Southern high latitude squat lobsters II: description of Uroptychus macquariae sp. nov. from Macquarie Ridge.

PubMed

Schnabel, Kareen E; Burghardt, Ingo; Ahyong, Shane T

2017-11-23

Squat lobsters have only recently been recorded from the Macquarie Ridge, which extends south between New Zealand and Antarctica. Among these, Uroptychus insignis (Henderson, 1885) was recorded for the first time outside the western Indian Ocean, exhibiting only subtle morphological differences. Reexamination of the Macquarie Ridge and Indian Ocean specimens attributed to U. insignis using morphological and molecular data revealed the Macquarie Ridge form to represent a separate species. Subtle but consistent morphological differences are evident and partial CO1 sequence data indicates that the specimens collected on Macquarie Ridge differ from those collected in the Indian Ocean by more than 7%. The Macquarie Ridge species is described herein as Uroptychus macquariae n.sp. Subtle morphological differences between the new species and U. insignis are discussed.

Odd–even structural sensitivity on dynamics in network-forming ionic liquids

DOE PAGES

Yang, Ke; Cai, Zhikun; Tyagi, Madhusudan; ...

2016-04-13

Understanding structural sensitivity on properties of materials is an important step toward the rational design of materials. As a compelling case of sensitive structure-property relationship, an odd-even effect refers to the alternating trend of physical or chemical properties on odd/even number of repeating structural units. In crystalline or semi-crystalline materials, such odd-even variations of macroscopic properties emerge as manifestations of differences in the periodic packing patterns of molecules. Therefore, due to the lack of long-range order, such odd-even phenomenon is not expected in liquids. Herein, we report the discovery of a remarkable odd-even effect of the dynamical properties in themore » liquid phase, which challenges the traditional periodic packing explanations. In a class of network-forming ionic liquid (NIL), using incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements, we measured the dynamical properties including the diffusion coefficient and the rotational relaxation time. These dynamical properties showed pronounced alternating trends with increased number of methylene (–CH 2– ) groups in the backbone. Meanwhile, the structure factor S(Q) showed no long-range periodic packing of molecules, while the pair distribution function g(r) revealed subtle differences in the local molecular morphology. As a result, the observed dynamical odd-even phenomenon in liquids showed that profound dynamical changes originate from subtle local structural differences.« less

A Survey on Security Isolation of Virtualization, Containers, and Unikernels

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-01

this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. Citation of...characteristics is necessary to understand the potential threats. Each of these technologies contains subtle differences in the methodology and...technologies contains subtle differences in the methodology and software architecture to provide secure isolation between guests. All 3 of these

Effects of a Passive Online Software Application on Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Nervous System Balance.

PubMed

Rubik, Beverly

2017-01-01

This study investigated whether short-term exposure to a passive online software application of purported subtle energy technology would affect heart rate variability (HRV) and associated autonomic nervous system measures. This was a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial (RCT). The study took place in a nonprofit laboratory in Emeryville, California. Twenty healthy, nonsmoking subjects (16 females), aged 40-75 years, participated. Quantum Code Technology ™ (QCT), a purported subtle energy technology, was delivered through a passive software application (Heart+ App) on a smartphone placed <1 m from subjects who were seated and reading a catalog. HRV was measured for 5 min in triplicate for each condition via finger plethysmography using a Food and Drug Administration medically approved HRV measurement device. Measurements were made at baseline and 35 min following exposure to the software applications. The following parameters were calculated and analyzed: heart rate, total power, standard deviation node-to-node, root mean square sequential difference, low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF). Paired samples t-tests showed that for the Heart+ App, mean LF/HF decreased (p = 9.5 × 10 -4 ), while mean LF decreased in a trend (p = 0.06), indicating reduced sympathetic dominance. Root mean square sequential difference increased for the Heart+ App, showing a possible trend (p = 0.09). Post-pre differences in LF/HF for sham compared with the Heart+ App were also significant (p < 0.008) by independent t-test, indicating clinical relevance. Significant beneficial changes in mean LF/HF, along with possible trends in mean LF and root mean square sequential difference, were observed in subjects following 35 min exposure to the Heart+ App that was working in the background on an active smartphone untouched by the subjects. This may be the first RCT to show that specific frequencies of a purported non-Hertzian type of subtle energy conveyed by software applications broadcast from personal electronic devices can be bioactive and beneficially impact autonomic nervous system balance.

Heel-toe running: A new look at the influence of foot strike pattern on impact force.

PubMed

Mercer, John A; Horsch, Sarah

2015-06-01

It is important to understand the factors that influence the impact force observed during running, since the impact force is likely to be related to overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact force during running when participants were instructed to use different foot strike patterns: obvious heel strike (Obvious-HS), subtle heel strike (Subtle-HS), midfoot strike (Mid-FS), and fore foot strike (Fore-FS) patterns. Participants ( n  = 10, 25 ± 5.7 years, 70.2 ± 12.1 kg, 174.6 ± 7.2 cm) completed four foot strike patterns while running over ground: Obvious-HS, Subtle-HS, Mid-FS, and Fore-FS. Speed was controlled between conditions (random order). Vertical ground reaction forces were recorded (1000 Hz) along with the impact force, peak force, and stance time for analysis. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare each variable across foot strike instructions, with post hoc comparisons contrasting Obvious-HS to each of the other conditions. Impact force was influenced by foot strike instructions, with Obvious-HS being greater than Subtle-HS and Fore-FS ( p  < 0.05) but not different from Mid-FS ( p  > 0.05). The peak force was not influenced by foot strike instructions ( p  > 0.05); stance time was longer during Obvious-HS than during Mid-FS or Fore-FS ( p  < 0.05), but not different from Subtle-HS ( p  > 0.05). The unique observation of this study was that impact force was different when participants were instructed to run with either an Obvious-HS or a Subtle-HS at contact. Both these foot strike patterns would have been considered rear foot strike patterns, suggesting that something other than which specific part of the foot strikes the ground initially influenced impact force.

"Atypical" chronic wasting disease in PRNP genotype 225FF mule deer.

PubMed

Wolfe, Lisa L; Fox, Karen A; Miller, Michael W

2014-07-01

We compared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) of two different PRNP genotypes (225SS, 225FF) for susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the face of environmental exposure to infectivity. All three 225SS deer had immunohistochemistry (IHC)-positive tonsil biopsies by 710 days postexposure (dpe), developed classic clinical signs by 723-1,200 dpe, and showed gross and microscopic pathology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results, and IHC staining typical of prion disease in mule deer. In contrast, although all three 225FF deer also became infected, the two individuals surviving >720 dpe had consistently negative biopsies, developed more-subtle clinical signs of CWD, and died 924 or 1,783 dpe. The 225FF deer were "suspect" by ELISA postmortem but showed negative or equivocal IHC staining of lymphoid tissues; both clinically affected 225FF deer had spongiform encephalopathy in the absence of IHC staining in the brain tissue. The experimental cases resembled three cases encountered among five additional captive 225FF deer that were not part of our experiment but also died from CWD. Aside from differences in clinical disease presentation and detection, 225FF mule deer also showed other, more-subtle, atypical traits that may help to explain the rarity of this genotype in natural populations, even in the presence of enzootic CWD.

See no evil: color blindness and perceptions of subtle racial discrimination in the workplace.

PubMed

Offermann, Lynn R; Basford, Tessa E; Graebner, Raluca; Jaffer, Salman; De Graaf, Sumona Basu; Kaminsky, Samuel E

2014-10-01

Workplace discrimination has grown more ambiguous, with interracial interactions often perceived differently by different people. The present study adds to the literature by examining a key individual difference variable in the perception of discrimination at work, namely individual color-blind attitudes. We examined relationships between 3 dimensions of color-blind attitudes (Racial Privilege, Institutional Discrimination, and Blatant Racial Issues) and perceptions of racial microaggressions in the workplace as enacted by a White supervisor toward a Black employee (i.e., discriminatory actions ranging from subtle to overt). Findings showed that observer views on institutional discrimination fully mediated, and blatant racial issues partially mediated, the relationships between racial group membership and the perception of workplace microaggressions. Non-Hispanic Whites endorsed color blindness as institutional discrimination and blatant racial issues significantly more than members of racioethnic minority groups, and higher levels of color-blind worldviews were associated with lower likelihoods of perceiving microaggressions. Views on racial privilege did not differ significantly between members of different racial groups or affect microaggression perceptions. Implications for organizations concerned about promoting more inclusive workplaces are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).

Probing Implicit Learning in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Moderating Role of Medication on the Weather Prediction Task

PubMed Central

Kelmendi, Benjamin; Adams, Thomas; Jakubovski, Ewgeni; Hawkins, Keith A.; Coric, Vladimir; Pittenger, Christopher

2016-01-01

Deficits in implicit learning, a process by which knowledge is acquired accretively through practice independent of conscious awareness, have been implicated in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The weather-prediction task (WPT) was used to assess implicit learning in 26 unmedicated patients with OCD and 23 healthy controls. An additional analysis compared these two groups with 25 medicated patients with OCD. In the comparison of unmedicated patients with healthy controls there was a subtle but statistically significant group-by-block interaction. Patients with OCD showed slower improvement in performance during the middle phase of learning. In a three-group comparison, there was no main effect of group; in post-hoc tests, medicated patients with OCD differed from unmedicated patients and were not different from healthy controls. Unmedicated patients with OCD have a subtle deficit in implicit learning in the WPT. This may be mitigated by pharmacotherapy, although prospective studies would be required to confirm this conclusion. PMID:27134820

Forms of ethnic prejudice: assessing the dimensionality of a Spanish-language version of the Blatant and Subtle Prejudice Scale.

PubMed

Cárdenas Castro, Manuel

2010-02-01

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensionality of a Spanish-language version of the Blatant and Subtle Prejudice Scale via exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). No research has confirmed the hypothesized factor structure in Latin American countries. Using data from a random and probability survey in population of the northern area of Chile (N= 896), four models were specified: single factor model (global prejudice factor), correlated two-factor model (subtle and blatant prejudice), correlated two-factor second-order model, and single-factor second-order model. The findings indicated that the two-factor second-order model had the best fit. The corresponding alpha coefficients were .82 (subtle prejudice) and .76 (blatant prejudice). Lastly, differences were examined between , , and regarding their feelings toward immigrants, their feelings about their beliefs concerning the state aid received by these out-groups, and their feelings about their beliefs regarding future policies for them.

When cheating would make you a cheater: implicating the self prevents unethical behavior.

PubMed

Bryan, Christopher J; Adams, Gabrielle S; Monin, Benoît

2013-11-01

In 3 experiments using 2 different paradigms, people were less likely to cheat for personal gain when a subtle change in phrasing framed such behavior as diagnostic of an undesirable identity. Participants were given the opportunity to claim money they were not entitled to at the experimenters' expense; instructions referred to cheating with either language that was designed to highlight the implications of cheating for the actor's identity (e.g., "Please don't be a cheater") or language that focused on the action (e.g., "Please don't cheat"). Participants in the "cheating" condition claimed significantly more money than did participants in the "cheater" condition, who showed no evidence of having cheated at all. This difference occurred both in a face-to-face interaction (Experiment 1) and in a private online setting (Experiments 2 and 3). These results demonstrate the power of a subtle linguistic difference to prevent even private unethical behavior by invoking people's desire to maintain a self-image as good and honest. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Second Harmonic Generation Reveals Subtle Fibrosis Differences in Adult and Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PubMed

Liu, Feng; Zhao, Jing-Min; Rao, Hui-Ying; Yu, Wei-Miao; Zhang, Wei; Theise, Neil D; Wee, Aileen; Wei, Lai

2017-11-20

Investigate subtle fibrosis similarities and differences in adult and pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using second harmonic generation (SHG). SHG/two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging quantified 100 collagen parameters and determined qFibrosis values by using the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network (CRN) scoring system in 62 adult and 36 pediatric NAFLD liver specimens. Six distinct parameters identified differences among the NASH CRN stages with high accuracy (area under the curve, 0835-0.982 vs 0.885-0.981, adult and pediatric). All portal region parameters showed similar changes across early stages 0, 1C, and 2, in both groups. Parameter values decreased in adults with progression from stage 1A/B to 2 in the central vein region. In children, aggregated collagen parameters decreased, but nearly all distributed collagen parameters increased from stage 1A/B to 2. SHG analysis accurately reproduces NASH CRN staging in NAFLD, as well as reveals differences and similarities between adult and pediatric collagen deposition not captured by currently available quantitative methods. © American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Facial emotion recognition is inversely correlated with tremor severity in essential tremor.

PubMed

Auzou, Nicolas; Foubert-Samier, Alexandra; Dupouy, Sandrine; Meissner, Wassilios G

2014-04-01

We here assess limbic and orbitofrontal control in 20 patients with essential tremor (ET) and 18 age-matched healthy controls using the Ekman Facial Emotion Recognition Task and the IOWA Gambling Task. Our results show an inverse relation between facial emotion recognition and tremor severity. ET patients also showed worse performance in joy and fear recognition, as well as subtle abnormalities in risk detection, but these differences did not reach significance after correction for multiple testing.

Wanting to Be Different Predicts Nonmotivated Change: Actual-Desired Self-Discrepancies and Susceptibility to Subtle Change Inductions.

PubMed

DeMarree, Kenneth G; Rios, Kimberly; Randell, J Adam; Wheeler, S Christian; Reich, Darcy A; Petty, Richard E

2016-12-01

Actual-desired discrepancies in people's self-concepts represent structural incongruities in their self-representations that can lead people to experience subjective conflict. Theory and research suggest that structural incongruities predict susceptibility to subtle influences like priming and conditioning. Although typically examined for their motivational properties, we hypothesized that because self-discrepancies represent structural incongruities in people's self-concepts, they should also predict susceptibility to subtle influences on people's active self-views. Across three studies, we found that subtle change inductions (self-evaluative conditioning and priming) exerted greater impact on active self-perceptions and behavior as actual-desired self-discrepancies increased in magnitude. Exploratory analyses suggested that these changes occurred regardless of the compatibility of the change induction with individuals' desired self-views. © 2016 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Eigenvalue-Based Polarimetric Model for Interpreting Sea Surface Scattering with and without Oil Slicks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buono, Andrea; Nunziata, Ferdinando; Migliaccio, Maurizio

2016-08-01

In this paper, microwave sea surface scattering with and without oil slicks is investigated using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) fully-polarimetric (FP) and compact- polarimetric (CP) data. They show similar trends but subtle differences apply over sea surface that are here analyzed by a new physically-based approach. The model predicts that differences between FP and CP architectures, and among CP modes, are due to the different mapping between polarimetric observables and eigenvalues. This theoretical rationale is verified using actual FP SAR data and emulated CP SAR measurements.

Tuning and Freezing Disorder in Photonic Crystals using Percolation Lithography.

PubMed

Burgess, Ian B; Abedzadeh, Navid; Kay, Theresa M; Shneidman, Anna V; Cranshaw, Derek J; Lončar, Marko; Aizenberg, Joanna

2016-01-21

Although common in biological systems, synthetic self-assembly routes to complex 3D photonic structures with tailored degrees of disorder remain elusive. Here we show how liquids can be used to finely control disorder in porous 3D photonic crystals, leading to complex and hierarchical geometries. In these optofluidic crystals, dynamically tunable disorder is superimposed onto the periodic optical structure through partial wetting or evaporation. In both cases, macroscopic symmetry breaking is driven by subtle sub-wavelength variations in the pore geometry. These variations direct site-selective infiltration of liquids through capillary interactions. Incorporating cross-linkable resins into our liquids, we developed methods to freeze in place the filling patterns at arbitrary degrees of partial wetting and intermediate stages of drying. These percolation lithography techniques produced permanent photonic structures with adjustable disorder. By coupling strong changes in optical properties to subtle differences in fluid behavior, optofluidic crystals may also prove useful in rapid analysis of liquids.

Do subtle reminders of money change people's political views?

PubMed

Rohrer, Doug; Pashler, Harold; Harris, Christine R

2015-08-01

A number of researchers have reported studies showing that subtle reminders of money can alter behaviors and beliefs that are seemingly unrelated to money. In 1 set of studies published in this journal, Caruso, Vohs, Baxter, and Waytz (2013) found that incidental exposures to money led subjects to indicate greater support for inequality, socioeconomic differences, group-based discrimination, and free market economies. We conducted high-powered replication attempts of these 4 money priming effects and found no evidence of priming (weighted Cohen's d = 0.03). We later learned that Caruso et al. also found several null effects in their line of research that were not reported in the original article. In addition, the money priming effect observed in the first study of Caruso et al. was included in the Many Labs Replication Project (Klein et al., 2014), and only 1 of the 36 labs was able to find the effect. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

High-Throughput Biophysical Analysis and Data Visualization of Conformational Stability of an IgG1 Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) After Deglycosylation

PubMed Central

Alsenaidy, Mohammad A.; Kim, Jae Hyun; Majumdar, Ranajoy; Weis, David D.; Joshi, Sangeeta B.; Tolbert, Thomas J.; Middaugh, C. Russell; Volkin, David B.

2013-01-01

The structural integrity and conformational stability of an IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), after partial and complete enzymatic removal of the N-linked Fc glycan, was compared to the untreated mAb over a wide range of temperature (10° to 90°C) and solution pH (3 to 8) using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and static light scattering combined with data visualization employing empirical phase diagrams (EPDs). Subtle to larger stability differences between the different glycoforms were observed. Improved detection of physical stability differences was then demonstrated over narrower pH range (4.0-6.0) using smaller temperature increments, especially when combined with an alternative data visualization method (radar plots). Differential scanning calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry were then utilized and also showed an improved ability to detect differences in mAb glycoform physical stability. Based on these results, a two-step methodology was used in which mAb glycoform conformational stability is first screened with a wide variety of instruments and environmental stresses, followed by a second evaluation with optimally sensitive experimental conditions, analytical techniques and data visualization methods. With this approach, high-throughput biophysical analysis to assess relatively subtle conformational stability differences in protein glycoforms is demonstrated. PMID:24114789

Memory, executive, and multidomain subtle cognitive impairment: clinical and biomarker findings.

PubMed

Toledo, Jon B; Bjerke, Maria; Chen, Kewei; Rozycki, Martin; Jack, Clifford R; Weiner, Michael W; Arnold, Steven E; Reiman, Eric M; Davatzikos, Christos; Shaw, Leslie M; Trojanowski, John Q

2015-07-14

We studied the biomarker signatures and prognoses of 3 different subtle cognitive impairment (SCI) groups (executive, memory, and multidomain) as well as the subjective memory complaints (SMC) group. We studied 522 healthy controls in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Cutoffs for executive, memory, and multidomain SCI were defined using participants who remained cognitively normal (CN) for 7 years. CSF Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers, composite and region-of-interest (ROI) MRI, and fluorodeoxyglucose-PET measures were compared in these participants. Using a stringent cutoff (fifth percentile), 27.6% of the ADNI participants were classified as SCI. Most single ROI or global-based measures were not sensitive to detect differences between groups. Only MRI-SPARE-AD (Spatial Pattern of Abnormalities for Recognition of Early AD), a quantitative MRI pattern-based global index, showed differences between all groups, excluding the executive SCI group. Atrophy patterns differed in memory SCI and SMC. The CN and the SMC groups presented a similar distribution of preclinical dementia stages. Fifty percent of the participants with executive, memory, and multidomain SCI progressed to mild cognitive impairment or dementia at 7, 5, and 2 years, respectively. Our results indicate that (1) the different SCI categories have different clinical prognoses and biomarker signatures, (2) longitudinally followed CN subjects are needed to establish clinical cutoffs, (3) subjects with SMC show a frontal pattern of brain atrophy, and (4) pattern-based analyses outperform commonly used single ROI-based neuroimaging biomarkers and are needed to detect initial stages of cognitive impairment. © 2015 American Academy of Neurology.

Morphological, molecular and biological evidence reveal two cryptic species in Mecinus janthinus Germar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), a successful biological control agent of Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica (Lamiales, Plantaginaceae)

Treesearch

Ivo Tosevski; Roberto Caldara; Jelena Jovic; Gerardo Hernandez-Vera; Cosimo Baviera; Andre Gassmann; Brent C. Emerson

2011-01-01

A combined morphological, molecular and biological study shows that the weevil species presently named Mecinus janthinus is actually composed of two different cryptic species: M. janthinus Germar, 1821 and M. janthiniformis Tosevski & Caldara sp.n. These species are morphologically distinguishable from each other by a few very subtle morphological characters. On...

Isospin symmetry breaking and large-scale shell-model calculations with the Sakurai-Sugiura method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizusaki, Takahiro; Kaneko, Kazunari; Sun, Yang; Tazaki, Shigeru

2015-05-01

Recently isospin symmetry breaking for mass 60-70 region has been investigated based on large-scale shell-model calculations in terms of mirror energy differences (MED), Coulomb energy differences (CED) and triplet energy differences (TED). Behind these investigations, we have encountered a subtle problem in numerical calculations for odd-odd N = Z nuclei with large-scale shell-model calculations. Here we focus on how to solve this subtle problem by the Sakurai-Sugiura (SS) method, which has been recently proposed as a new diagonalization method and has been successfully applied to nuclear shell-model calculations.

Principal coordinate analysis assisted chromatographic analysis of bacterial cell wall collection: A robust classification approach.

PubMed

Kumar, Keshav; Cava, Felipe

2018-04-10

In the present work, Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) is introduced to develop a robust model to classify the chromatographic data sets of peptidoglycan sample. PcoA captures the heterogeneity present in the data sets by using the dissimilarity matrix as input. Thus, in principle, it can even capture the subtle differences in the bacterial peptidoglycan composition and can provide a more robust and fast approach for classifying the bacterial collection and identifying the novel cell wall targets for further biological and clinical studies. The utility of the proposed approach is successfully demonstrated by analysing the two different kind of bacterial collections. The first set comprised of peptidoglycan sample belonging to different subclasses of Alphaproteobacteria. Whereas, the second set that is relatively more intricate for the chemometric analysis consist of different wild type Vibrio Cholerae and its mutants having subtle differences in their peptidoglycan composition. The present work clearly proposes a useful approach that can classify the chromatographic data sets of chromatographic peptidoglycan samples having subtle differences. Furthermore, present work clearly suggest that PCoA can be a method of choice in any data analysis workflow. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An assessment of the iPad 2 as a CT teleradiology tool using brain CT with subtle intracranial hemorrhage under conventional illumination.

PubMed

Park, Joon Bum; Choi, Hyuk Joong; Lee, Jeong Hun; Kang, Bo Seung

2013-08-01

We examined the potential of the iPad 2 as a teleradiologic tool for evaluating brain computed tomography (CT) with subtle hemorrhage in the conventional lighting conditions which are common situations in the remote CT reading. The comparison of the clinician's performance was undertaken through detecting hemorrhage by the iPad 2 and the clinical liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. We selected 100 brain CT exams performed for head trauma or headache. Fifty had subtle radiological signs of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), while the other 50 showed no significant abnormality. Five emergency medicine physicians reviewed these brain CT scans using the iPad 2 and the LCD monitor, scoring the probability of ICH on each exam on a five-point scale. Result showed high sensitivities and specificities in both devices. We generated receiver operating characteristic curves and calculated the average area under the curve of the iPad 2 and the LCD (0.935 and 0.900). Using the iPad 2 and reliable internet connectivity, clinicians can provide remote evaluation of brain CT with subtle hemorrhage under suboptimal viewing condition. Considering the distinct advantages of the iPad 2, the popular out-of-hospital use of mobile CT teleradiology would be anticipated soon.

Whole Proteome Analyses on Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum Show a Modulation of the Cellulolysis Machinery in Response to Cellulosic Materials with Subtle Differences in Chemical and Structural Properties

PubMed Central

Badalato, Nelly; Guillot, Alain; Sabarly, Victor; Dubois, Marc; Pourette, Nina; Pontoire, Bruno; Robert, Paul; Bridier, Arnaud; Monnet, Véronique; Sousa, Diana Z.; Durand, Sylvie; Mazéas, Laurent; Buléon, Alain; Bouchez, Théodore; Mortha, Gérard

2017-01-01

Lignocellulosic materials from municipal solid waste emerge as attractive resources for anaerobic digestion biorefinery. To increase the knowledge required for establishing efficient bioprocesses, dynamics of batch fermentation by the cellulolytic bacterium Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum were compared using three cellulosic materials, paper handkerchief, cotton discs and Whatman filter paper. Fermentation of paper handkerchief occurred the fastest and resulted in a specific metabolic profile: it resulted in the lowest acetate-to-lactate and acetate-to-ethanol ratios. By shotgun proteomic analyses of paper handkerchief and Whatman paper incubations, 151 proteins with significantly different levels were detected, including 20 of the 65 cellulosomal components, 8 non-cellulosomal CAZymes and 44 distinct extracytoplasmic proteins. Consistent with the specific metabolic profile observed, many enzymes from the central carbon catabolic pathways had higher levels in paper handkerchief incubations. Among the quantified CAZymes and cellulosomal components, 10 endoglucanases mainly from the GH9 families and 7 other cellulosomal subunits had lower levels in paper handkerchief incubations. An in-depth characterization of the materials used showed that the lower levels of endoglucanases in paper handkerchief incubations could hypothetically result from its lower crystallinity index (50%) and degree of polymerization (970). By contrast, the higher hemicellulose rate in paper handkerchief (13.87%) did not result in the enhanced expression of enzyme with xylanase as primary activity, including enzymes from the “xyl-doc” cluster. It suggests the absence, in this material, of molecular structures that specifically lead to xylanase induction. The integrated approach developed in this work shows that subtle differences among cellulosic materials regarding chemical and structural characteristics have significant effects on expressed bacterial functions, in particular the cellulolysis machinery, resulting in different metabolic patterns and degradation dynamics. PMID:28114419

Altruists are trusted based on non-verbal cues.

PubMed

Oda, Ryo; Naganawa, Takuya; Yamauchi, Shinsaku; Yamagata, Noriko; Matsumoto-Oda, Akiko

2009-12-23

The identification of altruists based on non-verbal cues might offer a solution to the problem of subtle cheating. Previous studies have indicated that the ability to discriminate altruists from non-altruists emerges during evolution. However, behavioural differences with regard to social exchanges involving altruists and non-altruists have not been studied. We investigated differences in responses to videotaped altruists and non-altruists with the Faith Game. Participants tended to entrust real money to altruists more than to non-altruists, providing strong evidence that cognitive adaptations evolve as counter-strategies to subtle cheating.

Melas Chasma - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-07-13

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of Melas Chasma. Orbit Number: 59750 Latitude: -10.5452 Longitude: 290.307 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2015-06-03 12:33 https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21705

Melas Chasma - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-08-21

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of Melas Chasma. Orbit Number: 10289 Latitude: -9.9472 Longitude: 285.933 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2004-04-09 12:43 http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19756

Social status modulates prosocial behavior and egalitarianism in preschool children and adults

PubMed Central

Guinote, Ana; Cotzia, Ioanna; Sandhu, Sanpreet; Siwa, Pramila

2015-01-01

Humans are a cooperative species, capable of altruism and the creation of shared norms that ensure fairness in society. However, individuals with different educational, cultural, economic, or ethnic backgrounds differ in their levels of social investment and endorsement of egalitarian values. We present four experiments showing that subtle cues to social status (i.e., prestige and reputation in the eyes of others) modulate prosocial orientation. The experiments found that individuals who experienced low status showed more communal and prosocial behavior, and endorsed more egalitarian life goals and values compared with those who experienced high status. Behavioral differences across high- and low-status positions appeared early in human ontogeny (4–5 y of age). PMID:25561527

Genomic regions controlling shape variation in the first upper molar of the house mouse

PubMed Central

Pantalacci, Sophie; Turner, Leslie M; Steingrimsson, Eirikur; Renaud, Sabrina

2017-01-01

Numerous loci of large effect have been shown to underlie phenotypic variation between species. However, loci with subtle effects are presumably more frequently involved in microevolutionary processes but have rarely been discovered. We explore the genetic basis of shape variation in the first upper molar of hybrid mice between Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We performed the first genome-wide association study for molar shape and used 3D surface morphometrics to quantify subtle variation between individuals. We show that many loci of small effect underlie phenotypic variation, and identify five genomic regions associated with tooth shape; one region contained the gene microphthalmia-associated transcription factor Mitf that has previously been associated with tooth malformations. Using a panel of five mutant laboratory strains, we show the effect of the Mitf gene on tooth shape. This is the first report of a gene causing subtle but consistent variation in tooth shape resembling variation in nature. PMID:29091026

Advanced Behavioral Analyses Show that the Presence of Food Causes Subtle Changes in C. elegans Movement.

PubMed

Angstman, Nicholas B; Frank, Hans-Georg; Schmitz, Christoph

2016-01-01

As a widely used and studied model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans worms offer the ability to investigate implications of behavioral change. Although, investigation of C. elegans behavioral traits has been shown, analysis is often narrowed down to measurements based off a single point, and thus cannot pick up on subtle behavioral and morphological changes. In the present study videos were captured of four different C. elegans strains grown in liquid cultures and transferred to NGM-agar plates with an E. coli lawn or with no lawn. Using an advanced software, WormLab, the full skeleton and outline of worms were tracked to determine whether the presence of food affects behavioral traits. In all seven investigated parameters, statistically significant differences were found in worm behavior between those moving on NGM-agar plates with an E. coli lawn and NGM-agar plates with no lawn. Furthermore, multiple test groups showed differences in interaction between variables as the parameters that significantly correlated statistically with speed of locomotion varied. In the present study, we demonstrate the validity of a model to analyze C. elegans behavior beyond simple speed of locomotion. The need to account for a nested design while performing statistical analyses in similar studies is also demonstrated. With extended analyses, C. elegans behavioral change can be investigated with greater sensitivity, which could have wide utility in fields such as, but not limited to, toxicology, drug discovery, and RNAi screening.

On the Perception of Religious Group Membership from Faces

PubMed Central

Rule, Nicholas O.; Garrett, James V.; Ambady, Nalini

2010-01-01

Background The study of social categorization has largely been confined to examining groups distinguished by perceptually obvious cues. Yet many ecologically important group distinctions are less clear, permitting insights into the general processes involved in person perception. Although religious group membership is thought to be perceptually ambiguous, folk beliefs suggest that Mormons and non-Mormons can be categorized from their appearance. We tested whether Mormons could be distinguished from non-Mormons and investigated the basis for this effect to gain insight to how subtle perceptual cues can support complex social categorizations. Methodology/Principal Findings Participants categorized Mormons' and non-Mormons' faces or facial features according to their group membership. Individuals could distinguish between the two groups significantly better than chance guessing from their full faces and faces without hair, with eyes and mouth covered, without outer face shape, and inverted 180°; but not from isolated features (i.e., eyes, nose, or mouth). Perceivers' estimations of their accuracy did not match their actual accuracy. Exploration of the remaining features showed that Mormons and non-Mormons significantly differed in perceived health and that these perceptions were related to perceptions of skin quality, as demonstrated in a structural equation model representing the contributions of skin color and skin texture. Other judgments related to health (facial attractiveness, facial symmetry, and structural aspects related to body weight) did not differ between the two groups. Perceptions of health were also responsible for differences in perceived spirituality, explaining folk hypotheses that Mormons are distinct because they appear more spiritual than non-Mormons. Conclusions/Significance Subtle markers of group membership can influence how others are perceived and categorized. Perceptions of health from non-obvious and minimal cues distinguished individuals according to their religious group membership. These data illustrate how the non-conscious detection of very subtle differences in others' appearances supports cognitively complex judgments such as social categorization. PMID:21151864

Colour thresholding and objective quantification in bioimaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fermin, C. D.; Gerber, M. A.; Torre-Bueno, J. R.

1992-01-01

Computer imaging is rapidly becoming an indispensable tool for the quantification of variables in research and medicine. Whilst its use in medicine has largely been limited to qualitative observations, imaging in applied basic sciences, medical research and biotechnology demands objective quantification of the variables in question. In black and white densitometry (0-256 levels of intensity) the separation of subtle differences between closely related hues from stains is sometimes very difficult. True-colour and real-time video microscopy analysis offer choices not previously available with monochrome systems. In this paper we demonstrate the usefulness of colour thresholding, which has so far proven indispensable for proper objective quantification of the products of histochemical reactions and/or subtle differences in tissue and cells. In addition, we provide interested, but untrained readers with basic information that may assist decisions regarding the most suitable set-up for a project under consideration. Data from projects in progress at Tulane are shown to illustrate the advantage of colour thresholding over monochrome densitometry and for objective quantification of subtle colour differences between experimental and control samples.

Sex differences in the reciprocal behaviour of children with autism.

PubMed

Backer van Ommeren, Tineke; Koot, Hans M; Scheeren, Anke M; Begeer, Sander

2017-08-01

Differences in the social limitations of girls compared to boys on the autism spectrum are still poorly understood. Impaired social-emotional reciprocity is a core diagnostic criterion for an autism spectrum disorder. This study compares sex differences in reciprocal behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder (32 girls, 114 boys) and in typically developing children (24 girls, 55 boys). While children with autism spectrum disorder showed clear limitations in reciprocal behaviour compared to typically developing children, sex differences were found only in the autism spectrum disorder group: girls with autism spectrum disorder had higher reciprocity scores than boys with autism spectrum disorder. However, compared to typically developing girls, girls with autism spectrum disorder showed subtle differences in reciprocal behaviour. The sex-specific response patterns in autism spectrum disorder can inform and improve the diagnostic assessment of autism in females.

Terra Cimmeria - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-10-11

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows dust devil tracks (dark blue linear feature) in Terra Cimmeria. Orbit Number: 43463 Latitude: -53.1551 Longitude: 125.069 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2011-10-01 23:55 http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21009

Russell Crater - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-06-01

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of Russell Crater in Noachis Terra. Orbit Number: 59591 Latitude: -54.471 Longitude: 13.1288 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2015-05-21 10:57 https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21674

Tuning and Freezing Disorder in Photonic Crystals using Percolation Lithography

PubMed Central

Burgess, Ian B.; Abedzadeh, Navid; Kay, Theresa M.; Shneidman, Anna V.; Cranshaw, Derek J.; Lončar, Marko; Aizenberg, Joanna

2016-01-01

Although common in biological systems, synthetic self-assembly routes to complex 3D photonic structures with tailored degrees of disorder remain elusive. Here we show how liquids can be used to finely control disorder in porous 3D photonic crystals, leading to complex and hierarchical geometries. In these optofluidic crystals, dynamically tunable disorder is superimposed onto the periodic optical structure through partial wetting or evaporation. In both cases, macroscopic symmetry breaking is driven by subtle sub-wavelength variations in the pore geometry. These variations direct site-selective infiltration of liquids through capillary interactions. Incorporating cross-linkable resins into our liquids, we developed methods to freeze in place the filling patterns at arbitrary degrees of partial wetting and intermediate stages of drying. These percolation lithography techniques produced permanent photonic structures with adjustable disorder. By coupling strong changes in optical properties to subtle differences in fluid behavior, optofluidic crystals may also prove useful in rapid analysis of liquids. PMID:26790372

Cooperative hydrogen bonds and mobility of the non-aromatic ring as selectivity determinants for human acetylcholinesterase to similar anti-Alzheimer's galantaminics: a computational study.

PubMed

Rocha, Rafael E O; Lima, Leonardo H F

2018-05-17

Galantamine (Gnt) is a natural alkaloid inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and is presently one of the most used drugs in the treatment against Alzheimer's disease during both the initial and intermediate stages. Among several natural Gnt derivatives, sanguinine (Sng) and lycoramine (Lyc) attract attention because of the way their subtle chemical differences from Gnt lead to drastic and opposite distinctions in inhibitory effects. However, to date, there is no solved structure for these natural derivatives. In the present study, we applied computational modeling and free energy calculation methods to better elucidate the molecular basis of the subtle distinctions between these derivatives and Gnt. The results showed that differences in the mobility of the non-aromatic ring carried by the Lyc-like sp 2 -sp 3 modification display drastic conformational, vibrational, and entropic penalties at binding compared to Gnt. Additionally, the establishment of a stronger hydrogen bond network added enthalpic advantages for the linkage of the Sng-like methoxy-hydroxy substituted ligands. These results, which suggest an affinity ranking in agreement with that found in the literature, provided insights that are helpful for future planning and development of new anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs.

Chemical and oxygen isotopic properties of ordinary chondrites (H5, L6) from Oman: Signs of isotopic equilibrium during thermal metamorphism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Arshad; Nasir, Sobhi J.; Jabeen, Iffat; Al Rawas, Ahmed; Banerjee, Neil R.; Osinski, Gordon R.

2017-10-01

Mean bulk chemical data of recently found H5 and L6 ordinary chondrites from the deserts of Oman generally reflect isochemical features which are consistent with the progressive thermal metamorphism of a common, unequilibrated starting material. Relative differences in abundances range from 0.5-10% in REE (Eu = 14%), 6-13% in siderophile elements (Co = 48%), and >10% in lithophile elements (exceptions are Ba, Sr, Zr, Hf, U = >30%) between H5 and L6 groups. These differences may have accounted for variable temperature conditions during metamorphism on their parent bodies. The CI/Mg-normalized mean abundances of refractory lithophile elements (Al, Ca, Sm, Yb, Lu, V) show no resolvable differences between H5 and L6 suggesting that both groups have experienced the same fractionation. The REE diagram shows subtle enrichment in LREE with a flat HREE pattern. Furthermore, overall mean REE abundances are 0.6 × CI with enriched La abundance ( 0.9 × CI) in both groups. Precise oxygen isotope compositions demonstrate the attainment of isotopic equilibrium by progressive thermal metamorphism following a mass-dependent isotope fractionation trend. Both groups show a slope-1/2 line on a three-isotope plot with subtle negative deviation in Δ17O associated with δ18O enrichment relative to δ17O. These deviations are interpreted as the result of liberation of water from phyllosilicates and evaporation of a fraction of the water during thermal metamorphism. The resultant isotope fractionations caused by the water loss are analogous to those occurring between silicate melt and gas phase during CAI and chondrule formation in chondrites and are controlled by cooling rates and exchange efficiency.

Age Differences in the Complexity of Emotion Perception.

PubMed

Kim, Seungyoun; Geren, Jennifer L; Knight, Bob G

2015-01-01

The current study examined age differences in the number of emotion components used in the judgment of emotion from facial expressions. Fifty-eight younger and 58 older adults were compared on the complexity of perception of emotion from standardized facial expressions that were either clear or ambiguous exemplars of emotion. Using an intra-individual factor analytic approach, results showed that older adults used more emotion components in perceiving emotion in faces than younger adults. Both age groups reported greater emotional complexity for the clear and prototypical emotional stimuli. Age differences in emotional complexity were more pronounced for the ambiguous expressions compared with the clear expressions. These findings demonstrate that older adults showed increased elaboration of emotion, particularly when emotion cues were subtle and provide support for greater emotion differentiation in older adulthood.

Sex-related shape dimorphism in the human radiocarpal and midcarpal joints.

PubMed

Kivell, Tracy L; Guimont, Isabelle; Wall, Christine E

2013-01-01

Previous research has revealed significant size differences between human male and female carpal bones but it is unknown if there are significant shape differences as well. This study investigated sex-related shape variation and allometric patterns in five carpal bones that make up the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints in modern humans. We found that many aspects of carpal shape (76% of all variables quantified) were similar between males and females, despite variation in size. However, 10 of the shape ratios were significantly different between males and females, with at least one significant shape difference observed in each carpal bone. Within-sex standard major axis regressions (SMA) of the numerator (i.e., the linear variables) on the denominator (i.e., the geometric mean) for each significantly different shape ratio indicated that most linear variables scaled with positive allometry in both males and females, and that for eight of the shape ratios, sex-related shape variation is associated with statistically similar sex-specific scaling relationships. Only the length of the scaphoid body and the height of the lunate triquetrum facet showed a significantly higher SMA slope in females compared with males. These findings indicate that the significant differences in the majority of the shape ratios are a function of subtle (i.e., not statistically significant) scaling differences between males and females. There are a number of potential developmental, functional, and evolutionary factors that may cause sex-related shape differences in the human carpus. The results highlight the potential for subtle differences in scaling to result in functionally significant differences in shape. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Probing Structural Changes among Analogous Inhibitor-Bound Forms of HIV-1 Protease and a Drug-Resistant Mutant in Solution by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

PubMed

Khan, Shahid N; Persons, John D; Paulsen, Janet L; Guerrero, Michel; Schiffer, Celia A; Kurt-Yilmaz, Nese; Ishima, Rieko

2018-03-13

In the era of state-of-the-art inhibitor design and high-resolution structural studies, detection of significant but small protein structural differences in the inhibitor-bound forms is critical to further developing the inhibitor. Here, we probed differences in HIV-1 protease (PR) conformation among darunavir and four analogous inhibitor-bound forms and compared them with a drug-resistant mutant using nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts. Changes in amide chemical shifts of wild-type (WT) PR among these inhibitor-bound forms, ΔCSP, were subtle but detectable and extended >10 Å from the inhibitor-binding site, asymmetrically between the two subunits of PR. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed differential local hydrogen bonding as the molecular basis of this remote asymmetric change. Inhibitor-bound forms of the drug-resistant mutant also showed a similar long-range ΔCSP pattern. Differences in ΔCSP values of the WT and the mutant (ΔΔCSPs) were observed at the inhibitor-binding site and in the surrounding region. Comparing chemical shift changes among highly analogous inhibitors and ΔΔCSPs effectively eliminated local environmental effects stemming from different chemical groups and enabled exploitation of these sensitive parameters to detect subtle protein conformational changes and to elucidate asymmetric and remote conformational effects upon inhibitor interaction.

Sensitivity of Physiological Emotional Measures to Odors Depends on the Product and the Pleasantness Ranges Used

PubMed Central

Pichon, Aline M.; Coppin, Géraldine; Cayeux, Isabelle; Porcherot, Christelle; Sander, David; Delplanque, Sylvain

2015-01-01

Emotions are characterized by synchronized changes in several components of an organism. Among them, physiological variations provide energy support for the expression of approach/avoid action tendencies induced by relevant stimuli, while self-reported subjective pleasantness feelings integrate all other emotional components and are plastic. Consequently, emotional responses evoked by odors should be highly differentiated when they are linked to different functions of olfaction (e.g., avoiding environmental hazards). As this differentiation has been observed for contrasted odors (very pleasant or unpleasant), we questioned whether subjective and physiological emotional response indicators could still disentangle subtle affective variations when no clear functional distinction is made (mildly pleasant or unpleasant fragrances). Here, we compared the sensitivity of behavioral and physiological [respiration, skin conductance, facial electromyography (EMG), and heart rate] indicators in differentiating odor-elicited emotions in two situations: when a wide range of odor families was presented (e.g., fruity, animal), covering different functional meanings; or in response to a restricted range of products in one particular family (fragrances). Results show clear differences in physiological indicators to odors that display a wide range of reported pleasantness, but these differences almost entirely vanish when fragrances are used even though their subjective pleasantness still differed. Taken together, these results provide valuable information concerning the ability of classic verbal and psychophysiological measures to investigate subtle differences in emotional reactions to a restricted range of similar olfactory stimuli. PMID:26648888

Expression of Glycosaminoglycan Epitopes During Zebrafish Skeletogenesis

PubMed Central

Hayes, Anthony J; Mitchell, Ruth E; Bashford, Andrew; Reynolds, Scott; Caterson, Bruce; Hammond, Chrissy L

2013-01-01

Background: The zebrafish is an important developmental model. Surprisingly, there are few studies that describe the glycosaminoglycan composition of its extracellular matrix during skeletogenesis. Glycosaminoglycans on proteoglycans contribute to the material properties of musculo skeletal connective tissues, and are important in regulating signalling events during morphogenesis. Sulfation motifs within the chain structure of glycosaminoglycans on cell-associated and extracellular matrix proteoglycans allow them to bind and regulate the sequestration/presentation of bioactive signalling molecules important in musculo-skeletal development. Results: We describe the spatio-temporal expression of different glycosaminoglycan moieties during zebrafish skeletogenesis with antibodies recognising (1) native sulfation motifs within chondroitin and keratan sulfate chains, and (2) enzyme-generated neoepitope sequences within the chain structure of chondroitin sulfate (i.e., 0-, 4-, and 6-sulfated isoforms) and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. We show that all the glycosaminoglycan moieties investigated are expressed within the developing skeletal tissues of larval zebrafish. However, subtle changes in their patterns of spatio-temporal expression over the period examined suggest that their expression is tightly and dynamically controlled during development. Conclusions: The subtle differences observed in the domains of expression between different glycosaminoglycan moieties suggest differences in their functional roles during establishment of the primitive analogues of the skeleton. Developmental Dynamics 242:778–789, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Key Findings The developing zebrafish skeleton expresses many different glycosaminoglycan modifications. Multiple different glycosaminoglycan epitopes are dynamically expressed in the craniofacial skeleton. Expression of chondroitin sulfate moieties are dynamically expressed in the vertebral column and precede mineralisation. PMID:23576310

Light driven mesoscale assembly of a coordination polymeric gelator into flowers and stars with distinct properties.

PubMed

Mukhopadhyay, Rahul Dev; Praveen, Vakayil K; Hazra, Arpan; Maji, Tapas Kumar; Ajayaghosh, Ayyappanpillai

2015-11-13

Control over the self-assembly process of porous organic-inorganic hybrids often leads to unprecedented polymorphism and properties. Herein we demonstrate how light can be a powerful tool to intervene in the kinetically controlled mesoscale self-assembly of a coordination polymeric gelator. Ultraviolet light induced coordination modulation via photoisomerisation of an azobenzene based dicarboxylate linker followed by aggregation mediated crystal growth resulted in two distinct morphological forms (flowers and stars), which show subtle differences in their physical properties.

Russell Crater Dunes - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-07-07

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of the large dune form on the floor of Russell Crater. Orbit Number: 59672 Latitude: -54.337 Longitude: 13.1087 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2015-05-28 02:39 https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21701

Locomotion in bonobos (Pan paniscus): differences and similarities between bipedal and quadrupedal terrestrial walking, and a comparison with other locomotor modes

PubMed Central

D’Août, K; Vereecke, E; Schoonaert, K; De Clercq, D; Van Elsacker, L; Aerts, P

2004-01-01

One of the great ongoing debates in palaeo-anthropology is when, and how, hominids acquired habitual bipedal locomotion. The newly adopted bipedal gait and the ancestral quadrupedal gait are most often considered as very distinct, with each habitual locomotor mode showing corresponding anatomical adaptations. Bonobos (Pan paniscus), along with common chimpanzees (P. troglodytes), are the closest living relatives to humans and their locomotion is valuable for comparison with other primates, and to gain an insight in the acquisition of human bipedalism. Bonobos are habitual quadrupeds, but they also engage in bipedal locomotion, both on terrestrial and in arboreal substrates. In terms of kinematics and dynamics, the contrast between bipedal and quadrupedal walking seems to be more subtle than one might expect. Apart from the trunk being approximately 37° more erect during bipedal locomotion, the leg movements are rather similar. Apart from the heel, plantar pressure distributions show subtle differences between bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion. Regardless, variability is high, and various intermediate forms of locomotion (e.g. tripedal walking) exist both in captivity and in the wild. Moreover, there is overlap between the characteristics of walking and other locomotor modes, as we show with new data of walking on an inclined pole and of vertical squat jumps. We suggest that there is great overlap between the many locomotor modes in bonobos, and that the required polyvalence is reflected in their anatomy. This may hamper the development of one highly specialized gait (i.e. bipedalism), which would constrain performance of the other types of locomotion. PMID:15198700

Locomotion in bonobos (Pan paniscus): differences and similarities between bipedal and quadrupedal terrestrial walking, and a comparison with other locomotor modes.

PubMed

D'Août, K; Vereecke, E; Schoonaert, K; De Clercq, D; Van Elsacker, L; Aerts, P

2004-05-01

One of the great ongoing debates in palaeo-anthropology is when, and how, hominids acquired habitual bipedal locomotion. The newly adopted bipedal gait and the ancestral quadrupedal gait are most often considered as very distinct, with each habitual locomotor mode showing corresponding anatomical adaptations. Bonobos (Pan paniscus), along with common chimpanzees (P. troglodytes), are the closest living relatives to humans and their locomotion is valuable for comparison with other primates, and to gain an insight in the acquisition of human bipedalism. Bonobos are habitual quadrupeds, but they also engage in bipedal locomotion, both on terrestrial and in arboreal substrates. In terms of kinematics and dynamics, the contrast between bipedal and quadrupedal walking seems to be more subtle than one might expect. Apart from the trunk being approximately 37 degrees more erect during bipedal locomotion, the leg movements are rather similar. Apart from the heel, plantar pressure distributions show subtle differences between bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion. Regardless, variability is high, and various intermediate forms of locomotion (e.g. tripedal walking) exist both in captivity and in the wild. Moreover, there is overlap between the characteristics of walking and other locomotor modes, as we show with new data of walking on an inclined pole and of vertical squat jumps. We suggest that there is great overlap between the many locomotor modes in bonobos, and that the required polyvalence is reflected in their anatomy. This may hamper the development of one highly specialized gait (i.e. bipedalism), which would constrain performance of the other types of locomotion.

Clinical and biochemical heterogeneity between patients with glycogen storage disease type IA: the added value of CUSUM for metabolic control.

PubMed

Peeks, Fabian; Steunenberg, Thomas A H; de Boer, Foekje; Rubio-Gozalbo, M Estela; Williams, Monique; Burghard, Rob; Rajas, Fabienne; Oosterveer, Maaike H; Weinstein, David A; Derks, Terry G J

2017-09-01

To study heterogeneity between patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia), a rare inherited disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by the deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Descriptive retrospective study of longitudinal clinical and biochemical data and long-term complications in 20 GSD Ia patients. We included 11 patients with homozygous G6PC mutations and siblings from four families carrying identical G6PC genotypes. To display subtle variations for repeated triglyceride measurements with respect to time for individual patients, CUSUM-analysis graphs were constructed. Patients with different homozygous G6PC mutations showed important differences in height, BMI, and biochemical parameters (i.e., lactate, uric acid, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations). Furthermore, CUSUM-analysis predicts and displays subtle changes in longitudinal blood triglyceride concentrations. Siblings in families also displayed important differences in biochemical parameters (i.e., lactate, uric acid, triglycerides, and cholesterol concentrations) and long-term complications (i.e., liver adenomas, nephropathy, and osteopenia/osteoporosis). Differences between GSD Ia patients reflect large clinical and biochemical heterogeneity. Heterogeneity between GSD Ia patients with homozygous G6PC mutations indicate an important role of the G6PC genotype/mutations. Differences between affected siblings suggest an additional role (genetic and/or environmental) of modifying factors defining the GSD Ia phenotype. CUSUM-analysis can facilitate single-patient monitoring of metabolic control and future application of this method may improve precision medicine for patients both with GSD and remaining inherited metabolic diseases.

Rapid multislice T1 mapping of mouse myocardium: Application to quantification of manganese uptake in α-Dystrobrevin knockout mice.

PubMed

Jiang, Kai; Li, Wen; Li, Wei; Jiao, Sen; Castel, Laurie; Van Wagoner, David R; Yu, Xin

2015-11-01

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, multislice cardiac T1 mapping method in mice and to apply the method to quantify manganese (Mn(2+)) uptake in a mouse model with altered Ca(2+) channel activity. An electrocardiography-triggered multislice saturation-recovery Look-Locker method was developed and validated both in vitro and in vivo. A two-dose study was performed to investigate the kinetics of T1 shortening, Mn(2+) relaxivity in myocardium, and the impact of Mn(2+) on cardiac function. The sensitivity of Mn(2+)-enhanced MRI in detecting subtle changes in altered Ca(2+) channel activity was evaluated in a mouse model with α-dystrobrevin knockout. Validation studies showed strong agreement between the current method and an established method. High Mn(2+) dose led to significantly accelerated T1 shortening. Heart rate decreased during Mn(2+) infusion, while ejection ratio increased slightly at the end of imaging protocol. No statistical difference in cardiac function was detected between the two dose groups. Mice with α-dystrobrevin knockout showed enhanced Mn(2+) uptake in vivo. In vitro patch-clamp study showed increased Ca(2+) channel activity. The saturation recovery method provides rapid T1 mapping in mouse hearts, which allowed sensitive detection of subtle changes in Mn(2+) uptake in α-dystrobrevin knockout mice. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Epitaxially Grown Films of Standing and Lying Pentacene Molecules on Cu(110) Surfaces

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Here, it is shown that pentacene thin films (30 nm) with distinctively different crystallographic structures and molecular orientations can be grown under essentially identical growth conditions in UHV on clean Cu(110) surfaces. By X-ray diffraction, we show that the epitaxially oriented pentacene films crystallize either in the “thin film” phase with standing molecules or in the “single crystal” structure with molecules lying with their long axes parallel to the substrate. The morphology of the samples observed by atomic force microscopy shows an epitaxial alignment of pentacene crystallites, which corroborates the molecular orientation observed by X-ray diffraction pole figures. Low energy electron diffraction measurements reveal that these dissimilar growth behaviors are induced by subtle differences in the monolayer structures formed by slightly different preparation procedures. PMID:21479111

The Effect of Product Placement Marketing on Effectiveness of Internet Advertising

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Hsiu-Li; Liu, Su-Houn; Pi, Shih-Ming; Chen, Hui-Ju

Compared to the traditional way of doing advertising, such as ad Banners, internet product placement is now emerging as a promising strategy for advertisers to do their job effectively in this Web 2.0 era. Therefore, this study focuses on the effectiveness of product placement advertising on the Internet. The results show that product prominence (Subtle or Prominent) and presentation of the advertising (Video or Images) significantly impacts the effectiveness of product placement advertising on the Internet, including brand impression, advertising attitude, and intention to click. Product prominence and presentation of the advertisement have an interactive impact. Our findings indicated that presenting the product through videos will enhance higher levels of advertising attitude, brand impression, and intention to click than presenting it through still images. Subtle placements will increase the level of advertising attitude and intention to click more so than prominent placements. But prominent placements increase the brand impression more than the subtle placements.

Evaluation of the airborne visible-infrared imaging spectrometer for mapping subtle lithological variation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kruse, Fred A.

1990-01-01

The Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), flown aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft in 1987 and 1989, used four linear arrays and four individual spectrometers to collect data simultaneously from the 224 bands in a scanned 614 pixel-wide swath perpendicular to the aircraft direction. The research had two goals. One was to evaluate the AVIRIS data. The other was to look at the subtle lithological variation at the two test sites to develop a better understanding of the regional geology and surficial processes. The geometric characteristics of the data, adequacy of the spatial resolution, and adequacy of the spectral sampling interval are evaluated. Geologic differences at the test sites were mapped. They included lithological variation caused by primary sedimentary layering, facies variation, and weathering; and subtle mineralogical differences caused by hydrothermal alterations of igneous and sedimentary rocks. The investigation used laboratory, field, and aircraft spectral measurements; known properties of geological materials; digital image processing and spectrum processing techniques; and field geologic data to evaluate the selected characteristics of the AVIRIS data.

Behavioural and physiological measures indicate subtle variations in the emotional valence of young pigs.

PubMed

Leliveld, Lisette M C; Düpjan, Sandra; Tuchscherer, Armin; Puppe, Birger

2016-04-01

In the study of animal emotions, emotional valence has been found to be difficult to measure. Many studies of farm animals' emotions have therefore focussed on the identification of indicators of strong, mainly negative, emotions. However, subtle variations in emotional valence, such as those caused by rather moderate differences in husbandry conditions, may also affect animals' mood and welfare when such variations occur consistently. In this study, we investigated whether repeated moderate aversive or rewarding events could lead to measurable differences in emotional valence in young, weaned pigs. We conditioned 105 female pigs in a test arena to either a repeated startling procedure (sudden noises or appearances of objects) or a repeated rewarding procedure (applesauce, toy and straw) over 11 sessions. Control pigs were also regularly exposed to the same test arena but without conditioning. Before and after conditioning, we measured heart rate and its variability as well as the behavioural reactions of the subjects in the test arena, with a special focus on detailed acoustic analyses of their vocalisations. The behavioural and heart rate measures were analysed as changes compared to the baseline values before conditioning. A limited number of the putative indicators of emotional valence were affected by the conditioning. We found that the negatively conditioned pigs showed changes that were significantly different from those in control pigs, namely a decrease in locomotion and an increase in standing. The positively conditioned pigs, however, showed a stronger increase in heart rate and a smaller decrease in SDNN (a heart rate variability parameter indicating changes in autonomic regulation) compared to the controls. Compared to the negatively conditioned pigs, the positively conditioned pigs produced fewer vocalisations overall as well as fewer low-frequency grunts but more high-frequency grunts. The low-frequency grunts of the negatively conditioned pigs also showed lower frequency parameters (bandwidth, maximum frequency, 25% and 50% quartiles) compared to those of the positively conditioned pigs. In any of the statistically significant results, the conditioning accounted for 1.5-11.9% of variability in the outcome variable. Hence, we conclude that repeated moderate aversive and rewarding events have weak but measurable effects on some aspects of behaviour and physiology in young pigs, possibly indicating changes in emotional valence, which could ultimately affect their welfare. The combination of ethophysiological indicators, i.e., the concurrent examination of heart rate measures, behavioural responses and especially vocalisation patterns, as used in the current study, might be a useful way of examining subtle effects on emotional valence in further studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Subtle reproductive impairment through nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms in sea urchins from an area affected by harmful algal blooms

PubMed Central

Migliaccio, Oriana; Castellano, Immacolata; Di Cioccio, Davide; Tedeschi, Gabriella; Negri, Armando; Cirino, Paola; Romano, Giovanna; Zingone, Adriana; Palumbo, Anna

2016-01-01

The health of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a key species in the Mediterranean Sea, is menaced by several pressures in coastal environments. Here, we aimed at assessing the reproductive ability of apparently healthy P. lividus population in a marine protected area affected by toxic blooms of Ostreospsis cf. ovata. Wide-ranging analyses were performed in animals collected prior to and during the bloom, as well as at several times thereafter, during the reproductive season. Adults showed a low fertilization rate, along with high nitric oxide (NO) levels in the gonads and the nitration of the major yolk protein toposome, which is an important player in sea urchin development. Serious developmental anomalies were observed in the progeny, which persist several months after the bloom. NO levels were high in the different developmental stages, which also showed variations in the transcription of several genes that were found to be directly or indirectly modulated by NO. These results highlight subtle but important reproductive flaws transmitted from the female gonads to the offspring with the NO involvement. Despite a recovery along time after the bloom, insidious damages can be envisaged in the local sea urchin population, with possible reverberation on the whole benthic system. PMID:27192939

Characterization of 24-h cortisol release in obese and non-obese hyperandrogenic women.

PubMed

Miller, J E; Bray, M A; Faiman, C; Reyes, F I

1994-12-01

Excessive androgen output is a well-recognized feature of adrenocortical oversecretion in women with ovarian hyperandrogenism, or polycystic ovary disease (PCOD). However, evidence of a concomitant alteration of cortisol secretion is lacking even though obesity per se, a common clinical feature of PCOD, has been shown to be associated with cortisol oversecretion. To clarify whether a subtle alteration in cortisol secretion exists, a study of 24-h episodic cortisol release and post-prandial cortisol responses was undertaken in eight women with PCOD and eight normal women comprising equal numbers of obese and non-obese subjects. All four groups showed normal biphasic 24-h cortisol secretion profiles but cortisol pulse frequency was increased in the PCOD groups. Independently, both hyperandrogenism and obesity were associated with an accelerated cortisol clearance rate. These changes, together with normal or only slightly elevated 24-h cortisol integrated area under the curve, suggest an increased compensatory cortisol production in women with PCOD. Furthermore, subjects with PCOD and subjects with obesity showed different post-prandial cortisol responses to normal non-obese women. In conclusion, these subtle cortisol abnormalities may be a manifestation of altered central regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and peripheral metabolic abnormalities, and may be linked to the pathophysiology of PCOD.

Subtle reproductive impairment through nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms in sea urchins from an area affected by harmful algal blooms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Migliaccio, Oriana; Castellano, Immacolata; di Cioccio, Davide; Tedeschi, Gabriella; Negri, Armando; Cirino, Paola; Romano, Giovanna; Zingone, Adriana; Palumbo, Anna

2016-05-01

The health of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a key species in the Mediterranean Sea, is menaced by several pressures in coastal environments. Here, we aimed at assessing the reproductive ability of apparently healthy P. lividus population in a marine protected area affected by toxic blooms of Ostreospsis cf. ovata. Wide-ranging analyses were performed in animals collected prior to and during the bloom, as well as at several times thereafter, during the reproductive season. Adults showed a low fertilization rate, along with high nitric oxide (NO) levels in the gonads and the nitration of the major yolk protein toposome, which is an important player in sea urchin development. Serious developmental anomalies were observed in the progeny, which persist several months after the bloom. NO levels were high in the different developmental stages, which also showed variations in the transcription of several genes that were found to be directly or indirectly modulated by NO. These results highlight subtle but important reproductive flaws transmitted from the female gonads to the offspring with the NO involvement. Despite a recovery along time after the bloom, insidious damages can be envisaged in the local sea urchin population, with possible reverberation on the whole benthic system.

Multivariate pattern analysis reveals subtle brain anomalies relevant to the cognitive phenotype in neurofibromatosis type 1.

PubMed

Duarte, João V; Ribeiro, Maria J; Violante, Inês R; Cunha, Gil; Silva, Eduardo; Castelo-Branco, Miguel

2014-01-01

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic condition associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, the pathophysiology of the NF1 cognitive deficits is not well understood. Abnormal brain structure, including increased total brain volume, white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) abnormalities have been reported in the NF1 brain. These previous studies employed univariate model-driven methods preventing detection of subtle and spatially distributed differences in brain anatomy. Multivariate pattern analysis allows the combination of information from multiple spatial locations yielding a discriminative power beyond that of single voxels. Here we investigated for the first time subtle anomalies in the NF1 brain, using a multivariate data-driven classification approach. We used support vector machines (SVM) to classify whole-brain GM and WM segments of structural T1 -weighted MRI scans from 39 participants with NF1 and 60 non-affected individuals, divided in children/adolescents and adults groups. We also employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) as a univariate gold standard to study brain structural differences. SVM classifiers correctly classified 94% of cases (sensitivity 92%; specificity 96%) revealing the existence of brain structural anomalies that discriminate NF1 individuals from controls. Accordingly, VBM analysis revealed structural differences in agreement with the SVM weight maps representing the most relevant brain regions for group discrimination. These included the hippocampus, basal ganglia, thalamus, and visual cortex. This multivariate data-driven analysis thus identified subtle anomalies in brain structure in the absence of visible pathology. Our results provide further insight into the neuroanatomical correlates of known features of the cognitive phenotype of NF1. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Social perception and aging: The relationship between aging and the perception of subtle changes in facial happiness and identity.

PubMed

Yang, Tao; Penton, Tegan; Köybaşı, Şerife Leman; Banissy, Michael J

2017-09-01

Previous findings suggest that older adults show impairments in the social perception of faces, including the perception of emotion and facial identity. The majority of this work has tended to examine performance on tasks involving young adult faces and prototypical emotions. While useful, this can influence performance differences between groups due to perceptual biases and limitations on task performance. Here we sought to examine how typical aging is associated with the perception of subtle changes in facial happiness and facial identity in older adult faces. We developed novel tasks that permitted the ability to assess facial happiness, facial identity, and non-social perception (object perception) across similar task parameters. We observe that aging is linked with declines in the ability to make fine-grained judgements in the perception of facial happiness and facial identity (from older adult faces), but not for non-social (object) perception. This pattern of results is discussed in relation to mechanisms that may contribute to declines in facial perceptual processing in older adulthood. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

To Assess the Association between Glucose Metabolism and Ectopic Lipid Content in Different Clinical Classifications of PCOS.

PubMed

Göbl, Christian S; Ott, Johannes; Bozkurt, Latife; Feichtinger, Michael; Rehmann, Victoria; Cserjan, Anna; Heinisch, Maike; Steinbrecher, Helmut; JustKukurova, Ivica; Tuskova, Radka; Leutner, Michael; Vytiska-Binstorfer, Elisabeth; Kurz, Christine; Weghofer, Andrea; Tura, Andrea; Egarter, Christian; Kautzky-Willer, Alexandra

2016-01-01

There are emerging data indicating an association between PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and metabolic derangements with potential impact on its clinical presentation. This study aims to evaluate the pathophysiological processes beyond PCOS with particular focus on carbohydrate metabolism, ectopic lipids and their possible interaction. Differences between the two established classifications of the disease should be additionally evaluated. A metabolic characterization was performed in 53 untreated PCOS patients as well as 20 controls including an extended oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, to assess insulin sensitivity, secretion and ß-cell function) in addition to a detailed examination of ectopic lipid content in muscle and liver by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Women with PCOS classified by the original NIH 1990 definition showed a more adverse metabolic risk profile compared to women characterized by the additional Rotterdam 2003 phenotypes. Subtle metabolic derangements were observed in both subgroups, including altered shapes of OGTT curves, impaired insulin action and hyperinsulinemia due to increased secretion and attenuated hepatic extraction. No differences were observed for ectopic lipids between the groups. However, particularly hepatocellular lipid content was significantly related to clinical parameters of PCOS like whole body insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia and free androgen index. Subtle alterations in carbohydrate metabolism are present in both PCOS classifications, but more profound in subjects meeting the NIH 1990 criteria. Females with PCOS and controls did not differ in ectopic lipids, however, liver fat was tightly related to hyperandrogenism and an adverse metabolic risk profile.

The impact of radiology expertise upon the localization of subtle pulmonary lesions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, John W.; Brennan, Patrick C.; Mello-Thoms, Claudia; Lewis, Sarah J.

2016-03-01

Rationale and objectives: This study investigates the influence of radiology expertise in the correct localization of lesions when radiologists are requested to complete an observer task. Specifically, the ability to detect pulmonary lesions of different subtleties is explored in relation to radiologists' reported specialty. Materials and Methods: Institutional ethics was granted. Ten radiologists (5 thoracic, 5 non-thoracic) interpreted 40 posterior-anterior (PA) chest x-rays (CXRs) consisting of 21 normal and 19 abnormal cases (solitary pulmonary nodule). The abnormal cases contained a solitary nodule with an established subtlety (subtlety 5 = obvious to subtlety 1 = extremely subtle). Radiologists read the test set and identified any pulmonary nodule using a 1-5 confidence scale (1=no pulmonary nodule to 5=highest confidence case contains a pulmonary lesion). The radiologists interpreted the image bank twice and the cases were randomized for each reader between reads. Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test identified that subtlety of nodules significantly influenced the sensitivity of nonthoracic radiologists (P=<0.0001) and thoracic radiologists (P=<0.0001). A Wilcoxon rank test demonstrated a significant difference in sensitivity for radiologist specialisation (P=0.013), with thoracic radiologists better compared to non-thoracic radiologists (mean sensitivity 0.479 and 0.389 respectively). The sensitivity of nodule detection decreased when comparing subtlety 4 to 3, 3 to 2 and 2 to 1 for non-thoracic and thoracic radiologists'with the subtlety 3 to subtlety 2 being significant (P=0.014) for non thoracic radiologists while thoracic radiologists' demonstrated a decrease but no transitions between subtlety were significant. The most noticeable, and interesting, effect was with the thoracic radiologists' with the average means of subtlety 2 and 1 being almost the same and closely comparable to level 3. Conclusion: Results from this study indicate that expertise in chest radiology does significantly impact upon the sensitivity of radiologists in detecting pulmonary lesions of varying subtlety. Thoracic radiologists had a consistently higher sensitivity with subtle, very subtle and extremely subtle nodules.

Melas Chasma - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-10-08

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of the floor of Melas Chasma. The dark blue region in this false color image is sand dunes. Orbit Number: 12061 Latitude: -12.2215 Longitude: 289.105 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2004-09-02 10:11 http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19793

Analyzing Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity in Pakistan by DNA Barcoding

PubMed Central

Ashfaq, Muhammad; Hebert, Paul D. N.; Mirza, Jawwad H.; Khan, Arif M.; Zafar, Yusuf; Mirza, M. Sajjad

2014-01-01

Background Although they are important disease vectors mosquito biodiversity in Pakistan is poorly known. Recent epidemics of dengue fever have revealed the need for more detailed understanding of the diversity and distributions of mosquito species in this region. DNA barcoding improves the accuracy of mosquito inventories because morphological differences between many species are subtle, leading to misidentifications. Methodology/Principal Findings Sequence variation in the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene was used to identify mosquito species, reveal genetic diversity, and map the distribution of the dengue-vector species in Pakistan. Analysis of 1684 mosquitoes from 491 sites in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 2010–2013 revealed 32 species with the assemblage dominated by Culex quinquefasciatus (61% of the collection). The genus Aedes (Stegomyia) comprised 15% of the specimens, and was represented by six taxa with the two dengue vector species, Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, dominant and broadly distributed. Anopheles made up another 6% of the catch with An. subpictus dominating. Barcode sequence divergence in conspecific specimens ranged from 0–2.4%, while congeneric species showed from 2.3–17.8% divergence. A global haplotype analysis of disease-vectors showed the presence of multiple haplotypes, although a single haplotype of each dengue-vector species was dominant in most countries. Geographic distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus showed the later species was dominant and found in both rural and urban environments. Conclusions As the first DNA-based analysis of mosquitoes in Pakistan, this study has begun the construction of a barcode reference library for the mosquitoes of this region. Levels of genetic diversity varied among species. Because of its capacity to differentiate species, even those with subtle morphological differences, DNA barcoding aids accurate tracking of vector populations. PMID:24827460

Analyzing mosquito (Diptera: culicidae) diversity in Pakistan by DNA barcoding.

PubMed

Ashfaq, Muhammad; Hebert, Paul D N; Mirza, Jawwad H; Khan, Arif M; Zafar, Yusuf; Mirza, M Sajjad

2014-01-01

Although they are important disease vectors mosquito biodiversity in Pakistan is poorly known. Recent epidemics of dengue fever have revealed the need for more detailed understanding of the diversity and distributions of mosquito species in this region. DNA barcoding improves the accuracy of mosquito inventories because morphological differences between many species are subtle, leading to misidentifications. Sequence variation in the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene was used to identify mosquito species, reveal genetic diversity, and map the distribution of the dengue-vector species in Pakistan. Analysis of 1684 mosquitoes from 491 sites in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 2010-2013 revealed 32 species with the assemblage dominated by Culex quinquefasciatus (61% of the collection). The genus Aedes (Stegomyia) comprised 15% of the specimens, and was represented by six taxa with the two dengue vector species, Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, dominant and broadly distributed. Anopheles made up another 6% of the catch with An. subpictus dominating. Barcode sequence divergence in conspecific specimens ranged from 0-2.4%, while congeneric species showed from 2.3-17.8% divergence. A global haplotype analysis of disease-vectors showed the presence of multiple haplotypes, although a single haplotype of each dengue-vector species was dominant in most countries. Geographic distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus showed the later species was dominant and found in both rural and urban environments. As the first DNA-based analysis of mosquitoes in Pakistan, this study has begun the construction of a barcode reference library for the mosquitoes of this region. Levels of genetic diversity varied among species. Because of its capacity to differentiate species, even those with subtle morphological differences, DNA barcoding aids accurate tracking of vector populations.

Social norms and prejudice against homosexuals.

PubMed

Pereira, Annelyse; Monteiro, Maria Benedicta; Camino, Leoncio

2009-11-01

Different studies regarding the role of norms on the expression of prejudice have shown that the anti-prejudice norm influences people to inhibit prejudice expressions. However, if norm pressure has led to a substantial decrease in the public expression of prejudice against certain targets (e.g., blacks, women, blind people), little theoretical and empirical attention has been paid to the role of this general norm regarding sexual minorities (e.g., prostitutes, lesbians and gays). In this sense, the issue we want to address is whether general anti-prejudice norms can reduce the expression of prejudice against homosexual individuals. In this research we investigate the effect of activating an anti-prejudice norm against homosexuals on blatant and subtle expressions of prejudice. The anti-prejudice norm was experimentally manipulated and its effects were observed on rejection to intimacy (blatant prejudice) and on positive-negative emotions (subtle prejudice) regarding homosexuals. 136 university students were randomly allocated to activated-norm and control conditions and completed a questionnaire that included norm manipulation and the dependent variables. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) as well as subsequent ANOVAS showed that only in the high normative pressure condition participants expressed less rejection to intimacy and less negative emotions against homosexuals, when compared to the simple norm-activation and the control conditions. Positive emotions, however, were similar both in the high normative pressure and the control conditions. We concluded that a high anti-prejudice pressure regarding homosexuals could reduce blatant prejudice but not subtle prejudice, considering that the expression of negative emotions decreased while the expression of positive emotions remained stable.

Evolution of Precipitation Structure During the November DYNAMO MJO Event: Cloud-Resolving Model Intercomparison and Cross Validation Using Radar Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaowen; Janiga, Matthew A.; Wang, Shuguang; Tao, Wei-Kuo; Rowe, Angela; Xu, Weixin; Liu, Chuntao; Matsui, Toshihisa; Zhang, Chidong

2018-04-01

Evolution of precipitation structures are simulated and compared with radar observations for the November Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) event during the DYNAmics of the MJO (DYNAMO) field campaign. Three ground-based, ship-borne, and spaceborne precipitation radars and three cloud-resolving models (CRMs) driven by observed large-scale forcing are used to study precipitation structures at different locations over the central equatorial Indian Ocean. Convective strength is represented by 0-dBZ echo-top heights, and convective organization by contiguous 17-dBZ areas. The multi-radar and multi-model framework allows for more stringent model validations. The emphasis is on testing models' ability to simulate subtle differences observed at different radar sites when the MJO event passed through. The results show that CRMs forced by site-specific large-scale forcing can reproduce not only common features in cloud populations but also subtle variations observed by different radars. The comparisons also revealed common deficiencies in CRM simulations where they underestimate radar echo-top heights for the strongest convection within large, organized precipitation features. Cross validations with multiple radars and models also enable quantitative comparisons in CRM sensitivity studies using different large-scale forcing, microphysical schemes and parameters, resolutions, and domain sizes. In terms of radar echo-top height temporal variations, many model sensitivity tests have better correlations than radar/model comparisons, indicating robustness in model performance on this aspect. It is further shown that well-validated model simulations could be used to constrain uncertainties in observed echo-top heights when the low-resolution surveillance scanning strategy is used.

Deconstructing Planning Ability in Children and Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.

PubMed

Rose, Mark; Reville, Marie-Claire; Iszatt, Amber; Levinson, Simon; Frampton, Ian; Lask, Bryan

2017-01-01

Weaknesses in planning by patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been noted (e.g., Zakzanis, Campbell, & Polsinelli, 2010 ) and are generally based on adults. This study explored D-KEFS Tower Test performance to better understand learning styles and strategies used by child and adolescent patients with AN compared to healthy controls. Overall, no significant differences were found in achievement; however, Item 5 predicted performance across harder items. The AN group was significantly faster to move their first disc suggesting patients with AN did not spend as much time planning their strategies for item completion. The findings of this study in conjunction with other studies investigating planning in AN may suggest the existence of subtle differences in learning style and strategy, such as faster initiation times, rather than gross planning differences. Further research is required to better understand the relationship between these subtle differences and clinical presentations.

Lineup administrator influences on eyewitness identification decisions.

PubMed

Clark, Steven E; Marshall, Tanya E; Rosenthal, Robert

2009-03-01

The present research examines how a lineup administrator may influence eyewitness identification decisions through different forms of influence, after providing the witness with standard, unbiased instructions. Participant-witnesses viewed a staged crime and were later shown a target-present or target-absent lineup. The lineup administrators either remained silent while the witness examined the lineup, made ostensibly cautionary statements to the witness, or prompted the witness to identify the person in the lineup who seemed most similar to the perpetrator. These two forms of influence, denoted as subtle-influence and similarity-influence conditions, led to different patterns of identification results. Results for the similarity-influence condition were generally consistent with criterion shift and relative judgment models of eyewitness decision making. Results for the subtle-influence condition, however, cannot be explained by alterations in the decision rule. A weighted matching model is outlined to explain results from the subtle-influence condition. Witnesses seemed generally unaware of the attempts by the lineup administrator to influence their decision, although some noted it, and the probative value of suspect identifications was lower for those who did note it. Implications for theory and policy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of anapanasati meditation technique through electrophotonic imaging parameters: A pilot study.

PubMed

Deo, Guru; Itagi R, Kumar; Thaiyar M, Srinivasan; Kuldeep, Kushwah K

2015-01-01

Mindfulness along with breathing is a well-established meditation technique. Breathing is an exquisite tool for exploring subtle awareness of mind and life itself. This study aimed at measuring changes in the different parameters of electrophotonic imaging (EPI) in anapanasati meditators. To carry out this study, 51 subjects comprising 32 males and 19 females of age 18 years and above (mean age 45.64 ± 14.43) were recruited voluntarily with informed consent attending Karnataka Dhyana Mahachakra-1 at Pyramid Valley International, Bengaluru, India. The design was a single group pre- post and data collected by EPI device before and after 5 days of intensive meditation. Results show significant changes in EPI parameter integral area with filter (physiological) in both right and left side, which reflects the availability of high functional energy reserve in meditators. The researchers observed similar trends without filter (psycho-physiological) indicating high reserves of energy at psycho-physiological level also. Activation coefficient, another parameter of EPI, reduced showing more relaxed state than earlier, possibly due to parasympathetic dominance. Integral entropy decreased in the case of psycho-physiological parameters left-side without filter, which indicates less disorder after meditation, but these changes were not significant. The study showed a reversed change in integral entropy in the right side without filter; however, the values on both sides with filter increased, which indicates disorder. The study suggests that EPI can be used in the recording functional physiological and psychophysiological status of meditators at a subtle level.

Biogenic iron oxide transformation by hyperthermophiles: spectral and physiological potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashyap, S.; Sklute, E.; Dyar, M. D.; Holden, J. F.

2017-12-01

It is likely that any putative life in our Solar System beyond Earth, extinct or extant, is microbial. However, to detect such life, distinct organic or mineral biosignatures need to be established. Microbe-mineral interactions and mineral transformations deserve further examination in this regard. This study focused on hyperthermophilic iron oxide-reducing archaea and addressed the types of iron-oxide minerals that are favored for growth, the kinetics of such reactions, and the mineral transformations that occur depending upon the electron acceptor. Two hyperthermophilic archaea (Pyrodictium delaneyi and Pyrobaculum islandicum) and six laboratory-synthesized nanophase iron oxide minerals (2-line ferrihydrite, lepidocrocite, akaganéite, goethite, hematite and maghemite) were tested for cell growth and Fe(II) production. The mineral end-products were further characterized by examining the spectral signatures associated with these transformations using reflectance, Raman, and Mössbauer spectroscopies and electron diffraction patterns. Additionally, we critically examined how sample preparation techniques influence the end products of these transformations by comparing freeze-dried samples against those still in solution. Results showed that both organisms utilize all six nanophase iron oxides, although with varying success. The best candidates for microbial reduction were ferrihydrite, akaganéite, and lepidocrocite. The mineral transformation products and the extent of reduction varied and showed subtle differences based on organism and the type of iron oxide used. The subtle spectral differences were best characterized using combined spectroscopy techniques. This research provides new insights into microbe-mineral interactions and the discrimination of potential biosignatures in the search for life beyond Earth.

Subtle In-Scanner Motion Biases Automated Measurement of Brain Anatomy From In Vivo MRI

PubMed Central

Alexander-Bloch, Aaron; Clasen, Liv; Stockman, Michael; Ronan, Lisa; Lalonde, Francois; Giedd, Jay; Raznahan, Armin

2016-01-01

While the potential for small amounts of motion in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to bias the results of functional neuroimaging studies is well appreciated, the impact of in-scanner motion on morphological analysis of structural MRI is relatively under-studied. Even among “good quality” structural scans, there may be systematic effects of motion on measures of brain morphometry. In the present study, the subjects’ tendency to move during fMRI scans, acquired in the same scanning sessions as their structural scans, yielded a reliable, continuous estimate of in-scanner motion. Using this approach within a sample of 127 children, adolescents, and young adults, significant relationships were found between this measure and estimates of cortical gray matter volume and mean curvature, as well as trend-level relationships with cortical thickness. Specifically, cortical volume and thickness decreased with greater motion, and mean curvature increased. These effects of subtle motion were anatomically heterogeneous, were present across different automated imaging pipelines, showed convergent validity with effects of frank motion assessed in a separate sample of 274 scans, and could be demonstrated in both pediatric and adult populations. Thus, using different motion assays in two large non-overlapping sets of structural MRI scans, convergent evidence showed that in-scanner motion—even at levels which do not manifest in visible motion artifact—can lead to systematic and regionally specific biases in anatomical estimation. These findings have special relevance to structural neuroimaging in developmental and clinical datasets, and inform ongoing efforts to optimize neuroanatomical analysis of existing and future structural MRI datasets in non-sedated humans. PMID:27004471

Role of κ→λ light-chain constant-domain switch in the structure and functionality of A17 reactibody

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

Ponomarenko, Natalia; Chatziefthimiou, Spyros D.; Kurkova, Inna

2014-03-01

Catalytic antibody variants with κ and λ light-chain constant domains show differences in their crystal structures which lead to subtle changes in catalytic efficiency and thermodynamic parameters as well as in their affinity for peptide substrates. The engineering of catalytic function in antibodies requires precise information on their structure. Here, results are presented that show how the antibody domain structure affects its functionality. The previously designed organophosphate-metabolizing reactibody A17 has been re-engineered by replacing its constant κ light chain by the λ chain (A17λ), and the X-ray structure of A17λ has been determined at 1.95 Å resolution. It was foundmore » that compared with A17κ the active centre of A17λ is displaced, stabilized and made more rigid owing to interdomain interactions involving the CDR loops from the V{sub L} and V{sub H} domains. These V{sub L}/V{sub H} domains also have lower mobility, as deduced from the atomic displacement parameters of the crystal structure. The antibody elbow angle is decreased to 126° compared with 138° in A17κ. These structural differences account for the subtle changes in catalytic efficiency and thermodynamic parameters determined with two organophosphate ligands, as well as in the affinity for peptide substrates selected from a combinatorial cyclic peptide library, between the A17κ and A17λ variants. The data presented will be of interest and relevance to researchers dealing with the design of antibodies with tailor-made functions.« less

Transport properties of electrons in fractal magnetic-barrier structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Lifeng; Fang, Chao; Guo, Yong

2010-09-01

Quantum transport properties in fractal magnetically modulated structures are studied by the transfer-matrix method. It is found that the transmission spectra depend sensitively not only on the incident energy and the direction of the wave vector but also on the stage of the fractal structures. Resonance splitting, enhancement, and position shift of the resonance peaks under different magnetic modulation are observed at four different fractal stages, and the relationship between the conductance in the fractal structure and magnetic modulation is also revealed. The results indicate the spectra of the transmission can be considered as fingerprints for the fractal structures, which show the subtle correspondence between magnetic structures and transport behaviors.

Abdominal Pain in the Geriatric Patient.

PubMed

Magidson, Phillip D; Martinez, Joseph P

2016-08-01

With an aging population, emergency department clinicians can expect an increase in geriatric patients presenting with abdominal pain. Compared with younger patients, this patient population is less likely to present with classic symptoms, physical examination findings, and laboratory values of abdominal disease. However, the morbidity and mortality associated with elderly patients presenting with abdominal pathologic conditions are significant. For this reason, the clinician must be familiar with some subtle and not so subtle differences when caring for the geriatric patient with abdominal pain to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Neuro-cognitive condition of 8 year old children with congenital hypothyroidism treated early].

PubMed

Alvarez, M; Güell, R; Daniel, L; Berazaín, A R; Machado, C; Pascual, A

Congenital hypothyroidism is the most important cause of preventable mental retardation. Since the use of programmes for early detection, mental retardation due to cretinism has been abolished and current investigations seek to detect subtle damage due to foetal hypothyroidism and strategies to minimize such deficits. This study presents the results of neurocognitive assessment of a group of 19 children aged 8 in the Cuban Programme for the early detection of Congenital Hypothyroidism. The programme is based on the use of umbilical cord serum levels of thyrotropin (TSH), using the Elisa ultramicro method (SUMA) and substitutive treatment with sodium levothyroxine and a programme of neuropsychiatric stimulation until 5 years old. The results showed that the intelligence quotients of children with hypothyroidism were not statistically different from paired controls, and thus demonstrate the efficacy of the programme. On evaluation using computerized techniques for the detection of subtle disorders of the maintenance of attention, deficiencies were found. Analysis of the conventional EEG showed that in 13 cases recordings were normal, 4 had generalized cortical damage, 1 had cortico-subcortical damage and the remainder had signs of focal irritation. On the quantitative EEG, correlation between the attention variables and absolute values (MV2/Hz) were calculated for each derivation and associations found mainly in the right parietal and left frontal regions. The effect of stimulating development in these patients is discussed.

A new approach to the characterization of subtle errors in everyday action: implications for mild cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Seligman, Sarah C; Giovannetti, Tania; Sestito, John; Libon, David J

2014-01-01

Mild functional difficulties have been associated with early cognitive decline in older adults and increased risk for conversion to dementia in mild cognitive impairment, but our understanding of this decline has been limited by a dearth of objective methods. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of a new system to code subtle errors on an established performance-based measure of everyday action and described preliminary findings within the context of a theoretical model of action disruption. Here 45 older adults completed the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT) and neuropsychological measures. NAT performance was coded for overt errors, and subtle action difficulties were scored using a novel coding system. An inter-rater reliability coefficient was calculated. Validity of the coding system was assessed using a repeated-measures ANOVA with NAT task (simple versus complex) and error type (overt versus subtle) as within-group factors. Correlation/regression analyses were conducted among overt NAT errors, subtle NAT errors, and neuropsychological variables. The coding of subtle action errors was reliable and valid, and episodic memory breakdown predicted subtle action disruption. Results suggest that the NAT can be useful in objectively assessing subtle functional decline. Treatments targeting episodic memory may be most effective in addressing early functional impairment in older age.

To Assess the Association between Glucose Metabolism and Ectopic Lipid Content in Different Clinical Classifications of PCOS

PubMed Central

Göbl, Christian S.; Ott, Johannes; Bozkurt, Latife; Feichtinger, Michael; Rehmann, Victoria; Cserjan, Anna; Heinisch, Maike; Steinbrecher, Helmut; JustKukurova, Ivica; Tuskova, Radka; Leutner, Michael; Vytiska-Binstorfer, Elisabeth; Kurz, Christine; Weghofer, Andrea; Tura, Andrea; Egarter, Christian; Kautzky-Willer, Alexandra

2016-01-01

Aims There are emerging data indicating an association between PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and metabolic derangements with potential impact on its clinical presentation. This study aims to evaluate the pathophysiological processes beyond PCOS with particular focus on carbohydrate metabolism, ectopic lipids and their possible interaction. Differences between the two established classifications of the disease should be additionally evaluated. Methods A metabolic characterization was performed in 53 untreated PCOS patients as well as 20 controls including an extended oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, to assess insulin sensitivity, secretion and ß-cell function) in addition to a detailed examination of ectopic lipid content in muscle and liver by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results Women with PCOS classified by the original NIH 1990 definition showed a more adverse metabolic risk profile compared to women characterized by the additional Rotterdam 2003 phenotypes. Subtle metabolic derangements were observed in both subgroups, including altered shapes of OGTT curves, impaired insulin action and hyperinsulinemia due to increased secretion and attenuated hepatic extraction. No differences were observed for ectopic lipids between the groups. However, particularly hepatocellular lipid content was significantly related to clinical parameters of PCOS like whole body insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia and free androgen index. Conclusions Subtle alterations in carbohydrate metabolism are present in both PCOS classifications, but more profound in subjects meeting the NIH 1990 criteria. Females with PCOS and controls did not differ in ectopic lipids, however, liver fat was tightly related to hyperandrogenism and an adverse metabolic risk profile. PMID:27505055

Even subtle cultural differences affect face tuning.

PubMed

Pavlova, Marina A; Heiz, Julie; Sokolov, Alexander N; Fallgatter, Andreas J; Barisnikov, Koviljka

2018-01-01

Culture shapes social cognition in many ways. Yet cultural impact on face tuning remains largely unclear. Here typically developing females and males from the French-speaking part of Switzerland were presented with a set of Arcimboldo-like Face-n-Food images composed of food ingredients and in different degree resembling a face. The outcome had been compared with previous findings obtained in young adults of the South-West Germany. In that study, males exhibit higher thresholds for face tuning on the Face-n-Food task than females. In Swiss participants, no gender differences exist in face tuning. Strikingly, males from the French-speaking part of Switzerland possess higher sensitivity to faces than their German peers, whereas no difference in face tuning occurs between females. The outcome indicates that even relatively subtle cultural differences as well as culture by gender interaction can modulate social cognition. Clarification of the nature of cultural impact on face tuning as well as social cognition at large is of substantial value for understanding a wide range of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions.

Lesbian mommy blogging in Canada: documenting subtle homophobia in Canadian society and building community online.

PubMed

Hunter, Andrea

2015-01-01

This article analyzes how lesbian mommy bloggers in Canada are using their blogs as forums for self-expression and a means to form community, as they record their unique experiences as queer parents. Further, it argues that lesbian mommy blogging is documenting a subtle form of homophobia that exists in Canada in terms of social acceptance. Although there is legal acceptance of queer families, society has not necessarily caught up with the law. These blogs show that lesbian parents in Canada still struggle with issues of equality, including difficulties being "out," invisibility, and having to advocate for the non-birth parent.

Children with autism show specific handwriting impairments

PubMed Central

Fuentes, Christina T.; Mostofsky, Stewart H.; Bastian, Amy J.

2009-01-01

Background: Handwriting skills, which are crucial for success in school, communication, and building children’s self-esteem, have been observed to be poor in individuals with autism. Little information exists on the handwriting of children with autism, without delineation of specific features that can contribute to impairments. As a result, the specific aspects of handwriting in which individuals with autism demonstrate difficulty remain unknown. Methods: A case-control study of handwriting samples from children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD) was performed using the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment. Samples were scored on an individual letter basis in 5 categories: legibility, form, alignment, size, and spacing. Subjects were also tested on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–IV and the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle (Motor) Signs. Results: We found that children with ASD do indeed show overall worse performance on a handwriting task than do age- and intelligence-matched controls. More specifically, children with ASD show worse quality of forming letters but do not show differences in their ability to correctly size, align, and space their letters. Within the ASD group, motor skills were significantly predictive of handwriting performance, whereas age, gender, IQ, and visuospatial abilities were not. Conclusions: We addressed how different elements of handwriting contribute to impairments observed in children with autism. Our results suggest that training targeting letter formation, in combination with general training of fine motor control, may be the best direction for improving handwriting performance in children with autism. GLOSSARY ADI-R = Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised; ADOS-G = Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule–Generic; ASD = autism spectrum disorders; DICA-IV = Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents, 4th edition; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; FSIQ = full-scale IQ; PANESS = Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle (Motor) Signs; PRI = Perceptual Reasoning Indices; WISC-IV = Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–IV. PMID:19901244

The Mediational Effect of Weight Self-Stigma in the Relationship between Blatant and Subtle Discrimination and Depression and Anxiety.

PubMed

Magallares, Alejandro; Bolaños-Rios, Patricia; Ruiz-Prieto, Inmaculada; Benito de Valle, Pilar; Irles, Jose Antonio; Jáuregui-Lobera, Ignacio

2017-02-06

Obesity may be considered a social stigma. In addition, people with obesity are frequently aware of stigma directed at others who have a similar weight and come to think stigmatized thoughts about themselves. Our study focused specifically on how blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma are related to depression and anxiety in people with obesity. The sample comprised 170 participants from the Clinical Nutrition Unit of the "Hospital de Valme" (Seville, Spain). The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perceived Discrimination Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. It was found that blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma were positively related to depression (.31, .38, and .45 respectively) and anxiety (.30, .36, and .49 respectively; all ps < .01). The path analysis conducted showed that there was a mediational effect of weight self-stigma between blatant (β = .36) and subtle discrimination (β = .40) and depression (β = .24) and anxiety (β = .49; all ps < .01). According to these results, it can be said that weight self-stigma was a full mediator in the model found because the relationships between the independent and the dependent variables were non-significant. Finally, results are discussed in the frame of the obesity stigma literature, and some clinical implications of the results of the study are suggested.

Can Caring Create Prejudice? An Investigation of Positive and Negative Intergenerational Contact in Care Settings and the Generalisation of Blatant and Subtle Age Prejudice to Other Older People.

PubMed

Drury, Lisbeth; Abrams, Dominic; Swift, Hannah J; Lamont, Ruth A; Gerocova, Katarina

2017-01-01

Caring is a positive social act, but can it result in negative attitudes towards those cared for, and towards others from their wider social group? Based on intergroup contact theory, we tested whether care workers' (CWs) positive and negative contact with old-age care home residents (CHRs) predicts prejudiced attitudes towards that group, and whether this generalises to other older people. Fifty-six CWs were surveyed about their positive and negative contact with CHRs and their blatant and subtle attitudes (humanness attributions) towards CHRs and older adults. We tested indirect paths from contact with CHRs to attitudes towards older adults via attitudes towards CHRs. Results showed that neither positive nor negative contact generalised blatant ageism. However, the effect of negative, but not positive, contact on the denial of humanness to CHRs generalised to subtle ageism towards older adults. This evidence has practical implications for management of CWs' work experiences and theoretical implications, suggesting that negative contact with a subgroup generalises the attribution of humanness to superordinate groups. Because it is difficult to identify and challenge subtle prejudices such as dehumanisation, it may be especially important to reduce negative contact. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Anaglyph, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-03-06

This anaglyph of Mexico Yucatan Peninsula was generated from NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, and shows a subtle but distinctive indication of the Chicxulub impact crater. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.

Blocking Mimicry Makes True and False Smiles Look the Same

PubMed Central

Rychlowska, Magdalena; Cañadas, Elena; Wood, Adrienne; Krumhuber, Eva G.; Fischer, Agneta; Niedenthal, Paula M.

2014-01-01

Recent research suggests that facial mimicry underlies accurate interpretation of subtle facial expressions. In three experiments, we manipulated mimicry and tested its role in judgments of the genuineness of true and false smiles. Experiment 1 used facial EMG to show that a new mouthguard technique for blocking mimicry modifies both the amount and the time course of facial reactions. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants rated true and false smiles either while wearing mouthguards or when allowed to freely mimic the smiles with or without additional distraction, namely holding a squeeze ball or wearing a finger-cuff heart rate monitor. Results showed that blocking mimicry compromised the decoding of true and false smiles such that they were judged as equally genuine. Together the experiments highlight the role of facial mimicry in judging subtle meanings of facial expressions. PMID:24670316

Status and future concerns of clinical and environmental aluminum toxicology.

PubMed

Flaten, T P; Alfrey, A C; Birchall, J D; Savory, J; Yokel, R A

1996-08-30

A wide range of toxic effects of aluminum (Al) have been demonstrated in plants and aquatic animals in nature, in experimental animals by several routes of exposure, and under different clinical conditions in humans. Aluminum toxicity is a major problem in agriculture, affecting perhaps as much as 40% of arable soils in the world. In fresh waters acidified by acid rain, Al toxicity has led to fish extinction. Aluminum is a very potent neurotoxicant. In humans with chronic renal failure on dialysis, Al causes encephalopathy, osteomalacia, and anemia. There are also reports of such effects in certain patient groups without renal failure. Subtle neurocognitive and psychomotor effects and electroencephalograph (EEG) abnormalities have been reported at plasma Al levels as low as 50 micrograms/L. Infants could be particularly susceptible to Al accumulation and toxicity, reduced renal function being one contributory cause. Recent reports clearly show that Al accumulation occurs in the tissues of workers with long-term occupational exposure to Al dusts or fumes, and also indicate that such exposure may cause subtle neurological effects. Increased efforts should be directed toward defining the full range of potentially harmful effects in humans. To this end, multidisciplinary collaborative research efforts are encouraged, involving scientists from many different specialties. Emphasis should be placed on increasing our understanding of the chemistry of Al in biological systems, and on determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Al toxicity.

Responses of Middle-Frequency Modulations in Vocal Fundamental Frequency to Different Vocal Intensities and Auditory Feedback.

PubMed

Lee, Shao-Hsuan; Fang, Tuan-Jen; Yu, Jen-Fang; Lee, Guo-She

2017-09-01

Auditory feedback can make reflexive responses on sustained vocalizations. Among them, the middle-frequency power of F0 (MFP) may provide a sensitive index to access the subtle changes in different auditory feedback conditions. Phonatory airflow temperature was obtained from 20 healthy adults at two vocal intensity ranges under four auditory feedback conditions: (1) natural auditory feedback (NO); (2) binaural speech noise masking (SN); (3) bone-conducted feedback of self-generated voice (BAF); and (4) SN and BAF simultaneously. The modulations of F0 in low-frequency (0.2 Hz-3 Hz), middle-frequency (3 Hz-8 Hz), and high-frequency (8 Hz-25 Hz) bands were acquired using power spectral analysis of F0. Acoustic and aerodynamic analyses were used to acquire vocal intensity, maximum phonation time (MPT), phonatory airflow, and MFP-based vocal efficiency (MBVE). SN and high vocal intensity decreased MFP and raised MBVE and MPT significantly. BAF showed no effect on MFP but significantly lowered MBVE. Moreover, BAF significantly increased the perception of voice feedback and the sensation of vocal effort. Altered auditory feedback significantly changed the middle-frequency modulations of F0. MFP and MBVE could well detect these subtle responses of audio-vocal feedback. Copyright © 2017 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gale Crater - False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-15

The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image. Today's false color image shows part of Gale Crater. Basaltic sands are dark blue in this type of false color combination. The Curiosity Rover is located in another portion of Gale Crater, far southwest of this image. Orbit Number: 51803 Latitude: -4.39948 Longitude: 138.116 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2013-08-18 09:04 http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21312

Visual and Quantitative Analysis of Cisternography for the Detection of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage.

PubMed

Choi, Eun Kyoung; Oh, Jin Kyoung; Park, Sonya Youngju; Yoo, Ikdong; Kim, Dong-Hyun; Chung, Yong-An

2017-06-01

We herein present a case of a 29-year-old man with clear rhinorrhea, which persisted for 8 years following a myringotomy. After cotton pledgets were placed in several different regions of the nasal cavity, cisternography using Tc-99m DTPA was performed to measure the radioactivity of each pledget. Cisternography showed subtle uptake in the nasal cavity. However, intense uptake was detected in the pledget placed in the right eustachian tube orifice, where the pledget:serum count ratio was 10.3:1. The patient underwent duroplasty and cranioplasty, and the rhinorrhea resolved.

Identifying Structural Flow Defects in Disordered Solids Using Machine-Learning Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cubuk, E. D.; Schoenholz, S. S.; Rieser, J. M.; Malone, B. D.; Rottler, J.; Durian, D. J.; Kaxiras, E.; Liu, A. J.

2015-03-01

We use machine-learning methods on local structure to identify flow defects—or particles susceptible to rearrangement—in jammed and glassy systems. We apply this method successfully to two very different systems: a two-dimensional experimental realization of a granular pillar under compression and a Lennard-Jones glass in both two and three dimensions above and below its glass transition temperature. We also identify characteristics of flow defects that differentiate them from the rest of the sample. Our results show it is possible to discern subtle structural features responsible for heterogeneous dynamics observed across a broad range of disordered materials.

Fractal based modelling and analysis of electromyography (EMG) to identify subtle actions.

PubMed

Arjunan, Sridhar P; Kumar, Dinesh K

2007-01-01

The paper reports the use of fractal theory and fractal dimension to study the non-linear properties of surface electromyogram (sEMG) and to use these properties to classify subtle hand actions. The paper reports identifying a new feature of the fractal dimension, the bias that has been found to be useful in modelling the muscle activity and of sEMG. Experimental results demonstrate that the feature set consisting of bias values and fractal dimension of the recordings is suitable for classification of sEMG against the different hand gestures. The scatter plots demonstrate the presence of simple relationships of these features against the four hand gestures. The results indicate that there is small inter-experimental variation but large inter-subject variation. This may be due to differences in the size and shape of muscles for different subjects. The possible applications of this research include use in developing prosthetic hands, controlling machines and computers.

Neural representations of emotion are organized around abstract event features.

PubMed

Skerry, Amy E; Saxe, Rebecca

2015-08-03

Research on emotion attribution has tended to focus on the perception of overt expressions of at most five or six basic emotions. However, our ability to identify others' emotional states is not limited to perception of these canonical expressions. Instead, we make fine-grained inferences about what others feel based on the situations they encounter, relying on knowledge of the eliciting conditions for different emotions. In the present research, we provide convergent behavioral and neural evidence concerning the representations underlying these concepts. First, we find that patterns of activity in mentalizing regions contain information about subtle emotional distinctions conveyed through verbal descriptions of eliciting situations. Second, we identify a space of abstract situation features that well captures the emotion discriminations subjects make behaviorally and show that this feature space outperforms competing models in capturing the similarity space of neural patterns in these regions. Together, the data suggest that our knowledge of others' emotions is abstract and high dimensional, that brain regions selective for mental state reasoning support relatively subtle distinctions between emotion concepts, and that the neural representations in these regions are not reducible to more primitive affective dimensions such as valence and arousal. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neural Representations of Emotion Are Organized around Abstract Event Features

PubMed Central

Skerry, Amy E.; Saxe, Rebecca

2016-01-01

Summary Research on emotion attribution has tended to focus on the perception of overt expressions of at most five or six basic emotions. However, our ability to identify others' emotional states is not limited to perception of these canonical expressions. Instead, we make fine-grained inferences about what others feel based on the situations they encounter, relying on knowledge of the eliciting conditions for different emotions. In the present research, we provide convergent behavioral and neural evidence concerning the representations underlying these concepts. First, we find that patterns of activity in mentalizing regions contain information about subtle emotional distinctions conveyed through verbal descriptions of eliciting situations. Second, we identify a space of abstract situation features that well captures the emotion discriminations subjects make behaviorally and show that this feature space outperforms competing models in capturing the similarity space of neural patterns in these regions. Together, the data suggest that our knowledge of others' emotions is abstract and high dimensional, that brain regions selective for mental state reasoning support relatively subtle distinctions between emotion concepts, and that the neural representations in these regions are not reducible to more primitive affective dimensions such as valence and arousal. PMID:26212878

Geomorphology and reflectance patterns of vegetation-covered dunes at the Tsodilo Hills, north-west Botswana

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobberger, P. A.; Hooper, D. M.

1991-01-01

Seasonal reflectance variations in semigrid environments provide a means of assessing vegetation health and density as well as monitoring landform processes. Multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper scenes with field measurements are used to map geomorphology and vegetation density in a stabilized dune environment and to measure seasonal reflectance changes for a series of ten geomorphological and vegetation units on the Kalahari-age linear dunes. Units were chosen based on differences in landform and proportion of trees, forbs and bare soil. Reflectance curves and normalized-difference vegetation indices (NDVI) show that dune crests have the strongest seasonal variability in color and brightness. The geomorphological link with reflectance and NDVI values are linked to biomass production and zoning of vegetation with slope, drainage and subtle soil differences.

Shaded Relief with Height as Color, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-03-06

This shaded relief image of Mexico Yucatan Peninsula show a subtle, but unmistakable, indication of the Chicxulub impact crater. Most scientists now agree that this impact was the cause of the Cretatious-Tertiary Extinction.

Quantitative Analysis of Cell Migration Using Optical Flow

PubMed Central

Boric, Katica; Orio, Patricio; Viéville, Thierry; Whitlock, Kathleen

2013-01-01

Neural crest cells exhibit dramatic migration behaviors as they populate their distant targets. Using a line of zebrafish expressing green fluorescent protein (sox10:EGFP) in neural crest cells we developed an assay to analyze and quantify cell migration as a population, and use it here to characterize in detail the subtle defects in cell migration caused by ethanol exposure during early development. The challenge was to quantify changes in the in vivo migration of all Sox10:EGFP expressing cells in the visual field of time-lapse movies. To perform this analysis we used an Optical Flow algorithm for motion detection and combined the analysis with a fit to an affine transformation. Through this analysis we detected and quantified significant differences in the cell migrations of Sox10:EGFP positive cranial neural crest populations in ethanol treated versus untreated embryos. Specifically, treatment affected migration by increasing the left-right asymmetry of the migrating cells and by altering the direction of cell movements. Thus, by applying this novel computational analysis, we were able to quantify the movements of populations of cells, allowing us to detect subtle changes in cell behaviors. Because cranial neural crest cells contribute to the formation of the frontal mass these subtle differences may underlie commonly observed facial asymmetries in normal human populations. PMID:23936049

An intramolecular charge transfer process based fluorescent probe for monitoring subtle pH fluctuation in living cells.

PubMed

Sun, Mingtai; Du, Libo; Yu, Huan; Zhang, Kui; Liu, Yang; Wang, Suhua

2017-01-01

It is crucial to monitor intracellular pH values and their fluctuation since the organelles of cells have different pH distribution. Herein we construct a new small molecule fluorescent probe HBT-O for monitoring the subtle pH values within the scope of neutral to acid in living cells. The probe exhibited good water solubility, a marked turquoise to olivine emission color change in response to pH, and tremendous fluorescence hypochromatic shift of ∼50nm (1718cm -1 ) as well as the increased fluorescence intensity when the pH value changed from neutral to acid. Thus, the probe HBT-O can distinguish the subtle changes in the range of normal pH values from neutral to acid with significant fluorescence changes. These properties can be attributed to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process of the probe upon protonation in buffer solutions at varied pH values. Moreover, the probe was reversible and nearly non-toxic for living cells. Then the probe was successfully used to detect pH fluctuation in living cells by exhibiting different fluorescence colors and intensity. These findings demonstrate that the probe will find useful applications in biology and biomedical research. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diseases

Treesearch

Thomas E. Hinds

1985-01-01

Although many diseases attack aspen, relatively few kill or seriously injure living trees. The common leaf diseases, in general, are widely distributed throughout the range of aspen, whereas there are subtle differences in distribution between the important decay fungi, and apparently entirely different areas of distribution of major cankercausing organisms. However,...

Pronounced differences in genetic structure despite overall ecological similarity for two Ambystoma salamanders in the same landscape

Treesearch

Andrew R. Whiteley; Kevin McGarigal; Michael K. Schwartz

2014-01-01

Studies linking genetic structure in amphibian species with ecological characteristics have focused on large differences in dispersal capabilities. Here, we test whether two species with similar dispersal potential but subtle differences in other ecological characteristics also exhibit strong differences in genetic structure in the same landscape. We examined eight...

Effect of anapanasati meditation technique through electrophotonic imaging parameters: A pilot study

PubMed Central

Deo, Guru; Itagi R, Kumar; Thaiyar M, Srinivasan; Kuldeep, Kushwah K

2015-01-01

Background: Mindfulness along with breathing is a well-established meditation technique. Breathing is an exquisite tool for exploring subtle awareness of mind and life itself. Aim: This study aimed at measuring changes in the different parameters of electrophotonic imaging (EPI) in anapanasati meditators. Materials and Methods: To carry out this study, 51 subjects comprising 32 males and 19 females of age 18 years and above (mean age 45.64 ± 14.43) were recruited voluntarily with informed consent attending Karnataka Dhyana Mahachakra-1 at Pyramid Valley International, Bengaluru, India. The design was a single group pre- post and data collected by EPI device before and after 5 days of intensive meditation. Results: Results show significant changes in EPI parameter integral area with filter (physiological) in both right and left side, which reflects the availability of high functional energy reserve in meditators. The researchers observed similar trends without filter (psycho-physiological) indicating high reserves of energy at psycho-physiological level also. Activation coefficient, another parameter of EPI, reduced showing more relaxed state than earlier, possibly due to parasympathetic dominance. Integral entropy decreased in the case of psycho-physiological parameters left-side without filter, which indicates less disorder after meditation, but these changes were not significant. The study showed a reversed change in integral entropy in the right side without filter; however, the values on both sides with filter increased, which indicates disorder. Conclusion: The study suggests that EPI can be used in the recording functional physiological and psychophysiological status of meditators at a subtle level. PMID:26170590

A Chip Off the Old Block: Parents’ Subtle Ethnic Prejudice Predicts Children’s Implicit Prejudice

PubMed Central

Pirchio, Sabine; Passiatore, Ylenia; Panno, Angelo; Maricchiolo, Fridanna; Carrus, Giuseppe

2018-01-01

The increasing flow of immigrants in many European countries and the growing presence of children from immigrant families in schools makes it relevant to study the development of prejudice in children. Parents play an important role in shaping children’s values and their attitudes toward members of other ethnic groups; an intergenerational transmission of prejudice has been found in a number of studies targeting adolescents. The present study aims to investigate the intergenerational transmission of ethnic prejudice in 3- to 9- year-old children and its relations to parenting styles. Parents’ blatant and subtle ethnic prejudice and parenting style are measured together with children’s explicit and implicit ethnic prejudice in pupils and parents of preschool and primary schools in the region of Rome, Italy (N = 318). Results show that parents’ subtle prejudice predicts children’s implicit prejudice regardless of the parenting style. Findings indicate that children might acquire prejudice by means of the parents’ implicit cognition and automatic behavior and educational actions. Implications for future studies and insights for possible applied interventions are discussed. PMID:29479328

Spectral mineral mapping for characterization of subtle geothermal prospects using ASTER data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abubakar, A. J.; Hashim, M.; Pour, A. B.

2017-05-01

In this study, the performance of ASTER data is evaluated for mapping subtle geothermal prospects in an unexplored tropical region having a number of thermal springs. The study employed a simple Decorrelation stretch with specific absorptions to highlight possible alteration zones of interest related to Geothermal (GT) systems. Hydrothermal alteration minerals are subsequently mapped using Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Linear Spectral Unmixing (LSU) algorithms to target representative minerals such as clays, carbonates and AL-OH minerals as indicators of GT activity. The results were validated through field GPS survey, rock sampling and laboratory analysis using latest smart lab X-Ray Diffractometer technology. The study indicates that ASTER broadband satellite data could be used to map subtle GT prospects with the aid of an in-situ verification. However, it also shows that ASTER could not discriminate within specie minerals especially for clays using SWIR bands. Subsequent studies are aimed at looking at both ASTER and Hyperion hyperspectral data in the same area as this could have significant implications for GT resource detection in unmapped aseismic and inaccessible tropical regions using available spaceborne data.

Molecular differences between deuterated and protonated polystyrenes using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Kayillo, Sindy; Gray, Michael J; Shalliker, R Andrew; Dennis, Gary R

2005-05-06

Isotopic substitution is a technique used to highlight particular bonds within a molecule for kinetic, spectroscopic and structure analysis. It is presumed that although some properties such as stretching frequencies will not be the same for substituted analogues, the chemical interactions will not vary appreciably as a function of labelling. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography has been used to demonstrate that there are significant differences between the chromatographic behaviour of a sequence of deuterated and protonated oligomeric polystyrenes. Two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography was used to show that even the diasteromers of the oligomers (n = 5) have retention mechanisms that are dependent on the subtle changes to the molecular conformation and electronic structure, which are a consequence of deuteration.

Is 2D speckle tracking echocardiography useful for detecting and monitoring myocardial dysfunction in adult m.3243A>G carriers? - a retrospective pilot study.

PubMed

Koene, S; Timmermans, J; Weijers, G; de Laat, P; de Korte, C L; Smeitink, J A M; Janssen, M C H; Kapusta, L

2017-03-01

Cardiomyopathy is a common complication of mitochondrial disorders, associated with increased mortality. Two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) can be used to quantify myocardial deformation. Here, we aimed to determine the usefulness of 2DSTE in detecting and monitoring subtle changes in myocardial dysfunction in carriers of the 3243A>G mutation in mitochondrial DNA. In this retrospective pilot study, 30 symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers of the mitochondrial 3243A>G mutation of whom two subsequent echocardiograms were available were included. We measured longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain using 2DSTE. Results were compared to published reference values. Speckle tracking was feasible in 90 % of the patients for longitudinal strain. Circumferential and radial strain showed low face validity (low number of images with sufficient quality; suboptimal tracking) and were therefore rejected for further analysis. Global longitudinal strain showed good face validity, and was abnormal in 56-70 % (depending on reference values used) of the carriers (n = 27). Reproducibility was good (mean difference of 0.83 for inter- and 0.40 for intra-rater reproducibility; ICC 0.78 and 0.89, respectively). The difference between the first and the second measurement exceeded the measurement variance in 39 % of the cases (n = 23; feasibility of follow-up 77 %). Even in data collected as part of clinical care, two-dimensional strain echocardiography seems a feasible method to detect and monitor subtle changes in longitudinal myocardial deformation in adult carriers of the mitochondrial 3243A>G mutation. Based on our data and the reported accuracy of global longitudinal strain in other studies, we suggest the use of global longitudinal strain in a prospective follow-up or intervention study.

AVO in North of Paria, Venezuela: Gas methane versus condensate reservoirs

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

Regueiro, J.; Pena, A.

1996-07-01

The gas fields of North of Paria, offshore eastern Venezuela, present a unique opportunity for amplitude variations with offset (AVO) characterization of reservoirs containing different fluids: gas-condensate, gas (methane) and water (brine). AVO studies for two of the wells in the area, one with gas-condensate and the other with gas (methane) saturated reservoirs, show interesting results. Water sands and a fluid contact (condensate-water) are present in one of these wells, thus providing a control point on brine-saturated properties. The reservoirs in the second well consist of sands highly saturated with methane. Clear differences in AVO response exist between hydrocarbon-saturated reservoirsmore » and those containing brine. However, it is also interesting that subtle but noticeable differences can be interpreted between condensate-and methane-saturated sands. These differences are attributed to differences in both in-situ fluid density and compressibility, and rock frame properties.« less

Subtle trisomy 12q24.3 and subtle monosomy 22q13.3: three new cases and review.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Laura; Martínez Guardia, Nieves; Herens, Christian; Jamar, Mauricette; Verloes, Alain; López, Fermina; Santos Muñoz, José; Martínez-Frías, María Luisa

2003-10-01

The high resolution G-bands (850 bands) karyotype have made it possible to identify small chromosome anomalies (5 megabases) which are now microscopically visible. New techniques have been improved, such as the Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with subtelomeric probes, which can be employed to detect cryptic chromosome alterations not visible microscopically. We present three cases which had been remitted for a high resolution karyotype. The high resolution G-band karyotype and the FISH techniques led us to conclude that the three cases were carriers of a similar subtle chromosomal alteration. Case I is a new born female with developmental and psychomotor delay, hypotonia, and long limbs with arachnodactily. A high resolution G-band karyotype showed an abnormal chromosome 22. FISH techniques confirmed a der(22)t(12;22)(q24.31;q13.3). Case II is a 12-year-old girl, with growth retardation, long shaped face with thick eyebrows, smooth philtrum, and thin upper lip with severe mental retardation (still no language), with a phenotype very similar to that of his sister: long shaped face, thick eyebrows, smooth philtrum, and thin upper lip. A high resolution G-band karyotype also showed in Case II and III an abnormal chromosome 22, studied by FISH techniques which confirmed a der(22)t(12;22)(q24.3;q13.3) in both cases. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Groupwise shape analysis of the hippocampus using spectral matching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shakeri, Mahsa; Lombaert, Hervé; Lippé, Sarah; Kadoury, Samuel

2014-03-01

The hippocampus is a prominent subcortical feature of interest in many neuroscience studies. Its subtle morphological changes often predicate illnesses, including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia or epilepsy. The precise location of structural differences requires a reliable correspondence between shapes across a population. In this paper, we propose an automated method for groupwise hippocampal shape analysis based on a spectral decomposition of a group of shapes to solve the correspondence problem between sets of meshes. The framework generates diffeomorphic correspondence maps across a population, which enables us to create a mean shape. Morphological changes are then located between two groups of subjects. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on a dataset of 42 hippocampus shapes and compared with a state-of-the-art structural shape analysis approach, using spherical harmonics. Difference maps between mean shapes of two test groups demonstrates that the two approaches showed results with insignificant differences, while Gaussian curvature measures calculated between matched vertices showed a better fit and reduced variability with spectral matching.

Cancer cells copy migratory behavior and exchange signaling networks via extracellular vesicles.

PubMed

Steenbeek, Sander C; Pham, Thang V; de Ligt, Joep; Zomer, Anoek; Knol, Jaco C; Piersma, Sander R; Schelfhorst, Tim; Huisjes, Rick; Schiffelers, Raymond M; Cuppen, Edwin; Jimenez, Connie R; van Rheenen, Jacco

2018-06-14

Recent data showed that cancer cells from different tumor subtypes with distinct metastatic potential influence each other's metastatic behavior by exchanging biomolecules through extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, it is debated how small amounts of cargo can mediate this effect, especially in tumors where all cells are from one subtype, and only subtle molecular differences drive metastatic heterogeneity. To study this, we have characterized the content of EVs shed in vivo by two clones of melanoma (B16) tumors with distinct metastatic potential. Using the Cre-LoxP system and intravital microscopy, we show that cells from these distinct clones phenocopy their migratory behavior through EV exchange. By tandem mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing, we show that EVs shed by these clones into the tumor microenvironment contain thousands of different proteins and RNAs, and many of these biomolecules are from interconnected signaling networks involved in cellular processes such as migration. Thus, EVs contain numerous proteins and RNAs and act on recipient cells by invoking a multi-faceted biological response including cell migration. © 2018 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

Replacement Condition Detection of Railway Point Machines Using an Electric Current Sensor.

PubMed

Sa, Jaewon; Choi, Younchang; Chung, Yongwha; Kim, Hee-Young; Park, Daihee; Yoon, Sukhan

2017-01-29

Detecting replacement conditions of railway point machines is important to simultaneously satisfy the budget-limit and train-safety requirements. In this study, we consider classification of the subtle differences in the aging effect-using electric current shape analysis-for the purpose of replacement condition detection of railway point machines. After analyzing the shapes of after-replacement data and then labeling the shapes of each before-replacement data, we can derive the criteria that can handle the subtle differences between "does-not-need-to-be-replaced" and "needs-to-be-replaced" shapes. On the basis of the experimental results with in-field replacement data, we confirmed that the proposed method could detect the replacement conditions with acceptable accuracy, as well as provide visual interpretability of the criteria used for the time-series classification.

Replacement Condition Detection of Railway Point Machines Using an Electric Current Sensor

PubMed Central

Sa, Jaewon; Choi, Younchang; Chung, Yongwha; Kim, Hee-Young; Park, Daihee; Yoon, Sukhan

2017-01-01

Detecting replacement conditions of railway point machines is important to simultaneously satisfy the budget-limit and train-safety requirements. In this study, we consider classification of the subtle differences in the aging effect—using electric current shape analysis—for the purpose of replacement condition detection of railway point machines. After analyzing the shapes of after-replacement data and then labeling the shapes of each before-replacement data, we can derive the criteria that can handle the subtle differences between “does-not-need-to-be-replaced” and “needs-to-be-replaced” shapes. On the basis of the experimental results with in-field replacement data, we confirmed that the proposed method could detect the replacement conditions with acceptable accuracy, as well as provide visual interpretability of the criteria used for the time-series classification. PMID:28146057

Parahippocampal epilepsy with subtle dysplasia: A cause of "imaging negative" partial epilepsy.

PubMed

Pillay, Neelan; Fabinyi, Gavin C A; Myles, Terry S; Fitt, Gregory J; Berkovic, Samuel F; Jackson, Graeme D

2009-12-01

Lesion-negative refractory partial epilepsy is a major challenge in the assessment of patients for potential surgery. Finding a potential epileptogenic lesion simplifies assessment and is associated with good outcome. Here we describe imaging features of subtle parahippocampal dysplasia in five cases that were initially assessed as having imaging-negative frontal or temporal lobe epilepsy. We analyzed the clinical and imaging features of five patients with seizures from the parahippocampal region. Five patients had subtle but distinctive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in the parahippocampal gyrus. This was a unilateral signal abnormality in the parahippocampal white matter extending into gray matter on heavily T(1)- and T(2)-weighted images with relative preservation of the gray-white matter boundary on T(1)-weighted volume sequences. Only one of these patients had typical electroclinical unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); one mimicked frontal lobe epilepsy, two showed bitemporal seizures, and one had unlocalized partial seizures. All have had surgery; four are seizure-free (one has occasional auras only, follow-up 6 months to 10 years), and one has a >50% seizure reduction. Histopathologic evaluation suggested dysplastic features in the surgical specimens in all. In patients with lesion-negative partial epilepsy with frontal or temporal semiology, or in cases with apparent bitemporal seizures, subtle parahippocampal abnormalities should be carefully excluded. Recognizing the MRI findings of an abnormal parahippocampal gyrus can lead to successful surgery without invasive monitoring, despite apparently incongruent electroclinical features.

Semantic diversity: a measure of semantic ambiguity based on variability in the contextual usage of words.

PubMed

Hoffman, Paul; Lambon Ralph, Matthew A; Rogers, Timothy T

2013-09-01

Semantic ambiguity is typically measured by summing the number of senses or dictionary definitions that a word has. Such measures are somewhat subjective and may not adequately capture the full extent of variation in word meaning, particularly for polysemous words that can be used in many different ways, with subtle shifts in meaning. Here, we describe an alternative, computationally derived measure of ambiguity based on the proposal that the meanings of words vary continuously as a function of their contexts. On this view, words that appear in a wide range of contexts on diverse topics are more variable in meaning than those that appear in a restricted set of similar contexts. To quantify this variation, we performed latent semantic analysis on a large text corpus to estimate the semantic similarities of different linguistic contexts. From these estimates, we calculated the degree to which the different contexts associated with a given word vary in their meanings. We term this quantity a word's semantic diversity (SemD). We suggest that this approach provides an objective way of quantifying the subtle, context-dependent variations in word meaning that are often present in language. We demonstrate that SemD is correlated with other measures of ambiguity and contextual variability, as well as with frequency and imageability. We also show that SemD is a strong predictor of performance in semantic judgments in healthy individuals and in patients with semantic deficits, accounting for unique variance beyond that of other predictors. SemD values for over 30,000 English words are provided as supplementary materials.

VASP-E: Specificity Annotation with a Volumetric Analysis of Electrostatic Isopotentials

PubMed Central

Chen, Brian Y.

2014-01-01

Algorithms for comparing protein structure are frequently used for function annotation. By searching for subtle similarities among very different proteins, these algorithms can identify remote homologs with similar biological functions. In contrast, few comparison algorithms focus on specificity annotation, where the identification of subtle differences among very similar proteins can assist in finding small structural variations that create differences in binding specificity. Few specificity annotation methods consider electrostatic fields, which play a critical role in molecular recognition. To fill this gap, this paper describes VASP-E (Volumetric Analysis of Surface Properties with Electrostatics), a novel volumetric comparison tool based on the electrostatic comparison of protein-ligand and protein-protein binding sites. VASP-E exploits the central observation that three dimensional solids can be used to fully represent and compare both electrostatic isopotentials and molecular surfaces. With this integrated representation, VASP-E is able to dissect the electrostatic environments of protein-ligand and protein-protein binding interfaces, identifying individual amino acids that have an electrostatic influence on binding specificity. VASP-E was used to examine a nonredundant subset of the serine and cysteine proteases as well as the barnase-barstar and Rap1a-raf complexes. Based on amino acids established by various experimental studies to have an electrostatic influence on binding specificity, VASP-E identified electrostatically influential amino acids with 100% precision and 83.3% recall. We also show that VASP-E can accurately classify closely related ligand binding cavities into groups with different binding preferences. These results suggest that VASP-E should prove a useful tool for the characterization of specific binding and the engineering of binding preferences in proteins. PMID:25166865

Revisiting the two-layer hypothesis: coexistence of alternative functional rooting strategies in savannas.

PubMed

Holdo, Ricardo M

2013-01-01

The two-layer hypothesis of tree-grass coexistence posits that trees and grasses differ in rooting depth, with grasses exploiting soil moisture in shallow layers while trees have exclusive access to deep water. The lack of clear differences in maximum rooting depth between these two functional groups, however, has caused this model to fall out of favor. The alternative model, the demographic bottleneck hypothesis, suggests that trees and grasses occupy overlapping rooting niches, and that stochastic events such as fires and droughts result in episodic tree mortality at various life stages, thus preventing trees from otherwise displacing grasses, at least in mesic savannas. Two potential problems with this view are: 1) we lack data on functional rooting profiles in trees and grasses, and these profiles are not necessarily reflected by differences in maximum or physical rooting depth, and 2) subtle, difficult-to-detect differences in rooting profiles between the two functional groups may be sufficient to result in coexistence in many situations. To tackle this question, I coupled a plant uptake model with a soil moisture dynamics model to explore the environmental conditions under which functional rooting profiles with equal rooting depth but different depth distributions (i.e., shapes) can coexist when competing for water. I show that, as long as rainfall inputs are stochastic, coexistence based on rooting differences is viable under a wide range of conditions, even when these differences are subtle. The results also indicate that coexistence mechanisms based on rooting niche differentiation are more viable under some climatic and edaphic conditions than others. This suggests that the two-layer model is both viable and stochastic in nature, and that a full understanding of tree-grass coexistence and dynamics may require incorporating fine-scale rooting differences between these functional groups and realistic stochastic climate drivers into future models.

Revisiting the Two-Layer Hypothesis: Coexistence of Alternative Functional Rooting Strategies in Savannas

PubMed Central

Holdo, Ricardo M.

2013-01-01

The two-layer hypothesis of tree-grass coexistence posits that trees and grasses differ in rooting depth, with grasses exploiting soil moisture in shallow layers while trees have exclusive access to deep water. The lack of clear differences in maximum rooting depth between these two functional groups, however, has caused this model to fall out of favor. The alternative model, the demographic bottleneck hypothesis, suggests that trees and grasses occupy overlapping rooting niches, and that stochastic events such as fires and droughts result in episodic tree mortality at various life stages, thus preventing trees from otherwise displacing grasses, at least in mesic savannas. Two potential problems with this view are: 1) we lack data on functional rooting profiles in trees and grasses, and these profiles are not necessarily reflected by differences in maximum or physical rooting depth, and 2) subtle, difficult-to-detect differences in rooting profiles between the two functional groups may be sufficient to result in coexistence in many situations. To tackle this question, I coupled a plant uptake model with a soil moisture dynamics model to explore the environmental conditions under which functional rooting profiles with equal rooting depth but different depth distributions (i.e., shapes) can coexist when competing for water. I show that, as long as rainfall inputs are stochastic, coexistence based on rooting differences is viable under a wide range of conditions, even when these differences are subtle. The results also indicate that coexistence mechanisms based on rooting niche differentiation are more viable under some climatic and edaphic conditions than others. This suggests that the two-layer model is both viable and stochastic in nature, and that a full understanding of tree-grass coexistence and dynamics may require incorporating fine-scale rooting differences between these functional groups and realistic stochastic climate drivers into future models. PMID:23950900

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Observer Performance of Clustered Microcalcification Detection on Breast Phantom Images Acquired with an Experimental System Using Variable Scan Angles, Angular Increments, and Number of Projection Views

PubMed Central

Goodsitt, Mitchell M.; Helvie, Mark A.; Zelakiewicz, Scott; Schmitz, Andrea; Noroozian, Mitra; Paramagul, Chintana; Roubidoux, Marilyn A.; Nees, Alexis V.; Neal, Colleen H.; Carson, Paul; Lu, Yao; Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Wei, Jun

2014-01-01

Purpose To investigate the dependence of microcalcification cluster detectability on tomographic scan angle, angular increment, and number of projection views acquired at digital breast tomosynthesis (DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis). Materials and Methods A prototype DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis system operated in step-and-shoot mode was used to image breast phantoms. Four 5-cm-thick phantoms embedded with 81 simulated microcalcification clusters of three speck sizes (subtle, medium, and obvious) were imaged by using a rhodium target and rhodium filter with 29 kV, 50 mAs, and seven acquisition protocols. Fixed angular increments were used in four protocols (denoted as scan angle, angular increment, and number of projection views, respectively: 16°, 1°, and 17; 24°, 3°, and nine; 30°, 3°, and 11; and 60°, 3°, and 21), and variable increments were used in three (40°, variable, and 13; 40°, variable, and 15; and 60°, variable, and 21). The reconstructed DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis images were interpreted by six radiologists who located the microcalcification clusters and rated their conspicuity. Results The mean sensitivity for detection of subtle clusters ranged from 80% (22.5 of 28) to 96% (26.8 of 28) for the seven DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis protocols; the highest sensitivity was achieved with the 16°, 1°, and 17 protocol (96%), but the difference was significant only for the 60°, 3°, and 21 protocol (80%, P < .002) and did not reach significance for the other five protocols (P = .01–.15). The mean sensitivity for detection of medium and obvious clusters ranged from 97% (28.2 of 29) to 100% (24 of 24), but the differences fell short of significance (P = .08 to >.99). The conspicuity of subtle and medium clusters with the 16°, 1°, and 17 protocol was rated higher than those with other protocols; the differences were significant for subtle clusters with the 24°, 3°, and nine protocol and for medium clusters with 24°, 3°, and nine; 30°, 3°, and 11; 60°, 3° and 21; and 60°, variable, and 21 protocols (P < .002). Conclusion With imaging that did not include x-ray source motion or patient motion during acquisition of the projection views, narrow-angle DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis provided higher sensitivity and conspicuity than wide-angle DBTdigital breast tomosynthesis for subtle microcalcification clusters. © RSNA, 2014 PMID:25007048

A Table! (At the Table).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terry, Robert M.

A review of French dining habits and table manners outlines: elements of the place setting, courtesies used at the table, serving conventions, restaurant tipping, the size and content of the different meals of the day, subtle differences in common foods, restaurant types, menu types, general wine and cheese choices, waiter-client communication,…

Trust versus Manipulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Anne C.

2005-01-01

This article discusses the issue of trust in the education system. What is different about the issue of trust in the education system is the assault upon it, sometimes overt but most often subtle. There is a difference between strong criticism and willful manipulation. The nation's schools are responding to the former--perhaps too slowly for…

Gently does it: Humans outperform a software classifier in recognizing subtle, nonstereotypical facial expressions.

PubMed

Yitzhak, Neta; Giladi, Nir; Gurevich, Tanya; Messinger, Daniel S; Prince, Emily B; Martin, Katherine; Aviezer, Hillel

2017-12-01

According to dominant theories of affect, humans innately and universally express a set of emotions using specific configurations of prototypical facial activity. Accordingly, thousands of studies have tested emotion recognition using sets of highly intense and stereotypical facial expressions, yet their incidence in real life is virtually unknown. In fact, a commonplace experience is that emotions are expressed in subtle and nonprototypical forms. Such facial expressions are at the focus of the current study. In Experiment 1, we present the development and validation of a novel stimulus set consisting of dynamic and subtle emotional facial displays conveyed without constraining expressers to using prototypical configurations. Although these subtle expressions were more challenging to recognize than prototypical dynamic expressions, they were still well recognized by human raters, and perhaps most importantly, they were rated as more ecological and naturalistic than the prototypical expressions. In Experiment 2, we examined the characteristics of subtle versus prototypical expressions by subjecting them to a software classifier, which used prototypical basic emotion criteria. Although the software was highly successful at classifying prototypical expressions, it performed very poorly at classifying the subtle expressions. Further validation was obtained from human expert face coders: Subtle stimuli did not contain many of the key facial movements present in prototypical expressions. Together, these findings suggest that emotions may be successfully conveyed to human viewers using subtle nonprototypical expressions. Although classic prototypical facial expressions are well recognized, they appear less naturalistic and may not capture the richness of everyday emotional communication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Intonation processing in congenital amusia: discrimination, identification and imitation.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Patel, Aniruddh D; Fourcin, Adrian; Stewart, Lauren

2010-06-01

This study investigated whether congenital amusia, a neuro-developmental disorder of musical perception, also has implications for speech intonation processing. In total, 16 British amusics and 16 matched controls completed five intonation perception tasks and two pitch threshold tasks. Compared with controls, amusics showed impaired performance on discrimination, identification and imitation of statements and questions that were characterized primarily by pitch direction differences in the final word. This intonation-processing deficit in amusia was largely associated with a psychophysical pitch direction discrimination deficit. These findings suggest that amusia impacts upon one's language abilities in subtle ways, and support previous evidence that pitch processing in language and music involves shared mechanisms.

MindDigger: Feature Identification and Opinion Association for Chinese Movie Reviews

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Lili; Li, Chunping

In this paper, we present a prototype system called MindDigger, which can be used to analyze the opinions in Chinese movie reviews. Different from previous research that employed techniques on product reviews, we focus on Chinese movie reviews, in which opinions are expressed in subtle and varied ways. The system designed in this work aims to extract the opinion expressions and assign them to the corresponding features. The core tasks include feature and opinion extraction, and feature-opinion association. To deal with Chinese effectively, several novel approaches based on syntactic analysis are proposed in this paper. Running results show the performance is satisfactory.

Market frictions: A unified model of search costs and switching costs

PubMed Central

Wilson, Chris M.

2012-01-01

It is well known that search costs and switching costs can create market power by constraining the ability of consumers to change suppliers. While previous research has examined each cost in isolation, this paper demonstrates the benefits of examining the two types of friction in unison. The paper shows how subtle distinctions between the two costs can provide important differences in their effects upon consumer behaviour, competition and welfare. In addition, the paper also illustrates a simple empirical methodology for estimating separate measures of both costs, while demonstrating a potential bias that can arise if only one cost is considered. PMID:25550674

Probing the electronic and local structural changes across the pressure-induced insulator-to-metal transition in VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marini, C.; Bendele, M.; Joseph, B.; Kantor, I.; Mitrano, M.; Mathon, O.; Baldini, M.; Malavasi, L.; Pascarelli, S.; Postorino, P.

2014-11-01

Local and electronic structures of vanadium in \\text{VO}2 are studied across the high-pressure insulator-to-metal (IMT) transition using V K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Unlike the temperature-induced IMT, pressure-induced metallization leads to only subtle changes in the V K-edge prepeak structure, indicating a different mechanism involving smaller electronic spectral weight transfer close to the chemical potential. Intriguingly, upon application of the hydrostatic pressure, the electronic structure begins to show substantial changes well before the occurrence of the IMT and the associated structural transition to an anisotropic compression of the monoclinic metallic phase.

Aversive Disablism: Subtle Prejudice toward Disabled People

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deal, Mark

2007-01-01

Blatant forms of prejudice towards disabled people appear to be disappearing in the UK. However, subtle forms of prejudice remain and may be highly damaging to the achievement of the vision of disabled people being "respected and included as equal members of society". In order to assist placing subtle forms of prejudice within a…

Subtle Alterations in Brain Anatomy May Change an Individual’s Personality in Chronic Pain

PubMed Central

Gustin, Sylvia M.; McKay, Jamie G.; Petersen, Esben T.; Peck, Chris C.; Murray, Greg M.; Henderson, Luke A.

2014-01-01

It is well established that gross prefrontal cortex damage can affect an individual’s personality. It is also possible that subtle prefrontal cortex changes associated with conditions such as chronic pain, and not detectable until recent advances in human brain imaging, may also result in subtle changes in an individual’s personality. In an animal model of chronic neuropathic pain, subtle prefrontal cortex changes including altered basal dendritic length, resulted in altered decision making ability. Using multiple magnetic resonance imaging techniques, we found in humans, although gray matter volume and on-going activity were unaltered, chronic neuropathic pain was associated with reduced free and bound proton movement, indicators of subtle anatomical changes, in the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and mediodorsal thalamus. Furthermore, proton spectroscopy revealed an increase in neural integrity in the medial prefrontal cortex in neuropathic pain patients, the degree of which was significantly correlated to the personality temperament of novelty seeking. These data reveal that even subtle changes in prefrontal cortex anatomy may result in a significant change in an individual’s personality. PMID:25291361

Temporal patterns of rat behaviour in the central platform of the elevated plus maze. Comparative analysis between male subjects of strains with different basal levels of emotionality.

PubMed

Casarrubea, M; Faulisi, F; Caternicchia, F; Santangelo, A; Di Giovanni, G; Benigno, A; Magnusson, M S; Crescimanno, G

2016-08-01

We have analyzed the temporal patterns of behaviour of male rats of the Wistar and DA/Han strains on the central platform of the elevated plus maze. The ethogram encompassed 10 behavioural elements. Durations, frequencies and latencies showed quantitative differences as to walking and sniffing activities. Wistar rats displayed significantly lower latency and significantly higher durations and frequencies of walking activities. DA/Han rats showed a significant increase of sniffing duration. In addition, DA/Han rats showed a significantly higher amount of time spent in the central platform. Multivariate T-pattern analysis revealed differences in the temporal organization of behaviour of the two rat strains. DA/Han rats showed (a) higher behavioural complexity and variability and (b) a significantly higher mean number of T-patterns than Wistar rats. Taken together, T-pattern analysis of behaviour in the centre of the elevated plus maze can noticeably improve the detection of subtle features of anxiety related behaviour. We suggest that T-pattern analysis could be used as sensitive tool to test the action of anxiolytic and anxiogenic manipulations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reverse engineering the ancient ceramic technology based on X-ray fluorescence spectromicroscopy

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

Sciau, Philippe; Leon, Yoanna; Goudeau, Philippe

2011-07-06

We present results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microprobe analyses of ancient ceramic cross-sections aiming at deciphering the different firing protocols used for their production. Micro-focused XRF elemental mapping, Fe chemical mapping and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy were performed on pre-sigillata ceramics from southern Gaul, and terra Sigillata vessels from Italy and southern Gaul. Pieces from the different workshops and regions showed significant difference in the starting clay material, clay conditioning and kiln firing condition. By contrast, sherds from the same workshop exhibited more subtle differences and possible misfirings. Understanding the precise firing conditions and protocols wouldmore » allow recreation of kilns for various productions. Furthermore, evolution and modification of kiln design would shed some light on how ancient potters devised solutions to diverse technological problems they encountered.« less

Functional MRI evidence for fine motor praxis dysfunction in children with persistent speech disorders

PubMed Central

Redle, Erin; Vannest, Jennifer; Maloney, Thomas; Tsevat, Rebecca K.; Eikenberry, Sarah; Lewis, Barbara; Shriberg, Lawrence D.; Tkach, Jean; Holland, Scott K.

2014-01-01

Children with persistent speech disorders (PSD) often present with overt or subtle motor deficits; the possibility that speech disorders and motor deficits could arise from a shared neurological base is currently unknown. Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to examine the brain networks supporting fine motor praxis in children with PSD and without clinically identified fine motor deficits. Methods This case-control study included 12 children with PSD (mean age 7.42 years, 4 female) and 12 controls (mean age 7.44 years, 4 female). Children completed behavioral evaluations using standardized motor assessments and parent reported functional measures. During fMRI scanning, participants completed a cued finger tapping task contrasted passive listening. A general linear model approach identified brain regions associated with finger tapping in each group and regions that differed between groups. The relationship between regional fMRI activation and fine motor skill was assessed using a regression analysis. Results Children with PSD had significantly poorer results for rapid speech production and fine motor praxis skills, but did not differ on classroom functional skills. Functional MRI results showed that children with PSD had significantly more activation in the cerebellum during finger tapping. Positive correlations between performance on a fine motor praxis test and activation multiple cortical regions were noted for children with PSD but not for controls. Conclusions Over-activation in the cerebellum during a motor task may reflect a subtle abnormality in the non-speech motor neural circuitry in children with PSD. PMID:25481413

Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis of Diesel Fuels in a Forensic Investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muhammad, Syahidah; Frew, Russell; Hayman, Alan

2015-02-01

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) offers great potential as a tool to provide chemical evidence in a forensic investigation. Many attempts to trace environmental oil spills were successful where isotopic values were particularly distinct. However, difficulties arise when a large data set is analyzed and the isotopic differences between samples are subtle. In the present study, discrimination of diesel oils involved in a diesel theft case was carried out to infer the relatedness of the samples to potential source samples. This discriminatory analysis used a suite of hydrocarbon diagnostic indices, alkanes, to generate carbon and hydrogen isotopic data of the compositions of the compounds which were then processed using multivariate statistical analyses to infer the relatedness of the data set. The results from this analysis were put into context by comparing the data with the δ13C and δ2H of alkanes in commercial diesel samples obtained from various locations in the South Island of New Zealand. Based on the isotopic character of the alkanes, it is suggested that diesel fuels involved in the diesel theft case were distinguishable. This manuscript shows that CSIA when used in tandem with multivariate statistical analysis provide a defensible means to differentiate and source-apportion qualitatively similar oils at the molecular level. This approach was able to overcome confounding challenges posed by the near single-point source of origin i.e. the very subtle differences in isotopic values between the samples.

Prediction of Developmentally Competent Chromatin Conformation in Mouse Antral Oocytes.

PubMed

Daszkiewicz, Regina; Szymoniak, Magdalena; Gąsior, Łukasz; Polański, Zbigniew

Mouse prophase oocytes isolated from antral follicles may possess two alternative types of chromatin configuration: NSN configuration represents more dispersed chromatin and is characteristic mainly for growing oocytes whereas SN configuration, attained upon oocyte growth, comprises more condensed chromatin with a significant fraction concentrated around the nucleolus. Importantly, fully grown oocytes isolated from antral follicles represent a non-homogenous population in which some oocytes posses NSN-type and others SN-type of chromatin conformation. From these two, only oocytes with SN configuration are able to complete full development upon fertilization. We show that among mouse oocytes isolated from antral follicles, those surrounded by cumulus cells were larger and more frequently possessed SN chromatin than oocytes lacking the complete cumulus cell layer. Females primed with PMSG gave a higher number of oocytes with a complete layer of cumulus cells and the frequency of oocytes with SN chromatin was also elevated. Within the whole population of isolated antral oocytes, we observed subtle variation in size which allowed fractionation of oocytes under a stereomicroscope into groups representing oocytes of slightly different sizes. The occurrence of SN chromatin configuration was highly dependent on the oocyte size and its frequency increased gradually in subsequent size groups reaching 95-100% in the group representing the largest oocytes. These findings demonstrate that the subtle differences in the size of antral oocytes allow prediction of the status of their chromatin, thus providing a simple, fast, non-invasive and non-expensive way to select good quality oocytes for ART purposes in mammals.

Mechanisms Mediating Enhanced Neutralization Efficacy of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B by Combinations of Monoclonal Antibodies*

PubMed Central

Dutta, Kaushik; Varshney, Avanish K.; Franklin, Matthew C.; Goger, Michael; Wang, Xiaobo; Fries, Bettina C.

2015-01-01

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a superantigen that cross-links the major histocompatibility complex class II and specific V-β chains of the T-cell receptor, thus forming a ternary complex. Developing neutralizing mAb to disrupt the ternary complex and abrogate the resulting toxicity is a major therapeutic challenge because SEB is effective at very low concentrations. We show that combining two SEB-specific mAbs enhances their efficacy, even though one of the two mAbs by itself has no effect on neutralization. Crystallography was employed for fine-mapping conformational epitopes in binary and ternary complexes between SEB and Fab fragments. NMR spectroscopy was used to validate and identify subtle allosteric changes induced by mAbs binding to SEB. The mapping of epitopes established that a combination of different mAbs can enhance efficacy of mAb-mediated protection from SEB induced lethal shock by two different mechanisms: one mAb mixture promoted clearance of the toxin both in vitro and in vivo by FcR-mediated cross-linking and clearance, whereas the other mAb mixture induced subtle allosteric conformational changes in SEB that perturbed formation of the SEB·T-cell receptor·major histocompatibility complex class II trimer. Finally structural information accurately predicted mAb binding to other superantigens that share conformational epitopes with SEB. Fine mapping of conformational epitopes is a powerful tool to establish the mechanism and optimize the action of synergistic mAb combinations. PMID:25572397

Physiology modulates social flexibility and collective behaviour in equids and other large ungulates.

PubMed

Gersick, Andrew S; Rubenstein, Daniel I

2017-08-19

Though morphologically very similar, equids across the extant species occupy ecological niches that are surprisingly non-overlapping. Occupancy of these distinct niches appears related to subtle physiological and behavioural adaptations which, in turn, correspond to significant differences in the social behaviours and emergent social systems characterizing the different species. Although instances of intraspecific behavioural variation in equids demonstrate that the same body plan can support a range of social structures, each of these morphologically similar species generally shows robust fidelity to its evolved social system. The pattern suggests a subtle relationship between physiological phenotypes and behavioural flexibility. While environmental conditions can vary widely within relatively short temporal or spatial scales, physiological changes and changes to the behaviours that regulate physiological processes, are constrained to longer cycles of adaptation. Physiology is then the limiting variable in the interaction between ecological variation and behavioural and socio-structural flexibility. Behavioural and socio-structural flexibility, in turn, will generate important feedbacks that will govern physiological function, thus creating a coupled web of interactions that can lead to changes in individual and collective behaviour. Longitudinal studies of equid and other large-bodied ungulate populations under environmental stress, such as those discussed here, may offer the best opportunities for researchers to examine, in real time, the interplay between individual behavioural plasticity, socio-structural flexibility, and the physiological and genetic changes that together produce adaptive change.This article is part of the themed issue 'Physiological determinants of social behaviour in animals'. © 2017 The Author(s).

Compound-specific isotope analysis of diesel fuels in a forensic investigation

PubMed Central

Muhammad, Syahidah A.; Frew, Russell D.; Hayman, Alan R.

2015-01-01

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) offers great potential as a tool to provide chemical evidence in a forensic investigation. Many attempts to trace environmental oil spills were successful where isotopic values were particularly distinct. However, difficulties arise when a large data set is analyzed and the isotopic differences between samples are subtle. In the present study, discrimination of diesel oils involved in a diesel theft case was carried out to infer the relatedness of the samples to potential source samples. This discriminatory analysis used a suite of hydrocarbon diagnostic indices, alkanes, to generate carbon and hydrogen isotopic data of the compositions of the compounds which were then processed using multivariate statistical analyses to infer the relatedness of the data set. The results from this analysis were put into context by comparing the data with the δ13C and δ2H of alkanes in commercial diesel samples obtained from various locations in the South Island of New Zealand. Based on the isotopic character of the alkanes, it is suggested that diesel fuels involved in the diesel theft case were distinguishable. This manuscript shows that CSIA when used in tandem with multivariate statistical analysis provide a defensible means to differentiate and source-apportion qualitatively similar oils at the molecular level. This approach was able to overcome confounding challenges posed by the near single-point source of origin, i.e., the very subtle differences in isotopic values between the samples. PMID:25774366

Mechanisms mediating enhanced neutralization efficacy of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B by combinations of monoclonal antibodies

DOE PAGES

Dutta, Kaushik; Varshney, Avanish K.; Franklin, Matthew C.; ...

2015-01-08

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a superantigen that cross-links the major histocompatibility complex class II and specific V-β chains of the T-cell receptor, thus forming a ternary complex. Developing neutralizing mAb to disrupt the ternary complex and abrogate the resulting toxicity is a major therapeutic challenge because SEB is effective at very low concentrations. We show that combining two SEB-specific mAbs enhances their efficacy, even though one of the two mAbs by itself has no effect on neutralization. Crystallography was employed for fine-mapping conformational epitopes in binary and ternary complexes between SEB and Fab fragments. NMR spectroscopy was used tomore » validate and identify subtle allosteric changes induced by mAbs binding to SEB. The mapping of epitopes established that a combination of different mAbs can enhance efficacy of mAb-mediated protection from SEB induced lethal shock by two different mechanisms: one mAb mixture promoted clearance of the toxin both in vitro and in vivo by FcR-mediated cross-linking and clearance, whereas the other mAb mixture induced subtle allosteric conformational changes in SEB that perturbed formation of the SEB·T-cell receptor·major histocompatibility complex class II trimer. Lastly structural information accurately predicted mAb binding to other superantigens that share conformational epitopes with SEB. Fine mapping of conformational epitopes is a powerful tool to establish the mechanism and optimize the action of synergistic mAb combinations.« less

Nine Galileo Views in Exaggerated Color of Main-Belt Asteroid Ida

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

This set of color images of asteroid 243 Ida was taken by the imaging system on the Galileo spacecraft as it approached and raced past the asteroid on August 28, 1993. These images were taken through the 4100-angstrom (violet), 7560-angstrom (infrared) and 9680- angstrom (infrared) filters and have been processed to show Ida in exaggerated color to bring out subtle color contrasts caused by small variations in composition and surface microtexture of the asteroid's soil. In natural color Ida appears gray with slight overtones of red or brown. Stark shadows portray Ida's irregular shape, which changes its silhouetted outline when seen from different angles. More subtle shadings reveal surface topography (such as craters) and differences in the physical state and composition of the soil ('regolith'). Note in particular the color differences associated with the rims and floors of certain impact craters, which may have excavated to layers of slightly differing composition or may have ingested material from impactors of different compositions. Analysis of the images show that Ida is 58 kilometers long and 23 kilometers wide (36 x 14 miles). Ida is the first asteroid discovered to have a natural satellite, Dactyl (not shown here). Ida and Dactyl are heavily cratered by impacts with smaller asteroids and comets, including some of the same populations of small objects that bombard Earth. These data, combined with reflectance spectra from Galileo's near-infrared mapping spectrometer, may allow scientists to determine whether Ida is a relatively unaltered primitive object made of material condensed from the primordial Solar Nebula at the origin of the Solar System or whether it has been altered by strong heating--evidence interpreted so far suggests that Ida is a piece of a larger object that has been severely heated. Whereas heating and melting of large planets is well understood, the cause of heating of small asteroids is more enigmatic--it may have involved exotic processes that occurred only for a short time after the birth of the Sun and its planets.

Oriental approaches to masculine and feminine subtle energy principles.

PubMed

Telles, Shirley

2005-04-01

According to ancient Indian and Chinese texts the subtle energy (prana or chi) flows through several thousand anatomically indistinguishable channels or meridians (nadis). Three channels are especially important (ida, pingala, and sushumna). The ida and pingala channels correlate with left and right uninostril breathing, respectively. Like yin and yang, they are considered to represent the masculine and feminine principles present in all creation irrespective of sex. From this perspective these principles are assumed to be present simultaneously in persons of both sexes. This suggests that any sex-specific effects of uninostril breathing may be associated with sex-based physiological differences, not with 'masculine' and 'feminine' attributes of the channels (and the corresponding nostrils).

Geo-Engineering through Internet Informatics (GEMINI)

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

Watney, W. Lynn; Doveton, John H.; Victorine, John R.

GEMINI will resolve reservoir parameters that control well performance; characterize subtle reservoir properties important in understanding and modeling hydrocarbon pore volume and fluid flow; expedite recognition of bypassed, subtle, and complex oil and gas reservoirs at regional and local scale; differentiate commingled reservoirs; build integrated geologic and engineering model based on real-time, iterate solutions to evaluate reservoir management options for improved recovery; provide practical tools to assist the geoscientist, engineer, and petroleum operator in making their tasks more efficient and effective; enable evaluations to be made at different scales, ranging from individual well, through lease, field, to play and regionmore » (scalable information infrastructure); and provide training and technology transfer to evaluate capabilities of the client.« less

Detecting subtle hydrochemical anomalies with multivariate statistics: an example from homogeneous groundwaters in the Great Artesian Basin, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Shea, Bethany; Jankowski, Jerzy

2006-12-01

The major ion composition of Great Artesian Basin groundwater in the lower Namoi River valley is relatively homogeneous in chemical composition. Traditional graphical techniques have been combined with multivariate statistical methods to determine whether subtle differences in the chemical composition of these waters can be delineated. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis were successful in delineating minor variations within the groundwaters of the study area that were not visually identified in the graphical techniques applied. Hydrochemical interpretation allowed geochemical processes to be identified in each statistically defined water type and illustrated how these groundwaters differ from one another. Three main geochemical processes were identified in the groundwaters: ion exchange, precipitation, and mixing between waters from different sources. Both statistical methods delineated an anomalous sample suspected of being influenced by magmatic CO2 input. The use of statistical methods to complement traditional graphical techniques for waters appearing homogeneous is emphasized for all investigations of this type. Copyright

Detail on Dione False color

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-01-27

The leading hemisphere of Dione displays subtle variations in color across its surface in this false color view. To create this view, ultraviolet, green and infrared images were combined into a single black and white picture that isolates and maps regional color differences. This "color map" was then superposed over a clear-filter image. The origin of the color differences is not yet understood, but may be caused by subtle differences in the surface composition or the sizes of grains making up the icy soil. Terrain visible here is on the moon's leading hemisphere. North on Dione (1,126 kilometers, or 700 miles across) is up and rotated 17 degrees to the right. All images were acquired with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Dec. 24, 2005 at a distance of approximately 597,000 kilometers (371,000 miles) from Dione and at a Sun-Dione-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 21 degrees. Image scale is 4 kilometers (2 miles) per pixel. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07688

The Destiny of Cells: Mechanisms and Implications of Senescence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cristofalo, Vincent J.

1985-01-01

Approaches the regulation of aging by perturbing the rate of senescent changes in studying how the modulating agent exerts its effects. Shows that very subtle molecular changes may be involved in the overall regulation of cellular aging. (Author/BL)

Shaded Relief with Height as Color and Landsat, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-03-06

The top picture is a shaded relief image of the northwest corner of Mexico Yucatan Peninsula generated from NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission SRTM data, and shows a subtle, but unmistakable, indication of the Chicxulub impact crater.

Ultrastructural diversity between centrioles of eukaryotes.

PubMed

Gupta, Akshari; Kitagawa, Daiju

2018-02-16

Several decades of centriole research have revealed the beautiful symmetry present in these microtubule-based organelles, which are required to form centrosomes, cilia, and flagella in many eukaryotes. Centriole architecture is largely conserved across most organisms, however, individual centriolar features such as the central cartwheel or microtubule walls exhibit considerable variability when examined with finer resolution. Here, we review the ultrastructural characteristics of centrioles in commonly studied organisms, highlighting the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between specific structural components of these centrioles. Additionally, we survey some non-canonical centriole structures that have been discovered in various species, from the coaxial bicentrioles of protists and lower land plants to the giant irregular centrioles of the fungus gnat Sciara. Finally, we speculate on the functional significance of these differences between centrioles, and the contribution of individual structural elements such as the cartwheel or microtubules towards the stability of centrioles.Centriole structure, cartwheel, triplet microtubules, SAS-6, centrosome.

Resource Scarcity and Prescriptive Attitudes Generate Subtle, Intergenerational Older-Worker Exclusion

PubMed Central

North, Michael S.; Fiske, Susan T.

2016-01-01

Prior work describes specific, prescriptive resource tensions between generations, comprising active Succession, passive Consumption, and symbolic Identity (SCI; North & Fiske, 2013a, 2013b). The current paper focuses on how these domains potentially drive intergenerational exclusion in work-related networking and training spheres. Studies 1a–1c—each focusing on a different SCI domain—manipulated perceived resource availability between generations, then introduced a professional networking opportunity. Across studies, scarcity reduced the likelihood of young participants’ networking engagement with older workers who violated SCI resource expectations. Study 2 impelled participants to allocate scarce training resources among three similarly qualified but different-aged employees (younger, middle-aged, and older). Older workers received the lowest such investment, particularly among younger participants—an effect driven by Succession beliefs, per mediation analyses. Overall, the findings emphasize resource tensions in driving older workers’ subtle exclusion by younger generations; minimizing such tensions will be critical for aging, increasingly intergenerational workplaces. PMID:27499555

Displaying chest X-ray by beamer or monitor: comparison of diagnostic accuracy for subtle abnormalities.

PubMed

Kuiper, L M; Thijs, A; Smulders, Y M

2012-01-01

The advent of beamer projection of radiological images raises the issue of whether such projection compromises diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether beamer projection of chest X-rays is inferior to monitor display. We selected 53 chest X-rays with subtle abnormalities and 15 normal X-rays. The images were independently judged by a senior radiologist and a senior pulmonologist with a state-of-art computer monitor. We used their unanimous or consensus judgment as the reference test. Subsequently, four observers (one senior pulmonologist, one senior radiologist and one resident from each speciality) judged these X-rays on a standard clinical computer monitor and with beamer projection. We compared the number of correct results for each method. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity did not differ between monitor and beamer projection. Separate analyses in senior and junior examiners suggested that senior examiners had a moderate loss of diagnostic accuracy (8% lower sensitivity, pp<0.05, and 6% lower specificity, p=ns) associated with the use of beamer projection, whereas juniors showed similar performance on both imaging modalities. These initial data suggest that beamer projection may be associated with a small loss of diagnostic accuracy in specific subgroups of physicians. This finding illustrates the need for more extensive studies.

Gait Profile Score in multiple sclerosis patients with low disability.

PubMed

Morel, Eric; Allali, Gilles; Laidet, Magali; Assal, Frédéric; Lalive, Patrice H; Armand, Stéphane

2017-01-01

Gait abnormalities are subtle in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with low disability and need to be better determined. As a biomechanical approach, the Gait Profile Score (GPS) is used to assess gait quality by combining nine gait kinematic variables in one single value. This study aims i) to establish if the GPS can detect gait impairments and ii) to compare GPS with discrete spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters in low-disabled MS patients. Thirty-four relapsing-remitting MS patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤2 (mean age 36.32±8.72 years; 12 men, 22 women; mean EDSS 1.19±0.8) and twenty-two healthy controls (mean age 36.85±7.87 years; 6 men, 16 women) matched for age, weight, height, body mass index and gender underwent an instrumented gait analysis. No significant difference in GPS values and in spatiotemporal parameters was found between patients and controls. However patients showed a significant alteration at the ankle and pelvis level. GPS fails to identify gait abnormalities in low-disabled MS patients, although kinematic analysis revealed subtle gait alterations. Future studies should investigate other methods to assess gait impairments with a gait score in low-disabled MS patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Light driven mesoscale assembly of a coordination polymeric gelator into flowers and stars with distinct properties† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Text, figures, and tables depicting different synthetic procedures, detailed experimental procedures, characterisation data including FT-IR, microscopic analyses, TGA, EDAX and SAED analyses, pore size distribution. See DOI: 10.1039/c5sc02233a Click here for additional data file.

PubMed Central

Mukhopadhyay, Rahul Dev; Praveen, Vakayil K.; Hazra, Arpan; Maji, Tapas Kumar

2015-01-01

Control over the self-assembly process of porous organic–inorganic hybrids often leads to unprecedented polymorphism and properties. Herein we demonstrate how light can be a powerful tool to intervene in the kinetically controlled mesoscale self-assembly of a coordination polymeric gelator. Ultraviolet light induced coordination modulation via photoisomerisation of an azobenzene based dicarboxylate linker followed by aggregation mediated crystal growth resulted in two distinct morphological forms (flowers and stars), which show subtle differences in their physical properties. PMID:28757961

Phase shift of oscillatory magnetoresistance in a double-cross thin film structure of La0.3Pr0.4Ca0.3MnO3 via strain-engineered elongation of electronic domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alagoz, H. S.; Prasad, B.; Jeon, J.; Blamire, M. G.; Chow, K. H.; Jung, J.

2018-02-01

The subtle balance between the competing electronic phases in manganites due to complex interplay between spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedom could allow one to modify the properties of electronically phase separated systems. In this paper, we show that the phase shift in the oscillatory magnetoresistance ρ (θ ) can be modified by engineering strain driven elongation of electronic domains in La0.3Pr0.4Ca0.3MnO3 (LPCMO) thin films. Strain-driven elongation of magnetic domains can produce different percolation paths and hence different anisotropic magnetoresistance responses. This tunability provides a unique control that is unattainable in conventional 3 d ferromagnetic metals and alloys.

Schoolyard Geology as a Bridge between Urban Thinkers and the Natural World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

d'Alessio, Matthew A.

2012-01-01

Students who have a strong urban place-identity may perceive the natural world differently from many geoscience instructors. These urban thinkers have less experience in the natural world and are more comfortable in built environments. They may have subtle differences in cognitive and spatial skill development, interest level in the natural…

A Change in Seasons: Increasing Student Observation Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sterling, Donna R.

2006-01-01

Using the seasons in the science classroom increases student observation skills as they focus on subtle differences such as shades of color and differences in structures. In this article, the author presents a variety of activities that can help students identify and demonstrate patterns and changes in leaf or plant development. The ability to…

Subtle Changes in Motif Positioning Cause Tissue-Specific Effects on Robustness of an Enhancer's Activity

PubMed Central

Erceg, Jelena; Saunders, Timothy E.; Girardot, Charles; Devos, Damien P.; Hufnagel, Lars; Furlong, Eileen E. M.

2014-01-01

Deciphering the specific contribution of individual motifs within cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) is crucial to understanding how gene expression is regulated and how this process is affected by sequence variation. But despite vast improvements in the ability to identify where transcription factors (TFs) bind throughout the genome, we are limited in our ability to relate information on motif occupancy to function from sequence alone. Here, we engineered 63 synthetic CRMs to systematically assess the relationship between variation in the content and spacing of motifs within CRMs to CRM activity during development using Drosophila transgenic embryos. In over half the cases, very simple elements containing only one or two types of TF binding motifs were capable of driving specific spatio-temporal patterns during development. Different motif organizations provide different degrees of robustness to enhancer activity, ranging from binary on-off responses to more subtle effects including embryo-to-embryo and within-embryo variation. By quantifying the effects of subtle changes in motif organization, we were able to model biophysical rules that explain CRM behavior and may contribute to the spatial positioning of CRM activity in vivo. For the same enhancer, the effects of small differences in motif positions varied in developmentally related tissues, suggesting that gene expression may be more susceptible to sequence variation in one tissue compared to another. This result has important implications for human eQTL studies in which many associated mutations are found in cis-regulatory regions, though the mechanism for how they affect tissue-specific gene expression is often not understood. PMID:24391522

Mars-Flyby Comet in False Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-11-07

This frame from a movie sequence of images from NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MRO shows comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring before and after its close pass by Mars in October 2014. False color enhances subtle variations in brightness in the comet coma.

Efficient subtle motion detection from high-speed video for sound recovery and vibration analysis using singular value decomposition-based approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dashan; Guo, Jie; Jin, Yi; Zhu, Chang'an

2017-09-01

High-speed cameras provide full field measurement of structure motions and have been applied in nondestructive testing and noncontact structure monitoring. Recently, a phase-based method has been proposed to extract sound-induced vibrations from phase variations in videos, and this method provides insights into the study of remote sound surveillance and material analysis. An efficient singular value decomposition (SVD)-based approach is introduced to detect sound-induced subtle motions from pixel intensities in silent high-speed videos. A high-speed camera is initially applied to capture a video of the vibrating objects stimulated by sound fluctuations. Then, subimages collected from a small region on the captured video are reshaped into vectors and reconstructed to form a matrix. Orthonormal image bases (OIBs) are obtained from the SVD of the matrix; available vibration signal can then be obtained by projecting subsequent subimages onto specific OIBs. A simulation test is initiated to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. Two experiments are conducted to demonstrate the potential applications in sound recovery and material analysis. Results show that the proposed method efficiently detects subtle motions from the video.

Detection of subtle nocturnal motor activity from 3-D accelerometry recordings in epilepsy patients.

PubMed

Nijsen, Tamara M E; Cluitmans, Pierre J M; Arends, Johan B A M; Griep, Paul A M

2007-11-01

This paper presents a first step towards reliable detection of nocturnal epileptic seizures based on 3-D accelerometry (ACM) recordings. The main goal is to distinguish between data with and without subtle nocturnal motor activity, thus reducing the amount of data that needs further (more complex) analysis for seizure detection. From 15 ACM signals (measured on five positions on the body), two features are computed, the variance and the jerk. In the resulting 2-D feature space, a linear threshold function is used for classification. For training and testing, the algorithm ACM data along with video data is used from nocturnal registrations in seven mentally retarded patients with severe epilepsy. Per patient, the algorithm detected 100% of the periods of motor activity that are marked in video recordings and the ACM signals by experts. From all the detections, 43%-89% was correct (mean =65%). We were able to reduce the amount of data that need to be analyzed considerably. The results show that our approach can be used for detection of subtle nocturnal motor activity. Furthermore, our results indicate that our algorithm is robust for fluctuations across patients. Consequently, there is no need for training the algorithm for each new patient.

High resolution replication banding combined with in situ hybridization for the delineation of a subtle chromosome rearrangement.

PubMed

Qumsiyeh, M B; Wilroy, R S; Peeden, J N; Tharapel, A T

1991-10-01

Molecular cytogenetic techniques were used to delineate a subtle chromosome rearrangement in an infant with growth and psychomotor retardation, abnormal scalp hair pattern, narrow palpebral fissures, broad nasal bridge, bulbous nose, small nostrils, thin lips in a cupid's bow configuration, bilateral simian creases, and unilateral cryptorchidism. Analysis using GTG-banded chromosomes at about 400 band level showed no obvious abnormality. Prometaphase analysis at about 600 band level showed an extra band at 14q32 on GTG-banding. The father had the same extra band suggesting a reciprocal translocation but the second chromosome involved in the translocation could not be identified. High resolution replication banding on the father's lymphocytes showed a balanced reciprocal translocation 46,XY,rcp(8;14)(q24.1;q32.1). The translocation was confirmed by in situ hybridization with an immunoglobulin heavy chain probe which maps to 14q32.3. The infant therefore had duplication of 8q24.1----qter and deficiency of 14q32.1----qter. His phenotype resembled that of patients with partial duplications of the distal long arm of chromosome 8.

Crystal Structures of Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 From Penicillin-Susceptible And -Resistant Strains of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Reveal An Unexpectedly Subtle Mechanism for Antibiotic Resistance

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

Powell, A.J.; Tomberg, J.; Deacon, A.M.

Penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) from N. gonorrhoeae is the major molecular target for {beta}-lactam antibiotics used to treat gonococcal infections. PBP2 from penicillin-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae harbors an aspartate insertion after position 345 (Asp-345a) and 4-8 additional mutations, but how these alter the architecture of the protein is unknown. We have determined the crystal structure of PBP2 derived from the penicillin-susceptible strain FA19, which shows that the likely effect of Asp-345a is to alter a hydrogen-bonding network involving Asp-346 and the SXN triad at the active site. We have also solved the crystal structure of PBP2 derived from themore » penicillin-resistant strain FA6140 that contains four mutations near the C terminus of the protein. Although these mutations lower the second order rate of acylation for penicillin by 5-fold relative to wild type, comparison of the two structures shows only minor structural differences, with the positions of the conserved residues in the active site essentially the same in both. Kinetic analyses indicate that two mutations, P551S and F504L, are mainly responsible for the decrease in acylation rate. Melting curves show that the four mutations lower the thermal stability of the enzyme. Overall, these data suggest that the molecular mechanism underlying antibiotic resistance contributed by the four mutations is subtle and involves a small but measurable disordering of residues in the active site region that either restricts the binding of antibiotic or impedes conformational changes that are required for acylation by {beta}-lactam antibiotics.« less

Growth modulation effects of CBM2a under the control of AtEXP4 and CaMV35S promoters in Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

PubMed

Keadtidumrongkul, Pornthep; Suttangkakul, Anongpat; Pinmanee, Phitsanu; Pattana, Kanokwan; Kittiwongwattana, Chokchai; Apisitwanich, Somsak; Vuttipongchaikij, Supachai

2017-08-01

The expression of cell-wall-targeted Carbohydrate Binding Modules (CBMs) can alter cell wall properties and modulate growth and development in plants such as tobacco and potato. CBM2a identified in xylanase 10A from Cellulomonas fimi is of particular interest for its ability to bind crystalline cellulose. However, its potential for promoting plant growth has not been explored. In this work, we tested the ability of CBM2a to promote growth when expressed using both CaMV35S and a vascular tissue-specific promoter derived from Arabidopsis expansin4 (AtEXP4) in three plant species: Arabidopsis, Nicotiana tabacum and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. In Arabidopsis, the expression of AtEXP4pro:CBM2a showed trends for growth promoting effects including the increase of root and hypocotyl lengths and the enlargements of the vascular xylem area, fiber cells and vessel cells. However, in N. tabacum, the expression of CBM2a under the control of either CaMV35S or AtEXP4 promoter resulted in subtle changes in the plant growth, and the thickness of secondary xylem and vessel and fiber cell sizes were generally reduced in the transgenic lines with AtEXP4pro:CBM2a. In Eucalyptus, while transgenics expressing CaMV35S:CBM2a showed very subtle changes compared to wild type, those transgenics with AtEXP4pro:CBM2a showed increases in plant height, enlargement of xylem areas and xylem fiber and vessel cells. These data provide comparative effects of expressing CBM2a protein in different plant species, and this finding can be applied for plant biomass improvement.

Water: Communicator In Moon-Earth Relationships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Joan S.

The Moon's myriad effects upon Earth have been objects of fascination, and subjects for literary works and scientific speculation throughout history. Although many of Moon's influences upon Earth involve water, tidal movement is clearly the most readily associated effect. While very obvious, it however represents only one of a multitude of ways in which lunar forces effect this planet, and all life upon it. Much less apparent, though essential for all of life, is the wide spectrum of subtle fluctuating influences upon the water in the cells of living systems. Water's capacity to respond to extremely subtle changes in physical influences (such as gravitational fields), as associated with Moon phases (N.B. also with planetary constellations and sunspot activity), enables it to communicate such inputs to living systems. The periodicity of changes in natural systems has been of interest to man throughout history. However, only in more recent times has insight into water's behaviour led to its being recognised as a link between the periodicities seen in abiotic (Moon and other planetary) systems and biotic systems. Particular attention has long been paid to systematic fluctuations in agriculture and forestry: Different growth patterns are observed in connection with the Moon phases (and zodiac constellations) at planting time; different characteristics (e.g., fire resistance, pliability, firmness, etc.) of wood are seen in trees harvested at different phases and constellations. . The usefulness of such correlations has influenced planting and harvesting patterns in more traditional-oriented agriculture and forestry. Its acceptance by science has, however, been long in coming. The case similar, as regards physiological fluctuations observed in the medical field. A documented case in point is the correlation between the Moon-phase and risk of hemorrhage during surgery: This is one of many observations on periodicity in body functions, which deserve more research attention than they receive. . Direct measurements of physical parameters of water (such as surface tension, solution constants), which respond to subtle influences, such as weak magnetic fields, could concievably benefit insight into the role of water as communicator of `information' to both biotic and abiotic systems. The same approach would apply for research on other sources of subtle influences such as planetary constellations and sunspot activity (N.B. this is well documented in its effects upon aqueous reactions; the eleven year periodicity is clearly recognisable). . In turn, insight into water's role could lead to more recognition and acceptance of such significant, though subtle, effects upon living systems … and with this, a more appropriate consideration of their consequences and their relevance for many of man's activities. . The fact that science has been so reticent to recognize and accept the lunar effects upon the Earth and its inhabitants, is in part due to its insufficient understanding of water. Current research on its structure and its behaviour can help us understand how water can serve as communicator of information between Moon and Earth. And thus also to recognise the significance of the subtle, life-supporting regulation the Moon provides to our planet.

Stranger Danger Awareness in Williams Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riby, D. M.; Kirk, H.; Hanley, M.; Riby, L. M.

2014-01-01

Background: The developmental disorder Williams syndrome (WS) is characterised by a distinctive cognitive profile and an intriguing social phenotype. Individuals with the disorder are often highly social engaging with familiar and unfamiliar people and once in an interaction they often show subtle abnormalities of social behaviour. Atypically…

Learning Category-Specific Dictionary and Shared Dictionary for Fine-Grained Image Categorization.

PubMed

Gao, Shenghua; Tsang, Ivor Wai-Hung; Ma, Yi

2014-02-01

This paper targets fine-grained image categorization by learning a category-specific dictionary for each category and a shared dictionary for all the categories. Such category-specific dictionaries encode subtle visual differences among different categories, while the shared dictionary encodes common visual patterns among all the categories. To this end, we impose incoherence constraints among the different dictionaries in the objective of feature coding. In addition, to make the learnt dictionary stable, we also impose the constraint that each dictionary should be self-incoherent. Our proposed dictionary learning formulation not only applies to fine-grained classification, but also improves conventional basic-level object categorization and other tasks such as event recognition. Experimental results on five data sets show that our method can outperform the state-of-the-art fine-grained image categorization frameworks as well as sparse coding based dictionary learning frameworks. All these results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.

Europa Global Views in Natural and Enhanced Colors

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-05-08

This color composite view combines violet, green, and infrared images of Jupiter intriguing moon, Europa, for a view of the moon in natural color left and in enhanced color designed to bring out subtle color differences in the surface right.

Apparatus and method for spectroscopic analysis of scattering media

DOEpatents

Strobl, Karlheinz; Bigio, Irving J.; Loree, Thomas R.

1994-01-01

Apparatus and method for spectroscopic analysis of scattering media. Subtle differences in materials have been found to be detectable from plots of intensity as a function of wavelength of collected emitted and scattered light versus wavelength of excitation light.

Subtle Changes in Peptide Conformation Profoundly Affect Recognition of the Non-Classical MHC Class I Molecule HLA-E by the CD94-NKG2 Natural Killer Cell Receptors

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

Hoare, Hilary L; Sullivan, Lucy C; Clements, Craig S

2008-03-31

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I molecule that binds peptides derived from the leader sequences of other HLA class I molecules. Natural killer cell recognition of these HLA-E molecules, via the CD94-NKG2 natural killer family, represents a central innate mechanism for monitoring major histocompatibility complex expression levels within a cell. The leader sequence-derived peptides bound to HLA-E exhibit very limited polymorphism, yet subtle differences affect the recognition of HLA-E by the CD94-NKG2 receptors. To better understand the basis for this peptide-specific recognition, we determined the structure of HLA-E in complex with two leader peptides,more » namely, HLA-Cw*07 (VMAPRALLL), which is poorly recognised by CD94-NKG2 receptors, and HLA-G*01 (VMAPRTLFL), a high-affinity ligand of CD94-NKG2 receptors. A comparison of these structures, both of which were determined to 2.5-Å resolution, revealed that allotypic variations in the bound leader sequences do not result in conformational changes in the HLA-E heavy chain, although subtle changes in the conformation of the peptide within the binding groove of HLA-E were evident. Accordingly, our data indicate that the CD94-NKG2 receptors interact with HLA-E in a manner that maximises the ability of the receptors to discriminate between subtle changes in both the sequence and conformation of peptides bound to HLA-E.« less

Fluid Registration of Diffusion Tensor Images Using Information Theory

PubMed Central

Chiang, Ming-Chang; Leow, Alex D.; Klunder, Andrea D.; Dutton, Rebecca A.; Barysheva, Marina; Rose, Stephen E.; McMahon, Katie L.; de Zubicaray, Greig I.; Toga, Arthur W.; Thompson, Paul M.

2008-01-01

We apply an information-theoretic cost metric, the symmetrized Kullback-Leibler (sKL) divergence, or J-divergence, to fluid registration of diffusion tensor images. The difference between diffusion tensors is quantified based on the sKL-divergence of their associated probability density functions (PDFs). Three-dimensional DTI data from 34 subjects were fluidly registered to an optimized target image. To allow large image deformations but preserve image topology, we regularized the flow with a large-deformation diffeomorphic mapping based on the kinematics of a Navier-Stokes fluid. A driving force was developed to minimize the J-divergence between the deforming source and target diffusion functions, while reorienting the flowing tensors to preserve fiber topography. In initial experiments, we showed that the sKL-divergence based on full diffusion PDFs is adaptable to higher-order diffusion models, such as high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI). The sKL-divergence was sensitive to subtle differences between two diffusivity profiles, showing promise for nonlinear registration applications and multisubject statistical analysis of HARDI data. PMID:18390342

The cross-correlation analysis of multi property of stock markets based on MM-DFA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yujun; Li, Jianping; Yang, Yimei

2017-09-01

In this paper, we propose a new method called DH-MXA based on distribution histograms of Hurst surface and multiscale multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. The method allows us to investigate the cross-correlation characteristics among multiple properties of different stock time series. It may provide a new way of measuring the nonlinearity of several signals. It also can provide a more stable and faithful description of cross-correlation of multiple properties of stocks. The DH-MXA helps us to present much richer information than multifractal detrented cross-correlation analysis and allows us to assess many universal and subtle cross-correlation characteristics of stock markets. We show DH-MXA by selecting four artificial data sets and five properties of four stock time series from different countries. The results show that our proposed method can be adapted to investigate the cross-correlation of stock markets. In general, the American stock markets are more mature and less volatile than the Chinese stock markets.

A greedy-navigator approach to navigable city plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sang Hoon; Holme, Petter

2013-01-01

We use a set of four theoretical navigability indices for street maps to investigate the shape of the resulting street networks, if they are grown by optimizing these indices. The indices compare the performance of simulated navigators (having a partial information about the surroundings, like humans in many real situations) to the performance of optimally navigating individuals. We show that our simple greedy shortcut construction strategy generates the emerging structures that are different from real road network, but not inconceivable. The resulting city plans, for all navigation indices, share common qualitative properties such as the tendency for triangular blocks to appear, while the more quantitative features, such as degree distributions and clustering, are characteristically different depending on the type of metrics and routing strategies. We show that it is the type of metrics used which determines the overall shapes characterized by structural heterogeneity, but the routing schemes contribute to more subtle details of locality, which is more emphasized in case of unrestricted connections when the edge crossing is allowed.

Are there subtle genome-wide epigenetic alterations in normal offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies?

PubMed

Batcheller, April; Cardozo, Eden; Maguire, Marcy; DeCherney, Alan H; Segars, James H

2011-12-01

To review recent data regarding subtle, but widespread, epigenetic alterations in phenotypically normal offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) compared with offspring conceived in vivo. A PubMed computer search was performed to identify relevant articles. Research institution. Not applicable. None. Not applicable. Studies in animals indicate that in vitro culture may be associated with widespread alterations in imprinted genes compared with in vivo-conceived offspring. Recently, studies in humans have likewise demonstrated widespread changes in DNA methylation, including genes linked to adipocyte development, insulin signaling, and obesity in offspring conceived by ART compared with in vivo-conceived children. Changes in multiple imprinted genes after ART also were noted in additional studies, which suggested that the diagnosis of infertility may explain the differences between in vivo-conceived and ART offspring. These data suggest that ART is associated with widespread epigenetic modifications in phenotypically normal children, and that these modifications may increase the risk of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate the possible relationship between ART, genome-wide alterations in imprinted genes, and their potential relevance to subtle cardiometabolic consequences reported in ART offspring. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type, dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorders: differential patterns of neurodevelopmental deficits.

PubMed

Vance, Alasdair; Arduca, Yolanda; Sanders, Michelle; Karamitsios, Mary; Hall, Nicole; Hetrick, Sarah

2006-08-30

The associations between neurodevelopmental deficits (NDD) and (1) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD-CT) and (2) internalising disorders have been replicated. To date, the specific association between standardized NDD and carefully defined ADHD-CT alone, dysthymic disorder alone and anxiety disorders alone has not been systematically investigated in children of primary school age. A cross-sectional study of NDD in 99 six- to 12-year-old children with categorically and dimensionally defined ADHD-CT alone, dysthymic disorder alone and anxiety disorders alone and 20 age-matched healthy children was undertaken. The ADHD-CT and dysthymic disorder groups had increased total neurological subtle signs, compared to the anxiety disorders group, which, in turn, had increased total neurological subtle signs compared with the healthy children. Interestingly, the dysthymic disorder children had increased conjugate eye gaze difficulties compared with the other three groups. The differences remained after controlling for full scale IQ. These findings suggest a neurobiological underpinning of dysthymic disorder, while confirming that of ADHD-CT in primary school age children. Future studies will explore whether the above more specific neurological subtle signs are developmental phase specific or independent associations.

A Genre-Based Investigation of Discussion Sections of Research Articles in Dentistry and Disciplinary Variation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basturkmen, Helen

2012-01-01

Outwardly the rhetorical organisation of sections of research reports in different disciplines can appear similar. Close examination, however, may reveal subtle differences. Numerous studies have drawn on the genre-based approach developed by Swales (1990, 2004) to investigate the schematic structure of sections of articles in a range of…

Nuanced Understandings of Privatization in Local Authorities' Services to Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyask, Ruth

2015-01-01

This article draws upon findings from the New Relations between Local Authorities (LAs) and Schools project to identify ideological and value-based differences between the models of service to schools adopted within four case study LAs. While each of the LAs has developed a privatized model of service, there are subtle differences between the…

A note on contagion indices for landscape analysis

Treesearch

Kurt H. Riitters; Robert V. O' Neill; James D. Wickham; K. Bruce Jones

1996-01-01

The landscape contagion index measures the degree of clumping of attributes on raster maps. The index is computed from the frequencies by which different pairs of attributes occur as adjacent pixels on a map. Because there are subtle differences in the way the attribute adjacencies may be tabulated, the standard index formula may not always apply, and published index...

The Impact of Gender, Perceived Female Isolation and Beliefs in Traditional Roles for Women on Job Satisfaction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barclay, Lizabeth A.; And Others

Past research has detailed conflicting results in investigations of sex differences and job satisfaction. To explain sex differences and job satisfaction within the framework of subtle treatment discrimination (a situation variable) and beliefs about roles for women (a person variable), 1578 employees of a large corporation completed demographic…

Wearable Wide-Range Strain Sensors Based on Ionic Liquids and Monitoring of Human Activities

PubMed Central

Zhang, Shao-Hui; Wang, Feng-Xia; Li, Jia-Jia; Peng, Hong-Dan; Yan, Jing-Hui; Pan, Ge-Bo

2017-01-01

Wearable sensors for detection of human activities have encouraged the development of highly elastic sensors. In particular, to capture subtle and large-scale body motion, stretchable and wide-range strain sensors are highly desired, but still a challenge. Herein, a highly stretchable and transparent stain sensor based on ionic liquids and elastic polymer has been developed. The as-obtained sensor exhibits impressive stretchability with wide-range strain (from 0.1% to 400%), good bending properties and high sensitivity, whose gauge factor can reach 7.9. Importantly, the sensors show excellent biological compatibility and succeed in monitoring the diverse human activities ranging from the complex large-scale multidimensional motions to subtle signals, including wrist, finger and elbow joint bending, finger touch, breath, speech, swallow behavior and pulse wave. PMID:29135928

IgG4-related Hypophysitis with Subtle Hypopituitarism in an Elderly Diabetic Patient: Is Treatment or Observation Preferable?

PubMed Central

Kawasaki, Motoki; Tsujino, Motoyoshi; Sato, Fuminori; Sakurada, Maya; Nishida, Kenji; Kise, Takayasu; Hijioka, Yuko; Ishizawa, Mitsugu; Enatsu, Kazuaki; Ogawa, Yoshihiro

2017-01-01

A 70-year-old man with diabetes mellitus presented with an enlarged pituitary stalk in 2014. IgG4-related parotitis and submandibular sialoadenitis were diagnosed in 2012. He denied any symptoms related to a pituitary mass. His visual field was intact, and his hypopituitarism was subtle. The serum IgG4 level was elevated. A lip biopsy revealed strong fibrosis and hyper-infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Based on these findings, IgG4-related hypophysitis was diagnosed. The patient was carefully followed without specific intervention. His clinical condition showed no change until December 2016, suggesting a stable, natural course. Care should be taken when considering glucocorticoid therapy, especially for elderly diabetic patients, given possible side effects. PMID:28924128

IgG4-related Hypophysitis with Subtle Hypopituitarism in an Elderly Diabetic Patient: Is Treatment or Observation Preferable?

PubMed

Kawasaki, Motoki; Tsujino, Motoyoshi; Sato, Fuminori; Sakurada, Maya; Nishida, Kenji; Kise, Takayasu; Hijioka, Yuko; Ishizawa, Mitsugu; Enatsu, Kazuaki; Ogawa, Yoshihiro

2017-10-15

A 70-year-old man with diabetes mellitus presented with an enlarged pituitary stalk in 2014. IgG4-related parotitis and submandibular sialoadenitis were diagnosed in 2012. He denied any symptoms related to a pituitary mass. His visual field was intact, and his hypopituitarism was subtle. The serum IgG4 level was elevated. A lip biopsy revealed strong fibrosis and hyper-infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Based on these findings, IgG4-related hypophysitis was diagnosed. The patient was carefully followed without specific intervention. His clinical condition showed no change until December 2016, suggesting a stable, natural course. Care should be taken when considering glucocorticoid therapy, especially for elderly diabetic patients, given possible side effects.

Chaos in quantum steering in high-dimensional systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Guang Ping

2018-04-01

Quantum steering means that in some bipartite quantum systems the local measurements on one side can determine the state of the other side. Here we show that in high-dimensional systems there exists a specific entangled state which can display a kind of chaos effect when being adopted for steering. That is, a subtle difference in the measurement results on one side can steer the other side into completely orthogonal states. Moreover, by expanding the result to infinite-dimensional systems, we find two sets of states for which, contrary to common belief, even though their density matrices approach being identical, the steering between them is impossible. This property makes them very useful for quantum cryptography.

Competition and compensation

PubMed Central

Manor, Uri; Grati, M'hamed; Yengo, Christopher M.; Kachar, Bechara; Gov, Nir S.

2012-01-01

Stereocilia are actin protrusions with remarkably well-defined lengths and organization. A flurry of recent papers has reported multiple myosin motor proteins involved in regulating stereocilia structures by transporting actin-regulatory cargo to the tips of stereocilia.1-13 In our recent paper, we show that two paralogous class 3 myosins — Myo3a and Myo3b — both transport the actin-regulatory protein Espin 1 (Esp1) to stereocilia and filopodia tips in a remarkably similar, albeit non-identical fashion.1 Here we present experimental and computational data that suggests that subtle differences between these two proteins’ biophysical and biochemical properties can help us understand how these myosin species target and regulate the lengths of actin protrusions. PMID:22954581

Overt and Subtle Racial Discrimination and Mental Health: Preliminary Findings for Korean Immigrants

PubMed Central

Noh, Samuel; Kaspar, Violet; Wickrama, K.A.S.

2007-01-01

Objectives. We examined differential effects of overt and subtle forms of racial discrimination on 2 dimensions of mental health—positive affect and depressive symptoms, and explored the mediating roles of emotional arousal and cognitive appraisal. Methods. Cross-sectional survey data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a sample (N=180) of adult Korean immigrants living in Toronto, Ontario. Maximum likelihood estimates of path coefficients were obtained using structural equation models. Results. Perceived racial discrimination was associated with both the erosion of positive affect and depressive symptoms. Overt discrimination was associated with the erosion of positive affect, and subtle discrimination was associated with depressive symptoms. Effects of subtle discrimination on depressive symptoms were mediated through cognitive appraisal. Conclusions. The results emphasize the salience of subtle discrimination for the mental health of Asian immigrants. Experiences of overt racial bias seemed to be of little importance for the levels of depressive symptoms among those in our sample, although the experience of blatant discrimination tended to reduce positive mood. PMID:17538066

Atmospheric and oceanic impacts of Antarctic glaciation across the Eocene-Oligocene transition.

PubMed

Kennedy, A T; Farnsworth, A; Lunt, D J; Lear, C H; Markwick, P J

2015-11-13

The glaciation of Antarctica at the Eocene-Oligocene transition (approx. 34 million years ago) was a major shift in the Earth's climate system, but the mechanisms that caused the glaciation, and its effects, remain highly debated. A number of recent studies have used coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models to assess the climatic effects of Antarctic glacial inception, with often contrasting results. Here, using the HadCM3L model, we show that the global atmosphere and ocean response to growth of the Antarctic ice sheet is sensitive to subtle variations in palaeogeography, using two reconstructions representing Eocene and Oligocene geological stages. The earlier stage (Eocene; Priabonian), which has a relatively constricted Tasman Seaway, shows a major increase in sea surface temperature over the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean in response to the ice sheet. This response does not occur for the later stage (Oligocene; Rupelian), which has a more open Tasman Seaway. This difference in temperature response is attributed to reorganization of ocean currents between the stages. Following ice sheet expansion in the earlier stage, the large Ross Sea gyre circulation decreases in size. Stronger zonal flow through the Tasman Seaway allows salinities to increase in the Ross Sea, deep-water formation initiates and multiple feedbacks then occur amplifying the temperature response. This is potentially a model-dependent result, but it highlights the sensitive nature of model simulations to subtle variations in palaeogeography, and highlights the need for coupled ice sheet-climate simulations to properly represent and investigate feedback processes acting on these time scales. © 2015 The Author(s).

Perceptual reasoning predicts handwriting impairments in adolescents with autism

PubMed Central

Fuentes, Christina T.; Mostofsky, Stewart H.; Bastian, Amy J.

2010-01-01

Background: We have previously shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have specific handwriting deficits consisting of poor form, and that these deficits are predicted by their motor abilities. It is not known whether the same handwriting impairments persist into adolescence and whether they remain linked to motor deficits. Methods: A case-control study of handwriting samples from adolescents with and without ASD was performed using the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment. Samples were scored on an individual letter basis in 5 categories: legibility, form, alignment, size, and spacing. Subjects were also administered an intelligence test and the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle (Motor) Signs (PANESS). Results: We found that adolescents with ASD, like children, show overall worse performance on a handwriting task than do age- and intelligence-matched controls. Also comparable to children, adolescents with ASD showed motor impairments relative to controls. However, adolescents with ASD differ from children in that Perceptual Reasoning Indices were significantly predictive of handwriting performance whereas measures of motor skills were not. Conclusions: Like children with ASD, adolescents with ASD have poor handwriting quality relative to controls. Despite still demonstrating motor impairments, in adolescents perceptual reasoning is the main predictor of handwriting performance, perhaps reflecting subjects' varied abilities to learn strategies to compensate for their motor impairments. GLOSSARY ASD = autism spectrum disorder; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; PANESS = Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle (Motor) Signs; PRI = Perceptual Reasoning Index; WASI = Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; WISC = Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV. PMID:21079184

Detection and mapping of mineralized areas in the Cortez-Uinta Belt, Utah-Nevada, using computer-enhanced ERTS imagery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowan, L. C. (Principal Investigator)

1976-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Mineralogical differences between hydrothermally altered rocks and most unaltered rocks in south central Nevada cause visible and near infrared (0.45-2.4 micron) spectral reflectance differences which can be used to discriminate broad categories of rocks in multispectral images. The most important mineralogical differences are the increased abundance of goethite, hematite, jarosite, alunite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite in the altered zones. Because of the wavelength positions and widths of the LANDSAT MSS bands, these spectral differences are not apparent in individual or color infrared composite MSS images. The technique developed to enhance these subtle spectral differences combines ratioing of the MSS bands and contrast stretching. Field evaluation of color-ratio composite shows that, after exclusion of alluvial areas, approximately 80% of the green and brown color patterns are related to hydrothermal alteration. The remaining 20% consists mainly of pink hematitic crystallized tuff and tan or red ferruginous shale and siltstone.

Anharmonic and Quantum Fluctuations in Molecular Crystals from Ab Initio Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Mariana; Gasparotto, Piero; Ceriotti, Michele

Molecular crystals often exist in multiple competing polymorphs which are challenging to be predicted computationally, but show significantly different physicochemical properties. This challenge is not due only to the combinatorial search space, but also to the complex interplay of subtle effects determine the relative stability of different structures. Here we estimate all contributions to the free energies of these systems with density-functional theory, including the oft-neglected anharmonic contributions and nuclear quantum effects, by using a series of different flavors of thermodynamic integration. As an example, for the two most stable forms of paracetamol we find that anharmonic contributions, different descriptions of van der Waals interactions, and nuclear quantum effects all matter to quantitatively determine the stability of different phases. Our studies indicate that anharmonic free energies could play an important role for molecular crystals composed by large molecules and opens the way for a systematic inclusion of these effects in order to obtain a predictive screening of structures.

Study of the incidence and nature of "very subtle epidermal melasma" in relation to intense pulsed light treatment.

PubMed

Negishi, Kei; Kushikata, Nobuharu; Tezuka, Yukiko; Takeuchi, Kaori; Miyamoto, Eiko; Wakamatsu, Shingo

2004-06-01

Skin rejuvenation with intense pulsed light (IPL) is effective for clearing epidermal pigment disorders. Complications are mild and limited to epidermal burns caused by excessive settings. Some patients, however, experience IPL-induced melasma-like hyperpigmentation despite the appearance of normal skin. These patients seem to have very subtle epidermal melasma not visible to the naked eye. Ultraviolet photography has been useful in identifying these patients and preventing complications. The study investigated the incidence of very subtle melasma in patients using UV photography, and assessed this tool in identifying high-risk patients. 223 Japanese women, 30-69 years old, participated in the study. Very subtle melasma invisible to the naked eye under normal light was diagnosed by UV photography by two physicians, and any relationship among the disease incidence, age, and regular sunscreen use was examined. Sixty-three cases of very subtle melasma (28.3%) were identified among the 223 subjects, with a significantly lower incidence in sunscreen users. Patients diagnosed with subtle epidermal melasma and treated with mild IPL parameters did not suffer induced secondary hyperpigmentaion. To help avoid complications after treatment, IPL users should be aware of the age and sunscreen-related incidence of this phenomenon in Asian patients.

Food intake in laboratory rats provided standard and fenbendazole-supplemented diets.

PubMed

Vento, Peter J; Swartz, Megan E; Martin, Lisa Be; Daniels, Derek

2008-11-01

The benzimidazole anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ) is a common and effective treatment for pinworm infestation in laboratory animal colonies. Although many investigators have examined the potential for deleterious biologic effects of FBZ, more subtle aspects of the treatment remain untested. Accordingly, we evaluated differences in food intake when healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were provided a standard nonmedicated laboratory rodent chow or the same chow supplemented with FBZ. We also tested for a preference for either food type when subjects were provided a choice of the 2 diets. Data from these experiments showed no differences in food intake or body weight when rats were maintained on either standard or FBZ-supplemented chow. When the rats were given access to both the standard and FBZ-supplemented diets, they showed a clear preference for the standard diet. The preference for the standard diet indicates that the rats can discriminate between the 2 foods and may avoid the FBZ-supplemented chow when possible. Investigators conducting experiments during treatment with FBZ in which differences in food preference are relevant should be aware of these data and plan their studies accordingly.

Food Intake in Laboratory Rats Provided Standard and Fenbendazole-supplemented Diets

PubMed Central

Vento, Peter J; Swartz, Meghan E; Martin, Lisa BE; Daniels, Derek

2008-01-01

The benzimidazole anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ) is a common and effective treatment for pinworm infestation in laboratory animal colonies. Although many investigators have examined the potential for deleterious biologic effects of FBZ, more subtle aspects of the treatment remain untested. Accordingly, we evaluated differences in food intake when healthy male Sprague–Dawley rats were provided a standard nonmedicated laboratory rodent chow or the same chow supplemented with FBZ. We also tested for a preference for either food type when subjects were provided a choice of the 2 diets. Data from these experiments showed no differences in food intake or body weight when rats were maintained on either standard or FBZ-supplemented chow. When the rats were given access to both the standard and FBZ-supplemented diets, they showed a clear preference for the standard diet. The preference for the standard diet indicates that the rats can discriminate between the 2 foods and may avoid the FBZ-supplemented chow when possible. Investigators conducting experiments during treatment with FBZ in which differences in food preference are relevant should be aware of these data and plan their studies accordingly. PMID:19049253

Nanoscale Structure of Urethane/Urea Elastomeric Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reis, Dennys; Trindade, Ana C.; Godinho, Maria Helena; Silva, Laura C.; do Carmo Gonçalves, Maria; Neto, Antônio M. Figueiredo

2017-02-01

The nanostructure of urethane/urea elastomeric membranes was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in order to establish relationships between their structure and mechanical properties. The networks were made up of polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polybutadiene (PB) segments. The structural differences were investigated in two types of membranes with the same composition but with different thermal treatment after casting. Type I was cured at 70-80 °C and type II at 20 °C. Both membranes showed similar phase separation by TEM, with nanodomains rich in PB or PPO and 25 nm dimensions. The main difference between type I and type II membranes was found by SAXS. The type I membrane spectra showed, besides a broad band at a 27-nm q value (modulus of the scattering vector), an extra band at 6 nm, which was not observed in the type II membrane. The SAXS spectra were interpreted in terms of PPO, PB soft segments, and urethane/urea links, as well as hard moiety segregation in the reaction medium. This additional segregation ( q = 7 nm), although subtle, results in diverse mechanical behavior of in both membranes.

Functional discovery via a compendium of expression profiles.

PubMed

Hughes, T R; Marton, M J; Jones, A R; Roberts, C J; Stoughton, R; Armour, C D; Bennett, H A; Coffey, E; Dai, H; He, Y D; Kidd, M J; King, A M; Meyer, M R; Slade, D; Lum, P Y; Stepaniants, S B; Shoemaker, D D; Gachotte, D; Chakraburtty, K; Simon, J; Bard, M; Friend, S H

2000-07-07

Ascertaining the impact of uncharacterized perturbations on the cell is a fundamental problem in biology. Here, we describe how a single assay can be used to monitor hundreds of different cellular functions simultaneously. We constructed a reference database or "compendium" of expression profiles corresponding to 300 diverse mutations and chemical treatments in S. cerevisiae, and we show that the cellular pathways affected can be determined by pattern matching, even among very subtle profiles. The utility of this approach is validated by examining profiles caused by deletions of uncharacterized genes: we identify and experimentally confirm that eight uncharacterized open reading frames encode proteins required for sterol metabolism, cell wall function, mitochondrial respiration, or protein synthesis. We also show that the compendium can be used to characterize pharmacological perturbations by identifying a novel target of the commonly used drug dyclonine.

Therapeutic index of gramicidin S is strongly modulated by D-phenylalanine analogues at the beta-turn.

PubMed

Solanas, Concepción; de la Torre, Beatriz G; Fernández-Reyes, María; Santiveri, Clara M; Jiménez, M Angeles; Rivas, Luis; Jiménez, Ana I; Andreu, David; Cativiela, Carlos

2009-02-12

Analogues of the cationic antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS), cyclo(Val-Orn-Leu-D-Phe-Pro)2, with d-Phe residues replaced by different (restricted mobility, mostly) surrogates have been synthesized and used in SAR studies against several pathogenic bacteria. While all D-Phe substitutions are shown by NMR to preserve the overall beta-sheet conformation, they entail subtle structural alterations that lead to significant modifications in biological activity. In particular, the analogue incorporating D-Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) shows a modest but significant increase in therapeutic index, mostly due to a sharp decrease in hemolytic effect. The fact that NMR data show a shortened distance between the D-Tic aromatic ring and the Orn delta-amino group may help explain the improved antibiotic profile of this analogue.

Therapeutic index of gramicidin S is strongly modulated by d-phenylalanine analogues at the β-turn

PubMed Central

Solanas, Concepción; de la Torre, Beatriz G.; Fernández-Reyes, María; Santiveri, Clara M.; Jiménez, M. Ángeles; Rivas, Luis; Jiménez, Ana I.; Andreu, David; Cativiela, Carlos

2009-01-01

Analogues of the cationic antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS), cyclo(Val-Orn-Leu-d-Phe-Pro)2, with d-Phe residues replaced by different (restricted mobility, mostly) surrogates have been synthesized and used in SAR studies against several pathogenic bacteria. While all d-Phe substitutions are shown by NMR to preserve the overall β-sheet conformation, they entail subtle structural alterations that lead to significant modifications in biological activity. In particular, the analogue incorporating d-Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) shows a modest but significant increase in therapeutic index, mostly due to a sharp decrease in hemolytic effect. The fact that NMR data show a shortened distance between the d-Tic aromatic ring and the Orn δ-amino group may help explain the improved antibiotic profile of this analogue. PMID:19132829

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

Malashkevich, Vladimir N.; Higgins, Chelsea D.; Almo, Steven C.

The coiled-coil is one of the most ubiquitous and well studied protein structural motifs. Significant effort has been devoted to dissecting subtle variations of the typical heptad repeat sequence pattern that can designate larger topological features such as relative α-helical orientation and oligomer size. Here in this paper we report the X-ray structure of a model coiled-coil peptide, HA2-Del-L2seM, which forms an unanticipated core antiparallel dimer with potential sites for discrete higher-order multimerization (trimer or tetramer). In the X-ray structure, a third, partially-ordered α-helix is weakly associated with the antiparallel dimer and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicate the peptide forms amore » well-defined tetramer in solution. The HA2-Del-L2seM sequence is closely related to a parent model peptide, HA2-Del, which we previously reported adopts a parallel trimer; HA2-Del-L2seM differs by only hydrophobic leucine to selenomethione mutations and thus this subtle difference is sufficient to switch both relative α-helical topology and number of α-helices participating in the coiled-coil. Comparison of the X-ray structures of HA2-Del-L2seM (reported here) with the HA2-Del parent (reported previously) reveals novel interactions involving the selenomethionine residues that promote antiparallel coiled-coil configuration and preclude parallel trimer formation. Finally, these novel atomic insights are instructive for understanding subtle features that can affect coiled-coil topology and provide additional information for design of antiparallel coiled-coils.« less

The Corporate View. A Multicultural Workforce Can Be a Competitive Advantage.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilcox, John

1991-01-01

Work force diversity programs are designed to protect the company's return on investment by bringing to the surface the subtle discomforts, fears, and biases most people experience when they find themselves working with people who are different from themselves. (Author)

A diagnosis of discrimination. Women physicians and the glass ceiling.

PubMed

Sebastian, C

1994-01-01

Author Christy Sebastian writes about some of the limits facing women physicians, from the glass ceiling on down. She relates the limits faced by women physicians to the gender differences--both subtle and blatant--evident in society as a whole.

Analysis of memory deficits following chemotherapy in breast cancer survivors: evidence from the doors and people test.

PubMed

Prokasheva, Svetlana; Faran, Yifat; Cwikel, Julie; Geffen, David B

2011-01-01

Studies of cognitive effects of chemotherapy among breast cancer patients show that not all women who are exposed to chemotherapy develop cognitive dysfunction and that the observed declines in cognitive functioning may be quite subtle. The use of measures that are sensitive to subtle cognitive decline are recommended yet rarely used among clinical populations. The purpose of this study is to specify the types of memory changes observed among breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy and tamoxifen, by using an analytic test of memory, the Doors and People test, which uses age-adjusted norms. The participants were 40 women who were survivors of breast cancer, 20 of whom had completed chemotherapy treatment and 20 women who were treated only with tamoxifen. There were no significant differences between the two groups in overall scores and in all four subtests: visual memory, verbal memory, recall, and recognition measured by age-adjusted scores. Forty percent of patients in both of the groups were classified as having mild impairment in episodic memory. No between-group differences were found in the frequency of subjective, cognitive complaints. Subjective complaints were reported by 69% of patients but were unrelated to objective performance. Memory deficits were observed in breast cancer patients who receive either chemotherapy or tamoxifen alone compared to age-adjusted norms. The Doors and People Test is a sensitive measure of memory deficits that is feasible for use with clinical populations of breast cancer patients in order to monitor changes in cognitive function.

Functional MRI evidence for fine motor praxis dysfunction in children with persistent speech disorders.

PubMed

Redle, Erin; Vannest, Jennifer; Maloney, Thomas; Tsevat, Rebecca K; Eikenberry, Sarah; Lewis, Barbara; Shriberg, Lawrence D; Tkach, Jean; Holland, Scott K

2015-02-09

Children with persistent speech disorders (PSD) often present with overt or subtle motor deficits; the possibility that speech disorders and motor deficits could arise from a shared neurological base is currently unknown. Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to examine the brain networks supporting fine motor praxis in children with PSD and without clinically identified fine motor deficits. This case-control study included 12 children with PSD (mean age 7.42 years, four female) and 12 controls (mean age 7.44 years, four female). Children completed behavioral evaluations using standardized motor assessments and parent reported functional measures. During fMRI scanning, participants completed a cued finger tapping task contrasted passive listening. A general linear model approach identified brain regions associated with finger tapping in each group and regions that differed between groups. The relationship between regional fMRI activation and fine motor skill was assessed using a regression analysis. Children with PSD had significantly poorer results for rapid speech production and fine motor praxis skills, but did not differ on classroom functional skills. Functional MRI results showed that children with PSD had significantly more activation in the cerebellum during finger tapping. Positive correlations between performance on a fine motor praxis test and activation multiple cortical regions were noted for children with PSD but not for controls. Over-activation in the cerebellum during a motor task may reflect a subtle abnormality in the non-speech motor neural circuitry in children with PSD. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

STS-32 Earth observation of the southern Sand Sea, Namibia, Atlantic Ocean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

STS-32 Earth observation taken onboard Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, is of the southern Sand Sea. Low sun angles on this south-looking view of the sand dunes of the southern Sand Sea (foreground) shows the many subtle patterns produced by winds. Along the coast very strong southerly winds have generated a zone of ribbed, transverse dunes. Further inland, different patterns appear, which may relate to present winds, or perhaps to winds which blew in different directions at times in the geological past. Strong Santa Ana-type winds blow from inland (left) during the winter which may explain the small patterns (center left). The small fishing port of Luderitz occupies the main bay on the coastline. Otherwise the area is empty of inhabitants on the very dry and windy coast. Railways connect the post with inland centers.

Directing Diplomacy: Creating the Best Experience for Everyone in the Show.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulcahy, Lisa

2003-01-01

Discusses the subtle psychological strategies good directors know how to employ with actors. Contends that if a director demonstrates a diplomatic attitude toward every student involved in a production, a perfect working atmosphere is created. Explores diplomacy basics; first impressions; rehearsal problems; personality issues; and talking points.…

The nature of inherent bactericidal activity: insights from the nanotopology of three species of dragonfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mainwaring, David E.; Nguyen, Song Ha; Webb, Hayden; Jakubov, Timur; Tobin, Mark; Lamb, Robert N.; Wu, Alex H.-F.; Marchant, Richard; Crawford, Russell J.; Ivanova, Elena P.

2016-03-01

While insect wings are widely recognised as multi-functional, recent work showed that this extends to extensive bactericidal activity brought about by cell deformation and lysis on the wing nanotopology. We now quantitatively show that subtle changes to this topography result in substantial changes in bactericidal activity that are able to span an order of magnitude. Notably, the chemical composition of the lipid nanopillars was seen by XPS and synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy to be similar across these activity differences. Modelling the interaction between bacterial cells and the wing surface lipids of 3 species of dragonflies, that inhabit similar environments, but with distinctly different behavioural repertoires, provided the relationship between surface structure and antibacterial functionality. In doing so, these principal behavioural patterns correlated with the demands for antimicrobial efficiency dictated by differences in their foraging strategies. This work now reveals a new feature in the design elegance of natural multi-functional surfaces as well providing insights into the bactericidal mechanism underlying inherently antimicrobial materials, while suggesting that nanotopology is related to the evolutionary development of a species through the demands of its behavioural repertoire. The underlying relationship between the processes of wetting, adhesion and capillarity of the lipid nanopillars and bactericidal efficiency suggests new prospects for purely mechano-responsive antibacterial surfaces.While insect wings are widely recognised as multi-functional, recent work showed that this extends to extensive bactericidal activity brought about by cell deformation and lysis on the wing nanotopology. We now quantitatively show that subtle changes to this topography result in substantial changes in bactericidal activity that are able to span an order of magnitude. Notably, the chemical composition of the lipid nanopillars was seen by XPS and synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy to be similar across these activity differences. Modelling the interaction between bacterial cells and the wing surface lipids of 3 species of dragonflies, that inhabit similar environments, but with distinctly different behavioural repertoires, provided the relationship between surface structure and antibacterial functionality. In doing so, these principal behavioural patterns correlated with the demands for antimicrobial efficiency dictated by differences in their foraging strategies. This work now reveals a new feature in the design elegance of natural multi-functional surfaces as well providing insights into the bactericidal mechanism underlying inherently antimicrobial materials, while suggesting that nanotopology is related to the evolutionary development of a species through the demands of its behavioural repertoire. The underlying relationship between the processes of wetting, adhesion and capillarity of the lipid nanopillars and bactericidal efficiency suggests new prospects for purely mechano-responsive antibacterial surfaces. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08542j

Clinical utility of wavelet compression for resolution-enhanced chest radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andriole, Katherine P.; Hovanes, Michael E.; Rowberg, Alan H.

2000-05-01

This study evaluates the usefulness of wavelet compression for resolution-enhanced storage phosphor chest radiographs in the detection of subtle interstitial disease, pneumothorax and other abnormalities. A wavelet compression technique, MrSIDTM (LizardTech, Inc., Seattle, WA), is implemented which compresses the images from their original 2,000 by 2,000 (2K) matrix size, and then decompresses the image data for display at optimal resolution by matching the spatial frequency characteristics of image objects using a 4,000- square matrix. The 2K-matrix computed radiography (CR) chest images are magnified to a 4K-matrix using wavelet series expansion. The magnified images are compared with the original uncompressed 2K radiographs and with two-times magnification of the original images. Preliminary results show radiologist preference for MrSIDTM wavelet-based magnification over magnification of original data, and suggest that the compressed/decompressed images may provide an enhancement to the original. Data collection for clinical trials of 100 chest radiographs including subtle interstitial abnormalities and/or subtle pneumothoraces and normal cases, are in progress. Three experienced thoracic radiologists will view images side-by- side on calibrated softcopy workstations under controlled viewing conditions, and rank order preference tests will be performed. This technique combines image compression with image enhancement, and suggests that compressed/decompressed images can actually improve the originals.

The sensitivity of auditory-motor representations to subtle changes in auditory feedback while singing

PubMed Central

Keough, Dwayne; Jones, Jeffery A.

2009-01-01

Singing requires accurate control of the fundamental frequency (F0) of the voice. This study examined trained singers’ and untrained singers’ (nonsingers’) sensitivity to subtle manipulations in auditory feedback and the subsequent effect on the mapping between F0 feedback and vocal control. Participants produced the consonant-vowel ∕ta∕ while receiving auditory feedback that was shifted up and down in frequency. Results showed that singers and nonsingers compensated to a similar degree when presented with frequency-altered feedback (FAF); however, singers’ F0 values were consistently closer to the intended pitch target. Moreover, singers initiated their compensatory responses when auditory feedback was shifted up or down 6 cents or more, compared to nonsingers who began compensating when feedback was shifted up 26 cents and down 22 cents. Additionally, examination of the first 50 ms of vocalization indicated that participants commenced subsequent vocal utterances, during FAF, near the F0 value on previous shift trials. Interestingly, nonsingers commenced F0 productions below the pitch target and increased their F0 until they matched the note. Thus, singers and nonsingers rely on an internal model to regulate voice F0, but singers’ models appear to be more sensitive in response to subtle discrepancies in auditory feedback. PMID:19640048

The sensitivity of auditory-motor representations to subtle changes in auditory feedback while singing.

PubMed

Keough, Dwayne; Jones, Jeffery A

2009-08-01

Singing requires accurate control of the fundamental frequency (F0) of the voice. This study examined trained singers' and untrained singers' (nonsingers') sensitivity to subtle manipulations in auditory feedback and the subsequent effect on the mapping between F0 feedback and vocal control. Participants produced the consonant-vowel /ta/ while receiving auditory feedback that was shifted up and down in frequency. Results showed that singers and nonsingers compensated to a similar degree when presented with frequency-altered feedback (FAF); however, singers' F0 values were consistently closer to the intended pitch target. Moreover, singers initiated their compensatory responses when auditory feedback was shifted up or down 6 cents or more, compared to nonsingers who began compensating when feedback was shifted up 26 cents and down 22 cents. Additionally, examination of the first 50 ms of vocalization indicated that participants commenced subsequent vocal utterances, during FAF, near the F0 value on previous shift trials. Interestingly, nonsingers commenced F0 productions below the pitch target and increased their F0 until they matched the note. Thus, singers and nonsingers rely on an internal model to regulate voice F0, but singers' models appear to be more sensitive in response to subtle discrepancies in auditory feedback.

The subtle body: an interoceptive map of central nervous system function and meditative mind-brain-body integration.

PubMed

Loizzo, Joseph J

2016-06-01

Meditation research has begun to clarify the brain effects and mechanisms of contemplative practices while generating a range of typologies and explanatory models to guide further study. This comparative review explores a neglected area relevant to current research: the validity of a traditional central nervous system (CNS) model that coevolved with the practices most studied today and that provides the first comprehensive neural-based typology and mechanistic framework of contemplative practices. The subtle body model, popularly known as the chakra system from Indian yoga, was and is used as a map of CNS function in traditional Indian and Tibetan medicine, neuropsychiatry, and neuropsychology. The study presented here, based on the Nalanda tradition, shows that the subtle body model can be cross-referenced with modern CNS maps and challenges modern brain maps with its embodied network model of CNS function. It also challenges meditation research by: (1) presenting a more rigorous, neural-based typology of contemplative practices; (2) offering a more refined and complete network model of the mechanisms of contemplative practices; and (3) serving as an embodied, interoceptive neurofeedback aid that is more user friendly and complete than current teaching aids for clinical and practical applications of contemplative practice. © 2016 New York Academy of Sciences.

How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Klinefelter Syndrome?

MedlinePlus

... and when a diagnosis occurs: Few newborns and boys are tested for or diagnosed with KS. Although newborns in the United States are screened for some conditions, they are not screened for XXY or other sex-chromosome differences. In childhood, symptoms can be subtle ...

Spectral Characterization of Suspected Acid Deposition Damage in Red Spruce (picea Rubens) Stands from Vermont

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vogelmann, J. E.; Rock, B. N.

1985-01-01

In an attempt to demonstrate the utility of remote sensing systems to monitor sites of suspected acid rain deposition damage, intensive field activities, coupled with aircraft overflights, were centered on red spruce stands in Vermont during August and September of 1984. Remote sensing data were acquired using the Airborne Imaging Spectrometer, Thematic Mapper Simulator, Barnes Model 12 to 1000 Modular Multiband Radiometer and Spectron Engineering Spectrometer (the former two flown on the NASA C-130; the latter two on A Bell UH-1B Iroquois Helicopter). Field spectral data were acquired during the week of the August overflights using a high spectral resolution spectrometer and two broad-band radiometers. Preliminary analyses of these data indicate a number of spectral differences in vegetation between high and low damage sites. Some of these differences are subtle, and are observable only with high spectral resolution sensors; others are less subtle and are observable using broad-band sensors.

Surprising Ripple Effects: How Changing the SAT Score-Sending Policy for Low-Income Students Impacts College Access and Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hurwitz, Michael; Mbekeani, Preeya P.; Nipson, Margaret M.; Page, Lindsay C.

2017-01-01

Subtle policy adjustments can induce relatively large "ripple effects." We evaluate a College Board initiative that increased the number of free SAT score reports available to low-income students and changed the time horizon for using these score reports. Using a difference-in-differences analytic strategy, we estimate that targeted…

Interactions of Multimodal Ligands with Proteins: Insights into Selectivity Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

PubMed

Parimal, Siddharth; Garde, Shekhar; Cramer, Steven M

2015-07-14

Fundamental understanding of protein-ligand interactions is important to the development of efficient bioseparations in multimodal chromatography. Here we employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the interactions of three different proteins--ubiquitin, cytochrome C, and α-chymotrypsinogen A, sampling a range of charge from +1e to +9e--with two multimodal chromatographic ligands containing similar chemical moieties--aromatic, carboxyl, and amide--in different structural arrangements. We use a spherical harmonic expansion to analyze ligand and individual moiety density profiles around the proteins. We find that the Capto MMC ligand, which contains an additional aliphatic group, displays stronger interactions than Nuvia CPrime ligand with all three proteins. Studying the ligand densities at the moiety level suggests that hydrophobic interactions play a major role in determining the locations of high ligand densities. Finally, the greater structural flexibility of the Capto MMC ligand compared to that of the Nuvia cPrime ligand allows for stronger structural complementarity and enables stronger hydrophobic interactions. These subtle and not-so-subtle differences in binding affinities and modalities for multimodal ligands can result in significantly different binding behavior towards proteins with important implications for bioprocessing.

Toward Monitoring Parkinson's Through Analysis of Static Handwriting Samples: A Quantitative Analytical Framework.

PubMed

Zhi, Naiqian; Jaeger, Beverly Kris; Gouldstone, Andrew; Sipahi, Rifat; Frank, Samuel

2017-03-01

Detection of changes in micrographia as a manifestation of symptomatic progression or therapeutic response in Parkinson's disease (PD) is challenging as such changes can be subtle. A computerized toolkit based on quantitative analysis of handwriting samples would be valuable as it could supplement and support clinical assessments, help monitor micrographia, and link it to PD. Such a toolkit would be especially useful if it could detect subtle yet relevant changes in handwriting morphology, thus enhancing resolution of the detection procedure. This would be made possible by developing a set of metrics sensitive enough to detect and discern micrographia with specificity. Several metrics that are sensitive to the characteristics of micrographia were developed, with minimal sensitivity to confounding handwriting artifacts. These metrics capture character size-reduction, ink utilization, and pixel density within a writing sample from left to right. They are used here to "score" handwritten signatures of 12 different individuals corresponding to healthy and symptomatic PD conditions, and sample control signatures that had been artificially reduced in size for comparison purposes. Moreover, metric analyses of samples from ten of the 12 individuals for which clinical diagnosis time is known show considerable informative variations when applied to static signature samples obtained before and after diagnosis. In particular, a measure called pixel density variation showed statistically significant differences ( ) between two comparison groups of remote signature recordings: earlier versus recent, based on independent and paired t-test analyses on a total of 40 signature samples. The quantitative framework developed here has the potential to be used in future controlled experiments to study micrographia and links to PD from various aspects, including monitoring and assessment of applied interventions and treatments. The inherent value in this methodology is further enhanced by its reliance solely on static signatures, not requiring dynamic sampling with specialized equipment.

Floral heterochrony promotes flexibility of reproductive strategies in the morphologically homogeneous genus Eugenia (Myrtaceae).

PubMed

Vasconcelos, Thais N C; Lucas, Eve J; Faria, Jair E Q; Prenner, Gerhard

2018-01-25

Comparative floral ontogeny represents a valuable tool to understand angiosperm evolution. Such an approach may elucidate subtle changes in development that discretely modify floral architecture and underlie reproductive lability in groups with superficial homogeneous morphology. This study presents a comparative survey of floral development in Eugenia (Myrtaceae), one of the largest genera of angiosperms, and shows how previously undocumented ontogenetic trends help to explain the evolution of its megadiversity in contrast to its apparent flower uniformity. Using scanning electron microscopy, selected steps of the floral ontogeny of a model species (Eugenia punicifolia) are described and compared with 20 further species representing all ten major clades in the Eugenia phylogenetic tree. Additional floral trait data are contrasted for correlation analysis and character reconstructions performed against the Myrtaceae phylogenetic tree. Eugenia flowers show similar organ arrangement patterns: radially symmetrical, (most commonly) tetramerous flowers with variable numbers of stamens and ovules. Despite a similar general organization, heterochrony is evident from size differences between tissues and structures at similar developmental stages. These differences underlie variable levels of investment in protection, subtle modifications to symmetry, herkogamic effects and independent androecium and gynoecium variation, producing a wide spectrum of floral display and contributing to fluctuations in fitness. During Eugenia's bud development, the hypanthium (as defined here) is completely covered by stamen primordia, unusual in other Myrtaceae. This is the likely plesiomorphic state for Myrteae and may have represented a key evolutionary novelty in the tribe. Floral evolution in Eugenia depends on heterochronic patterns rather than changes in complexity to promote flexibility in floral strategies. The successful early establishment of Myrteae, previously mainly linked to the key innovation of fleshy fruit, may also have benefitted from changes in flower structure. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Digital mammography: comparative performance of color LCD and monochrome CRT displays.

PubMed

Samei, Ehsan; Poolla, Ananth; Ulissey, Michael J; Lewin, John M

2007-05-01

To evaluate the comparative performance of high-fidelity liquid crystal display (LCD) and cathode ray tube (CRT) devices for mammography applications, and to assess the impact of LCD viewing angle on detection accuracy. Ninety 1 k x 1 k images were selected from a database of digital mammograms: 30 without any abnormality present, 30 with subtle masses, and 30 with subtle microcalcifications. The images were used with waived informed consent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, and Institutional Review Board approval. With postprocessing presentation identical to those of the commercial mammography system used, 1 k x 1 k sections of images were viewed on a monochrome CRT and a color LCD in native grayscale, and with a grayscale representative of images viewed from a 30 degrees or 50 degrees off-normal viewing angle. Randomized images were independently scored by four experienced breast radiologists for the presence of lesions using a 0-100 grading scale. To compare diagnostic performance of the display modes, observer scores were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and analysis of variance. For masses and microcalcifications, the detection rate in terms of the area under the ROC curve (A(z)) showed a 2% increase and a 4% decrease from CRT to LCD, respectively. However, differences were not statistically significant (P > .05). The viewing angle data showed better microcalcification detection but lower mass detection at 30 degrees viewing orientation. The overall results varied notably from observer to observer yielding no statistically discernible trends across all observers, suggesting that within the 0-50 degrees viewing angle range and in a controlled observer experiment, the variation in the contrast response of the LCD has little or no impact on the detection of mammographic lesions. Although CRTs and LCDs differ in terms of angular response, resolution, noise, and color, these characteristics seem to have little influence on the detection of mammographic lesions. The results suggest comparable performance in clinical applications of the two devices.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition profiles and their relationship to self-reported outcome following traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Harman-Smith, Yasmin E; Mathias, Jane L; Bowden, Stephen C; Rosenfeld, Jeffrey V; Bigler, Erin D

2013-01-01

Neuropsychological assessments of outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often unrelated to self-reported problems after TBI. The current study cluster-analyzed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) subtest scores from mild, moderate, and severe TBI (n=220) and orthopedic injury control (n=95) groups, to determine whether specific cognitive profiles are related to people's perceived outcomes after TBI. A two-stage cluster analysis produced 4- and 6-cluster solutions, with the 6-cluster solution better capturing subtle variations in cognitive functioning. The 6 clusters differed in the levels and profiles of cognitive performance, self-reported recovery, and education and injury severity. The findings suggest that subtle cognitive impairments after TBI should be interpreted in conjunction with patient's self-reported problems.

The effectiveness of substance use measures in the detection of full and partial denial of drug use.

PubMed

Wooley, Chelsea N; Rogers, Richard; Fiduccia, Chelsea E; Kelsey, Katherine

2013-12-01

Appraisals of substance abuse often constitute a key component of psychological assessments affecting both diagnostic and treatment issues. Because of negative consequences, many substance users engage in outright denials and marked minimization regarding their drug use. Psychological measures, especially those with transparent items, are highly vulnerable to this denial. To address this response style, indirect items are often included on substance use measures to identify those who deny their use. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of complete and partial denial on the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20, Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3, and Drug Use Screening Inventory-Revised. Partial denial refers to the disacknowledgement of drug-related impairment interfering in multiple domains of a client's functioning. The study used a mixed within- and between-subjects design with 102 inpatient substance users. Each participant completed the study under two conditions: a disclosing condition and an experimental condition (either complete denial or partial denial). Results show partial denial is distinctly different from complete denial across three self-report substance use measures. Importantly, substance users engaging in these denial conditions were often undetected by these measures. Contrary to expectations, subtle scales with indirect item content were only minimally more effective than the face valid scales alone for the assessment of denied drug use.

Neuromotor outcomes at school age after extremely low birth weight: early detection of subtle signs.

PubMed

Gidley Larson, Jennifer C; Baron, Ida Sue; Erickson, Kristine; Ahronovich, Margot D; Baker, Robin; Litman, Fern R

2011-01-01

Motor impairments are prevalent in children born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1,000 g). Rarely studied are subtle motor deficits that indicate dysfunction or delay in neural systems critical for optimal cognitive, academic, and behavioral function. We aimed to examine quantifiable signs of subtle neuromotor dysfunction in an early school-aged ELBW cohort that coincidentally had age-appropriate cognition and design copying. We studied 97 participants born between 1998 and 2001; 74 ELBW (6.7 years ± 0.75) compared with 23 term-born (6.6 years ± 0.29). Neuromotor outcomes were assessed using the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs-Revised, and measures of dexterity/coordination and visual-motor integration. ELBW participants performed worse than term-born on design-copying and dexterity, were age-appropriate compared to normative data, and had slower timed movements and more subtle overflow movements. Those ELBW born <26 weeks performed most poorly compared with those born 26-34 weeks and term-born. Subtle motor dysfunctions are detectable and quantifiable in ELBW children by school age, even in the presence of average cognition. Early age assessment of incoordination, motor speed, and overflow movements should aid initiation of timely therapies to prepare at-risk ELBW children for subsequent school entry and facilitate design of optimal early treatment strategies. (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved.

Insights on the Spectral Signatures of Stellar Activity and Planets from PCA

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

Davis, Allen B.; Fischer, Debra A.; Cisewski, Jessi

Photospheric velocities and stellar activity features such as spots and faculae produce measurable radial velocity signals that currently obscure the detection of sub-meter-per-second planetary signals. However, photospheric velocities are imprinted differently in a high-resolution spectrum than are Keplerian Doppler shifts. Photospheric activity produces subtle differences in the shapes of absorption lines due to differences in how temperature or pressure affects the atomic transitions. In contrast, Keplerian Doppler shifts affect every spectral line in the same way. With a high enough signal-to-noise (S/N) and resolution, statistical techniques can exploit differences in spectra to disentangle the photospheric velocities and detect lower-amplitude exoplanetmore » signals. We use simulated disk-integrated time-series spectra and principal component analysis (PCA) to show that photospheric signals introduce spectral line variability that is distinct from that of Doppler shifts. We quantify the impact of instrumental resolution and S/N for this work.« less

The Mechanism of Speech Processing in Congenital Amusia: Evidence from Mandarin Speakers

PubMed Central

Liu, Fang; Jiang, Cunmei; Thompson, William Forde; Xu, Yi; Yang, Yufang; Stewart, Lauren

2012-01-01

Congenital amusia is a neuro-developmental disorder of pitch perception that causes severe problems with music processing but only subtle difficulties in speech processing. This study investigated speech processing in a group of Mandarin speakers with congenital amusia. Thirteen Mandarin amusics and thirteen matched controls participated in a set of tone and intonation perception tasks and two pitch threshold tasks. Compared with controls, amusics showed impaired performance on word discrimination in natural speech and their gliding tone analogs. They also performed worse than controls on discriminating gliding tone sequences derived from statements and questions, and showed elevated thresholds for pitch change detection and pitch direction discrimination. However, they performed as well as controls on word identification, and on statement-question identification and discrimination in natural speech. Overall, tasks that involved multiple acoustic cues to communicative meaning were not impacted by amusia. Only when the tasks relied mainly on pitch sensitivity did amusics show impaired performance compared to controls. These findings help explain why amusia only affects speech processing in subtle ways. Further studies on a larger sample of Mandarin amusics and on amusics of other language backgrounds are needed to consolidate these results. PMID:22347374

The mechanism of speech processing in congenital amusia: evidence from Mandarin speakers.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Jiang, Cunmei; Thompson, William Forde; Xu, Yi; Yang, Yufang; Stewart, Lauren

2012-01-01

Congenital amusia is a neuro-developmental disorder of pitch perception that causes severe problems with music processing but only subtle difficulties in speech processing. This study investigated speech processing in a group of Mandarin speakers with congenital amusia. Thirteen Mandarin amusics and thirteen matched controls participated in a set of tone and intonation perception tasks and two pitch threshold tasks. Compared with controls, amusics showed impaired performance on word discrimination in natural speech and their gliding tone analogs. They also performed worse than controls on discriminating gliding tone sequences derived from statements and questions, and showed elevated thresholds for pitch change detection and pitch direction discrimination. However, they performed as well as controls on word identification, and on statement-question identification and discrimination in natural speech. Overall, tasks that involved multiple acoustic cues to communicative meaning were not impacted by amusia. Only when the tasks relied mainly on pitch sensitivity did amusics show impaired performance compared to controls. These findings help explain why amusia only affects speech processing in subtle ways. Further studies on a larger sample of Mandarin amusics and on amusics of other language backgrounds are needed to consolidate these results.

Awareness of subtle emotional feelings: a comparison of long-term meditators and nonmeditators.

PubMed

Nielsen, Lisbeth; Kaszniak, Alfred W

2006-08-01

The authors explored whether meditation training to enhance emotional awareness improves discrimination of subtle emotional feelings hypothesized to guide decision-making. Long-term meditators and nonmeditators were compared on measures of self-reported valence and arousal, skin conductance response (SCR), and facial electromyography (EMG) to masked and nonmasked emotional pictures, and on measures of heartbeat detection and self-reported emotional awareness. Groups responded similarly to nonmasked pictures. In the masked condition, only controls showed discrimination in valence self-reports. However, meditators reported greater emotional clarity than controls, and meditators with higher clarity had reduced arousal and improved valence discrimination in the masked condition. These findings provide qualified support for the somatic marker hypothesis and suggest that meditation may influence how emotionally ambiguous information is processed, regulated, and represented in conscious awareness. (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved

Isolated cortical visual loss with subtle brain MRI abnormalities in a case of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

PubMed

Margolin, Edward; Gujar, Sachin K; Trobe, Jonathan D

2007-12-01

A 16-year-old boy who was briefly asystolic and hypotensive after a motor vehicle accident complained of abnormal vision after recovering consciousness. Visual acuity was normal, but visual fields were severely constricted without clear hemianopic features. The ophthalmic examination was otherwise normal. Brain MRI performed 11 days after the accident showed no pertinent abnormalities. At 6 months after the event, brain MRI demonstrated brain volume loss in the primary visual cortex and no other abnormalities. One year later, visual fields remained severely constricted; neurologic examination, including formal neuropsychometric testing, was normal. This case emphasizes the fact that hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) may cause enduring damage limited to primary visual cortex and that the MRI abnormalities may be subtle. These phenomena should be recognized in the management of patients with HIE.

MRI measurements of Blood-Brain Barrier function in dementia: A review of recent studies.

PubMed

Raja, Rajikha; Rosenberg, Gary A; Caprihan, Arvind

2018-05-15

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) separates the systemic circulation and the brain, regulating transport of most molecules to protect the brain microenvironment. Multiple structural and functional components preserve the integrity of the BBB. Several imaging modalities are available to study disruption of the BBB. However, the subtle changes in BBB leakage that occurs in vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease have been less well studied. Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is the most widely adopted non-invasive imaging technique for evaluating BBB breakdown. It is used as a significant marker for a wide variety of diseases with large permeability leaks, such as brain tumors and multiple sclerosis, to more subtle disruption in chronic vascular disease and dementia. DCE-MRI analysis of BBB includes both model-free parameters and quantitative parameters using pharmacokinetic modelling. We review MRI studies of BBB breakdown in dementia. The challenges in measuring subtle BBB changes and the state of the art techniques are initially examined. Subsequently, a systematic review comparing methodologies from recent in-vivo MRI studies is presented. Various factors related to subtle BBB permeability measurement such as DCE-MRI acquisition parameters, arterial input assessment, T 1 mapping and data analysis methods are reviewed with the focus on finding the optimal technique. Finally, the reported BBB permeability values in dementia are compared across different studies and across various brain regions. We conclude that reliable measurement of low-level BBB permeability across sites remains a difficult problem and a standardization of the methodology for both data acquisition and quantitative analysis is required. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Cerebral Ischemia'. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Developmental Regression in Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogers, Sally J.

2004-01-01

The occurrence of developmental regression in autism is one of the more puzzling features of this disorder. Although several studies have documented the validity of parental reports of regression using home videos, accumulating data suggest that most children who demonstrate regression also demonstrated previous, subtle, developmental differences.…

Artificial-epitope mapping for CK-MB assay.

PubMed

Tai, Dar-Fu; Ho, Yi-Fang; Wu, Cheng-Hsin; Lin, Tzu-Chieh; Lu, Kuo-Hao; Lin, Kun-Shian

2011-06-07

A quantitative method using artificial antibody to detect creatine kinases was developed. Linear epitope sequences were selected based on an artificial-epitope mapping strategy. Nine different MIPs corresponding to the selected peptides were then fabricated on QCM chips. The subtle conformational changes were also recognized by these chips.

Medical Surveillance Programs for Aircraft Maintenance Personnel Performing Nondestructive Inspection and Testing

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-11-01

visible and fl uorescent inspection techniques, while radiography relies on the individual’s ability to detect subtle differences in contrast either...binocular measurement of visual acuity may better predict a person’s functional capability in the workplace . However, measurement of monocular acuities

Leveraging Failure in Design Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lobato, Joanne; Walters, C. David; Hohensee, Charles; Gruver, John; Diamond, Jaime Marie

2015-01-01

Even in the resource-rich, more ideal conditions of many design-based classroom interventions, unexpected events can lead to disappointing results in student learning. However, if later iterations in a design research study are more successful, the previous failures can provide opportunities for comparisons to reveal subtle differences in…

Sex differences in the outcomes of stent implantation in mini-swine model.

PubMed

Kunio, Mie; Wong, Gee; Markham, Peter M; Edelman, Elazer R

2018-01-01

Sex-related differences have been noted in cardiovascular anatomy, pathophysiology, and treatment responses, yet we continued to drive evaluation of vascular device development in animal models without consideration of animal sex. We aimed to understand sex-related differences in the vascular responses to stent implantation by analyzing the pooled data of endovascular interventions in 164 Yucatan mini-swine (87 female, 77 male). Bare metal stents (BMS) or drug-eluting stents (DES) were implanted in 212 coronary arteries (63 single BMS implantation, 68 single DES implantation, 33 overlapped BMS implantation, and 48 overlapped DES implantation). Histomorphological parameters were evaluated from vascular specimens at 3-365 days after stent implantation and evaluated values were compared between female and male groups. While neointima formation at all times after implantation was invariant to sex, statistically significant differences between female and male groups were observed in injury, inflammation, adventitial fibrosis, and neointimal fibrin deposition. These differences were observed independently, i.e., for different procedure types and at different follow-up timings. Only subtle temporal sex-related differences were observed in extent and timing of resolution of inflammation and fibrin clearance. These subtle sex-related differences may be increasingly important as interventional devices meld novel materials that erode and innovations in drug delivery. Erodible materials may act differently if inflammation has a different temporal sequence with sex, and drug distribution after balloon or stent delivery might be different if the fibrin clearance speaks to different modes of pharmacokinetics in male and female swine.

Analysis of subtle auditory dysfunctions in young normal-hearing subjects affected by Williams syndrome.

PubMed

Paglialonga, Alessia; Barozzi, Stefania; Brambilla, Daniele; Soi, Daniela; Cesarani, Antonio; Spreafico, Emanuela; Tognola, Gabriella

2014-11-01

To assess if young subjects affected by Williams syndrome (WS) with normal middle ear functionality and normal hearing thresholds might have subtle auditory dysfunctions that could be detected by using clinically available measurements. Otoscopy, acoustic reflexes, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured in a group of 13 WS subjects and in 13 age-matched, typically developing control subjects. Participants were required to have normal otoscopy, A-type tympanogram, normal acoustic reflex thresholds, and pure-tone thresholds≤15 dB HL at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz bilaterally. To limit the possible influence of middle ear status on DPOAE recordings, we analyzed only data from ears with pure-tone thresholds≤15 dB HL across all octave frequencies in the range 0.25-8 kHz, middle ear pressure (MEP)>-50 daPa, static compliance (SC) in the range 0.3-1.2 cm3, and ear canal volume (ECV) in the range 0.2-2 ml, and we performed analysis of covariance to remove the possible effects of middle ear variables on DPOAEs. No differences in mean hearing thresholds, SC, ECV, and gradient were observed between the two groups, whereas significantly lower MEP values were found in WS subjects as well as significantly decreased DPOAEs up to 3.2 kHz after adjusting for differences in middle ear status. Results revealed that WS subjects with normal hearing thresholds (≤15 dB HL) and normal middle ear functionality (MEP>-50 daPa, SC in the range 0.3-1.2 cm3, ECV in the range 0.2-2 ml) might have subtle auditory dysfunctions that can be detected by using clinically available methods. Overall, this study points out the importance of using otoacoustic emissions as a complement to routine audiological examinations in individuals with WS to detect, before the onset of hearing loss, possible subtle auditory dysfunctions so that patients can be early identified, better monitored, and promptly treated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cultural knowledge and local vulnerability in African American communities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller Hesed, Christine D.; Paolisso, Michael

2015-07-01

Policymakers need to know what factors are most important in determining local vulnerability to facilitate effective adaptation to climate change. Quantitative vulnerability indices are helpful in this endeavour but are limited in their ability to capture subtle yet important aspects of vulnerability such as social networks, knowledge and access to resources. Working with three African American communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we systematically elicit local cultural knowledge on climate change and connect it with a scientific vulnerability framework. The results of this study show that: a given social-ecological factor can substantially differ in the way in which it affects local vulnerability, even among communities with similar demographics and climate-related risks; and social and political isolation inhibits access to sources of adaptive capacity, thereby exacerbating local vulnerability. These results show that employing methods for analysing cultural knowledge can yield new insights to complement those generated by quantitative vulnerability indices.

It's a trap! Clinical similarities and subtle ECG differences between takotsubo cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Vivo, Rey P; Krim, Selim R; Hodgson, John

2008-11-01

We describe a 65-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and smoking who presented with an acute episode of chest pain precipitated by severe emotional stress. Her initial electrocardiogram done in the emergency room showed non-specific T wave changes in the lateral leads and her cardiac troponin levels were mildly elevated. Because of her clinical presentation, she was admitted with a presumptive diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and managed with antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. Coronary angiogram did not reveal coronary artery disease and left ventriculography showed findings consistent with apical ballooning syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Subsequent electrocardiograms displayed dramatic changes including T wave inversions, QT interval prolongation and U waves. The patient remained asymptomatic and recovered uneventfully. Three weeks post-discharge, an echocardiogram documented resolved left ventricular dysfunction. We describe the clinical features and highlight the electrocardiographic findings that may help differentiate takotsubo cardiomyopathy from myocardial infarction.

Layered copper hydroxide n-alkylsulfonate salts: synthesis, characterization, and magnetic behaviors in relation to the basal spacing.

PubMed

Park, Seong-Hun; Lee, Cheol Eui

2005-01-27

A series of hybrid inorganic-organic copper(II) hydroxy n-alkylsulfonate with a triangular lattice, Cu(2)(OH)(3)(C(n)H(2)(n)(+1)SO(3)) (n = 6, 8, 10), are prepared by anion exchange, starting from copper hydroxy nitrate Cu(2)(OH)(3)NO(3). These compounds show a layered structure as determined by X-ray diffraction, with interlayer distances of 14.3-34.8 A in alternation with interdigitated bilayer packing. Magnetic properties have been investigated by means of dc and ac measurements. All the compounds show similar metamagnet behaviors, with a Neel temperature of about 11 K. A subtle difference in the ac magnetic susceptibility among the compounds is understood by the existence of hydrogen bonding between the sulfonate headgroup and the hydroxide anion. A detailed molecular structure of the alkyl chains incorporated to the inorganic copper hydroxide layer is also discussed from the FTIR data.

Values in Principals' Thinking when Solving Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lazaridou, Angeliki

2007-01-01

The values that school principals use when solving organisational problems were studied. Data were collected by a think aloud procedure, in which the participants verbalised their thoughts while working on a set of five administrative problems. The results show that the principals referred to seven values that had subtle but important sub-texts:…

Subtleties in Energy Calculations in the Image Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taddei, M. M.; Mendes, T. N. C.; Farina, C.

2009-01-01

In this pedagogical work, we point out a subtle mistake that can be made by undergraduate or graduate students in the computation of the electrostatic energy of a system containing charges and perfect conductors if they naively use the image method. Specifically, we show that naive expressions for the electrostatic energy for these systems…

Rightward Collisions and Their Association with Pseudoneglect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicholls, Michael E. R.; Loftus, Andrea M.; Orr, Catherine A.; Barre, Natalie

2008-01-01

Whereas right parietal damage can result in left hemineglect, the general population shows a subtle neglect of the right hemispace--known as pseudoneglect. A recent study has demonstrated that people collide to the right more often and attributed this bias to pseudoneglect. [Nicholls, M. E. R., Loftus, A., Meyer, K., & Mattingley, J.B. (2007).…

Solvent friction changes the folding pathway of the tryptophan zipper TZ2.

PubMed

Narayanan, Ranjani; Pelakh, Leslie; Hagen, Stephen J

2009-07-17

Because the rate of a diffusional process such as protein folding is controlled by friction encountered along the reaction pathway, the speed of folding is readily tunable through adjustment of solvent viscosity. The precise relationship between solvent viscosity and the rate of diffusion is complex and even conformation-dependent, however, because both solvent friction and protein internal friction contribute to the total reaction friction. The heterogeneity of the reaction friction along the folding pathway may have subtle consequences. For proteins that fold on a multidimensional free-energy surface, an increase in solvent friction may drive a qualitative change in folding trajectory. Our time-resolved experiments on the rapidly and heterogeneously folding beta-hairpin TZ2 show a shift in the folding pathway as viscosity increases, even though the energetics of folding is unaltered. We also observe a nonlinear or saturating behavior of the folding relaxation time with rising solvent viscosity, potentially an experimental signature of the shifting pathway for unfolding. Our results show that manipulations of solvent viscosity in folding experiments and simulations may have subtle and unexpected consequences on the folding dynamics being studied.

Behavioural and endocrine effects of chronic cola intake.

PubMed

Celec, P; Behuliak, M

2010-10-01

Consumption of cola beverages is very high worldwide. The health effects of cola intake are not clear, although epidemiological studies point toward associations with obesity, kidney diseases and osteoporosis. Experimental studies are surprisingly rare. In this study, we substituted drinking water of adult male Wistar rats with three different cola beverages for 3 months. Behavioural phenotyping, measurement of sex steroids in plasma and oxidative stress in testes were performed at the end of the study. A light-dark box showed increased locomotor activity and anxiety in all groups with cola intake. A subtle anti-depressive effect was seen in the forced swim test. Chronic cola intake increased both oestradiol and testosterone levels suggesting an additional mechanism of action beyond the known effects of caffeine on adenosine receptors.

Impaired event memory and recollection in a case of developmental amnesia.

PubMed

Rosenbaum, R S; Carson, N; Abraham, N; Bowles, B; Kwan, D; Köhler, S; Svoboda, E; Levine, B; Richards, B

2011-10-01

A current debate in the literature is whether all declarative memories and associated memory processes rely on the same neural substrate. Here, we show that H.C., a developmental amnesic person with selective bilateral hippocampal volume loss, has a mild deficit in personal episodic memory, and a more pronounced deficit in public event memory; semantic memory for personal and general knowledge was unimpaired. This was accompanied by a subtle difference in impairment between recollection and familiarity on lab-based tests of recognition memory. Strikingly, H.C.'s recognition did not benefit from a levels-of-processing manipulation. Thus, not all types of declarative memory and related processes can exist independently of the hippocampus even if it is damaged early in life.

Africa and International Policy Making for Lifelong Learning: Textual Revelations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Preece, Julia

2013-01-01

This paper discusses the relationship between international agendas for lifelong learning and financial aid for low income countries, especially those on the African continent. It argues that there are subtle differences in terminology written by policymakers respectively in Europe and South Africa for lifelong learning but that international…

Language Ability of Students with Emotional Disturbance: Discrepancies between Teacher Ratings and Direct Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chow, Jason C.; Hollo, Alexandra

2018-01-01

Language impairment often goes unidentified in students with behavioral disorders, perhaps in part because different forms of problem behavior deflect adult attention from more subtle language deficits. Therefore, attention to teachers' perception of students' language and behavioral performance is merited. The present study examines agreement…

Learning Strategies and Reading Literacy among Chinese and Finnish Adolescents: Evidence of Suppression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cai, Yuyang; Zhu, Xinhua

2017-01-01

Many arguments have been advanced in the context of the predictive correlation between learning strategies and reading achievement. There is insufficient understanding, however, of the subtle ways in which different types of learning strategies (i.e. memorisation, elaboration and control strategies) function in facilitating students' reading…

European Starlings Are Capable of Discriminating Subtle Size Asymmetries in Paired Stimuli

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swaddle, John P.; Johnson, Charles W.

2007-01-01

Small deviations from bilateral symmetry (fluctuating asymmetries) are cues to fitness differences in some animals. Therefore, researchers have considered whether animals use these small asymmetries as visual cues to determine appropriate behavioral responses (e.g., mate preferences). However, there have been few systematic studies of animals'…

Zen and the Art of Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pascale, Richard Tanner

1978-01-01

A study of Japanese-managed companies in the U.S. and Japan found that their decision-making processes are not much different from American companies. However, an eastern perspective on management and organizational communication emphasizes the value of the subtle arts employed by successful Japanese and American managers alike. (JG)

One Digit Interruption: The Altered Force Patterns during Functionally Cylindrical Grasping Tasks in Patients with Trigger Digits

PubMed Central

Chen, Po-Tsun; Lin, Chien-Ju; Jou, I-Ming; Chieh, Hsiao-Feng; Su, Fong-Chin; Kuo, Li-Chieh

2013-01-01

Most trigger digit (TD) patients complain that they have problems using their hand in daily or occupational tasks due to single or multiple digits being affected. Unfortunately, clinicians do not know much about how this disease affects the subtle force coordination among digits during manipulation. Thus, this study examined the differences in force patterns during cylindrical grasp between TD and healthy subjects. Forty-two TD patients with single digit involvement were included and sorted into four groups based on the involved digits, including thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Twelve healthy subjects volunteered as healthy controls. Two testing tasks, holding and drinking, were performed by natural grasping with minimal forces. The relations between the force of the thumb and each finger were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients. The force amount and contribution of each digit were compared between healthy controls and each TD group by the independent t test. The results showed all TD groups demonstrated altered correlation patterns of the thumb relative to each finger. Larger forces and higher contributions of the index finger were found during holding by patients with index finger involved, and also during drinking by patients with affected thumb and with affected middle finger. Although no triggering symptom occurred during grasping, the patients showed altered force patterns which may be related to the role of the affected digit in natural grasping function. In conclusion, even if only one digit was affected, the subtle force coordination of all the digits was altered during simple tasks among the TD patients. This study provides the information for the future studies to further comprehend the possible injuries secondary to the altered finger coordination and also to adopt suitable treatment strategies. PMID:24391799

One digit interruption: the altered force patterns during functionally cylindrical grasping tasks in patients with trigger digits.

PubMed

Chen, Po-Tsun; Lin, Chien-Ju; Jou, I-Ming; Chieh, Hsiao-Feng; Su, Fong-Chin; Kuo, Li-Chieh

2013-01-01

Most trigger digit (TD) patients complain that they have problems using their hand in daily or occupational tasks due to single or multiple digits being affected. Unfortunately, clinicians do not know much about how this disease affects the subtle force coordination among digits during manipulation. Thus, this study examined the differences in force patterns during cylindrical grasp between TD and healthy subjects. Forty-two TD patients with single digit involvement were included and sorted into four groups based on the involved digits, including thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Twelve healthy subjects volunteered as healthy controls. Two testing tasks, holding and drinking, were performed by natural grasping with minimal forces. The relations between the force of the thumb and each finger were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients. The force amount and contribution of each digit were compared between healthy controls and each TD group by the independent t test. The results showed all TD groups demonstrated altered correlation patterns of the thumb relative to each finger. Larger forces and higher contributions of the index finger were found during holding by patients with index finger involved, and also during drinking by patients with affected thumb and with affected middle finger. Although no triggering symptom occurred during grasping, the patients showed altered force patterns which may be related to the role of the affected digit in natural grasping function. In conclusion, even if only one digit was affected, the subtle force coordination of all the digits was altered during simple tasks among the TD patients. This study provides the information for the future studies to further comprehend the possible injuries secondary to the altered finger coordination and also to adopt suitable treatment strategies.

Consensus and stratification in the affective meaning of human sociality

PubMed Central

Ambrasat, Jens; von Scheve, Christian; Conrad, Markus; Schauenburg, Gesche; Schröder, Tobias

2014-01-01

We investigate intrasocietal consensus and variation in affective meanings of concepts related to authority and community, two elementary forms of human sociality. Survey participants (n = 2,849) from different socioeconomic status (SES) groups in German society provided ratings of 909 social concepts along three basic dimensions of affective meaning. Results show widespread consensus on these meanings within society and demonstrate that a meaningful structure of socially shared knowledge emerges from organizing concepts according to their affective similarity. The consensus finding is further qualified by evidence for subtle systematic variation along SES differences. In relation to affectively neutral words, high-status individuals evaluate intimacy-related and socially desirable concepts as less positive and powerful than middle- or low-status individuals, while perceiving antisocial concepts as relatively more threatening. This systematic variation across SES groups suggests that the affective meaning of sociality is to some degree a function of social stratification. PMID:24843121

What Was Wrong with Eugenics? Conflicting Narratives and Disputed Interpretations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Diane B.

2014-02-01

Although it is often taken for granted that eugenics is odious, exactly what makes it so is far from obvious. The existence of considerable interpretative flexibility is evident in the disparate policy lessons for contemporary reproductive genetics (or "reprogenetics") that have been derived from essentially the same set of historical facts. In this paper, I will show how different—indeed, diametrically-opposed—morals have been drawn from the history of eugenics and link these contrasting messages both to different underlying conceptions of what constitutes the central wrong of eugenics and differing degrees of enthusiasm for reprogenetic technologies. I will then argue that, for several reasons, the history of eugenics simply cannot provide the kind of direct guidance that many participants in current debates would like. Although the history does have implications for policy, the insights to be gleaned are both subtle and indirect.

Personality Trait Similarity Between Spouses in Four Cultures

PubMed Central

Martin, Thomas A.; H⊆ebí ková, Martina; Urbánek, Tomáš; Boomsma, Dorret I.; Willemsen, Gonneke; Costa, Paul T.

2008-01-01

We examined patterns of trait similarity (assortative mating) in married couples in four cultures, using both self-reports and spouse ratings on versions of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. There was evidence of a subtle but pervasive perceived contrast bias in the spouse rating data. However, there was strong agreement across methods of assessment and moderate agreement across cultures in the pattern of results. Most assortment effects were small, but correlations exceeding .40 were seen for a subset of traits, chiefly from the Openness and Agreeableness domains. Except in Russia, where more positive assortment was seen for younger couples, comparisons of younger and older cohorts showed little systematic difference. This suggested that mate selection, rather than convergence over time, accounted for similarity. Future research on personality similarity in dyads can utilize different designs, but should assess personality at both domain and the facet levels. PMID:18665894

Motivational factors, gender and engineering education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolmos, Anette; Mejlgaard, Niels; Haase, Sanne; Egelund Holgaard, Jette

2013-06-01

Based on survey data covering the full population of students enrolled in Danish engineering education in autumn 2010, we explore the motivational factors behind educational choice, with a particular aim of comparing male and female students1 reasons for choosing a career in engineering. We find that women are significantly more influenced by mentors than men, while men tend to be more motivated by intrinsic and financial factors, and by the social importance of the engineering profession. Parental influence is low across all programmes and by differentiating between specific clusters of engineering programmes, we further show that these overall gender differences are subtle and that motivational factors are unequally important across the different educational programmes. The findings from this study clearly indicate that intrinsic and social motivations are the most important motivational factors; however, gender and programme differentiation needs to be taken into account, and points towards diverse future strategies for attracting students to engineering education.

How fluent is the fluent speech of people who stutter? A new approach to measuring kinematics with ultrasound.

PubMed

Heyde, Cornelia J; Scobbie, James M; Lickley, Robin; Drake, Eleanor K E

2016-01-01

We present a new approach to the investigation of dynamic ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI) data, applied here to analyse the subtle aspects of the fluency of people who stutter (PWS). Fluent productions of CV syllables (C = /k/; V = /ɑ, i, ə/) from three PWS and three control speakers (PNS) were analysed for duration and peak velocity relative to articulatory movement towards (onset) and away from (offset) the consonantal closure. The objective was to apply a replicable methodology for kinematic investigation to speech of PWS in order to test Wingate's Fault-Line hypothesis. As was hypothesised, results show comparable onset behaviours for both groups. Regarding offsets, groups differ in peak velocity. Results suggest that PWS do not struggle initiating consonantal closure (onset). In transition from consonantal closure into the vowel, however, groups appear to employ different strategies expressed in increased variation (PNS) versus decreased mean peak velocity (PWS).

Growth of electronically distinct manganite thin films by modulating cation stoichiometry

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

Ryu, Sangkyun; Lee, Joonhyuk; Ahn, Eunyoung

Nd 1-xSr xMnO 3 (NSMO) is a well-known manganite due to close connection between structure, transport, magnetism, and chemistry. Thus, it would be an ideal system to study modification of physical properties by external stimuli including control of stoichiometry in growth. In this work, we show that abrupt change of electronic and magnetic properties can be achieved by subtle change of oxygen partial pressure in pulsed laser deposition. Interestingly, the pressure indeed modulates cation stoichiometry. We clearly observed that the films grown at 150 mTorr and higher showed clear insulator to metal transition and stronger magnetism, commonly found in lessmore » hole doping, while the films grown at 130 mTorr and lower showed insulating behavior and weak magnetism. From soft x-ray spectroscopic methods, we clearly observed the compositional difference in those thin films. This result is further supported by scattering of lighter elements in high oxygen partial pressure but not by anion deficiency in growth.« less

Growth of electronically distinct manganite thin films by modulating cation stoichiometry

DOE PAGES

Ryu, Sangkyun; Lee, Joonhyuk; Ahn, Eunyoung; ...

2017-06-26

Nd 1-xSr xMnO 3 (NSMO) is a well-known manganite due to close connection between structure, transport, magnetism, and chemistry. Thus, it would be an ideal system to study modification of physical properties by external stimuli including control of stoichiometry in growth. In this work, we show that abrupt change of electronic and magnetic properties can be achieved by subtle change of oxygen partial pressure in pulsed laser deposition. Interestingly, the pressure indeed modulates cation stoichiometry. We clearly observed that the films grown at 150 mTorr and higher showed clear insulator to metal transition and stronger magnetism, commonly found in lessmore » hole doping, while the films grown at 130 mTorr and lower showed insulating behavior and weak magnetism. From soft x-ray spectroscopic methods, we clearly observed the compositional difference in those thin films. This result is further supported by scattering of lighter elements in high oxygen partial pressure but not by anion deficiency in growth.« less

Can Lighting Influence Self-Disclosure?

PubMed

Mehta, Veli; Mukherjee, Sumitava; Manjaly, Jaison A

2017-01-01

With the advent of social networks where people disclose a lot of their information and opinions publicly, this research attempted to re-look at the effect of environmental lighting on willingness and actual disclosure of personal information. Previous literatures mostly addressed counseling setups and the findings were mixed. In order to clarify the effect of lighting on self-disclosure, two experiments were conducted with reported willingness to disclose (Experiment 1) as well as actual disclosure (Experiment 2) on a range of topics like social issues, body, money, work, and personality. While quite a handful of studies have reported differences in disclosure from very subtle environmental lighting manipulations, in both experiments we could not find any effect of ambient room lighting conditions on self-disclosure. These results call for caution both in over-interpreting subtle environmental effects and in increased generalization of perceptual metaphors to actual behavior.

Harnessing the Interaction Continuum for Subtle Assisted Living

PubMed Central

García-Herranz, Manuel; Olivera, Fernando; Haya, Pablo; Alamán, Xavier

2012-01-01

People interact with each other in many levels of attention, intention and meaning. This Interaction Continuum is used daily to deal with different contexts, adapting the interaction to communication needs and available resources. Nevertheless, computer-supported interaction has mainly focused on the most direct, explicit and intrusive types of human to human Interaction such as phone calls, emails, or video conferences. This paper presents the results of exploring and exploiting the potentials of undemanding interaction mechanisms, paying special attention to subtle communication and background interaction. As we argue the benefits of this type of interaction for people with special needs, we present a theoretical framework to define it and propose a proof of concept based on Augmented Objects and a color codification mechanism. Finally, we evaluate and analyze the strengths and limitations of such approach with people with cognitive disabilities. PMID:23012573

Dentists versus auto mechanics: are there ethical differences?

PubMed

Riley, Crystal

2013-01-01

The different ethical perspectives of dentists and auto mechanics include primary concern, billing procedures, advertising, emergency care, the level of autonomy granted to their patients/ clients, the amount of disclosure given to their patients/clients, the ability to judge the work of others, and the freedom to pursue romantic relationships with their patients/clients. In analyzing these differences, one finds dentists to have much greater ethical obligations than auto mechanics. There are subtle differences between the ethical expectations of Canadian and United States dentists.

Detecting cryptic speciation in the widespread and morphologically conservative carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) of Madagascar.

PubMed

Florio, A M; Ingram, C M; Rakotondravony, H A; Louis, E E; Raxworthy, C J

2012-07-01

Species delimitation within recently evolved groups can be challenging because species may be difficult to distinguish morphologically. Following the General Lineage Concept, we apply a multiple evidence approach to assess species limits within the carpet chameleon Furcifer lateralis, which is endemic to Madagascar and exported in large numbers for the pet trade. Cryptic speciation within F. lateralis was considered likely because this species (1) has a vast distribution, (2) occupies exceptionally diverse habitats and (3) exhibits subtle regional differences in morphology. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed using nuclear and mitochondrial genes recovered three well-supported clades corresponding with geography. Morphological results based on canonical variates analysis show that these clades exhibit subtle differences in head casque morphology. Ecological niche modelling results found that these phylogenetic groups also occupy unique environmental space and exhibit patterns of regional endemism typical of other endemic reptiles. Combined, our findings provide diverse yet consistent evidence for the existence of three species. Consequently, we elevate the subspecies F. lateralis major to species rank and name a new species distributed in northern and western Madagascar. Initial ecological divergence, associated with speciation of F. lateralis in humid eastern habitat, fits the Ecographic Constraint model for species diversification in Madagascar. By contrast, the second speciation event provides some support for the Riverine Barrier model, with the Mangoky River possibly causing initial isolation between species. These findings thus support two contrasting models of speciation within closely related species and demonstrate the utility of applying a combined-evidence approach for detecting cryptic speciation. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2012 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

Neural Measures Reveal Implicit Learning during Language Processing.

PubMed

Batterink, Laura J; Cheng, Larry Y; Paller, Ken A

2016-10-01

Language input is highly variable; phonological, lexical, and syntactic features vary systematically across different speakers, geographic regions, and social contexts. Previous evidence shows that language users are sensitive to these contextual changes and that they can rapidly adapt to local regularities. For example, listeners quickly adjust to accented speech, facilitating comprehension. It has been proposed that this type of adaptation is a form of implicit learning. This study examined a similar type of adaptation, syntactic adaptation, to address two issues: (1) whether language comprehenders are sensitive to a subtle probabilistic contingency between an extraneous feature (font color) and syntactic structure and (2) whether this sensitivity should be attributed to implicit learning. Participants read a large set of sentences, 40% of which were garden-path sentences containing temporary syntactic ambiguities. Critically, but unbeknownst to participants, font color probabilistically predicted the presence of a garden-path structure, with 75% of garden-path sentences (and 25% of normative sentences) appearing in a given font color. ERPs were recorded during sentence processing. Almost all participants indicated no conscious awareness of the relationship between font color and sentence structure. Nonetheless, after sufficient time to learn this relationship, ERPs time-locked to the point of syntactic ambiguity resolution in garden-path sentences differed significantly as a function of font color. End-of-sentence grammaticality judgments were also influenced by font color, suggesting that a match between font color and sentence structure increased processing fluency. Overall, these findings indicate that participants can implicitly detect subtle co-occurrences between physical features of sentences and abstract, syntactic properties, supporting the notion that implicit learning mechanisms are generally operative during online language processing.

The Auckland Optotypes: An open-access pictogram set for measuring recognition acuity.

PubMed

Hamm, Lisa M; Yeoman, Janice P; Anstice, Nicola; Dakin, Steven C

2018-03-01

When measuring recognition acuity in a research setting, the most widely used symbols are the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) set of 10 Sloan letters. However, the symbols are not appropriate for patients unfamiliar with letters, and acuity for individual letters is variable. Alternative pictogram sets are available, but are generally comprised of fewer items. We set out to develop an open-access set of 10 pictograms that would elicit more consistent estimates of acuity across items than the ETDRS letters from visually normal adults. We measured monocular acuity for individual uncrowded optotypes within a newly designed set (The Auckland Optotype [TAO]), the ETDRS set, and Landolt Cs. Eleven visually normal adults were assessed on regular and vanishing formats of each set. Inter-optotype reliability and ability to detect subtle differences between participants were assessed using intraclass correlations (ICC) and fractional rank precision (FRP). The TAO vanishing set showed the strongest performance (ICC = 0.97, FRP = 0.90), followed by the other vanishing sets (Sloan ICC = 0.88, FRP = 0.74; Landolt ICC = 0.86, FRP = 0.80). Within the regular format, TAO again outperformed the existing sets (TAO ICC = 0.77, FRP = 0.75; Sloan ICC = 0.65, FRP = 0.64; Landolt ICC = 0.48, FRP = 0.63). For adults with normal visual acuity, the new optotypes (in both regular and vanishing formats) are more equally legible and sensitive to subtle individual differences than their Sloan counterparts. As this set does not require observers to be able to name Roman letters, and is freely available to use and modify, it may have wide application for measurement of acuity.

Implicit Age Cues in Resumes: Subtle Effects on Hiring Discrimination

PubMed Central

Derous, Eva; Decoster, Jeroen

2017-01-01

Anonymous resume screening, as assumed, does not dissuade age discriminatory effects. Building on job market signaling theory, this study investigated whether older applicants may benefit from concealing explicitly mentioned age signals on their resumes (date of birth) or whether more implicit/subtle age cues on resumes (older-sounding names/old-fashioned extracurricular activities) may lower older applicants’ hirability ratings. An experimental study among 610 HR professionals using a mixed factorial design showed hiring discrimination of older applicants based on implicit age cues in resumes. This effect was more pronounced for older raters. Concealing one’s date of birth led to overall lower ratings. Study findings add to the limited knowledge on the effects of implicit age cues on hiring discrimination in resume screening and the usefulness of anonymous resume screening in the context of age. Implications for research and practice are discussed. PMID:28848463

Words That Move Us. The Effects of Sentences on Body Sway

PubMed Central

Stins, John F.; Marmolejo-Ramos, Fernando; Hulzinga, Femke; Wenker, Eric; Cañal-Bruland, Rouwen

2017-01-01

According to the embodied cognition perspective, cognitive systems and perceptuo-motor systems are deeply intertwined and exert a causal effect on each other. A prediction following from this idea is that cognitive activity can result in subtle changes in observable movement. In one experiment, we tested whether reading various sentences resulted in changes in postural sway. Sentences symbolized various human activities involving high, low, or no physical effort. Dutch participants stood upright on a force plate, measuring the body center of pressure, while reading a succession of sentences. High physical effort sentences resulted in more postural sway (greater SD) than low physical effort sentences. This effect only showed up in medio-lateral sway but not anterio-posterior sway. This suggests that sentence comprehension was accompanied by subtle motoric activity, likely mirroring the various activities symbolized in the sentences. We conclude that semantic processing reaches the motor periphery, leading to increased postural activity. PMID:28713451

Gender differences in emotion perception and self-reported emotional intelligence: A test of the emotion sensitivity hypothesis

PubMed Central

Kret, Mariska E.; Broekens, Joost

2018-01-01

Previous meta-analyses and reviews on gender differences in emotion recognition have shown a small to moderate female advantage. However, inconsistent evidence from recent studies has raised questions regarding the implications of different methodologies, stimuli, and samples. In the present research based on a community sample of more than 5000 participants, we tested the emotional sensitivity hypothesis, stating that women are more sensitive to perceive subtle, i.e. low intense or ambiguous, emotion cues. In addition, we included a self-report emotional intelligence test in order to examine any discrepancy between self-perceptions and actual performance for both men and women. We used a wide range of stimuli and models, displaying six different emotions at two different intensity levels. In order to better tap sensitivity for subtle emotion cues, we did not use a forced choice format, but rather intensity measures of different emotions. We found no support for the emotional sensitivity account, as both genders rated the target emotions as similarly intense at both levels of stimulus intensity. Men, however, more strongly perceived non-target emotions to be present than women. In addition, we also found that the lower scores of men in self-reported EI was not related to their actual perception of target emotions, but it was to the perception of non-target emotions. PMID:29370198

Gender differences in emotion perception and self-reported emotional intelligence: A test of the emotion sensitivity hypothesis.

PubMed

Fischer, Agneta H; Kret, Mariska E; Broekens, Joost

2018-01-01

Previous meta-analyses and reviews on gender differences in emotion recognition have shown a small to moderate female advantage. However, inconsistent evidence from recent studies has raised questions regarding the implications of different methodologies, stimuli, and samples. In the present research based on a community sample of more than 5000 participants, we tested the emotional sensitivity hypothesis, stating that women are more sensitive to perceive subtle, i.e. low intense or ambiguous, emotion cues. In addition, we included a self-report emotional intelligence test in order to examine any discrepancy between self-perceptions and actual performance for both men and women. We used a wide range of stimuli and models, displaying six different emotions at two different intensity levels. In order to better tap sensitivity for subtle emotion cues, we did not use a forced choice format, but rather intensity measures of different emotions. We found no support for the emotional sensitivity account, as both genders rated the target emotions as similarly intense at both levels of stimulus intensity. Men, however, more strongly perceived non-target emotions to be present than women. In addition, we also found that the lower scores of men in self-reported EI was not related to their actual perception of target emotions, but it was to the perception of non-target emotions.

Roles of the canonical myomiRs miR-1, -133 and -206 in cell development and disease

PubMed Central

Mitchelson, Keith Richard; Qin, Wen-Yan

2015-01-01

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that participate in different biological processes, providing subtle combinational regulation of cellular pathways, often by regulating components of signalling pathways. Aberrant expression of miRNAs is an important factor in the development and progression of disease. The canonical myomiRs (miR-1, -133 and -206) are central to the development and health of mammalian skeletal and cardiac muscles, but new findings show they have regulatory roles in the development of other mammalian non-muscle tissues, including nerve, brain structures, adipose and some specialised immunological cells. Moreover, the deregulation of myomiR expression is associated with a variety of different cancers, where typically they have tumor suppressor functions, although examples of an oncogenic role illustrate their diverse function in different cell environments. This review examines the involvement of the related myomiRs at the crossroads between cell development/tissue regeneration/tissue inflammation responses, and cancer development. PMID:26322174

Tuning Interfacial States Using Organic Molecules as Spin Filters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deloach, Andrew; Wang, Jingying; Papa, Christopher M.; Myahkostupov, Mykhaylo; Castellano, Felix N.; Dougherty, Daniel B.; Jiang, Wei; Liu, Feng

Organic semiconductors are known to have long spin relaxation times which makes them a good candidate for spintronics. However, an issue with these materials is that at metal-organic interfaces there is a conductivity mismatch problem that suppresses spin injection. To overcome this, orbital mixing at the interface can be tuned with an organic spacer layer to promote the formation of spin polarized interface states. These states act as a ``spin filters'' and have been proposed as an explanation for the large tunneling magnetoresistance seen in devices using tris-(8-hydroxyquinolate)-aluminum(Alq3). Here, we show that the spin polarized interface states can be tuned from metallic to resistive by subtle changes in molecular orbitals. This is done using spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy with three different tris-(8-hydroxyquinolate) compounds: aluminum, chromium, and iron. Differences in d-orbital mixing results in different mechanisms of interfacial coupling, giving rise to metallic or resistive interface states. Supported by the U.S. DoE award No. DE-SC0010324.

Involvement of the left insula in the ecological validity of the human voice

PubMed Central

Tamura, Yuri; Kuriki, Shinji; Nakano, Tamami

2015-01-01

A subtle difference between a real human and an artificial object that resembles a human evokes an impression of a large qualitative difference between them. This suggests the existence of a neural mechanism that processes the sense of humanness. To examine the presence of such a mechanism, we compared the behavioral and brain responses of participants who listened to human and artificial singing voices created from vocal fragments of a real human voice. The behavioral experiment showed that the song sung by human voices more often elicited positive feelings and feelings of humanness than the same song sung by artificial voices, although the lyrics, melody, and rhythm were identical. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed significantly higher activation in the left posterior insula in response to human voices than in response to artificial voices. Insular activation was not merely evoked by differences in acoustic features between the voices. Therefore, these results suggest that the left insula participates in the neural processing of the ecological quality of the human voice. PMID:25739519

On the structural affinity of macromolecules with different biological properties: molecular dynamics simulations of a series of TEM-1 mutants.

PubMed

Giampaolo, Alessia Di; Mazza, Fernando; Daidone, Isabella; Amicosante, Gianfranco; Perilli, Mariagrazia; Aschi, Massimiliano

2013-07-12

Molecular Dynamics simulations have been carried out in order to provide a molecular rationalization of the biological and thermodynamic differences observed for a class of TEM β-lactamases. In particular we have considered the TEM-1(wt), the single point mutants TEM-40 and TEM-19 representative of IRT and ESBL classes respectively, and TEM-1 mutant M182T, TEM-32 and TEM-20 which differ from the first three for the additional of M182T mutation. Results indicate that most of the thermodynamic, and probably biological behaviour of these systems arise from subtle effects which, starting from the alterations of the local interactions, produce drastic modifications of the conformational space spanned by the enzymes. The present study suggests that systems showing essentially the same secondary and tertiary structure may differentiate their chemical-biological activity essentially (and probably exclusively) on the basis of the thermal fluctuations occurring in their physiological environment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of cultural characteristics on building an emotion classifier through facial expression analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

da Silva, Flávio Altinier Maximiano; Pedrini, Helio

2015-03-01

Facial expressions are an important demonstration of humanity's humors and emotions. Algorithms capable of recognizing facial expressions and associating them with emotions were developed and employed to compare the expressions that different cultural groups use to show their emotions. Static pictures of predominantly occidental and oriental subjects from public datasets were used to train machine learning algorithms, whereas local binary patterns, histogram of oriented gradients (HOGs), and Gabor filters were employed to describe the facial expressions for six different basic emotions. The most consistent combination, formed by the association of HOG filter and support vector machines, was then used to classify the other cultural group: there was a strong drop in accuracy, meaning that the subtle differences of facial expressions of each culture affected the classifier performance. Finally, a classifier was trained with images from both occidental and oriental subjects and its accuracy was higher on multicultural data, evidencing the need of a multicultural training set to build an efficient classifier.

[Visual and motor functions in schizophrenic patients].

PubMed

Del Vecchio, S; Gargiulo, P A

1992-12-01

In the present work, visual and motor functions have been explored in 26 chronic schizophrenic patients, and 7 acute schizophrenic patients, compared with 26 normal controls, by means of the Bender-Gestalt Test. Parameters under consideration were: Form distortion, rotation, integration, perseveration, use of space, subtle motricity, score (global parameter), and time employed. As regards distortion and rotation there have been highly significant differences between chronic patients and control group. Among acute patients, it was observed that perseveration was also highly significant. Conversely, integration and use of space did not differ significantly among the three groups involved. The global score, resulting from all the above mentioned parameters showed important differences between both patient groups on the one hand, and control group on the other hand. Taking into account that patients were being administered neuroleptic drugs, it can safely be said, however, that the Bender-Gestalt Test allows to recognize alteration in perceptual closure consistent with a loss of the objective structure of perceived phenomena, in both chronic and acute patients.

Self-adapted and tunable graphene strain sensors for detecting both subtle and large human motions.

PubMed

Tao, Lu-Qi; Wang, Dan-Yang; Tian, He; Ju, Zhen-Yi; Liu, Ying; Pang, Yu; Chen, Yuan-Quan; Yang, Yi; Ren, Tian-Ling

2017-06-22

Conventional strain sensors rarely have both a high gauge factor and a large strain range simultaneously, so they can only be used in specific situations where only a high sensitivity or a large strain range is required. However, for detecting human motions that include both subtle and large motions, these strain sensors can't meet the diverse demands simultaneously. Here, we come up with laser patterned graphene strain sensors with self-adapted and tunable performance for the first time. A series of strain sensors with either an ultrahigh gauge factor or a preferable strain range can be fabricated simultaneously via one-step laser patterning, and are suitable for detecting all human motions. The strain sensors have a GF of up to 457 with a strain range of 35%, or have a strain range of up to 100% with a GF of 268. Most importantly, the performance of the strain sensors can be easily tuned by adjusting the patterns of the graphene, so that the sensors can meet diverse demands in both subtle and large motion situations. The graphene strain sensors show significant potential in applications such as wearable electronics, health monitoring and intelligent robots. Furthermore, the facile, fast and low-cost fabrication method will make them possible and practical to be used for commercial applications in the future.

Stratospheric Impact of Varying Sea Surface Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, Paul A.; Nash, Eric R.; Nielsen, Jon E.; Waugh, Darryn; Pawson, Steven

2004-01-01

The Finite-Volume General Circulation Model (FVGCM) has been run in 50 year simulations with the: 1) 1949-1999 Hadley Centre sea surface temperatures (SST), and 2) a fixed annual cycle of SSTs. In this presentation we first show that the 1949-1999 FVGCM simulation produces a very credible stratosphere in comparison to an NCEP/NCAR reanalysis climatology. In particular, the northern hemisphere has numerous major and minor stratospheric warming, while the southern hemisphere has only a few over the 50-year simulation. During the northern hemisphere winter, temperatures are both warmer in the lower stratosphere and the polar vortex is weaker than is found in the mid-winter southern hemisphere. Mean temperature differences in the lower stratosphere are shown to be small (less than 2 K), and planetary wave forcing is found to be very consistent with the climatology. We then will show the differences between our varying SST simulation and the fixed SST simulation in both the dynamics and in two parameterized trace gases (ozone and methane). In general, differences are found to be small, with subtle changes in planetary wave forcing that lead to reduced temperatures in the SH and increased temperatures in the NH.

Top-down and bottom-up analysis of commercial enoxaparins.

PubMed

Liu, Xinyue; St Ange, Kalib; Lin, Lei; Zhang, Fuming; Chi, Lianli; Linhardt, Robert J

2017-01-13

A strategy for the comprehensive analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) heparins is described that relies on using an integrated top-down and bottom-up approach. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, an essential component of this approach, is rapid, robust, and amenable to automated processing and interpretation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides complementary top-down information on the chirality of the uronic acid residues comprising a low molecular weight heparin. Using our integrated approach four different low molecular weight heparins prepared from porcine heparin through chemical β-eliminative cleavage were comprehensively analyzed. Lovenox™ and Clexane™, the innovator versions of enoxaparin marketed in the US and Europe, respectively, and two generic enoxaparins, from Sandoz and Teva, were analyzed. The results which were supported by analysis of variation (ANOVA), while showing remarkable similarities between different versions of the product and good lot-to-lot consistency of each product, also detects subtle differences that may result from differences in their manufacturing processes or differences in the source (or parent) porcine heparin from which each product is prepared. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hypoglycemia-Associated EEG Changes Following Antecedent Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Sejling, Anne-Sophie; Kjaer, Troels W; Pedersen-Bjergaard, Ulrik; Remvig, Line S; Frandsen, Christian S; Hilsted, Linda; Faber, Jens; Holst, Jens Juul; Tarnow, Lise; Møller, Jakob Skadkær; Nielsen, Martin N; Thorsteinsson, Birger; Juhl, Claus B

2017-02-01

Recurrent hypoglycemia has been shown to blunt hypoglycemia symptom scores and counterregulatory hormonal responses during subsequent hypoglycemia. We therefore studied whether hypoglycemia-associated electroencephalogram (EEG) changes are affected by an antecedent episode of hypoglycemia. Twenty-four patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (10 with normal hypoglycemia awareness, 14 with hypoglycemia unawareness) were studied on 2 consecutive days by hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp at hypoglycemia (2.0-2.5 mmol/L) during a 1-h period. EEG was recorded, cognitive function assessed, and hypoglycemia symptom scores and counterregulatory hormonal responses were obtained. Twenty-one patients completed the study. Hypoglycemia-associated EEG changes were identified on both days with no differences in power or frequency distribution in the theta, alpha, or the combined theta-alpha band during hypoglycemia on the 2 days. Similar degree of cognitive dysfunction was also present during hypoglycemia on both days. When comparing the aware and unaware group, there were no differences in the hypoglycemia-associated EEG changes. There were very subtle differences in cognitive function between the two groups on day 2. The symptom response was higher in the aware group on both days, while only subtle differences were seen in the counterregulatory hormonal response. Antecedent hypoglycemia does not affect hypoglycemia-associated EEG changes in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

CANTAB object recognition and language tests to detect aging cognitive decline: an exploratory comparative study

PubMed Central

Cabral Soares, Fernanda; de Oliveira, Thaís Cristina Galdino; de Macedo, Liliane Dias e Dias; Tomás, Alessandra Mendonça; Picanço-Diniz, Domingos Luiz Wanderley; Bento-Torres, João; Bento-Torres, Natáli Valim Oliver; Picanço-Diniz, Cristovam Wanderley

2015-01-01

Objective The recognition of the limits between normal and pathological aging is essential to start preventive actions. The aim of this paper is to compare the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and language tests to distinguish subtle differences in cognitive performances in two different age groups, namely young adults and elderly cognitively normal subjects. Method We selected 29 young adults (29.9±1.06 years) and 31 older adults (74.1±1.15 years) matched by educational level (years of schooling). All subjects underwent a general assessment and a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Mini Mental State Examination, visuospatial learning, and memory tasks from CANTAB and language tests. Cluster and discriminant analysis were applied to all neuropsychological test results to distinguish possible subgroups inside each age group. Results Significant differences in the performance of aged and young adults were detected in both language and visuospatial memory tests. Intragroup cluster and discriminant analysis revealed that CANTAB, as compared to language tests, was able to detect subtle but significant differences between the subjects. Conclusion Based on these findings, we concluded that, as compared to language tests, large-scale application of automated visuospatial tests to assess learning and memory might increase our ability to discern the limits between normal and pathological aging. PMID:25565785

Characterization of Two Distinct Amorphous Forms of Valsartan by Solid-State NMR.

PubMed

Skotnicki, Marcin; Apperley, David C; Aguilar, Juan A; Milanowski, Bartłomiej; Pyda, Marek; Hodgkinson, Paul

2016-01-04

Valsartan (VAL) is an antihypertensive drug marketed in an amorphous form. Amorphous materials can have different physicochemical properties depending on preparation method, thermal history, etc., but the nature of such materials is difficult to study by diffraction techniques. This study characterizes two different amorphous forms of valsartan (AR and AM) using solid-state NMR (SSNMR) as a primary investigation tool, supported by solution-state NMR, FT-IR, TMDSC, and dissolution tests. The two forms are found to be clearly distinct, with a significantly higher level of structural arrangement in the AR form, as observed in (13)C, (15)N, and (1)H SSNMR. (13)C and (15)N NMR indicates that the fully amorphous material (AM) contains an approximately equal ratio of cis-trans conformers about the amide bond, whereas the AR form exists mainly as one conformer, with minor conformational "defects". (1)H ultrafast MAS NMR shows significant differences in the hydrogen bonding involving the tetrazole and acid hydrogens between the two materials, while (15)N NMR shows that both forms exist as a 1,2,3,4-tetrazole tautomer. NMR relaxation times show subtle differences in local and bulk molecular mobility, which can be connected with the glass transition, the stability of the glassy material, and its response to aging. Counterintuitively the fully amorphous material is found to have a significantly lower dissolution rate than the apparently more ordered AR material.

Forest restoration treatments have subtle long-term effects on soil C and N cycling in mixed conifer forests.

PubMed

Ganzlin, Peter W; Gundale, Michael J; Becknell, Rachel E; Cleveland, Cory C

2016-07-01

Decades of fire suppression following extensive timber harvesting have left much of the forest in the intermountain western United States exceedingly dense, and forest restoration techniques (i.e., thinning and prescribed fire) are increasingly being used in an attempt to mitigate the effects of severe wildfire, to enhance tree growth and regeneration, and to stimulate soil nutrient cycling. While many of the short-term effects of forest restoration have been established, the long-term effects on soil biogeochemical and ecosystem processes are largely unknown. We assessed the effects of commonly used forest restoration treatments (thinning, burning, and thinning + burning) on nutrient cycling and other ecosystem processes 11 yr after restoration treatments were implemented in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum)/Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) forest at the Lubrecht Fire and Fire Surrogates Study (FFS) site in western Montana, USA. Despite short-term (<3 yr) increases in soil inorganic nitrogen (N) pools and N cycling rates following prescribed fire, long-term soil N pools and N mineralization rates showed only subtle differences from untreated control plots. Similarly, despite a persistent positive correlation between fuels consumed in prescribed burns and several metrics of N cycling, variability in inorganic N pools decreased significantly since treatments were implemented, indicating a decline in N spatial heterogeneity through time. However, rates of net nitrification remain significantly higher in a thin + burn treatment relative to other treatments. Short-term declines in forest floor carbon (C) pools have persisted in the thin + burn treatment, but there were no significant long-term differences among treatments in extractable soil phosphorus (P). Finally, despite some short-term differences, long-term foliar nutrient concentrations, litter decomposition rates, and rates of free-living N fixation in the experimental plots were not different from control plots, suggesting nutrient cycles and ecosystem processes in temperate coniferous forests are resilient to disturbance following long periods of fire suppression. Overall, this study provides forest managers and policymakers valuable information showing that the effects of these commonly used restoration prescriptions on soil nutrient cycling are ephemeral and that use of repeated treatments (i.e., frequent fire) will be necessary to ensure continued restoration success. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.

"The Types of Kids We Get Are Different"--The Distinguishing Characteristics of School Choosers in Detroit, Michigan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamlin, Daniel

2018-01-01

Providing improved educational options for low-income African American families has been one of the primary objectives of the charter school movement. However, among demographically similar families, school choosers may possess subtle advantages compared to nonchoosers, leading to biased estimates of charter school performance in nonexperimental…

Character Portrayals and Social Values in TV Commercials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scheibe, Cynthia L.; Condry, John C.

In order to investigate the nature of character portrayals in U.S. television commercials, a content analysis was done on a random sample of 2,604 U.S. television commercials which were videotaped in March 1981. This analysis included both demographic characteristics and more subtle aspects of gender differences, such as concerns, relationships…

Subtle temperature differences may well determine who wins: a story of three submerged aquatic plant species

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

As temperatures increases globally, shifts in the distribution of plant species are expected, with unknown effects on invasive species abundance. It is then of value to understand the role increased temperature may have on invasive species. Although nonhomeothermic organisms are the mercy of environ...

Profiling of dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides in herbarium-preserved specimens of Amsinckia species using HPLC-esi(+)MS

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Species of the Amsinckia genus (Boraginaceae) are known to produce potentially hepato-, pneumo-, and/or genotoxic dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids. However, the taxonomic differentiation of Amsinckia species can be very subtle and there seems to be marked differences in toxicity toward grazing livesto...

A Value Analysis of the 1980 Presidential Debate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hochel, Sandra

Although Democrat Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan appealed to many of the same basic American values in the 1980 presidential campaign debate, there were some subtle but major differences in their value appeals. Other than attempting to convince his audience that his policies had been and would be successful and that Reagan's policies…

Words Matter: A Semantic Differential Study of Recreation, Leisure, Play, Activity, and Sport

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlag, Paul A.; Yoder, Daniel G.; Sheng, Zhaohui

2015-01-01

Beyond the standard definitions found in the dictionary, words commonly used in the recreation field have subtle, yet powerful connotations of which senders and receivers of information may not be consciously aware. These words elicit different conscious and subconscious reactions that likely bear significant consequences for recreation agencies…

Using Network Science Measures to Predict the Lexical Decision Performance of Adults Who Stutter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Castro, Nichol; Pelczarski, Kristin M.; Vitevitch, Michael S.

2017-01-01

Purpose: Methods from network science have examined various aspects of language processing. Clinical populations may also benefit from these novel analyses. Phonological and lexical factors have been examined in adults who stutter (AWS) as potential contributing factors to stuttering, although differences reported are often subtle. We reexamined…

Formal Attributes of Television Commercials: Subtle Ways of Transmitting Sex Stereotypes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Welch, Renate L.; And Others

Differences in formal aspects of television commercials aimed at boys and those aimed at girls were investigated. Formal attributes were defined as production techniques such as action, pace, visual effects, dialogue and narration, background music and sound effects. Two aspects of content were also examined: aggressive behavior and the gender of…

The Campus Climate Revisited: Chilly for Women Faculty, Administrators, and Graduate Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sandler, Bernice R.; Hall, Roberta M.

The professional climate often experienced by women faculty and administrators is reported, along with some consideration to the experiences of graduate and professional students. Attention is focused on subtle ways in which women are treated differently and common behaviors that create a chilly professional climate. The information was obtained…

Using Radar Charts with Qualitative Evaluation: Techniques to Assess Change in Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaczynski, Dan; Wood, Leigh; Harding, Ansie

2008-01-01

When university academics implement changes in learning, such as introducing blended learning, it is conventional practice to examine and evaluate the impact of the resulting curriculum reform. Judging the worth and impact of an educational development is a complex task involving subtle differences in learning. Qualitative methods to explore these…

Menstrual cycle phase affects discrimination of infant cuteness.

PubMed

Lobmaier, Janek S; Probst, Fabian; Perrett, David I; Heinrichs, Markus

2015-04-01

Recent studies have shown that women are more sensitive than men to subtle cuteness differences in infant faces. It has been suggested that raised levels in estradiol and progesterone may be responsible for this advantage. We compared young women's sensitivity to computer-manipulated baby faces varying in cuteness. Thirty-six women were tested once during ovulation and once during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. In a two alternative forced-choice experiment, participants chose the baby which they thought was cuter (Task 1), younger (Task 2), or the baby that they would prefer to babysit (Task 3). Saliva samples to assess levels of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone were collected at each test session. During ovulation, women were more likely to choose the cuter baby than during the luteal phase, in all three tasks. These results suggest that cuteness discrimination may be driven by cyclic hormonal shifts. However none of the measured hormones were related to increased cuteness sensitivity. We speculate that other hormones than the ones measured here might be responsible for the increased sensitivity to subtle cuteness differences during ovulation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fractal Complexity-Based Feature Extraction Algorithm of Communication Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hui; Li, Jingchao; Guo, Lili; Dou, Zheng; Lin, Yun; Zhou, Ruolin

How to analyze and identify the characteristics of radiation sources and estimate the threat level by means of detecting, intercepting and locating has been the central issue of electronic support in the electronic warfare, and communication signal recognition is one of the key points to solve this issue. Aiming at accurately extracting the individual characteristics of the radiation source for the increasingly complex communication electromagnetic environment, a novel feature extraction algorithm for individual characteristics of the communication radiation source based on the fractal complexity of the signal is proposed. According to the complexity of the received signal and the situation of environmental noise, use the fractal dimension characteristics of different complexity to depict the subtle characteristics of the signal to establish the characteristic database, and then identify different broadcasting station by gray relation theory system. The simulation results demonstrate that the algorithm can achieve recognition rate of 94% even in the environment with SNR of -10dB, and this provides an important theoretical basis for the accurate identification of the subtle features of the signal at low SNR in the field of information confrontation.

Discrepancy between fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography in detection of macular disease.

PubMed

Kozak, Igor; Morrison, Victoria L; Clark, Thomas M; Bartsch, Dirk-Uwe; Lee, Byung Ro; Falkenstein, Iryna; Tammewar, Ajay M; Mojana, Francesca; Freeman, William R

2008-04-01

To compare high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) in detection of macular edema (ME) of various etiologies. In a retrospective study over a 12-month period at one retina center, data for consecutive eyes that had undergone simultaneous conventional FA (HRA; Heidelberg Engineering, Vista, CA) and StratusOCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) to rule out ME were reviewed. A subset of patients underwent additional examination with extremely high-resolution (6-microm)/ultrahigh-speed spectral OCT/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (OTI, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Of 1,272 eyes, 1,208 (94.97%) had the finding of ME or subretinal fluid confirmed by both techniques. There were 49 eyes (3.86%) for which FA showed dye leakage in the macular area and OCT showed normal foveal contour. Of 10 eyes in this group that underwent imaging with ultrahigh-speed spectral OCT/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, 8 had subtle diffuse lucencies in the retina. For 15 eyes (1.17%), OCT showed intraretinal and subretinal fluid, which was missed by FA. Both FA and high-resolution OCT are highly sensitive techniques and correlate well in detection of ME. However, there is a small chance that when performed alone they might miss existing subtle ME.

Long-term follow-up of two patients with oligocone trichromacy.

PubMed

Smirnov, Vasily; Drumare, Isabelle; Bouacha, Ikram; Puech, Bernard; Defoort-Dhellemmes, Sabine

2015-10-01

Oligocone trichromacy (OT) is an uncommon cone dysfunction disorder, the mechanism of which remains poorly understood. OT has been thought to be non-progressive, but its long-term visual outcome has been seldom reported in the literature. Our aim was to present two OT patients followed at our institution over 18 years. Complete ocular examination, color vision, visual fields, and full-field electroretinography (ERG) were performed at initial presentation and follow-up. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed during follow-up when available at our institution. Initial ocular examination showed satisfactory visual acuities with normal fundus examination and near-to-normal color vision. However, computerized perimetry demonstrated a ring-shaped scotoma around fixation, and ERG showed a profound cone dysfunction. The discrepancy between preserved color vision and profound cone dysfunction leads to the diagnosis of OT. Subsequent follow-ups over 18 years showed subtle degradation of visual acuities along with progression of the myopia in both patients and slight worsening of color vision in one patient. Initial OCT revealed a focal interruption of the ellipsoid line along with decreased thickness of the perifoveal macula. Subsequent OCT imaging performed 2 years later did not show any macular changes. Although OT is known to be a non-progressive cone dysfunction, our results suggest that subtle degradation of the visual function might happen over time.

SATURN, IN NATURAL COLORS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has provided images of Saturn in many colors, from black-and-white, to orange, to blue, green, and red. But in this picture, image processing specialists have worked to provide a crisp, extremely accurate view of Saturn, which highlights the planet's pastel colors. Bands of subtle color - yellows, browns, grays - distinguish differences in the clouds over Saturn, the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturn's high-altitude clouds are made of colorless ammonia ice. Above these clouds is a layer of haze or smog, produced when ultraviolet light from the sun shines on methane gas. The smog contributes to the planet's subtle color variations. One of Saturn's moons, Enceladus, is seen casting a shadow on the giant planet as it passes just above the ring system. The flattened disk swirling around Saturn is the planet's most recognizable feature, and this image displays it in sharp detail. This is the planet's ring system, consisting mostly of chunks of water ice. Although it appears as if the disk is composed of only a few rings, it actually consists of tens of thousands of thin 'ringlets.' This picture also shows the two classic divisions in the ring system. The narrow Encke Gap is nearest to the disk's outer edge; the Cassini division, is the wide gap near the center. Scientists study Saturn and its ring system to gain insight into the birth of our solar system. Credit: Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

Differential Cued-Stroop Performance in Cognitively Asymptomatic Older Adults with Biomarker-Identified Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Patten, Ryan Van; Fagan, Anne M; Kaufman, David A S

2018-04-04

There exists a need for more sensitive measures, capable of detecting subtle cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease. To advance the literature in Alzheimer's disease by demonstrating that performance on a cued-Stroop task is impacted by preclinical Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Twenty-nine cognitively asymptomatic older adults completed a computerized, cued-Stroop task in which accuracy rates and intraindividual variability in reaction times were the outcomes of interest. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Aβ42 and tau were measured and participants were then grouped according to a published p-tau/Aβ42 cutoff reflecting risk for Alzheimer's disease (preclinical Alzheimer's disease = 14; control = 15). ANOVAs indicated that accuracy rates did not differ between the groups but 4-second delay incongruent color-naming Stroop coefficient of variation reaction times were higher in the preclinical Alzheimer's disease group compared to the control group, reflecting increased within-person variability. Moreover, partial correlations showed no relationships between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and accuracy rates. However, increases in coefficient of variation reaction times correlated with decreased Aβ42 and increases in p-tau and the p-tau/Aβ42 ratio. Results supported the ability of the computerized, cued-Stroop task to detect subtle Alzheimer's disease neuropathology using a small cohort of cognitively asymptomatic older adults. The ongoing measurement of cued-Stroop coefficient of variation reaction times has both scientific and clinical utility in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Tracer kinetic modelling for DCE-MRI quantification of subtle blood-brain barrier permeability.

PubMed

Heye, Anna K; Thrippleton, Michael J; Armitage, Paul A; Valdés Hernández, Maria Del C; Makin, Stephen D; Glatz, Andreas; Sakka, Eleni; Wardlaw, Joanna M

2016-01-15

There is evidence that subtle breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a pathophysiological component of several diseases, including cerebral small vessel disease and some dementias. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) combined with tracer kinetic modelling is widely used for assessing permeability and perfusion in brain tumours and body tissues where contrast agents readily accumulate in the extracellular space. However, in diseases where leakage is subtle, the optimal approach for measuring BBB integrity is likely to differ since the magnitude and rate of enhancement caused by leakage are extremely low; several methods have been reported in the literature, yielding a wide range of parameters even in healthy subjects. We hypothesised that the Patlak model is a suitable approach for measuring low-level BBB permeability with low temporal resolution and high spatial resolution and brain coverage, and that normal levels of scanner instability would influence permeability measurements. DCE-MRI was performed in a cohort of mild stroke patients (n=201) with a range of cerebral small vessel disease severity. We fitted these data to a set of nested tracer kinetic models, ranking their performance according to the Akaike information criterion. To assess the influence of scanner drift, we scanned 15 healthy volunteers that underwent a "sham" DCE-MRI procedure without administration of contrast agent. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate model validity and the effect of scanner drift. The Patlak model was found to be most appropriate for fitting low-permeability data, and the simulations showed vp and K(Trans) estimates to be reasonably robust to the model assumptions. However, signal drift (measured at approximately 0.1% per minute and comparable to literature reports in other settings) led to systematic errors in calculated tracer kinetic parameters, particularly at low permeabilities. Our findings justify the growing use of the Patlak model in low-permeability states, which has the potential to provide valuable information regarding BBB integrity in a range of diseases. However, absolute values of the resulting tracer kinetic parameters should be interpreted with extreme caution, and the size and influence of signal drift should be measured where possible. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tracer kinetic modelling for DCE-MRI quantification of subtle blood–brain barrier permeability

PubMed Central

Heye, Anna K.; Thrippleton, Michael J.; Armitage, Paul A.; Valdés Hernández, Maria del C.; Makin, Stephen D.; Glatz, Andreas; Sakka, Eleni; Wardlaw, Joanna M.

2016-01-01

There is evidence that subtle breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a pathophysiological component of several diseases, including cerebral small vessel disease and some dementias. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) combined with tracer kinetic modelling is widely used for assessing permeability and perfusion in brain tumours and body tissues where contrast agents readily accumulate in the extracellular space. However, in diseases where leakage is subtle, the optimal approach for measuring BBB integrity is likely to differ since the magnitude and rate of enhancement caused by leakage are extremely low; several methods have been reported in the literature, yielding a wide range of parameters even in healthy subjects. We hypothesised that the Patlak model is a suitable approach for measuring low-level BBB permeability with low temporal resolution and high spatial resolution and brain coverage, and that normal levels of scanner instability would influence permeability measurements. DCE-MRI was performed in a cohort of mild stroke patients (n = 201) with a range of cerebral small vessel disease severity. We fitted these data to a set of nested tracer kinetic models, ranking their performance according to the Akaike information criterion. To assess the influence of scanner drift, we scanned 15 healthy volunteers that underwent a “sham” DCE-MRI procedure without administration of contrast agent. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate model validity and the effect of scanner drift. The Patlak model was found to be most appropriate for fitting low-permeability data, and the simulations showed vp and KTrans estimates to be reasonably robust to the model assumptions. However, signal drift (measured at approximately 0.1% per minute and comparable to literature reports in other settings) led to systematic errors in calculated tracer kinetic parameters, particularly at low permeabilities. Our findings justify the growing use of the Patlak model in low-permeability states, which has the potential to provide valuable information regarding BBB integrity in a range of diseases. However, absolute values of the resulting tracer kinetic parameters should be interpreted with extreme caution, and the size and influence of signal drift should be measured where possible. PMID:26477653

A switch from parallel to antiparallel strand orientation in a coiled-coil X-ray structure via two core hydrophobic mutations

DOE PAGES

Malashkevich, Vladimir N.; Higgins, Chelsea D.; Almo, Steven C.; ...

2015-05-06

The coiled-coil is one of the most ubiquitous and well studied protein structural motifs. Significant effort has been devoted to dissecting subtle variations of the typical heptad repeat sequence pattern that can designate larger topological features such as relative α-helical orientation and oligomer size. Here in this paper we report the X-ray structure of a model coiled-coil peptide, HA2-Del-L2seM, which forms an unanticipated core antiparallel dimer with potential sites for discrete higher-order multimerization (trimer or tetramer). In the X-ray structure, a third, partially-ordered α-helix is weakly associated with the antiparallel dimer and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicate the peptide forms amore » well-defined tetramer in solution. The HA2-Del-L2seM sequence is closely related to a parent model peptide, HA2-Del, which we previously reported adopts a parallel trimer; HA2-Del-L2seM differs by only hydrophobic leucine to selenomethione mutations and thus this subtle difference is sufficient to switch both relative α-helical topology and number of α-helices participating in the coiled-coil. Comparison of the X-ray structures of HA2-Del-L2seM (reported here) with the HA2-Del parent (reported previously) reveals novel interactions involving the selenomethionine residues that promote antiparallel coiled-coil configuration and preclude parallel trimer formation. Finally, these novel atomic insights are instructive for understanding subtle features that can affect coiled-coil topology and provide additional information for design of antiparallel coiled-coils.« less

Value of the intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests for detecting subtle impairments in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in former gestational diabetes.

PubMed

Tura, A; Mari, A; Prikoszovich, T; Pacini, G; Kautzky-Willer, A

2008-08-01

Women with former gestational diabetes mellitus (fGDM) often show defects in both insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function but it is not clear which defect plays the major role or which appears first. This might be because fGDM women are often studied as a unique group and not divided according to their glucose tolerance. Different findings might also be the result of using different tests. Our aim was to study insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function with two independent glucose tolerance tests in fGDM women divided according to their glucose tolerance. A total of 108 fGDM women divided into normal glucose tolerance (IGT; N = 82), impaired glucose metabolism (IGM; N = 20) and overt type 2 diabetes (T2DM; N = 6) groups, and 38 healthy control women (CNT) underwent intravenous (IVGTT) and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Measurements Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function were assessed by both the IVGTT and the OGTT. Both tests revealed impaired insulin sensitivity in the normotolerant group compared to controls (IVGTT: 4.2 +/- 0.3 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.4 10(-4) min(-1) (microU/ml)(-1); OGTT: 440 +/- 7 vs. 472 +/- 9 ml min(-1) m(-2)). Conversely, no difference was found in beta-cell function from the IVGTT. However, some parameters of beta-cell function by OGTT modelling analysis were found to be impaired: glucose sensitivity (106 +/- 5 vs. 124 +/- 7 pmol min(-1) m(-2) mm(-1), P = 0.0407) and insulin secretion at 5 mm glucose (168 +/- 9 vs. 206 +/- 10 pmol min(-1) m(-2), P = 0.003). Both insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function are impaired in normotolerant fGDM but the subtle defect in beta-cell function is disclosed only by OGTT modelling analysis.

Memory for incidentally perceived social cues: Effects on person judgment.

PubMed

Pawling, Ralph; Kirkham, Alexander J; Tipper, Steven P; Over, Harriet

2017-02-01

Dynamic face cues can be very salient, as when observing sudden shifts of gaze to a new location, or a change of expression from happy to angry. These highly salient social cues influence judgments of another person during the course of an interaction. However, other dynamic cues, such as pupil dilation, are much more subtle, affecting judgments of another person even without awareness. We asked whether such subtle, incidentally perceived, dynamic cues could be encoded in to memory and retrieved at a later time. The current study demonstrates that in some circumstances changes in pupil size in another person are indeed encoded into memory and influence judgments of that individual at a later time. Furthermore, these judgments interact with the perceived trustworthiness of the individual and the nature of the social context. The effect is somewhat variable, however, possibly reflecting individual differences and the inherent ambiguity of pupil dilation/constriction. © 2016 The British Psychological Society.

Why is John More Likely to Become Department Chair Than Jennifer?

PubMed

Carnes, Molly; Bartels, Christie M; Kaatz, Anna; Kolehmainen, Christine

2015-01-01

This article reviews some of our research on how gender stereotypes and their accompanying assumptions and expectations can influence the careers of male and female physicians and scientists in a myriad of subtle ways. Although stereotype-based cognitive biases may be invisible and unintentional, they nevertheless shape the experiences of women in academic medicine in ways that frequently constrain their opportunities. We present research on the following: 1) subtle differences in the evaluation of male and female medical students as revealed through text analysis of written evaluations at a critical career juncture, 2) how cultural assumptions about the way men and women should and should not behave influence medical residents' experiences as leaders, and 3) how approaching gender bias among faculty in academic medicine, science, and engineering as a remedial habit can be successful in changing individual behaviors and in improving department climate.

Why is John More Likely to Become Department Chair Than Jennifer?

PubMed Central

Carnes, Molly; Bartels, Christie M.; Kaatz, Anna; Kolehmainen, Christine

2015-01-01

This article reviews some of our research on how gender stereotypes and their accompanying assumptions and expectations can influence the careers of male and female physicians and scientists in a myriad of subtle ways. Although stereotype-based cognitive biases may be invisible and unintentional, they nevertheless shape the experiences of women in academic medicine in ways that frequently constrain their opportunities. We present research on the following: 1) subtle differences in the evaluation of male and female medical students as revealed through text analysis of written evaluations at a critical career juncture, 2) how cultural assumptions about the way men and women should and should not behave influence medical residents' experiences as leaders, and 3) how approaching gender bias among faculty in academic medicine, science, and engineering as a remedial habit can be successful in changing individual behaviors and in improving department climate. PMID:26330674

Need for cognition can magnify or attenuate priming effects in social judgment.

PubMed

Petty, Richard E; DeMarree, Kenneth G; Briñol, Pablo; Horcajo, Javier; Strathman, Alan J

2008-07-01

This article hypothesizes that the individual-difference variable, need for cognition (NFC), can have opposite implications for priming effects, depending on prime blatancy. Subtle primes are argued to be more effective for high- versus low-NFC individuals. This is because for high-NFC individuals, (a) constructs are generally easier to activate, (b) their higher amount of thought offers more opportunity for an activated construct to bias judgment, and (c) their thoughtfully formed judgments are more likely to affect behavior. However, because high-NFC individuals are adept at identifying and correcting for bias, with blatant primes the activated construct should be less likely to exert its default influence. Furthermore, with blatant primes, low-NFC individuals may achieve sufficient activation for primes to affect judgment. Across three studies, it is shown that as NFC increases, the magnitude of priming effects increases with a subtle prime but decreases with a blatant prime.

Co-occurrence of Local Anisotropic Gradient Orientations (CoLlAGe): A new radiomics descriptor.

PubMed

Prasanna, Prateek; Tiwari, Pallavi; Madabhushi, Anant

2016-11-22

In this paper, we introduce a new radiomic descriptor, Co-occurrence of Local Anisotropic Gradient Orientations (CoLlAGe) for capturing subtle differences between benign and pathologic phenotypes which may be visually indistinguishable on routine anatomic imaging. CoLlAGe seeks to capture and exploit local anisotropic differences in voxel-level gradient orientations to distinguish similar appearing phenotypes. CoLlAGe involves assigning every image voxel an entropy value associated with the co-occurrence matrix of gradient orientations computed around every voxel. The hypothesis behind CoLlAGe is that benign and pathologic phenotypes even though they may appear similar on anatomic imaging, will differ in their local entropy patterns, in turn reflecting subtle local differences in tissue microarchitecture. We demonstrate CoLlAGe's utility in three clinically challenging classification problems: distinguishing (1) radiation necrosis, a benign yet confounding effect of radiation treatment, from recurrent tumors on T1-w MRI in 42 brain tumor patients, (2) different molecular sub-types of breast cancer on DCE-MRI in 65 studies and (3) non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinomas) from benign fungal infection (granulomas) on 120 non-contrast CT studies. For each of these classification problems, CoLlAGE in conjunction with a random forest classifier outperformed state of the art radiomic descriptors (Haralick, Gabor, Histogram of Gradient Orientations).

[Children with specific language impairment: electrophysiological and pedaudiological findings].

PubMed

Rinker, T; Hartmann, K; Smith, E; Reiter, R; Alku, P; Kiefer, M; Brosch, S

2014-08-01

Auditory deficits may be at the core of the language delay in children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). It was therefore hypothesized that children with SLI perform poorly on 4 tests typically used to diagnose central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) as well in the processing of phonetic and tone stimuli in an electrophysiological experiment. 14 children with SLI (mean age 61,7 months) and 16 children without SLI (mean age 64,9 months) were tested with 4 tasks: non-word repetition, language discrimination in noise, directional hearing, and dichotic listening. The electrophysiological recording Mismatch Negativity (MMN) employed sine tones (600 vs. 650 Hz) and phonetic stimuli (/ε/ versus /e/). Control children and children with SLI differed significantly in the non-word repetition as well as in the dichotic listening task but not in the two other tasks. Only the control children recognized the frequency difference in the MMN-experiment. The phonetic difference was discriminated by both groups, however, effects were longer lasting for the control children. Group differences were not significant. Children with SLI show limitations in auditory processing that involve either a complex task repeating unfamiliar or difficult material and show subtle deficits in auditory processing at the neural level. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Coupling of active motion and advection shapes intracellular cargo transport.

PubMed

Khuc Trong, Philipp; Guck, Jochen; Goldstein, Raymond E

2012-07-13

Intracellular cargo transport can arise from passive diffusion, active motor-driven transport along cytoskeletal filament networks, and passive advection by fluid flows entrained by such cargo-motor motion. Active and advective transport are thus intrinsically coupled as related, yet different representations of the same underlying network structure. A reaction-advection-diffusion system is used here to show that this coupling affects the transport and localization of a passive tracer in a confined geometry. For sufficiently low diffusion, cargo localization to a target zone is optimized either by low reaction kinetics and decoupling of bound and unbound states, or by a mostly disordered cytoskeletal network with only weak directional bias. These generic results may help to rationalize subtle features of cytoskeletal networks, for example as observed for microtubules in fly oocytes.

Intact figure-ground segmentation in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Herzog, Michael H; Kopmann, Sabine; Brand, Andreas

2004-11-30

As revealed by backward masking studies, schizophrenic patients show strong impairments of early visual processing. However, the underlying temporal mechanisms are not yet well understood. To shed light on the exact timing of these deficits, we employed a paradigm in which two masks follow each other. We investigated 16 medicated schizophrenic patients and a matched group of 14 controls with a new backward masking technique, shine-through. In accordance with other masking studies, schizophrenic patients require a dramatically longer processing time to reach a predefined performance level compared with healthy subjects. However, patients are surprisingly sensitive to subtle differences in the timing of the two masks, revealing good temporal resolution. This good temporal resolution indicates intact and fast perceptual grouping and figure-ground segmentation in spite of high susceptibility to masking procedures in schizophrenia.

Comparison of two views of maximum entropy in biodiversity: Frank (2011) and Pueyo et al. (2007).

PubMed

Pueyo, Salvador

2012-05-01

An increasing number of authors agree in that the maximum entropy principle (MaxEnt) is essential for the understanding of macroecological patterns. However, there are subtle but crucial differences among the approaches by several of these authors. This poses a major obstacle for anyone interested in applying the methodology of MaxEnt in this context. In a recent publication, Frank (2011) gives some arguments why his own approach would represent an improvement as compared to the earlier paper by Pueyo et al. (2007) and also to the views by Edwin T. Jaynes, who first formulated MaxEnt in the context of statistical physics. Here I show that his criticisms are flawed and that there are fundamental reasons to prefer the original approach.

Effects of a Weak Planetary Field on a Model Venus Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luhmann, Janet G.; Ma, Yingjuan; Villarreal, Michaela

2014-05-01

There are a number of attributes of the near-Venus space environment and upper atmosphere that remain mysterious, including occasional large polar magnetic field stuctures seen on VEX and nightside ionospheric holes seen on PVO. We have been exploring the consequences of a weak global dipole magnetic field of Venus using results of BATS-R-US MHD simulations. An advantage of these models is that they include the effects on a realistic ionosphere. We compare some of the weak magnetosphere's ionospheric properties with the typical unmagnetized ionsphere case. The results show the differences can be quite subtle for dipole fields less than ~10 nT at the equator, as might be expected. Nevertheless the dipole fields do produce distinctive details, especially in the upper regions.

Comparison of two views of maximum entropy in biodiversity: Frank (2011) and Pueyo et al. (2007)

PubMed Central

Pueyo, Salvador

2012-01-01

An increasing number of authors agree in that the maximum entropy principle (MaxEnt) is essential for the understanding of macroecological patterns. However, there are subtle but crucial differences among the approaches by several of these authors. This poses a major obstacle for anyone interested in applying the methodology of MaxEnt in this context. In a recent publication, Frank (2011) gives some arguments why his own approach would represent an improvement as compared to the earlier paper by Pueyo et al. (2007) and also to the views by Edwin T. Jaynes, who first formulated MaxEnt in the context of statistical physics. Here I show that his criticisms are flawed and that there are fundamental reasons to prefer the original approach. PMID:22837843

Cultural in-group advantage: emotion recognition in African American and European American faces and voices.

PubMed

Wickline, Virginia B; Bailey, Wendy; Nowicki, Stephen

2009-03-01

The authors explored whether there were in-group advantages in emotion recognition of faces and voices by culture or geographic region. Participants were 72 African American students (33 men, 39 women), 102 European American students (30 men, 72 women), 30 African international students (16 men, 14 women), and 30 European international students (15 men, 15 women). The participants determined emotions in African American and European American faces and voices. Results showed an in-group advantage-sometimes by culture, less often by race-in recognizing facial and vocal emotional expressions. African international students were generally less accurate at interpreting American nonverbal stimuli than were European American, African American, and European international peers. Results suggest that, although partly universal, emotional expressions have subtle differences across cultures that persons must learn.

Reduced food intake after exposure to subtle weight-related cues.

PubMed

Brunner, Thomas A; Siegrist, Michael

2012-06-01

This research investigated the influence of weight-related cues on food intake. The first study used a screensaver showing three of the famous skinny human-like sculptures by Alberto Giacometti and found that participants in this condition consumed less chocolate than when they were exposed to a more neutral work of art. In the second study, participants had to indicate their body weight either before or after the tasting. Reporting their weight before the tasting resulted in reduced food intake. A gender effect was found for the second but not the first study. We suggest that the cues in the two studies might have been processed with different levels of awareness, which might explain the gender effect found in the second study. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deep functional analysis of synII, a 770 kb synthetic yeast chromosome

PubMed Central

Gao, Feng; Gong, Jianhui; Abramczyk, Dariusz; Walker, Roy; Zhao, Hongcui; Chen, Shihong; Liu, Wei; Luo, Yisha; Müller, Carolin A.; Paul-Dubois-Taine, Adrien; Alver, Bonnie; Stracquadanio, Giovanni; Mitchell, Leslie A.; Luo, Zhouqing; Fan, Yanqun; Zhou, Baojin; Wen, Bo; Tan, Fengji; Wang, Yujia; Zi, Jin; Xie, Zexiong; Li, Bingzhi; Yang, Kun; Richardson, Sarah M.; Jiang, Hui; French, Christopher E.; Nieduszynski, Conrad A.; Koszul, Romain; Marston, Adele L.; Yuan, Yingjin; Wang, Jian; Bader, Joel S.; Dai, Junbiao; Boeke, Jef D.; Xu, Xun; Cai, Yizhi; Yang, Huanming

2017-01-01

Herein we report the successful design, construction and characterization of a 770 kb synthetic yeast chromosome II (synII). Our study incorporates characterization at multiple levels, including phenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, chromosome segregation and replication analysis to provide a thorough and comprehensive analysis of a synthetic chromosome. Our “Trans-Omics” analyses reveal a modest but potentially significant pervasive up-regulation of translational machinery observed in synII is mainly caused by the deletion of 13 tRNAs. By both complementation assays and SCRaMbLE, we targeted and debuged the origin of a growth defect at 37°C in glycerol medium, which is related to misregulation of the HOG response. Despite the subtle differences, the synII strain shows highly consistent biological processes comparable to the native strain. PMID:28280153

Can epidemiological studies discern subtle neurological effects due to perinatal exposure to PCBs?

PubMed

Seegal, R F

1996-01-01

What conclusions can be drawn concerning the potential neurological effects of perinatal exposure to either PCBs, or PCBs and other fish-borne contaminants? First, by their very nature epidemiological studies are limited in their ability to detect subtle associations--including possible links between exposure to low levels of environmental contaminants and disease. As stated by Dr. Schantz, both Rogan and the Jacobsons report small changes in motor and cognitive behavior--typically less than one-half of a standard deviation--and only in the most highly exposed children. Given these small changes in CNS function, the substantive criticisms of Paneth (including the Jacobsons' choice to employ a random, rather than matched, control sample and the related fact that fish-eating mothers differed from non-fish-eating mothers on several important characteristics) and similar "generic" concerns raised by Taubes, a critical reader must question both the validity of the findings from the Michigan study and the reasons for discrepancies in results between the Jacobson and Rogan studies. Are the differences in neurobehavioral effects reported by the Jacobsons and colleagues, and Rogan and colleagues, due to the presence of confounders, exposure to different neurotoxicants, or subtle differences in methodologies? At present it is not possible to answer these questions. Nevertheless, certain commonalities exist between the Rogan and Jacobson studies, and most recently, the study conducted by Daly and colleagues in New York. All of these studies report alterations in the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, suggesting that exposure to environmental contaminants (including PCBs) may induce subtle, transient alterations in maturation of the human CNS. Secondly, because contaminated fish contain a large number of putative developmental neurotoxicants (e.g., methyl-mercury, p,p'-DDE, PCBs, and pesticides), I am pessimistic that additional studies of human populations exposed to contaminated aquatic and marine fish and mammals will allow investigators to determine which contaminant(s) may be responsible for the observed association between fish consumption and neurobehavioral deficits. For example, although PCB body burdens have been measured in the majority of the epidemiological studies, PCBs may simply reflect exposure to other fish-borne contaminants. In light of the above statements, future epidemiological studies should focus on highly exposed susceptible populations such as occupationally exposed workers or the aged. Results from these studies would provide important information on the risk of perinatal or adult exposure to PCBs in susceptible populations, although generalization of results obtained in these populations to the general population may be fraught with difficulties. Finally, because of the limitations of epidemiological studies, particularly those studying fish-eating populations, future risk assessments should depend more heavily on laboratory derived data, including studies in nonhuman primates exposed to environmentally relevant mixtures and relevant doses of PCB congeners and other known or suspected neurotoxicants.

Subtle Messages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tamplin de Poinsot, Nan

1999-01-01

Describes a self-portrait assignment inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo. Discusses Frida Kahlo's artwork and use of surrealist and symbolist views. States that each student had to incorporate personal symbolism in the portrait to convey a message about him or herself in a subtle manner. (CMK)

Influence of disorder on the signature of the pseudogap and multigap superconducting behavior in FeSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rößler, Sahana; Huang, Chien-Lung; Jiao, Lin; Koz, Cevriye; Schwarz, Ulrich; Wirth, Steffen

2018-03-01

We investigated several FeSe single crystals grown by two different methods by utilizing experimental techniques, namely, resistivity, magnetoresistance, specific heat, scanning tunneling microscopy, and spectroscopy. The residual resistivity ratio (RRR) shows systematic differences between samples grown by chemical vapor transport and flux vapor transport, indicating variance in the amount of scattering centers. Although the superconducting transition temperature Tc is not directly related to RRR, our study evidences subtle differences in the features of an incipient ordering mode related to a depletion of density of states at the Fermi level. For instance, the onset temperature of anisotropic spin fluctuations at T*≈75 K, and the temperature of the opening up of a partial gap in the density of states at T**≈30 K, are not discernible in the samples with lower RRR. Further, we show that the functional dependence of the electronic specific heat below 2 K, which allows us to determine the nodal features as well as the small superconducting gap, differs significantly in crystals grown by these two different methods. Our investigation suggests that some of the controversies about the driving mechanism for the superconducting gap or its structure and symmetry are related to minute differences in the crystals arising due to the growth techniques used and the total amount of scattering centers present in the sample.

Critical thinking versus clinical reasoning versus clinical judgment: differential diagnosis.

PubMed

Victor-Chmil, Joyce

2013-01-01

Concepts of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment are often used interchangeably. However, they are not one and the same, and understanding subtle difference among them is important. Following a review of the literature for definitions and uses of the terms, the author provides a summary focused on similarities and differences in the processes of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment and notes suggested methods of measuring each.

Detection and mapping of mineralized areas in the Cortez-Uinta Belt, Utah-Nevada, using computer-enhanced ERTS imagery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowan, L. C. (Principal Investigator)

1976-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Preliminary analysis indicates that mineralogical differences between altered rocks and most unaltered rocks in south-central Nevada cause visible and near infrared spectral reflectance differences, which can be used to discriminate these broad categories of rocks in multispectral images. The most important mineralogical differences are the increased abundance of goethite, hematite, and jarosite, and the presence of alunite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite in the altered rock. The technique to enhance subtle spectral differences combines ratioing of the MSS bands and contrast stretching. The stretched ratio values are used to produce black and white images that depict materials according to spectral reflectance; rationing minimizes the influence of topography and overall albedo on the grouping of spectrally similar materials. Field evaluation of color-ratio composite shows that, excluding alluvial areas, approximately 80 percent of the green and brown color patterns are related to hydrothermal alternation. The remaining 20 percent consists mainly of pink hematitic crystallized tuff, a result of vapor phase crystallization, and of tan and red ferruginous shale and siltstone.

Quantifying cerebral asymmetries for language in dextrals and adextrals with random-effects meta analysis

PubMed Central

Carey, David P.; Johnstone, Leah T.

2014-01-01

Speech and language-related functions tend to depend on the left hemisphere more than the right in most right-handed (dextral) participants. This relationship is less clear in non-right handed (adextral) people, resulting in surprisingly polarized opinion on whether or not they are as lateralized as right handers. The present analysis investigates this issue by largely ignoring methodological differences between the different neuroscientific approaches to language lateralization, as well as discrepancies in how dextral and adextral participants were recruited or defined. Here we evaluate the tendency for dextrals to be more left hemisphere dominant than adextrals, using random effects meta analyses. In spite of several limitations, including sample size (in the adextrals in particular), missing details on proportions of groups who show directional effects in many experiments, and so on, the different paradigms all point to proportionally increased left hemispheric dominance in the dextrals. These results are analyzed in light of the theoretical importance of these subtle differences for understanding the cognitive neuroscience of language, as well as the unusual asymmetry in most adextrals. PMID:25408673

Using freelisting to identify, assess, and characterize age differences in shared cultural domains.

PubMed

Schrauf, Robert W; Sanchez, Julia

2008-11-01

Freelisting is a brief, paper-and-pencil technique in which participants make lists of items that they believe belong in a particular domain. Where cultural domains are shared, as for young and old in the same society, subtle intracultural differences may be difficult to detect. This article presents a series of techniques for revealing and describing this intracultural variation in freelisted data among young versus old age groups. Older (N = 30) and younger (N = 31) Mexicans in Mexico City made freelists in four quotidian domains: animals, emotions, illnesses, and gendered occupations. We used minimum residual factor analysis (consensus analysis) to establish domain coherence and assess overall consensus concerning contents of the domains. We established subvariation within the overall consensus by comparing levels of observed versus predicted inter-informant agreement. Results showed divergent patterns of inter-informant agreement between young and old participants across domains. Qualitative examination of items with higher salience for young versus old revealed age differences consistent with prior findings in each domain. The concatenation of these techniques renders freelisting an accessible, easily administered tool for probing age and group differences in cultural domains.

Genotype and phenotype in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome in Taiwan.

PubMed

Lin, Hsiang-Yu; Lin, Shuan-Pei; Chuang, Chih-Kuang; Chen, Ming-Ren; Yen, Jui-Lung; Lee, Yann-Jinn; Huang, Chi-Yu; Tsai, Li-Ping; Niu, Dau-Ming; Chao, Mei-Chyn; Kuo, Pao-Lin

2007-06-01

Several different genetic defects have been found to result in the characteristic phenotypic expression of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). We performed a retrospective analysis of 67 cases of molecularly confirmed PWS diagnosed from January 1980 through July 2006 in five medical centres in Taiwan. Clinical manifestations were compared between patients with deletion and those with maternal uniparental disomy (UPD). Deletion was present in 56 (84%), UPD in 10 (15%), and a probable imprinting centre deletion or imprinting defect in 1 (1%). PWS with deletion was more likely than that with UPD to be characterized by hypogonadism (p < 0.001), small hands and feet (p < 0.001), and hypopigmentation (p < 0.002). Both maternal (p = 0.015) and paternal age (p = 0.021) were higher in the UPD group. No other clinical features differed significantly different between the two groups. In contrast to most Western populations with a higher incidence of UPD, this study of PWS in Taiwan shows a higher incidence of deletion. There may be subtle phenotypic differences between the UPD and deletion genotypes, but its not clear that these are important clinically.

The relative use of proximity, shape similarity, and orientation as visual perceptual grouping cues in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and humans (Homo sapiens).

PubMed

Spinozzi, Giovanna; De Lillo, Carlo; Truppa, Valentina; Castorina, Giulia

2009-02-01

Recent experimental results suggest that human and nonhuman primates differ in how they process visual information to assemble component parts into global shapes. To assess whether some of the observed differences in perceptual grouping could be accounted for by the prevalence of different grouping factors in different species, we carried out 2 experiments designed to evaluate the relative use of proximity, similarity of shape, and orientation as grouping cues in humans (Homo sapiens) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Both species showed similarly high levels of accuracy using proximity as a cue. Moreover, for both species, grouping by orientation similarity produced a lower level of performance than grouping by proximity. Differences emerged with respect to the use of shape similarity as a cue. In humans, grouping by shape similarity also proved less effective than grouping by proximity but the same was not observed in capuchins. These results suggest that there may be subtle differences between humans and capuchin monkeys in the weighting assigned to different grouping cues that may affect the way in which they combine local features into global shapes. Copyright 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Correlation analysis of tree growth, climate, and acid deposition in the Lake States.

Treesearch

Margaret R. Holdaway

1990-01-01

Describes research designed to detect subtle regional tree growth trends related to sulfate (SO4) deposition in the Lake States. Correlation methods were used to analyze climatic and SO4 deposition. Effects of SO4 deposition are greater on climatically stressed trees, especially pine species on dry sites, than on unstressed trees. Jack pine growth shows the...

Leadership Characteristics and Training Needs of Women and Men in Charge of Spanish Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sánchez-Moreno, Marita; López-Yáñez, Julián; Altopiedi, Mariana

2015-01-01

This article discusses the results obtained by two consecutive enquiries into the leadership styles and training needs of women and men leading higher education organisations. It compares the findings of the first stage of two studies, based on ad hoc questionnaires responded to by 136 women and 129 men. Results showed only subtle differences…

Moving Faces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of College Science Teaching, 2005

2005-01-01

A recent study by Zara Ambadar and Jeffrey F. Cohn of the University of Pittsburgh and Jonathan W. Schooler of the University of British Columbia, examined how motion affects people's judgment of subtle facial expressions. Two experiments demonstrated robust effects of motion in facilitating the perception of subtle facial expressions depicting…

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

Voylov, D. N.; Griffin, P. J.; Mercado, B.

In this detailed analysis of the static structure factor S(Q) in several glass-forming liquids we show that the temperature variations of the width of the main diffraction peak Q(T ) correlate with the fragility of these liquids. Our observation suggests a direct connection between rather subtle structural changes and sharp slowing down of structural relaxation in glass-forming liquids. We also show that this observation can be rationalized using the Adam-Gibbs approach, through a connection between temperature variations of structural correlation length, lc 2 /Q, and the size of cooperatively rearranging regions.

Genome Sequence of the Native Apiculate Wine Yeast Hanseniaspora vineae T02/19AF

PubMed Central

Giorello, Facundo M.; Berná, Luisa; Greif, Gonzalo; Camesasca, Laura; Salzman, Valentina; Medina, Karina; Robello, Carlos; Gaggero, Carina; Aguilar, Pablo S.

2014-01-01

The use of novel yeast strains for winemaking improves quality and provides variety including subtle characteristic differences in fine wines. Here we report the first genome of a yeast strain native to Uruguay, Hanseniaspora vineae T02/19AF, which has been shown to positively contribute to aroma and wine quality. PMID:24874663

Ethnic Prejudice against the Mapuche in Chilean Society as a Reflection of the Racist Ideology of the Spanish Conquistadors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merino, Maria E.; Quilaqueo, Daniel

2003-01-01

The conquest of Chile and of America in general constituted an encounter between different and mutually unknown civilizations that discovered the existence of an "extreme otherness" which European civilization would generically call "Indians." The Spanish encounter with the aboriginals was both violent and subtle. The…

Painting a Data-Rich Picture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Earl, Lorna; Katz, Steven

2005-01-01

Using data for school reform is like painting a series of pictures--pictures that are subtle and capture the nuances of the subject. This is a far cry from drawing stick figures or paint-by-numbers. Imagine the experiences of the French painter Claude Monet as he wandered through his garden at Giverny at different times of the day and year,…

Parenting Dimensions in Relation to Pre-Schoolers' Behaviour Problems in Latvia and Lithuania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sebre, Sandra B.; Jusiene, Roma; Dapkevice, Egle; Skreitule-Pikse, Inga; Bieliauskaite, Rasa

2015-01-01

The aim of the present study was to examine associations between parenting and child behaviour problems in two neighbouring countries with subtle, yet apparent cultural differences. Participants were mothers and fathers of preschool-age children from Latvia and Lithuania. Parents completed a measure of child-rearing attitudes and reported on their…

An Introduction to Cost-of-Living Adjustments in Public Retirement Plans: Details Matter

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jennings, Penelope R.; Jennings, William P.; Phillips, G. Michael

2016-01-01

While financial planning students are expected to be able to understand client retirement plans, subtle differences in cost-of-living adjustments can have major impact on the success of client retirement plans. This teaching note compares the cost-of-living adjustments in the largest government sponsored retirement systems and a hypothetical…

Seeping Deficit Thinking Assumptions Maintain the Neoliberal Education Agenda: Exploring Three Conceptual Frameworks of Deficit Thinking in Inner-City Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Manu

2018-01-01

This article draws awareness to the subtle and seeping "common sense" mentality of neoliberalism and deficit thinking assumptions about racially marginalized students in inner-city schools. From a literature review conducted on deficit thinking and deficit practices in schools, I developed three different frameworks for understanding the…

Graphing the Model or Modeling the Graph? Not-so-Subtle Problems in Linear IS-LM Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alston, Richard M.; Chi, Wan Fu

1989-01-01

Outlines the differences between the traditional and modern theoretical models of demand for money. States that the two models are often used interchangeably in textbooks, causing ambiguity. Argues against the use of linear specifications that imply that income velocity can increase without limit and that autonomous components of aggregate demand…

Accent Detection and Social Cognition: Evidence of Protracted Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Creel, Sarah C.

2018-01-01

How and when do children become aware that speakers have different accents? While adults readily make a variety of subtle social inferences based on speakers' accents, findings from children are more mixed: while one line of research suggests that even infants may be acutely sensitive to accent unfamiliarity, other studies suggest that 5-year-olds…

Integrating Conceptions of Scaffolding and Co-Construction to Enhance Parental Involvement in the Pre-Nursery of a British International School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brinn, Michelle

2016-01-01

Whilst many practitioners value positive and effective working relationships with parents, enhancing home-school interactions can be complex, especially within highly diverse contexts. Within the UK, partnership working with parents is widely advocated. However, there may exist subtle, but crucial differences between interactions that…

Subtle Convergence? Locating Similarities between Chinese Educational Reforms and Global Quality Assurance and Evaluation Trends

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suominen, Olli; Rinne, Risto; Kallo, Johanna; Fan, Yihong

2017-01-01

Purpose: Different aspects of the globalisation of Chinese basic education have been examined in recent studies. This paper aims to contribute to this research base by examining the relationship between global quality assurance and evaluation (QAEVAL) trends and reforms in the Chinese basic education system. Design/methodology/approach: Relevant…

Regional Obstetric Anesthesia and Newborn Behavior: A Reanalysis toward Synergistic Effects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lester, Barry M.; And Others

1982-01-01

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered to 54 full-term, healthy infants on days 1 through 5 and on days 7 and 10. Infants were divided into eight groups, differing in terms of the obstetrical medication mothers received. Low dosages of obstetrical medication were found to have significant but subtle effects on the…

Automated, contour-based tracking and analysis of cell behaviour over long time scales in environments of varying complexity and cell density.

PubMed

Baker, Richard M; Brasch, Megan E; Manning, M Lisa; Henderson, James H

2014-08-06

Understanding single and collective cell motility in model environments is foundational to many current research efforts in biology and bioengineering. To elucidate subtle differences in cell behaviour despite cell-to-cell variability, we introduce an algorithm for tracking large numbers of cells for long time periods and present a set of physics-based metrics that quantify differences in cell trajectories. Our algorithm, termed automated contour-based tracking for in vitro environments (ACTIVE), was designed for adherent cell populations subject to nuclear staining or transfection. ACTIVE is distinct from existing tracking software because it accommodates both variability in image intensity and multi-cell interactions, such as divisions and occlusions. When applied to low-contrast images from live-cell experiments, ACTIVE reduced error in analysing cell occlusion events by as much as 43% compared with a benchmark-tracking program while simultaneously tracking cell divisions and resulting daughter-daughter cell relationships. The large dataset generated by ACTIVE allowed us to develop metrics that capture subtle differences between cell trajectories on different substrates. We present cell motility data for thousands of cells studied at varying densities on shape-memory-polymer-based nanotopographies and identify several quantitative differences, including an unanticipated difference between two 'control' substrates. We expect that ACTIVE will be immediately useful to researchers who require accurate, long-time-scale motility data for many cells. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Stratigraphic Correlation via Opportunity's Pancam of the Burns Formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, S. D.; Calvin, W. M.; Farrand, W. H.

2006-12-01

Spectral properties of Meridiani Planum hematite-rich Burns formation observed by Opportunity's Pancam have been described previously but not at minimum spatial scales. This study is of the fine scale visible and near- infrared spectral features within the sedimentary structures over the entire lateral extent explored by Opportunity across an 8 km traverse from Endurance to Victoria craters. Investigation of the bedrock has shown sub-centimeter thinly laminated evaporite deposits with few occurrences of festoon cross-bedding, massive bedding, and subtle differences in color and texture. Pancam data analyses of rock targets where sufficient spatial resolution (<10 mm) is achieved (within 10 m) constrain spectral parameters of laminar, erosional, and possible secondary diagenetic features. Results show differences of statistical significance in iron mineral varieties and phases in both vertical section and lateral extent of the Burns formation. Spectra exhibit a steep positive slope in the visible (432-753 nm) region and subtle changes in the near infrared (753-1009 nm) region ranging from flat, concave, to convex profiles. Maxima are typically in the 750-850 nm region but can occur as low as 673 nm and as high as 1009 nm with the latter usually from the lower albedo materials (i.e., spherules and basaltic sands). Positive slopes from 934-1009 nm in this region are consistent with the presence of hematite, commonly associated with the spherules. The higher albedo surfaces tend to have greatest negative slope in the longer wavelengths. This could result from intrinsic characteristics of the outcrop material or a significantly thick (i.e. >100 micron) dust deposit. Band depth images centered at 535 nm and 904 nm provide statistics on the relative occurrences of crystalline ferric oxide minerals. Rarely iron-rich signatures are present in individual laminations and not in the adjacent layers. Such occurrences could result from multiple iron-rich sedimentary events, secondary diagenetic products such as cementation or recrystallization, or an invasive fracture fill material. Comparisons of geomorphologic and spectroscopic mapping will be presented to show overall relationships of the Meridiani plains materials.

Subtle linguistic cues influence perceived blame and financial liability.

PubMed

Fausey, Caitlin M; Boroditsky, Lera

2010-10-01

When bad things happen, how do we decide who is to blame and how much they should be punished? In the present studies, we examined whether subtly different linguistic descriptions of accidents influence how much people blame and punish those involved. In three studies, participants judged how much people involved in particular accidents should be blamed and how much they should have to pay for the resulting damage. The language used to describe the accidents differed subtly across conditions: Either agentive (transitive) or non-agentive (intransitive) verb forms were used. Agentive descriptions led participants to attribute more blame and request higher financial penalties than did nonagentive descriptions. Further, linguistic framing influenced judgments, even when participants reasoned about a well-known event, such as the "wardrobe malfunction" of Super Bowl 2004. Importantly, this effect of language held, even when people were able to see a video of the event. These results demonstrate that even when people have rich established knowledge and visual information about events, linguistic framing can shape event construal, with important real-world consequences. Subtle differences in linguistic descriptions can change how people construe what happened, attribute blame, and dole out punishment. Supplemental results and analyses may be downloaded from http://pbr.psychonomic-journals.org/content/supplemental.

The 17D-204 and 17DD yellow fever vaccines: an overview of major similarities and subtle differences.

PubMed

Ferreira, Clarissa de Castro; Campi-Azevedo, Ana Carolina; Peruhype-Magalhāes, Vanessa; Costa-Pereira, Christiane; Albuquerque, Cleandro Pires de; Muniz, Luciana Feitosa; Yokoy de Souza, Talita; Oliveira, Ana Cristina Vanderley; Martins-Filho, Olindo Assis; da Mota, Licia Maria Henrique

2018-01-01

The yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated virus vaccine that is considered one of the most efficient vaccines produced to date. The original 17D strain generated the substrains 17D-204 and 17DD, which are used for the current production of vaccines against yellow fever. The 17D-204 and 17DD substrains present subtle differences in their nucleotide compositions, which can potentially lead to variations in immunogenicity and reactogenicity. We will address the main changes in the immune responses induced by the 17D-204 and 17DD yellow fever vaccines and report similarities and differences between these vaccines in cellular and humoral immunity . This is a relevant issue in view of the re-emergence of yellow fever in Uganda in 2016 and in Brazil in the beginning of 2017. Areas covered: This article will be divided into 8 sections that will analyze the innate immune response, adaptive immune response, humoral response, production of cytokines, immunity in children, immunity in the elderly, gene expression and adverse reactions. Expert commentary: The 17D-204 and 17DD yellow fever vaccines present similar immunogenicity, with strong activation of the cellular and humoral immune responses. Additionally, both vaccines have similar adverse effects, which are mostly mild and thus are considered safe.

Family History of Alzheimer's Disease is Associated with Impaired Perceptual Discrimination of Novel Objects.

PubMed

Mason, Emily J; Hussey, Erin P; Molitor, Robert J; Ko, Philip C; Donahue, Manus J; Ally, Brandon A

2017-01-01

Early detection may be the key to developing therapies that will combat Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been consistently demonstrated that one of the main pathologies of AD, tau, is present in the brain decades before a clinical diagnosis. Tau pathology follows a stereotypical route through the medial temporal lobe beginning in the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. If early pathology leads to very subtle changes in behavior, it may be possible to detect these changes in subjects years before a clinical diagnosis can currently be made. We aimed to discover if cognitively normal middle-aged adults (40-60 years old) at increased risk for AD due to family history would have impaired performance on a cognitive task known to challenge the perirhinal cortex. Using an oddity detection task, we found that subjects with a family history of AD had lowered accuracy without demonstrating differences in rate of acquisition. There were no differences between subjects' medial temporal lobe volume or cortical thickness, indicating that the changes in behavior were not due to significant atrophy. These results demonstrate that subtle changes in perceptual processing are detectable years before a typical diagnosis even when there are no differences detectable in structural imaging data. Anatomically-targeted cognitive testing may be useful in identifying subjects in the earliest stages of AD.

Association of long-term PM2.5 exposure with mortality using different air pollution exposure models: impacts in rural and urban California.

PubMed

Garcia, Cynthia A; Yap, Poh-Sin; Park, Hye-Youn; Weller, Barbara L

2016-01-01

Most PM2.5-associated mortality studies are not conducted in rural areas where mortality rates may differ when population characteristics, health care access, and PM2.5 composition differ. PM2.5-associated mortality was investigated in the elderly residing in rural-urban zip codes. Exposure (2000-2006) was estimated using different models and Poisson regression was performed using 2006 mortality data. PM2.5 models estimated comparable exposures, although subtle differences were observed in rate ratios (RR) within areas by health outcomes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and cardiopulmonary disease (CPD), mortality was significantly associated with rural, urban, and statewide chronic PM2.5 exposures. We observed larger effect sizes in RRs for CVD, CPD, and all-cause (AC) with similar sizes for IHD mortality in rural areas compared to urban areas. PM2.5 was significantly associated with AC mortality in rural areas and statewide; however, in urban areas, only the most restrictive exposure model showed an association. Given the results seen, future mortality studies should consider adjusting for differences with rural-urban variables.

How to choose a subset of frequencies in frequency-domain finite-difference migration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulder, W. A.; Plessix, R.-E.

2004-09-01

Finite-difference migration with the two-way wave equation can be accelerated by an order of magnitude if the frequency domain rather than the time domain is used. This gain is mainly accomplished by using a subset of the available frequencies. The implicit assumption is that the data have a certain amount of redundancy in the frequency domain. The choice of frequencies cannot be arbitrary. If the frequencies are chosen with a constant increment and their spacing is too large, the well-known wrap-around that occurs when transforming back to the time domain will also show up in the migration to the depth domain, albeit in a more subtle way. Because migration involves propagation in a given background velocity model and summation over shots and receivers, the effects of wrap-around may disappear even when the Nyquist theorem is not obeyed. We have studied these effects analytically for the constant-velocity case and determined sampling conditions that avoid wrap-around artefacts. The conditions depend on the velocity, depth of the migration grid and offset range. They show that the spacing between subsequent frequencies can be larger than the inverse of the time range prescribed by the Nyquist theorem. A 2-D example has been used to test the validity of these conditions for a more realistic velocity model. Finite-difference migration with the one-way wave equation shows a similar behaviour.

QM/MM simulations identify the determinants of catalytic activity differences between type II dehydroquinase enzymes.

PubMed

Lence, Emilio; van der Kamp, Marc W; González-Bello, Concepción; Mulholland, Adrian J

2018-05-16

Type II dehydroquinase enzymes (DHQ2), recognized targets for antibiotic drug discovery, show significantly different activities dependent on the species: DHQ2 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtDHQ2) and Helicobacter pylori (HpDHQ2) show a 50-fold difference in catalytic efficiency. Revealing the determinants of this activity difference is important for our understanding of biological catalysis and further offers the potential to contribute to tailoring specificity in drug design. Molecular dynamics simulations using a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics potential, with correlated ab initio single point corrections, identify and quantify the subtle determinants of the experimentally observed difference in efficiency. The rate-determining step involves the formation of an enolate intermediate: more efficient stabilization of the enolate and transition state of the key step in MtDHQ2, mainly by the essential residues Tyr24 and Arg19, makes it more efficient than HpDHQ2. Further, a water molecule, which is absent in MtDHQ2 but involved in generation of the catalytic Tyr22 tyrosinate in HpDHQ2, was found to destabilize both the transition state and the enolate intermediate. The quantification of the contribution of key residues and water molecules in the rate-determining step of the mechanism also leads to improved understanding of higher potencies and specificity of known inhibitors, which should aid ongoing inhibitor design.

Stepping over obstacles: anticipatory modifications in children with and without Down syndrome.

PubMed

Virji-Babul, Naznin; Brown, Michelle

2004-12-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of anticipatory control of gait in relation to the perception of an obstacle. Typically developing (TD) children (4-7 years of age) and children with Down syndrome (5-6 years of age) walked and stepped over obstacles of two different heights-a "subtle" obstacle that was placed at a very low distance from the floor (1% of total body height) and an "obvious" obstacle that was placed at a much higher distance from the floor (15% of total body height). Spatial and temporal measures of the gait cycle were analyzed. TD children showed increased variability in pre-obstacle step lengths only in response to the higher obstacle. Children with DS showed a decrease in variability in response to the higher obstacle and marked qualitative changes in their gait cycle. Both groups of children were able to scale toe clearance with obstacle height. These results show that TD young children can make task-specific anticipatory adjustments by modulating step length and toe clearance. Children with DS show appropriate scaling of toe clearance and are beginning to show the emergence of anticipatory responses under specific environmental conditions.

Validating the Adolescent Form of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Risberg, Richard A.; And Others

1995-01-01

Tests validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) in detecting chemical dependency in adolescents (n=107), when compared to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) results. Further validation for the SASSI was obtained. Treatment implications and suggestions for further research are provided. (SNR)

EPR: how subtle is the Lord and how is the Lord subtle?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plotnitsky, Arkady

The article offers a counterargument to the argument of A. Einstein, B. Podolsky and N. Rosen (EPR) concerning the incompleteness, or else nonlocality, of quantum mechanics, based on Bohr's reply to EPR's article. The article also relates argument to the impossibility of exact repetition of quantum events.

SUBTLE: Situation Understanding Bot through Language and Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-06

a 4 day “hackathon” by Stuart Young’s small robots group which successfully ported the SUBTLE MURI NLP robot interface to the Packbot platform they...null element restoration, a step typically ig- nored in NLP systems, allows for correct parsing of im- peratives and questions, critical structures

Influences of Appearance-Behavior Congruity on Memory and Social Judgments

PubMed Central

Cassidy, Brittany S.; Gutchess, Angela H.

2014-01-01

Prior work shows that appearance-behavior congruity impacts memory and evaluations. Building upon prior work, we assessed influences of appearance-behavior congruity on source memory and judgment strength to illustrate ways congruity effects permeate social cognition. We paired faces varying on trustworthiness with valenced behaviors to create congruent and incongruent face-behavior pairs. Young and older adults remembered congruent pairs better than incongruent, but both were remembered better than pairs with faces rated average in appearance. This suggests that multiple, even conflicting, valenced cues improve memory over receiving fewer cues. Consistent with our manipulation of facial trustworthiness, congruity effects were present in the strength of trustworthiness-related but not dominance judgments. Subtle age differences emerged in congruity effects when learning about others, with older adults showing effects for approach judgments given both high and low arousal behaviors. Young adults had congruity effects for approach, prosociality, and trustworthiness judgments, given high arousal behaviors only. These findings deepen our understanding of how appearance-behavior congruity impacts memory for and evaluations of others. PMID:25180615

Functional and Structural Impact of Target Uridine Substitutions on the H/ACA Ribonucleoprotein Particle Pseudouridine Synthase

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

Zhou, Jing; Liang, Bo; Li, Hong

2010-09-17

Box H/ACA ribonucleoprotein protein particles catalyze the majority of pseudouridylation in functional RNA. Different from stand alone pseudouridine synthases, the RNP pseudouridine synthase comprises multiple protein subunits and an RNA subunit. Previous studies showed that each subunit, regardless its location, is sensitive to the step of subunit placement at the catalytic center and potentially to the reaction status of the substrate. Here we describe the impact of chemical substitutions of target uridine on enzyme activity and structure. We found that 3-methyluridine in place of uridine inhibited its isomerization while 2{prime}-deoxyuridine or 4-thiouridine did not. Significantly, crystal structures of an archaealmore » box H/ACA RNP bound with the nonreactive and the two postreactive substrate analogues showed only subtle structural changes throughout the assembly except for a conserved tyrosine and a substrate anchoring loop of Cbf5. Our results suggest a potential role of these elements and the subunit that contacts them in substrate binding and product release.« less

Murine Glut-1 transporter haploinsufficiency: postnatal deceleration of brain weight and reactive astrocytosis.

PubMed

Ullner, Paivi M; Di Nardo, Alessia; Goldman, James E; Schobel, Scott; Yang, Hong; Engelstad, Kristin; Wang, Dong; Sahin, Mustafa; De Vivo, Darryl C

2009-10-01

Glucose transporter type 1 (Glut-1) facilitates glucose flux across the blood-brain-barrier. In humans, Glut-1 deficiency causes acquired microcephaly, seizures and ataxia, which are recapitulated in our Glut-1 haploinsufficient mouse model. Postnatal brain weight deceleration and development of reactive astrogliosis were significant by P21 in Glut-1(+/-) mice. The brain weight differences remained constant after P21 whereas the reactive astrocytosis continued to increase and peaked at P90. Brain immunoblots showed increased phospho-mTOR and decreased phospho-GSK3-beta by P14. After fasting, the mature Glut-1(+/-) females showed a trend towards elevated phospho-GSK3-beta, a possible neuroprotective response. Lithium chloride treatment of human skin fibroblasts from control and Glut-1 DS patients produced a 45% increase in glucose uptake. Brain imaging of mature Glut-1(+/-) mice revealed a significantly decreased hippocampal volume. These subtle immunochemical changes reflect chronic nutrient deficiency during brain development and represent the experimental correlates to the human neurological phenotype associated with Glut-1 DS.

Influences of appearance-behaviour congruity on memory and social judgements.

PubMed

Cassidy, Brittany S; Gutchess, Angela H

2015-01-01

Prior work shows that appearance-behaviour congruity impacts memory and evaluations. Building upon prior work, we assessed influences of appearance-behaviour congruity on source memory and judgement strength to illustrate ways congruity effects permeate social cognition. We paired faces varying on trustworthiness with valenced behaviours to create congruent and incongruent face-behaviour pairs. Young and older adults remembered congruent pairs better than incongruent, but both were remembered better than pairs with faces rated average in appearance. This suggests that multiple, even conflicting, valenced cues improve memory over receiving fewer cues. Consistent with our manipulation of facial trustworthiness, congruity effects were present in the strength of trustworthiness-related but not dominance judgements. Subtle age differences emerged in congruity effects when learning about others, with older adults showing effects for approach judgements given both high and low arousal behaviours. Young adults had congruity effects for approach, prosociality and trustworthiness judgements, given high arousal behaviours only. These findings deepen our understanding of how appearance-behaviour congruity impacts memory for and evaluations of others.

For love or money? What motivates people to know the minds of others?

PubMed

Harkness, Kate L; Jacobson, Jill A; Sinclair, Brooke; Chan, Emilie; Sabbagh, Mark A

2012-01-01

Mood affects social cognition and "theory of mind", such that people in a persistent negative mood (i.e., dysphoria) have enhanced abilities at making subtle judgements about others' mental states. Theorists have argued that this hypersensitivity to subtle social cues may have adaptive significance in terms of solving interpersonal problems and/or minimising social risk. We tested whether increasing the social salience of a theory of mind task would preferentially increase dyspshoric individuals' performance on the task. Forty-four dysphoric and 51 non-dysphoric undergraduate women participated in a theory of mind decoding task following one of three motivational manipulations: (i) social motivation (ii) monetary motivation, or (iii) no motivation. Social motivation was associated with the greatest accuracy of mental state decoding for the dysphoric group, whereas the non-dysphoric group showed the highest accuracy in the monetary motivation condition. These results suggest that dysphoric individuals may be especially, and preferentially, motivated to understand the mental states of others.

The Synapse as a Central Target for Neurodevelopmental Susceptibility to Pesticides

PubMed Central

Vester, Aimee; Caudle, W. Michael

2016-01-01

The developmental period of the nervous system is carefully orchestrated and highly vulnerable to alterations. One crucial factor of a properly-functioning nervous system is the synapse, as synaptic signaling is critical for the formation and maturation of neural circuits. Studies show that genetic and environmental impacts can affect diverse components of synaptic function. Importantly, synaptic dysfunction is known to be associated with neurologic and psychiatric disorders, as well as more subtle cognitive, psychomotor, and sensory defects. Given the importance of the synapse in numerous domains, we wanted to delineate the effects of pesticide exposure on synaptic function. In this review, we summarize current epidemiologic and molecular studies that demonstrate organochlorine, organophosphate, and pyrethroid pesticide exposures target the developing synapse. We postulate that the synapse plays a central role in synaptic vulnerability to pesticide exposure during neurodevelopment, and the synapse is a worthy candidate for investigating more subtle effects of chronic pesticide exposure in future studies. PMID:29051423

Hormonal responses in athletes: the use of a two bout exercise protocol to detect subtle differences in (over)training status.

PubMed

Meeusen, R; Piacentini, M F; Busschaert, B; Buyse, L; De Schutter, G; Stray-Gundersen, J

2004-03-01

In overtrained athletes, several signs and symptoms have been associated with the imbalance between training and recovery. However, reliable diagnostic markers for distinguishing between well-trained, overreached (OR) and overtrained (OT) athletes are lacking. A hallmark feature of overtraining syndrome (OTS) is the inability to sustain intense exercise and recover for the next training or competition session. We therefore devised a test protocol utilizing two bouts of maximal work. With this test protocol we tried to establish a difference in hormonal responses between the training status of T and OR athletes. Seven well-trained cyclists participated in this study and were tested before and after a training camp. We also present the data of one OT motocross athlete who was clinically diagnosed as overtrained. All athletes performed two maximal exercise tests separated by 4 h. Blood was analyzed for cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone and prolactin (PRL). Performance decreased by 6% between the first and the second exercise test in the OR group and by 11% in the OT subject. Moreover, during the second exercise test there were more marked differences between the T and OR athletes; in particular, the OT subject did not show an increase in some of the hormonal responses. PRL increased only by 14% in the OT subject's second test and there was a 7% decrease in ACTH. The two exercise approach enables us to detect subtle performance decrements that will not be identified by one exercise trigger. The hormonal responses to the second exercise test were different between the T and OR athletes (the increase in the T group was higher than in the OR that was higher than in the OT). The results of the case presentation of an overtrained athlete provide evidence of an altered and dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary axis response to two bouts of maximal exercise. These findings can be used to develop markers for diagnosis of OTS and to begin to address the pathologic mechanism operative in the syndrome, as well as providing an outcome measure to evaluate possible therapeutic regimes.

Kinematic analysis of handwriting movements in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

PubMed Central

Mavrogiorgou, P; Mergl, R; Tigges, P; El Husseini, J; Schroter, A; Juckel, G; Zaudig, M; Hegerl, U

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—Basal ganglia dysfunction is supposed to play a part in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A new computer aided technique for the analysis of hand movements, allowing the detection of subtle motor performance abnormalities, was applied in this study of patients with OCD and healthy controls.
METHODS—Using a digitising graphic tablet, hand motor performance was studied in 22 unmedicated patients with OCD and compared with 22 healthy controls. All subjects drew superimposed concentric circles with both the right and the left hand, in addition to writing a given sentence, their personal signature, and letter sequences in four different sizes. Kinematic parameters were calculated to quantify hand motion.
RESULTS—Patients with OCD had significant impairments of handwriting performance, reflected by lower peak velocity (sentence t=3.6; p=0.001; signature t=2.8; p=0.01) and micrographia (sentence t=3.4; p=0.002; signature t=2.5; p=0.02), compared with controls and shortened acceleration phases per stroke (sentence t=2.4; p=0.02; signature t=4.1; p=0.000). By contrast, in repetitive drawing, patients with OCD had higher peak velocity than healthy controls (group×task interaction p<0.01). There were no significant differences in left and right hand performance between groups. Patients with early versus late age of onset differed in handwriting parameters, such as handwriting consistency. Greater severity of obsessions and compulsions correlated with increasingly poor handwriting performance in patients with OCD.
CONCLUSIONS—A subtle motor dysfunction in OCD can be detected with a digitising tablet. The findings show handwriting impairments in patients with OCD, in line with the assumption that basal ganglia dysfunction is part of OCD pathophysiology. Repetitive motor pattern performance was not impaired, but rather tended to be even better in patients with OCD than in controls. The findings also support the concept that patients with OCD with early versus late age of onset differ in pathophysiological mechanisms and basal ganglia dysfunction.

 PMID:11309453

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising in an odontogenic keratocyst previously treated with marsupialization: case report and immunohistochemical study.

PubMed

Martínez-Martínez, Marisol; Mosqueda-Taylor, Adalberto; Delgado-Azañero, Wilson; Rumayor-Piña, Alicia; de Almeida, Oslei Paes

2016-04-01

A rare case of primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising in an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is presented here, with the clinical and histologic features of the first biopsy showing characteristics of OKC and the second biopsy disclosing a squamous cell carcinoma. Immunoprofile of this case was compared with five cases of classical OKC by using cytokeratins CK5, CK14, and CK19, CD138, p63, Ki-67, p53, and bcl-2. Classic OKCs showed expected positivity, mainly in the basal and/or suprabasal layers with most antibodies, except for p53, which was negative, whereas the present case showed irregular positivity in all layers, indicating that this can be useful for differential diagnosis and suggesting a possible role in malignant transformation into primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, immunohistochemical differences between the first biopsy of the present case and classic OKC suggest that immunohistochemistry can be helpful in cases with areas of subtle initial malignant transformation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Older Adults' Trait Impressions of Faces Are Sensitive to Subtle Resemblance to Emotions

PubMed Central

Zebrowitz, Leslie A.

2013-01-01

Younger adults (YA) attribute emotion-related traits to people whose neutral facial structure resembles an emotion (emotion overgeneralization). The fact that older adults (OA) show deficits in accurately labeling basic emotions suggests that they may be relatively insensitive to variations in the emotion resemblance of neutral expression faces that underlie emotion overgeneralization effects. On the other hand, the fact that OA, like YA, show a ‘pop-out’ effect for anger, more quickly locating an angry than a happy face in a neutral array, suggests that both age groups may be equally sensitive to emotion resemblance. We used computer modeling to assess the degree to which neutral faces objectively resembled emotions and assessed whether that resemblance predicted trait impressions. We found that both OA and YA showed anger and surprise overgeneralization in ratings of danger and naiveté, respectively, with no significant differences in the strength of the effects for the two age groups. These findings suggest that well-documented OA deficits on emotion recognition tasks may be more due to processing demands than to an insensitivity to the social affordances of emotion expressions. PMID:24058225

Comparison of AIS Versus TMS Data Collected over the Virginia Piedmont

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bell, R.; Evans, C. S.

1985-01-01

The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS, NS001 Thematic Mapper Simlulator (TMS), and Zeiss camera collected remotely sensed data simultaneously on October 27, 1983, at an altitude of 6860 meters (22,500 feet). AIS data were collected in 32 channels covering 1200 to 1500 nm. A simple atmospheric correction was applied to the AIS data, after which spectra for four cover types were plotted. Spectra for these ground cover classes showed a telescoping effect for the wavelength endpoints. Principal components were extracted from the shortwave region of the AIS (1200 to 1280 nm), full spectrum AIS (1200 to 1500 nm) and TMS (450 to 12,500 nm) to create three separate three-component color image composites. A comparison of the TMS band 5 (1000 to 1300 nm) to the six principal components from the shortwave AIS region (1200 to 1280 nm) showed improved visual discrimination of ground cover types. Contrast of color image composites created from principal components showed the AIS composites to exhibit a clearer demarcation between certain ground cover types but subtle differences within other regions of the imagery were not as readily seen.

Context Preexposure Prevents Forgetting of a Contextual Fear Memory: Implication for Regional Changes in Brain Activation Patterns Associated with Recent and Remote Memory Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biedenkapp, Joseph C.; Rudy, Jerry W.

2007-01-01

Contextual fear conditioning was maintained over a 15-day retention interval suggesting no forgetting of the conditioning experience. However, a more subtle generalization test revealed that, as the retention interval increased, rats showed enhanced generalized fear to an altered context. Preexposure to the training context prior to conditioning,…

Aging and Intermittent Fasting Impact on Transcriptional Regulation and Physiological Responses of Adult Drosophila Neuronal and Muscle Tissues

PubMed Central

Zhang, Sharon; Ratliff, Eric P.; Molina, Brandon; El-Mecharrafie, Nadja; Mastroianni, Jessica; Kotzebue, Roxanne W.; Achal, Madhulika; Mauntz, Ruth E.; Gonzalez, Arysa; Barekat, Ayeh; Bray, William A.; Macias, Andrew M.; Daugherty, Daniel; Harris, Greg L.; Edwards, Robert A.; Finley, Kim D.

2018-01-01

The progressive decline of the nervous system, including protein aggregate formation, reflects the subtle dysregulation of multiple functional pathways. Our previous work has shown intermittent fasting (IF) enhances longevity, maintains adult behaviors and reduces aggregates, in part, by promoting autophagic function in the aging Drosophila brain. To clarify the impact that IF-treatment has upon aging, we used high throughput RNA-sequencing technology to examine the changing transcriptome in adult Drosophila tissues. Principle component analysis (PCA) and other analyses showed ~1200 age-related transcriptional differences in head and muscle tissues, with few genes having matching expression patterns. Pathway components showing age-dependent expression differences were involved with stress response, metabolic, neural and chromatin remodeling functions. Middle-aged tissues also showed a significant increase in transcriptional drift-variance (TD), which in the CNS included multiple proteolytic pathway components. Overall, IF-treatment had a demonstrably positive impact on aged transcriptomes, partly ameliorating both fold and variance changes. Consistent with these findings, aged IF-treated flies displayed more youthful metabolic, behavioral and basal proteolytic profiles that closely correlated with transcriptional alterations to key components. These results indicate that even modest dietary changes can have therapeutic consequences, slowing the progressive decline of multiple cellular systems, including proteostasis in the aging nervous system. PMID:29642630

Aging and Intermittent Fasting Impact on Transcriptional Regulation and Physiological Responses of Adult Drosophila Neuronal and Muscle Tissues.

PubMed

Zhang, Sharon; Ratliff, Eric P; Molina, Brandon; El-Mecharrafie, Nadja; Mastroianni, Jessica; Kotzebue, Roxanne W; Achal, Madhulika; Mauntz, Ruth E; Gonzalez, Arysa; Barekat, Ayeh; Bray, William A; Macias, Andrew M; Daugherty, Daniel; Harris, Greg L; Edwards, Robert A; Finley, Kim D

2018-04-10

The progressive decline of the nervous system, including protein aggregate formation, reflects the subtle dysregulation of multiple functional pathways. Our previous work has shown intermittent fasting (IF) enhances longevity, maintains adult behaviors and reduces aggregates, in part, by promoting autophagic function in the aging Drosophila brain. To clarify the impact that IF-treatment has upon aging, we used high throughput RNA-sequencing technology to examine the changing transcriptome in adult Drosophila tissues. Principle component analysis (PCA) and other analyses showed ~1200 age-related transcriptional differences in head and muscle tissues, with few genes having matching expression patterns. Pathway components showing age-dependent expression differences were involved with stress response, metabolic, neural and chromatin remodeling functions. Middle-aged tissues also showed a significant increase in transcriptional drift-variance (TD), which in the CNS included multiple proteolytic pathway components. Overall, IF-treatment had a demonstrably positive impact on aged transcriptomes, partly ameliorating both fold and variance changes. Consistent with these findings, aged IF-treated flies displayed more youthful metabolic, behavioral and basal proteolytic profiles that closely correlated with transcriptional alterations to key components. These results indicate that even modest dietary changes can have therapeutic consequences, slowing the progressive decline of multiple cellular systems, including proteostasis in the aging nervous system.

Probing galaxy assembly bias with LRG weak lensing observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niemiec, A.; Jullo, E.; Montero-Dorta, A. D.; Prada, F.; Rodriguez-Torres, S.; Perez, E.; Klypin, A.; Erben, T.; Makler, M.; Moraes, B.; Pereira, M. E. S.; Shan, H.

2018-06-01

In Montero-Dorta et al., we show that luminous red galaxies (LRGs) from the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) at z ˜ 0.55 can be divided into two groups based on their star formation histories. So-called fast-growing LRGs assemble 80 per cent of their stellar mass at z ˜ 5, whereas slow-growing LRGs reach the same evolutionary state at z ˜ 1.5. We further demonstrate that these two subpopulations present significantly different clustering properties on scales of ˜1-30 Mpc. Here, we measure the mean halo mass of each subsample using the galaxy-galaxy lensing technique, in the ˜ 190°^2 overlap of the LRG catalogue and the CS82 and CFHTLenS shear catalogues. We show that fast- and slow-growing LRGs have similar lensing profiles, which implies that they live in haloes of similar mass: log (M_halo^fast/h^{-1}M_{⊙}) = 12.85^{+0.16}_{-0.26} and log (M_halo^slow/h^{-1}M_{⊙}) =12.92^{+0.16}_{-0.22}. This result, combined with the clustering difference, suggests the existence of galaxy assembly bias, although the effect is too subtle to be definitively proven, given the errors on our current weak-lensing measurement. We show that this can soon be achieved with upcoming surveys like DES.

ERP evidence of preserved early memory function in term infants with neonatal encephalopathy following therapeutic hypothermia.

PubMed

Pfister, Katie M; Zhang, Lei; Miller, Neely C; Hultgren, Solveig; Boys, Chris J; Georgieff, Michael K

2016-12-01

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) carries high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) reduces this risk, particularly for moderate encephalopathy (ME). Nevertheless, these infants often have subtle functional deficits, including abnormal memory function. Detection of deficits at the earliest possible time-point would allow for intervention during a period of maximal brain plasticity. Recognition memory function in 22 infants with NE treated with TH was compared to 23 healthy controls using event-related potentials (ERPs) at 2 wk of age. ERPs were recorded to mother's voice alternating with a stranger's voice to assess attentional responses (P2), novelty detection (slow wave), and discrimination between familiar and novel (difference wave). Development was tested at 12 mo using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). The NE group showed similar ERP components and BSID-III scores to controls. However, infants with NE showed discrimination at midline leads (P = 0.01), whereas controls showed discrimination in the left hemisphere (P = 0.05). Normal MRI (P = 0.05) and seizure-free electroencephalogram (EEG) (P = 0.04) correlated positively with outcomes. Infants with NE have preserved recognition memory function after TH. The spatially different recognition memory processing after early brain injury may represent compensatory changes in the brain circuitry and reflect a benefit of TH.

A predator-prey model with a holling type I functional response including a predator mutual interference

USGS Publications Warehouse

Seo, G.; DeAngelis, D.L.

2011-01-01

The most widely used functional response in describing predator-prey relationships is the Holling type II functional response, where per capita predation is a smooth, increasing, and saturating function of prey density. Beddington and DeAngelis modified the Holling type II response to include interference of predators that increases with predator density. Here we introduce a predator-interference term into a Holling type I functional response. We explain the ecological rationale for the response and note that the phase plane configuration of the predator and prey isoclines differs greatly from that of the Beddington-DeAngelis response; for example, in having three possible interior equilibria rather than one. In fact, this new functional response seems to be quite unique. We used analytical and numerical methods to show that the resulting system shows a much richer dynamical behavior than the Beddington-DeAngelis response, or other typically used functional responses. For example, cyclic-fold, saddle-fold, homoclinic saddle connection, and multiple crossing bifurcations can all occur. We then use a smooth approximation to the Holling type I functional response with predator mutual interference to show that these dynamical properties do not result from the lack of smoothness, but rather from subtle differences in the functional responses. ?? 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Petrology, chemistry, and chronology of 14078 - Chemical constraints on the origin of KREEP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckay, G. A.; Nyquist, L. E.; Wiesmann, H.; Wooden, J. L.; Bansal, B. M.

1978-01-01

Petrographic, chemical and isotopic similarities between 14078 and other Apollo-14 KREEP basalts suggest that these samples were derived from the same parent liquid and possibly from the same cooling unit. The liquid was probably generated via meteorite impact. Subtle differences are noted in the shapes of REE patterns of KREEP-rich samples from different landing sites; the origin of these differences is not well understood. Calculated Ti/Sm values in liquids parental to primitive cumulate samples are similar to values proposed for the whole moon.

Effect of Li level, artificial aging, and TiB2 reinforcement on the fracture toughness of Weldalite (tm) 049-type alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Plane strain fracture toughness (K sub IC) was evaluated for Weldalite (tm) 049 with and without TiB2 reinforcement. For the nonreinforced variant, changes in toughness were measured for various aging conditions and lithium levels. Toughness testing was carried out on fatigue precracked compact tension (CT) specimens at 24 C, as per ASTM standard E-399. Toughness was measured as a function of aging time at 160 C for the two Weldalite 049(1.3) heats. The composition of these heats differed only in that 0.03 wt pct. Ti was added to one as an additional grain refiner. Both heats showed a decrease in toughness with increasing aging time, although toughness values for one were significantly higher than for the other. This greater toughness may be due to a subtle change in the grain size resulting for the presence of Ti or, alternatively, to differences in texture or substructure formed during extrusion.

Stability of auditory discrimination and novelty processing in physiological aging.

PubMed

Raggi, Alberto; Tasca, Domenica; Rundo, Francesco; Ferri, Raffaele

2013-01-01

Complex higher-order cognitive functions and their possible changes with aging are mandatory objectives of cognitive neuroscience. Event-related potentials (ERPs) allow investigators to probe the earliest stages of information processing. N100, Mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a are auditory ERP components that reflect automatic sensory discrimination. The aim of the present study was to determine if N100, MMN and P3a parameters are stable in healthy aged subjects, compared to those of normal young adults. Normal young adults and older participants were assessed using standardized cognitive functional instruments and their ERPs were obtained with an auditory stimulation at two different interstimulus intervals, during a passive paradigm. All individuals were within the normal range on cognitive tests. No significant differences were found for any ERP parameters obtained from the two age groups. This study shows that aging is characterized by a stability of the auditory discrimination and novelty processing. This is important for the arrangement of normative for the detection of subtle preclinical changes due to abnormal brain aging.

Shape-based diffeomorphic registration on hippocampal surfaces using Beltrami holomorphic flow.

PubMed

Lui, Lok Ming; Wong, Tsz Wai; Thompson, Paul; Chan, Tony; Gu, Xianfeng; Yau, Shing-Tung

2010-01-01

We develop a new algorithm to automatically register hippocampal (HP) surfaces with complete geometric matching, avoiding the need to manually label landmark features. A good registration depends on a reasonable choice of shape energy that measures the dissimilarity between surfaces. In our work, we first propose a complete shape index using the Beltrami coefficient and curvatures, which measures subtle local differences. The proposed shape energy is zero if and only if two shapes are identical up to a rigid motion. We then seek the best surface registration by minimizing the shape energy. We propose a simple representation of surface diffeomorphisms using Beltrami coefficients, which simplifies the optimization process. We then iteratively minimize the shape energy using the proposed Beltrami Holomorphic flow (BHF) method. Experimental results on 212 HP of normal and diseased (Alzheimer's disease) subjects show our proposed algorithm is effective in registering HP surfaces with complete geometric matching. The proposed shape energy can also capture local shape differences between HP for disease analysis.

Protecting group and switchable pore-discriminating adsorption properties of a hydrophilic-hydrophobic metal-organic framework.

PubMed

Mohideen, M Infas H; Xiao, Bo; Wheatley, Paul S; McKinlay, Alistair C; Li, Yang; Slawin, Alexandra M Z; Aldous, David W; Cessford, Naomi F; Düren, Tina; Zhao, Xuebo; Gill, Rachel; Thomas, K Mark; Griffin, John M; Ashbrook, Sharon E; Morris, Russell E

2011-04-01

Formed by linking metals or metal clusters through organic linkers, metal-organic frameworks are a class of solids with structural and chemical properties that mark them out as candidates for many emerging gas storage, separation, catalysis and biomedical applications. Important features of these materials include their high porosity and their flexibility in response to chemical or physical stimuli. Here, a copper-based metal-organic framework has been prepared in which the starting linker (benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid) undergoes selective monoesterification during synthesis to produce a solid with two different channel systems, lined by hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, respectively. The material reacts differently to gases or vapours of dissimilar chemistry, some stimulating subtle framework flexibility or showing kinetic adsorption effects. Adsorption can be switched between the two channels by judicious choice of the conditions. The monoesterified linker is recoverable in quantitative yield, demonstrating possible uses of metal-organic frameworks in molecular synthetic chemistry as 'protecting groups' to accomplish selective transformations that are difficult using standard chemistry techniques.

Thermodynamic and structural effect of urea and guanidine chloride on the helical and on a hairpin fragment of GB1 from molecular simulations.

PubMed

Meloni, R; Tiana, G

2017-04-01

With the help of molecular-dynamics simulations, we studied the effect of urea and guanidine chloride on the thermodynamic and structural properties of the helical fragment of protein GB1, comparing them with those of its second beta hairpin. We showed that the helical fragment in different solvents populates an ensemble of states that is more complex than that of the hairpin, and thus the associated experimental observables (circular-dichroism spectra, secondary chemical shifts, m values), that we back-calculated from the simulations and compared with the actual data, are more difficult to interpret. We observed that in the case of both peptides, urea binds tightly to their backbone, while guanidine exerts its denaturing effect in a more subtle way, strongly affecting the electrostatic properties of the solution. This difference can have consequences in the way denaturation experiments are interpreted. Proteins 2017; 85:753-763. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Autonomic Dysfunction and Risk Factors Associated with Trypanosoma cruzi Infection among Children in Arequipa, Peru

PubMed Central

Bowman, Natalie M.; Kawai, Vivian; Gilman, Robert H.; Bocangel, Cesar; Galdos-Cardenas, Gerson; Cabrera, Lilia; Levy, Michael Z.; Cornejo del Carpio, Juan Geny; Delgado, Freddy; Rosenthal, Lauren; Pinedo-Cancino, Vivian V.; Steurer, Francis; Seitz, Amy E.; Maguire, James H.; Bern, Caryn

2011-01-01

Chagas disease affects an estimated 8 million people in Latin America. Infected individuals have 20–30% lifetime risk of developing cardiomyopathy, but more subtle changes in autonomic responses may be more frequent. We conducted a matched case-control study of children in Arequipa, Peru, where triatomine infestation and Trypanosoma cruzi infection are emerging problems. We collected data on home environment, history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and autonomic testing. Signs of triatomine infestation and/or animals sleeping in the child's room and household members with Chagas disease were associated with increased infection risk. Electrocardiogram findings did not differ between cases and controls. However, compared with control children, infected children had blunted autonomic responses by three different measures, the Valsalva maneuver, the cold pressor test, and the orthostatic test. T. cruzi-infected children show autonomic dysfunction, although the prognostic value of this finding is not clear. Sustained vector control programs are essential to decreasing future T. cruzi infections. PMID:21212207

Cognitive responses to hypobaric hypoxia: implications for aviation training

PubMed Central

Neuhaus, Christopher; Hinkelbein, Jochen

2014-01-01

The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview on cognitive responses to hypobaric hypoxia and to show relevant implications for aviation training. A principal element of hypoxia-awareness training is the intentional evocation of hypoxia symptoms during specific training sessions within a safe and controlled environment. Repetitive training should enable pilots to learn and recognize their personal hypoxia symptoms. A time span of 3–6 years is generally considered suitable to refresh knowledge of the more subtle and early symptoms especially. Currently, there are two different technical approaches available to induce hypoxia during training: hypobaric chamber training and reduced-oxygen breathing devices. Hypoxia training for aircrew is extremely important and effective, and the hypoxia symptoms should be emphasized clearly to aircrews. The use of tight-fitting masks, leak checks, and equipment checks should be taught to all aircrew and reinforced regularly. It is noteworthy that there are major differences in the required quality and quantity of hypoxia training for both military and civilian pilots. PMID:25419162

Raman spectroscopy of the mineral rhodonite.

PubMed

Mills, Stuart J; Frost, Ray L; Kloprogge, J Theo; Weier, Matt L

2005-11-01

The mineral rhodonite an orthosilicate has been characterised by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of three rhodonites from Broken Hill, Pachapaqui and Franklin were compared and found to be similar. The spectra are characterised by an intense band at around 1000 cm(-1) assigned to the nu(1) symmetric stretching mode and three bands at 989, 974 and 936 cm(-1) assigned to the nu(3) antisymmetric stretching modes of the SiO(4) units. An intense band at around 667 cm(-1) was assigned to the nu(4) bending mode and showed additional bands exhibiting loss of degeneracy of the SiO(4) units. The low wave number region of rhodonite is complex. A strong band at 421.9 cm(-1) is attributed to the nu(2) bending mode. The spectra of the three rhodonite mineral samples are similar but subtle differences are observed. It is proposed that these differences depend upon the cationic substitution of Mn by Ca and/or Fe(2+) and Mg.

Multispectral image enhancement for H&E stained pathological tissue specimens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bautista, Pinky A.; Abe, Tokiya; Yamaguchi, Masahiro; Ohyama, Nagaaki; Yagi, Yukako

2008-03-01

The presence of a liver disease such as cirrhosis can be determined by examining the proliferation of collagen fiber from a tissue slide stained with special stain such as the Masson's trichrome(MT) stain. Collagen fiber and smooth muscle, which are both stained the same in an H&E stained slide, are stained blue and pink respectively in an MT-stained slide. In this paper we show that with multispectral imaging the difference between collagen fiber and smooth muscle can be visualized even from an H&E stained image. In the method M KL bases are derived using the spectral data of those H&E stained tissue components which can be easily differentiated from each other, i.e. nucleus, cytoplasm, red blood cells, etc. and based on the spectral residual error of fiber weighting factors are determined to enhance spectral features at certain wavelengths. Results of our experiment demonstrate the capability of multispectral imaging and its advantage compared to the conventional RGB imaging systems to delineate tissue structures with subtle colorimetric difference.

Conformationally Constrained Analogues of Diacylglycerol. 29. Cells Sort Diacylglycerol-Lactone Chemical Zip Codes to Produce Diverse and Selective Biological Activities

PubMed Central

Duan, Dehui; Sigano, Dina M.; Kelley, James A.; Lai, Christopher C.; Lewin, Nancy E.; Kedei, Noemi; Peach, Megan L.; Lee, Jeewoo; Abeyweera, Thushara P.; Rotenberg, Susan A.; Kim, Hee; Kim, Young Ho; Kazzouli, Saïd El; Chung, Jae-Uk; Young, Howard A.; Young, Matthew R.; Baker, Alyson; Colburn, Nancy H.; Haimovitz-Friedman, Adriana; Truman, Jean-Philip; Parrish, Damon A.; Deschamps, Jeffrey R.; Perry, Nicholas A.; Surawski, Robert J.; Blumberg, Peter M.; Marquez, Victor E.

2008-01-01

Diacylglycerol-lactone (DAG-lactone) libraries generated by a solid-phase approach using IRORI technology produced a variety of unique biological activities. Subtle differences in chemical diversity in two areas of the molecule, the combination of which generates what we have termed “chemical zip codes”, are able to transform a relatively small chemical space into a larger universe of biological activities, as membrane-containing organelles within the cell appear to be able to decode these “chemical zip codes”. It is postulated that after binding to protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes or other non-kinase target proteins that contain diacylglycerol responsive, membrane interacting domains (C1 domains), the resulting complexes are directed to diverse intracellular sites where different sets of substrates are accessed. Multiple cellular bioassays show that DAG-lactones, which bind in vitro to PKCα to varying degrees, expand their biological repertoire into a larger domain, eliciting distinct cellular responses. PMID:18698758

Blood Flow Characterization According to Linear Wall Models of the Carotid Bifurcation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williamson, Shobha; Rayz, Vitaliy; Berger, Stanley; Saloner, David

2004-11-01

Previous studies of the arterial wall include linearly isotropic, isotropic with residual stresses, and anisotropic models. This poses the question of how the results of each method differ when coupled with flow. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare flow for these material models and subsequently determine if variations exist. Results show that displacement at the bifurcation and internal carotid bulb was noticeably larger in the orthotropic versus the isotropic model with subtle differences toward the inlet and outlets, which are fixed in space. In general, the orthotropic wall is further distended than the isotropic wall for the entire cycle. This apparent distention of the orthotropic wall clearly affects the flow. In diastole, the combination of slower flow and larger wall distention due to lumen pressure creates a sinuous velocity profile, particularly in the orthotropic model where the recirculation zone created displaces the core flow to a smaller area thereby increasing the velocity magnitudes nearly 60

Characterization of subtle brain abnormalities in a mouse model of Hedgehog pathway antagonist-induced cleft lip and palate.

PubMed

Lipinski, Robert J; Holloway, Hunter T; O'Leary-Moore, Shonagh K; Ament, Jacob J; Pecevich, Stephen J; Cofer, Gary P; Budin, Francois; Everson, Joshua L; Johnson, G Allan; Sulik, Kathleen K

2014-01-01

Subtle behavioral and cognitive deficits have been documented in patient cohorts with orofacial clefts (OFCs). Recent neuroimaging studies argue that these traits are associated with structural brain abnormalities but have been limited to adolescent and adult populations where brain plasticity during infancy and childhood may be a confounding factor. Here, we employed high resolution magnetic resonance microscopy to examine primary brain morphology in a mouse model of OFCs. Transient in utero exposure to the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway antagonist cyclopamine resulted in a spectrum of facial dysmorphology, including unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate, cleft of the secondary palate only, and a non-cleft phenotype marked by midfacial hypoplasia. Relative to controls, cyclopamine-exposed fetuses exhibited volumetric differences in several brain regions, including hypoplasia of the pituitary gland and olfactory bulbs, hyperplasia of the forebrain septal region, and expansion of the third ventricle. However, in affected fetuses the corpus callosum was intact and normal division of the forebrain was observed. This argues that temporally-specific Hh signaling perturbation can result in typical appearing OFCs in the absence of holoprosencephaly--a condition classically associated with Hh pathway inhibition and frequently co-occurring with OFCs. Supporting the premise that some forms of OFCs co-occur with subtle brain malformations, these results provide a possible ontological basis for traits identified in clinical populations. They also argue in favor of future investigations into genetic and/or environmental modulation of the Hh pathway in the etiopathogenesis of orofacial clefting.

Genome Sequence of the Native Apiculate Wine Yeast Hanseniaspora vineae T02/19AF.

PubMed

Giorello, Facundo M; Berná, Luisa; Greif, Gonzalo; Camesasca, Laura; Salzman, Valentina; Medina, Karina; Robello, Carlos; Gaggero, Carina; Aguilar, Pablo S; Carrau, Francisco

2014-05-29

The use of novel yeast strains for winemaking improves quality and provides variety including subtle characteristic differences in fine wines. Here we report the first genome of a yeast strain native to Uruguay, Hanseniaspora vineae T02/19AF, which has been shown to positively contribute to aroma and wine quality. Copyright © 2014 Giorello et al.

Scoring Situational Judgment Tests Using Profile Similarity Metrics

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-07-01

dependability, openness and agreeableness (cf. Yukl, 2002; Bartone, Snook, & Tremble, 2002; Bartone, Eid, Johnsen, Laberg , & Snook, 2009). This reasoning led...provides a continuous scale, and allows the respondent to register subtle differences in their understandings ( Stevens , 1975). Figure 3 portrays...2002; Bartone, Snook, & Tremble, 2002; Bartone, Eid, Johnsen, Laberg , & Snook, 2009), we expected that LKT metrics would also correlate with

Improved Ultrasonic Imaging of the Breast

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. This method yields high resolution images with minimal statistical variability. We have formed images in... and malignant masses often exhibit only subtle image differences. We have invented a new technique that uses modified ultrasound equipment to form...between malignant and benign lesions. The utility of ultrasound is limited because microcalcifications (MCs) are not typically visible and because benign

Improved Ultrasonic Imaging of the Breast

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-08-01

differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. This method yields high resolution images with minimal statistical variability. In this first year of... and malignant masses often exhibit only subtle image differences. We have invented a new technique that uses modified ultrasound equipment to form...between malignant and benign lesions. The utility of ultrasound is limited because microcalcifications (MCs) are not typically visible and because benign

Improved Ultrasonic Imaging of the Breast

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-08-01

differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. This method yields high resolution images with minimal statistical variability. We have formed images in... and malignant masses often exhibit only subtle image differences. We have invented a new technique that uses modified ultrasound equipment to form...between malignant and benign lesions. The utility of ultrasound is limited because microcalcifications (MCs) are not typically visible and because benign

Detection of CN emission from (2060) Chiron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowell, Edward

1991-01-01

Spectrophotometric observations of (2060) Chiron were obtained. Their primary goal was to look for the subtle differences in color between Chiron and its surrounding coma, and to search for possible absorption or emission features in Chiron's spectrum. The presence of the CN(0-0) emission band was identified. It proves Chiron's cometary nature and breaks the record heliocentric distance for cometary gaseous emission.

Root-zone temperature and water availability affect early root growth of planted longleaf pine

Treesearch

M.A. Sword

1995-01-01

Longleaf pine seedlings from three seed sources were exposed to three root-zone temperatures and three levels of water availability for 28 days. Root growth declined as temperature and water availability decreased. Root growth differed by seed source. Results suggest that subtle changes in the regeneration environment may influence early root growth of longleaf pine...

Subtle Discourses on Equality in the Finnish Curricula of Upper Secondary Education: Reflections of the Imagined Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lappalainen, Sirpa; Lahelma, Elina

2016-01-01

Assurance of citizens' social rights and minimization of social differences have been central tenets that have framed the educational policy of Finland and the other Nordic welfare states. Equality has been on the official agenda in educational politics and policies since the comprehensive school reforms of the 1960s and 1970s. However, the…

Attraction of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, to pheromone components of the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in an allopatric zone

Treesearch

Deepa S. Pureswaran; Richard W. Hofstetter; Brian T. Sullivan

2008-01-01

Subtle differences in pheromone components of sympatric species should be attractive only to the producing species and unattractive or repellent to the nonproducing species, and thereby maintain reproductive isolation and reduce competition between species. Bark beetles Dendroctonus brevicomis and D. frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are known to...

Crozer-Chester Medical Center Burn Research Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

adult patients with documented A. baumannii infections to determine if there are any subtle or frank differences in outcome with the use of these...Center  Pyoderma Gangrenosum in a Burn Treatment Center  Trimethoprim -induced hyperkalemia in burn admissions treated with intravenous or oral... trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole  Impact of multiple drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii on changes in antibiotic susceptibility of

On the Hill, New Hands Refashion Key Law

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Field, Kelly

2008-01-01

More than three decades ago, the debate for Higher Education Act was open to the public. Today the process of crafting a compromise bill looks very different, and the forces shaping the major law governing student aid have shifted in ways both significant and subtle. The changes have given new voices a say in policy decisions and made it harder…

The Effects of Mothers' Past Infant-Holding Preferences on Their Adult Children's Face Processing Lateralisation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vervloed, Mathijs P. J.; Hendriks, Angelique W.; van den Eijnde, Esther

2011-01-01

Face processing development is negatively affected when infants have not been exposed to faces for some time because of congenital cataract blocking all vision (Le Grand, Mondloch, Maurer, & Brent, 2001). It is not clear, however, whether more subtle differences in face exposure may also have an influence. The present study looked at the effect of…

Testing Hypothesized Differences between Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) and Non-ACOAs in a College Student Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Amy L.; Perera-Diltz, Dilani M.; Salyers, Kathleen M.; Laux, John M.; Cochrane, Wendy S.

2007-01-01

The authors compared college adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and non-ACOAs using the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (F.G. Miller, 1999).The results failed to support the hypothesis that ACOAs have higher rates of substance dependence, defensiveness, and codependency than do non-ACOAs. Practical implications are offered for…

EDTA analysis on the Roche MODULAR analyser.

PubMed

Davidson, D F

2007-05-01

Patient specimens can be subject to subtle interference from cross contamination by liquid-based, potassium-containing EDTA anticoagulant, leading to misinterpretation of results. A rapid method for EDTA analysis to detect such contamination is described. An in-house EDTA assay on the Roche MODULAR analyser was assessed for accuracy and precision by comparison with an adjusted calcium difference measurement (atomic absorption and o-cresolphthalein complexone colorimetry). EDTA method versus adjusted calcium difference showed: slope = 1.038 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.949-1.131); intercept = 0.073 (95% CI 0.018-0.132) mmol/L; r = 0.914; n = 94. However, inter-assay precision of the calcium difference method was estimated to be poorer (coefficient of variation 24.8% versus 3.4% for the automated colorimetric method at an EDTA concentration of 0.25 mmol/L). Unequivocal contamination was observed at an EDTA concentration of > or =0.2 mmol/L. The automated method showed positive interference from haemolysis and negative interference from oxalate. The method was unaffected by lipaemia (triglycerides <20 mmol/L), icterus (bilirubin <500 micromol/L), glucose (<100 mmol/L), iron (<100 micromol/L), and citrate, phosphate or fluoride (all <2.5 mmol/L). The automated colorimetric assay described is an accurate, precise and rapid (3 min) means of detecting EDTA contamination of unhaemolysed biochemistry specimens.

A field experiment shows that subtle linguistic cues might not affect voter behavior.

PubMed

Gerber, Alan S; Huber, Gregory A; Biggers, Daniel R; Hendry, David J

2016-06-28

One of the most important recent developments in social psychology is the discovery of minor interventions that have large and enduring effects on behavior. A leading example of this class of results is in the work by Bryan et al. [Bryan CJ, Walton GM, Rogers T, Dweck CS (2011) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108(31):12653-12656], which shows that administering a set of survey items worded so that subjects think of themselves as voters (noun treatment) rather than as voting (verb treatment) substantially increases political participation (voter turnout) among subjects. We revisit these experiments by replicating and extending their research design in a large-scale field experiment. In contrast to the 11 to 14% point greater turnout among those exposed to the noun rather than the verb treatment reported in the work by Bryan et al., we find no statistically significant difference in turnout between the noun and verb treatments (the point estimate of the difference is approximately zero). Furthermore, when we benchmark these treatments against a standard get out the vote message, we estimate that both are less effective at increasing turnout than a much shorter basic mobilization message. In our conclusion, we detail how our study differs from the work by Bryan et al. and discuss how our results might be interpreted.

Writing Impairments in Japanese Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and with Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

PubMed

Hayashi, Atsuko; Nomura, Hiroshi; Mochizuki, Ruriko; Ohnuma, Ayumu; Kimpara, Teiko; Suzuki, Kyoko; Mori, Etsuro

2015-01-01

We investigated writing abilities in patients with the amnestic type of mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). To examine the earliest changes in writing function, we used writing tests for both words and sentences with different types of Japanese characters (Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji). A total of 25 aMCI patients, 38 AD patients, and 22 healthy controls performed writing to dictation for Kana and Kanji words, copied Kanji words, and wrote in response to a picture story task. Analysis of variance was used to test the subject group effects on the scores in the above writing tasks. For the written Kanji words, the mild AD group performed worse than the aMCI group and the controls, but there was no difference between the aMCI group and the controls. For the picture story writing task, the mild AD and aMCI groups performed worse than the controls, but the difference between the AD and the aMCI groups was not significant. The mild AD group showed defects in writing Kanji characters, and the aMCI group showed impairments in narrative writing. Our study suggests that narrative writing, which demands complex integration of multiple cognitive functions, can be used to detect the subtle writing deficits in aMCI patients.

Abnormalities in metabolite concentrations in tourette's disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder-A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

PubMed

Fan, Siyan; Cath, Danielle C; van den Heuvel, Odile A; van der Werf, Ysbrand D; Schöls, Caroline; Veltman, Dick J; Pouwels, Petra J W

2017-03-01

Abnormal glutamatergic transmission in cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of Tourette's disorder (TD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the current study aimed to investigate regional concentrations of glutamatergic compounds in TD and OCD patients in comparison to healthy control subjects (HC). Twenty-three TD patients, 20 OCD patients and 22 HC were included. Short echo-time single-voxel 3T MRS was obtained from dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and midline bilateral thalamus. The 3-group comparison showed a significant difference in choline concentration in the thalamus. Thalamic choline was highest in OCD patients, showing a significant difference with TD, and a trend compared to HC (post-hoc analyses). Glutamine in dACC correlated negatively with tic severity scores in TD patients, while glutamate in thalamus correlated positively with anxiety severity scores in OCD patients. These findings suggest subtle differences in metabolites in CSTC areas between TD and OCD. Alterations of choline concentrations seem to be both regional (only in thalamus, not in dACC) and disease specific in OCD pathology. The findings need replication in larger groups, but encourage further research into glutamatergic metabolites in TD and OCD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trends in the educational gradient of mortality among US adults aged 45 to 84 years: bringing regional context into the explanation.

PubMed

Montez, Jennifer Karas; Berkman, Lisa F

2014-01-01

We investigated trends in the educational gradient of US adult mortality, which has increased at the national level since the mid-1980s, within US regions. We used data from the 1986-2006 National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality File on non-Hispanic White and Black adults aged 45 to 84 years (n = 498,517). We examined trends in the gradient within 4 US regions by race-gender subgroup by using age-standardized death rates. Trends in the gradient exhibited a few subtle regional differences. Among women, the gradient was often narrowest in the Northeast. The region's distinction grew over time mainly because low-educated women in the Northeast did not experience a significant increase in mortality like their counterparts in other regions (particularly for White women). Among White men, the gradient narrowed to a small degree in the West. The subtle regional differences indicate that geographic context can accentuate or suppress trends in the gradient. Studies of smaller areas may provide insights into the specific contextual characteristics (e.g., state tax policies) that have shaped the trends, and thus help explain and reverse the widening mortality disparities among US adults.

Discrimination of acoustic communication signals by grasshoppers (Chorthippus biguttulus): temporal resolution, temporal integration, and the impact of intrinsic noise.

PubMed

Ronacher, Bernhard; Wohlgemuth, Sandra; Vogel, Astrid; Krahe, Rüdiger

2008-08-01

A characteristic feature of hearing systems is their ability to resolve both fast and subtle amplitude modulations of acoustic signals. This applies also to grasshoppers, which for mate identification rely mainly on the characteristic temporal patterns of their communication signals. Usually the signals arriving at a receiver are contaminated by various kinds of noise. In addition to extrinsic noise, intrinsic noise caused by stochastic processes within the nervous system contributes to making signal recognition a difficult task. The authors asked to what degree intrinsic noise affects temporal resolution and, particularly, the discrimination of similar acoustic signals. This study aims at exploring the neuronal basis for sexual selection, which depends on exploiting subtle differences between basically similar signals. Applying a metric, by which the similarities of spike trains can be assessed, the authors investigated how well the communication signals of different individuals of the same species could be discriminated and correctly classified based on the responses of auditory neurons. This spike train metric yields clues to the optimal temporal resolution with which spike trains should be evaluated. (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved

BcL-xL Conformational Changes upon Fragment Binding Revealed by NMR

PubMed Central

Aguirre, Clémentine; ten Brink, Tim; Walker, Olivier; Guillière, Florence; Davesne, Dany; Krimm, Isabelle

2013-01-01

Protein-protein interactions represent difficult but increasingly important targets for the design of therapeutic compounds able to interfere with biological processes. Recently, fragment-based strategies have been proposed as attractive approaches for the elaboration of protein-protein surface inhibitors from fragment-like molecules. One major challenge in targeting protein-protein interactions is related to the structural adaptation of the protein surface upon molecular recognition. Methods capable of identifying subtle conformational changes of proteins upon fragment binding are therefore required at the early steps of the drug design process. In this report we present a fast NMR method able to probe subtle conformational changes upon fragment binding. The approach relies on the comparison of experimental fragment-induced Chemical Shift Perturbation (CSP) of amine protons to CSP simulated for a set of docked fragment poses, considering the ring-current effect from fragment binding. We illustrate the method by the retrospective analysis of the complex between the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein and the fragment 4′-fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid that was previously shown to bind one of the Bcl-xL hot spots. The CSP-based approach shows that the protein undergoes a subtle conformational rearrangement upon interaction, for residues located in helices 2, 3 and the very beginning of 5. Our observations are corroborated by residual dipolar coupling measurements performed on the free and fragment-bound forms of the Bcl-xL protein. These NMR-based results are in total agreement with previous molecular dynamic calculations that evidenced a high flexibility of Bcl-xL around the binding site. Here we show that CSP of protein amine protons are useful and reliable structural probes. Therefore, we propose to use CSP simulation to assess protein conformational changes upon ligand binding in the fragment-based drug design approach. PMID:23717610

Positron emission tomography with α-[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan in tuberous sclerosis complex-related epilepsy.

PubMed

Rubí, Sebastià; Costes, Nicolas; Heckemann, Rolf A; Bouvard, Sandrine; Hammers, Alexander; Martí Fuster, Berta; Ostrowsky, Karine; Montavont, Alexandra; Jung, Julien; Setoain, Xavier; Catenoix, Hélène; Hino, Keiko; Liger, François; Le Bars, Didier; Ryvlin, Philippe

2013-12-01

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is often associated with cerebral tubers and medically intractable epilepsy. We reevaluated whether increased uptake of α-[(11) C]methyl-l-tryptophan (AMT) in cerebral tubers is associated with tuber epileptogenicity. We included 12 patients (six male, 4-53 years old) with TSC and refractory seizures who were evaluated for epilepsy surgery in our center, including video-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (FLAIR MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) with α-[(11) C]methyl-l-tryptophan (AMT-PET). Nine of these 12 patients also underwent intracerebral EEG recording. AMT uptake in each tuber was visually evaluated on PET coregistered with MRI. An AMT uptake index based on lesional/healthy cortex ratio was also calculated. Sensitivity and specificity values of AMT-PET in the detection of epileptogenic lesions were obtained, using the available electroclinical and neuroimaging evidence as the gold standard for epileptogenicity. A total of 126 tubers were identified. Two of 12 patients demonstrated a tuber with clearly increased AMT uptake, one of whom also showed a subtle increased AMT uptake in another contralateral tuber. Four other patients showed only subtle increased AMT uptake. The only two tubers with clearly increased AMT uptake proved to be epileptogenic based on intracerebral EEG data, whereas none of the tubers associated with subtle increased AMT uptake were involved at ictal onset. In a per-patient approach, this yielded a sensitivity of clearly increased AMT uptake in detecting tuber epileptogenicity of 17% (2/12 patients), whereas the per-lesion sensitivity and specificity were 12% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3-34%) and 100% (95% CI: 97-100%), respectively. AMT-PET is a specific neuroimaging technique in the identification of epileptogenic tubers in TSC. Despite its low sensitivity, the clinical usefulness of AMT-PET still deserves to be considered according to the challenging complexity of epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 International League Against Epilepsy.

Poverty, Ethnic Identity, and Health Care.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bullough, Bonnie; Bullough, Vern L.

This book tries to present the health care problems of the major ethnic minority groups in perspective. Although poverty is probably the most crucial variable in the genesis of these problems, there are still many subtle and not so subtle forms of discrimination operating in the health field. Unfortunately, discrimination in other aspects of…

A Rasch Analysis of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Tara M.; Laux, John M.; Stone, Gregory; Dupuy, Paula; Scott, Holly

2013-01-01

Rasch analysis of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3; F. G. Miller & Lazowski, 1999) indicated that the SASSI-3 meets fundamental measurement properties; however, the authors of the current study recommend the elimination of nonfunctioning items and the improvement of response options for the face valid scales to…

The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 and Stages of Change: A Screening Validity Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laux, John M.; Piazza, Nick J.; Salyers, Kathleen; Roseman, Christopher P.

2012-01-01

The sensitivity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3) was examined among substance-dependent adults enrolled in a family drug court. The SASSI-3 had a high sensitivity rate with this population, even across varying levels of motivation to change. (Contains 2 tables.)

A Psychometric Study of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 Using Rasch Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Tara M.

2009-01-01

The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3; Miller & Lazowski, 1999) is a popular screening instrument used to assist professionals in the assessment of individuals who may be substance dependent. Many researchers have reported reliability and validity results on this instrument with mixed results, which at times have…

Feeding and Reflux: A Parent & Professional Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roche, William J.; Martorana, Pamela; Vitello, Louise; Eicher, Peggy S.; LaCour, Tricia

2008-01-01

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) as a cause of an infant or child's refusal to eat is becoming better recognized. However, the many more subtle influences that reflux can have on feeding are less often recognized. Although vomiting after meals is the classic presentation, infants and children may present with a variety of more subtle symptoms less…

An Examination of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 Correctional Scale in a College Student Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burck, Andrew M.; Laux, John M.; Ritchie, Martin; Baker, David

2008-01-01

In this study, the authors examined the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 Correctional scale's sensitivity and specificity at detecting college students' illegal behaviors. Sensitivity was strong, but specificity was weak. Implications for counseling and suggestions for future research are included. (Contains 3 tables.)

Integration Moves Backward in the 70s

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coffin, Gregory C.

1973-01-01

Suggests that the failure of (1) school boards and superintendents to recognize the evil inherent in segragated schools -- both black and white -- and their lack of courage in dealing with the problem and (2) educators to recognize the subtle and not so subtle racial bias of their curriculum, curricular materials, personnel, and staffing practices…

Poisoned Waters: Sexual Harassment and the College Climate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shepela, Sharon Toffey; Levesque, Laurie L.

1998-01-01

Studied sexual harassment, including mild forms of harassment, experienced by male and female college students (n=369). Men and women were harassed with similar frequency, and more subtle forms of harassment were common. The very frequency of these subtle behaviors may explain why they are less likely to be labeled as harassment. (SLD)

Black Women in Academe. Issues and Strategies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moses, Yolanda T.

The climate for black women students, faculty members, and administrators in both predominantly white as well as historically black colleges and universities is explored, focusing on the subtle and not so subtle ways that race and gender stereotypes can combine to create double obstacles for black women. Black women students, faculty members, and…

Rover's Wheel Churns Up Bright Martian Soil (Vertical)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit acquired this mosaic on the mission's 1,202nd Martian day, or sol (May 21, 2007), while investigating the area east of the elevated plateau known as 'Home Plate' in the 'Columbia Hills.' The mosaic shows an area of disturbed soil, nicknamed 'Gertrude Weise' by scientists, made by Spirit's stuck right front wheel.

The trench exposed a patch of nearly pure silica, with the composition of opal. It could have come from either a hot-spring environment or an environment called a fumarole, in which acidic, volcanic steam rises through cracks. Either way, its formation involved water, and on Earth, both of these types of settings teem with microbial life.

The image is presented here as a vertical projection, as if looking straight down, and in false color, which brings out subtle color differences.

Rover's Wheel Churns Up Bright Martian Soil (False Color)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit acquired this mosaic on the mission's 1,202nd Martian day, or sol (May 21, 2007), while investigating the area east of the elevated plateau known as 'Home Plate' in the 'Columbia Hills.' The mosaic shows an area of disturbed soil, nicknamed 'Gertrude Weise' by scientists, made by Spirit's stuck right front wheel.

The trench exposed a patch of nearly pure silica, with the composition of opal. It could have come from either a hot-spring environment or an environment called a fumarole, in which acidic, volcanic steam rises through cracks. Either way, its formation involved water, and on Earth, both of these types of settings teem with microbial life.

The image is presented here in false color that is used to bring out subtle differences in color.

A cosmic question in NGC 4696

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

This picture, taken by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, shows NGC 4696, the largest galaxy in the Centaurus Cluster. (To see a video of NGC 4696 go here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4888176841/) The huge dust lane, around 30 000 light-years across, that sweeps across the face of the galaxy makes NGC 4696 look different from most other elliptical galaxies. Viewed at certain wavelengths, strange thin filaments of ionised hydrogen are visible within it. In this picture, these structures are visible as a subtle marbling effect across the galaxy’s bright centre. Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is home to the nation's largest organization of combined scientists, engineers and technologists that build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study the Earth, the sun, our solar system, and the universe. Follow us on Twitter Join us on Facebook

Synergistic rate boosting of collagen fibrillogenesis in heterogeneous mixtures of crowding agents.

PubMed

Dewavrin, Jean-Yves; Abdurrahiem, Muhammed; Blocki, Anna; Musib, Mrinal; Piazza, Francesco; Raghunath, Michael

2015-03-26

The competition for access to space that arises between macromolecules is the basis of the macromolecular crowding phenomenon, known to modulate biochemical reactions in subtle ways. Crowding is a highly conserved physiological condition in and around cells in metazoans, and originates from a mixture of heterogeneous biomolecules. Here, using collagen fibrillogenesis as an experimental test platform and ideas from the theory of nonideal solutions, we show that an entropy-based synergy is created by a mixture of two different populations of artificial crowders, providing small crowders with extra volume occupancy when in the vicinity of bigger crowders. We present the physiological mechanism by which synergistic effects maximize volume exclusion with the minimum amount of heterogeneous crowders, demonstrating how the evolutionarily optimized crowded conditions found in vivo can be reproduced effectively in vitro.

Audio-visual affective expression recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Thomas S.; Zeng, Zhihong

2007-11-01

Automatic affective expression recognition has attracted more and more attention of researchers from different disciplines, which will significantly contribute to a new paradigm for human computer interaction (affect-sensitive interfaces, socially intelligent environments) and advance the research in the affect-related fields including psychology, psychiatry, and education. Multimodal information integration is a process that enables human to assess affective states robustly and flexibly. In order to understand the richness and subtleness of human emotion behavior, the computer should be able to integrate information from multiple sensors. We introduce in this paper our efforts toward machine understanding of audio-visual affective behavior, based on both deliberate and spontaneous displays. Some promising methods are presented to integrate information from both audio and visual modalities. Our experiments show the advantage of audio-visual fusion in affective expression recognition over audio-only or visual-only approaches.

Relative Expression Levels Rather Than Specific Activity Plays the Major Role in Determining In Vivo AKT Isoform Substrate Specificity

PubMed Central

Lee, Rachel S.; House, Colin M.; Cristiano, Briony E.; Hannan, Ross D.; Pearson, Richard B.; Hannan, Katherine M.

2011-01-01

The AKT protooncogene mediates many cellular processes involved in normal development and disease states such as cancer. The three structurally similar isoforms: AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3 exhibit both functional redundancy and isoform-specific functions; however the basis for their differential signalling remains unclear. Here we show that in vitro, purified AKT3 is ∼47-fold more active than AKT1 at phosphorylating peptide and protein substrates. Despite these marked variations in specific activity between the individual isoforms, a comprehensive analysis of phosphorylation of validated AKT substrates indicated only subtle differences in signalling via individual isoforms in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesise, at least in this model system, that relative tissue/cellular abundance, rather than specific activity, plays the dominant role in determining AKT substrate specificity in situ. PMID:21869924

Ion-absorption band analysis for the discrimination of iron-rich zones. [Nevada

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowan, L. C. (Principal Investigator); Wetlaufer, P. H.

1974-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. A technique which combines digital computer processing and color composition was devised for detecting hydrothermally altered areas and for discriminating among many rock types in an area in south-central Nevada. Subtle spectral reflectance differences among the rock types are enhanced by ratioing and contrast-stretching MSS radiance values for form ratio images which subsequently are displayed in color-ratio composites. Landform analysis of Nevada shows that linear features compiled without respect to length results in approximately 25 percent coincidence with mapped faults. About 80 percent of the major lineaments coincides with mapped faults, and substantial extension of locally mapped faults is commonly indicated. Seven major lineament systems appear to be old zones of crustal weakness which have provided preferred conduits for rising magma through periodic reactivation.

Sometimes we can see some mental states. Comment on "Seeing mental states: An experimental strategy for measuring the observability of other minds" by Cristina Becchio, Atesh Koul, Caterina Asuini, Cesare Bertone, and Andrew Cavallo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tversky, Barbara

2018-03-01

Seeing mental states[1] poses an ambitious question: Is it possible to perceive the mental states of others? According to the authors, the answer is yes. To that end, they overview some 15 studies showing that observers of a reaching arm can discern the intentions of the reaching, specifically, whether to grasp, to place, to pass, or to pour. The judgments are made before the hand arrives at the glass so the act that observers are predicting is never seen. In addition, they show how the kinematics of the reaching differ for each case, allowing the perceivers judgments. These findings are remarkable given that the kinematic differences among the actions are subtle. The overview cogently, elegantly, and convincingly summarizes the findings and in doing so, addresses criticisms that have been directed at the methods and conclusions. It is impressive how much can be reliably inferred just from the kinematics of a reaching arm. This is a significant set of findings and it is good to have them in one place.

A Closer Look at Telesto False-Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-02-08

These views show surface features and color variation on the Trojan moon Telesto. The smooth surface of this moon suggests that, like Pandora, it is covered with a mantle of fine, dust-sized icy material. The monochrome image was taken in visible light (see PIA07696). To create the false-color view, ultraviolet, green and infrared images were combined into a single black and white picture that isolates and maps regional color differences. This "color map" was then superposed over a clear-filter image. The origin of the color differences is not yet understood, but may be caused by subtle differences in the surface composition or the sizes of grains making up the icy soil. Tiny Telesto is a mere 24 kilometers (15 miles) wide. The image was acquired with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Dec. 25, 2005 at a distance of approximately 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) from Telesto and at a Sun-Telesto-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 58 degrees. Image scale is 118 meters (387 feet) per pixel. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07697

In-situ detection of convection and rotation striations by growth interface electromotive force spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yunzhong; Tang, Feng; Yang, Xin; Yang, Mingming; Ma, Decai; Zhang, Xiaoyue; Liu, Yang; Lin, Shaopeng; Wang, Biao

2018-04-01

Nanoscale growth striations, induced by the crystal rotation and melt convection, are in-situ detected by the growth interface electromotive force (GEMF) spectrum during Czochralski (CZ) crystal growth. Specifically, the intensity and period of rotation and convection striations could be precisely revealed under different rotation rates. This is because the GEMF spectrum is affected by the combination effort of temperature difference in crystal rotation path and the melt flow in growth interface. Furthermore, the spectrum analysis (Fourier transform) reveals remarkable characteristics of periodic flow oscillation. More interestingly, in different rotation rates, the corresponding convection period and intensity show particular regularity that could barely be observed in semitransparent and high-temperature melt. Therefore, the GEMF spectrum reflects the subtle changes of a growing crystal that is far beyond the detecting precision of sensors in current CZ equipment. On the basis of this paper and our previous work, the real-time feedback of multiscale striations is established. GEMF spectrum could be a promising approach to reveal striation formation mechanism and optimize crystal quality.

Luminescence behaviour of room temperature chemical processed all-inorganic CsPbCl3 perovskite cubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, T.; Chatterjee, B. K.; Maiti, S.; Besra, N.; Thakur, S.; Sarkar, S.; Chanda, K.; Das, A.; Sarkar, P. K.; Sardar, K.; Chattopadhyay, K. K.

2018-05-01

All inorganic perovskites with different halide constituent have recently truncated the eyes of researchers owing to their intriguing optoelectronic features and thereby their usage perspective in photovoltaic applications, light emitting didoes and lasing devices. Here, adopting a simple, environment benign ambient conditioned chemical synthesis approach we have realized high quality cesium lead halide perovskite (CsPbCl3) cube. The crystallinity and morphological characterizations were performed by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope measurements respectively while the chemical composition were examined via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic measurement. The as synthesized cubes crystallized in cubic phase and exhibited intense photoluminescence emission at ˜418 nm with a small FWHM value and prolonged photoluminescence decay time˜41 ns. Besides photoluminescence, these cubes displayed strong cathodoluminescence also. Accelerating voltage dependent cathodoluminescence study showed discernable differences in luminescence behaviour. We expect this synthetic strategy to be promising as it can be easily scaled up to produce bulk quantity nanoforms of different inorganic perovskites in subtle manner for the realization of several types of nanoscale devices.

Identifying aMCI with Functional Connectivity Network Characteristics based on Subtle AAL Atlas.

PubMed

Zhuo, Zhizheng; Mo, Xiao; Ma, Xiangyu; Han, Ying; Li, Haiyun

2018-05-02

To investigate the subtle functional connectivity alterations of aMCI based on AAL atlas with 1024 regions (AAL_1024 atlas). Functional MRI images of 32 aMCI patients (Male/Female:15/17, Ages:66.8±8.36y) and 35 normal controls (Male/Female:13/22, Ages: 62.4±8.14y) were obtained in this study. Firstly, functional connectivity networks were constructed by Pearson's Correlation based on the subtle AAL_1024 atlas. Then, local and global network parameters were calculated from the thresholding functional connectivity matrices. Finally, multiple-comparison analysis was performed on these parameters to find the functional network alterations of aMCI. And furtherly, a couple of classifiers were adopted to identify the aMCI by using the network parameters. More subtle local brain functional alterations were detected by using AAL_1024 atlas. And the predominate nodes including hippocampus, inferior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus were identified which was not detected by AAL_90 atlas. The identification of aMCI from normal controls were significantly improved with the highest accuracy (98.51%), sensitivity (100%) and specificity (97.14%) compared to those (88.06%, 84.38% and 91.43% for the highest accuracy, sensitivity and specificity respectively) obtained by using AAL_90 atlas. More subtle functional connectivity alterations of aMCI could be found based on AAL_1024 atlas than those based on AAL_90 atlas. Besides, the identification of aMCI could also be improved. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Leigh syndrome: MRI findings in two children.

PubMed

Kartikasalwah, Al; Lh, Ngu

2010-01-01

Leigh syndrome is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of childhood. The symmetrical necrotic lesions in the basal ganglia and/or brainstem which appear as hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted MRI is characteristic and one of the essential diagnostic criteria. Recognising this MR imaging pattern in a child with neurological problems should prompt the clinician to investigate for Leigh syndrome. We present here two cases of Leigh syndrome due to different biochemical/genetic defects, and discuss the subtle differences in their MR neuroimaging features.

Public health applications of remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fuller, C. E.

1972-01-01

Remote infrared and multispectral photography were used to identify coastal salt water-fresh water interfaces conducive to encephalitis vector mosquito breeding in Florida, and to determine the environmental conditions that caused an explosive outbreak of anthrax in Louisiana. Multiband photographic inventories were obtained by simultaneously processing three photographic negatives of the same view which record different wavelength portions of the same light. The process enhances differentiation of vegetative communities and sharply delineates edge effects by assigning false colors to differentiate subtle density differences.

Monopolizing Sanctioning Power under Noise Eliminates Perverse Punishment But Does Not Increase Cooperation

PubMed Central

Fischer, Sven; Grechenig, Kristoffel; Meier, Nicolas

2016-01-01

We run several experiments which allow us to compare cooperation under perfect and imperfect information in a centralized and decentralized punishment regime. Under perfect and extremely noisy information, aggregate behavior does not differ between institutions. Under intermediate noise, punishment escalates in the decentralized peer-to-peer punishment regime which badly affects efficiency while sustaining cooperation for longer. Only decentralized punishment is often directed at cooperators (perverse punishment). We report several, sometimes subtle, differences in punishment behavior, and how contributions react. PMID:27746725

Computerized detection of lung nodules by means of "virtual dual-energy" radiography.

PubMed

Chen, Sheng; Suzuki, Kenji

2013-02-01

Major challenges in current computer-aided detection (CADe) schemes for nodule detection in chest radiographs (CXRs) are to detect nodules that overlap with ribs and/or clavicles and to reduce the frequent false positives (FPs) caused by ribs. Detection of such nodules by a CADe scheme is very important, because radiologists are likely to miss such subtle nodules. Our purpose in this study was to develop a CADe scheme with improved sensitivity and specificity by use of "virtual dual-energy" (VDE) CXRs where ribs and clavicles are suppressed with massive-training artificial neural networks (MTANNs). To reduce rib-induced FPs and detect nodules overlapping with ribs, we incorporated the VDE technology in our CADe scheme. The VDE technology suppressed rib and clavicle opacities in CXRs while maintaining soft-tissue opacity by use of the MTANN technique that had been trained with real dual-energy imaging. Our scheme detected nodule candidates on VDE images by use of a morphologic filtering technique. Sixty morphologic and gray-level-based features were extracted from each candidate from both original and VDE CXRs. A nonlinear support vector classifier was employed for classification of the nodule candidates. A publicly available database containing 140 nodules in 140 CXRs and 93 normal CXRs was used for testing our CADe scheme. All nodules were confirmed by computed tomography examinations, and the average size of the nodules was 17.8 mm. Thirty percent (42/140) of the nodules were rated "extremely subtle" or "very subtle" by a radiologist. The original scheme without VDE technology achieved a sensitivity of 78.6% (110/140) with 5 (1165/233) FPs per image. By use of the VDE technology, more nodules overlapping with ribs or clavicles were detected and the sensitivity was improved substantially to 85.0% (119/140) at the same FP rate in a leave-one-out cross-validation test, whereas the FP rate was reduced to 2.5 (583/233) per image at the same sensitivity level as the original CADe scheme obtained (Difference between the specificities of the original and the VDE-based CADe schemes was statistically significant). In particular, the sensitivity of our VDE-based CADe scheme for subtle nodules (66.7% = 28/42) was statistically significantly higher than that of the original CADe scheme (57.1% = 24/42). Therefore, by use of VDE technology, the sensitivity and specificity of our CADe scheme for detection of nodules, especially subtle nodules, in CXRs were improved substantially.

High precision Hugoniot measurements of D2 near maximum compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benage, John; Knudson, Marcus; Desjarlais, Michael

2015-11-01

The Hugoniot response of liquid deuterium has been widely studied due to its general importance and to the significant discrepancy in the inferred shock response obtained from early experiments. With improvements in dynamic compression platforms and experimental standards these results have converged and show general agreement with several equation of state (EOS) models, including quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) calculations within the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA). This approach to modeling the EOS has also proven quite successful for other materials and is rapidly becoming a standard approach. However, small differences remain among predictions obtained using different local and semi-local density functionals; these small differences show up in the deuterium Hugoniot at ~ 30-40 GPa near the region of maximum compression. Here we present experimental results focusing on that region of the Hugoniot and take advantage of advancements in the platform and standards, resulting in data with significantly higher precision than that obtained in previous studies. These new data may prove to distinguish between the subtle differences predicted by the various density functionals. Results of these experiments will be presented along with comparison to various QMD calculations. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Human colour in mate choice and competition.

PubMed

Rowland, Hannah M; Burriss, Robert P

2017-07-05

The colour of our skin and clothing affects how others perceive us and how we behave. Human skin colour varies conspicuously with genetic ancestry, but even subtle changes in skin colour due to diet, blood oxygenation and hormone levels influence social perceptions. In this review, we describe the theoretical and empirical frameworks in which human colour is researched. We explore how subtle skin colour differences relate to judgements of health and attractiveness. Also, because humans are one of the few organisms able to manipulate their apparent colour, we review how cosmetics and clothing are implicated in courtship and competition, both inside the laboratory and in the real world. Research on human colour is in its infancy compared with human psychophysics and colour research in non-human animals, and hence we present best-practice guidelines for methods and reporting, which we hope will improve the validity and reproducibility of studies on human coloration.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'. © 2017 The Author(s).

The structure and evolution of ancient impact basins on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schultz, P. H.; Schultz, R. A.; Rogers, J.

1982-01-01

It is pointed out that characteristic styles of degradation and modification of obvious Martian basins make it possible to recognize more subtle expressions. This approach is seen as providing not only additional basins to the existing inventory but also fundamental clues for initial impact basin structure and stratigraphy. It also reveals the long-lasting influence of basin formation on the crust of Mars in spite of extensive erosion and resurfacing. Consideration is given to five clear examples of modified impact basins, and regions around each that have undergone similar processes (fracturing, collapse, channeling) are delineated. These processes among the different basins are then compared, and similar zones of modification are correlated with concentric basin rings. Consideration is then given to the implications of these observations for current models of basin formation and to the role of impact basins in controlling regional tectonics. The results indicate that large multiring impact scars leave a major but sometimes subtle imprint on the geologic structure of stable crustal regions on Mars.

Brief Report: Is Impaired Classification of Subtle Facial Expressions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Related to Atypical Emotion Category Boundaries?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitaker, Lydia R.; Simpson, Andrew; Roberson, Debi

2017-01-01

Impairments in recognizing subtle facial expressions, in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), may relate to difficulties in constructing prototypes of these expressions. Eighteen children with predominantly intellectual low-functioning ASD (LFA, IQ <80) and two control groups (mental and chronological age matched), were assessed for…

Seeing Emotions: A Review of Micro and Subtle Emotion Expression Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poole, Ernest Andre

2016-01-01

In this review I explore and discuss the use of micro and subtle expression training in the social sciences. These trainings, offered commercially, are designed and endorsed by noted psychologist Paul Ekman, co-author of the Facial Action Coding System, a comprehensive system of measuring muscular movement in the face and its relationship to the…

Subtle Emotional Process in Early Childhood Pedagogy: Evaluating the Contribution of the Tavistock Observation Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elfer, Peter

2017-01-01

Nursery experience is now common for young children and their families. Questions of quality have focussed mainly on safety and early learning. The roles of subtle emotional processes in daily pedagogic interactions have received surprisingly little attention. This paper discusses the Tavistock Observation Method (TOM), a naturalistic method of…

Motor Signs Distinguish Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome from Controls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jansiewicz, Eva M.; Goldberg, Melissa C.; Newschaffer, Craig J.; Denckla, Martha B.; Landa, Rebecca; Mostofsky, Stewart H.

2006-01-01

While many studies of motor control in autism have focused on specific motor signs, there has been a lack of research examining the complete range of subtle neuromotor signs. This study compared performance on a neurologic examination standardized for children (PANESS, Physical and Neurological Exam for Subtle Signs, Denckla ["1974 Developmental…

When the Music Changes, So Should the Dance: Cultural and Spiritual Considerations in Paradigm "Proliferation"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dillard, Cynthia B.

2006-01-01

This paper explores the subtle (and often not so subtle) cultural, social, political and spiritual meanings behind the very notion of paradigm "proliferation" including the often exclusionary intentions and implications in how research is undertaken, represented and for what (and whose) purposes. Dealing with these contested meanings brings a…

Racial and Ethnic Minority Graduate Student Experiences with Racial Microaggressions in CACREP-Accredited Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Michael-Makri, Stella

2010-01-01

Scholars have suggested that racism has not disappeared but has undergone a transformation into new subtle or symbolic forms. Since university life is a microcosm of United States society. racial prejudice can be found in most colleges and universities. The literature reveals three subtle forms of racism: modern racism, symbolic racism, and…

The SASSI-3 Face Valid other Drugs Scale: A Psychometric Investigation (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laux, John M.; Perera-Diltz, Dilani; Smirnoff, Jennifer B.; Salyers, Kathleen M.

2005-01-01

The authors investigated the psychometric capabilities of the Face Valid Other Drugs (FVOD) scale of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3; G. A. Miller, 1999). Internal consistency reliability estimates and construct validity factor analysis for 230 college students provided initial support for the psychometric properties of…

Reduced Recognition of Dynamic Facial Emotional Expressions and Emotion-Specific Response Bias in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evers, Kris; Steyaert, Jean; Noens, Ilse; Wagemans, Johan

2015-01-01

Emotion labelling was evaluated in two matched samples of 6-14-year old children with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD; N = 45 and N = 50, resp.), using six dynamic facial expressions. The Emotion Recognition Task proved to be valuable demonstrating subtle emotion recognition difficulties in ASD, as we showed a general poorer emotion…

[The application of wavelet analysis of remote detection of pollution clouds].

PubMed

Zhang, J; Jiang, F

2001-08-01

The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is used to analyse the spectra of pollution clouds in complicated environment and extract the small-features. The DWT is a time-frequency analysis technology, which detects the subtle small changes in the target spectrum. The results show that the DWT is a quite effective method to extract features of target-cloud and improve the reliability of monitoring alarm system.

Is empathy one of the Big Three? Identifying its role in a dual-process model of ideology and blatant and subtle prejudice.

PubMed

Álvarez-Castillo, José Luis; Fernández-Caminero, Gemma; González-González, Hugo

2018-01-01

In the field of the social psychology of prejudice, John Duckitt's Dual-Process Cognitive-Motivational Model of Ideology and Prejudice has gained a firm grounding over the past decade and a half, while empathy has become one of the most powerful predictors of prejudice, alongside right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. This study integrates empathy into the dual-process model, exploring the effects of this variable, along with the impact of personality and ideological attitudes, on prejudice in both its blatant and subtle forms. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data from 260 university students by self-report measures. Despite its cross-sectional nature, a pattern of causal relationships was hypothesized according to experimental and longitudinal findings from previous studies. The path analysis results show that in the model fitted to the data, empathy does not have any direct impact on prejudice, although it plays a significant role in the prediction of prejudice towards a particular immigrant group. On the other hand, the dual-process model is confirmed in the explanation of blatant prejudice and, in a weaker and indirect way, of subtle prejudice; sustaining the distinctive nature of these constructs on some differential predictors and paths. In the discussion, this study proposes that when ideological and personality-based variables are both included in the model, general empathy is not so robust in the explanation of prejudice, since some of the empathetic components might become diluted among other covariates. But even so, its indirect effectiveness through personality and ideological attitudes remains relevant.

Interpersonal sensitivity, bullying victimization and paranoid ideation among help-seeking adolescents and young adults.

PubMed

Masillo, Alice; Valmaggia, Lucia R; Saba, Riccardo; Brandizzi, Martina; Lo Cascio, Nella; Telesforo, Ludovica; Venturini, Paola; Izzo, Aniello; Mattioli, M Teresa; D'Alema, Marco; Girardi, Paolo; Fiori Nastro, Paolo

2017-05-30

The effects of a negative interpersonal experience, such as bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence, can be strong and long lasting. Bullying victimization is associated with paranoid ideation and suspiciousness. Few studies have focused on personality traits of victims of bullying. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a particular personality trait called interpersonal sensitivity may be related to suspiciousness in those who experienced bullying victimization. The study sample consisted of 147 help-seeking adolescents (mean age 17 years) selected after a screening phase (Prodromal Questionnaire) and evaluated with the Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS). All participants were specifically asked if they had experienced either psychological bullying or physical bullying, and they completed the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). Of the whole sample, 30 (20%) participants had experienced psychological bullying or physical bullying at least once in their life. Performing a multiple regression, bullying victimization was found to be an independent predictor of subtle paranoid ideation and suspiciousness. Interpersonal sensitivity was also found to be an independent predictor of subtle paranoid ideation; in particular, two IPSM subscales, fragile inner-self and separation anxiety, showed a significant correlation with subtle paranoid ideation. Our results confirmed that bullying victimization is a negative interpersonal experience associated with paranoid ideation and suspiciousness. However, being overly sensitive and having negative beliefs about the self as fragile and vulnerable to threat also lead to a tendency to attribute experiences as externally caused and, in turn, facilitate the formation and maintenance of paranoid ideation. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

The middle ear mass: a rare but important diagnosis.

PubMed

Pankhania, Miran; Rourke, Thomas; Draper, Mark R

2011-12-02

The authors report a rare case of primary intracranial meningioma presenting as a middle ear mass with conductive hearing loss. The authors aim to highlight the importance of diagnosing a middle ear mass, which although rare, may have a substantial impact on ongoing patient management. A discussion of other middle ear pathologies is made in order to demonstrate the subtle differences in presentation.

Biomarker Discovery in Gulf War Veterans: Development of a War Illness Diagnostic Panel

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

with GWI reflect a persistent disruption in central nervous system (CNS) proinflammatory and neuroendocrine parameters. These processes can...differences in these systems are more subtle than the frank “abnormalities” identified with standard diagnostic tests (e.g., measures indicating...the coagulation system in Gulf War Illness: a potential pathophysiologic link with chronic fatigue syndrome. A laboratory approach to diagnosis. Blood

Scaling and universality in heart rate variability distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosenblum, M. G.; Peng, C. K.; Mietus, J. E.; Havlin, S.; Stanley, H. E.; Goldberger, A. L.

1998-01-01

We find that a universal homogeneous scaling form describes the distribution of cardiac variations for a group of healthy subjects, which is stable over a wide range of time scales. However, a similar scaling function does not exist for a group with a common cardiopulmonary instability associated with sleep apnea. Subtle differences in the distributions for the day- and night-phase dynamics for healthy subjects are detected.

The Relationship between High School Music Activities and the College Student's Musical Independence. (How Musically Important Are All-State Band, Concert Festival, Private Lessons, Marching Contests, Etc.?).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bobbett, Gordon C.; And Others

This paper presents a study attempting to identify and evaluate high school activities that impact instrumental student outcome. High school music activities and their impact on student instrumental outcome from a variety of perspectives were examined. There is a subtle difference between musical independence and musical achievement. Musical…

Scaling and universality in heart rate variability distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, P. Ch; Rosenblum, M. G.; Peng, C.-K.; Mietus, J. E.; Havlin, S.; Stanley, H. E.; Goldberger, A. L.

We find that a universal homogeneous scaling form describes the distributions of cardiac variations for a group of healthy subjects, which is stable over a wide range of time scales. However, a similar scaling function does not exist for a group with a common cardiopulmonary instability associated with sleep apnea. Subtle differences in the distributions for the day- and night-phase dynamics for healthy subjects are detected.

ADHD and Female Specific Concerns: A Review of the Literature and Clinical Implications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nussbaum, Nancy L.

2012-01-01

ADHD was once thought of as a predominantly male disorder. While this may be true for ADHD in childhood, extant research suggests that the number of women with ADHD may be nearly equal to that of men with the disorder (Faraone et al., 2000). There is accumulating research which clearly indicates subtle but important sex differences exist in the…

Imagined Actions Aren't Just Weak Actions: Task Variability Promotes Skill Learning in Physical Practice but Not in Mental Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coelho, Chase J.; Nusbaum, Howard C.; Rosenbaum, David A.; Fenn, Kimberly M.

2012-01-01

Early research on visual imagery led investigators to suggest that mental visual images are just weak versions of visual percepts. Later research helped investigators understand that mental visual images differ in deeper and more subtle ways from visual percepts. Research on motor imagery has yet to reach this mature state, however. Many authors…

Crozer-Chester Medical Center Burn Research Projects

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-01

documented A. baumannii infections to determine if there are any subtle or frank differences in outcome with the use of these antimicrobials. Using...and will potentially be excluded and there are 4 patients that were withdrawn by research staff. We determined that a total of 7 patients will need... Trimethoprim -induced hyperkalemia in burn admission treated with intravenous or oral trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole  Impact of multiple drug resistant

An NMR strategy to detect conformational differences in a protein complexed with highly analogous inhibitors in solution.

PubMed

Persons, John D; Khan, Shahid N; Ishima, Rieko

2018-04-12

This manuscript presents an NMR strategy to investigate conformational differences in protein-inhibitor complexes, when the inhibitors tightly bind to a protein at sub-nanomolar dissociation constants and are highly analogous to each other. Using HIV-1 protease (PR), we previously evaluated amide chemical shift differences, ΔCSPs, of PR bound to darunavir (DRV) compared to PR bound to several DRV analogue inhibitors, to investigate subtle but significant long-distance conformation changes caused by the inhibitor's chemical moiety variation [Khan, S. N., Persons, J. D. Paulsen, J. L., Guerrero, M., Schiffer, C. A., Kurt-Yilmaz, N., and Ishima, R., Biochemistry, (2018), 57, 1652-1662]. However, ΔCSPs are not ideal for investigating subtle PR-inhibitor interface differences because intrinsic differences in the electron shielding of the inhibitors affect protein ΔCSPs. NMR relaxation is also not suitable as it is not sensitive enough to detect small conformational differences in rigid regions among similar PR-inhibitor complexes. Thus, to gain insight into conformational differences at the inhibitor-protein interface, we recorded 15 N-half filtered NOESY spectra of PR bound to two highly analogous inhibitors and assessed NOEs between PR amide protons and inhibitor protons, between PR amide protons and hydroxyl side chains, and between PR amide protons and water protons. We also verified the PR amide-water NOEs using 2D water-NOE/ROE experiments. Differences in water-amide proton NOE peaks, possibly due to amide-protein hydrogen bonds, were observed between subunit A and subunit B, and between the DRV-bound form and an analogous inhibitor-bound form, which may contribute to remote conformational changes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular mechanisms of conformational specificity: A study of Hox in vivo target DNA binding specificities and the structure of a Ure2p mutation that affects fibril formation rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, William Joseph, Jr.

The fate of an individual cell, or even an entire organism, is often determined by minute, yet very specific differences in the conformation of a single protein species. Very often, proteins take on alternate folds or even side chain conformations to deal with different situations present within the cell. These differences can be as large as a whole domain or as subtle as the alteration of a single amino acid side chain. Yet, even these seemingly minor side chain conformational differences can determine the development of a cell type during differentiation or even dictate whether a cell will live or die. Two examples of situations where minor conformational differences within a specific protein could lead to major differences in the life cycle of a cell are described herein. The first example describes the variations seen in DNA conformations which can lead to slightly different Hox protein binding conformations responsible for recognizing biologically relevant regulatory sites. These specific differences occur in the minor groove of the bound DNA and are limited to the conformation of only two side chains. The conformation of the bound DNA, however, is not solely determined by the sequence of the DNA, as multiple sequences can result in the same DNA conformation. The second example takes place in the context of a yeast prion protein which contains a mutation that decreases the frequency at which fibrils form. While the specific interactions leading to this physiological change were not directly detected, it can be ascertained from the crystal structure that the structural changes are subtle and most likely involve another binding partner. In both cases, these conformational changes are very slight but have a profound effect on the downstream processes.

Facial recognition in children after perinatal stroke.

PubMed

Ballantyne, A O; Trauner, D A

1999-04-01

To examine the effects of prenatal or perinatal stroke on the facial recognition skills of children and young adults. It was hypothesized that the nature and extent of facial recognition deficits seen in patients with early-onset lesions would be different from that seen in adults with later-onset neurologic impairment. Numerous studies with normal and neurologically impaired adults have found a right-hemisphere superiority for facial recognition. In contrast, little is known about facial recognition in children after early focal brain damage. Forty subjects had single, unilateral brain lesions from pre- or perinatal strokes (20 had left-hemisphere damage, and 20 had right-hemisphere damage), and 40 subjects were controls who were individually matched to the lesion subjects on the basis of age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Each subject was given the Short-Form of Benton's Test of Facial Recognition. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and multiple regression. The lesion subjects performed significantly more poorly than did matched controls. There was no clear-cut lateralization effect, with the left-hemisphere group performing significantly more poorly than matched controls and the right-hemisphere group showing a trend toward poorer performance. Parietal lobe involvement, regardless of lesion side, adversely affected facial recognition performance in the lesion group. Results could not be accounted for by IQ differences between lesion and control groups, nor was lesion severity systematically related to facial recognition performance. Pre- or perinatal unilateral brain damage results in a subtle disturbance in facial recognition ability, independent of the side of the lesion. Parietal lobe involvement, in particular, has an adverse effect on facial recognition skills. These findings suggest that the parietal lobes may be involved in the acquisition of facial recognition ability from a very early point in brain development, but that there is sufficient potential to reorganize or compensate such that the residual deficits, though significant, are subtle.

Compositional data analysis as a robust tool to delineate hydrochemical facies within and between gas-bearing aquifers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owen, D. Des. R.; Pawlowsky-Glahn, V.; Egozcue, J. J.; Buccianti, A.; Bradd, J. M.

2016-08-01

Isometric log ratios of proportions of major ions, derived from intuitive sequential binary partitions, are used to characterize hydrochemical variability within and between coal seam gas (CSG) and surrounding aquifers in a number of sedimentary basins in the USA and Australia. These isometric log ratios are the coordinates corresponding to an orthonormal basis in the sample space (the simplex). The characteristic proportions of ions, as described by linear models of isometric log ratios, can be used for a mathematical-descriptive classification of water types. This is a more informative and robust method of describing water types than simply classifying a water type based on the dominant ions. The approach allows (a) compositional distinctions between very similar water types to be made and (b) large data sets with a high degree of variability to be rapidly assessed with respect to particular relationships/compositions that are of interest. A major advantage of these techniques is that major and minor ion components can be comprehensively assessed and subtle processes—which may be masked by conventional techniques such as Stiff diagrams, Piper plots, and classic ion ratios—can be highlighted. Results show that while all CSG groundwaters are dominated by Na, HCO3, and Cl ions, the proportions of other ions indicate they can evolve via different means and the particular proportions of ions within total or subcompositions can be unique to particular basins. Using isometric log ratios, subtle differences in the behavior of Na, K, and Cl between CSG water types and very similar Na-HCO3 water types in adjacent aquifers are also described. A complementary pair of isometric log ratios, derived from a geochemically-intuitive sequential binary partition that is designed to reflect compositional variability within and between CSG groundwater, is proposed. These isometric log ratios can be used to model a hydrochemical pathway associated with methanogenesis and/or to delineate groundwater associated with high gas concentrations.

The breakdown of coordinated decision making in distributed systems.

PubMed

Bearman, Christopher; Paletz, Susannah B F; Orasanu, Judith; Thomas, Matthew J W

2010-04-01

This article aims to explore the nature and resolution of breakdowns in coordinated decision making in distributed safety-critical systems. In safety-critical domains, people with different roles and responsibilities often must work together to make coordinated decisions while geographically distributed. Although there is likely to be a large degree of overlap in the shared mental models of these people on the basis of procedures and experience, subtle differences may exist. Study 1 involves using Aviation Safety Reporting System reports to explore the ways in which coordinated decision making breaks down between pilots and air traffic controllers and the way in which the breakdowns are resolved. Study 2 replicates and extends those findings with the use of transcripts from the Apollo 13 National Aeronautics and Space Administration space mission. Across both studies, breakdowns were caused in part by different types of lower-level breakdowns (or disconnects), which are labeled as operational, informational, or evaluative. Evaluative disconnects were found to be significantly harder to resolve than other types of disconnects. Considering breakdowns according to the type of disconnect involved appears to capture useful information that should assist accident and incident investigators. The current trend in aviation of shifting responsibilities and providing increasingly more information to pilots may have a hidden cost of increasing evaluative disconnects. The proposed taxonomy facilitates the investigation of breakdowns in coordinated decision making and draws attention to the importance of considering subtle differences between participants' mental models when considering complex distributed systems.

Mechanical response of two polyimides through coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudarkodi, V.; Sooraj, K.; Nair, Nisanth N.; Basu, Sumit; Parandekar, Priya V.; Sinha, Nishant K.; Prakash, Om; Tsotsis, Tom

2018-03-01

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow us to predict the mechanical responses of polymers, starting merely with a description of their molecular architectures. It is interesting to ask whether, given two competing molecular architectures, coarse-grained MD simulations can predict the differences that can be expected in their mechanical responses. We have studied two crosslinked polyimides PMR15 and HFPE52—both used in high- temperature applications—to assess whether the subtle differences in their uniaxial stress-strain responses, revealed by experiments, can be reproduced by carefully coarse-grained MD models. The coarse graining procedure for PMR15 is outlined in this work, while the coarse grain forcefields for HFPE52 are borrowed from an earlier one (Pandiyan et al 2015 Macromol. Theory Simul. 24 513-20). We show that the stress-strain responses of both these polyimides are qualitatively reproduced, and important insights into their deformation and failure mechanisms are obtained. More importantly, the differences in the molecular architecture between the polyimides carry over to the differences in the stress-strain responses in a manner that parallels the experimental results. A critical assessment of the successes and shortcomings of predicting mechanical responses through coarse-grained MD simulations has been made.

The profile of executive function in OCD hoarders and hoarding disorder☆

PubMed Central

Morein-Zamir, Sharon; Papmeyer, Martina; Pertusa, Alberto; Chamberlain, Samuel R.; Fineberg, Naomi A.; Sahakian, Barbara J.; Mataix-Cols, David; Robbins, Trevor W.

2014-01-01

Hoarding disorder is a new mental disorder in DSM-5. It is classified alongside OCD and other presumably related disorders in the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders chapter. We examined cognitive performance in two distinct groups comprising individuals with both OCD and severe hoarding, and individuals with hoarding disorder without comorbid OCD. Participants completed executive function tasks assessing inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, spatial planning, probabilistic learning and reversal and decision making. Compared to a matched healthy control group, OCD hoarders showed significantly worse performance on measures of response inhibition, set shifting, spatial planning, probabilistic learning and reversal, with intact decision making. Despite having a strikingly different clinical presentation, individuals with only hoarding disorder did not differ significantly from OCD hoarders on any cognitive measure suggesting the two hoarding groups have a similar pattern of cognitive difficulties. Tests of cognitive flexibility were least similar across the groups, but differences were small and potentially reflected subtle variation in underlying brain pathology together with psychometric limitations. These results highlight both commonalities and potential differences between OCD and hoarding disorder, and together with other lines of evidence, support the inclusion of the new disorder within the new Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders chapter in DSM-5. PMID:24467873

Modeling Seasonal Thermal Radiance Cycles for Change Detection at Volcanic / Geothermal Areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaughan, R.; Beuttel, B. S.

2013-12-01

Remote sensing observations of thermal features associated with (and often preceding) volcanic activity have been used for decades to detect and monitor volcanism. However, anomalous thermal precursors to volcanic eruptions are usually only recognized retrospectively. One of the reasons for this is that precursor thermal activity is often too subtle in magnitude (spatially, temporally, or in absolute temperature) to be unambiguously detected in time to issue warnings or forecasts. Part of the reason for this is the trade-off between high spatial and high temporal resolution associated with satellite imaging systems. Thus, the goal of this work has been to develop some techniques for using high-temporal-resolution, coarse-spatial-resolution imagery to try to detect subtle thermal anomalies. To identify anomalies, background thermal activity must first be characterized. Every active, or potentially active, volcano has a unique thermal history that provides information about normal background thermal activity due to seasonal or diurnal variations. Understanding these normal variations allows recognition of anomalous activity that may be due to volcanic / hydrothermal processes - ultimately with a lead time that may be sufficient to issue eruption warnings or forecasts. Archived MODIS data, acquired ~daily from 2000 to 2012, were used to investigate seasonal thermal cycles at three volcanic areas with different types of thermal features: Mount St. Helens, which had a dacite dome-building eruption from 2004-2008; Mount Ruapehu, which has a 500-m diameter active summit crater lake; and Yellowstone, which is a large active geothermal system that has hundreds of hot springs and fumarole fields spread out over a very large area. The focus has been on using MODIS 1-km sensor radiance data in the MIR and TIR wavelength regions that are sensitive to thermal emission from features that range in temperature from hundreds of °C, down to tens of °C (below the boiling temperature of water). To detect such features it is best to use data acquired at night, as this maximizes the delta T between the thermal target and non-thermal background and minimizes the effects of the Sun. Decadal time-series plots of nighttime MODIS sensor radiance data over the target areas show that seasonal thermal cycles due to varying solar incidence angle can be modeled with a sine function and removed to reveal subtle changes in TIR radiance. The seasonal sine function is unique to each volcanic / geothermal area and can be modeled iteratively using a least squares fit to the cloud of radiance data. The sine function model can also be used to generate a first-order cloud cover approximation for the nighttime TIR data. This work helps establish a framework for improved thermal alarm algorithms, automated thermal detection methods, and operational monitoring techniques for active, or potentially active, volcanoes throughout the world. This type of background study is a step toward establishing a global volcanic eruption forecasting system using satellite-based remote sensing data that are sensitive to subtle precursor thermal anomalies.

The Application of MRI for Depiction of Subtle Blood Brain Barrier Disruption in Stroke

PubMed Central

Israeli, David; Tanne, David; Daniels, Dianne; Last, David; Shneor, Ran; Guez, David; Landau, Efrat; Roth, Yiftach; Ocherashvilli, Aharon; Bakon, Mati; Hoffman, Chen; Weinberg, Amit; Volk, Talila; Mardor, Yael

2011-01-01

The development of imaging methodologies for detecting blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption may help predict stroke patient's propensity to develop hemorrhagic complications following reperfusion. We have developed a delayed contrast extravasation MRI-based methodology enabling real-time depiction of subtle BBB abnormalities in humans with high sensitivity to BBB disruption and high spatial resolution. The increased sensitivity to subtle BBB disruption is obtained by acquiring T1-weighted MRI at relatively long delays (~15 minutes) after contrast injection and subtracting from them images acquired immediately after contrast administration. In addition, the relatively long delays allow for acquisition of high resolution images resulting in high resolution BBB disruption maps. The sensitivity is further increased by image preprocessing with corrections for intensity variations and with whole body (rigid+elastic) registration. Since only two separate time points are required, the time between the two acquisitions can be used for acquiring routine clinical data, keeping the total imaging time to a minimum. A proof of concept study was performed in 34 patients with ischemic stroke and 2 patients with brain metastases undergoing high resolution T1-weighted MRI acquired at 3 time points after contrast injection. The MR images were pre-processed and subtracted to produce BBB disruption maps. BBB maps of patients with brain metastases and ischemic stroke presented different patterns of BBB opening. The significant advantage of the long extravasation time was demonstrated by a dynamic-contrast-enhancement study performed continuously for 18 min. The high sensitivity of our methodology enabled depiction of clear BBB disruption in 27% of the stroke patients who did not have abnormalities on conventional contrast-enhanced MRI. In 36% of the patients, who had abnormalities detectable by conventional MRI, the BBB disruption volumes were significantly larger in the maps than in conventional MRI. These results demonstrate the advantages of delayed contrast extravasation in increasing the sensitivity to subtle BBB disruption in ischemic stroke patients. The calculated disruption maps provide clear depiction of significant volumes of BBB disruption unattainable by conventional contrast-enhanced MRI. PMID:21209786

The application of MRI for depiction of subtle blood brain barrier disruption in stroke.

PubMed

Israeli, David; Tanne, David; Daniels, Dianne; Last, David; Shneor, Ran; Guez, David; Landau, Efrat; Roth, Yiftach; Ocherashvilli, Aharon; Bakon, Mati; Hoffman, Chen; Weinberg, Amit; Volk, Talila; Mardor, Yael

2010-12-26

The development of imaging methodologies for detecting blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption may help predict stroke patient's propensity to develop hemorrhagic complications following reperfusion. We have developed a delayed contrast extravasation MRI-based methodology enabling real-time depiction of subtle BBB abnormalities in humans with high sensitivity to BBB disruption and high spatial resolution. The increased sensitivity to subtle BBB disruption is obtained by acquiring T1-weighted MRI at relatively long delays (~15 minutes) after contrast injection and subtracting from them images acquired immediately after contrast administration. In addition, the relatively long delays allow for acquisition of high resolution images resulting in high resolution BBB disruption maps. The sensitivity is further increased by image preprocessing with corrections for intensity variations and with whole body (rigid+elastic) registration. Since only two separate time points are required, the time between the two acquisitions can be used for acquiring routine clinical data, keeping the total imaging time to a minimum. A proof of concept study was performed in 34 patients with ischemic stroke and 2 patients with brain metastases undergoing high resolution T1-weighted MRI acquired at 3 time points after contrast injection. The MR images were pre-processed and subtracted to produce BBB disruption maps. BBB maps of patients with brain metastases and ischemic stroke presented different patterns of BBB opening. The significant advantage of the long extravasation time was demonstrated by a dynamic-contrast-enhancement study performed continuously for 18 min. The high sensitivity of our methodology enabled depiction of clear BBB disruption in 27% of the stroke patients who did not have abnormalities on conventional contrast-enhanced MRI. In 36% of the patients, who had abnormalities detectable by conventional MRI, the BBB disruption volumes were significantly larger in the maps than in conventional MRI. These results demonstrate the advantages of delayed contrast extravasation in increasing the sensitivity to subtle BBB disruption in ischemic stroke patients. The calculated disruption maps provide clear depiction of significant volumes of BBB disruption unattainable by conventional contrast-enhanced MRI.

Examination of Neurological Subtle Signs in ADHD as a Clinical Tool for the Diagnosis and Their Relationship to Spatial Working Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferrin, Maite; Vance, Alasdair

2012-01-01

Background: Neurological subtle signs (NSS) are minor neurological abnormalities that have been shown to be increased in a number of neurodevelopmental conditions. For attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it remains unclear whether NSS may aid the clinical diagnostic process. Methods: This study explored the association of total and…

Animism, Creativity, and a Tree: Shifting into Nature Connection through Attention to Subtle Energies and Contemplative Art Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flowers, Michelle; Lipsett, Lisa; Barrett, M. J.

2014-01-01

What can happen when the "monkey mind" of habitual conceptual thought is awakened to the more-than-human through attention to subtle energies and artmaking? Drawing on autoethnographic methods, we demonstrate how one graduate student's creative engagement with a tree brought animist theory to life. This paper illustrates how a…

Water, water everywhere: subtle shifts in soil saturation drive ecological function in coastal rain forests

Treesearch

Marie Oliver; David D' Amore

2015-01-01

New research reveals how topography, soil temperature, and subtle shifts in soil drainage are key drivers in ecosystem function in the coastal temperate rain forests of southeast Alaska and British Columbia. These studies, by Dave D'Amore and his colleagues, provide a better understanding of the influence of soil hydrology on dissolved organic carbon export and...

Detecting Faking Good and Faking Bad with the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 in a College Student Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burck, Andrew M.; Laux, John M.; Harper, Holly; Ritchie, Martin

2010-01-01

Claims that the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3; F. G. Miller & L. E. Lazowski, 1999) defeats defensiveness have not been independently verified. This study investigates the SASSI-3's ability to discriminate faking (faking good, problem denial; faking good, claiming extreme virtue; faking bad) from standard answering.…

Behavioral phenomenology in Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and late-life depression: a retrospective analysis.

PubMed

Swartz, J R; Miller, B L; Lesser, I M; Booth, R; Darby, A; Wohl, M; Benson, D F

1997-04-01

Often patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and late-life depression can be difficult to differentiate clinically. Although subtle cognitive distinctions exist between these disorders, noncognitive behavioral phenomenology may provide additional discriminating power. In 19 subjects with AD, 19 with FTD, 16 with late-life psychotic depression (LLPD), and 19 with late-life nonpsychotic depression (LLNPD), noncognitive behavioral symptoms were quantified retrospectively using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and compared using both a one-way ANOVA and a multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis, which utilized a jackknife procedure. The FTD group showed the highest mean total SCAN score, while the AD group showed the lowest. ANOVA showed significant differences in the mean total SCAN scores between the four diagnostic groups (P < .0001). With the discriminant analysis, the four disorders demonstrated different clusters of behavioral abnormalities and were differentiated by these symptoms (P < .0001). A subset of 14 SCAN item group symptoms was identified that collectively classified the following percentages of subjects in each diagnostic category: AD 94.7%, FTD 100%, LLPD 87.5%, and LLNPD 100%. These results indicate that AD, FTD, LLPD, and LLNPD were distinguished retrospectively by the SCAN without using cognitive data. Better definition of the longitudinal course of noncognitive behavioral symptoms in different dementias and psychiatric disorders will be valuable both for diagnosis and to help define behavioral syndromes that are associated with selective neuroanatomic and neurochemical brain pathology.

Noninvasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system.

PubMed

Spiers, Jereme G; Chen, Hsiao-Jou Cortina; Steyn, Frederik J; Lavidis, Nickolas A; Woodruff, Trent M; Lee, John D

2017-01-01

In the laboratory setting, typical endocrine and targeted behavioral tests are limited in their ability to provide a direct assessment of stress in animals housed in undisturbed conditions. We hypothesized that an automated phenotyping system would allow the detection of subtle stress-related behavioral changes well beyond the time-frames examined using conventional methods. In this study, we have utilized the TSE PhenoMaster system to continuously record basal behaviors and physiological parameters including activity, body weight, food intake and oxygen consumption in undisturbed and stressed C57Bl/6J male mice (n = 12/group), with a pharmacological intervention using the conventional anxiolytic, diazepam (5 mg kg -1 i.p.; n = 8/group). We observed significant 20-30% reductions in locomotor activity in the dark phase, with subtle reductions in light phase activity for up to 96 h following a single 2 h episode of restraint stress. A single administration of diazepam reduced plasma corticosterone concentrations by 30-35% during stress exposure when compared to mice treated with vehicle. This treatment did not result in significantly different locomotor activity compared to vehicle within the first 48 h following restraint stress. However, diazepam treatment facilitated restoration of locomotor activity at 72 and 96 h after restraint stress exposure in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. Hence, the use of an automated phenotyping system allows a real time assessment of basal behaviors and empirical metabolism following exposure to restraint stress and demonstrates major and subtle changes in activity persist for several days after stress exposure.

Self-Esteem Depends on the Beholder: Effects of a Subtle Social Value Cue

PubMed Central

Weisbuch, Max; Sinclair, Stacey A.; Skorinko, Jeanine L.; Eccleston, Collette P.

2009-01-01

The idea that self-esteem functions as a gauge or “sociometer” of social value (Leary & Baumeister, 2000) is supported by research on direct social feedback. To examine if the sociometer model is relevant to more subtle social value cues, the implicit self-esteem of women was assessed a week after an interaction with an experimenter. Consistent with the sociometer model, Week 2 self-esteem depended on a subtle social value cue encountered during Week 1. When the Week 1 experimenter wore a t-shirt celebrating larger bodies (i.e., “everyBODY is beautiful”), heavier women had higher self-esteem than lighter women in Week 2. As hypothesized, this effect was relationship-specific, occurring only when the same experimenter administered Week 1 and 2 sessions. PMID:20047001

A Binary Planet in Color

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-07-23

This image from NASA New Horizons highlights the contrasting appearance of the two worlds: Charon is mostly gray, with a dark reddish polar cap, while Pluto shows a wide variety of subtle color variations. Pluto and Charon are shown in enhanced color in this image, which is the highest-resolution color image of the pair so far returned to Earth by New Horizons. It was taken at 06:49 UT on July 14, 2015, five hours before Pluto closest approach, from a range of 150,000 miles (250,000 kilometers), with the spacecraft's Ralph instrument. The image highlights the contrasting appearance of the two worlds: Charon is mostly gray, with a dark reddish polar cap, while Pluto shows a wide variety of subtle color variations, including yellowish patches on the north polar cap and subtly contrasting colors for the two halves of Pluto's "heart," informally named Tombaugh Regio, seen in the upper right quadrant of the image. In order to fit Pluto and Charon in the same frame in their correct relative positions, the image has been rotated so the north pole on both Pluto and Charon is pointing towards the upper left. The image was made with the blue, red, and near-infrared color filters of Ralph's Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera, and shows colors that are similar, but not identical, to what would be seen with the human eye, which is sensitive to a narrower range of wavelengths. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19856

"Fair Play": A Videogame Designed to Address Implicit Race Bias Through Active Perspective Taking.

PubMed

Gutierrez, Belinda; Kaatz, Anna; Chu, Sarah; Ramirez, Dennis; Samson-Samuel, Clem; Carnes, Molly

2014-12-01

Having diverse faculty in academic health centers will help diversify the healthcare workforce and reduce health disparities. Implicit race bias is one factor that contributes to the underrepresentation of Black faculty. We designed the videogame "Fair Play" in which players assume the role of a Black graduate student named Jamal Davis. As Jamal, players experience subtle race bias while completing "quests" to obtain a science degree. We hypothesized that participants randomly assigned to play the game would have greater empathy for Jamal and lower implicit race bias than participants randomized to read narrative text describing Jamal's experience. University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate students were recruited via e-mail and randomly assigned to play "Fair Play" or read narrative text through an online link. Upon completion, participants took an Implicit Association Test to measure implicit bias and answered survey questions assessing empathy toward Jamal and awareness of bias. As hypothesized, gameplayers showed the least implicit bias but only when they also showed high empathy for Jamal (P=0.013). Gameplayers did not show greater empathy than text readers, and women in the text condition reported the greatest empathy for Jamal (P=0.008). However, high empathy only predicted lower levels of implicit bias among those who actively took Jamal's perspective through gameplay (P=0.014). A videogame in which players experience subtle race bias as a Black graduate student has the potential to reduce implicit bias, possibly because of a game's ability to foster empathy through active perspective taking.

Transverse Resonant Vibration of Non-Bearing Structures Caused by Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jendzelovsky, Norbert; Antal, Roland

2017-10-01

Nowadays, there are increasing use of very thin, subtle and light structures in the field of building constructions. We can find such a structures as part of roofs or design facades. By using these lamellas like, non-bearing structures as a part of architectural design of buildings, it is necessary to consider wind effects on these structures. Subtle structures of this type are prone to vibration in the transverse direction of the wind flow. The fact that the vibration occurs depends on wind parameters (wind velocity, direction of an air flow) and it also depends on the properties of lamella (shape, length, mass, natural frequency, support type). The principal idea of this article is to show susceptibility of lamellae-like structures to transverse resonant vibration caused by the phenomenon called Von Karman effect. Comparison of susceptibility to transverse resonance vibration was analysed on the different shapes of lamellas loaded by different wind speed. Analysis was based on usage of empirically derived equations. Von Karman effect arise from wind flow past an object. Turbulence in the form of vortices are formed at the object and shed into the flowing stream intermittently. The potential problem is that this turbulence can induce vibrations into the lamella itself. In terms of this vibration problem, two frequencies are interesting. Von Karman shedding frequency is the frequency at which the vortices are formed and shed at the object. The vortex-shedding frequency increases with the velocity of the wind flow and decreases with the size of the object. Natural frequency of the object depends on the construction of the lamella itself. Parameters of lamella as a shape, mass, length, elasticity modulus of material and support types are directly involved in the calculation of natural frequency. Worst case scenario in the term of transverse resonant vibration occurs when the natural frequency of lamella is equal to the vortex-shedding frequency. In this case vibration rises and structure can be snapped or deformed permanently. In the long term vibration, fatigue stress can be significant. At the conclusion hazardous wind speed and recommendations for different shapes and parameters of lamellas are shown.

Effect of ethnicity on performance in a final objective structured clinical examination: qualitative and quantitative study

PubMed Central

Wass, Val; Roberts, Celia; Hoogenboom, Ron; Jones, Roger; Van der Vleuten, Cees

2003-01-01

Objective To assess the effect of ethnicity on student performance in stations assessing communication skills within an objective structured clinical examination. Design Quantitative and qualitative study. Setting A final UK clinical examination consisting of a two day objective structured clinical examination with 22 stations. Participants 82 students from ethnic minorities and 97 white students. Main outcome measures Mean scores for stations (quantitative) and observations made using discourse analysis on selected communication stations (qualitative). Results Mean performance of students from ethnic minorities was significantly lower than that of white students for stations assessing communication skills on days 1 (67.0% (SD 6.8%) and 72.3% (7.6%); P=0.001) and 2 (65.2% (6.6%) and 69.5% (6.3%); P=0.003). No examples of overt discrimination were found in 309 video recordings. Transcriptions showed subtle differences in communication styles in some students from ethnic minorities who performed poorly. Examiners' assumptions about what is good communication may have contributed to differences in grading. Conclusions There was no evidence of explicit discrimination between students from ethnic minorities and white students in the objective structured clinical examination. A small group of male students from ethnic minorities used particularly poorly rated communicative styles, and some subtle problems in assessing communication skills may have introduced bias. Tests need to reflect issues of diversity to ensure that students from ethnic minorities are not disadvantaged. What is already known on this topicUK medical schools are concerned that students from ethnic minorities may perform less well than white students in examinationsIt is important to understand whether our examination system disadvantages themWhat this study addsMean performance of students from ethnic minorities was significantly lower than that of white students in a final year objective structured clinical examinationTwo possible reasons for the difference were poor communicative performance of a small group of male students from ethnic minorities and examiners' use of a textbook patient centred notion of good communicationIssues of diversity in test construction and implementation must be addressed to ensure that students from ethnic minorities are not disadvantaged PMID:12689978

Subtle Differences in Symbiont Cell Surface Glycan Profiles Do Not Explain Species-Specific Colonization Rates in a Model Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis

PubMed Central

Parkinson, John E.; Tivey, Trevor R.; Mandelare, Paige E.; Adpressa, Donovon A.; Loesgen, Sandra; Weis, Virginia M.

2018-01-01

Mutualisms between cnidarian hosts and dinoflagellate endosymbionts are foundational to coral reef ecosystems. These symbioses are often re-established every generation with high specificity, but gaps remain in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that control symbiont recognition and uptake dynamics. Here, we tested whether differences in glycan profiles among different symbiont species account for the different rates at which they initially colonize aposymbiotic polyps of the model sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida). First, we used a lectin array to characterize the glycan profiles of colonizing Symbiodinium minutum (ITS2 type B1) and noncolonizing Symbiodinium pilosum (ITS2 type A2), finding subtle differences in the binding of lectins Euonymus europaeus lectin (EEL) and Urtica dioica agglutinin lectin (UDA) that distinguish between high-mannoside and hybrid-type protein linked glycans. Next, we enzymatically cleaved glycans from the surfaces of S. minutum cultures and followed their recovery using flow cytometry, establishing a 48–72 h glycan turnover rate for this species. Finally, we exposed aposymbiotic host polyps to cultured S. minutum cells masked by EEL or UDA lectins for 48 h, then measured cell densities the following day. We found no effect of glycan masking on symbiont density, providing further support to the hypothesis that glycan-lectin interactions are more important for post-phagocytic persistence of specific symbionts than they are for initial uptake. We also identified several methodological and biological factors that may limit the utility of studying glycan masking in the Aiptasia system. PMID:29765363

Regulation of Egr1 Target Genes by the Nurd Chromatin Remodeling Complex

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

Wade for providing a Mi2 antibody , and Megan Santarius for excellent technical assistance. REFERENCES 1. Russo, M. W., Sevetson, B. R., and Milbrandt...achieve crosslinking. Chromatin was then sonicated and immunoprecipitated with antibodies directed against Egr1, MTA2 or IgG control. After...promoter of IGF2, although the effects are more subtle. Control ChIP assays employing an EGR1 antibody show correlated increased binding of EGR1

The 19 mm data recorders similarities and differences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, Steve

1992-01-01

Confusion over the use of non-video 19 mm data recorders is becoming more pronounced as we enter the world of high performance computing. This paper addresses the following: the differences between ID-1, ID-2, MIL-STD-2179 and DD-2; what the proper machine is for various applications; how the machine can be integrated into an environment; and any misconceptions there might be about 19 mm tape recorders. DD-2 and 19 mm instrumentation recorders have missions for which each is well designed. While the differences may appear subtle, understanding the difference between the two is the key to picking the right recorder for a particular application.

Using mark-recapture distance sampling methods on line transect surveys

USGS Publications Warehouse

Burt, Louise M.; Borchers, David L.; Jenkins, Kurt J.; Marques, Tigao A

2014-01-01

Synthesis and applications. Mark–recapture DS is a widely used method for estimating animal density and abundance when detection of animals at distance zero is not certain. Two observer configurations and three statistical models are described, and it is important to choose the most appropriate model for the observer configuration and target species in question. By way of making the methods more accessible to practicing ecologists, we describe the key ideas underlying MRDS methods, the sometimes subtle differences between them, and we illustrate these by applying different kinds of MRDS method to surveys of two different target species using different survey configurations.

Linear versus geometric morphometric approaches for the analysis of head shape dimorphism in lizards.

PubMed

Fabre, Anne-Claire; Cornette, Raphäel; Huyghe, Katleen; Andrade, Denis V; Herrel, Anthony

2014-09-01

Differences between the sexes may arise because of differences in reproductive strategy, with females investing more in traits related to reproductive output and males investing more in traits related to resource holding capacity and territory defence. Sexual dimorphism is widespread in lizards and in many species males and females also differ in head shape. Males typically have bigger heads than females resulting in intersexual differences in bite force. Whereas most studies documenting differences in head dimensions between sexes use linear dimensions, the use of geometric morphometrics has been advocated as more appropriate to characterize such differences. This method may allow the characterization of local shape differences that may have functional consequences, and provides unbiased indicators of shape. Here, we explore whether the two approaches provide similar results in an analyses of head shape in Tupinambis merianae. The Argentine black and white tegu differs dramatically in body size, head size, and bite force between the sexes. However, whether the intersexual differences in bite force are simply the result of differences in head size or whether more subtle modifications (e.g., in muscle insertion areas) are involved remains currently unknown. Based on the crania and mandibles of 19 lizards with known bite force, we show intersexual differences in the shape of the cranium and mandible using both linear and geometric morphometric approaches. Although both types of analyses showed generally similar results for the mandible, this was not the case for the cranium. Geometric morphometric approaches provided better insights into the underlying functional relationships between the cranium and the jaw musculature, as illustrated by shape differences in muscle insertion areas not detected using linear morphometric data. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electromagnetic duality and entanglement anomalies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnelly, William; Michel, Ben; Wall, Aron C.

2017-08-01

Duality is an indispensable tool for describing the strong-coupling dynamics of gauge theories. However, its actual realization is often quite subtle: quantities such as the partition function can transform covariantly, with degrees of freedom rearranged in a nonlocal fashion. We study this phenomenon in the context of the electromagnetic duality of Abelian p -forms. A careful calculation of the duality anomaly on an arbitrary D -dimensional manifold shows that the effective actions agree exactly in odd D , while in even D they differ by a term proportional to the Euler number. Despite this anomaly, the trace of the stress tensor agrees between the dual theories. We also compute the change in the vacuum entanglement entropy under duality, relating this entanglement anomaly to the duality of an "edge mode" theory in two fewer dimensions. Previous work on this subject has led to conflicting results; we explain and resolve these discrepancies.

Massive radius-dependent flow slippage in carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siria, Alessandro; Secchi, Eleonora; Marbach, Sophie; Niguès, Antoine; Stein, Derek; Bocquet, Lydéric

2016-11-01

Nanofluidics is the frontier where the continuum picture of fluid mechanics confronts the atomic nature of matter. Recent reports indicate that carbon nanotubes exhibit exceptional water transport properties due to nearly frictionless interfaces and this has stimulated interest in nanotube-based membranes for desalination, nano-filtration, and energy harvesting. However, the fundamental mechanisms of water transport inside nanotubes and at water-carbon interfaces remain controversial, as existing theories fail to provide a satisfying explanation for the limited experimental results. We report a study of water jets emerging from single nanotubes made of carbon and boron-nitride materials. Our experiments reveal extensive and radius-dependent surface slippage in carbon nanotubes (CNT). In stark contrast, boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNT), which are crystallographically similar to CNTs but electronically different, exhibit no slippage. This shows that slippage originates in subtle atomic-scale details of the solid-liquid interface. ERC StG - NanoSOFT.

Dispersion-cancelled biological imaging with quantum-inspired interferometry

PubMed Central

Mazurek, M. D.; Schreiter, K. M.; Prevedel, R.; Kaltenbaek, R.; Resch, K. J.

2013-01-01

Quantum information science promises transformative impact over a range of key technologies in computing, communication, and sensing. A prominent example uses entangled photons to overcome the resolution-degrading effects of dispersion in the medical-imaging technology, optical coherence tomography. The quantum solution introduces new challenges: inherently low signal and artifacts, additional unwanted signal features. It has recently been shown that entanglement is not a requirement for automatic dispersion cancellation. Such classical techniques could solve the low-signal problem, however they all still suffer from artifacts. Here, we introduce a method of chirped-pulse interferometry based on shaped laser pulses, and use it to produce artifact-free, high-resolution, dispersion-cancelled images of the internal structure of a biological sample. Our work fulfills one of the promises of quantum technologies: automatic-dispersion-cancellation interferometry in biomedical imaging. It also shows how subtle differences between a quantum technique and its classical analogue may have unforeseen, yet beneficial, consequences. PMID:23545597

Differential effects of deep brain stimulation on verbal fluency.

PubMed

Ehlen, Felicitas; Schoenecker, Thomas; Kühn, Andrea A; Klostermann, Fabian

2014-07-01

We aimed at gaining insights into principles of subcortical lexical processing. Therefore, effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in different target structures on verbal fluency (VF) were tested. VF was assessed with active vs. inactivated DBS in 13 and 14 patients with DBS in the vicinity of the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) and, respectively, of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Results were correlated to electrode localizations in postoperative MRI, and compared to those of 12 age-matched healthy controls. Patients' VF performance was generally below normal. However, while activation of DBS in the vicinity of VIM provoked marked VF decline, it induced subtle phonemic VF enhancement in the vicinity of STN. The effects correlated with electrode localizations in left hemispheric stimulation sites. The results show distinct dependencies of VF on DBS in the vicinity of VIM vs. STN. Particular risks for deterioration occur in patients with relatively ventromedial thalamic electrodes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Deep functional analysis of synII, a 770-kilobase synthetic yeast chromosome.

PubMed

Shen, Yue; Wang, Yun; Chen, Tai; Gao, Feng; Gong, Jianhui; Abramczyk, Dariusz; Walker, Roy; Zhao, Hongcui; Chen, Shihong; Liu, Wei; Luo, Yisha; Müller, Carolin A; Paul-Dubois-Taine, Adrien; Alver, Bonnie; Stracquadanio, Giovanni; Mitchell, Leslie A; Luo, Zhouqing; Fan, Yanqun; Zhou, Baojin; Wen, Bo; Tan, Fengji; Wang, Yujia; Zi, Jin; Xie, Zexiong; Li, Bingzhi; Yang, Kun; Richardson, Sarah M; Jiang, Hui; French, Christopher E; Nieduszynski, Conrad A; Koszul, Romain; Marston, Adele L; Yuan, Yingjin; Wang, Jian; Bader, Joel S; Dai, Junbiao; Boeke, Jef D; Xu, Xun; Cai, Yizhi; Yang, Huanming

2017-03-10

Here, we report the successful design, construction, and characterization of a 770-kilobase synthetic yeast chromosome II (synII). Our study incorporates characterization at multiple levels-including phenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, chromosome segregation, and replication analysis-to provide a thorough and comprehensive analysis of a synthetic chromosome. Our Trans-Omics analyses reveal a modest but potentially relevant pervasive up-regulation of translational machinery observed in synII, mainly caused by the deletion of 13 transfer RNAs. By both complementation assays and SCRaMbLE (synthetic chromosome rearrangement and modification by loxP -mediated evolution), we targeted and debugged the origin of a growth defect at 37°C in glycerol medium, which is related to misregulation of the high-osmolarity glycerol response. Despite the subtle differences, the synII strain shows highly consistent biological processes comparable to the native strain. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Quantitative diagnosis of breast tumors by morphometric classification of microenvironmental myoepithelial cells using a machine learning approach

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Yoichiro; Saito, Akira; Tateishi, Ayako; Shimojo, Hisashi; Kanno, Hiroyuki; Tsuchiya, Shinichi; Ito, Ken-ichi; Cosatto, Eric; Graf, Hans Peter; Moraleda, Rodrigo R.; Eils, Roland; Grabe, Niels

2017-01-01

Machine learning systems have recently received increased attention for their broad applications in several fields. In this study, we show for the first time that histological types of breast tumors can be classified using subtle morphological differences of microenvironmental myoepithelial cell nuclei without any direct information about neoplastic tumor cells. We quantitatively measured 11661 nuclei on the four histological types: normal cases, usual ductal hyperplasia and low/high grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Using a machine learning system, we succeeded in classifying the four histological types with 90.9% accuracy. Electron microscopy observations suggested that the activity of typical myoepithelial cells in DCIS was lowered. Through these observations as well as meta-analytic database analyses, we developed a paracrine cross-talk-based biological mechanism of DCIS progressing to invasive cancer. Our observations support novel approaches in clinical computational diagnostics as well as in therapy development against progression. PMID:28440283

The landscape of genomic imprinting across diverse adult human tissues

PubMed Central

Baran, Yael; Subramaniam, Meena; Biton, Anne; Tukiainen, Taru; Tsang, Emily K.; Rivas, Manuel A.; Pirinen, Matti; Gutierrez-Arcelus, Maria; Smith, Kevin S.; Kukurba, Kim R.; Zhang, Rui; Eng, Celeste; Torgerson, Dara G.; Urbanek, Cydney; Li, Jin Billy; Rodriguez-Santana, Jose R.; Burchard, Esteban G.; Seibold, Max A.; MacArthur, Daniel G.; Montgomery, Stephen B.; Zaitlen, Noah A.; Lappalainen, Tuuli

2015-01-01

Genomic imprinting is an important regulatory mechanism that silences one of the parental copies of a gene. To systematically characterize this phenomenon, we analyze tissue specificity of imprinting from allelic expression data in 1582 primary tissue samples from 178 individuals from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. We characterize imprinting in 42 genes, including both novel and previously identified genes. Tissue specificity of imprinting is widespread, and gender-specific effects are revealed in a small number of genes in muscle with stronger imprinting in males. IGF2 shows maternal expression in the brain instead of the canonical paternal expression elsewhere. Imprinting appears to have only a subtle impact on tissue-specific expression levels, with genes lacking a systematic expression difference between tissues with imprinted and biallelic expression. In summary, our systematic characterization of imprinting in adult tissues highlights variation in imprinting between genes, individuals, and tissues. PMID:25953952

Accounting for a mirror-image conformation as a subtle effect in protein folding.

PubMed

Kachlishvili, Khatuna; Maisuradze, Gia G; Martin, Osvaldo A; Liwo, Adam; Vila, Jorge A; Scheraga, Harold A

2014-06-10

By using local (free-energy profiles along the amino acid sequence and (13)C(α) chemical shifts) and global (principal component) analyses to examine the molecular dynamics of protein-folding trajectories, generated with the coarse-grained united-residue force field, for the B domain of staphylococcal protein A, we are able to (i) provide the main reason for formation of the mirror-image conformation of this protein, namely, a slow formation of the second loop and part of the third helix (Asp29-Asn35), caused by the presence of multiple local conformational states in this portion of the protein; (ii) show that formation of the mirror-image topology is a subtle effect resulting from local interactions; (iii) provide a mechanism for how protein A overcomes the barrier between the metastable mirror-image state and the native state; and (iv) offer a plausible reason to explain why protein A does not remain in the metastable mirror-image state even though the mirror-image and native conformations are at least energetically compatible.

Accounting for a mirror-image conformation as a subtle effect in protein folding

PubMed Central

Kachlishvili, Khatuna; Maisuradze, Gia G.; Martin, Osvaldo A.; Liwo, Adam; Vila, Jorge A.; Scheraga, Harold A.

2014-01-01

By using local (free-energy profiles along the amino acid sequence and 13Cα chemical shifts) and global (principal component) analyses to examine the molecular dynamics of protein-folding trajectories, generated with the coarse-grained united-residue force field, for the B domain of staphylococcal protein A, we are able to (i) provide the main reason for formation of the mirror-image conformation of this protein, namely, a slow formation of the second loop and part of the third helix (Asp29–Asn35), caused by the presence of multiple local conformational states in this portion of the protein; (ii) show that formation of the mirror-image topology is a subtle effect resulting from local interactions; (iii) provide a mechanism for how protein A overcomes the barrier between the metastable mirror-image state and the native state; and (iv) offer a plausible reason to explain why protein A does not remain in the metastable mirror-image state even though the mirror-image and native conformations are at least energetically compatible. PMID:24912167

Social Stigma and Well-Being in a Sample of Schizophrenia Patients.

PubMed

Magallares, Alejandro; Perez-Garin, Daniel; Molero, Fernando

2016-01-01

The present study analyzes the existing relationship between three variables related to social rejection (perception of overt and subtle discrimination and stigma consciousness) and the psychological and subjective well-being among people with schizophrenia. Likewise, we will analyze the relationship between two possible strategies to cope with stigma (active coping and avoidant coping) and well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 50 people with schizophrenia recruited from the social care network for people with mental illness in the Community of Madrid. Results show, as expected, the existence of a negative association between the variables related to social rejection and psychological and subjective well-being. It was also found that avoidant coping is negatively related to well-being, while active coping is positively related, although in the latter case relations do not reach significance. In view of the implementation of interventions to improve the well-being of people with schizophrenia, our results suggest implementing strategies to reduce the perception of discrimination (especially subtle or indirect discrimination) and encouraging the use of active strategies to cope with stigma as opposed to avoidant-coping strategies.

Mendelian randomisation in type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Frayling, Timothy M; Stoneman, Charli E

2018-06-20

Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension are associated with anthropometric and biomarker traits, including waist-to-hip-ratio, body mass index and altered glucose and insulin levels. Clinical trials, for example of weight-loss interventions, show these factors are causal, but lifelong impact of subtle changes in body mass index and body fat distribution are less clear. The use of human genetics can quantify the causal effects of long-term exposure to subtle changes of modifiable risk factors. Mendelian randomisation (MR) uses human genetic variants associated with the risk factor to quantify the relationship between risk factor and disease outcome. The last two years have seen an increase in the number of MR studies investigating the relationship between anthropometric traits and metabolic diseases. This review provides an overview of these recent MR studies in relation to type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. MR provides evidence for causal associations of waist-to-hip-ratio, body mass index and altered glucose levels with type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancement factor in low-coherence enhanced backscattering and its applications for characterizing experimental skin carcinogenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jingjing; Xu, Zhengbin; Song, Qinghai; Konger, Raymond L.; Kim, Young L.

2010-05-01

We experimentally study potential mechanisms by which the enhancement factor in low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) can probe subtle variations in radial intensity distribution in weakly scattering media. We use enhanced backscattering of light by implementing either (1) low spatial coherence illumination or (2) multiple spatially independent detections using a microlens array under spatially coherent illumination. We show that the enhancement factor in these configurations is a measure of the integrated intensity within the localized coherence or detection area, which can exhibit strong dependence on small perturbations in scattering properties. To further evaluate the utility of the LEBS enhancement factor, we use a well-established animal model of cutaneous two-stage chemical carcinogenesis. In this pilot study, we demonstrate that the LEBS enhancement factor can be substantially altered at a stage of preneoplasia. Our animal result supports the idea that early carcinogenesis can cause subtle alterations in the scattering properties that can be captured by the LEBS enhancement factor. Thus, the LEBS enhancement factor has the potential as an easily measurable biomarker in skin carcinogenesis.

Nutrition and health – transforming research traditions.

PubMed

Hanekamp, Jaap C; Bast, Aalt; Calabrese, Edward J

2015-01-01

In this contribution, we show that current scientific methodologies used in nutrition science and by regulatory agencies, such as the randomized control trial, limit our understanding of nutrition and health as they are to crude to capture the subtle pleiotropic nature of most nutrients. Thereby, regulatory agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority curb the development of scientific knowledge and industrial innovations within the nutritional field. In order to develop insights into the health impact of certain food and food-components, we need to realize that health is adaptation set within a homeostatic range. Increased performance of health, i.e., the maximum stimulation of health, typically seems 30-60% greater than the control group, with a width of no more than about a factor of ten, clarifying the difficulty of documenting responses of food-endogenous components within the homeostatic range of healthy people. A strategy to record subtle responses of food components is the summation of procentual effects of relevant health outcomes. We illustrate this approach with the action of flavanols on vascular health, specifically endothelial function.

Demonstrating and Communicating Research Impact. Preparing NIOSH Programs for External Review

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

and Communicating Research Impact Type Program NIOSH cross-sector (continued) Traumatic Injury Work Organization and Stress-Related Disorders Worklife ...tools, such as italics, bolded text, dashed lines, and colors, can be used to indicate subtle differences. However, finding the balance between the... balancing the potential value and risk of individual programs within a portfolio against an explicitly defined set of goals. There are several methods

SeaWiFS: The Western United States and Mexico

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

The linear patterns in the clouds over the Pacific suggest contrail origins. Subtle variations in cloud density reveal vortex street downwind (southeast) of Mexico's Guadalupe Island. The Great Salt Lake in Utah is divided into two very different colored bodies of water by a railroad causeway. The southern Gulf of California continues to bloom brightly. Credit: Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE

Cation-containing lipid membranes – experiment and md simulations

DOE PAGES

Kučerka, Norbert; Dushanov, Ermuhammas; Kholmurodov, Kholmirzo T.; ...

2017-11-27

Here, using small angle neutron diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations we studied the interactions between calcium (Ca 2+) or zinc (Zn 2+) cations, and oriented gel phase dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. For both cations studied at ~1:7 divalent metal ion to lipid molar ratio (Me2+:DPPC), bilayer thickness increased. Simulation results helped reveal subtle differences in the effects of the two cations on gel phase membranes.

Multi-energy spectral CT: adding value in emergency body imaging.

PubMed

Punjabi, Gopal V

2018-04-01

Most vendors offer scanners capable of dual- or multi-energy computed tomography (CT) imaging. Advantages of multi-energy CT scanning include superior tissue characterization, detection of subtle iodine uptake differences, and opportunities to reduce contrast dose. However, utilization of this technology in the emergency department (ED) remains low. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the value of multi-energy CT scanning in emergency body imaging.

Sensitivity of coral recruitment to subtle shifts in early community succession.

PubMed

Doropoulos, Christopher; Roff, George; Visser, Mart-Simone; Mumby, Peter J

2017-02-01

Community succession following disturbance depends on positive and negative interactions, the strength of which change along environmental gradients. To investigate how early succession affects coral reef recovery, we conducted an 18-month experiment in Palau, using recruitment tiles and herbivore exclusion cages. One set of reefs has higher wave exposure and had previously undergone a phase shift to macroalgae following a major typhoon, whereas the other set of reefs have lower wave exposure and did not undergo a macroalgal phase shift. Similar successional trajectories were observed at all sites when herbivores were excluded: turf algae dominated early succession, followed by shifts to foliose macroalgae and heterotrophic invertebrates. However, trajectories differed in the presence of herbivores. At low wave exposure reefs, herbivores promoted coralline algae and limited turf and encrusting fleshy algae in crevice microhabitats, facilitating optimal coral recruitment. Under medium wave exposure, relatively higher but still low coverage of turf and encrusting fleshy algae (15-25%) found in crevice microhabitats inhibited coral recruitment, persisting throughout multiple recruitment events. Our results indicate that altered interaction strength in different wave environments following disturbance can drive subtle changes in early succession that cascade to alter secondary succession to coral recruitment and system recovery. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.

Detection of urea-induced internal denaturation of dsDNA using solid-state nanopores.

PubMed

Singer, Alon; Kuhn, Heiko; Frank-Kamenetskii, Maxim; Meller, Amit

2010-11-17

The ability to detect and measure dsDNA thermal fluctuations is of immense importance in understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for transcription and replication regulation. We describe here the ability of solid-state nanopores to detect sub-nanometer changes in DNA structure as a result of chemically enhanced thermal fluctuations. In this study, we investigate the subtle changes in the mean effective diameter of a dsDNA molecule with 3-5 nm solid-state nanopores as a function of urea concentration and the DNA's AT content. Our studies reveal an increase in the mean effective diameter of a DNA molecule of approximately 0.6 nm at 8.7 M urea. In agreement with the mechanism of DNA local denaturation, we observe a sigmoid dependence of these effects on urea concentration. We find that the translocation times in urea are markedly slower than would be expected if the dynamics were governed primarily by viscous effects. Furthermore, we find that the sensitivity of the nanopore is sufficient to statistically differentiate between DNA molecules of nearly identical lengths differing only in sequence and AT content when placed in 3.5 M urea. Our results demonstrate that nanopores can detect subtle structural changes and are thus a valuable tool for detecting differences in biomolecules' environment.

A positive effect of flowers rather than eye images in a large-scale, cross-cultural dictator game.

PubMed

Raihani, Nichola J; Bshary, Redouan

2012-09-07

People often consider how their behaviour will be viewed by others, and may cooperate to avoid gaining a bad reputation. Sensitivity to reputation may be elicited by subtle social cues of being watched: previous studies have shown that people behave more cooperatively when they see images of eyes rather than control images. Here, we tested whether eye images enhance cooperation in a dictator game, using the online labour market Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT). In contrast to our predictions and the results of most previous studies, dictators gave away more money when they saw images of flowers rather than eye images. Donations in response to eye images were not significantly different to donations under control treatments. Dictator donations varied significantly across cultures but there was no systematic variation in responses to different image types across cultures. Unlike most previous studies, players interacting via AMT may feel truly anonymous when making decisions and, as such, may not respond to subtle social cues of being watched. Nevertheless, dictators gave away similar amounts as in previous studies, so anonymity did not erase helpfulness. We suggest that eye images might only promote cooperative behaviour in relatively public settings and that people may ignore these cues when they know their behaviour is truly anonymous.

Subtle Consequences of Exposure to Weak Microwave Fields: Are There Non-Thermal Effects?

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

8217" /\\ Lovely -3 When we speak of ’#subtle consequences of exposi ~res we’mean only that the effects were observed in the absence of cb nges in core temper...there is the possibility that any effects observed may be due to residual or proactive treatment effects on the dam which cause her to engage in ab