bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of CD20 expression and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) association in classical Hodgkin lymphoma in Japan: A clinicopathologic study
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed Ali , Asano Naoko , Ohshima Koichi , Izutsu Koji , Kinoshita Tomohiro , Nakamura Shigeo
Published: July 2014

To investigate the clinicopathological significance of CD20 expression and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) association in Hodgkin and Reed–Sterberg cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), CD20 expression and EBV positivity (by EBER in situ hybridization) were investigated in 389 CHL patients in Japan. They included 74 CD20‐positive cases (19%) and 315 CD20‐negative cases (81%). CD20‐positive cases showed significantly older age at onset (P = 0.018) and higher association with EBV (P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis identified EBV‐positivity (but not CD20‐positivity), presence of B symptoms, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase and performance status >1 as poor prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). We constructed a new prognostic model with these five factors classifying patients into three groups: low risk, 0–1 adverse factor; intermediate risk, 2–3 factors; high risk, 4–5 factors. This prognostic model could stratify the prognosis of CHL patients (P < 0.0001). For 144 patients (58%) classified into the low‐risk group, the 5‐year OS was 91%. For 92 patients (37%) in the intermediate group, the 5‐year OS was 66%; for 11 patients (5%) in the high‐risk group, the 5‐year OS was 36%. In conclusion, EBV is identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for CHL patients. Therefore, examination of EBV association in CHL is recommended as routine pathologic practice especially in countries where EBV infection prevails.
Dendritic fibromyxolipoma: A variant of spindle cell lipoma with extensive myxoid change, with cytogenetic evidence
Authors: Wong Yin‐Ping , Chia Wai Kit , Low Soo Fin , Mohamed‐Haflah Nor Hazla , Sharifah Noor Akmal
Published: July 2014

Dendritic fibromyxolipoma (DFML), a rare, recently described distinct benign soft tissue tumor, has many clinicopathological features reminiscent of spindle cell lipoma and solitary fibrous tumor with myxoid change. It is distinguished histologically from both entities by the presence of spindle and stellate cells with dendritic cytoplasmic prolongations, prominent myxoid stroma with abundant keloidal collagen and occasional small plexiform vascular proliferation. We describe a case of histologically confirmed DFML of the left shoulder in a 67‐year‐old male, in which subsequent cytogenetic analysis revealed deletion involving 13q14.3 region in all the tumor cells, typically detected in spindle cell lipoma. In the presence of many clinicopathological similarities between DFML and spindle cell lipoma including chromosomal abnormalities, we postulate that DFML is merely a rare variant of spindle cell lipoma with extensive myxoid degeneration, and may not be considered as a separate entity. The possible differential diagnosis and their distinguishing features are briefly discussed.
Overexpression of miR‐17 in gastric cancer is correlated with proliferation‐associated oncogene amplification
Authors: Park Dongmin , Lee Seok Cheol , Park Jun Won , Cho Soo Young , Kim Hark Kyun
Published: July 2014

The molecular mechanism underlying microRNA (miR)‐17 overexpression has not been clearly evaluated in gastric cancer. We aimed to evaluate the functional roles of miR‐17 in gastric cancer and test its viability as a therapeutic target. We conducted comparative genomic hybridization and expression array analyses on human gastric cancer tissue samples, as well as evaluating the functional roles of miR‐17 in gastric cancer cell lines and transgenic mice. miR‐17 overexpression in gastric cancer patients was associated with copy number gain of proliferation‐associated oncogenes such as MYC, CCNE1, ERBB2, and FGFR2. Copy number gain of MIR17HG gene (13q31.3) was rare, with an overall frequency of 2% in gastric cancers (1 of 51). miR‐17 knockdown suppressed the monolayer and anchorage‐independent growth of FGFR2‐amplified KATO‐III gastric cancer cells. mir‐17–92 TG/TG mice overexpressing the mir‐17–92 cluster under the villin promoter developed spontaneous benign tumors in the intestinal tract (log‐rank P for tumor‐free survival = 0.069). Taken together, miR‐17 overexpression in gastric cancer was rarely associated with MIR17HG gene amplification, but correlated with proliferation‐associated oncogene amplification. Therefore, miR‐17‐targeting approach may benefit patients with gastric cancers harboring proliferation‐associated oncogene amplification.
Effects of extra school‐based physical education on overall physical fitness development – the CHAMPS study DK
Authors: Rexen C. T. , Ersbøll A. K. , Møller N. C. , Klakk H. , Wedderkopp N. , Andersen L. B.
Published: July 2014

First, this study aimed to investigate if four extra physical education (PE) lessons per week improved children's development in physical fitness. Second, to investigate if the extra PE lessons improved development in physical fitness for children with lower levels of fitness at baseline. This study was a longitudinal controlled school‐based study. The study population consisted of 10 Danish public schools with children in preschool to fourth grade (cohorts 0–4) with 2.5‐year follow‐up. Six schools had extra PE and four schools had normal PE. In total 1247 children were included (normal PE = 536, extra PE = 711). Development in fitness was analyzed using a composite z‐score from six fitness tests. Multilevel mixed‐effects linear regression was used to examine the association between school type and development in fitness. Extra PE increased the total development of composite z‐score units among children enrolled in cohort 4 and borderline in cohort 3 with 1.06 (95% confidence interval 0.48–1.65) and 0.52 z‐score units (−0.06 to 1.09), respectively. Children in the lower 50 percentiles increased their development with 0.47 (0.08–0.85) z‐score units. Extra PE in schools improved development in fitness for cohort 4 and borderline for cohort 3 among all children. Extra PE improved fitness development across all cohorts among children with low fitness levels.
Americans Fill Out President Obama's Census Form: What is His Race?*
Authors: Citrin Jack , Levy Morris , Houweling Robert P. Van
Published: July 2014

Objective

We use nationally representative survey experiments to assess public opinion about how President Obama should have identified himself racially on the 2010 Census.

Methods

Respondents were randomly assigned to three conditions—a control, a treatment that described the president's biracial ancestry, and a treatment that combined the biracial ancestry information with a statement that Obama had in fact classified himself as black only. All respondents were then asked how they felt Obama should have filled out his Census form.

Results

A clear majority of Americans in all experimental conditions said that Obama should have identified himself as both black and white.

Conclusion

There appears to be suggesting robust acceptance of official multiracial identification despite the cultural and legal legacy of the “one drop of blood” rule in official U.S. race categorization. A subsequent survey experiment found that a convenience sample of Americans support multiracial identification for mixed‐race individuals generally and not only for the president.
Are All Multisubunit Tethering Complexes Bona Fide Tethers?
Authors: Brunet Stephanie , Sacher Michael
Published: July 2014

Since the late 1990s, a number of multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs) have been described that function in membrane trafficking events: TRAPP I, TRAPP II, TRAPP III, COG, HOPS, CORVET, Dsl1, GARP and exocyst. On the basis of structural and sequence similarities, they have been categorized as complexes associated with tethering containing helical rods (CATCHR) (Dsl1, COG, GARP and exocyst) or non‐CATCHR (TRAPP I, II and III, HOPS and CORVET) complexes (Yu IM, Hughson FM. Tethering factors as organizers of intracellular vesicular traffic. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2010;26:137–156). Both acronyms (CATCHR and MTC) imply these complexes tether opposing membranes to facilitate fusion. The main question we will address is: have these complexes been formally demonstrated to function as tethers? If the answer is no, then is it premature or even correct to refer to them as tethers? In this commentary, we will argue that the vast majority of MTCs have not been demonstrated to act as a tether. We propose that a distinction between the terms tether and tethering factor be considered to address this issue.
Mitochondrial flashes: new insights into mitochondrial ROS signalling and beyond
Authors: Hou Tingting , Wang Xianhua , Ma Qi , Cheng Heping
Published: July 2014

Respiratory mitochondria undergo stochastic, intermittent bursts of superoxide production accompanied by transient depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and reversible opening of the membrane permeability transition pore. These discrete events were named ‘superoxide flashes’ for the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal involved, and ‘mitochondrial flashes’ (mitoflashes) for the entirety of the multifaceted and intertwined mitochondrial processes. In contrast to the flashless basal ROS production of ‘homeostatic ROS’ for redox regulation, bursting ROS production during mitoflashes may provide ‘signalling ROS’ at the organelle level, fulfilling distinctly different cell functions. Mounting evidence indicates that mitoflash frequency is richly regulated over a broad range, and represents a novel, universal, and ‘digital’ readout of mitochondrial functional status and of the mitochondrial stress response. An emerging view is that mitoflashes participate in vital processes including metabolism, cell differentiation, the stress response and ageing. These recent advances shed new light on the role of mitochondrial functional dynamics in health and disease.
Muscle disuse alters skeletal muscle contractile function at the molecular and cellular levels in older adult humans in a sex‐specific manner
Authors: Callahan Damien M. , Miller Mark S. , Sweeny Andrew P. , Tourville Timothy W. , Slauterbeck James R. , Savage Patrick D. , Maugan David W. , Ades Philip A. , Beynnon Bruce D. , Toth Michael J.
Published: July 2014

Key points

Muscle disuse that accompanies ageing and chronic disease may hasten physical disability by impairing skeletal muscle contractility.

We compared skeletal muscle contractile function at the various anatomic levels between two groups of older men and women matched for sex, health status and body size, of which one group was habitually active and the other inactive.

Muscle disuse reduced force generation, power output and contractile velocity in single muscle fibres, with differential adaptations in some parameters in men and women. Sex‐specific cellular phenotypes were explained by differential adaptations in molecular muscle function. Moreover, aspects of the molecular functional phenotype apparent in inactive women could be recapitulated in vitro by chemical modification of protein thiols.

Our results identify molecular and cellular contractile dysfunction in skeletal muscle that may contribute to reduced physical function with muscle disuse, with sex‐specific differences that may explain a greater disposition towards disability in women.

Physical inactivity that accompanies ageing and disease may hasten disability by reducing skeletal muscle contractility. To characterize skeletal muscle functional adaptations to muscle disuse, we compared contractile performance at the molecular, cellular and whole‐muscle levels in healthy active older men and women (n = 15) and inactive older men and women with advanced‐stage, symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 16). OA patients showed reduced (P < 0.01) knee extensor function. At the cellular level, single muscle fibre force production was reduced in OA patients in myosin heavy chain (MHC) I and IIA fibres (both P < 0.05) and differences in IIA fibres persisted after adjustments for fibre cross‐sectional area (P < 0.05). Although no group differences in contractile velocity or power output were found for any fibre type, sex was found to modify the effect of OA, with a reduction in MHC IIA power output and a trend towards reduced shortening velocity in women, but increases in both variables in men (P < 0.05 and P = 0.07, respectively). At the molecular level, these adaptations in MHC IIA fibre function were explained by sex‐specific differences (P ≤ 0.05) in myosin–actin cross‐bridge kinetics. Additionally, cross‐bridge kinetics were slowed in MHC I fibres in OA patients (P < 0.01), attributable entirely to reductions in women with knee OA (P < 0.05), a phenotype that could be reproduced in vitro by chemical modification of protein thiol residues. Our results identify molecular and cellular functional adaptations in skeletal muscle that may contribute to reduced physical function with knee OA‐associated muscle disuse, with sex‐specific differences that may explain a greater disposition towards disability in women.
Comparison of Between-Training-Sessions Recovery Strategies for World-Class BMX Pilots
Authors: Marquet Laurie-Anne , Hausswirth Christophe , Hays Arnaud , Vettoretti Fabrice , Brisswalter Jeanick
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

To assess the impact of between-training-sessions recovery strategies (passive [PAS], active [ACT], cold-water immersion [CWI], and ingestion of a recovery drink [NUTR]) on maximal cycling performance, perceptions of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and fatigue in world-class BMX riders.

Methods:

Eleven elite BMX athletes, members of the French national team (top country in the 2011 international ranking, 4 medals at the 2012 World Championships, top European country), participated in the study, which involved standardized training periods. Athletes performed 3 maximal-sprint power tests: the first day of the week before the training session and before and after training on the third day of the week (D3). The recovery strategy was randomly assigned to each participant on day 2 immediately after the last training period of the day. Perceptions of DOMS and general fatigue were recorded on D3.

Results:

After training on D3, the decrease in maximal-sprint power (Pmax) was significantly greater for PAS than with CWI (P = .02) and NUTR (P = .018). Similar results were found with ACT (vs CWI P = .044, and vs NUTR P = .042). Self-reported DOMS and fatigue were significantly greater after PAS than after other strategies.

Conclusions:

For elite BMX riders, between training days, nutritional and/or CWI recovery strategies appear to be best for reducing muscle fatigue and increasing the capacity to withstand the training schedule.
Statins Increase Rifampin Mycobactericidal Effect
Authors: Lobato Lívia Silva , Rosa Patrícia Sammarco , Ferreira Jessica da Silva , Neumann Arthur da Silva , da Silva Marlei Gomes , do Nascimento Dejair Caitano , Soares Cleverson Teixeira , Pedrini Silvia Cristina Barbosa , Oliveira Diego Sá Leal de , Monteiro Cláudia Peres , Pereira Geraldo Moura Batista , Ribeiro-Alves Marcelo , Hacker Mariana Andrea , Moraes Milton Ozório , Pessolani Maria Cristina Vidal , Duarte Rafael Silva , Lara Flávio Alves
Published: July 2014

Mycobacterium leprae
and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
antimicrobial resistance has been followed with great concern during the last years, while the need for new drugs able to control leprosy and tuberculosis, mainly due to extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), is pressing. Our group recently showed that
M. leprae
is able to induce lipid body biogenesis and cholesterol accumulation in macrophages and Schwann cells, facilitating its viability and replication. Considering these previous results, we investigated the efficacies of two statins on the intracellular viability of mycobacteria within the macrophage, as well as the effect of atorvastatin on
M. leprae
infections in BALB/c mice. We observed that intracellular mycobacteria viability decreased markedly after incubation with both statins, but atorvastatin showed the best inhibitory effect when combined with rifampin. Using Shepard's model, we observed with atorvastatin an efficacy in controlling
M. leprae
and inflammatory infiltrate in the BALB/c footpad, in a serum cholesterol level-dependent way. We conclude that statins contribute to macrophage-bactericidal activity against
Mycobacterium bovis
,
M. leprae
, and
M. tuberculosis
. It is likely that the association of statins with the actual multidrug therapy effectively reduces mycobacterial viability and tissue lesion in leprosy and tuberculosis patients, although epidemiological studies are still needed for confirmation.
Synergy of Silver Nanoparticles and Aztreonam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Biofilms
Authors: Habash Marc B. , Park Amber J. , Vis Emily C. , Harris Robert J. , Khursigara Cezar M.
Published: July 2014

Pathogenic bacterial biofilms, such as those found in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), exhibit increased antimicrobial resistance, due in part to the inherent architecture of the biofilm community. The protection provided by the biofilm limits antimicrobial dispersion and penetration and reduces the efficacy of antibiotics that normally inhibit planktonic cell growth. Thus, alternative antimicrobial strategies are required to combat persistent infections. The antimicrobial properties of silver have been known for decades, but silver and silver-containing compounds have recently seen renewed interest as antimicrobial agents for treating bacterial infections. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of various sizes, alone and in combination with the monobactam antibiotic aztreonam, to inhibit
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1 biofilms. Among the different sizes of AgNPs examined, 10-nm nanoparticles were most effective in inhibiting the recovery of
P. aeruginosa
biofilm cultures and showed synergy of inhibition when combined with sub-MIC levels of aztreonam. Visualization of biofilms treated with combinations of 10-nm AgNPs and aztreonam indicated that the synergistic bactericidal effects are likely caused by better penetration of the small AgNPs into the biofilm matrix, which enhances the deleterious effects of aztreonam against the cell envelope of
P. aeruginosa
within the biofilms. These data suggest that small AgNPs synergistically enhance the antimicrobial effects of aztreonam against
P. aeruginosa
in vitro
, and they reveal a potential role for combinations of small AgNPs and antibiotics in treating patients with chronic infections.
Transient and Sustained Bacterial Adaptation following Repeated Sublethal Exposure to Microbicides and a Novel Human Antimicrobial Peptide
Authors: Forbes Sarah , Dobson Curtis B. , Humphreys Gavin J. , McBain Andrew J.
Published: July 2014

Microbicides (biocides) play an important role in the prevention and treatment of infections. While there is currently little evidence for in-use treatment failures attributable to acquired reductions in microbicide susceptibility, the susceptibility of some bacteria can be reduced by sublethal laboratory exposure to certain agents. In this investigation, a range of environmental bacterial isolates (11 genera, 18 species) were repeatedly exposed to four microbicides (cetrimide, chlorhexidine, polyhexamethylene biguanide [PHMB], and triclosan) and a cationic apolipoprotein E-derived antimicrobial peptide (apoEdpL-W) using a previously validated exposure system. Susceptibilities (MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations [MBCs]) were determined before and after 10 passages (P10) in the presence of an antimicrobial and then after a further 10 passages without an antimicrobial to determine the stability of any adaptations. Bacteria exhibiting >4-fold increases in MBCs were further examined for alterations in biofilm-forming ability. Following microbicide exposure, ≥4-fold decreases in susceptibility (MIC or MBC) occurred for cetrimide (5/18 bacteria), apoEdpL-W (7/18), chlorhexidine (8/18), PHMB (8/18), and triclosan (11/18). Of the 34 ≥4-fold increases in the MICs, 15 were fully reversible, 13 were partially reversible, and 6 were nonreversible. Of the 26 ≥4-fold increases in the MBCs, 7 were fully reversible, 14 were partially reversible, and 5 were nonreversible. Significant decreases in biofilm formation in P10 strains occurred for apoEdpL-W (1/18 bacteria), chlorhexidine (1/18), and triclosan (2/18), while significant increases occurred for apoEdpL-W (1/18), triclosan (1/18), and chlorhexidine (2/18). These data indicate that the stability of induced changes in microbicide susceptibility varies but may be sustained for some combinations of a bacterium and a microbicide.
Antibiotic Pressure Is a Major Risk Factor for Rectal Colonization by Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Gómez-Zorrilla Silvia , Camoez Mariana , Tubau Fe , Periche Elisabet , Cañizares Rosario , Dominguez M. Angeles , Ariza Javier , Peña Carmen
Published: July 2014

The intestinal reservoir is central to the epidemiology of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, but the dynamics of intestinal colonization by different phenotypes have been poorly described. To determine the impact of antimicrobial exposure on intestinal colonization by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)
P. aeruginosa
, we screened intensive care unit (ICU) patients for rectal colonization on admission and at weekly intervals. During an 18-month study period, 414 ICU patients were enrolled, of whom 179 (43%) were colonized; 112 (63%) of these were identified at ICU admission and 67 (37%) during their ICU stay. At 10 days after ICU admission, the probabilities of carriage were 44%, 24%, and 24% for non-MDR, MDR-non-XDR, and XDR
P. aeruginosa
strains, respectively (log rank, 0.02). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed 10 pairs of non-MDR
P. aeruginosa
and subsequent MDR-non-XDR strains isolated from the same patients to be clonally identical and another 13 pairs (8 MDR-non-XDR and 5 XDR) to be unrelated. There was one specific clone between the 8 MDR-non-XDR strains and an identical genotype in the 5 XDR isolates. The Cox regression analysis identified MDR
P. aeruginosa
acquisition as associated with the underlying disease severity (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22 to 3.18;
P
= 0.006) and prior use of fluoroquinolones (aHR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.04;
P
= 0.039), group 2 carbapenems (aHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.07;
P
= 0.041), and ertapenem (aHR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14;
P
= 0.004). The epidemiology of MDR
P. aeruginosa
is complex, and different clusters may coexist. Interestingly, ertapenem was found to be associated with the emergence of MDR isolates.
Staphylococcal Esx Proteins Modulate Apoptosis and Release of Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus during Infection in Epithelial Cells
Authors: Korea Charalampia G. , Balsamo Giuliana , Pezzicoli Alfredo , Merakou Christina , Tavarini Simona , Bagnoli Fabio , Serruto Davide , Unnikrishnan Meera
Published: July 2014

The opportunistic pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the major causes of health care-associated infections.
S. aureus
is primarily an extracellular pathogen, but it was recently reported to invade and replicate in several host cell types. The ability of
S. aureus
to persist within cells has been implicated in resistance to antimicrobials and recurrent infections. However, few staphylococcal proteins that mediate intracellular survival have been identified. Here we examine if EsxA and EsxB, substrates of the ESAT-6-like secretion system (Ess), are important during intracellular
S. aureus
infection. The Esx proteins are required for staphylococcal virulence, but their functions during infection are unclear. While isogenic
S. aureus esxA
and
esxB
mutants were not defective for epithelial cell invasion
in vitro
, a significant increase in early/late apoptosis was observed in
esxA
mutant-infected cells compared to wild-type-infected cells. Impeding secretion of EsxA by deleting C-terminal residues of the protein also resulted in a significant increase of epithelial cell apoptosis. Furthermore, cells transfected with
esxA
showed an increased protection from apoptotic cell death. A double mutant lacking both EsxA and EsxB also induced increased apoptosis but, remarkably, was unable to escape from cells as efficiently as the single mutants or the wild type. Thus, using
in vitro
models of intracellular staphylococcal infection, we demonstrate that EsxA interferes with host cell apoptotic pathways and, together with EsxB, mediates the release of
S. aureus
from the host cell.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis Exploits Host SUMOylation Pathways To Mediate Effector-Host Interactions and Promote Intracellular Survival
Authors: Dunphy Paige Selvy , Luo Tian , McBride Jere W.
Published: July 2014

Ehrlichia chaffeensis
is an obligately intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that selectively infects mononuclear phagocytes. We recently reported that
E. chaffeensis
utilizes a type 1 secretion (T1S) system to export tandem repeat protein (TRP) effectors and demonstrated that these effectors interact with a functionally diverse array of host proteins. By way of these interactions, TRP effectors modulate host cell functions; however, the molecular basis of these interactions and their roles in ehrlichial pathobiology are not well defined. In this study, we describe the first bacterial protein posttranslational modification (PTM) by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). The
E. chaffeensis
T1S effector TRP120 is conjugated to SUMO at a carboxy-terminal canonical consensus SUMO conjugation motif
in vitro
and in human cells. In human cells, TRP120 was selectively conjugated with SUMO2/3 isoforms. Disruption of TRP120 SUMOylation perturbed interactions with known host proteins, through predicted SUMO interaction motif-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
E. chaffeensis
infection did not result in dramatic changes in the global host SUMOylated protein profile, but a robust colocalization of predominately SUMO1 with ehrlichial inclusions was observed. Inhibiting the SUMO pathway with a small-molecule inhibitor had a significant impact on
E. chaffeensis
replication and recruitment of the TRP120-interacting protein polycomb group ring finger protein 5 (PCGF5) to the inclusion, indicating that the SUMO pathway is critical for intracellular survival. This study reveals the novel exploitation of the SUMO pathway by
Ehrlichia
, which facilitates effector-eukaryote interactions necessary to usurp the host and create a permissive intracellular niche.
Assessing the potential for bias in direct observation of adult commuter cycling and helmet use
Authors: Kraemer John D , Zaccaro Heather N , Roffenbender Jason S , Baig Sabeeh A , Graves Megan E , Hauler Katherine J , Hussain Aamir N , Mulroy Faith E
Published: July 2014

Objectives

Bicycling and helmet surveillance, research, and programme evaluation depend on accurate measurement by direct observation, but it is unclear whether weather and other exogenous factors introduce bias into observed counts of cyclists and helmet use.

Methods

To address this issue,a time series was created of cyclists observed at two observation points in Washington, DC, at peak commuting times and locations between September 2012 and February 2013. Using multiple linear regression with Newey-West SEs to account for possible serial correlation, the association between various factors and cyclist counts and helmet use was investigated.

Results

The number of cyclists observed per 1 h session was significantly associated with predicted daily high temperature, chance of rain, and actual rain. Additionally, fewer cyclists were observed on Fridays. Helmet use was significantly lower during evening commutes than morning and also lower on Fridays. Helmet use was not associated with weather variables. Controlling for observable cyclists characteristics weakened the association between helmet use and the time of day and day of the week, but it did not eliminate that association.

Conclusions

Direct observation to measure commuter cycling trends or evaluate interventions should control for weather and day of week. Measurement of helmet use is unlikely to be meaningfully biased by weather factors, but time of day and day of week should be taken into account. Failing to control for these factors could lead to significant bias in assessments of the level of, and trends in, commuter cycling and helmet use.
Modeling genetic effects on growth of diverse provenances and families of loblolly pine across optimum and deficient nutrient regimes
Authors: Smith Ben C. , Bullock Bronson P. , Isik Fikret , McKeand Steven E.
Published: July 2014

Optimal deployment of improved loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) planting stock in the southeastern United States requires knowing how diverse seed sources and families perform over time across the wide range of sites used for plantations. This study tests if the relative growth performance of provenances and families is the same at the individual-tree and stand levels for family block plantings and determines what type of adjustment may be required to account for genetic differences when modeling growth and yield. Ten open-pollinated families from two very different provenances, Atlantic Coastal Plain and “Lost Pines” Texas, were grown in single-family block plots to test for growth differences between provenances and among families under severely deficient and optimal nutrition regimes on a nutrient-deficient, dry site. The three-parameter Chapman–Richards function was fit to plot means over time by provenance, family, and nutrition treatments. Models with provenance- or family-specific parameters of the Chapman–Richards function were tested for significant improvement over global parameters. At age 14 years, family, provenance, and nutrition treatments all significantly affected individual-tree growth traits of height, diameter, and volume. Significant nutrition by provenance interactions were found for stand-level traits of basal area per hectare and volume per hectare. Family differences were also significant for these traits. Provenance- or family-specific asymptotic parameters accounted for differences in growth over time. Several traits required the use of local asymptotic and rate parameters in the fertilized treatment only. For modeling growth, a multiplier would be sufficient to account for genetic effects on the majority of traits.
Effect of vehicles' changing lanes in the Biham–Middleton–Levine traffic flow model
Authors: Li Qi-Lang , Jiang Rui , Ding Zhong-Jun , Min Jie , Wang Bing-Hong
Published: July 2014

This paper studies the effect of vehicles' changing lanes in the original Biham–Middleton–Levine traffic flow model. According to local vehicular information, the dynamics allows for vehicles changing their rows or columns. Simulation results show that the intermediate stable phase identified in the original model can be observed and maintained in a wide range of the vehicle density in our model. Some new kinds of space configurations have been first presented and discussed. One also notes that the geometric structure of such intermediate stable phases is highly regular for square and rectangular aspect rations.
Energy levels and transition frequency of strong-coupling polaron in a Gaussian quantum dot
Authors: Khordad R.
Published: July 2014

In the present work, the energy levels and transition frequency between relevant levels of the strong-coupling polaron in a Gaussian quantum dot is studied. In this regard, we have used the well known Lee–Low–Pines unitary transformation method and the Pekar type variational procedure. We show the effect of the effective confinement length and electron–phonon (e–p) coupling strength on energy levels and the transition frequency. According to the results, it is found that the energy levels are decreased with increasing the e–p coupling strength. Also, the transition frequency is increased with enhancing the e–p coupling strength. The energy levels and transition frequency are increased with decreasing the effective confinement lengths.
Rotating Nanorod with Clamped Ends
Authors: Atanackovic Teodor M. , Novakovic Branislava N. , Vrcelj Zora , Zorica Dusan
Published: July 2014

This paper presents an analytical investigation on the buckling and post-buckling behavior of rotating nanorods subjected to axial compression and clamped at both ends. The nonlinear governing equations are derived based on the classical Euler–Bernoulli theory and Eringen's nonlocal elasticity model. The critical load parameters such as angular velocity and compressive axial force are determined for given values of nonlocality parameter. The validity, convergence and accuracy of the solutions are established by comparing them with known classical solutions. The numerical results show that an increase in the nonlocality parameter gives rise to an increase in post-buckling deformation.
Adaptive nonlinearity for collisions in complex rod assemblies
Authors: Kaufman Danny M. , Tamstorf Rasmus , Smith Breannan , Aubry Jean-Marie , Grinspun Eitan
Published: July 2014

We develop an algorithm for the efficient and stable simulation of large-scale elastic rod assemblies. We observe that the time-integration step is severely restricted by a strong nonlinearity in the response of stretching modes to transversal impact, the degree of this nonlinearity varying greatly with the shape of the rod. Building on these observations, we propose a collision response algorithm that adapts its degree of nonlinearity. We illustrate the advantages of the resulting algorithm by analyzing simulations involving elastic rod assemblies of varying density and scale, with up to 1.7 million individual contacts per time step.
Transient attributes for high-level understanding and editing of outdoor scenes
Authors: Laffont Pierre-Yves , Ren Zhile , Tao Xiaofeng , Qian Chao , Hays James
Published: July 2014

We live in a dynamic visual world where the appearance of scenes changes dramatically from hour to hour or season to season. In this work we study "transient scene attributes" -- high level properties which affect scene appearance, such as "snow", "autumn", "dusk", "fog". We define 40 transient attributes and use crowdsourcing to annotate thousands of images from 101 webcams. We use this "transient attribute database" to train regressors that can predict the presence of attributes in novel images. We demonstrate a photo organization method based on predicted attributes. Finally we propose a high-level image editing method which allows a user to adjust the attributes of a scene, e.g. change a scene to be "snowy" or "sunset". To support attribute manipulation we introduce a novel appearance transfer technique which is simple and fast yet competitive with the state-of-the-art. We show that we can convincingly modify many transient attributes in outdoor scenes.
Topology-varying 3D shape creation via structural blending
Authors: Alhashim Ibraheem , Li Honghua , Xu Kai , Cao Junjie , Ma Rui , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2014

We introduce an algorithm for generating novel 3D models via
topology-varying
shape blending. Given a source and a target shape, our method blends them topologically and geometrically, producing continuous series of in-betweens as new shape creations. The blending operations are defined on a spatio-structural graph composed of medial curves and sheets. Such a shape abstraction is structure-oriented, part-aware, and facilitates topology manipulations. Fundamental topological operations including split and merge are realized by allowing one-to-many correspondences between the source and the target. Multiple blending paths are sampled and presented in an interactive, exploratory tool for creative 3D modeling. We show a variety of topology-varying 3D shapes generated via continuous structural blending between man-made shapes exhibiting complex topological differences, in real time.
Temporal frequency probing for 5D transient analysis of global light transport
Authors: O'Toole Matthew , Heide Felix , Xiao Lei , Hullin Matthias B. , Heidrich Wolfgang , Kutulakos Kiriakos N.
Published: July 2014

We analyze light propagation in an unknown scene using projectors and cameras that operate at transient timescales. In this new photography regime, the projector emits a spatio-temporal 3D signal and the camera receives a transformed version of it, determined by the set of all light transport paths through the scene and the time delays they induce. The underlying 3D-to-3D transformation encodes scene geometry and global transport in great detail, but individual transport components (
e.g
., direct reflections, inter-reflections, caustics,
etc
.) are coupled nontrivially in both space and time.

To overcome this complexity, we observe that transient light transport is always
separable in the temporal frequency domain
. This makes it possible to analyze transient transport one temporal frequency at a time by trivially adapting techniques from conventional projector-to-camera transport. We use this idea in a prototype that offers three never-seen-before abilities: (1) acquiring time-of-flight depth images that are robust to general indirect transport, such as interreflections and caustics; (2) distinguishing between direct views of objects and their mirror reflection; and (3) using a photonic mixer device to capture sharp, evolving wavefronts of "light-in-flight".
Fast tile-based adaptive sampling with user-specified Fourier spectra
Authors: Wachtel Florent , Pilleboue Adrien , Coeurjolly David , Breeden Katherine , Singh Gurprit , Cathelin Gaël , de Goes Fernando , Desbrun Mathieu , Ostromoukhov Victor
Published: July 2014

We introduce a fast tile-based method for adaptive two-dimensional sampling with user-specified spectral properties. At the core of our approach is a deterministic, hierarchical construction of self-similar, equi-area, tri-hex tiles whose centroids have a spatial distribution free of spurious spectral peaks. A lookup table of sample points, computed offline using any existing point set optimizer to shape the samples' Fourier spectrum, is then used to populate the tiles. The result is a linear-time, adaptive, and high-quality sampling of arbitrary density functions that conforms to the desired spectral distribution, achieving a speed improvement of several orders of magnitude over current spectrum-controlled sampling methods.
Organizing heterogeneous scene collections through contextual focal points
Authors: Xu Kai , Ma Rui , Zhang Hao , Zhu Chenyang , Shamir Ariel , Cohen-Or Daniel , Huang Hui
Published: July 2014

We introduce
focal points
for characterizing, comparing, and organizing collections of complex and heterogeneous data and apply the concepts and algorithms developed to collections of 3D indoor scenes. We represent each scene by a graph of its constituent objects and define focal points as
representative
substructures in a scene collection. To organize a heterogeneous scene collection, we cluster the scenes based on a set of extracted focal points: scenes in a cluster are closely connected when viewed from the perspective of the representative focal points of that cluster. The key concept of representativity requires that the focal points occur
frequently
in the cluster and that they result in a
compact
cluster. Hence, the problem of focal point extraction is intermixed with the problem of clustering groups of scenes based on their representative focal points. We present a
co-analysis
algorithm which interleaves frequent pattern mining and subspace clustering to extract a set of
contextual
focal points which guide the clustering of the scene collection. We demonstrate advantages of
focal-centric
scene comparison and organization over existing approaches, particularly in dealing with
hybrid
scenes, scenes consisting of elements which suggest membership in different semantic categories.
Functional map networks for analyzing and exploring large shape collections
Authors: Huang Qixing , Wang Fan , Guibas Leonidas
Published: July 2014

The construction of networks of maps among shapes in a collection enables a variety of applications in data-driven geometry processing. A key task in network construction is to make the maps consistent with each other. This consistency constraint, when properly defined, leads not only to a concise representation of such networks, but more importantly, it serves as a strong regularizer for correcting and improving noisy initial maps computed between pairs of shapes in isolation. Up-to-now, however, the consistency constraint has only been fully formulated for point-based maps or for shape collections that are fully similar.

In this paper, we introduce a framework for computing consistent functional maps within heterogeneous shape collections. In such collections not all shapes share the same structure --- different types of shared structure may be present within different (but possibly overlapping) sub-collections. Unlike point-based maps, functional maps can encode similarities at multiple levels of detail (points or parts), and thus are particularly suitable for coping with such diversity within a shape collection. We show how to rigorously formulate the consistency constraint in the functional map setting. The formulation leads to a powerful tool for computing consistent functional maps, and also for discovering shared structures, such as meaningful shape parts. We also show how to adapt the procedure for handling very large-scale shape collections. Experimental results on benchmark datasets show that the proposed framework significantly improves upon state-of-the-art data-driven techniques. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework in shape co-segmentation and various shape exploration tasks.
Pixie dust
Authors: Ochiai Yoichi , Hoshi Takayuki , Rekimoto Jun
Published: July 2014

We propose a novel graphics system based on the expansion of 3D acoustic-manipulation technology. In conventional research on acoustic levitation, small objects are trapped in the acoustic beams of standing waves. We expand this method by changing the distribution of the acoustic-potential field (APF). Using this technique, we can generate the graphics using levitated small objects. Our approach makes available many expressions, such as the expression by materials and non-digital appearance. These kinds of expressions are used in many applications, and we aim to combine them with digital controllability. In the current system, multiple particles are levitated together at 4.25-mm intervals. The spatial resolution of the position is 0.5 mm. Particles move at up to 72 cm/s. The allowable density of the material can be up to 7 g/cm
3
. For this study, we use three options of APF: 2D grid, high-speed movement, and combination with motion capture. These are used to realize floating screen or mid-air raster graphics, mid-air vector graphics, and interaction with levitated objects. This paper reports the details of the acoustic-potential field generator on the design, control, performance evaluation, and exploration of the application space. To discuss the various noncontact manipulation technologies in a unified manner, we introduce a concept called "computational potential field" (CPF).
The visual microphone
Authors: Davis Abe , Rubinstein Michael , Wadhwa Neal , Mysore Gautham J. , Durand Frédo , Freeman William T.
Published: July 2014

When sound hits an object, it causes small vibrations of the object's surface. We show how, using only high-speed video of the object, we can extract those minute vibrations and partially recover the sound that produced them, allowing us to turn everyday objects---a glass of water, a potted plant, a box of tissues, or a bag of chips---into visual microphones. We recover sounds from high-speed footage of a variety of objects with different properties, and use both real and simulated data to examine some of the factors that affect our ability to visually recover sound. We evaluate the quality of recovered sounds using intelligibility and SNR metrics and provide input and recovered audio samples for direct comparison. We also explore how to leverage the rolling shutter in regular consumer cameras to recover audio from standard frame-rate videos, and use the spatial resolution of our method to visualize how sound-related vibrations vary over an object's surface, which we can use to recover the vibration modes of an object.
Learning bicycle stunts
Authors: Tan Jie , Gu Yuting , Liu C. Karen , Turk Greg
Published: July 2014

We present a general approach for simulating and controlling a human character that is riding a bicycle. The two main components of our system are offline learning and online simulation. We simulate the bicycle and the rider as an articulated rigid body system. The rider is controlled by a policy that is optimized through offline learning. We apply policy search to learn the optimal policies, which are parameterized with splines or neural networks for different bicycle maneuvers. We use Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topology (NEAT) to optimize both the parametrization and the parameters of our policies. The learned controllers are robust enough to withstand large perturbations and allow interactive user control. The rider not only learns to steer and to balance in normal riding situations, but also learns to perform a wide variety of stunts, including wheelie, endo, bunny hop, front wheel pivot and back hop.
How do people edit light fields?
Authors: Jarabo Adrian , Masia Belen , Bousseau Adrien , Pellacini Fabio , Gutierrez Diego
Published: July 2014

We present a thorough study to evaluate different light field editing interfaces, tools and workflows from a user perspective. This is of special relevance given the multidimensional nature of light fields, which may make common image editing tasks become complex in light field space. We additionally investigate the potential benefits of using depth information when editing, and the limitations imposed by imperfect depth reconstruction using current techniques. We perform two different experiments, collecting both objective and subjective data from a varied number of editing tasks of increasing complexity based on local point-and-click tools. In the first experiment, we rely on perfect depth from synthetic light fields, and focus on simple edits. This allows us to gain basic insight on light field editing, and to design a more advanced editing interface. This is then used in the second experiment, employing real light fields with imperfect reconstructed depth, and covering more advanced editing tasks. Our study shows that users can edit light fields with our tested interface and tools, even in the presence of imperfect depth. They follow different workflows depending on the task at hand, mostly relying on a combination of different depth cues. Last, we confirm our findings by asking a set of artists to freely edit both real and synthetic light fields.
Blending liquids
Authors: Raveendran Karthik , Wojtan Chris , Thuerey Nils , Turk Greg
Published: July 2014

We present a method for smoothly blending between existing liquid animations. We introduce a semi-automatic method for matching two existing liquid animations, which we use to create new fluid motion that plausibly interpolates the input. Our contributions include a new space-time non-rigid iterative closest point algorithm that incorporates user guidance, a subsampling technique for efficient registration of meshes with millions of vertices, and a fast surface extraction algorithm that produces 3D triangle meshes from a 4D space-time surface. Our technique can be used to instantly create hundreds of new simulations, or to interactively explore complex parameter spaces. Our method is guaranteed to produce output that does not deviate from the input animations, and it generalizes to multiple dimensions. Because our method runs at interactive rates after the initial precomputation step, it has potential applications in games and training simulations.