Sex Differences in Attributions to Positive and Negative Sexual Scenarios in Men and Women With and Without Sexual Problems: Reconsidering Stereotypes

People with sexual problems are more likely to attribute negative sexual experiences to themselves, in contrast to sexually functional individuals who attribute negative sexual experiences to external factors such as the circumstance or partner. We investigated attribution patterns in 820 men and 753 women, some of whom reported an orgasmic problem, to assess differences between the sexes and those with and without an orgasmic difficulty. Specifically, using an Internet-based approach, we compared attribution responses to four sexual scenarios, one representing a positive sexual experience and three representing negative sexual experiences. Women were more likely to attribute positive outcomes to their partner than men. Women were also more likely to attribute negative outcomes to themselves than men, but they more readily blamed their partner and circumstances for negative outcomes than men as well. Those with orgasmic problems were less willing to take credit for positive outcomes and more willing to accept blame for negative outcomes. Interaction effects between sex and orgasmic problems further highlighted differences between men’s and women’s attribution patterns. These results are interpreted in the context of traditional notions that men’s attributions tend to be more self-serving and women’s attributions more self-derogatory

Bose-Einstein Condensate Driven by a Kicked Rotor in a Finite Box

We study the effect of different heating rates of a dilute Bose gas confined in a quasi-1D finite, leaky box. An optical kicked-rotor is used to transfer energy to the atoms while two repulsive optical beams are used to confine the atoms. The average energy of the atoms is localized after a large number of kicks and the system reaches a nonequilibrium steady state. A numerical simulation of the experimental data suggests that the localization is due to energetic atoms leaking over the barrier. Our data also indicates a correlation between collisions and the destruction of the Bose-Einstein condensate fraction.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Dynamics of a suspension of interacting yolk-shell particles

In this work we study the self-diffusion properties of a liquid of hollow spherical particles (shells)bearing a smaller solid sphere in their interior (yolks). We model this system using purely repulsive hard-body interactions between all (shell and yolk) particles, but assume the presence of a background ideal solvent such that all the particles execute free Brownian motion between collisions,characterized by short-time self-diffusion coefficients D0s for the shells and D0y for the yolks. Using a softened version of these interparticle potentials we perform Brownian dynamics simulations to determine the mean squared displacement and intermediate scattering function of the yolk-shell complex. These results can be understood in terms of a set of effective Langevin equations for the N interacting shell particles, pre-averaged over the yolks' degrees of freedom, from which an approximate self-consistent description of the simulated self-diffusion properties can be derived. Here we compare the theoretical and simulated results between them, and with the results for the same system in the absence of yolks. We find that the yolks, which have no effect on the shell-shell static structure, influence the dynamic properties in a predictable manner, fully captured by the theory.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Directed paths on hierarchical lattices with random sign weights

We study sums of directed paths on a hierarchical lattice where each bond has either a positive or negative sign with a probability $p$. Such path sums $J$ have been used to model interference effects by hopping electrons in the strongly localized regime. The advantage of hierarchical lattices is that they include path crossings, ignored by mean field approaches, while still permitting analytical treatment. Here, we perform a scaling analysis of the controversial ``sign transition'' using Monte Carlo sampling, and conclude that the transition exists and is second order. Furthermore, we make use of exact moment recursion relations to find that the moments always determine, uniquely, the probability distribution $P(J)$. We also derive, exactly, the moment behavior as a function of $p$ in the thermodynamic limit. Extrapolations ($n\to 0$) to obtain for odd and even moments yield a new signal for the transition that coincides with Monte Carlo simulations. Analysis of high moments yield interesting ``solitonic'' structures that propagate as a function of $p$. Finally, we derive the exact probability distribution for path sums $J$ up to length L=64 for all sign probabilities.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure

Developing a Model for Slow Hypoxic Injury and Vascular Degeneration in Amyloid Burdened Brains

The breakdown of neurovascular systems may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. However whether this breakdown initiates a degenerative mechanism or is the consequence of some other deleterious process remains unknown. We examined hippocampal pathology in double transgenic mice overexpressing a human mutant gene encoding the amyloid precursor protein (APPSwe/Ind) using a combination of histochemistry and stereologic techniques. Expression of APPSwe/Ind in these mice is driven by a tetracycline-sensitive promoter. Tetracycline transcriptional activator (tTA), the second transgene, is driven in turn by a CAM KIIa promoter that is only active in neurons. Thus this double transgenic construct allows us to control expression of APPSwe/Ind with doxycycline. Utilizing this characteristic, we created three distinct experimental groups: A, display abeta plaque pathology and express APPSwe/Ind at time of sacrifice; B, display abeta plaque pathology but do not express APPSwe/Ind at time of sacrifice; and C, do not display abeta plaque pathology but do express APPSwe/Ind at time of sacrifice. Stereologic investigation revealed decreased hippocampal volume in groups A(n=5) and B(n=5) when compared to group C(n=5) and age-matched wildtype (n=9)

Extraction of phenolic compounds in controlled macerations of Pedro Ximenez grapes

Crushed grapes of cv. Pedro Ximenez were macerated together with their must for 4, 16, 24 and 48 h at temperatures of 10, 15 and 25°C. The musts obtained after pressing were used for the determination of 14 phenolic compounds from the following fractions: hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, other nonflavonoids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols. The temperature was found not to exert a marked influence on the extraction of the phenolic compounds in the first 16 h of maceration. After that time, however, it had a significant effect, so maceration times longer than 16 h are inadvisable unless subsequent oxidation is applied. The analytical results obtained showed that the flavan-3-ols, catechin and epicatechin were extracted at the highest rates, related with maceration temperature, followed by hydroxbenzoic acids, other nonflavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols. The flavan-3-ol fraction was also extracted in higher proportions under the different conditions assayed, through very closely followed by that of hydroxybenzoic acids

Flavour in "Pedro Ximénez" grape musts subjected to maceration processes

Crushed grapes of  Vitis vinifera cv. Pedro Ximenez were macerated at 10, 15 and 25°C for 4, 16, 24 and 48 hours. The musts obtained after pressing were used for the determination of higher alcohols, esters and terpene compounds. The data was subjected to discriminant analysis, obtaining three functions of difficult interpretation. A fruitiness index (SIGMA favourable aromas/SIGMA unfavourable aromas) x 100 and the total of phenolic compounds were subjected to variance and multiple range analyses which revealed significant differences (p<0.01) for maceration times and temperatures. Taking into account the fruitiness index and phenolic compound values, as well as the significant differences obtained by multifactorial (time-temperature) variance analysis, the 24 h-10°C, 4 h-15°C, 16 h-15°C and 24 h-15°C were the best condition