accuracy direct aerial platform orientation with tightly coupled GPS/INS system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-09-01

Obtaining sensor orientation by direct measurements is a rapidly emerging mapping technology. Modern GPS and INS systems allow for the direct determination of platform position and orientation at an unprecedented accuracy. In airborne surveying, airc...

Functional topography of single cortical cells: an intracellular approach combined with optical imaging.

PubMed

Buzás, P; Eysel, U T; Kisvárday, Z F

1998-11-01

Pyramidal cells mediating long-range corticocortical connections have been assumed to play an important role in visual perceptual mechanisms [C.D. Gilbert, Horizontal integration and cortical dynamics, Neuron 9 (1992) 1-13]. However, no information is available as yet on the specificity of individual pyramidal cells with respect to functional maps, e.g., orientation map. Here, we show a combination of techniques with which the functional topography of single pyramidal neurons can be explored in utmost detail. To this end, we used optical imaging of intrinsic signals followed by intracellular recording and staining with biocytin in vivo. The axonal and dendritic trees of the labelled neurons were reconstructed in three dimensions and aligned with corresponding functional orientation maps. The results indicate that, contrary to the sharp orientation tuning of neurons shown by the recorded spike activity, the efferent connections (axon terminal distribution) of the same pyramidal cells were found to terminate at a much broader range of orientations. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

User-Centered Design and Printed Educational Materials: A Focus Group Study of Primary Care Physician Preferences.

PubMed

Grudniewicz, Agnes; Bhattacharyya, Onil; McKibbon, K Ann; Straus, Sharon E

2016-01-01

It is challenging for primary care physicians (PCPs) to review and apply the growing amount of clinical evidence available. Printed educational materials (PEMs), which synthesize evidence, are often ineffective at improving knowledge, possibly due to poor design and limited uptake. In this study, we collected PCP preferences for the design and content of physician-oriented PEMs and determined key attributes that may increase their usability and uptake. We held 90-minute focus groups with PCPs in Toronto, ON, Canada. Focus groups included discussion about whether and how participants use PEMs, feedback on three examples of PEMs, and a discussion on general format and design preferences in PEMs. We analyzed focus group transcripts using a thematic analysis and summarized results in a list of user preferences. Four focus groups were held with 13 PCPs. We found that participants only read PEMs relevant to their patients and prefer short, concise documents, with links to sources that can provide more detailed information. Simplicity of materials was important, with many participants preferring PEMs without lengthy backgrounds or scientific explanations. Most participants wanted to see key messages highlighted to easily assess the relevance of the materials to their practice. Some participants shared physician-oriented PEMs with patients. This study shows that PCPs may prefer shorter, simpler, and more concise documents that have less scientific detail but provide references to further information sources. It is important to understand end user preferences for the design and content of these materials to enhance their uptake.

Orientation dependence of ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 thin films on Pt(100)/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, G. D.

2006-11-01

Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 (BNT0.85) thin films with (100) [α(100)=87.8%], (117) [α(117)=77.1%], and (001) [α(001)=98.8%] preferred orientations were deposited on Pt(100)/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using a metal organic decomposition process. The remanent polarization of (100)-predominant BNT0.85 film is about 50% and three times larger than those of (117)-preferred and (001)-oriented films, respectively, suggesting that the major polarization vector of BNT0.85 is close to the a axis rather than the c axis. This result can be further demonstrated by the piezoelectric measurements using an atomic force microscope in the piezoresponse mode.

Religious Belief and Practice: New Forces in American Politics?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beatty, Kathleen Murphy; Walter, Oliver

Exploratory research suggests that denominational preferences, fundamentalism, and church attendance are related to an individual's position on political issues. A review of research reveals that religious beliefs are stable, developed early in life, and are central to an individual's other orientations. Research on religious orientation is…

Graphoepitaxy by encapsulation

DOEpatents

Geis, Michael W.; Smith, Henry I.; Antoniadis, Dimitri A.; Flanders, Dale C.

1986-01-01

Improvements on the graphoepitaxial process for obtaining epitaxial or preferred orientation films are described wherein a cap of material is formed over the film to be oriented, artificial surface-relief structure may be present in the substrate, the cap, or both, and the film may be heated by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation.

Characterization of monoclinic crystals in tablets by pattern-fitting procedure using X-ray powder diffraction data.

PubMed

Yamamura, Shigeo; Momose, Yasunori

2003-06-18

The purpose of this study is to characterize the monoclinic crystals in tablets by using X-ray powder diffraction data and to evaluate the deformation feature of crystals during compression. The monoclinic crystals of acetaminophen and benzoic acid were used as the samples. The observed X-ray diffraction intensities were fitted to the analytic expression, and the fitting parameters, such as the lattice parameters, the peak-width parameters, the preferred orientation parameter and peak asymmetric parameter were optimized by a non-linear least-squares procedure. The Gauss and March distribution functions were used to correct the preferred orientation of crystallites in the tablet. The March function performed better in correcting the modification of diffraction intensity by preferred orientation of crystallites, suggesting that the crystallites in the tablets had fiber texture with axial orientation. Although a broadening of diffraction peaks was observed in acetaminophen tablets with an increase of compression pressure, little broadening was observed in the benzoic tablets. These results suggest that "acetaminophen is a material consolidating by fragmentation of crystalline particles and benzoic acid is a material consolidating by plastic deformation then occurred rearrangement of molecules during compression". A pattern-fitting procedure is the superior method for characterizing the crystalline drugs of monoclinic crystals in the tablets, as well as orthorhombic isoniazid and mannitol crystals reported in the previous paper.

Assessment of Attractiveness of Plants as Roosting Sites for the Melon Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis

PubMed Central

McQuate, Grant T.; Vargas, Roger I.

2007-01-01

The use of toxic protein bait sprays to suppress melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), populations typically involves application to vegetation bordering agricultural host areas where the adults seek shelter (“roost”). Although bait spray applications for suppression of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), populations have traditionally been applied to the host crop, rather than to crop borders, roosting by oriental fruit flies in borders of some crop species, such as papaya, Carica papaya L. (Brassicales: Caricaceae), suggests that bait spray applications to crop borders could also help in suppression of B. dorsalis populations. In order to develop improved recommendations for application of bait sprays to border plants for suppression of melon fly and oriental fruit fly populations, the relative attractiveness of a range of plant species, in a vegetative (non-flowering) stage, was tested to wild melon fly and oriental fruit fly populations established in a papaya orchard in Hawaii. A total of 20 plant species were evaluated, divided into four categories: 1) border plants, including corn, Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae), windbreaks and broad-leaved ornamentals, 7 species; 2) weed plants commonly found in agricultural fields in Hawaii, 6 species; 3) host crop plants, 1 species- zucchini, Cucurbita pepo L. (Violales: Curcurbitaceae), and 4) locally grown fruit trees, 6 species. Plants were established in pots and placed in an open field, in clusters encircling protein bait traps, 20 m away from the papaya orchard. Castor bean, Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae), panax, Polyscias guilfoylei (Bull) Bailey (Apiales: Araliaceae), tiger's claw, Erythnna variegata L. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and guava, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) were identified as preferred roosting hosts for the melon fly, and tiger's claw, panax, castor bean, Canada cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), ti plant, Cordyline terminate (L.) Chev.(Liliales: Liliaceae), guava and several Citrus spp. were identified as preferred roosting hosts for oriental fruit fly. Guava had not previously been identified as a preferred roosting host for melon fly. Other than for the use of panax as a roosting host, there has previously been little attention to roosting hosts for oriental fruit fly. Establishment of preferred roosting hosts as crop borders may help to improve suppression of both fruit fly species by providing sites for bait spray applications. Further research is needed to assess the use of vegetation bordering other host crops as roosting hosts, especially for oriental fruit fly. PMID:20334596

The attracting power of the gaze of politicians is modulated by the personality and ideological attitude of their voters: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Cazzato, Valentina; Liuzza, Marco Tullio; Caprara, Gian Vittorio; Macaluso, Emiliano; Aglioti, Salvatore Maria

2015-10-01

Observing someone rapidly moving their eyes induces reflexive shifts of overt and covert attention in the onlooker. Previous studies have shown that this process can be modulated by the onlooker's personality, as well as by the social features of the person depicted in the cued face. Here, we investigated whether an individual's preference for social dominance orientation, in-group perceived similarity (PS), and political affiliation of the cued-face modulated neural activity within specific nodes of the social attention network. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants were requested to perform a gaze-following task to investigate whether the directional gaze of various Italian political personages might influence the oculomotor behaviour of in-group or out-group voters. After scanning, we acquired measures of PS in personality traits with each political personage and preference for social dominance orientation. Behavioural data showed that higher gaze interference for in-group than out-group political personages was predicted by a higher preference for social hierarchy. Higher blood oxygenation level-dependent activity in incongruent vs. congruent conditions was found in areas associated with orienting to socially salient events and monitoring response conflict, namely the left frontal eye field, right supramarginal gyrus, mid-cingulate cortex and left anterior insula. Interestingly, higher ratings of PS with the in-group and less preference for social hierarchy predicted increased activity in the left frontal eye field during distracting gaze movements of in-group as compared with out-group political personages. Our results suggest that neural activity in the social orienting circuit is modulated by higher-order social dimensions, such as in-group PS and individual differences in ideological attitudes. © 2015 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Classification and characterization of Japanese consumers' beef preferences by external preference mapping.

PubMed

Sasaki, Keisuke; Ooi, Motoki; Nagura, Naoto; Motoyama, Michiyo; Narita, Takumi; Oe, Mika; Nakajima, Ikuyo; Hagi, Tatsuro; Ojima, Koichi; Kobayashi, Miho; Nomura, Masaru; Muroya, Susumu; Hayashi, Takeshi; Akama, Kyoko; Fujikawa, Akira; Hokiyama, Hironao; Kobayashi, Kuniyuki; Nishimura, Takanori

2017-08-01

Over the past few decades, beef producers in Japan have improved marbling in their beef products. It was recently reported that marbling is not well correlated with palatability as rated by Japanese consumers. This study sought to identify the consumer segments in Japan that prefer sensory characteristics of beef other than high marbling. Three Wagyu beef, one Holstein beef and two lean imported beef longissimus samples were subjected to a descriptive sensory test, physicochemical analysis and a consumer (n = 307) preference test. According to consumer classification and external preference mapping, four consumer segments were identified as 'gradual high-fat likers', 'moderate-fat and distinctive taste likers', 'Wagyu likers' and 'distinctive texture likers'. Although the major trend of Japanese consumers' beef preference was 'marbling liking', 16.9% of the consumers preferred beef samples that had moderate marbling and distinctive taste. The consumers' attitudes expressed in a questionnaire survey were in good agreement with the preference for marbling among the 'moderate-fat and distinctive taste likers'. These results indicate that moderately marbled beef is a potent category in the Japanese beef market. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of a school reform on longitudinal stability of students' preferences with regard to education.

PubMed

Könings, Karen D; Brand-Gruwel, Saskia; Elen, Jan

2012-09-01

Students' perspective on education is of crucial importance for its effectivity, but students' opinions are seldom acknowledged by teachers and designers. Student participation in the educational design process could be a suitable tool to better take students' preferences into account. However, for effective participatory design, it is necessary to know whether students have stable preferences for the design of their education. Changeability of preferences would require a more continuing design process allowing continuous adaptations. This longitudinal survey study aimed to determine the changeability over time of students' preferences for different aspects of a learning environment. Additionally, causes of possible changes in preferences are investigated. The participants were 1,335 high school students of five schools for secondary education in the Netherlands, joining this study during a period of 2 years. Data about students' preferences were collected at three moments, using the Inventory of Perceived Study Environment Extended. Learning-related student characteristics, such as processing strategies and motivational orientations, were measured with the Inventory of Learning Styles. Additionally, data on learning performances were collected. The results showed stability on preferences for almost all studied characteristics of the learning environment. Particularly remarkable was a drop in desirability for student autonomy. This was larger for students with a certificate-oriented motivation and smaller for self-regulated students. Additionally, poorly performing students had a larger decrease in preference for autonomy. The stability on most aspects supports that participatory design might result in fairly stable instructional designs, although caution is needed with respect to student autonomy. ©2011 The British Psychological Society.

'Fixed-axis' magnetic orientation by an amphibian: non-shoreward-directed compass orientation, misdirected homing or positioning a magnetite-based map detector in a consistent alignment relative to the magnetic field?

PubMed

Phillips, John B; Borland, S Chris; Freake, Michael J; Brassart, Jacques; Kirschvink, Joseph L

2002-12-01

Experiments were carried out to investigate the earlier prediction that prolonged exposure to long-wavelength (>500 nm) light would eliminate homing orientation by male Eastern red-spotted newts Notophthalmus viridescens. As in previous experiments, controls held in outdoor tanks under natural lighting conditions and tested in a visually uniform indoor arena under full-spectrum light were homeward oriented. As predicted, however, newts held under long-wavelength light and tested under either full-spectrum or long-wavelength light (>500 nm) failed to show consistent homeward orientation. The newts also did not orient with respect to the shore directions in the outdoor tanks in which they were held prior to testing. Unexpectedly, however, the newts exhibited bimodal orientation along a more-or-less 'fixed' north-northeast-south-southwest magnetic axis. The orientation exhibited by newts tested under full-spectrum light was indistinguishable from that of newts tested under long-wavelength light, although these two wavelength conditions have previously been shown to differentially affect both shoreward compass orientation and homing orientation. To investigate the possibility that the 'fixed-axis' response of the newts was mediated by a magnetoreception mechanism involving single-domain particles of magnetite, natural remanent magnetism (NRM) was measured from a subset of the newts. The distribution of NRM alignments with respect to the head-body axis of the newts was indistinguishable from random. Furthermore, there was no consistent relationship between the NRM of individual newts and their directional response in the overall sample. However, under full-spectrum, but not long-wavelength, light, the alignment of the NRM when the newts reached the 20 cm radius criterion circle in the indoor testing arena (estimated by adding the NRM alignment measured from each newt to its magnetic bearing) was non-randomly distributed. These findings are consistent with the earlier suggestion that homing newts use the light-dependent magnetic compass to align a magnetite-based 'map detector' when obtaining the precise measurements necessary to derive map information from the magnetic field. However, aligning the putative map detector does not explain the fixed-axis response of newts tested under long-wavelength light. Preliminary evidence suggests that, in the absence of reliable directional information from the magnetic compass (caused by the 90 degrees rotation of the response of the magnetic compass under long-wavelength light), newts may resort to a systematic sampling strategy to identify alignment(s) of the map detector that yields reliable magnetic field measurements.

Relationship between Running Speed and Cognitive Processes in Orienteering: Two Empirical Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheshikhina, Valentina V.

1993-01-01

Fourteen qualified orienteers completed a stepwise increased treadmill velocity test in which controls had to be transferred from a master map. Orienteering accuracy was greatest at the anaerobic threshold speed. In a second study, 17 orienteers performed arithmetic tasks before and after a treadmill workout. Performance was significantly better…

Orienteering for Sport and Pleasure.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bengtsson, Hans; Atkinson, George

This text presents the principles of the sport of orienteering (navigating through an unknown area using a map and compass as guide) and is useful to beginners, experienced orienteers, and "armchair" orienteers. Included in the text are: (1) a glossary of key words; (2) a basic introduction to, and history of, the sport; (3) description of the…

Analyzing Morton's Typology of Service Paradigms and Integrity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bringle, Robert G.; Hatcher, Julie A.; McIntosh, Rachel E.

2006-01-01

Research on college students found limited support for Morton's (1995) hypothesis that students have a preference for one distinct type of service orientation (i.e., charity, project, social change). The findings did replicate previous findings that college students prefer the charity paradigm. A measure of integrity was developed and two…

Discovering Learning Preferences and Learning Differences in the Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bargar, June R.; And Others

Understanding learning differences and how they function in the classroom is important to both students and teachers. The learning preferences described in this handbook are based on the concepts of psychological type developed by Carl Jung. Jung identified three sets of psychological processes, the areas of attitude (orientation), perception, and…

Collectivists' Contingency and Autonomy as Predictors of Buffet Preferences among Taiwanese Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chiou, Wen-Bin

2006-01-01

In a culture or society with high collectivism, contingent orientation and constrained autonomy are the prominent characteristics of adolescents' self-construal. This article examined whether Taiwanese adolescents' contingency and autonomy were associated with their prevalent preferences for buffet consumption. Findings in a panel survey indicated…

Fluid transfer into the wedge controlled by high-pressure hydrofracturing in the cold top-slab mantle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padrón-Navarta, José Alberto; Tommasi, Andréa; Garrido, Carlos J.; Sánchez-Vizcaíno, Vicente López; Gómez-Pugnaire, María Teresa; Jabaloy, Antonio; Vauchez, Alain

2010-08-01

Before attaining the mantle wedge, where they trigger partial melting, volatiles released from dehydration reactions in the slab have to migrate across a relatively cold (< 750 °C), peridotite-layer above the incoming slab. In order to unravel the mechanisms allowing for this initial stage of fluid transport, we performed a detailed field and microstructural study of metamorphic prograde peridotites in the Cerro del Almirez ultramafic massif (Betic Cordillera, Spain), where evidences of one of the most important dehydration reactions in subduction zones, the high-pressure antigorite breakdown ( P = 1.6-1.9 GPa and T ≈ 680 °C), can be mapped in the field. This reaction led to arborescent growth of centimeter-size olivine and orthopyroxene, producing a chlorite-harzburgite with a spinifex-like texture. Microstructural observations and crystal preferred orientations (CPO) mapping show no evidences of solid-state deformation during the prograde growth of olivine and orthopyroxene at the expenses of antigorite. However, a few tens to a hundred meters away from the reaction front, the metamorphic texture is partially obliterated by grain-size reduction in roughly planar conjugate zones, a few mm to meters wide. Grain size reduction zones (GSRZ) are characterized by (1) sharp contacts with undeformed spinifex-like texture domains, (2) important reduction of the olivine grain size (60-250 μm), (3) olivine color change from brownish to colorless, (4) decrease in the modal amount of orthopyroxene, and (5) at the mm- to cm-scale, irregular shapes and abrupt terminations. Field and microstructural observations exclude that relative displacement took place across these GSRZ. Changes in modal composition imply reactions with fluids undersaturated in silica. Analysis of olivine crystal-preferred orientations (CPO) in GSRZ shows patterns similar, but more dispersed, than those in neighboring spinifex-like domains. It also reveals mm- to cm-scale discrete domains with rather homogeneous crystallographic orientations suggesting inheritance from the preexisting spinifex-like olivines in the host peridotite. Misorientation angles between neighboring grains in the GSRZ show peaks at ˜ 5-10° and ˜ 20°, but rotations are not crystallographically controlled. Based on these observations, we rule out the formation of the GSRZ by dynamic recrystallization during dislocation creep and propose that they record brittle deformation (microcraking) of the spinifex-like chlorite-harzburgite, probably induced by hydrofracturing at high pressure and relative low temperature conditions (680-710 °C). High-pressure hydrofracturing can, thus, be invoked as an efficient mechanism for fluid flow across the cold top-slab mantle layer, hence allowing the slab-derived fluids to ingress in the wedge.

Reproductive isolation between Zaluzianskya species: the influence of volatiles and flower orientation on hawkmoth foraging choices.

PubMed

Campbell, Diane R; Jürgens, Andreas; Johnson, Steven D

2016-04-01

Floral trait differences between related species may play a key role in reproductive isolation imposed by pollinators. Volatile emissions can influence pollinator choice, but how they act in combination with traits such as flower orientation is rarely studied. We compared flower-opening patterns, morphology, colour, orientation and volatile emissions for two closely related species of Zaluzianskya and their natural hybrids. Hawkmoth pollinators were tested for preference between flowers of the two species, and between flowers with manipulations of volatiles or orientation. Flowers of Z. natalensis and Z. microsiphon open at night and day, respectively, but they overlap during early evening, when hawkmoths showed a strong preference for Z. natalensis. The species have similar flower size and colour, but Z. natalensis emits more floral volatiles in the evening and presents flowers vertically face-up as opposed to horizontally in Z. microsiphon, whereas natural hybrids are intermediate. Adding methyl benzoate and linalool to flowers of Z. microsiphon did not increase hawkmoth attraction, but re-orientation of flowers to face vertically increased attraction when scent cues were present, whereas re-orientation of Z. natalensis flowers to face horizontally decreased attraction. This study highlights the importance of flower orientation in imposing reproductive isolation. © 2015 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2015 New Phytologist Trust.

High-accuracy direct aerial platform orientation with tightly coupled GPS/INS system : executive summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-09-01

Obtaining sensor orientation by direct measurements is : a rapidly emerging mapping technology. Modern GPS : and INS systems allow for the direct determination of : platform position and orientation at an unprecedented : accuracy. In airborne surveyi...

Social value orientation: theoretical and measurement issues in the study of social preferences.

PubMed

Murphy, Ryan O; Ackermann, Kurt A

2014-02-01

What motivates people when they make decisions and how those motivations are potentially entangled with concerns for others are central topics for the social, cognitive, and behavioral sciences. According to the postulate of narrow self-interest, decision makers have the goal of maximizing personal payoffs and are wholly indifferent to the consequences for others. The postulate of narrow self-interest-which has been influential in economics, psychology, and sociology-is precise and powerful but is often simply wrong. Its inadequacy is well known and efforts have been made to develop reliable and valid measurement methods to quantify the more nuanced social preferences that people really have. In this paper, we report on the emergence and development of the predominant conceptualization of social preferences in psychology: social value orientation (SVO). Second, we discuss the relationship between measurement and theory development of the SVO construct. We then provide an overview of the literature regarding measurement methods that have been used to assess individual variations in social preferences. We conclude with a comparative evaluation of the various measures and provide suggestions regarding the measures' constructive use in building psychologically realistic theories of people's social preferences.

CuInS2 Films Deposited by Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition Using Ternary Single-Source Precursors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jin, Michael; Banger, Kal; Harris, Jerry; Hepp, Aloysius

2003-01-01

Polycrystalline CuInS2 films were deposited by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition using both solid and liquid ternary single-source precursors (SSPs) which were prepared in-house. Films with either (112) or (204/220) preferred orientation, had a chalcopyrite structure, and (112)-oriented films contained more copper than (204/220)-oriented films. The preferred orientation of the film is likely related to the decomposition and reaction kinetics associated with the molecular structure of the precursors at the substrate. Interestingly, the (204/220)-oriented films were always In-rich and were accompanied by a secondary phase. From the results of post-growth annealing, etching experiments, and Raman spectroscopic data, the secondary phase was identified as an In-rich compound. On the contrary, (112)-oriented films were always obtained with a minimal amount of the secondary phase, and had a maximum grain size of about 0.5 micron. Electrical and optical properties of all the films grown were characterized. They all showed p-type conduction with an electrical resistivity between 0.1 and 30 Omega-cm, and an optical band gap of approximately 1.46 eV +/- 0.02, as deposited. The material properties of deposited films revealed this methodology of using SSPs for fabricating chalcopyrite-based solar cells to be highly promising.

EBSD as a tool to identify and quantify bainite and ferrite in low-alloyed Al-TRIP steels.

PubMed

Zaefferer, S; Romano, P; Friedel, F

2008-06-01

Bainite is thought to play an important role for the chemical and mechanical stabilization of metastable austenite in low-alloyed TRIP steels. Therefore, in order to understand and improve the material properties, it is important to locate and quantify the bainitic phase. To this aim, electron backscatter diffraction-based orientation microscopy has been employed. The main difficulty herewith is to distinguish bainitic ferrite from ferrite because both have bcc crystal structure. The most important difference between them is the occurrence of transformation induced geometrically necessary dislocations in the bainitic phase. To determine the areas with larger geometrically necessary dislocation density, the following orientation microscopy maps were explored: pattern quality maps, grain reference orientation deviation maps and kernel average misorientation maps. We show that only the latter allow a reliable separation of the bainitic and ferritic phase. The kernel average misorientation threshold value that separates both constituents is determined by an algorithm that searches for the smoothness of the boundaries between them.

To search or to like: Mapping fixations to differentiate two forms of incidental scene memory.

PubMed

Choe, Kyoung Whan; Kardan, Omid; Kotabe, Hiroki P; Henderson, John M; Berman, Marc G

2017-10-01

We employed eye-tracking to investigate how performing different tasks on scenes (e.g., intentionally memorizing them, searching for an object, evaluating aesthetic preference) can affect eye movements during encoding and subsequent scene memory. We found that scene memorability decreased after visual search (one incidental encoding task) compared to intentional memorization, and that preference evaluation (another incidental encoding task) produced better memory, similar to the incidental memory boost previously observed for words and faces. By analyzing fixation maps, we found that although fixation map similarity could explain how eye movements during visual search impairs incidental scene memory, it could not explain the incidental memory boost from aesthetic preference evaluation, implying that implicit mechanisms were at play. We conclude that not all incidental encoding tasks should be taken to be similar, as different mechanisms (e.g., explicit or implicit) lead to memory enhancements or decrements for different incidental encoding tasks.

Lateral Spread of Orientation Selectivity in V1 is Controlled by Intracortical Cooperativity

PubMed Central

Chavane, Frédéric; Sharon, Dahlia; Jancke, Dirk; Marre, Olivier; Frégnac, Yves; Grinvald, Amiram

2011-01-01

Neurons in the primary visual cortex receive subliminal information originating from the periphery of their receptive fields (RF) through a variety of cortical connections. In the cat primary visual cortex, long-range horizontal axons have been reported to preferentially bind to distant columns of similar orientation preferences, whereas feedback connections from higher visual areas provide a more diverse functional input. To understand the role of these lateral interactions, it is crucial to characterize their effective functional connectivity and tuning properties. However, the overall functional impact of cortical lateral connections, whatever their anatomical origin, is unknown since it has never been directly characterized. Using direct measurements of postsynaptic integration in cat areas 17 and 18, we performed multi-scale assessments of the functional impact of visually driven lateral networks. Voltage-sensitive dye imaging showed that local oriented stimuli evoke an orientation-selective activity that remains confined to the cortical feedforward imprint of the stimulus. Beyond a distance of one hypercolumn, the lateral spread of cortical activity gradually lost its orientation preference approximated as an exponential with a space constant of about 1 mm. Intracellular recordings showed that this loss of orientation selectivity arises from the diversity of converging synaptic input patterns originating from outside the classical RF. In contrast, when the stimulus size was increased, we observed orientation-selective spread of activation beyond the feedforward imprint. We conclude that stimulus-induced cooperativity enhances the long-range orientation-selective spread. PMID:21629708

The relationship between parenting and the economic orientation and behavior of Norwegian adolescents.

PubMed

Nyhus, Ellen K; Webley, Paul

2013-01-01

Little is known about the economic socialization of children and adolescents and the role of parents in this process. The authors' purpose was to explore the role of parenting in the intergenerational transfer of economic orientation and economic behavior. More specifically, they studied the link between four parenting dimensions (parental warmth-responsiveness, behavioral control, psychological control, autonomy granting), three parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and neglectful) and adolescents' conscientiousness, future time perspective, and present hedonistic orientation. The authors also studied the relationships between these dispositions and the adolescents' spending preferences and ability to control spending. They used data collected from 14-16-year-olds (n = 597) and their parents (n = 469) in Norway. Results showed that adolescents who perceived their parents as psychologically controlling were less future oriented and conscientious, and were more present hedonistic oriented than others, while adolescents who perceived their parents as responsive, autonomy granting, and controlling of behavior were more future orientated and conscientious than others. Adolescents' scores for conscientiousness and future orientation were negatively associated with preferences for spending and positively with the ability to control spending, while the opposite relationships were found with respect to a present hedonistic orientation. Parental style was also found to be important for the future educational plans of adolescents, and plans for higher education were more frequent among adolescents who characterized their parents as authoritative than among those who perceived their parents as neglectful. Implications of the findings for economic socialization are discussed.

Structural and Hydrologic Implications of Joint Orientations in the Warner Creek and Stony Clove Drainage Basins, Catskill Mountains, Eastern New York

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haskins, M. N.; Vollmer, F. W.; Rayburn, J. A.; Gurdak, J. J.

2010-12-01

To investigate joint control on hydrology as well as tectonic implications, we conducted a study of joint orientations near the Stony Clove and Warner Creek drainages of the Catskill Mountains, Eastern New York. Specific goals of this research were to determine joint control on stream orientations and groundwater flow, to compare results with previous studies in the area, and to investigate their tectonic significance. Trails, streams, and road cuts were traversed to locate bedrock outcrops whose positions were determined using topographic maps and a handheld GPS unit. Additional outcrops were located using aerial photographs and GIS data. Joint orientations were measured using a standard Brunton pocket transit. The data was analyzed using Orient (Vollmer, 2010), an orientation analysis program, to plot joint and stream orientations on rose diagrams. ArcGIS was used to produce topographic, hill-shade, and stream drainage maps. Over 500 joint orientations at over 100 outcrop stations were collected. The data were plotted on a rose diagrams, and two major joint sets were found, one with a mean strike of 021° and one with a mean strike of 096°. Stream orientations were also plotted on a rose diagram showing an axial mean of 022°, and indicate that the joint set with mean strike of 021 may have a significant control on stream orientations. The hill-shade maps also demonstrate clearly the strong control of jointing on the topography. The data collected in this research expands on previous joint orientation studies of Engelder and Geiser (1980) in the southwestern and central Catskills, and is similar to joint orientations found by Isachsen et al. (1977) in their study of the Panther Mountain circular structure, a possible impact-related feature. The origin of this jointing is thought to be related to Alleghanian (Permian) and possibly Acadian (Devonian) orogenic events.

What Is the Role of Manual Preference in Hand-Digit Mapping During Finger Counting? A Study in a Large Sample of Right- and Left-Handers.

PubMed

Zago, Laure; Badets, Arnaud

2016-01-01

The goal of the present study was to test whether there is a relationship between manual preference and hand-digit mapping in 369 French adults with similar numbers of right- and left-handers. Manual laterality was evaluated with the finger tapping test to evaluate hand motor asymmetry, and the Edinburgh handedness inventory was used to assess manual preference strength (MPS) and direction. Participants were asked to spontaneously "count on their fingers from 1 to 10" without indications concerning the hand(s) to be used. The results indicated that both MPS and hand motor asymmetry affect the hand-starting preference for counting. Left-handers with a strong left-hand preference (sLH) or left-hand motor asymmetry largely started to count with their left hand (left-starter), while right-handers with a strong right-hand preference (sRH) or right-hand motor asymmetry largely started to count with their right hand (right-starter). Notably, individuals with weak MPS did not show a hand-starting preference. These findings demonstrated that manual laterality contributes to finger counting directionality. Lastly, the results showed a higher proportion of sLH left-starter individuals compared with sRH right-starters, indicating an asymmetric bias of MPS on hand-starting preference. We hypothesize that the higher proportion of sLH left-starters could be explained by the congruence between left-to-right hand-digit mapping and left-to-right mental number line representation that has been largely reported in the literature. Taken together, these results indicate that finger-counting habits integrate biological and cultural information. © The Author(s) 2015.

Graphoepitaxy by encapsulation

DOEpatents

Geis, M.W.; Smith, H.I.; Antoniadis, D.A.; Flanders, D.C.

1986-01-21

Improvements on the graphoepitaxial process for obtaining epitaxial or preferred orientation films are described wherein a cap of material is formed over the film to be oriented, artificial surface-relief structure may be present in the substrate, the cap, or both, and the film may be heated by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation. 13 figs.

Prospective Teachers' Value Orientations as Determinants of Preference for External and Anonymous Whistleblowing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gokce, Asiye Toker

2013-01-01

Whistle-blowing indicates disclosing organizational wrongdoings resulting in harm to third parties. An individual's decision to blow the whistle might be based upon organizational, situational or personal factors. This study inquires the relationship between value orientations of prospective teachers and choices for whistle-blowing with particular…

Job Orientation of Black and White College Graduates in Business.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brenner, O. C.; Tomkiewicz, Joseph

1982-01-01

Examined differences in job orientation between Black and White male and female business college graduates. Significant race differences were found. Factor analysis indicates that Blacks value long-range career objectives and structure considerably more than do Whites, while their preference for intrinsic and extrinsic factors was less pronounced.…

Rapid, all-optical crystal orientation imaging of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers

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

David, Sabrina N.; Zhai, Yao; van der Zande, Arend M.

Two-dimensional (2D) atomic materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted significant research and industrial interest for their electronic, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties. While large-area crystal growth techniques such as chemical vapor deposition have been demonstrated, the presence of grain boundaries and orientation of grains arising in such growths substantially affect the physical properties of the materials. There is currently no scalable characterization method for determining these boundaries and orientations over a large sample area. We here present a second-harmonic generation based microscopy technique for rapidly mapping grain orientations and boundaries of 2D TMDCs. We experimentallymore » demonstrate the capability to map large samples to an angular resolution of ±1° with minimal sample preparation and without involved analysis. A direct comparison of the all-optical grain orientation maps against results obtained by diffraction-filtered dark-field transmission electron microscopy plus selected-area electron diffraction on identical TMDC samples is provided. This rapid and accurate tool should enable large-area characterization of TMDC samples for expedited studies of grain boundary effects and the efficient characterization of industrial-scale production techniques.« less

Topographic instructions, Book 3, multiplex procedure; Chapter 3 C7a-e

USGS Publications Warehouse

Loud, Edward I.

1952-01-01

By direct projection of overlapping photographs, printed on glass plates, the multiplex produces an exact optical model, in miniature, of the terrain to be mapped. To create the model, the multiplex projectors must be properly positioned and oriented so that they duplicate the orientation of the aerial camera at the instant of each exposure. By means of a floating mark, horizontal and vertical measurements can be made in the model, and planimetry and contours can be drawn. The applicability of the multiplex to a given mapping project depends largely on the contour interval and compilation scale required, and also depends, to a lesser extent, on the vegetation and terrain cover as it may affect accuracy requirements. The steps in multiplex procedure are orientation, stereotriangulation, and compilation of detail. In orientation, the projectors are arranged so that the projected images form a stereoscopic model which can be adjusted to fit horizontal and vertical control points. In stereotriangulation, three or more multiplex projectors are oriented so that the consecutive models fit existing control, permitting the establishment of additional or intermediate control. In compilation, the features appearing in the model are delineated on the map manuscript.

Prenatal administration of letrozole reduces SDN and SCN volume and cell number independent of partner preference in the male rat.

PubMed

Olvera-Hernández, Sandra; Tapia-Rodríguez, Miguel; Swaab, Dick F; Fernández-Guasti, Alonso

2017-03-15

During development, the exposure to testosterone, and its conversion to estradiol by an enzyme complex termed aromatase, appears to be essential in adult male rats for the expression of typical male sexual behavior and female-sex preference. Some hypothalamic areas are the supposed neural bases of sexual preference/orientation; for example, male-oriented rams have a reduced volume of the sexually dimorphic nucleus (oSDN), while in homosexual men this nucleus does not differ from that of heterosexual men. In contrast, homosexual men showed a larger number of vasopressinergic cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Interestingly, male rats perinatally treated with an aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD), also showed bisexual preference and an increased number of vasopressinergic neurons in the SCN. However, this steroidal aromatase inhibitor has affinity for all three steroid receptors. Recently, we reported that the prenatal administration of the selective aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, produced a subpopulation of males with same-sex preference. The aim of this study was to compare the volume and number of cells of the SDN and SCN (the latter nucleus was immunohistochemically stained for vasopressin) between males treated with letrozole with same-sex preference, males treated with letrozole with female preference and control males with female preference. Results showed that all males prenatally treated with letrozole have a reduced volume and estimated cell number in the SDN and SCN, independent of their partner preference. These results indicate that the changes in these brain areas are not related to sexual preference, but rather to the effects of letrozole. The divergent results may be explained by species differences as well as by the critical windows during which the aromatase inhibitor was administered. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modeling a Shallow Rock Tunnel Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Discrete Fracture Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cacciari, Pedro Pazzoto; Futai, Marcos Massao

2017-05-01

Discontinuity mapping and analysis are extremely important for modeling shallow tunnels constructed in fractured rock masses. However, the limited exposure and variability of rock face orientation in tunnels must be taken into account. In this paper, an automatic method is proposed to generate discrete fracture networks (DFNs) using terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) geological mapping and to continuously calculate the volumetric intensities ( P 32) along a tunnel. The number of fractures intersecting rectangular sampling planes with different orientations, fitted in tunnel sections of finite lengths, is used as the program termination criteria to create multiple DFNs and to calculate the mean P 32. All traces and orientations from three discontinuity sets of the Monte Seco tunnel (Vitória Minas Railway) were mapped and the present method applied to obtain the continuous variation in P 32 along the tunnel. A practical approach to creating single and continuous DFNs (for each discontinuity set), considering the P 32 variations, is also presented, and the results are validated by comparing the trace intensities ( P 21) from the TLS mapping and DFNs generated. Three examples of 3DEC block models generated from different sections of the tunnel are shown, including the ground surface and the bedrock topographies. The results indicate that the proposed method is a practical and powerful tool for modeling fractured rock masses of uncovered tunnels. It is also promising for application during tunnel construction when TLS mapping is a daily task (for as-built tunnel controls), and the complete geological mapping (traces and orientations) is available.

Reconstruction of the 3-D Shape and Crystal Preferred Orientation of Olivine: A Combined X-ray µ-CT and EBSD-SEM approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahl, Wolf-Achim; Hidas, Károly; Dilissen, Nicole; Garrido, Carlos J.; López-Sánchez Vizcaíno, Vicente; Jesús Román-Alpiste, Manuel

2017-04-01

The complete reconstruction of the microstructure of rocks requires, among others, a full description of the shape preferred orientation (SPO) and crystal preferred orientation (CPO) of the constituent mineral phases. New advances in instrumental analyses, particularly electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) coupled to focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM), allows a complete characterization of SPO and CPO in rocks at the micron scale [1-2]. Unfortunately, the large grain size of many crystalline rocks, such as peridotite, prevents a representative characterization of the CPO and SPO of their constituent minerals by this technique. Here, we present a new approach combining X-ray micro computed tomography (µ-CT) and EBSD to reconstruct the geographically oriented, 3-D SPO and CPO of cm- to mm-sized olivine crystals in two contrasting fabric types of chlorite harzburgites (Almírez ultramafic massif, SE Spain). The semi-destructive sample treatment involves drilling of geographically oriented micro drills in the field and preparation of oriented thin sections from µ-CT scanned cores. This allows for establishing the link among geological structures, macrostructure, fabric, and 3-D SPO-CPO at the thin section scale. Based on EBSD analyses, different CPO groups of olivine crystals can be discriminated in the thin sections and allocated to 3-D SPO in the µ-CT volume data. This approach overcomes the limitations of both methods (i.e., no crystal orientation data in µ-CT and no spatial information in EBSD), hence 3-D orientation of the crystallographic axes of olivines from different orientation groups could be correlated with the crystal shapes of olivine grains. This combined µ-CT and EBSD technique enables the correlation of both SPO and CPO and representative grain size, and is capable to characterize the 3-D microstructure of olivine-bearing rocks at the hand specimen scale. REFERENCES 1. Zaefferer, S., Wright, S.I., Raabe, D., 2008. Three-Dimensional orientation microscopy in a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope: A new dimension of microstructure characterization. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A 39, 374-389. 2. Burnett, T.L., Kelley, R., Winiarski, B., Contreras, L., Daly, M., Gholinia, A., Burke, M.G., Withers, P.J., 2016. Large volume serial section tomography by Xe Plasma FIB dual beam microscopy. Ultramicroscopy 161, 119-129.

Statistics of galaxy orientations - Morphology and large-scale structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lambas, Diego G.; Groth, Edward J.; Peebles, P. J. E.

1988-01-01

Using the Uppsala General Catalog of bright galaxies and the northern and southern maps of the Lick counts of galaxies, statistical evidence of a morphology-orientation effect is found. Major axes of elliptical galaxies are preferentially oriented along the large-scale features of the Lick maps. However, the orientations of the major axes of spiral and lenticular galaxies show no clear signs of significant nonrandom behavior at a level of less than about one-fifth of the effect seen for ellipticals. The angular scale of the detected alignment effect for Uppsala ellipticals extends to at least theta of about 2 deg, which at a redshift of z of about 0.02 corresponds to a linear scale of about 2/h Mpc.

Default Options In Advance Directives Influence How Patients Set Goals For End-Of-Life Care

PubMed Central

Halpern, Scott D.; Loewenstein, George; Volpp, Kevin G.; Cooney, Elizabeth; Vranas, Kelly; Quill, Caroline M.; Mckenzie, Mary S.; Harhay, Michael O.; Gabler, Nicole B.; Silva, Tatiana; Arnold, Robert; Angus, Derek C.; Bryce, Cindy

2015-01-01

Although decisions regarding end-of-life care are personal and important, they may be influenced by the ways in which options are presented. To test this hypothesis, we randomly assigned 132 seriously ill patients to complete one of three types of advance directives. Two types had end-of-life care options already checked—a default choice—but one of these favored comfort-oriented care, and the other, life-extending care. The third type was a standard advance directive with no options checked. We found that most patients preferred comfort-oriented care, but the defaults influenced those choices. For example, 77 percent of patients in the comfort-oriented group retained that choice, while 43 percent of those in the life-extending group rejected the default choice and selected comfort-oriented care instead. Among the standard advance directive group, 61 percent of patients selected comfort-oriented care. Our findings suggest that patients may not hold deep-seated preferences regarding end-of-life care. The findings provide motivation for future research examining whether using default options in advance directives may improve important outcomes, including patients’ receipt of wanted and unwanted services, resource use, survival, and quality of life. PMID:23381535

Controlling the preferential orientation in sol-gel prepared CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films by LaAlO3 and NdGaO3 substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pongpaiboonkul, Suriyong; Kasa, Yumairah; Phokharatkul, Ditsayut; Putasaeng, Bundit; Hodak, Jose H.; Wisitsoraat, Anurat; Hodak, Satreerat K.

2016-11-01

Researchers have paid considerable attention to CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) due to the colossal dielectric constant over a wide range of frequency and temperature. Despite of the growing number of works dealing with CCTO, there have been few studies of the role played by the substrate in inducing structural and dielectric effects of this material. In this work, highly-oriented CCTO thin films have been deposited on LaAlO3(100), NdGaO3(100) and NdGaO3(110) substrates using a sol-gel method. These single crystal substrates were chosen in terms of small lattice mismatch between CCTO and the substrate. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the CCTO film layers grow with different orientations depending upon the substrate used. We show that the preferred orientation of CCTO thin films can be manipulated to a high degree by growing it on specific crystal planes of the substrates without the use of buffer layers. Colossal dielectric constants are observed in our films which appear to correlate with the film crystallinity and preferred orientation.

The political (and physiological) divide: Political orientation, performance monitoring, and the anterior cingulate response.

PubMed

Weissflog, Meghan; Choma, Becky L; Dywan, Jane; van Noordt, Stefon J R; Segalowitz, Sidney J

2013-01-01

Our goal was to test a model of sociopolitical attitudes that posits a relationship between individual differences in liberal versus conservative political orientation and differential levels of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responsivity. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) while participants who varied along a unidimensional liberal-conservative continuum engaged in a standard Go/NoGo task. We also measured component attitudes of political orientation in the form of traditionalism (degree of openness to social change) and egalitarianism (a preference for social equality). Generally, participants who reported a more liberal political orientation made fewer errors and produced larger ACC-generated ERPs (the error-related negativity, or ERN and the NoGo N2). This ACC activation, especially as indicated by a larger NoGo N2, was most strongly associated with greater preference for social equality. Performance accuracy, however, was most strongly associated with greater openness to social change. These data are consistent with a social neuroscience view that sociopolitical attitudes are related to aspects of neurophysiological responsivity. They also indicate that a bidimensional model of political orientation can enhance our interpretation of the nature of these associations.

Orientation selectivity in inhibition-dominated networks of spiking neurons: effect of single neuron properties and network dynamics.

PubMed

Sadeh, Sadra; Rotter, Stefan

2015-01-01

The neuronal mechanisms underlying the emergence of orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex of mammals are still elusive. In rodents, visual neurons show highly selective responses to oriented stimuli, but neighboring neurons do not necessarily have similar preferences. Instead of a smooth map, one observes a salt-and-pepper organization of orientation selectivity. Modeling studies have recently confirmed that balanced random networks are indeed capable of amplifying weakly tuned inputs and generating highly selective output responses, even in absence of feature-selective recurrent connectivity. Here we seek to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms underlying this phenomenon by resorting to networks of integrate-and-fire neurons, which are amenable to analytic treatment. Specifically, in networks of perfect integrate-and-fire neurons, we observe that highly selective and contrast invariant output responses emerge, very similar to networks of leaky integrate-and-fire neurons. We then demonstrate that a theory based on mean firing rates and the detailed network topology predicts the output responses, and explains the mechanisms underlying the suppression of the common-mode, amplification of modulation, and contrast invariance. Increasing inhibition dominance in our networks makes the rectifying nonlinearity more prominent, which in turn adds some distortions to the otherwise essentially linear prediction. An extension of the linear theory can account for all the distortions, enabling us to compute the exact shape of every individual tuning curve in our networks. We show that this simple form of nonlinearity adds two important properties to orientation selectivity in the network, namely sharpening of tuning curves and extra suppression of the modulation. The theory can be further extended to account for the nonlinearity of the leaky model by replacing the rectifier by the appropriate smooth input-output transfer function. These results are robust and do not depend on the state of network dynamics, and hold equally well for mean-driven and fluctuation-driven regimes of activity.

Orientation Selectivity in Inhibition-Dominated Networks of Spiking Neurons: Effect of Single Neuron Properties and Network Dynamics

PubMed Central

Sadeh, Sadra; Rotter, Stefan

2015-01-01

The neuronal mechanisms underlying the emergence of orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex of mammals are still elusive. In rodents, visual neurons show highly selective responses to oriented stimuli, but neighboring neurons do not necessarily have similar preferences. Instead of a smooth map, one observes a salt-and-pepper organization of orientation selectivity. Modeling studies have recently confirmed that balanced random networks are indeed capable of amplifying weakly tuned inputs and generating highly selective output responses, even in absence of feature-selective recurrent connectivity. Here we seek to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms underlying this phenomenon by resorting to networks of integrate-and-fire neurons, which are amenable to analytic treatment. Specifically, in networks of perfect integrate-and-fire neurons, we observe that highly selective and contrast invariant output responses emerge, very similar to networks of leaky integrate-and-fire neurons. We then demonstrate that a theory based on mean firing rates and the detailed network topology predicts the output responses, and explains the mechanisms underlying the suppression of the common-mode, amplification of modulation, and contrast invariance. Increasing inhibition dominance in our networks makes the rectifying nonlinearity more prominent, which in turn adds some distortions to the otherwise essentially linear prediction. An extension of the linear theory can account for all the distortions, enabling us to compute the exact shape of every individual tuning curve in our networks. We show that this simple form of nonlinearity adds two important properties to orientation selectivity in the network, namely sharpening of tuning curves and extra suppression of the modulation. The theory can be further extended to account for the nonlinearity of the leaky model by replacing the rectifier by the appropriate smooth input-output transfer function. These results are robust and do not depend on the state of network dynamics, and hold equally well for mean-driven and fluctuation-driven regimes of activity. PMID:25569445

Evidence for Helical Magnetic fields in Kiloparsec-Scale AGN Jets and the Action of a Cosmic Battery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gabuzda, D. C.; Christodoulou, D. M.; Contopulos, I.; Kazanas, D.

2012-01-01

A search for transverse kiloparsec-scale gradients in Faraday rotation-measure (RM) maps of extragalactic radio sources in the literature has yielded 6 AGNs displaying continuous, monotonic RM gradients across their jets, oriented roughly orthogonal to the local jet direction. The most natural interpretation of such transverse RM gradients is that they are caused by the systematic change in the line-of-sight components of helical magnetic fields associated with these jets. All the identified transverse RM gradients increase in the counterclockwise (CCW) direction on the sky relative to the centers of these AGNs. Taken together with the results of Contopoulos et al. who found evidence for a predominance of clockwise (CW) transverse RM gradients across parsec-scale (VLBI) jets, this provides new evidence for preferred orientations of RM gradients due to helical jet magnetic fields, with a reversal from CW in the inner jets to CCW farther from the centers of activity. This can be explained by the "Poynting-Robertson cosmic-battery" mechanism, which can generate helical magnetic fields with a. characteristic "twist," which are expelled with the jet outflows. If the Poynting-Robertson battery mechanism is not operating, an alternative mechanism must be identified, which is able to explain the 'predominance of CW /CCW RM gradients on parsec/kiloparsec scales.

Developing AN Emergency Response Model for Offshore Oil Spill Disaster Management Using Spatial Decision Support System (sdss)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balogun, Abdul-Lateef; Matori, Abdul-Nasir; Wong Toh Kiak, Kelvin

2018-04-01

Environmental resources face severe risks during offshore oil spill disasters and Geographic Information System (GIS) Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps are increasingly being used as response tools to minimize the huge impacts of these spills. However, ESI maps are generally unable to independently harmonize the diverse preferences of the multiple stakeholders' involved in the response process, causing rancour and delay in response time. This paper's Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to perform tradeoffs in determining the most significant resources to be secured considering the limited resources and time available to perform the response operation. The AHP approach is used to aggregate the diverse preferences of the stakeholders and reach a consensus. These preferences, represented as priority weights, are incorporated in a GIS platform to generate Environmental sensitivity risk (ESR) maps. The ESR maps provide a common operational platform and consistent situational awareness for the multiple parties involved in the emergency response operation thereby minimizing discord among the response teams and saving the most valuable resources.

Revisiting elastic anisotropy of biotite gneiss from the Outokumpu scientific drill hole based on new texture measurements and texture-based velocity calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wenk, H.-R.; Vasin, R. N.; Kern, H.; Matthies, S.; Vogel, S. C.; Ivankina, T. I.

2012-10-01

A sample of biotite gneiss from the Outokumpu deep drilling project in Finland was investigated by Kern et al. (2008) for crystal preferred orientation and elastic anisotropy. Considerable differences between measured acoustic velocities and velocities calculated on the basis of texture patterns were observed. Measured P-wave anisotropy was 15.1% versus a Voigt average yielding 7.9%. Here we investigate the same sample with different methods and using different averaging techniques. Analyzing time-of-flight neutron diffraction data from Dubna-SKAT and LANSCE-HIPPO diffractometers with the Rietveld technique, much stronger preferred orientation for biotite is determined, compared to conventional pole-figure analysis reported previously. The comparison reveals important differences: HIPPO has much better counting statistics but pole figure coverage is poor. SKAT has better angular resolution. Using the new preferred orientation data and applying a self-consistent averaging method that takes grain shapes into account, close agreement of calculated and measured P-wave velocities is observed (12.6%). This is further improved by adding 0.1 vol.% flat micropores parallel to the biotite platelets in the simulation (14.9%).

High-confidence coding and noncoding transcriptome maps

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The advent of high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has led to the discovery of unprecedentedly immense transcriptomes encoded by eukaryotic genomes. However, the transcriptome maps are still incomplete partly because they were mostly reconstructed based on RNA-seq reads that lack their orientations (known as unstranded reads) and certain boundary information. Methods to expand the usability of unstranded RNA-seq data by predetermining the orientation of the reads and precisely determining the boundaries of assembled transcripts could significantly benefit the quality of the resulting transcriptome maps. Here, we present a high-performing transcriptome assembly pipeline, called CAFE, that significantly improves the original assemblies, respectively assembled with stranded and/or unstranded RNA-seq data, by orienting unstranded reads using the maximum likelihood estimation and by integrating information about transcription start sites and cleavage and polyadenylation sites. Applying large-scale transcriptomic data comprising 230 billion RNA-seq reads from the ENCODE, Human BodyMap 2.0, The Cancer Genome Atlas, and GTEx projects, CAFE enabled us to predict the directions of about 220 billion unstranded reads, which led to the construction of more accurate transcriptome maps, comparable to the manually curated map, and a comprehensive lncRNA catalog that includes thousands of novel lncRNAs. Our pipeline should not only help to build comprehensive, precise transcriptome maps from complex genomes but also to expand the universe of noncoding genomes. PMID:28396519

Quantitative susceptibility mapping: Report from the 2016 reconstruction challenge.

PubMed

Langkammer, Christian; Schweser, Ferdinand; Shmueli, Karin; Kames, Christian; Li, Xu; Guo, Li; Milovic, Carlos; Kim, Jinsuh; Wei, Hongjiang; Bredies, Kristian; Buch, Sagar; Guo, Yihao; Liu, Zhe; Meineke, Jakob; Rauscher, Alexander; Marques, José P; Bilgic, Berkin

2018-03-01

The aim of the 2016 quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) reconstruction challenge was to test the ability of various QSM algorithms to recover the underlying susceptibility from phase data faithfully. Gradient-echo images of a healthy volunteer acquired at 3T in a single orientation with 1.06 mm isotropic resolution. A reference susceptibility map was provided, which was computed using the susceptibility tensor imaging algorithm on data acquired at 12 head orientations. Susceptibility maps calculated from the single orientation data were compared against the reference susceptibility map. Deviations were quantified using the following metrics: root mean squared error (RMSE), structure similarity index (SSIM), high-frequency error norm (HFEN), and the error in selected white and gray matter regions. Twenty-seven submissions were evaluated. Most of the best scoring approaches estimated the spatial frequency content in the ill-conditioned domain of the dipole kernel using compressed sensing strategies. The top 10 maps in each category had similar error metrics but substantially different visual appearance. Because QSM algorithms were optimized to minimize error metrics, the resulting susceptibility maps suffered from over-smoothing and conspicuity loss in fine features such as vessels. As such, the challenge highlighted the need for better numerical image quality criteria. Magn Reson Med 79:1661-1673, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Preliminary results of the PREFER FP7 Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fusilli, Lorenzo; Laneve, Giovanni; De Bonis, Roberto; Sebastian, Ana; Ferrucci, Fabrizio; Oliveira, Sandra

2014-05-01

The need to improve the information and intelligence support for forest fire prevention is widely recognized. Fire prevention is still the most cost-effective strategy when compared to firefighting and extinguishing that are costly, local, and triggered only in response to already ongoing crises. PREFER project, funded under the EU FP7 (G.A. 312931), intends to contribute at responding to such a pragmatic need of southern Europe's forests by: providing timely information products based on the exploitation of all available spacecraft sensors, offering a portfolio of products focused on pre- and post-crisis forest fire emergency, suitable for the users in the different countries of the European Mediterranean area. The PREFER Service portfolio consists of two main services: 1. Information Support to Fire Preparedness/Prevention Phase" (ISP) Service 2. Information Support to Fire Recovery/Reconstruction Phase" (ISR) Service This service is already at an advanced stage having completed the first year of activity. During this time several products have been consolidated: seasonal fuel maps; daily and seasonal fire hazard maps; seasonal risk maps; prescribed fire maps. This paper aims at presenting the preliminary results of the research activity carried out in the framework of the PREFER project, focusing, in particular, on these recalled above. As for Fire Risk and Hazard assessment, many indexes have been developed in the last years. Hardly any of them uses data derived from satellite images. The FPI index is an exception to this rule which, in addition, makes use of meteorological data. In spite of being a very complete index, the FPI still allows room for improvement which justify the interest of PREFER in it. PREFER's innovative approach to FPI will allow taking into account the effect of solar illumination conditions in determining the humidity present in the dead vegetation, and therefore its proneness to burn. PREFER innovation also focus in allowing the index to take into account the influence of water present in the alive vegetation (relevant in determining the fire regime) through the Equivalent Water Thickness. PREFER will use daily FPI forecasts to produce a seasonal fire hazard index by introducing in the model the human factor as captured by the fire occurrence statistics. PREFER will produce also seasonal fire risk maps by combining the seasonal hazard data with vulnerability and exposure maps. Finally, Prescribed Burning (PB) represents the controlled application of fire to vegetation under specific environmental conditions to attain planned resource management objectives. The main objective of the PREFER service for PB is to support the user in the identification of the areas and the time, that is where and when, the PB practice is applicable in a secure way. The main innovation, taking into account the results previously obtained in the frame work of other European projects (FIREPARADOX), will be the integration of the advanced remote sensing techniques that have not yet been developed for the problem under study, aiming at developing an index capable to provide the right time to intervene with the PB in the area of interest.

Embryonic Methamphetamine Exposure Inhibits Methamphetamine Cue Conditioning and Reduces Dopamine Concentrations in Adult N2 C. elegans

PubMed Central

Katner, S.N.; Neal-Beliveau, B.S.; Engleman, E.A.

2016-01-01

Methamphetamine (MAP) addiction is substantially prevalent in today's society, resulting in thousands of deaths and costing billions of dollars annually. Despite the potential deleterious consequences, few studies have examined the long-term effects of embryonic MAP exposure. Using the invertebrate nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) allows for a controlled analysis of behavioral and neurochemical changes due to early developmental drug exposure. The objective of the current studies was to determine the long-term behavioral and neurochemical effects of embryonic exposure to MAP in C. elegans. In addition, we sought to improve our conditioning and testing procedures by utilizing liquid filtration, as opposed to agar, and smaller, 6-well testing plates to increase throughput. Wild-type N2 C. elegans were embryonically exposed to 50 μM MAP. Using classical conditioning, adult-stage C. elegans were conditioned to MAP (17 and 500 μM) in the presence of either sodium ions (Na+) or chloride (Cl-) ions as conditioned stimuli (CS+/CS-). Following conditioning, a preference test was performed by placing worms in 6-well test plates spotted with the CS+ and CS- at opposite ends of each well. A preference index (PI) was determined by counting the number of worms in the CS+ target zone divided by the total number of worms in the CS+ and CS- target zones. A food conditioning experiment was also performed in order to determine if embryonic MAP exposure affected food conditioning behavior. For the neurochemical experiments, adult worms that were embryonically exposed to MAP were analyzed for (dopamine) DA content using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The liquid filtration conditioning procedure employed here in combination with the use 6-well test plates significantly decreased the time required to perform these experiments and ultimately increased throughput. The MAP conditioning data found that pairing an ion with MAP at 17 or 500 μM significantly increased the preference for that ion (CS+) in worms that were not pre-exposed to MAP. However, worms embryonically exposed to MAP did not exhibit significant drug cue conditioning. The inability of MAP exposed worms to condition to MAP was not associated with deficits in food conditioning, as MAP exposed worms exhibited a significant cue preference associated with food. Furthermore, our results found that embryonic MAP exposure reduced DA levels in adult C. elegans, which could be a key mechanism contributing to the long-term effects of embryonic MAP exposure. It is possible that embryonic MAP exposure may be impairing the ability for C. elegans to learn associations between MAP and the CS+ or inhibiting the reinforcing properties of MAP, however, our food conditioning data suggest that MAP exposed animals can form associations between cues and food. The depletion of DA levels during embryonic exposure to MAP could be responsible for driving either of these processes during adulthood. PMID:27233671

Embryonic Methamphetamine Exposure Inhibits Methamphetamine Cue Conditioning and Reduces Dopamine Concentrations in Adult N2 Caenorhabditis elegans.

PubMed

Katner, Simon N; Neal-Beliveau, Bethany S; Engleman, Eric A

2016-01-01

Methamphetamine (MAP) addiction is substantially prevalent in today's society, resulting in thousands of deaths and costing billions of dollars annually. Despite the potential deleterious consequences, few studies have examined the long-term effects of embryonic MAP exposure. Using the invertebrate nematode Caenorhabditis elegans allows for a controlled analysis of behavioral and neurochemical changes due to early developmental drug exposure. The objective of the current study was to determine the long-term behavioral and neurochemical effects of embryonic exposure to MAP in C. elegans. In addition, we sought to improve our conditioning and testing procedures by utilizing liquid filtration, as opposed to agar, and smaller, 6-well testing plates to increase throughput. Wild-type N2 C. elegans were embryonically exposed to 50 μM MAP. Using classical conditioning, adult-stage C. elegans were conditioned to MAP (17 and 500 μM) in the presence of either sodium ions (Na+) or chloride ions (Cl-) as conditioned stimuli (CS+/CS-). Following conditioning, a preference test was performed by placing worms in 6-well test plates spotted with the CS+ and CS- at opposite ends of each well. A preference index was determined by counting the number of worms in the CS+ target zone divided by the total number of worms in the CS+ and CS- target zones. A food conditioning experiment was also performed in order to determine whether embryonic MAP exposure affected food conditioning behavior. For the neurochemical experiments, adult worms that were embryonically exposed to MAP were analyzed for dopamine (DA) content using high-performance liquid chromatography. The liquid filtration conditioning procedure employed here in combination with the use of 6-well test plates significantly decreased the time required to perform these experiments and ultimately increased throughput. The MAP conditioning data found that pairing an ion with MAP at 17 or 500 μM significantly increased the preference for that ion (CS+) in worms that were not pre-exposed to MAP. However, worms embryonically exposed to MAP did not exhibit significant drug cue conditioning. The inability of MAP-exposed worms to condition to MAP was not associated with deficits in food conditioning, as MAP-exposed worms exhibited a significant cue preference associated with food. Furthermore, our results found that embryonic MAP exposure reduced DA levels in adult C. elegans, which could be a key mechanism contributing to the long-term effects of embryonic MAP exposure. It is possible that embryonic MAP exposure may be impairing the ability of C. elegans to learn associations between MAP and the CS+ or inhibiting the reinforcing properties of MAP. However, our food conditioning data suggest that MAP-exposed animals can form associations between cues and food. The depletion of DA levels during embryonic exposure to MAP could be responsible for driving either of these processes during adulthood. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Improving the Accuracy of Direct Geo-referencing of Smartphone-Based Mobile Mapping Systems Using Relative Orientation and Scene Geometric Constraints.

PubMed

Alsubaie, Naif M; Youssef, Ahmed A; El-Sheimy, Naser

2017-09-30

This paper introduces a new method which facilitate the use of smartphones as a handheld low-cost mobile mapping system (MMS). Smartphones are becoming more sophisticated and smarter and are quickly closing the gap between computers and portable tablet devices. The current generation of smartphones are equipped with low-cost GPS receivers, high-resolution digital cameras, and micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS)-based navigation sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetic compasses, and barometers). These sensors are in fact the essential components for a MMS. However, smartphone navigation sensors suffer from the poor accuracy of global navigation satellite System (GNSS), accumulated drift, and high signal noise. These issues affect the accuracy of the initial Exterior Orientation Parameters (EOPs) that are inputted into the bundle adjustment algorithm, which then produces inaccurate 3D mapping solutions. This paper proposes new methodologies for increasing the accuracy of direct geo-referencing of smartphones using relative orientation and smartphone motion sensor measurements as well as integrating geometric scene constraints into free network bundle adjustment. The new methodologies incorporate fusing the relative orientations of the captured images and their corresponding motion sensor measurements to improve the initial EOPs. Then, the geometric features (e.g., horizontal and vertical linear lines) visible in each image are extracted and used as constraints in the bundle adjustment procedure which correct the relative position and orientation of the 3D mapping solution.

Improving the Accuracy of Direct Geo-referencing of Smartphone-Based Mobile Mapping Systems Using Relative Orientation and Scene Geometric Constraints

PubMed Central

Alsubaie, Naif M.; Youssef, Ahmed A.; El-Sheimy, Naser

2017-01-01

This paper introduces a new method which facilitate the use of smartphones as a handheld low-cost mobile mapping system (MMS). Smartphones are becoming more sophisticated and smarter and are quickly closing the gap between computers and portable tablet devices. The current generation of smartphones are equipped with low-cost GPS receivers, high-resolution digital cameras, and micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS)-based navigation sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetic compasses, and barometers). These sensors are in fact the essential components for a MMS. However, smartphone navigation sensors suffer from the poor accuracy of global navigation satellite System (GNSS), accumulated drift, and high signal noise. These issues affect the accuracy of the initial Exterior Orientation Parameters (EOPs) that are inputted into the bundle adjustment algorithm, which then produces inaccurate 3D mapping solutions. This paper proposes new methodologies for increasing the accuracy of direct geo-referencing of smartphones using relative orientation and smartphone motion sensor measurements as well as integrating geometric scene constraints into free network bundle adjustment. The new methodologies incorporate fusing the relative orientations of the captured images and their corresponding motion sensor measurements to improve the initial EOPs. Then, the geometric features (e.g., horizontal and vertical linear lines) visible in each image are extracted and used as constraints in the bundle adjustment procedure which correct the relative position and orientation of the 3D mapping solution. PMID:28973958

Incorporating Orienteering in School Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bradford, Douglas

Orienteering has been described as being "either a serious sport, or a relaxing recreation". Orienteering can be a family affair or an individual fight against the clock. In its simplest form, orienteering can be described as a cross-country run, jog, or walk on a predetermined course, using a map and a compass to find several control points on…

Are larks future-oriented and owls present-oriented? Age- and sex-related shifts in chronotype-time perspective associations.

PubMed

Nowack, Kati; van der Meer, Elke

2013-12-01

The chronotype (morningness/eveningness) relates to individual differences in circadian preferences. Time perspective (past, present, future) refers to the preference to rely on a particular temporal frame for decision-making processes and behavior. First evidence suggests that future time perspective is associated with greater morningness and present time perspective with greater eveningness. However, little is known about how chronotype-time perspective relationships may alter over the life span. This present study investigated links between chronotype and time perspective more thoroughly by taking age and sex into account as well. Seven hundred six participants aged between 17 and 74 completed German adaptations of the Morningness--Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI). Controlling for age and sex, relationships between morningness and future time perspective as well as between eveningness and present time perspective were replicated. These findings were supported by significant associations between time perspective and midpoint of sleep. Future time perspective was linked to earlier midpoints of sleep, indicating an early chronotype. Present time perspective was associated with later midpoints of sleep, indicating a late chronotype. However, age and sex had an impact on the chronotype-time perspective relationships. In all age groups, male larks were more future-oriented and less present-oriented, male owls more present-oriented and less future-oriented. The same conclusion could be drawn for female adolescents and young adults. For female adults above 30, there was no interrelationship between morningness and future time perspective but between eveningness and past time perspective. Female adult owls were more present-oriented as well as more past-oriented. Female adult larks were less present-oriented and less past-oriented. Findings are discussed in the light of neuroendocrine and serotonergic functioning.

Parasol cell mosaics are unlikely to drive the formation of structured orientation maps in primary visual cortex.

PubMed

Hore, Victoria R A; Troy, John B; Eglen, Stephen J

2012-11-01

The receptive fields of on- and off-center parasol cell mosaics independently tile the retina to ensure efficient sampling of visual space. A recent theoretical model represented the on- and off-center mosaics by noisy hexagonal lattices of slightly different density. When the two lattices are overlaid, long-range Moiré interference patterns are generated. These Moiré interference patterns have been suggested to drive the formation of highly structured orientation maps in visual cortex. Here, we show that noisy hexagonal lattices do not capture the spatial statistics of parasol cell mosaics. An alternative model based upon local exclusion zones, termed as the pairwise interaction point process (PIPP) model, generates patterns that are statistically indistinguishable from parasol cell mosaics. A key difference between the PIPP model and the hexagonal lattice model is that the PIPP model does not generate Moiré interference patterns, and hence stimulated orientation maps do not show any hexagonal structure. Finally, we estimate the spatial extent of spatial correlations in parasol cell mosaics to be only 200-350 μm, far less than that required to generate Moiré interference. We conclude that parasol cell mosaics are too disordered to drive the formation of highly structured orientation maps in visual cortex.

Cosmopolitan cities: the frontier in the twenty-first century?

PubMed

Sevincer, A Timur; Kitayama, Shinobu; Varnum, Michael E W

2015-01-01

People with independent (vs. interdependent) social orientation place greater priority on personal success, autonomy, and novel experiences over maintaining ties to their communities of origin. Accordingly, an independent orientation should be linked to a motivational proclivity to move to places that offer economic opportunities, freedom, and diversity. Such places are cities that can be called "cosmopolitan." In support of this hypothesis, Study 1 found that independently oriented young adults showed a preference to move to cosmopolitan rather than noncosmopolitan cities. Study 2 used a priming manipulation and demonstrated a causal impact of independence on residential preferences for cosmopolitan cities. Study 3 established ecological validity by showing that students who actually moved to a cosmopolitan city were more independent than those who either moved to a noncosmopolitan city or never moved. Taken together, the findings illuminate the role of cosmopolitan settlement in the contemporary cultural change toward independence and have implications for urban development and economic growth.

Process parameters, orientation, and functional properties of melt-processed bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors

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

Zakharchenko, I.V.; Terryll, K.M.; Rao, K.V.

1995-03-01

This study compared the microstructure, texturing, and functional properties (critical currents) of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}x}-based bulk pellets that were prepared by the quench-melt-growth-process (QMGP), melt-textured growth (MTG), and conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) approaches. Using two X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods, {theta}-2{theta}, and rocking curves, the authors found that the individual grains of two melt-processed pellets exhibited remarkable preferred orientational alignment (best rocking curve width = 3.2{degree}). However, the direction of the preferred orientation among the grains was random. Among the three types of bulk materials studied, the QMGP sample was found to have the best J{sub c} values, {approx} 4,500more » A/cm{sup 2} at 77 K in a field of 2 kG, as determined from SQUID magnetic data.« less

Conflict resolution styles: a comparison of assisted living and nursing home facilities.

PubMed

Small, Jeff A; Montoro-Rodriguez, Julian

2006-01-01

In this exploratory study, the authors investigated how interpersonal conflict is resolved in assisted living and nursing home facilities. In particular, the authors examined whether conflict resolution styles differed between type of facility and between residents and staff in each type of facility. Four focus groups were conducted--two with residents and two with staff from each type of facility. The focus groups centered on discussing the occurrence of conflict and how each participant handled it. Discourse analysis was employed to identify participants' use of three styles of conflict resolution: controlling, solution-oriented, and non-confrontational. The results indicate that staff in each care context showed a preference for the solution-oriented approach. Residents in each setting reported equal use of the non-confrontational and solution-oriented styles. The findings suggest that preferred conflict resolution styles may vary more as a function of the role of each communicator than the context of the care setting.

A crystallographic investigation of GaN nanostructures by reciprocal space mapping in a grazing incidence geometry.

PubMed

Lee, Sanghwa; Sohn, Yuri; Kim, Chinkyo; Lee, Dong Ryeol; Lee, Hyun-Hwi

2009-05-27

Reciprocal space mapping with a two-dimensional (2D) area detector in a grazing incidence geometry was applied to determine crystallographic orientations of GaN nanostructures epitaxially grown on a sapphire substrate. By using both unprojected and projected reciprocal space mapping with a proper coordinate transformation, the crystallographic orientations of GaN nanostructures with respect to that of a substrate were unambiguously determined. In particular, the legs of multipods in the wurtzite phase were found to preferentially nucleate on the sides of tetrahedral cores in the zinc blende phase.

Fresh meat packaging: consumer acceptance of modified atmosphere packaging including carbon monoxide.

PubMed

Grebitus, Carola; Jensen, Helen H; Roosen, Jutta; Sebranek, Joseph G

2013-01-01

Consumers' perceptions and evaluations of meat quality attributes such as color and shelf life influence purchasing decisions, and these product attributes can be affected by the type of fresh meat packaging system. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) extends the shelf life of fresh meat and, with the inclusion of carbon monoxide (CO-MAP), achieves significant color stabilization. The objective of this study was to assess whether consumers would accept specific packaging technologies and what value consumers place on ground beef packaged under various atmospheres when their choices involved the attributes of color and shelf life. The study used nonhypothetical consumer choice experiments to determine the premiums that consumers are willing to pay for extended shelf life resulting from MAP and for the "cherry red" color in meat resulting from CO-MAP. The experimental design allowed determination of whether consumers would discount foods with MAP or CO-MAP when (i) they are given more detailed information about the technologies and (ii) they have different levels of individual knowledge and media exposure. The empirical analysis was conducted using multinomial logit models. Results indicate that consumers prefer an extension of shelf life as long as the applied technology is known and understood. Consumers had clear preferences for brighter (aerobic and CO) red color and were willing to pay $0.16/lb ($0.35/kg) for each level of change to the preferred color. More information on MAP for extending the shelf life and on CO-MAP for stabilizing color decreased consumers' willingness to pay. An increase in personal knowledge and media exposure influenced acceptance of CO-MAP negatively. The results provide quantitative measures of how packaging affects consumers' acceptance and willingness to pay for products. Such information can benefit food producers and retailers who make decisions about investing in new packaging methods.

Identifying online user reputation in terms of user preference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Lu; Guo, Qiang; Liu, Xiao-Lu; Liu, Jian-Guo; Zhang, Yi-Cheng

2018-03-01

Identifying online user reputation is significant for online social systems. In this paper, taking into account the preference physics of online user collective behaviors, we present an improved group-based rating method for ranking online user reputation based on the user preference (PGR). All the ratings given by each specific user are mapped to the same rating criteria. By grouping users according to their mapped ratings, the online user reputation is calculated based on the corresponding group sizes. Results for MovieLens and Netflix data sets show that the AUC values of the PGR method can reach 0.9842 (0.9493) and 0.9995 (0.9987) for malicious (random) spammers, respectively, outperforming the results generated by the traditional group-based method, which indicates that the online preference plays an important role for measuring user reputation.

Exploring Juror's Listening Processes: The Effect of Listening Style Preference on Juror Decision Making.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worthington, Debra L.

2001-01-01

Examines the relationship between listening style preference and jurors' assignment of negligence and damages. Notes that 90 men and 84 women drawn from introductory communication courses viewed videotaped attorney presentations and the judge's instructions from an actual court case. Indicates that participants with a people-oriented listening…

Towards Greater Individualization and Process-Oriented Learning through Electronic Self-Access: Project "e-daf"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Wai Meng; Kim, Dong-Ha

2004-01-01

Research in cognitive psychology and second language learning has underlined the significance of learners' cognitive processes and individual preferences in language learning. Helping learners to be aware of these processes and preferences has in fact become an important methodological principle of language teaching. Advances in information and…

Early Child Care Teachers' Socialization Goals and Preferred Behavioral Strategies: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gernhardt, Ariane; Lamm, Bettina; Keller, Heidi; Döge, Paula

2014-01-01

This study investigated early child care teachers' culturally shaped socialization goals and preferred behavioral strategies. The participants were 183 female teachers and trainees, 93 from Osnabrück, Germany, representing an urban Western context, which can be characterized by a primary cultural orientation toward psychological autonomy and a…

A Market-oriented Approach To Maximizing Product Benefits: Cases in U.S. Forest Products Industries

Treesearch

Vijay S. Reddy; Robert J. Bush; Ronen Roudik

1996-01-01

Conjoint analysis, a decompositional customer preference modelling technique, has seen little application to forest products. However, the technique provides useful information for marketing decisions by quantifying consumer preference functions for multiattribute product alternatives. The results of a conjoint analysis include the contribution of each attribute and...

Attitudes and Preferences of Pennsylvania Primary Care Physicians Regarding Continuing Medical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansfield, Phyllis; And Others

Primary care physicians in Pennsylvania were asked to give their attitudes and preferences regarding continuing medical education (CME) in an effort to expand and develop physician-oriented CME programs for the Hershey Continuing Education department at Penn State. A 32-item questionnaire was mailed to 952 primary care physicians practicing in…

mapKITE: a New Paradigm for Simultaneous Aerial and Terrestrial Geodata Acquisition and Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina, P.; Blázquez, M.; Sastre, J.; Colomina, I.

2016-06-01

We introduce a new mobile, simultaneous terrestrial and aerial, geodata collection and post-processing method: mapKITE. By combining two mapping technologies such as terrestrial mobile mapping and unmanned aircraft aerial mapping, geodata are simultaneously acquired from air and ground. More in detail, a mapKITE geodata acquisition system consists on an unmanned aircraft and a terrestrial vehicle, which hosts the ground control station. By means of a real-time navigation system on the terrestrial vehicle, real-time waypoints are sent to the aircraft from the ground. By doing so, the aircraft is linked to the terrestrial vehicle through a "virtual tether," acting as a "mapping kite." In the article, we entail the concept of mapKITE as well as the various technologies and techniques involved, from aircraft guidance and navigation based on IMU and GNSS, optical cameras for mapping and tracking, sensor orientation and calibration, etc. Moreover, we report of a new measurement introduced in mapKITE, that is, point-and-scale photogrammetric measurements [of image coordinates and scale] for optical targets of known size installed on the ground vehicle roof. By means of accurate posteriori trajectory determination of the terrestrial vehicle, mapKITE benefits then from kinematic ground control points which are photogrametrically observed by point-and-scale measures. Initial results for simulated configurations show that these measurements added to the usual Integrated Sensor Orientation ones reduce or even eliminate the need of conventional ground control points -therefore, lowering mission costs- and enable selfcalibration of the unmanned aircraft interior orientation parameters in corridor configurations, in contrast to the situation of traditional corridor configurations. Finally, we report about current developments of the first mapKITE prototype, developed under the European Union Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020. The first mapKITE mission will be held at the BCN Drone Center (Collsuspina, Moià, Spain) in mid 2016.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation: effects of motor imagery, movement and coil orientation.

PubMed

Niyazov, D M; Butler, A J; Kadah, Y M; Epstein, C M; Hu, X P

2005-07-01

To compare fMRI activations during movement and motor imagery to corresponding motor evoked potential (MEP) maps obtained with the TMS coil in three different orientations. fMRI activations during executed (EM) and imagined (IM) movements of the index finger were compared to MEP maps of the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle obtained with the TMS coil in anterior, posterior and lateral handle positions. To ensure spatial registration of fMRI and MEP maps, a special grid was used in both experiments. No statistically significant difference was found between the TMS centers of gravity (TMS CoG) obtained with the three coil orientations. There was a significant difference between fMRI centers of gravity during IMs (IM CoG) and EMs (EM CoG), with IM CoGs localized on average 10.3mm anterior to those of EMs in the precentral gyrus. Most importantly, the IM CoGs closely matched cortical projections of the TMS CoGs while the EM CoGs were on average 9.5mm posterior to the projected TMS CoGs. TMS motor maps are more congruent with fMRI activations during motor imagery than those during EMs. These findings are not significantly affected by changing orientation of the TMS coil. Our results suggest that the discrepancy between fMRI and TMS motor maps may be largely due to involvement of the somatosensory component in the EM task.

Empathy differences by gender and specialty preference in medical students: a study in Brazil.

PubMed

Santos, Mariana A; Grosseman, Suely; Morelli, Thiago C; Giuliano, Isabela C B; Erdmann, Thomas R

2016-05-21

We have conducted this study to assess medical students' empathy and to examine empathy differences by students' socio-demographic characteristics, including gender, and specialty preference. We have conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive research. Among 595 medical students registered at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil) in 2012, we have selected a sample of 320 enrolled in the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, and in the last semester of the course. The response rate obtained was 70.6% (n=226). Data was collected by using a self-report questionnaire, and the variables analyzed included course semester, socio-demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, household monthly income and parents level of education), students' specialty preference, and empathy assessed by the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. We have used descriptive statistics, 95% Confidence Interval for percentages, Student's t-test, and Analysis of Variance to analyze the data. Mean empathy among students was (M=119.7, SD=9.9), with no difference by according to semester (F=1.5, p=.2). Empathy means were higher among females (M=118.3, SD=10.6) than among males (M=121.0, SD=9.3, t=-2.1, p=.032). Students who preferred a people-oriented specialty obtained significantly higher mean scores (M=121.5, SD=8.1) in comparison to students who preferred technology-oriented specialties (M=118.0, SD=11.3, t=2.4, p=.02). Our study has found consistently high scores of empathy among medical students enrolled in all levels of training at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, and higher empathy among women and students who intend to pursue a people-oriented specialty. Conclusions on higher empathy among medical students require further study.

Condition Number as a Measure of Noise Performance of Diffusion Tensor Data Acquisition Schemes with MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skare, Stefan; Hedehus, Maj; Moseley, Michael E.; Li, Tie-Qiang

2000-12-01

Diffusion tensor mapping with MRI can noninvasively track neural connectivity and has great potential for neural scientific research and clinical applications. For each diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data acquisition scheme, the diffusion tensor is related to the measured apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) by a transformation matrix. With theoretical analysis we demonstrate that the noise performance of a DTI scheme is dependent on the condition number of the transformation matrix. To test the theoretical framework, we compared the noise performances of different DTI schemes using Monte-Carlo computer simulations and experimental DTI measurements. Both the simulation and the experimental results confirmed that the noise performances of different DTI schemes are significantly correlated with the condition number of the associated transformation matrices. We therefore applied numerical algorithms to optimize a DTI scheme by minimizing the condition number, hence improving the robustness to experimental noise. In the determination of anisotropic diffusion tensors with different orientations, MRI data acquisitions using a single optimum b value based on the mean diffusivity can produce ADC maps with regional differences in noise level. This will give rise to rotational variances of eigenvalues and anisotropy when diffusion tensor mapping is performed using a DTI scheme with a limited number of diffusion-weighting gradient directions. To reduce this type of artifact, a DTI scheme with not only a small condition number but also a large number of evenly distributed diffusion-weighting gradients in 3D is preferable.

An online means of testing asymmetries in seating preference reveals a bias for airplanes and theaters.

PubMed

Nicholls, Michael E R; Thomas, Nicole A; Loetscher, Tobias

2013-08-01

The aim of this study was to investigate asymmetrical interactions between humans and their environment using online seat booking sites. Functional differences between the cerebral hemispheres affect the choices people make. For example, when asked to imagine going to a cinema, people preferentially select seats to the right We investigated whether this experimental research generalizes to online booking sites for aircraft and theaters. Occupancy rates for seats taken on the left and right sides were assessed for 100 airline flights with 12,762 available seats and 37 theater performances with 34,456 seats. On the basis of previous research, a rightward bias was predicted for aircraft and theaters. For aircraft, contrary to expectation, occupancy rate was higher for left- compared with right-side seats. For theaters, a rightward bias was observed when the theater was less than half full.The bias was not affected by the orientation of the map. For aircraft, the leftward preference could be attributable to a rightward turning bias or a "feeling" that the port seats are closer to the exit, even though they are not. For theaters, the data demonstrate that the rightward preference observed in earlier studies exists only when the theater is relatively empty. Asymmetrical seating may play an important role in the efficient assimilation of information from the environment, and this role should take this into account when designing effective human-environment interfaces.The online method of assessing seating used in the current study provides an informative and potentially powerful means of assessing asymmetries in human perception and action.

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations in the competitive context: an examination of person-situation interactions.

PubMed

Abuhamdeh, Sami; Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly

2009-10-01

The current study examined Intrinsic Motivation Orientation and Extrinsic Motivation Orientation (Work Preference Inventory; Amabile, Hill, Hennessey, & Tighe, 1994) as potential trait-level moderators of the way Internet chess players responded to the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards of the chess games they played. On the basis of the defining characteristics of these 2 types of motivational orientations, we predicted that (a) Intrinsic Motivation Orientation would be associated with a stronger curvilinear relationship between challenge and enjoyment and (b) Extrinsic Motivation Orientation would be associated with a heightened affective responsivity to competitive outcome (i.e., winning vs. losing). Results supported the predictions. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Exploring the Motivational Orientations of Graduate Students in Distance Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nolot, Sandra K.

2011-01-01

This study examined the motivational orientations of 166 graduate students enrolled in distance education courses at a state university. Data were collected utilizing Boshier's Education Participation Scale A-Form and analyses were completed for overall results, by gender and age, by academic program and by preferred method of distance course…

Associations of Parental and Peer Characteristics with Adolescents' Social Dominance Orientation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cross, Jennifer Riedl; Fletcher, Kathryn L.

2011-01-01

Studies with adults of social dominance orientation (SDO), a preference for inequality among social groups, have found correlations with various prejudices and support for discriminatory practices. This study explores the construct among adolescents at an age when they are beginning to recognize the social groups in their environment, particularly…

Evaluating an Adaptive Equity-Oriented Pedagogy: A Study of Its Impacts in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phuong, Andrew Estrada; Nguyen, Judy; Marie, Dena

2017-01-01

This study examines whether and how an adaptive equity-oriented pedagogy can address diverse college students' needs and preferred modes of learning. Using a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated this pedagogical intervention that synthesizes democratic, assessment-driven, strengths-based, multimodal, and game-based instructional strategies. This…

The Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness: Motivational Implications of the Teacher's Role as Leader in the Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hardy, Robert C.

Fiedler's Contingency Model postulates that the effectiveness of leaders results from a relationship between leadership style and situational favorability. Leadership style is measured with Fiedler's Least Preferred Coworker Scale, which assesses whether the person rating the coworker is task-oriented or oriented towards interpersonal relations.…

Action recognition using multi-scale histograms of oriented gradients based depth motion trail Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guanxi; Tie, Yun; Qi, Lin

2017-07-01

In this paper, we propose a novel approach based on Depth Maps and compute Multi-Scale Histograms of Oriented Gradient (MSHOG) from sequences of depth maps to recognize actions. Each depth frame in a depth video sequence is projected onto three orthogonal Cartesian planes. Under each projection view, the absolute difference between two consecutive projected maps is accumulated through a depth video sequence to form a Depth Map, which is called Depth Motion Trail Images (DMTI). The MSHOG is then computed from the Depth Maps for the representation of an action. In addition, we apply L2-Regularized Collaborative Representation (L2-CRC) to classify actions. We evaluate the proposed approach on MSR Action3D dataset and MSRGesture3D dataset. Promising experimental result demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed method.

Help to perpetuate traditional gender roles: Benevolent sexism increases engagement in dependency-oriented cross-gender helping.

PubMed

Shnabel, Nurit; Bar-Anan, Yoav; Kende, Anna; Bareket, Orly; Lazar, Yael

2016-01-01

Based on theorizing that helping relations may serve as a subtle mechanism to reinforce intergroup inequality, the present research (N = 1,315) examined the relation between benevolent sexism (i.e., a chivalrous yet subtly oppressive view of women) and helping. In cross-gender interactions, the endorsement of (Studies 1, 3, and 4) or exposure to (Study 2) benevolent sexism predicted (a) men's preference to provide women with dependency-oriented help (i.e., direct assistance) rather than tools for autonomous coping, and (b) women's preference to seek dependency-oriented help rather than tools for autonomous coping. Benevolent sexism did not predict men's and women's engagement in dependency-oriented helping relations in same-gender interactions. Studies 1 and 2 examined behavioral intentions in response to a series of hypothetical scenarios; Studies 3 and 4 examined actual behavior in tests of mathematical and logical ability, and pointed to assumed partner's expectations as a potential mediator. The converging evidence supports the hypothesis that benevolent sexism encourages engagement in cross-gender helping relations that perpetuate traditional gender roles. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison of quartz crystallographic preferred orientations identified with optical fabric analysis, electron backscatter and neutron diffraction techniques.

PubMed

Hunter, N J R; Wilson, C J L; Luzin, V

2017-02-01

Three techniques are used to measure crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) in a naturally deformed quartz mylonite: transmitted light cross-polarized microscopy using an automated fabric analyser, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and neutron diffraction. Pole figure densities attributable to crystal-plastic deformation are variably recognizable across the techniques, particularly between fabric analyser and diffraction instruments. Although fabric analyser techniques offer rapid acquisition with minimal sample preparation, difficulties may exist when gathering orientation data parallel with the incident beam. Overall, we have found that EBSD and fabric analyser techniques are best suited for studying CPO distributions at the grain scale, where individual orientations can be linked to their source grain or nearest neighbours. Neutron diffraction serves as the best qualitative and quantitative means of estimating the bulk CPO, due to its three-dimensional data acquisition, greater sample area coverage, and larger sample size. However, a number of sampling methods can be applied to FA and EBSD data to make similar approximations. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2016 Royal Microscopical Society.

Initial orienting towards sexually relevant stimuli: preliminary evidence from eye movement measures.

PubMed

Fromberger, Peter; Jordan, Kirsten; von Herder, Jakob; Steinkrauss, Henrike; Nemetschek, Rebekka; Stolpmann, Georg; Müller, Jürgen Leo

2012-08-01

It has been proposed that sexual stimuli will be processed in a comparable manner to other evolutionarily meaningful stimuli (such as spiders or snakes) and therefore elicit an attentional bias and more attentional engagement (Spiering and Everaerd, In E. Janssen (Ed.), The psychophysiology of sex (pp. 166-183). Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007). To investigate early and late attentional processes while looking at sexual stimuli, heterosexual men (n = 12) viewed pairs of sexually preferred (images of women) and sexually non-preferred images (images of girls, boys or men), while eye movements were measured. Early attentional processing (initial orienting) was assessed by the number of first fixations and late attentional processing (maintenance of attention) was assessed by relative fixation time. Results showed that relative fixation time was significantly longer for sexually preferred stimuli than for sexually non-preferred stimuli. Furthermore, the first fixation was more often directed towards the preferred sexual stimulus, when simultaneously presented with a non-sexually preferred stimulus. Thus, the current study showed for the first time an attentional bias to sexually relevant stimuli when presented simultaneously with sexually irrelevant pictures. This finding, along with the discovery that heterosexual men maintained their attention to sexually relevant stimuli, highlights the importance of investigating early and late attentional processes while viewing sexual stimuli. Furthermore, the current study showed that sexually relevant stimuli are favored by the human attentional system.

Measuring the preference towards patient-centred communication with the Chinese-revised Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale: a cross-sectional study among physicians and patients in clinical settings in Shanghai, China.

PubMed

Wang, Jie; Zou, Runyu; Fu, Hua; Qian, Haihong; Yan, Yueren; Wang, Fan

2017-09-18

To adapt the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), to a Chinese context, and explore the preference towards patient-centred communication among physicians and patients with the Chinese-revised Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (CR-PPOS). A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Clinical settings from eight medical units, including four community hospitals and four general hospitals, in Shanghai, China. 1018 participants, including 187 physicians and 831 patients, completed this study in two successive stages. Psychometric properties of the CR-PPOS and participants' score on the CR-PPOS. Compared with the original PPOS, the 11-item CR-PPOS obtained better psychometric indices. Physicians and patients scored differently on both the total CR-PPOS and its two subscales. Compared with physicians, the scores of patients were more influenced by their personal characteristics, such as age and education. The CR-PPOS is a better instrument in a Chinese context than the original translated version. The divergence in the extent to which patient-centred communication is preferred among Chinese physicians and patients should be noted. Adapting physicians' communication strategy to patients' preferences based on their personal characteristics can be a viable approach towards improving clinical efficiency. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Effect of magnetic and electric coupling fields on micro- and nano- structure of carbon films in the CVD diamond process and their electron field emission property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yijia; Li, Jiaxin; Hu, Naixiu; Jiang, Yunlu; Wei, Qiuping; Yu, Zhiming; Long, Hangyu; Zhu, Hekang; Xie, Youneng; Ma, Li; Lin, Cheng-Te; Su, Weitao

2018-03-01

In this paper, both electric field and magnetic field were used to assist the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) and we systematically investigated the effects of which on the (1) phase composition, (2) grain size, (3) thickness and (4) preferred orientation of diamond films through SEM, Raman and XRD. The application of magnetic field in electric field, so called ‘the magnetic and electric coupling fields’, enhanced the graphitization and refinement of diamond crystals, slowed down the decrease of film thickness along with the increase of bias current, and suppressed diamond (100) orientation. During the deposition process, the electric field provided additional energy to HFCVD system and generated large number of energetic particles which might annihilate at the substrate and lose kinetic energy, while the Lorentz force, provided by magnetic field, could constrict charged particles (including electrons) to do spiral movement, which prolonged their moving path and life, thus the system energy increased. With the graphitization of diamond films intensified, the preferred orientation of diamond films completely evolved from (110) to (100), until the orientation and diamond phase disappeared, which can be attributed to (I) the distribution and concentration ratio of carbon precursors (C2H2 and CH3) and (II) graphitization sequence of diamond crystal facets. Since the electron field emission property of carbon film is sensitive to the phase composition, thickness and preferred orientation, nano- carbon cones, prepared by the negative bias current of 20 mA and magnetic field strength of 80 Gauss, exhibited the lowest turn-on field of 6.1 V -1 μm-1.

Social Orienting and Attention Is Influenced by the Presence of Competing Nonsocial Information in Adolescents with Autism

PubMed Central

Unruh, Kathryn E.; Sasson, Noah J.; Shafer, Robin L.; Whitten, Allison; Miller, Stephanie J.; Turner-Brown, Lauren; Bodfish, James W.

2016-01-01

Background: Our experiences with the world play a critical role in neural and behavioral development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) spend a disproportionate amount of time seeking out, attending to, and engaging with aspects of their environment that are largely nonsocial in nature. In this study we adapted an established method for eliciting and quantifying aspects of visual choice behavior related to preference to test the hypothesis that preference for nonsocial sources of stimulation diminishes orientation and attention to social sources of stimulation in children with ASD. Method: Preferential viewing tasks can serve as objective measures of preference, with a greater proportion of viewing time to one item indicative of increased preference. The current task used gaze-tracking technology to examine patterns of visual orientation and attention to stimulus pairs that varied in social (faces) and nonsocial content (high autism interest or low autism interest). Participants included both adolescents diagnosed with ASD and typically developing; groups were matched on IQ and gender. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that individuals with ASD had a significantly greater latency to first fixate on social images when this image was paired with a high autism interest image, compared to a low autism interest image pairing. Participants with ASD showed greater total look time to objects, while typically developing participants preferred to look at faces. Groups also differed in number and average duration of fixations to social and object images. In the ASD group only, a measure of nonsocial interest was associated with reduced preference for social images when paired with high autism interest images. Conclusions: In ASD, the presence of nonsocial sources of stimulation can significantly increase the latency of look time to social sources of information. These results suggest that atypicalities in social motivation in ASD may be context-dependent, with a greater degree of plasticity than is assumed by existing social motivation accounts of ASD. PMID:28066169

Van der Waals epitaxial growth of two-dimensional single-crystalline GaSe domains on graphene

DOE PAGES

Li, Xufan; Basile, Leonardo; Huang, Bing; ...

2015-07-22

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are a family of artificially-structured materials that promise tunable optoelectronic properties for devices with enhanced functionalities. Compared to stamping, direct epitaxy of vdW heterostructures is ideal for clean interlayer interfaces and scalable device fabrication. Here, we explore the synthesis and preferred orientations of 2D GaSe atomic layers on graphene (Gr) by vdW epitaxy. Guided by the wrinkles on graphene, GaSe nuclei form that share a predominant lattice orientation. Due to vdW epitaxial growth many nuclei grow as perfectly aligned crystals and coalesce to form large (tens of microns), single-crystal flakes. Through theoretical investigationsmore » of interlayer energetics, and measurements of preferred orientations by atomic-resolution STEM and electron diffraction, a 10.9 interlayer rotation of the GaSe lattice with respect to the underlying graphene is found to be the most energetically preferred vdW heterostructure with the largest binding energy and the longest-range ordering. These GaSe/Gr vdW heterostructures exhibit an enhanced Raman E 2 1g band of monolayer GaSe along with highly-quenched photoluminescence due to strong charge transfer. Despite the very large lattice mismatch of GaSe/Gr through vdW epitaxy, the predominant orientation control and convergent formation of large single-crystal flakes demonstrated here is promising for the scalable synthesis of large-area vdW heterostructures for the development of new optical and optoelectronic devices.« less

Van der Waals epitaxial growth of two-dimensional single-crystalline GaSe domains on graphene

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

Li, Xufan; Basile, Leonardo; Huang, Bing

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are a family of artificially-structured materials that promise tunable optoelectronic properties for devices with enhanced functionalities. Compared to stamping, direct epitaxy of vdW heterostructures is ideal for clean interlayer interfaces and scalable device fabrication. Here, we explore the synthesis and preferred orientations of 2D GaSe atomic layers on graphene (Gr) by vdW epitaxy. Guided by the wrinkles on graphene, GaSe nuclei form that share a predominant lattice orientation. Due to vdW epitaxial growth many nuclei grow as perfectly aligned crystals and coalesce to form large (tens of microns), single-crystal flakes. Through theoretical investigationsmore » of interlayer energetics, and measurements of preferred orientations by atomic-resolution STEM and electron diffraction, a 10.9 interlayer rotation of the GaSe lattice with respect to the underlying graphene is found to be the most energetically preferred vdW heterostructure with the largest binding energy and the longest-range ordering. These GaSe/Gr vdW heterostructures exhibit an enhanced Raman E 2 1g band of monolayer GaSe along with highly-quenched photoluminescence due to strong charge transfer. Despite the very large lattice mismatch of GaSe/Gr through vdW epitaxy, the predominant orientation control and convergent formation of large single-crystal flakes demonstrated here is promising for the scalable synthesis of large-area vdW heterostructures for the development of new optical and optoelectronic devices.« less

Thermo-orientation and the movement of feather-feeding lice on hosts.

PubMed

Harbison, Christopher W; Boughton, Rachel M

2014-08-01

Temperature variation on the host is known to influence ectoparasite distributions. Ectoparasites may also use temperature gradients between host regions when moving on the host; however, tests are rare. Feather-feeding wing lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) spend the majority of their time on the flight feathers of their avian hosts where they insert their bodies between feather barbs to escape host preening. However, because wing lice feed on downy abdominal feathers, they must repeatedly migrate between the flight feathers and body regions of their hosts. We performed a series of experiments that tested thermo-orientation in wing lice and evaluated its potential use during louse migrations between host regions. We found that wing lice can rapidly and accurately locate nearby heat targets that approximate host temperatures (37 C), demonstrating a capacity for directed thermo-orientation. We next tested the preference of wing lice for temperatures found along migration routes between bird flight feathers and their body regions. Wing lice could distinguish between temperatures found within distinct bird regions, and lice that had recently fed preferred the cooler temperatures (32 C), similar to those within bird flight feathers where they typically reside. However, when starved for 18-20 hr, wing lice shifted their preferences toward temperatures typical of bird body regions where they feed (36 C), demonstrating an ability to use thermal cues when moving between bird regions. We discuss the use of thermal cues during louse migration and microhabitat selection, as well as other potential impacts of thermo-orientation on host-parasite interactions.

[Vulvar plethysmographic findings in transsexual women].

PubMed

Tichý, P

1994-05-02

Transsexualism is a complicated diagnostic category. From the differential diagnostic aspect it is necessary, among others, to rule out homosexuality. The objective of the present work was to express objectively vulvo-plethysmographic reactions in transsexual women and to assess whether (or how) these reactions differ from findings in women with a homosexual orientation and to evaluate subsequently possibilities of vulvo-plethysmography in the differential diagnosis of homosexuality and transsexualism. Using an electro-capacitance vulvo-plethysmographic apparatus (designed by Figar et al.), 25 women (mean age 27.6 years, range 18-39 years) with an inverse sexual orientation--transsexuals--were examined. The results were compared with a group of 50 women, matched for age, who reported a homosexual orientation. On evaluation of the total number of recorded positive reactions to heterosexual and homosexual categories of exposed erotic stimuli the difference between the two groups on projection of 3 from 4 categories of these stimuli was highly significant (p < 0.001, chi 2 test). The differences were revealed in particular when evaluating preferences of pictures of sexual activities of partners. While in homosexually oriented women, as expected, preference of homosexual activities was recorded (74%) or a not clear-cut differentiation of these stimuli (26%), in 88% of transsexual women there was a more or less markedly expressed preference of heterosexual activities. Significant differences were found in results of vulvo-plethysmographic examinations of transsexual and homosexual women. This confirmed the expedience of using electro-capacitance vulvo-plethysmography for the differential diagnosis of homosexual and transsexual women.

An Investigation of Turkish Middle School Science Teachers' Pedagogical Orientations Towards Direct and Inquiry Instructional Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahingoz, Selcuk

One of the most important goals of science education is preparing effective science teachers which includes the development of a science pedagogical orientation. Helping in-service science teachers improve their orientations toward science teaching begins with identifying their current orientations. While there are many aspects of an effective science teaching orientation, this study specifically focuses on effective pedagogy. The interest of this study is to clarify pedagogical orientations of middle school science teachers in Turkey toward the teaching of science conceptual knowledge. It focuses on what instructional preferences Turkish middle school science teachers have in theory and practice. The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to elucidate teacher pedagogical profiles toward direct and inquiry instructional approaches. For this purpose, quantitative profile data, using a Turkish version of the Pedagogy of Science Teaching Test (POSTT-TR) assessment instrument, was collected from 533 Turkish middle school science teachers; 2) to identify teaching orientations of middle school science teachers and to identify their reasons for preferring specific instructional practices. For this purpose, descriptive qualitative, interview data was collected from 23 teachers attending a middle school science teacher workshop in addition to quantitative data using the POSTT-TR. These teachers sat for interviews structured by items from the POSTT-TR. Thus, the research design is mixed-method. The design provides a background profile on teacher orientations along with insights on reasons for pedagogical choices. The findings indicate that instructional preference distributions for the large group and smaller group are similar; however, the smaller workshop group is more in favor of inquiry instructional approaches. The findings also indicate that Turkish middle school science teachers appear to have variety of teaching orientations and they have varied reasons. Moreover, the research found that several contextual factors contributed to teachers' instructional practices including internal and external issues such as school environment, limited resources, large class sizes, standardized test pressure, and limited accessibility to professional development. The findings provide insight on the readiness of middle school teachers to implement the Turkish Curriculum Framework, specifically, teacher readiness to put science inquiry instructional approaches into actual classroom practice. Given that new Turkish policy calls for greater inquiry instruction, this study can help inform teacher development efforts directed at promoting science inquiry instruction.

Discrete Fracture Network Characterization of Fractured Shale Reservoirs with Implications to Hydraulic Fracturing Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, G.

2016-12-01

Shales are important petroleum source rocks and reservoir seals. Recent developments in hydraulic fracturing technology have facilitated high gas production rates from shale and have had a strong impact on the U.S. gas supply and markets. Modeling of effective permeability for fractured shale reservoirs has been challenging because the presence of a fracture network significantly alters the reservoir hydrologic properties. Due to the frequent occurrence of fracture networks, it is of vital importance to characterize fracture networks and to investigate how these networks can be used to optimize the hydraulic fracturing. We have conducted basic research on 3-D fracture permeability characterization and compartmentization analyses for fractured shale formations, which takes the advantages of the discrete fracture networks (DFN). The DFN modeling is a stochastic modeling approach using the probabilistic density functions of fractures. Three common scenarios of DFN models have been studied for fracture permeability mapping using our previously proposed techniques. In DFN models with moderately to highly concentrated fractures, there exists a representative element volume (REV) for fracture permeability characterization, which indicates that the fractured reservoirs can be treated as anisotropic homogeneous media. Hydraulic fracturing will be most effective if the orientation of the hydraulic fracture is perpendicular to the mean direction of the fractures. A DFN model with randomized fracture orientations, on the other hand, lacks an REV for fracture characterization. Therefore, a fracture permeability tensor has to be computed from each element. Modeling of fracture interconnectivity indicates that there exists no preferred direction for hydraulic fracturing to be most effective oweing to the interconnected pathways of the fracture network. 3-D fracture permeability mapping has been applied to the Devonian Chattanooga Shale in Alabama and the results suggest that an REV exist for fluid flow and transport modeling at element sizes larger than 200 m. Fracture pathway analysis indicates that hydraulic fracturing can be equally effective for hydrocarbon fluid/gas exploration as long as its orientation is not aligned with that of the regional system fractures.

The do re mi's of everyday life: the structure and personality correlates of music preferences.

PubMed

Rentfrow, Peter J; Gosling, Samuel D

2003-06-01

The present research examined individual differences in music preferences. A series of 6 studies investigated lay beliefs about music, the structure underlying music preferences, and the links between music preferences and personality. The data indicated that people consider music an important aspect of their lives and listening to music an activity they engaged in frequently. Using multiple samples, methods, and geographic regions, analyses of the music preferences of over 3,500 individuals converged to reveal 4 music-preference dimensions: Reflective and Complex, Intense and Rebellious, Upbeat and Conventional, and Energetic and Rhythmic. Preferences for these music dimensions were related to a wide array of personality dimensions (e.g., Openness), self-views (e.g., political orientation), and cognitive abilities (e.g., verbal IQ).

Culture and first-person pronouns.

PubMed

Na, Jinkyung; Choi, Incheol

2009-11-01

Priming research has shown that repeated exposures to first-person singular pronouns (I, my, me, mine) activate an individualistic orientation, whereas first-person plural pronouns (we, our, us, ours) activate a collectivistic orientation. However, little research has been done to explore the opposite direction of influence such that one's cultural orientation determines one's choice between first-person singular versus plural pronouns. The authors conducted three studies to examine the effects of one's cultural orientation on one's use of first-person possessive pronouns. Results show that, compared to their individualistic counterparts, participants who have a collectivistic orientation, chronically or temporarily by priming, preferred to use first-person plural possessive pronouns.

Teaching Basic Geographical Skills: Map and Compass Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trussell, Margaret Edith

1986-01-01

Presents a unit on map and compass activities which introduces compass direction, magnetic declination and conversion of map measurement to familiar units. Requires four, one-hour class meetings and may be followed by a half-day orienteering activity. (Author/JDH)

Sleep-wake habits and circadian preference in Mexican secondary school.

PubMed

Arrona-Palacios, Arturo; García, Aída; Valdez, Pablo

2015-10-01

The current study aimed to determine the differences between sleep-wake habits and circadian preference in Mexican adolescents attending classes at a morning shift or an afternoon shift. The sample consisted of 568 students of a secondary school in Reynosa, northeastern Mexico, of whom 280 were boys and 288 were girls (mean age 14.08 ± 0.72 years, age range 13-16 years). In the morning shift, 287 students attend classes on a schedule from 7:30 to 13:00 and the afternoon shift, 281 students, on a schedule from 13:20 to 19:00. Students completed a general information questionnaire, the Sleep Timing Questionnaire and the Spanish version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The adolescents who attended the morning shift had earlier bedtime and waking time, but shorter sleep duration than those who attended the afternoon shift. Those oriented to eveningness had later bedtime, waking time, and a shorter sleep duration than those oriented to morningness. Two interactions were found between school shift and chronotype. First, with regard to waking time during weekdays, students who attended the afternoon shift and were oriented to eveningness woke up later than those who attended the morning shift and were oriented to eveningness; during weekdays, there were no differences between the waking time of morning-type and evening-type students who attended the morning shift. Second, with regard to sleep duration on weekdays, students who attended the morning shift and were oriented to eveningness had the shortest sleep duration. Furthermore, there were no differences between sleep duration on weekdays in evening-type and morning-type students of the afternoon shift. Adolescents who attend classes in the morning shift and are oriented to eveningness are the most sleep deprived. Those who attend the afternoon shift will have optimal sleep duration, regardless of their circadian preference. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Developing Navigational Skills with Young Children: Investigating Serial and Conceptual Approaches to the Teaching of Compass Skills. Sports Science Education Programme, Annual Report 1989/90.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liverpool Univ. (England).

Map and compass skills are a neglected aspect of the elementary school curriculum. Orienteering--a sport that involves running a prescribed course with the aid of map and compass--may provide an avenue for teaching these skills. This study taught orienteering to 148 10-year-old children and compared the effectiveness of a serial approach based on…

Planning applications in east central Florida. [St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hannah, J. W.; Thomas, G. L.; Esparza, F. (Principal Investigator); Millard, J. J.

1975-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, a 4000 acre marsh, was established primarily to protect the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. A vegetation map of the refuge based on ground observations and color infrared photography was made. The preferred habitat of this sparrow is high-to-medium density spartina (a marsh grass) with no trees nearby. An increase in spartina density corresponds to an increase in marsh wetness. A thematic map shows the birds habitat preferences.

Exploiting machine learning algorithms for tree species classification in a semiarid woodland using RapidEye image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adelabu, Samuel; Mutanga, Onisimo; Adam, Elhadi; Cho, Moses Azong

2013-01-01

Classification of different tree species in semiarid areas can be challenging as a result of the change in leaf structure and orientation due to soil moisture constraints. Tree species mapping is, however, a key parameter for forest management in semiarid environments. In this study, we examined the suitability of 5-band RapidEye satellite data for the classification of five tree species in mopane woodland of Botswana using machine leaning algorithms with limited training samples.We performed classification using random forest (RF) and support vector machines (SVM) based on EnMap box. The overall accuracies for classifying the five tree species was 88.75 and 85% for both SVM and RF, respectively. We also demonstrated that the new red-edge band in the RapidEye sensor has the potential for classifying tree species in semiarid environments when integrated with other standard bands. Similarly, we observed that where there are limited training samples, SVM is preferred over RF. Finally, we demonstrated that the two accuracy measures of quantity and allocation disagreement are simpler and more helpful for the vast majority of remote sensing classification process than the kappa coefficient. Overall, high species classification can be achieved using strategically located RapidEye bands integrated with advanced processing algorithms.

Landscape Interpretation with Augmented Reality and Maps to Improve Spatial Orientation Skill

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carbonell Carrera, Carlos; Bermejo Asensio, Luis A.

2017-01-01

Landscape interpretation is needed for navigating and determining an orientation: with traditional cartography, interpreting 3D topographic information from 2D landform representations to get self-location requires spatial orientation skill. Augmented reality technology allows a new way to interact with 3D landscape representation and thereby…

PREFER: a European service providing forest fire management support products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eftychidis, George; Laneve, Giovanni; Ferrucci, Fabrizio; Sebastian Lopez, Ana; Lourenco, Louciano; Clandillon, Stephen; Tampellini, Lucia; Hirn, Barbara; Diagourtas, Dimitris; Leventakis, George

2015-06-01

PREFER is a Copernicus project of the EC-FP7 program which aims developing spatial information products that may support fire prevention and burned areas restoration decisions and establish a relevant web-based regional service for making these products available to fire management stakeholders. The service focuses to the Mediterranean region, where fire risk is high and damages from wildfires are quite important, and develop its products for pilot areas located in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Greece. PREFER aims to allow fire managers to have access to online resources, which shall facilitate fire prevention measures, fire hazard and risk assessment, estimation of fire impact and damages caused by wildfire as well as support monitoring of post-fire regeneration and vegetation recovery. It makes use of a variety of products delivered by space borne sensors and develop seasonal and daily products using multi-payload, multi-scale and multi-temporal analysis of EO data. The PREFER Service portfolio consists of two main suite of products. The first refers to mapping products for supporting decisions concerning the Preparedness/Prevention Phase (ISP Service). The service delivers Fuel, Hazard and Fire risk maps for this purpose. Furthermore the PREFER portfolio includes Post-fire vegetation recovery, burn scar maps, damage severity and 3D fire damage assessment products in order to support relative assessments required in context of the Recovery/Reconstruction Phase (ISR Service) of fire management.

The DNA-encoded nucleosome organization of a eukaryotic genome.

PubMed

Kaplan, Noam; Moore, Irene K; Fondufe-Mittendorf, Yvonne; Gossett, Andrea J; Tillo, Desiree; Field, Yair; LeProust, Emily M; Hughes, Timothy R; Lieb, Jason D; Widom, Jonathan; Segal, Eran

2009-03-19

Nucleosome organization is critical for gene regulation. In living cells this organization is determined by multiple factors, including the action of chromatin remodellers, competition with site-specific DNA-binding proteins, and the DNA sequence preferences of the nucleosomes themselves. However, it has been difficult to estimate the relative importance of each of these mechanisms in vivo, because in vivo nucleosome maps reflect the combined action of all influencing factors. Here we determine the importance of nucleosome DNA sequence preferences experimentally by measuring the genome-wide occupancy of nucleosomes assembled on purified yeast genomic DNA. The resulting map, in which nucleosome occupancy is governed only by the intrinsic sequence preferences of nucleosomes, is similar to in vivo nucleosome maps generated in three different growth conditions. In vitro, nucleosome depletion is evident at many transcription factor binding sites and around gene start and end sites, indicating that nucleosome depletion at these sites in vivo is partly encoded in the genome. We confirm these results with a micrococcal nuclease-independent experiment that measures the relative affinity of nucleosomes for approximately 40,000 double-stranded 150-base-pair oligonucleotides. Using our in vitro data, we devise a computational model of nucleosome sequence preferences that is significantly correlated with in vivo nucleosome occupancy in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results indicate that the intrinsic DNA sequence preferences of nucleosomes have a central role in determining the organization of nucleosomes in vivo.

The primary visual cortex in the neural circuit for visual orienting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhaoping, Li

The primary visual cortex (V1) is traditionally viewed as remote from influencing brain's motor outputs. However, V1 provides the most abundant cortical inputs directly to the sensory layers of superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain structure to command visual orienting such as shifting gaze and turning heads. I will show physiological, anatomical, and behavioral data suggesting that V1 transforms visual input into a saliency map to guide a class of visual orienting that is reflexive or involuntary. In particular, V1 receives a retinotopic map of visual features, such as orientation, color, and motion direction of local visual inputs; local interactions between V1 neurons perform a local-to-global computation to arrive at a saliency map that highlights conspicuous visual locations by higher V1 responses. The conspicuous location are usually, but not always, where visual input statistics changes. The population V1 outputs to SC, which is also retinotopic, enables SC to locate, by lateral inhibition between SC neurons, the most salient location as the saccadic target. Experimental tests of this hypothesis will be shown. Variations of the neural circuit for visual orienting across animal species, with more or less V1 involvement, will be discussed. Supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

Register cardiac fiber orientations from 3D DTI volume to 2D ultrasound image of rat hearts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Xulei; Wang, Silun; Shen, Ming; Zhang, Xiaodong; Lerakis, Stamatios; Wagner, Mary B.; Fei, Baowei

2015-03-01

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound or echocardiography is one of the most widely used examinations for the diagnosis of cardiac diseases. However, it only supplies the geometric and structural information of the myocardium. In order to supply more detailed microstructure information of the myocardium, this paper proposes a registration method to map cardiac fiber orientations from three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) volume to the 2D ultrasound image. It utilizes a 2D/3D intensity based registration procedure including rigid, log-demons, and affine transformations to search the best similar slice from the template volume. After registration, the cardiac fiber orientations are mapped to the 2D ultrasound image via fiber relocations and reorientations. This method was validated by six images of rat hearts ex vivo. The evaluation results indicated that the final Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) achieved more than 90% after geometric registrations; and the inclination angle errors (IAE) between the mapped fiber orientations and the gold standards were less than 15 degree. This method may provide a practical tool for cardiologists to examine cardiac fiber orientations on ultrasound images and have the potential to supply additional information for diagnosis of cardiac diseases.

Two-Year-Old Children Interpret Abstract, Purely Geometric Maps

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winkler-Rhoades, Nathan; Carey, Susan C.; Spelke, Elizabeth S.

2013-01-01

In two experiments, 2.5-year-old children spontaneously used geometric information from 2D maps to locate objects in a 3D surface layout, without instruction or feedback. Children related maps to their corresponding layouts even though the maps differed from the layouts in size, mobility, orientation, dimensionality, and perspective, and even when…

THE TASTE OF SUGARS

PubMed Central

McCaughey, Stuart A.

2008-01-01

Sugars evoke a distinctive perceptual quality (“sweetness” in humans) and are generally highly preferred. The neural basis for these phenomena is reviewed for rodents, in which detailed electrophysiological measurements have been made. A receptor has been identified that binds sweeteners and activates G-protein-mediated signaling in taste receptor cells, which leads to changes in neural firing rates in the brain, where perceptions of taste quality, intensity, and palatability are generated. Most cells in gustatory nuclei are broadly-tuned, so quality perception presumably arises from patterns of activity across neural populations. However, some manipulations affect only the most sugar-oriented cells, making it useful to consider them as a distinct neural subtype. Quality perception may also arise partly due to temporal patterns of activity to sugars, especially within sugar-oriented cells that give large but delayed responses. Non-specific gustatory neurons that are excited by both sugars and unpalatable stimuli project to ventral forebrain areas, where neural responses provide a closer match with behavioral preferences. This transition likely involves opposing excitatory and inhibitory influences by different subgroups of gustatory cells. Sweeteners are generally preferred over water, but the strength of this preference can vary across time or between individuals, and higher preferences for sugars are often associated with larger taste-evoked responses. PMID:18499254

Effects of Implied Motion and Facing Direction on Positional Preferences in Single-Object Pictures.

PubMed

Palmer, Stephen E; Langlois, Thomas A

2017-07-01

Palmer, Gardner, and Wickens studied aesthetic preferences for pictures of single objects and found a strong inward bias: Right-facing objects were preferred left-of-center and left-facing objects right-of-center. They found no effect of object motion (people and cars showed the same inward bias as chairs and teapots), but the objects were not depicted as moving. Here we measured analogous inward biases with objects depicted as moving with an implied direction and speed by having participants drag-and-drop target objects into the most aesthetically pleasing position. In Experiment 1, human figures were shown diving or falling while moving forward or backward. Aesthetic biases were evident for both inward-facing and inward-moving figures, but the motion-based bias dominated so strongly that backward divers or fallers were preferred moving inward but facing outward. Experiment 2 investigated implied speed effects using images of humans, horses, and cars moving at different speeds (e.g., standing, walking, trotting, and galloping horses). Inward motion or facing biases were again present, and differences in their magnitude due to speed were evident. Unexpectedly, faster moving objects were generally preferred closer to frame center than slower moving objects. These results are discussed in terms of the combined effects of prospective, future-oriented biases, and retrospective, past-oriented biases.

Effect of Solvent and Substrate on the Surface Binding Mode of Carboxylate-Functionalized Aromatic Molecules

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

Domenico, Janna; Foster, Michael E.; Spoerke, Erik D.

Here, the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is strongly influenced by dye molecule orientation and interactions with the substrate. Understanding the factors controlling the surface orientation of sensitizing organic molecules will aid in the improvement of both traditional DSSCs and other devices that integrate molecular linkers at interfaces. Here, we describe a general approach to understand relative dye–substrate orientation and provide analytical expressions predicting orientation. We consider the effects of substrate, solvent, and protonation state on dye molecule orientation. In the absence of solvent, our model predicts that most carboxylic acid-functionalized molecules prefer to lie flat (parallel) on themore » surface, due to van der Waals interactions, as opposed to a tilted orientation with respect to the surface that is favored by covalent bonding of the carboxylic acid group to the substrate. When solvation effects are considered, however, the molecules are predicted to orient perpendicular to the surface. We extend this approach to help understand and guide the orientation of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin-film growth on various metal–oxide substrates. A two-part analytical model is developed on the basis of the results of DFT calculations and ab initio MD simulations that predicts the binding energy of a molecule by chemical and dispersion forces on rutile and anatase TiO 2 surfaces, and quantifies the dye solvation energy for two solvents. The model is in good agreement with the DFT calculations and enables rapid prediction of dye molecule and MOF linker binding preference on the basis of the size of the adsorbing molecule, identity of the surface, and the solvent environment. We establish the threshold molecular size, governing dye molecule orientation, for each condition.« less

Effect of Solvent and Substrate on the Surface Binding Mode of Carboxylate-Functionalized Aromatic Molecules

DOE PAGES

Domenico, Janna; Foster, Michael E.; Spoerke, Erik D.; ...

2018-04-25

Here, the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is strongly influenced by dye molecule orientation and interactions with the substrate. Understanding the factors controlling the surface orientation of sensitizing organic molecules will aid in the improvement of both traditional DSSCs and other devices that integrate molecular linkers at interfaces. Here, we describe a general approach to understand relative dye–substrate orientation and provide analytical expressions predicting orientation. We consider the effects of substrate, solvent, and protonation state on dye molecule orientation. In the absence of solvent, our model predicts that most carboxylic acid-functionalized molecules prefer to lie flat (parallel) on themore » surface, due to van der Waals interactions, as opposed to a tilted orientation with respect to the surface that is favored by covalent bonding of the carboxylic acid group to the substrate. When solvation effects are considered, however, the molecules are predicted to orient perpendicular to the surface. We extend this approach to help understand and guide the orientation of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin-film growth on various metal–oxide substrates. A two-part analytical model is developed on the basis of the results of DFT calculations and ab initio MD simulations that predicts the binding energy of a molecule by chemical and dispersion forces on rutile and anatase TiO 2 surfaces, and quantifies the dye solvation energy for two solvents. The model is in good agreement with the DFT calculations and enables rapid prediction of dye molecule and MOF linker binding preference on the basis of the size of the adsorbing molecule, identity of the surface, and the solvent environment. We establish the threshold molecular size, governing dye molecule orientation, for each condition.« less

Using decision mapping to inform the development of a stated choice survey to elicit youth preferences for sexual and reproductive health and HIV services in rural Malawi.

PubMed

Michaels-Igbokwe, Christine; Lagarde, Mylene; Cairns, John; Terris-Prestholt, Fern

2014-03-01

The process of designing and developing discrete choice experiments (DCEs) is often under reported. The need to adequately report the results of qualitative work used to identify attributes and levels used in a DCE is recognised. However, one area that has received relatively little attention is the exploration of the choice question of interest. This paper provides a case study of the process used to design a stated preference survey to assess youth preferences for integrated sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV outreach services in Malawi. Development and design consisted of six distinct but overlapping and iterative stages. Stage one was a review of the literature. Stage two involved developing a decision map to conceptualise the choice processes involved. Stage three included twelve focus group discussions with young people aged 15-24 (n = 113) and three key informant interviews (n = 3) conducted in Ntcheu District, Malawi. Stage four involved analysis of qualitative data and identification of potential attributes and levels. The choice format and experimental design were selected in stages five and six. The results of the literature review were used to develop a decision map outlining the choices that young people accessing SRH services may face. For youth that would like to use services two key choices were identified: the choice between providers and the choice of service delivery attributes within a provider type. Youth preferences for provider type are best explored using a DCE with a labelled design, while preferences for service delivery attributes associated with a particular provider are better understood using an unlabelled design. Consequently, two DCEs were adopted to jointly assess preferences in this context. Used in combination, the results of the literature review, the decision mapping process and the qualitative work provided robust approach to designing the DCEs individually and as complementary pieces of work. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Highly conducting and preferred <220> oriented boron doped nc–Si films for window layers in nc–Si solar cells

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

Mondal, Praloy; Das, Debajyoti, E-mail: erdd@iacs.res.in

2016-05-23

Growth and optimization of the boron dopednanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) films have been studied by varyingthe gaspressure applied to the hydrogendiluted silane plasma in RF (13.56 MHz) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system, using diborane (B{sub 2}H{sub 6}) as the dopant gas. High magnitudeof electrical conductivity (~10{sup 2} S cm{sup −1}) and<220>orientedcrystallographic lattice planes have been obtained with high crystalline volume fraction (~86 %) at an optimum pressure of 2.5 Torr. XRD and Raman studies reveal good crystallinity with preferred orientation, suitable for applications in stacked layer devices, particularly in nc–Si solar cells.

Internal preference mapping of milk-fruit beverages: Influence of color and appearance on its acceptability.

PubMed

Fernández-Vázquez, Rocío; Stinco, Carla M; Hernanz Vila, Dolores; Heredia, Francisco J; Chaya, Carolina; Vicario, Isabel M

2018-01-01

The individual preferences of 100 consumers between 20 and 30 years old for the color of 16 milk-fruit juice beverages (MFJB) were investigated by preference mapping technique. Consumers were asked to evaluate, just by looking at the samples, how much they liked them (from "Extremely dislike" to "Extremely like"). The color of the samples was analyzed by two different instrumental techniques. Results obtained from the instrumental color measurement showed the wide diversity in hues of the beverages available in the market, and correlations between techniques proved that both of them were appropriate to analyze color. Results showed that participants preferred samples with orangish appearance instead of those with a whiter look. Anyway, punctuations given by the consumers suggest that generally, color of these products is not highly evaluated by consumers, as the best mean punctuation was 6.6.

Black/white outdoor recreation preferences and participation: Illinois State Parks

Treesearch

John F. Dwyer; Paul H. Gobster

1992-01-01

Black/white comparisons of outdoor recreation preferences and behavior from a statewide survey identify a significantly greater black orientation to “developed sites” and “social interaction.” Strategies are recommended to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for blacks, and long-term research needs are identified.

Comparison of grain to grain orientation and stiffness mapping by spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy and EBSD.

PubMed

Mark, A F; Li, W; Sharples, S; Withers, P J

2017-07-01

Our aim was to establish the capability of spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) to map grain orientations and the anisotropy in stiffness at the sub-mm to micron scale by comparing the method with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) undertaken within a scanning electron microscope. In the former the grain orientations are deduced by measuring the spatial variation in elastic modulus; conversely, in EBSD the elastic anisotropy is deduced from direct measurements of the crystal orientations. The two test-cases comprise mapping the fusion zones for large TIG and MMA welds in thick power plant austenitic and ferritic steels, respectively; these are technologically important because, among other things, elastic anisotropy can cause ultrasonic weld inspection methods to become inaccurate because it causes bending in the paths of sound waves. The spatial resolution of SRAS is not as good as that for EBSD (∼100 μm vs. ∼a few nm), nor is the angular resolution (∼1.5° vs. ∼0.5°). However the method can be applied to much larger areas (currently on the order of 300 mm square), is much faster (∼5 times), is cheaper and easier to perform, and it could be undertaken on the manufacturing floor. Given these advantages, particularly to industrial users, and the on-going improvements to the method, SRAS has the potential to become a standard method for orientation mapping, particularly in cases where the elastic anisotropy is important over macroscopic/component length scales. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

SIR-A imagery in geologic studies of the Sierra Madre Oriental, northeastern Mexico. Part 1 (Regional stratigraphy): The use of morphostratigraphic units in remote sensing mapping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Longoria, J. F.; Jimenez, O. H.

1985-01-01

SIR-A imaging was used in geological studies of sedimentary terrains in the Sierra Madre Oriental, northeastern Mexico. Geological features such as regional strike and dip, bedding, folding and faulting were readily detected on the image. The recognition of morphostructural units in the imagery, coupled with field verification, enabled geological mapping of the region at the scale of 1:250 000. Structural profiling lead to the elaboration of a morphostructural map allowing the recognition of an echelon folds and field trends which were used to postulate the ectonic setting of the region.

Seamless Warping of Diffusion Tensor Fields

PubMed Central

Hao, Xuejun; Bansal, Ravi; Plessen, Kerstin J.; Peterson, Bradley S.

2008-01-01

To warp diffusion tensor fields accurately, tensors must be reoriented in the space to which the tensors are warped based on both the local deformation field and the orientation of the underlying fibers in the original image. Existing algorithms for warping tensors typically use forward mapping deformations in an attempt to ensure that the local deformations in the warped image remains true to the orientation of the underlying fibers; forward mapping, however, can also create “seams” or gaps and consequently artifacts in the warped image by failing to define accurately the voxels in the template space where the magnitude of the deformation is large (e.g., |Jacobian| > 1). Backward mapping, in contrast, defines voxels in the template space by mapping them back to locations in the original imaging space. Backward mapping allows every voxel in the template space to be defined without the creation of seams, including voxels in which the deformation is extensive. Backward mapping, however, cannot reorient tensors in the template space because information about the directional orientation of fiber tracts is contained in the original, unwarped imaging space only, and backward mapping alone cannot transfer that information to the template space. To combine the advantages of forward and backward mapping, we propose a novel method for the spatial normalization of diffusion tensor (DT) fields that uses a bijection (a bidirectional mapping with one-to-one correspondences between image spaces) to warp DT datasets seamlessly from one imaging space to another. Once the bijection has been achieved and tensors have been correctly relocated to the template space, we can appropriately reorient tensors in the template space using a warping method based on Procrustean estimation. PMID:18334425

Genetic mapping of a food preference gene in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs).

PubMed

Mase, Keisuke; Iizuka, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Toshio; Okada, Eiji; Hara, Wajirou

2007-06-01

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, has strict food preferences and grows by feeding on mulberry leaves. However, "Sawa-J", an abnormal feeding habit strain selected from the genetic stock, feeds on an artificial diet without mulberry leaf powder. In this study, the food preference gene in Sawa-J was genetically identified using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of a cDNA clone on each linkage group. Taking advantage of a lack of genetic recombination in females, reciprocal backcrossed F1 (BC1) progenies were independently prepared using a non-feeding strain, C108, as a mating partner of Sawa-J. Our results of linkage analysis and mapping proved that the feeding behavior is primarily controlled by a major recessive gene mapped at 20.2 cM on RFLP linkage group 9 (RFLG9), and clone e73 at a distance of 4.2 cM was found as the first linked molecular marker.

Pattern Adaptation and Normalization Reweighting.

PubMed

Westrick, Zachary M; Heeger, David J; Landy, Michael S

2016-09-21

Adaptation to an oriented stimulus changes both the gain and preferred orientation of neural responses in V1. Neurons tuned near the adapted orientation are suppressed, and their preferred orientations shift away from the adapter. We propose a model in which weights of divisive normalization are dynamically adjusted to homeostatically maintain response products between pairs of neurons. We demonstrate that this adjustment can be performed by a very simple learning rule. Simulations of this model closely match existing data from visual adaptation experiments. We consider several alternative models, including variants based on homeostatic maintenance of response correlations or covariance, as well as feedforward gain-control models with multiple layers, and we demonstrate that homeostatic maintenance of response products provides the best account of the physiological data. Adaptation is a phenomenon throughout the nervous system in which neural tuning properties change in response to changes in environmental statistics. We developed a model of adaptation that combines normalization (in which a neuron's gain is reduced by the summed responses of its neighbors) and Hebbian learning (in which synaptic strength, in this case divisive normalization, is increased by correlated firing). The model is shown to account for several properties of adaptation in primary visual cortex in response to changes in the statistics of contour orientation. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/369805-12$15.00/0.

Mapping ecological risks with a portfolio-based technique: incorporating uncertainty and decision-making preferences

Treesearch

Denys Yemshanov; Frank H. Koch; Mark Ducey; Klaus Koehler

2013-01-01

Geographic mapping of risks is a useful analytical step in ecological risk assessments and in particular, in analyses aimed to estimate risks associated with introductions of invasive organisms. In this paper, we approach invasive species risk mapping as a portfolio allocation problem and apply techniques from decision theory to build an invasion risk map that combines...

Visual map and instruction-based bicycle navigation: a comparison of effects on behaviour.

PubMed

de Waard, Dick; Westerhuis, Frank; Joling, Danielle; Weiland, Stella; Stadtbäumer, Ronja; Kaltofen, Leonie

2017-09-01

Cycling with a classic paper map was compared with navigating with a moving map displayed on a smartphone, and with auditory, and visual turn-by-turn route guidance. Spatial skills were found to be related to navigation performance, however only when navigating from a paper or electronic map, not with turn-by-turn (instruction based) navigation. While navigating, 25% of the time cyclists fixated at the devices that present visual information. Navigating from a paper map required most mental effort and both young and older cyclists preferred electronic over paper map navigation. In particular a turn-by-turn dedicated guidance device was favoured. Visual maps are in particular useful for cyclists with higher spatial skills. Turn-by-turn information is used by all cyclists, and it is useful to make these directions available in all devices. Practitioner Summary: Electronic navigation devices are preferred over a paper map. People with lower spatial skills benefit most from turn-by-turn guidance information, presented either auditory or on a dedicated device. People with higher spatial skills perform well with all devices. It is advised to keep in mind that all users benefit from turn-by-turn information when developing a navigation device for cyclists.

Chinese Tertiary Teachers' Goal Orientations for Teaching and Teaching Approaches: The Mediation of Teacher Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yin, Hongbiao; Han, Jiying; Lu, Genshu

2017-01-01

This study investigated the effects of Chinese tertiary teachers' goal orientations for teaching on their approaches to teaching mediated by teacher engagement. In a survey of 597 Chinese tertiary teachers, the respondents placed particular emphasis on relational and mastery goals and expressed a preference for student-focused approaches to…

Learning Processes of Students in Pre-Vocational Secondary Education: Relations between Goal Orientations, Information Processing Strategies and Development of Conceptual Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koopman, Maaike; Den Brok, Perry; Beijaard, Douwe; Teune, Peter

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate relations between goal orientations, information processing strategies and development of conceptual knowledge of pre-vocational secondary education students (n = 719; 14 schools). Students' preferences for certain types of goals and information processing strategies were examined using questionnaires.…

The Work Orientations of Australian University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Jeannette; Pick, David

2008-01-01

It is the aim of this paper to provide a better understanding of how university students in Australia are preparing for their future work in the labour market through their work orientations. It draws upon a survey of over 300 final-year undergraduates to present their rationales for engaging in paid work, and their preferences for different job…

Assessing Motivation of Secondary School Students: An Analysis of Promotion and Prevention Orientations as Measured by the Regulatory Focus Questionnaire

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodis, Flaviu A.; Hodis, Georgeta M.

2017-01-01

Measuring human motivation requires understanding the outcomes individuals value and the strategies they prefer to employ to attain them. Knowledge of promotion and prevention, two pivotal motivation orientations, provide key information regarding these aspects. The Regulatory Focus Questionnaire, which measures these two independent constructs,…

Synaptic Correlates of Low-Level Perception in V1.

PubMed

Gerard-Mercier, Florian; Carelli, Pedro V; Pananceau, Marc; Troncoso, Xoana G; Frégnac, Yves

2016-04-06

The computational role of primary visual cortex (V1) in low-level perception remains largely debated. A dominant view assumes the prevalence of higher cortical areas and top-down processes in binding information across the visual field. Here, we investigated the role of long-distance intracortical connections in form and motion processing by measuring, with intracellular recordings, their synaptic impact on neurons in area 17 (V1) of the anesthetized cat. By systematically mapping synaptic responses to stimuli presented in the nonspiking surround of V1 receptive fields, we provide the first quantitative characterization of the lateral functional connectivity kernel of V1 neurons. Our results revealed at the population level two structural-functional biases in the synaptic integration and dynamic association properties of V1 neurons. First, subthreshold responses to oriented stimuli flashed in isolation in the nonspiking surround exhibited a geometric organization around the preferred orientation axis mirroring the psychophysical "association field" for collinear contour perception. Second, apparent motion stimuli, for which horizontal and feedforward synaptic inputs summed in-phase, evoked dominantly facilitatory nonlinear interactions, specifically during centripetal collinear activation along the preferred orientation axis, at saccadic-like speeds. This spatiotemporal integration property, which could constitute the neural correlate of a human perceptual bias in speed detection, suggests that local (orientation) and global (motion) information is already linked within V1. We propose the existence of a "dynamic association field" in V1 neurons, whose spatial extent and anisotropy are transiently updated and reshaped as a function of changes in the retinal flow statistics imposed during natural oculomotor exploration. The computational role of primary visual cortex in low-level perception remains debated. The expression of this "pop-out" perception is often assumed to require attention-related processes, such as top-down feedback from higher cortical areas. Using intracellular techniques in the anesthetized cat and novel analysis methods, we reveal unexpected structural-functional biases in the synaptic integration and dynamic association properties of V1 neurons. These structural-functional biases provide a substrate, within V1, for contour detection and, more unexpectedly, global motion flow sensitivity at saccadic speed, even in the absence of attentional processes. We argue for the concept of a "dynamic association field" in V1 neurons, whose spatial extent and anisotropy changes with retinal flow statistics, and more generally for a renewed focus on intracortical computation. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/363925-18$15.00/0.

Estimating an exchange rate between the EQ-5D-3L and ASCOT.

PubMed

Stevens, Katherine; Brazier, John; Rowen, Donna

2018-06-01

The aim was to estimate an exchange rate between EQ-5D-3L and the Adult Social Care Outcome Tool (ASCOT) using preference-based mapping via common time trade-off (TTO) valuations. EQ-5D and ASCOT are useful for examining cost-effectiveness within the health and social care sectors, respectively, but there is a policy need to understand overall benefits and compare across sectors to assess relative value for money. Standard statistical mapping is unsuitable since it relies on conceptual overlap of the measures but EQ-5D and ASCOT have different conceptualisations of quality of life. We use a preference-based mapping approach to estimate the exchange rate using common TTO valuations for both measures. A sample of health states from each measure was valued using TTO by 200 members of the UK adult general population. Regression analyses are used to generate separate equations between EQ-5D-3L and ASCOT values using their original value set and TTO values elicited here. These are solved as simultaneous equations to estimate the relationship between EQ-5D-3L and ASCOT. The relationship for moving from ASCOT to EQ-5D-3L is a linear transformation with an intercept of -0.0488 and gradient of 0.978. This enables QALY gains generated by ASCOT and EQ-5D to be compared across different interventions. This paper estimated an exchange rate between ASCOT and EQ-5D-3L using a preference-based mapping approach that does not compromise the descriptive systems of the two measures. This contributes to the development of preference-based mapping through the use of TTO as the common metric used to estimate the exchange rate between measures.

Visual motion transforms visual space representations similarly throughout the human visual hierarchy.

PubMed

Harvey, Ben M; Dumoulin, Serge O

2016-02-15

Several studies demonstrate that visual stimulus motion affects neural receptive fields and fMRI response amplitudes. Here we unite results of these two approaches and extend them by examining the effects of visual motion on neural position preferences throughout the hierarchy of human visual field maps. We measured population receptive field (pRF) properties using high-field fMRI (7T), characterizing position preferences simultaneously over large regions of the visual cortex. We measured pRFs properties using sine wave gratings in stationary apertures, moving at various speeds in either the direction of pRF measurement or the orthogonal direction. We find direction- and speed-dependent changes in pRF preferred position and size in all visual field maps examined, including V1, V3A, and the MT+ map TO1. These effects on pRF properties increase up the hierarchy of visual field maps. However, both within and between visual field maps the extent of pRF changes was approximately proportional to pRF size. This suggests that visual motion transforms the representation of visual space similarly throughout the visual hierarchy. Visual motion can also produce an illusory displacement of perceived stimulus position. We demonstrate perceptual displacements using the same stimulus configuration. In contrast to effects on pRF properties, perceptual displacements show only weak effects of motion speed, with far larger speed-independent effects. We describe a model where low-level mechanisms could underlie the observed effects on neural position preferences. We conclude that visual motion induces similar transformations of visuo-spatial representations throughout the visual hierarchy, which may arise through low-level mechanisms. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Computational study of antimalarial pyrazole alkaloids from Newbouldia laevis.

PubMed

Mammino, Liliana; Bilonda, Mireille K

2014-11-01

Six pyrazole alkaloids of natural origin (isolated from Newbouldia laevis in DR Congo) that exhibit antimalarial activity-namely withasomnine, newbouldine, and their para-hydroxy and -methoxy derivatives-were investigated theoretically. The nitro derivatives of withasomnine and para-hydroxywithasomnine, which show enhanced antimalarial activity, were also studied in this manner. A thorough conformational study was performed in vacuo and in three solvents (chloroform, acetonitrile, and water) at different levels of theory (HF, DFT/B3LYP, and MP2) using different basis sets. Adducts with explicit water molecules were calculated at the HF level. Due to the rigidity of the pyrazole system and the benzene ring, the only factor that influences the energies of withasomnine and newbouldine is the relative orientation of the two ring systems; two orientations are equally preferred. The para-hydroxy and -methoxy derivatives show a preference for a planar orientation of the OH and OC bonds. The main stabilizing influence on the nitro derivative of para-hydroxywithasomnine is the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the two consecutive functional groups. The calculated adducts show the preferred arrangements of water molecules in the vicinity of the N atoms of the pyrazole system and, for the derivatives, also in the vicinity of the substituents on the benzene ring.

Visual saliency in MPEG-4 AVC video stream

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ammar, M.; Mitrea, M.; Hasnaoui, M.; Le Callet, P.

2015-03-01

Visual saliency maps already proved their efficiency in a large variety of image/video communication application fields, covering from selective compression and channel coding to watermarking. Such saliency maps are generally based on different visual characteristics (like color, intensity, orientation, motion,…) computed from the pixel representation of the visual content. This paper resumes and extends our previous work devoted to the definition of a saliency map solely extracted from the MPEG-4 AVC stream syntax elements. The MPEG-4 AVC saliency map thus defined is a fusion of static and dynamic map. The static saliency map is in its turn a combination of intensity, color and orientation features maps. Despite the particular way in which all these elementary maps are computed, the fusion techniques allowing their combination plays a critical role in the final result and makes the object of the proposed study. A total of 48 fusion formulas (6 for combining static features and, for each of them, 8 to combine static to dynamic features) are investigated. The performances of the obtained maps are evaluated on a public database organized at IRCCyN, by computing two objective metrics: the Kullback-Leibler divergence and the area under curve.

Introducing the Contextual Orientation to Bible: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levisohn, Jon A.

2008-01-01

Barry Holtz' (2003) presentation of a map of orientations for the teaching of Bible provides a certain kind of focus for research, enabling us to ask deeper and richer question about those orientations. This article investigates the teaching of one teacher, in two different settings--more specifically, how that teacher introduces Bible in those…

Evaluation of different types of dry-cured ham by Italian and French consumers.

PubMed

Cannata, S; Ratti, S; Meteau, K; Mourot, J; Baldini, P; Corino, C

2010-04-01

The aim was to analyse the distribution of preferences between two group of consumers (100 consumers each) from different countries (Italy and France), in order to establish which type of dry-cured ham is most acceptable and to compare results across countries using preference mapping. A preference test was carried out on four types of dry-cured hams: Parma ham (P), Italian non-branded ham (I) and hams derived from pigs fed a diet containing sunflower oil (2.5%) (S) or extruded linseed (5%) (L). The consumers were requested to evaluate each single descriptor using a hedonic scale and assigning a score between 1 (dislike extremely) and 9 (like extremely). The four different dry-cured hams were sensorially well differentiated by the consumers of different nationalities. Italian consumers preferred P and S hams while French consumers preferred S, I and P hams in terms of overall acceptability and acceptability of aroma and flavour. L ham was negatively discriminated, compared to the other hams, by both consumer groups. A good differentiation between the dry-cured hams was obtained using the internal preference map method: P was discriminated from the other hams. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inactivation of the infragranular striate cortex broadens orientation tuning of supragranular visual neurons in the cat.

PubMed

Allison, J D; Bonds, A B

1994-01-01

Intracortical inhibition is believed to enhance the orientation tuning of striate cortical neurons, but the origin of this inhibition is unclear. To examine the possible influence of ascending inhibitory projections from the infragranular layers of striate cortex on the orientation selectivity of neurons in the supragranular layers, we measured the spatiotemporal response properties of 32 supragranular neurons in the cat before, during, and after neural activity in the infragranular layers beneath the recorded cells was inactivated by iontophoretic administration of GABA. During GABA iontophoresis, the orientation tuning bandwidth of 15 (46.9%) supragranular neurons broadened as a result of increases in response amplitude to stimuli oriented about +/- 20 degrees away from the preferred stimulus angle. The mean (+/- SD) baseline orientation tuning bandwidth (half width at half height) of these neurons was 13.08 +/- 2.3 degrees. Their mean tuning bandwidth during inactivation of the infragranular layers increased to 19.59 +/- 2.54 degrees, an increase of 49.7%. The mean percentage increase in orientation tuning bandwidth of the individual neurons was 47.4%. Four neurons exhibited symmetrical changes in their orientation tuning functions, while 11 neurons displayed asymmetrical changes. The change in form of the orientation tuning functions appeared to depend on the relative vertical alignment of the recorded neuron and the infragranular region of inactivation. Neurons located in close vertical register with the inactivated infragranular tissue exhibited symmetric changes in their orientation tuning functions. The neurons exhibiting asymmetric changes in their orientation tuning functions were located just outside the vertical register. Eight of these 11 neurons also demonstrated a mean shift of 6.67 +/- 5.77 degrees in their preferred stimulus orientation. The magnitude of change in the orientation tuning functions increased as the delivery of GABA was prolonged. Responses returned to normal approximately 30 min after the delivery of GABA was discontinued. We conclude that inhibitory projections from neurons within the infragranular layers of striate cortex in cats can enhance the orientation selectivity of supragranular striate cortical neurons.

iPads at Field Camp: A First Test of the Challenges and Opportunities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hurst, S. D.; Stewart, M. A.

2011-12-01

An iPad 2 was given to approximately half of the University of Illinois students attending the Wasatch-Uinta Field Camp (WUFC) in summer 2011. The iPads were provisioned with orientation measuring, mapping and location software. The software would automatically transfer an orientation measurement to the current location on the Google Maps application, and was able to output a full list of orientation data. Students also had normal access to more traditional mapping tools such as Brunton compasses and GPS units and were required to map with these tools along with other students of WUFC not provided iPads. Compared to traditional tools, iPads have drawbacks such as increased weight, break-ability, need for power source and wireless connectivity; in sum, they need a substantial infrastructure that reduces range, availability, and probably most importantly, convenience. Some of these drawbacks inhibited adoption by our students, the primary reasons being the added weight and the inability to map directly to a GIS application with detailed topographic maps equivalent to the physical topographic map sheets used at WUFC. In their favor, the iPads combine a host of tools into one, including software that can measure orientation in a fashion more intuitively than a Brunton. They also allow storage, editing and analysis of data, notes (spoken and/or written) and potentially unlimited access to a variety of maps. Via a post-field camp survey of the University of Illinois students at WUFC, we have identified some of the important issues that need to be addressed before portable tablets like the iPad become the tool of choice for general field work. Some problems are intrinsic to almost any advanced technology, some are artifacts of the current generations of hardware and software available for these devices. Technical drawbacks aside, the adoption of iPads was further inhibited primarily by inexperience with their use as a mapping tool and secondarily by their redundancy with traditional tools. We are addressing some aspects of software limitations and future technology improvements by the industry will naturally reduce other limitations. We will continue testing iPads during field trips and courses for the foreseeable future. As we begin to deal with these limitations and students become more accustomed to their use in the field, we expect our students to more fully embrace iPads as a convenient field and mapping tool.

Out of control: attentional selection for orientation is thwarted by properties of the underlying neural mechanisms.

PubMed

Du, Feng; Abrams, Richard A

2012-09-01

To avoid sensory overload, people are able to selectively attend to a particular color or direction of motion while ignoring irrelevant stimuli that differ from the desired one. We show here for the first time that it is also possible to selectively attend to a specific line orientation-but with an important caveat: orientations that are perpendicular to the target orientation cannot be suppressed. This effect reflects properties of the neural mechanisms selective for orientation and reveals the extent to which contingent capture is constrained not only by one's top-down goals but also by feature preferences of visual neurons. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spatial Instability of the Linearly Polarized Plane Wave in a Cubic Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuz'mina, M. S.; Khazanov, E. A.

2016-12-01

We study theoretically the development of a small-scale spatial instability of a plane wave in a cubic crystal with [111], [001] and [101] orientations. It is shown that in the [111] oriented crystals the instability develops at lower intensities than in the [001] and [101] oriented crystals. In the latter two crystals, the instability can significantly be suppressed by choosing the optimal radiation polarization. It is found that in the case of a small B integral, the method of temporal contrast enhancement of laser pulses by generating an orthogonal polarization achieves the largest efficiency with the [101] orientation, while the [001] orientation is more preferable for B > 3.

100-Fold Enhancement of Charge Transport in Uniaxially Oriented Mesoporous Anatase TiO 2 Films

DOE PAGES

Li, Ke; Liu, Jie; Sheng, Xia; ...

2017-12-04

Mesoporous semiconductor films are of considerable interest for applications in photoelectrochemical devices, however, despite intensive research till now, their charge transport properties remain significantly lower than their single-crystal counterparts. Herein, we report a novel low-temperature template-free technique for growing high surface area mesoporous anatase TiO2 films with a preferred [001] crystalline-orientation on FTO-coated glass substrate. Compared to mesoporous films that comprised of randomly oriented crystallites, the uniaxial orientation enables a 100-fold increase in the rate of electron transport. The uniaxially oriented mesoporous anatase TiO2 films exhibit should greatly facilitate the development and application of photoelectrochemical and electrochemical devices.

Why is the sunny side always up? Explaining the spatial mapping of concepts by language use.

PubMed

Goodhew, Stephanie C; McGaw, Bethany; Kidd, Evan

2014-10-01

Humans appear to rely on spatial mappings to represent and describe concepts. The conceptual cuing effect describes the tendency for participants to orient attention to a spatial location following the presentation of an unrelated cue word (e.g., orienting attention upward after reading the word sky). To date, such effects have predominately been explained within the embodied cognition framework, according to which people's attention is oriented on the basis of prior experience (e.g., sky → up via perceptual simulation). However, this does not provide a compelling explanation for how abstract words have the same ability to orient attention. Why, for example, does dream also orient attention upward? We report on an experiment that investigated the role of language use (specifically, collocation between concept words and spatial words for up and down dimensions) and found that it predicted the cuing effect. The results suggest that language usage patterns may be instrumental in explaining conceptual cuing.

Invite, include, and involve: racial groups, ethnic groups, and leisure

Treesearch

Deborah J. Chavez

2000-01-01

All people recreate. Most of us read book and/or magazines, take walks, watch television, tend gardens. Some people enjoy high-risk activities, such as bungee jumping, others prefer to participate in karate at the local boys' club or bingo at the local senior center, while others prefer family-oriented leisure adivities such-as miniature golf. Whatever the leisure...

The Effect of Sequence of Instruction on Students' Cognitive Preferences and Recall in the Context of a Problem-Oriented Method of Teaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boreham, N. C.; And Others

1985-01-01

This study investigated the effects of two sequences of instruction--theory-to-application and application-to-theory--on medical students' cognitive preferences in preclinical science teaching. Results indicate that presenting an example of the clinical application of biochemical theory before presenting the theory itself increased students'…

The Most Preferred and Effective Reviewer of L2 Writing among Automated Grading System, Peer Reviewer and Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsai, Min-Hsiu

2017-01-01

Who is the most preferred and deemed the most helpful reviewer in improving student writing? This study exercised a blended teaching method which consists of three currently prevailing reviewers: the automated grading system (AGS, a web-based method), the peer review (a process-oriented approach), and the teacher grading technique (the…

University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Academic Department Chairs' Self-Perceived Utilization of Bolman and Deal's Four-Frame Theoretical Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Sonya L.; Lindahl, Ronald A.

2014-01-01

This study examined the Bolman and Deal leadership orientation preferred by academic department chairs (ADCs) of Educational Leadership or Administration programs at member colleges and universities of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). A secondary purpose of the study was to examine how the preferred frame of the chairs…

An Adult Face Bias in Infants That is Modulated by Face Race

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heron-Delaney, Michelle; Damon, Fabrice; Quinn, Paul C.; Méary, David; Xiao, Naiqi G.; Lee, Kang; Pascalis, Olivier

2017-01-01

The visual preferences of infants for adult versus infant faces were investigated. Caucasian 3.5- and 6-month-olds were presented with Caucasian adult vs. infant face pairs and Asian adult vs. infant face pairs, in both upright and inverted orientations. Both age groups showed a visual preference for upright adult over infant faces when the faces…

Single neural code for blur in subjects with different interocular optical blur orientation

PubMed Central

Radhakrishnan, Aiswaryah; Sawides, Lucie; Dorronsoro, Carlos; Peli, Eli; Marcos, Susana

2015-01-01

The ability of the visual system to compensate for differences in blur orientation between eyes is not well understood. We measured the orientation of the internal blur code in both eyes of the same subject monocularly by presenting pairs of images blurred with real ocular point spread functions (PSFs) of similar blur magnitude but varying in orientations. Subjects assigned a level of confidence to their selection of the best perceived image in each pair. Using a classification-images–inspired paradigm and applying a reverse correlation technique, a classification map was obtained from the weighted averages of the PSFs, representing the internal blur code. Positive and negative neural PSFs were obtained from the classification map, representing the neural blur for best and worse perceived blur, respectively. The neural PSF was found to be highly correlated in both eyes, even for eyes with different ocular PSF orientations (rPos = 0.95; rNeg = 0.99; p < 0.001). We found that in subjects with similar and with different ocular PSF orientations between eyes, the orientation of the positive neural PSF was closer to the orientation of the ocular PSF of the eye with the better optical quality (average difference was ∼10°), while the orientation of the positive and negative neural PSFs tended to be orthogonal. These results suggest a single internal code for blur with orientation driven by the orientation of the optical blur of the eye with better optical quality. PMID:26114678

Mapping the climatic suitable habitat of oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) for introduction and cultivation at a global scale.

PubMed

Li, Guoqing; Du, Sheng; Wen, Zhongming

2016-07-21

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) is an important afforestation and ornamental tree species, which is native in eastern Asian. Therefore, a global suitable habitat map for oriental arborvitae is urgently needed for global promotion and cultivation. Here, the potential habitat and climatic requirements of oriental arborvitae at global scale were simulated using herbariums data and 13 thermal-moisture variables as input data for maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The simulation performance of MaxEnt is evaluated by ten-fold cross-validation and a jackknife procedure. Results show that the potential habitat and climate envelop of oriental arborvitae can be successfully simulated by MaxEnt at global scale, with a mean test AUC value of 0.93 and mean training AUC value of 0.95. Thermal factors play more important roles than moisture factors in controlling the distribution boundary of oriental arborvitae's potential ranges. There are about 50 countries suitable for introduction and cultivation of oriental arborvitae with an area of 2.0 × 10(7) km(2), which occupied 13.8% of land area on the earth. This unique study will provide valuable information and insights needed to identify new regions with climatically suitable habitats for cultivation and introduction of oriental arborvitae around the world.

Mapping the climatic suitable habitat of oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) for introduction and cultivation at a global scale

PubMed Central

Li, Guoqing; Du, Sheng; Wen, Zhongming

2016-01-01

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) is an important afforestation and ornamental tree species, which is native in eastern Asian. Therefore, a global suitable habitat map for oriental arborvitae is urgently needed for global promotion and cultivation. Here, the potential habitat and climatic requirements of oriental arborvitae at global scale were simulated using herbariums data and 13 thermal-moisture variables as input data for maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The simulation performance of MaxEnt is evaluated by ten-fold cross-validation and a jackknife procedure. Results show that the potential habitat and climate envelop of oriental arborvitae can be successfully simulated by MaxEnt at global scale, with a mean test AUC value of 0.93 and mean training AUC value of 0.95. Thermal factors play more important roles than moisture factors in controlling the distribution boundary of oriental arborvitae’s potential ranges. There are about 50 countries suitable for introduction and cultivation of oriental arborvitae with an area of 2.0 × 107 km2, which occupied 13.8% of land area on the earth. This unique study will provide valuable information and insights needed to identify new regions with climatically suitable habitats for cultivation and introduction of oriental arborvitae around the world. PMID:27443221

Quartz c-axis orientation patterns in fracture cement as a measure of fracture opening rate and a validation tool for fracture pattern models

DOE PAGES

Ukar, Estibalitz; Laubach, Stephen E.; Marrett, Randall

2016-03-09

Here, we evaluate a published model for crystal growth patterns in quartz cement in sandstone fractures by comparing crystal fracture-spanning predictions to quartz c-axis orientation distributions measured by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of spanning quartz deposits. Samples from eight subvertical opening-mode fractures in four sandstone formations, the Jurassic– Cretaceous Nikanassin Formation, northwestern Alberta Foothills (Canada), Cretaceous Mesaverde Group (USA; Cozzette Sandstone Member of the Iles Formation), Piceance Basin, Colorado (USA), and upper Jurassic–lower Cretaceous Cotton Valley Group (Taylor sandstone) and overlying Travis Peak Formation, east Texas, have similar quartzose composition and grain size but contain fractures with different temperature historiesmore » and opening rates based on fluid inclusion assemblages and burial history. Spherical statistical analysis shows that, in agreement with model predictions, bridging crystals have a preferred orientation with c-axis orientations at a high angle to fracture walls. The second form of validation is for spanning potential that depends on the size of cut substrate grains. Using measured cut substrate grain sizes and c-axis orientations of spanning bridges, we calculated the required orientation for the smallest cut grain to span the maximum gap size and the required orientation of the crystal with the least spanning potential to form overgrowths that span across maximum measured gap sizes. We find that within a 10° error all spanning crystals conform to model predictions. Using crystals with the lowest spanning potential based on crystallographic orientation (c-axis parallel to fracture wall) and a temperature range for fracture opening measured from fluid inclusion assemblages, we calculate maximum fracture opening rates that allow crystals to span. These rates are comparable to those derived independently from fracture temperature histories based on burial history and multiple sequential fluid inclusion assemblages. Results support the R. Lander and S. Laubach model, which predicts that for quartz deposited synchronously with fracture opening, spanning potential, or likelihood of quartz deposits that are thick enough to span between fracture walls, depends on temperature history, fracture opening rate, size of opening increments, and size, mineralogy, and crystallographic orientation of substrates in the fracture wall (transected grains). Results suggest that EBSD maps, which can be more rapidly acquired than measurement of tens to hundreds of fluid inclusion assemblages, can provide a useful measure of relative opening rates within populations of quartz-filled fractures formed under sedimentary basin conditions. Such data are useful for evaluating fracture pattern development models.« less

Quartz c-axis orientation patterns in fracture cement as a measure of fracture opening rate and a validation tool for fracture pattern models

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

Ukar, Estibalitz; Laubach, Stephen E.; Marrett, Randall

Here, we evaluate a published model for crystal growth patterns in quartz cement in sandstone fractures by comparing crystal fracture-spanning predictions to quartz c-axis orientation distributions measured by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of spanning quartz deposits. Samples from eight subvertical opening-mode fractures in four sandstone formations, the Jurassic– Cretaceous Nikanassin Formation, northwestern Alberta Foothills (Canada), Cretaceous Mesaverde Group (USA; Cozzette Sandstone Member of the Iles Formation), Piceance Basin, Colorado (USA), and upper Jurassic–lower Cretaceous Cotton Valley Group (Taylor sandstone) and overlying Travis Peak Formation, east Texas, have similar quartzose composition and grain size but contain fractures with different temperature historiesmore » and opening rates based on fluid inclusion assemblages and burial history. Spherical statistical analysis shows that, in agreement with model predictions, bridging crystals have a preferred orientation with c-axis orientations at a high angle to fracture walls. The second form of validation is for spanning potential that depends on the size of cut substrate grains. Using measured cut substrate grain sizes and c-axis orientations of spanning bridges, we calculated the required orientation for the smallest cut grain to span the maximum gap size and the required orientation of the crystal with the least spanning potential to form overgrowths that span across maximum measured gap sizes. We find that within a 10° error all spanning crystals conform to model predictions. Using crystals with the lowest spanning potential based on crystallographic orientation (c-axis parallel to fracture wall) and a temperature range for fracture opening measured from fluid inclusion assemblages, we calculate maximum fracture opening rates that allow crystals to span. These rates are comparable to those derived independently from fracture temperature histories based on burial history and multiple sequential fluid inclusion assemblages. Results support the R. Lander and S. Laubach model, which predicts that for quartz deposited synchronously with fracture opening, spanning potential, or likelihood of quartz deposits that are thick enough to span between fracture walls, depends on temperature history, fracture opening rate, size of opening increments, and size, mineralogy, and crystallographic orientation of substrates in the fracture wall (transected grains). Results suggest that EBSD maps, which can be more rapidly acquired than measurement of tens to hundreds of fluid inclusion assemblages, can provide a useful measure of relative opening rates within populations of quartz-filled fractures formed under sedimentary basin conditions. Such data are useful for evaluating fracture pattern development models.« less

An international comparison study of pharmacy students' achievement goals and their relationship to assessment type and scores.

PubMed

Alrakaf, Saleh; Anderson, Claire; Coulman, Sion A; John, Dai N; Tordoff, June; Sainsbury, Erica; Rose, Grenville; Smith, Lorraine

2015-04-25

To identify pharmacy students' preferred achievement goals in a multi-national undergraduate population, to investigate achievement goal preferences across comparable degree programs, and to identify relationships between achievement goals, academic performance, and assessment type. The Achievement Goal Questionnaire was administered to second year students in 4 universities in Australia, New Zealand, England, and Wales. Academic performance was measured using total scores, multiple-choice questions, and written answers (short essay). Four hundred eighty-six second year students participated. Students showed an overall preference for the mastery-approach goal orientation across all sites. The predicted relationships between goal orientation and multiple-choice questions, and written answers scores, were significant. This study is the first of its kind to examine pharmacy students' achievement goals at a multi-national level and to differentiate between assessment type and measures of achievement motivation. Students adopting a mastery-approach goal are more likely to gain high scores in assessments that measure understanding and depth of knowledge.

An International Comparison Study of Pharmacy Students’ Achievement Goals and their Relationship to Assessment Type and Scores

PubMed Central

Anderson, Claire; Coulman, Sion A.; John, Dai N.; Tordoff, June; Sainsbury, Erica; Rose, Grenville; Smith, Lorraine

2015-01-01

Objective: To identify pharmacy students’ preferred achievement goals in a multi-national undergraduate population, to investigate achievement goal preferences across comparable degree programs, and to identify relationships between achievement goals, academic performance, and assessment type. Methods: The Achievement Goal Questionnaire was administered to second year students in 4 universities in Australia, New Zealand, England, and Wales. Academic performance was measured using total scores, multiple-choice questions, and written answers (short essay). Results: Four hundred eighty-six second year students participated. Students showed an overall preference for the mastery-approach goal orientation across all sites. The predicted relationships between goal orientation and multiple-choice questions, and written answers scores, were significant. Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind to examine pharmacy students’ achievement goals at a multi-national level and to differentiate between assessment type and measures of achievement motivation. Students adopting a mastery-approach goal are more likely to gain high scores in assessments that measure understanding and depth of knowledge. PMID:25995510

Category-specificity in sexual interest in gay men and lesbians.

PubMed

Rullo, Jordan E; Strassberg, Donald S; Israel, Esther

2010-08-01

The present study assessed the category-specificity of sexual interest of gay men and lesbians toward an understanding of the possible interaction of sex and sexual orientation that may exist in this phenomenon. Utilizing viewing time as a measure of sexual interest, we had participants (N = 99) rate the sexual appeal of sexually provocative pictures while the amount of time spent viewing each picture was inconspicuously measured. As hypothesized, same-sex oriented individuals demonstrated a category-specific pattern of sexual interest. That is, gay men and lesbians (1) viewed preferred sex pictures (i.e., of same sex) significantly longer than nonpreferred sex pictures (i.e., of opposite sex) and (2) rated preferred sex pictures as significantly more sexually appealing than nonpreferred sex pictures. Additionally, the difference in viewing times between preferred and nonpreferred sexual stimuli was not significantly different for gay men and lesbians, suggesting that lesbians are as category-specific as gay men. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Therapist qualities preferred by sexual-minority individuals.

PubMed

Burckell, Lisa A; Goldfried, Marvin R

2006-01-01

Psychotherapy research concerning lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals has focused on matching clients on gender and sexual orientation, yet has not considered how factors such as therapeutic skill, presenting problem, and cohort membership may influence preference for therapists. This study was designed to identify those therapist qualities that sexual-minority individuals prefer and to determine how the presenting problem influences therapist choice. Forty-two nonheterosexual adults between 18 and 29 years old ranked 63 therapist characteristics from "Extremely Uncharacteristic" to "Extremely Characteristic" when seeking treatment for a problem in which their sexual orientation was salient and one in which it was not. The analyses of both conditions yielded clusters of items reflecting therapist characteristics that participants considered unfavorable, neutral, beneficial, and essential. Participants valued therapists who had LGB-specific knowledge as well as general therapeutic skills, whereas they indicated that they would avoid therapists who held heterocentric views. Application of these findings to clinical practice and future directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Where's the beef? Retail channel choice and beef preferences in Argentina.

PubMed

Colella, Florencia; Ortega, David L

2017-11-01

Argentinean beef is recognized and demanded internationally. Locally, consumers are often unable to afford certified beef products, and may rely on external cues to determine beef quality. Uncovering demand for beef attributes and marketing them accordingly, may require an understanding of consumers' product purchasing strategies, which involves retailer choice. We develop a framework utilizing latent class analysis to identify consumer groups with different retailer preferences, and separately estimate their demand for beef product attributes. This framework accounts for the interrelationship between consumers' choice of retail outlets and beef product preferences. Our analysis of data from the city of Buenos Aires identifies two groups of consumers, a convenience- (67%) and a service- (33%) oriented group. We find significant differences in demand for beef attributes across these groups, and find that the service oriented group, while not willing to pay for credence attributes, relies on a service-providing retailer-namely a butcher-as a source of product quality assurance. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Side-chain to backbone interactions dictate the conformational preferences of a cyclopentane arginine analogue

PubMed Central

Revilla-López, Guillem; Torras, Juan; Jiménez, Ana I.; Cativiela, Carlos; Nussinov, Ruth; Alemán, Carlos

2009-01-01

The intrinsic conformational preferences of the non-proteinogenic amino acids constructed by incorporating the arginine side chain in the β position of 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (either in a cis or a trans orientation relative to the amino group) have been investigated using computational methods. These compounds may be considered as constrained analogues of arginine (denoted as c5Arg) in which the orientation of the side chain is fixed by the cyclopentane moiety. Specifically, the N-acetyl-N′-methylamide derivatives of cis and trans-c5Arg have been examined in the gas phase and in solution using B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) calculations and Molecular Dynamics simulations. Results indicate that the conformational space available to these compounds is highly restricted, their conformational preferences being dictated by the ability of the guanidinium group in the side chain to establish hydrogen-bond interactions with the backbone. A comparison with the behavior previously described for the analogous phenylalanine derivatives is presented. PMID:19236034

Underground anemotactic orientation in leaf-cutting ants: perception of airflow and experience-dependent choice of airflow direction during digging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halboth, Florian; Roces, Flavio

2017-10-01

Air exchange between the large nests of Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutting ants and the environment strongly relies on a passive, wind-induced ventilation mechanism. Air moves through nest tunnels and airflow direction depends on the location of the tunnel openings on the nest mound. We hypothesized that ants might use the direction of airflow along nest tunnels as orientation cue in the context of climate control, as digging workers might prefer to broaden or to close tunnels with inflowing or outflowing air in order to regulate nest ventilation. To investigate anemotactic orientation in Atta vollenweideri, we first tested the ants' ability to perceive air movements by confronting single workers with airflow stimuli in the range 0 to 20 cm/s. Workers responded to airflow velocities ≥ 2 cm/s, and the number of ants reacting to the stimulus increased with increasing airflow speed. Second, we asked whether digging workers use airflow direction as an orientation cue. Workers were exposed to either inflow or outflow of air while digging in the nest and could subsequently choose between two digging sites providing either inflow or outflow of air, respectively. Workers significantly chose the side with the same airflow direction they experienced before. When no airflow was present during initial digging, workers showed no preference for airflow directions. Workers developed preferences for airflow direction only after previous exposure to a given airflow direction. We suggest that experience-modified anemotaxis might help leaf-cutting ants spatially organize their digging activity inside the nest during tasks related to climate control.

Underground anemotactic orientation in leaf-cutting ants: perception of airflow and experience-dependent choice of airflow direction during digging.

PubMed

Halboth, Florian; Roces, Flavio

2017-09-19

Air exchange between the large nests of Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutting ants and the environment strongly relies on a passive, wind-induced ventilation mechanism. Air moves through nest tunnels and airflow direction depends on the location of the tunnel openings on the nest mound. We hypothesized that ants might use the direction of airflow along nest tunnels as orientation cue in the context of climate control, as digging workers might prefer to broaden or to close tunnels with inflowing or outflowing air in order to regulate nest ventilation. To investigate anemotactic orientation in Atta vollenweideri, we first tested the ants' ability to perceive air movements by confronting single workers with airflow stimuli in the range 0 to 20 cm/s. Workers responded to airflow velocities ≥ 2 cm/s, and the number of ants reacting to the stimulus increased with increasing airflow speed. Second, we asked whether digging workers use airflow direction as an orientation cue. Workers were exposed to either inflow or outflow of air while digging in the nest and could subsequently choose between two digging sites providing either inflow or outflow of air, respectively. Workers significantly chose the side with the same airflow direction they experienced before. When no airflow was present during initial digging, workers showed no preference for airflow directions. Workers developed preferences for airflow direction only after previous exposure to a given airflow direction. We suggest that experience-modified anemotaxis might help leaf-cutting ants spatially organize their digging activity inside the nest during tasks related to climate control.

Beam orientation optimization for intensity-modulated radiation therapy using mixed integer programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ruijie; Dai, Jianrong; Yang, Yong; Hu, Yimin

2006-08-01

The purpose of this study is to extend an algorithm proposed for beam orientation optimization in classical conformal radiotherapy to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and to evaluate the algorithm's performance in IMRT scenarios. In addition, the effect of the candidate pool of beam orientations, in terms of beam orientation resolution and starting orientation, on the optimized beam configuration, plan quality and optimization time is also explored. The algorithm is based on the technique of mixed integer linear programming in which binary and positive float variables are employed to represent candidates for beam orientation and beamlet weights in beam intensity maps. Both beam orientations and beam intensity maps are simultaneously optimized in the algorithm with a deterministic method. Several different clinical cases were used to test the algorithm and the results show that both target coverage and critical structures sparing were significantly improved for the plans with optimized beam orientations compared to those with equi-spaced beam orientations. The calculation time was less than an hour for the cases with 36 binary variables on a PC with a Pentium IV 2.66 GHz processor. It is also found that decreasing beam orientation resolution to 10° greatly reduced the size of the candidate pool of beam orientations without significant influence on the optimized beam configuration and plan quality, while selecting different starting orientations had large influence. Our study demonstrates that the algorithm can be applied to IMRT scenarios, and better beam orientation configurations can be obtained using this algorithm. Furthermore, the optimization efficiency can be greatly increased through proper selection of beam orientation resolution and starting beam orientation while guaranteeing the optimized beam configurations and plan quality.

Quantitative assessment of alkali-reactive aggregate mineral content through XRD using polished sections as a supplementary tool to RILEM AAR-1 (petrographic method)

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

Castro, Nelia, E-mail: nelia.castro@ntnu.no; Sorensen, Bjorn E.; Broekmans, Maarten A.T.M.

The mineral content of 5 aggregate samples from 4 different countries, including reactive and non-reactive aggregate types, was assessed quantitatively by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using polished sections. Additionally, electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) mapping and cathodoluminescence (CL) were used to characterize the opal-CT identified in one of the aggregate samples. Critical review of results from polished sections against traditionally powdered specimen has demonstrated that for fine-grained rocks without preferred orientation the assessment of mineral content by XRD using polished sections may represent an advantage over traditional powder specimens. Comparison of data on mineral content and silica speciation with expansion data frommore » PARTNER project confirmed that the presence of opal-CT plays an important role in the reactivity of one of the studied aggregates. Used as a complementary tool to RILEM AAR-1, the methodology suggested in this paper has the potential to improve the strength of the petrographic method.« less

Subjective Vertical Conflict Theory and Space Motion Sickness.

PubMed

Chen, Wei; Chao, Jian-Gang; Wang, Jin-Kun; Chen, Xue-Wen; Tan, Cheng

2016-02-01

Space motion sickness (SMS) remains a troublesome problem during spaceflight. The subjective vertical (SV) conflict theory postulates that all motion sickness provoking situations are characterized by a condition in which the SV sensed from gravity and visual and idiotropic cues differs from the expected vertical. This theory has been successfully used to predict motion sickness in different vehicles on Earth. We have summarized the most outstanding and recent studies on the illusions and characteristics associated with spatial disorientation and SMS during weightlessness, such as cognitive map and mental rotation, the visual reorientation and inversion illusions, and orientation preferences between visual scenes and the internal z-axis of the body. The relationships between the SV and the incidence of and susceptibility to SMS as well as spatial disorientation were addressed. A consistent framework was presented to understand and explain SMS characteristics in more detail on the basis of the SV conflict theory, which is expected to be more advantageous in SMS prediction, prevention, and training.

Featural and temporal attention selectively enhance task-appropriate representations in human V1

PubMed Central

Warren, Scott; Yacoub, Essa; Ghose, Geoffrey

2015-01-01

Our perceptions are often shaped by focusing our attention toward specific features or periods of time irrespective of location. We explore the physiological bases of these non-spatial forms of attention by imaging brain activity while subjects perform a challenging change detection task. The task employs a continuously varying visual stimulus that, for any moment in time, selectively activates functionally distinct subpopulations of primary visual cortex (V1) neurons. When subjects are cued to the timing and nature of the change, the mapping of orientation preference across V1 was systematically shifts toward the cued stimulus just prior to its appearance. A simple linear model can explain this shift: attentional changes are selectively targeted toward neural subpopulations representing the attended feature at the times the feature was anticipated. Our results suggest that featural attention is mediated by a linear change in the responses of task-appropriate neurons across cortex during appropriate periods of time. PMID:25501983

Decoupling of superposed textures in an electrically biased piezoceramic with a 100 preferred orientation

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

Fancher, Chris M.; Blendell, John E.; Bowman, Keith J.

2017-02-07

A method leveraging Rietveld full-pattern texture analysis to decouple induced domain texture from a preferred grain orientation is presented in this paper. The proposed method is demonstrated by determining the induced domain texture in a polar polymorph of 100 oriented 0.91Bi 1/2Na 1/2TiO 3-0.07BaTiO 3-0.02K 0.5Na 0.5NbO 3. Domain textures determined using the present method are compared with results obtained via single peak fitting. Texture determined using single peak fitting estimated more domain alignment than that determined using the Rietveld based method. These results suggest that the combination of grain texture and phase transitions can lead to single peak fittingmore » under or over estimating domain texture. Finally, while demonstrated for a bulk piezoelectric, the proposed method can be applied to quantify domain textures in multi-component systems and thin films.« less

Adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons and ozone at environmental aqueous surfaces.

PubMed

Vácha, Robert; Cwiklik, Lukasz; Rezác, Jan; Hobza, Pavel; Jungwirth, Pavel; Valsaraj, Kalliat; Bahr, Stephan; Kempter, Volker

2008-06-05

Adsorption of environmentally important aromatic molecules on a water surface is studied by means of classical and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy. Both techniques show strong activity and orientational preference of these molecules at the surface. Benzene and naphthalene, which bind weakly to water surface with a significant contribution of dispersion interactions, prefer to lie flat on water but retain a large degree of orientational flexibility. Pyridine is more rigid at the surface. It is tilted with the nitrogen end having strong hydrogen bonding interactions with water molecules. The degree of adsorption and orientation of aromatic molecules on aqueous droplets has atmospheric implications for heterogeneous ozonolysis, for which the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics mechanism is discussed. At higher coverages of aromatic molecules the incoming ozone almost does not come into contact with the underlying aqueous phase. This may rationalize the experimental insensitivity of the ozonolysis on the chemical nature of the substrate on which the aromatic molecules adsorb.

A novel EBSD-based finite-element wave propagation model for investigating seismic anisotropy: Application to Finero Peridotite, Ivrea-Verbano Zone, Northern Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Xin; Frehner, Marcel; Kunze, Karsten; Zappone, Alba

2014-10-01

A novel electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) -based finite-element (FE) wave propagation simulation is presented and applied to investigate seismic anisotropy of peridotite samples. The FE model simulates the dynamic propagation of seismic waves along any chosen direction through representative 2D EBSD sections. The numerical model allows separation of the effects of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) and shape preferred orientation (SPO). The obtained seismic velocities with respect to specimen orientation are compared with Voigt-Reuss-Hill estimates and with laboratory measurements. The results of these three independent methods testify that CPO is the dominant factor controlling seismic anisotropy. Fracture fillings and minor minerals like hornblende only influence the seismic anisotropy if their volume proportion is sufficiently large (up to 23%). The SPO influence is minor compared to the other factors. The presented FE model is discussed with regard to its potential in simulating seismic wave propagation using EBSD data representing natural rock petrofabrics.

Crystallization behavior of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide films and its effects on thin-film transistor performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suko, Ayaka; Jia, JunJun; Nakamura, Shin-ichi; Kawashima, Emi; Utsuno, Futoshi; Yano, Koki; Shigesato, Yuzo

2016-03-01

Amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and post-annealed in air at 300-1000 °C for 1 h to investigate the crystallization behavior in detail. X-ray diffraction, electron beam diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy revealed that the IGZO films showed an amorphous structure after post-annealing at 300 °C. At 600 °C, the films started to crystallize from the surface with c-axis preferred orientation. At 700-1000 °C, the films totally crystallized into polycrystalline structures, wherein the grains showed c-axis preferred orientation close to the surface and random orientation inside the films. The current-gate voltage (Id-Vg) characteristics of the IGZO thin-film transistor (TFT) showed that the threshold voltage (Vth) and subthreshold swing decreased markedly after the post-annealing at 300 °C. The TFT using the totally crystallized films also showed the decrease in Vth, whereas the field-effect mobility decreased considerably.

Cosmopolitan cities: the frontier in the twenty-first century?

PubMed Central

Sevincer, A. Timur; Kitayama, Shinobu; Varnum, Michael E. W.

2015-01-01

People with independent (vs. interdependent) social orientation place greater priority on personal success, autonomy, and novel experiences over maintaining ties to their communities of origin. Accordingly, an independent orientation should be linked to a motivational proclivity to move to places that offer economic opportunities, freedom, and diversity. Such places are cities that can be called “cosmopolitan.” In support of this hypothesis, Study 1 found that independently oriented young adults showed a preference to move to cosmopolitan rather than noncosmopolitan cities. Study 2 used a priming manipulation and demonstrated a causal impact of independence on residential preferences for cosmopolitan cities. Study 3 established ecological validity by showing that students who actually moved to a cosmopolitan city were more independent than those who either moved to a noncosmopolitan city or never moved. Taken together, the findings illuminate the role of cosmopolitan settlement in the contemporary cultural change toward independence and have implications for urban development and economic growth. PMID:26528195

Ultrasonic Wave Properties in Bone Axis Direction of Bovine Cortical Bone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Kazufumi; Yaoi, Yuichiro; Yamato, Yu; Yanagitan, Takahiko; Matsukawa, Mami; Yamazaki, Kaoru

2008-05-01

Quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) is a good method for measuring elastic properties of bone in vivo. Bovine cortical bone has two typical microstructures, plexiform and Haversian. In this study, the relationship between the speed of sound (SOS) and the hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystallite orientation in the axial direction was investigated in two different aged bovine cortical bones. The dependence of attenuation on anatomical position was also investigated. Two ring-permanent hyphen shaped cortical bone samples were obtained from 36- and 24-month-old bovine femurs. SOS was measured with a conventional ultrasonic pulse system. The integrated intensity of the (0002) peak obtained by X-ray diffraction was determine to evaluate the amount of preferred orientation. Regardless of the age of the bovine femurs, a significant correlation between SOS and the preferred orientation of HAp crystallites was observed in parts of the plexiform structure, and the gradient of the relationship showed a similar tendency. Attenuation seemed to depend on bone microstructure.