bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards consistency, rigour and compatibility of risk assessments for ecosystems and ecological communities
Authors: Nicholson Emily , Regan Tracey J. , Auld Tony D. , Burns Emma L. , Chisholm Laurie A. , English Valerie , Harris Stephen , Harrison Peter , Kingsford Richard T. , Leishman Michelle R. , Metcalfe Daniel J. , Pisanu Phil , Watson Christopher J. , White Matthew , White Matt D. , Williams Richard J. , Wilson Bruce , Keith David A.
Published: July 2014

Ecosystem‐level conservation is increasingly important at global, national and local levels. Many jurisdictions have developed and apply their own protocols for assessing the threat status of ecosystems, often independently, leading to inconsistencies between and within countries which are problematic for cross‐jurisdictional environmental reporting. Australia is a good example of these historic legacies, with different risk assessment methods applied nationally and in most states. The newly developed criteria for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) provide a framework to compare and contrast apparently divergent protocols. We critically reviewed the Australian protocols and compared them with the IUCN RLE, based on the following components of a risk assessment protocol: (i) categories of threat; (ii) assessment units; (iii) underlying concepts and definitions; (iv) assessment criteria; (v) uncertainty methods; and (vi) assessment outcomes. Despite some differences in specific objectives, criteria and their expression, the protocols were structurally similar, included broadly similar types of criteria, and produced assessment outcomes that were generally concordant. Alignment with the IUCN RLE would not require extensive changes to existing protocols, but would improve consistency, rigour and robustness in ecosystem risk assessment across jurisdictions. To achieve this, we recommend: (i) more quantitative assessments of functional change; (ii) separation of management and policy considerations from risk assessment; and (iii) cross‐referencing of assessment units in different jurisdictions. We argue that the focus on processes and ecological function, rather than only patterns, is key to robust risk assessment.
Mutation in the protease cleavage site of GDF9 increases ovulation rate and litter size in heterozygous ewes and causes infertility in homozygous ewes
Authors: Souza C. J. H. , McNeilly A. S. , Benavides M. V. , Melo E. O. , Moraes J. C. F.
Published: July 2014

Litter size (LS) in sheep is determined mainly by ovulation rate (OR). Several polymorphisms have been identified in the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene that result in an increase in OR and prolificacy of sheep. Screening the databank of the Brazilian Sheep Breeders Association for triplet delivery, we identified flocks of prolific Ile de France ewes. After resequencing of GDF9, a point mutation (c.943C>T) was identified, resulting in a non‐conservative amino acid change (p.Arg315Cys) in the cleavage site of the propeptide. This new allele was called Vacaria (FecGv). A flock of half‐sib ewes was evaluated for OR in the first three breeding seasons, and Vacaria heterozygotes had higher OR (P < 0.001), averaging 2.1 ± 0.1 when compared to 1.2 ± 0.1 in wild‐type ewes. The OR was also influenced by age, increasing in the second and third breeding seasons (P < 0.001). In flocks segregating this allele, the LS was higher in mutant sheep (P < 0.001), averaging 1.61 ± 0.07 in heterozygotes and 1.29 ± 0.03 in wild‐type ewes. Analysis of homozygote reproductive tract morphology revealed uterine and ovarian hypoplasia. Ovarian follicles continue to develop up to small antral stages, although with abnormal oocyte morphology and altered arrangement of granulosa cells. After the collapse of the oocyte in most follicles, the remaining cells formed clusters that persisted in the ovary. This SNP is useful to improve selection for dam prolificacy and also as a model to investigate GDF9 post‐translation processing and the fate of the follicular cells that remain after the oocyte demise.
Ductal carcinoma in situ: breast‐conserving surgery without radiotherapy
Authors: Hainsworth Alison , Fosh Beverley , Raymond Wendy , Eaton Michael , McLeay William
Published: July 2014

Background

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is commonly managed with breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) and adjuvant radiotherapy. Oncoplastic BCS allows wide excision without compromising the breast's natural shape. We use ‘level one’ techniques to excise a ‘sector’ of tissue (apex at the nipple) rather than traditional ‘lumpectomy’. There are concerns that some DCIS is over‐treated and radiotherapy administered unnecessarily incurring the associated cost, time and morbidity without added benefit. This study aims to determine if pure DCIS can be managed safely without relying upon adjuvant therapies with an acceptable breast conservation rate.

Method

A retrospective clinical study of 96 patients who underwent BCS alone for pure DCIS between 1995 and 2009. Data were collected on patient's demographics, presentation, excision margins, re‐excision and final margins, size, grade and nuclear architecture of DCIS, recurrent ipsilateral breast events, contralateral breast events, date of the last follow‐up with mammography and patients’ assessment of cosmetic outcome (scale 1–5: very dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, somewhat satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied).

Results

Twelve (12.5%) had an ipsilateral recurrence. Mean follow‐up was 7.6 years (median 7.4); yearly recurrence rate was 1.67%. Of the 52 patients who gave an assessment of cosmetic outcome, 46 were satisfied.

Conclusion

Ipsilateral recurrence rates were favourable compared with previous trials where DCIS was treated with lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Oncoplastic techniques may be used to successfully treat pure DCIS with BCS alone without adjuvant therapies.
Lymphadenectomy with radical cystectomy at an Australian tertiary referral institution: time trends and impact on oncological outcomes
Authors: Eapen Renu , Liew Mun Sem , Tafreshi Ali , Papa Nathan , Lawrentschuk Nathan , Azad Arun , Davis Ian D. , Bolton Damien , Sengupta Shomik
Published: July 2014

Background

Lymph node dissection (LND) with radical cystectomy (RC) for surgical treatment of invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder can improve staging and has possible therapeutic benefit. The aim of this study was to assess utilization and extent of LND with RC at our institution and determine its impact on oncological outcomes.

Methods

Using surgical databases and hospital coding, clinical and histopathological characteristics of 87 patients who underwent RC at Austin Health between 2004 and 2011 were retrospectively analysed. Associations of predictor variables with LND use and lymph node (LN) status were analysed using logistic regression. Survival analyses were undertaken using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Fifty‐eight (65.9%) patients underwent LND, with a clear trend over time in the proportion of patients undergoing LND (three of seven in 2004 up to 10 of 10 in 2011, P < 0.001) and the median (range) of LN yield from five (2–19) in 2004 to 18 (7–35) in 2011 (P < 0.001). Year of treatment was the only significant predictor (univariately and multivariately) of a patient undergoing LND. Multivariately, a significant association with nodal metastases was found for cN stage and planned extent of LND preoperatively, and pT stage postoperatively. LN status was associated significantly with recurrence‐free survival with best outcomes in patients who were node‐negative on a pelvic LND. A similar trend was seen for cancer‐specific survival (P = 0.053).

Conclusions

Over the study period, there was an increase in the use of pelvic LND and LN numbers retrieved during RC. LN status appears to impact on recurrence‐free survival, and possibly cancer‐specific survival.
Later rather than sooner: the impact of clinical management on timing and modes of death in the last decade
Authors: Dupont‐Thibodeau Amélie , Langevin Rosalie , Janvier Annie
Published: July 2014

Aim

Technological and clinical advances have reduced neonatal deaths, and this study explored how the mode and timing of neonatal deaths has changed in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over 10 years.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective chart review on NICU deaths in 2000–2002 and 2007–2010, categorising deaths and compared the timing, cause and mode of death in the two cohorts.

Results

We analysed 204 neonatal deaths and found that the average age at death doubled from 9.71 days in 2000–2002 to 18.8 days (p = 0.014) in 2007–2010 and that the number of deaths in the first 48 h of life fell from 52% to 29% (p < 0.001). Mode of death and ethical decision‐making was similar. In both cohorts, 26% of patients who died had a do not resuscitate order and 9% of the 151 patients without an order died while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Most neonates received medication to keep them comfortable and their use was similar in both cohorts.

Conclusion

Changes in neonatal management have led to a reduction in early deaths and an increase in age at death. The impact of later deaths on families and healthcare providers deserves further research.
Citrulline concentration in routinely collected neonatal dried blood spots cannot be used to predict necrotising enterocolitis
Authors: Englund A , Rogvi R á , Melgaard L , Greisen G
Published: July 2014

Aim

Low citrulline concentration is a marker of low functional enterocyte mass, which may predispose neonates to necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). We hypothesised that citrulline could be used to assess the NEC risk that could not be accounted for by gestational age and birthweight. This study investigated whether citrulline concentrations routinely measured in neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) could predict NEC.

Methods

We used national Danish registries to retrospectively identify all 361 babies born between 2003 and 2009 who were diagnosed with NEC and had a valid citrulline concentration measured from a DBS sample. The control group comprised 1083 healthy newborns, with three controls for every newborn with NEC, matched for birthweight and gestational age.

Results

Neonatal dried blood spots were collected between 2 and 21 days of life, with a median of 8 days. The results showed that NEC was not associated with low citrulline concentration, either in a direct comparison between the NEC and control groups or in a multivariate logistic regression (p = 0.73).

Conclusion

The findings of this study show that the citrulline concentrations found in routine DBS samples between 2003 and 2009 did not predict NEC in newborn babies.
Medium‐chain triglyceride as an alternative of in‐feed colistin sulfate to improve growth performance and intestinal microbial environment in newly weaned pigs
Authors: Yen Hung‐Che , Lai Wei‐Kang , Lin Chuan‐Shun , Chiang Shu‐Hsing
Published: July 2014

Five hundred and twenty‐eight newly weaned pigs were given four treatments, with eight replicates per treatment. Sixteen to 18 pigs were assigned per replicate and were fed diets supplemented with 0 or 3% medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT) and 0 or 40 ppm colistin sulfate (CS) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 2 weeks. The results showed that dietary supplementation with MCT improved the gain‐to‐feed ratio during days 3‐7 and in the overall period (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MCT decreased coliforms counts (C) in colon and rectum content (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with CS decreased C and lactic acid bacteria plus C counts (L + C) in cecum (P < 0.05), and C, L + C (P < 0.01) and ratio of L and C (P < 0.05) in colon and rectum contents. The lack of interactions between MCT and CS indicates different modes of action and additive effects between the two supplementations. In conclusion, supplementation with MCT in diet with or without CS could improve the intestinal microbial environment and the feed utilization efficiency of newly weaned pigs.
Effects of chronic mild food restriction on behavior and the hypothalamic malonyl‐CoA signaling pathway
Authors: Iio Wataru , Tokutake Yuka , Koike Hiroaki , Matsukawa Noriko , Tsukahara Takamitsu , Chohnan Shigeru , Toyoda Atsushi
Published: July 2014

Depression induces anorexia, leading to suppressed feeding behaviors and energy intake. Previously, we revealed that chronic social defeat induced a mild suppression of feeding in rats with elevated levels of hypothalamic malonyl‐CoA which regulates feeding. Therefore, we attempted to elucidate the effects of chronic mild food restriction on behavior and on hypothalamic malonyl‐CoA. The chronic mild food restricted rats were fed a restricted diet approximately 80% to 90% amount of diet compared to the control for 5 weeks. Ratios of restriction were adjusted with feed consumption in the chronic social defeat stressed rats. Chronic mild food restricted rats exhibited a suppression of body weight gain similar to that of the chronic social defeat stressed rats. Also these rats showed increased time spent in the center area of an open field (OF), prolonged immobility time in forced swim, increased phosphorylation of hypothalamic adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase and a decreased concentration of hypothalamic malonyl‐CoA. Weight of the adrenal glands, locomotion in an OF, mitogen‐activated protein kinase cascade and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinases II in the hippocampus were not affected by chronic mild food restriction. Our findings suggest that chronic mild food restriction activates AMPK following a decreased hypothalamic malonyl‐CoA.
Nitrogen digestion and urea recycling in Hokkaido native horses fed hay‐based diets
Authors: Obitsu Taketo , Hata Hiroshi , Taniguchi Kohzo
Published: July 2014

Nitrogen (N) digestion and urea‐N metabolism in Hokkaido native horses fed roughage‐based diets containing different types and levels of protein sources were studied. Horses (173 ± 4.8 kg) fitted with an ileum cannula were fed four diets consisting of 100% timothy hay (TH), 88% TH and 12% soybean meal (SBM), 79% TH and 21% SBM, and 51% TH and 49% alfalfa hay at 2.2% of body weight. Dietary protein content varied from 5% to 15% of dry matter. Apparent N digestibilities in the pre‐cecum and total tract for the TH diet were lower than those for other diets. However, the proportion of post‐ileum N digestion to N intake was not affected by the diets. Urea‐N production was linearly related to N intake, but gut urea‐N entry was not affected by the diets. The proportion of gut urea‐N entry to urea‐N production tended to be higher for the TH diet (57%) than the two SBM diets (39%). Anabolic use of urea‐N entering the gut was not affected by the diets (20–36% of gut urea‐N entry). These results indicate that urea‐N recycling provides additional N sources for microbial fermentation in the hindgut of Hokkaido native horses fed low‐quality roughages.
Controls on landscape and drainage evolution in regions of distributed normal faulting: Perachora Peninsula, Corinth Rift, Central Greece
Authors: Duffy O. B. , Brocklehurst S. H. , Gawthorpe R. L. , Leeder M. R. , Finch E.
Published: July 2014

Zones of distributed faulting with narrow (2–3 km) across‐strike spacing form a common structural style within rifts, especially in accommodation zones, and contrast with crustal‐scale half‐grabens, where strain is localised on normal faults spaced 10–30 km apart. These contrasting styles are likely to have a significant impact on geomorphic development, sediment routing and the stratigraphic record. Perachora Peninsula, in the eastern part of the active Corinth Rift, Greece, is one such zone of distributed faulting. We analyse the topography and drainage networks developed around these closely spaced normal faults, and compare our results with published studies from crustal‐scale half‐grabens. We subdivide the Perachora Peninsula into a series of drainage domains and examine the tectono‐geomorphic evolution of three domains that best represent the range of topographic characteristics, base levels and drainage network styles. We interpret that the perched, endorheic nature of the Asprokampos domain developed due to uplift and backtilt on offshore faults. The Pisia West domain, which drains the valley between the Skinos and Pisia Faults and responds to a perched base level, is interpreted to have experienced a complex base‐level history with episodic connections to sea level. The Skinos Relay domain drains to sea level, lying on the relay ramp between the closely spaced Kamarissa and Skinos Faults. Here, interaction between the displacement fields associated with each of the closely spaced faults controls the rate and style of landscape evolution. In contrast to crustal‐scale half‐grabens, observations from Perachora Peninsula suggest that zones of distributed faulting may be characterised by: (i) perched, internal sediment sinks at different elevations, responding to multiple base levels; (ii) minimal fault‐transverse sediment transport; (iii) interaction of uplift and subsidence fields associated with closely spaced faults, which modulate the rate and style of landscape response; and (iv) complex erosion and sedimentation histories, the evidence for which may have low preservation potential in the stratigraphic record.
Hybrid Molecule from Farnesylthiosalicylic Acid‐diamine and Phenylpropenoic Acid as Ras‐related Signaling Inhibitor with Potent Antitumor Activities
Authors: Ling Yong , Wang Zhiqiang , Wang Xuemin , Li Xianghua , Wang Xinyang , Zhang Wei , Dai Hong , Chen Li , Zhang Yihua
Published: July 2014

Novel series of Farnesylthiosalicylic acid‐diamine/phenylpropenoic acid hybrids were designed and synthesized. Their in vitro growth inhibitory assays showed that most compounds displayed strong antiproliferation activity against seven cancer cells. Especially, the new hybrid 12f, by the conjugation of 10a with ferulic acid, could selectively suppress the proliferation of tumor cells and display significantly lower toxicities to normal cells than its intermediate 10a. Furthermore, 12f dose‐dependently induced SMMC‐7721 cell apoptosis. Additionally, our observations demonstrated that 12f inhibited both Ras‐related signaling and phosphorylated NF‐κB synergistically, which may be advantageous to the strong antitumor activities of 12f. Our findings suggest that these novel hybrids may hold a great promise as therapeutic agents for the intervention of human cancers.
Training Preschoolers on First‐Order False Belief Understanding: Transfer on Advanced ToM Skills and Metamemory
Authors: Lecce Serena , Bianco Federica , Demicheli Patrizia , Cavallini Elena
Published: July 2014

This study investigated the relation between theory of mind (ToM) and metamemory knowledge using a training methodology. Sixty‐two 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two training conditions: A first‐order false belief (ToM) and a control condition. Intervention and control groups were equivalent at pretest for age, parents' education, verbal ability, inhibition, and ToM. Results showed that after the intervention children in the ToM group improved in their first‐order false belief understanding significantly more than children in the control condition. Crucially, the positive effect of the ToM intervention was stable over 2 months and generalized to more complex ToM tasks and metamemory.
The role of non‐invasive biomarkers in detecting acute respiratory effects of traffic‐related air pollution
Authors: Scarpa M. C. , Kulkarni N. , Maestrelli P.
Published: July 2014

The role of non‐invasive methods in the investigation of acute effects of traffic‐related air pollution is not clearly established. We evaluated the usefulness of non‐invasive biomarkers in detecting acute air pollution effects according to the age of participants, the disease status, their sensitivity compared with lung function tests and their specificity for a type of pollutant. Search terms lead to 535 titles, among them 128 had potentially relevant abstracts. Sixtynine full papers were reviewed, while 59 articles were excluded as they did not meet the selection criteria. Methods used to assess short‐term effects of air pollution included analysis of nasal lavage (NAL) for the upper airways, and induced sputum (IS), exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for central and lower airways. There is strong evidence that FeNO evaluation is useful independently from subject age, while IS analysis is suitable almost for adults. Biomarker changes are generally observed upon pollutant exposure irrespective of the disease status of the participants. None of the biomarkers identified are specific for a type of pollutant exposure. Based on experimental exposure studies, there is moderate evidence that IS analysis is more sensitive than lung function tests, whereas this is not the case for biomarkers obtained by NAL or EBC. Cells and some cytokines (IL‐6, IL‐8 and myeloperoxidase) have been measured both in the upper respiratory tract (NAL) and in the lower airways (IS). Overall, the response to traffic exposure seems different in the two compartments. In conclusion, this survey of current literature displays the complexity of this research field, highlights the significance of short‐term studies on traffic pollution and gives important tips when planning studies to detect acute respiratory effects of air pollution in a non‐invasive way.
The effect of cell death in the initiation of lupus nephritis
Authors: Fenton K
Published: July 2014

Cell death and the release of chromatin have been demonstrated to activate the immune system producing autoantibodies against nuclear antigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, secondary necrosis, autophagy and the clearance of dying cells by phagocytosis are processes believed to have a role in tolerance avoidance, activation of autoimmune lymphocytes and tissue damage by effector cells. The released chromatin not only activates the immune system; it also acts as antigen for the autoantibodies produced, including anti-dsDNA antibodies. The subsequent immune complex formed is deposited within the basement membranes and the mesangial matrix of glomeruli. This may be considered as an initiating event in lupus nephritis. The origin of the released chromatin is still debated, and the possible mechanisms and cell sources are discussed in this study.
Distinct cytokine and T helper cell profiles between patients with multiple sclerosis who had or had not received interferon‐beta
Authors: Doi Hikaru , Song Zi‐Ye , Yoshimura Satoshi , Tateishi Takahisa , Yonekawa Tomomi , Yamasaki Ryo , Murai Hiroyuki , Matsushita Takuya , Kira Jun‐ichi
Published: July 2014

Objectives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and is generally considered to be mediated by T helper (Th) 1/Th17 cells. Interferon‐β (IFNβ) is widely used as a disease‐modifying MS drug, but its effects on Th17 cells are still disputed. Furthermore, the effects of IFNβ on Th9 cells have not been elucidated. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of IFNβ on cytokines/growth factors in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cytokine‐producing Th cells in peripheral blood.

Methods

First, the frequency of IFNγ, interleukin (IL)‐17A, IL‐9, and IL‐4‐producing Th cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry in 34 MS patients and 15 healthy volunteers enrolled in the cytokine‐producing Th cell study. Second, levels of 27 cytokines/growth factors in the CSF were measured using a multiple fluorescence bead‐based immunoassay in 34 MS patients enrolled in the cytokines/growth factors study.

Results

We found a significantly higher frequency of IL‐4−IL‐9+CD4+ T cells and lower frequency of IFNγ+IL‐17A−CD4+ cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes in the 10 MS patients who had received IFNβ than in the 24 MS patients who had not received IFNβ or the 15 healthy controls (P < 0.05). The seven MS patients who received IFNβ showed significantly lower IL‐17A levels in CSF than did the 27 MS patients who had not received IFNβ (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The present results suggest the suppression of IL‐17A production in the central nervous system and augmentation of Th9 cells in the peripheral blood by IFNβ in MS patients.
Extended Branch Decomposition Graphs: Structural Comparison of Scalar Data
Authors: Saikia Himangshu , Seidel Hans‐Peter , Weinkauf Tino
Published: July 2014

We present a method to find repeating topological structures in scalar data sets. More precisely, we compare all subtrees of two merge trees against each other – in an efficient manner exploiting redundancy. This provides pair‐wise distances between the topological structures defined by sub/superlevel sets, which can be exploited in several applications such as finding similar structures in the same data set, assessing periodic behavior in time‐dependent data, and comparing the topology of two different data sets. To do so, we introduce a novel data structure called the extended branch decomposition graph, which is composed of the branch decompositions of all subtrees of the merge tree. Based on dynamic programming, we provide two highly efficient algorithms for computing and comparing extended branch decomposition graphs. Several applications attest to the utility of our method and its robustness against noise.
RBF Volume Ray Casting on Multicore and Manycore CPUs
Authors: Knoll Aaron , Wald Ingo , Navratil Paul , Bowen Anne , Reda Khairi , Papka Michael E. , Gaither Kelly
Published: July 2014

Modern supercomputers enable increasingly large N‐body simulations using unstructured point data. The structures implied by these points can be reconstructed implicitly. Direct volume rendering of radial basis function (RBF) kernels in domain‐space offers flexible classification and robust feature reconstruction, but achieving performant RBF volume rendering remains a challenge for existing methods on both CPUs and accelerators. In this paper, we present a fast CPU method for direct volume rendering of particle data with RBF kernels. We propose a novel two‐pass algorithm: first sampling the RBF field using coherent bounding hierarchy traversal, then subsequently integrating samples along ray segments. Our approach performs interactively for a range of data sets from molecular dynamics and astrophysics up to 82 million particles. It does not rely on level of detail or subsampling, and offers better reconstruction quality than structured volume rendering of the same data, exhibiting comparable performance and requiring no additional preprocessing or memory footprint other than the BVH. Lastly, our technique enables multi‐field, multi‐material classification of particle data, providing better insight and analysis.
Towards an Unbiased Comparison of CC, BCC, and FCC Lattices in Terms of Prealiasing
Authors: Vad Viktor , Csébfalvi Balázs , Rautek Peter , Gröller Eduard
Published: July 2014

In the literature on optimal regular volume sampling, the Body‐Centered Cubic (BCC) lattice has been proven to be optimal for sampling spherically band‐limited signals above the Nyquist limit. On the other hand, if the sampling frequency is below the Nyquist limit, the Face‐Centered Cubic (FCC) lattice was demonstrated to be optimal in reducing the prealiasing effect. In this paper, we confirm that the FCC lattice is indeed optimal in this sense in a certain interval of the sampling frequency. By theoretically estimating the prealiasing error in a realistic range of the sampling frequency, we show that in other frequency intervals, the BCC lattice and even the traditional Cartesian Cubic (CC) lattice are expected to minimize the prealiasing. The BCC lattice is superior over the FCC lattice if the sampling frequency is not significantly below the Nyquist limit. Interestingly, if the original signal is drastically undersampled, the CC lattice is expected to provide the lowest prealiasing error. Additionally, we give a comprehensible clarification that the sampling efficiency of the FCC lattice is lower than that of the BCC lattice. Although this is a well‐known fact, the exact percentage has been erroneously reported in the literature. Furthermore, for the sake of an unbiased comparison, we propose to rotate the Marschner‐Lobb test signal such that an undue advantage is not given to either lattice.
Volumetric Data Reduction in a Compressed Sensing Framework
Authors: Xu X. , Sakhaee E. , Entezari A.
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we investigate compressed sensing principles to devise an in‐situ data reduction framework for visualization of volumetric datasets. We exploit the universality of the compressed sensing framework and show that the proposed method offers a refinable data reduction approach for volumetric datasets. The accurate reconstruction is obtained from partial Fourier measurements of the original data that are sensed without any prior knowledge of specific feature domains for the data. Our experiments demonstrate the superiority of surfacelets for efficient representation of volumetric data. Moreover, we establish that the accuracy of reconstruction can further improve once a more effective basis for a sparser representation of the data becomes available.
Comparative Visualization of Molecular Surfaces Using Deformable Models
Authors: Scharnowski K. , Krone M. , Reina G. , Kulschewski T. , Pleiss J. , Ertl T.
Published: July 2014

The comparison of molecular surface attributes is of interest for computer aided drug design and the analysis of biochemical simulations. Due to the non‐rigid nature of molecular surfaces, partial shape matching is feasible for mapping two surfaces onto each other. We present a novel technique to obtain a mapping relation between two surfaces using a deformable model approach. This relation is used for pair‐wise comparison of local surface attributes (e.g. electrostatic potential). We combine the difference value as well as the comparability as derived from the local matching quality in a 3D molecular visualization by mapping them to color. A 2D matrix shows the global dissimilarity in an overview of different data sets in an ensemble. We apply our visualizations to simulation results provided by collaborators from the field of biochemistry to evaluate the effectiveness of our results.
Metro Transit‐Centric Visualization for City Tour Planning
Authors: Claudio Pio , Yoon Sung‐Eui
Published: July 2014

In general, city trip planning consists of two main steps: knowing Points‐Of‐Interest (POIs), and then planning a tour route from the current point to next preferred POIs. We mainly consider the metro for traveling around touristic cities as the main means of transportation. In this context, existing tools lack a capability to effectively visualize POIs on the metro map for trip planning. To bridge this gap, we propose an interactive framework that holistically combines presentations of POIs and a metro network. Our idea is to identify popular POIs based on visual worth computation, and to introduce POI discovery for effectively identifying POIs within reach of a metro network for users. We use octilinear layouts to highlight the metro network, and show representative POI images in the layout space visualized within a user‐specified viewing window. We have implemented our working prototype showing touristic cities with a metro network. We have factored out various design guidelines that are basis for designing our method, and validated our approach with a user study surveying 70 individuals.
Visual‐interactive Exploration of Interesting Multivariate Relations in Mixed Research Data Sets
Authors: Bernard Jürgen , Steiger Martin , Widmer Sven , Lücke‐Tieke Hendrik , May Thorsten , Kohlhammer Jörn
Published: July 2014

The analysis of research data plays a key role in data‐driven areas of science. Varieties of mixed research data sets exist and scientists aim to derive or validate hypotheses to find undiscovered knowledge. Many analysis techniques identify relations of an entire dataset only. This may level the characteristic behavior of different subgroups in the data. Like automatic subspace clustering, we aim at identifying interesting subgroups and attribute sets. We present a visual‐interactive system that supports scientists to explore interesting relations between aggregated bins of multivariate attributes in mixed data sets. The abstraction of data to bins enables the application of statistical dependency tests as the measure of interestingness. An overview matrix view shows all attributes, ranked with respect to the interestingness of bins. Complementary, a node‐link view reveals multivariate bin relations by positioning dependent bins close to each other. The system supports information drill‐down based on both expert knowledge and algorithmic support. Finally, visual‐interactive subset clustering assigns multivariate bin relations to groups. A list‐based cluster result representation enables the scientist to communicate multivariate findings at a glance. We demonstrate the applicability of the system with two case studies from the earth observation domain and the prostate cancer research domain. In both cases, the system enabled us to identify the most interesting multivariate bin relations, to validate already published results, and, moreover, to discover unexpected relations.
Evaluating the Impact of User Characteristics and Different Layouts on an Interactive Visualization for Decision Making
Authors: Conati C. , Carenini G. , Hoque E. , Steichen B. , Toker D.
Published: July 2014

There is increasing evidence that user characteristics can have a significant impact on visualization effectiveness, suggesting that visualizations could be designed to better fit each user's specific needs. Most studies to date, however, have looked at static visualizations. Studies considering interactive visualizations have only looked at a limited number of user characteristics, and consider either low‐level tasks (e.g., value retrieval), or high‐level tasks (in particular: discovery), but not both. This paper contributes to this line of work by looking at the impact of a large set of user characteristics on user performance with interactive visualizations, for both low and high‐level tasks. We focus on interactive visualizations that support decision making, exemplified by a visualization known as Value Charts. We include in the study two versions of ValueCharts that differ in terms of layout, to ascertain whether layout mediates the impact of individual differences and could be considered as a form of personalization. Our key findings are that (i) performance with low and high‐level tasks is affected by different user characteristics, and (ii) users with low visual working memory perform better with a horizontal layout. We discuss how these findings can inform the provision of personalized support to visualization processing.
Papilio: Visualizing Android Application Permissions
Authors: Loorak M. Hosseinkhani , Fong P.W.L. , Carpendale S.
Published: July 2014

We introduce Papilio, a new visualization technique for visualizing permissions of real‐world Android applications. We explore the development of layouts that exploit the directed acyclic nature of Android application permission data to develop a new explicit layout technique that incorporates aspects of set membership, node‐link diagrams and matrix layouts. By grouping applications based on sets of requested permissions, a structure can be formed with partially ordered relations. The Papilio layout shows sets of applications centrally, the relations among applications on one side and application permissions, as the reason behind the existence of the partial order, on the other side. Using Papilio to explore a set of Android applications as a case study has led to new security findings regarding permission usage by Android applications.
Visual Analysis of Time‐Series Similarities for Anomaly Detection in Sensor Networks
Authors: Steiger Martin , Bernard Jürgen , Mittelstädt Sebastian , Lücke‐Tieke Hendrik , Keim Daniel , May Thorsten , Kohlhammer Jörn
Published: July 2014

We present a system to analyze time‐series data in sensor networks. Our approach supports exploratory tasks for the comparison of univariate, geo‐referenced sensor data, in particular for anomaly detection. We split the recordings into fixed‐length patterns and show them in order to compare them over time and space using two linked views. Apart from geo‐based comparison across sensors we also support different temporal patterns to discover seasonal effects, anomalies and periodicities.

The methods we use are best practices in the information visualization domain. They cover the daily, the weekly and seasonal and patterns of the data. Daily patterns can be analyzed in a clustering‐based view, weekly patterns in a calendar‐based view and seasonal patters in a projection‐based view. The connectivity of the sensors can be analyzed through a dedicated topological network view. We assist the domain expert with interaction techniques to make the results understandable. As a result, the user can identify and analyze erroneous and suspicious measurements in the network. A case study with a domain expert verified the usefulness of our approach.
HUCBCs Increase Angiopoietin 1 and Induce Neurorestorative Effects after Stroke in T1DM Rats
Authors: Yan Tao , Venkat Poornima , Ye Xinchun , Chopp Michael , Zacharek Alex , Ning Ruizhuo , Cui Yisheng , Roberts Cynthia , Kuzmin‐Nichols Nicole , Davis Sanberg Cyndy , Chen Jieli
Published: July 2014

Background and purpose

We investigated the neurorestorative effects and underlying mechanisms of stroke treatment with human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) in Type one diabetes mellitus (T1DM) rats.

Methods

Type one diabetes mellitus rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and 24 h later were treated with: (1) phosphate‐buffered‐saline; (2) HUCBCs. Brain endothelial cells (MBECs) were cultured and capillary tube formation was measured.

Results

Human umbilical cord blood cells treatment significantly improved functional outcome and promoted white matter (WM) remodeling, as identified by Bielschowsky silver, Luxol fast blue and SMI‐31 expression, increased oligodendrocyte progenitor cell and oligodendrocyte density after stroke in T1DM rats. HUCBC also promoted vascular remodeling, evident from enhanced vascular and arterial density and increased artery diameter, and decreased blood‐brain barrier leakage. HUCBC treatment also increased Angiopoietin‐1 and decreased receptor for advanced glycation end‐products (RAGE) expression compared to T1DM‐MCAo control. In vitro analysis of MBECs demonstrated that Ang1 inversely regulated RAGE expression. HUCBC and Ang1 significantly increased capillary tube formation and decreased inflammatory factor expression, while anti‐Ang1 attenuated HUCBC‐induced tube formation and antiinflammatory effects.

Conclusion

Human umbilical cord blood cells is an effective neurorestorative therapy in T1DM‐MCAo rats and the enhanced vascular and WM remodeling and associated functional recovery after stroke may be attributed to increasing Angiopoietin‐1 and decreasing RAGE.
Multiscale Factors Affecting Human Attitudes toward Snow Leopards and Wolves
Authors: SURYAWANSHI KULBHUSHANSINGH R. , BHATIA SALONI , BHATNAGAR YASH VEER , REDPATH STEPHEN , MISHRA CHARUDUTT
Published: July 2014

The threat posed by large carnivores to livestock and humans makes peaceful coexistence between them difficult. Effective implementation of conservation laws and policies depends on the attitudes of local residents toward the target species. There are many known correlates of human attitudes toward carnivores, but they have only been assessed at the scale of the individual. Because human societies are organized hierarchically, attitudes are presumably influenced by different factors at different scales of social organization, but this scale dependence has not been examined. We used structured interview surveys to quantitatively assess the attitudes of a Buddhist pastoral community toward snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and wolves (Canis lupus). We interviewed 381 individuals from 24 villages within 6 study sites across the high‐elevation Spiti Valley in the Indian Trans‐Himalaya. We gathered information on key explanatory variables that together captured variation in individual and village‐level socioeconomic factors. We used hierarchical linear models to examine how the effect of these factors on human attitudes changed with the scale of analysis from the individual to the community. Factors significant at the individual level were gender, education, and age of the respondent (for wolves and snow leopards), number of income sources in the family (wolves), agricultural production, and large‐bodied livestock holdings (snow leopards). At the community level, the significant factors included the number of smaller‐bodied herded livestock killed by wolves and mean agricultural production (wolves) and village size and large livestock holdings (snow leopards). Our results show that scaling up from the individual to higher levels of social organization can highlight important factors that influence attitudes of people toward wildlife and toward formal conservation efforts in general. Such scale‐specific information can help managers apply conservation measures at appropriate scales. Our results reiterate the need for conflict management programs to be multipronged.

Factores Multi‐Escala que Afectan las Actitudes Humanas hacia Leopardos de las Nieves y Lobos
Use of Single Large or Several Small Policies as Strategies to Manage People–Park Interactions
Authors: MACKENZIE CATRINA A. , BAIRD TIMOTHY D. , HARTTER JOEL
Published: July 2014

Biodiversity conservation has been criticized for undermining or ignoring social well‐being. Currently efforts to mutually promote social justice, rural development, and biodiversity conservation, which have been contentious and yielded mixed results, continue to spread despite a general dearth of effective management strategies. We contend that social and economic concerns should be integral to conservation planning and propose that the scale of these phenomena is also critical. To evaluate the merit of this proposal, we adopted and expanded a conservation management strategy framework developed by Joel Heinen and examined how population density, economic disparity, and ethnic heterogeneity vary spatially surrounding 2 contrasting protected areas in East Africa: Kibale National Park in Uganda and Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. Analyses of demographic, wealth, and ethnicity data from regional censuses and household surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010 indicated that choice of scale (landscape or community) changed the management strategies recommended by the model. Therefore, “several small” people‒park management strategies varying around a given protected area may be more appropriate than a “single large” people–park strategy applied across an entire protected area. Correspondingly, scale adjusted Heinen recommendations offered new strategies for effective conservation management within these human landscapes not incorporated in current in situ management plans.

Uso de Varias Políticas Pequeñas o una Única Política Mayor como Estrategias para Manejar las Interacciones Gente – Parque
Board Capital and the Downward Spiral: Antecedents of Bankruptcy in a Sample of Unlisted Firms
Authors: De Maere Jonas , Jorissen Ann , Uhlaner Lorraine M.
Published: July 2014

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

This study examines whether certain proxies for board incentives and board capital are linked with bankruptcy in unlisted firms.

Research Findings/Insights

Based on data analyzed over a five‐year period with a sample of 232 matched pairs of unlisted firms, results reveal that firms with boards led by an independent Board Chair (vs. CEO duality), and including longer‐tenured directors, and directors with fewer additional directorships on average, are less likely to become bankrupt. Results of analyses of board size and board change support a “reputation” hypothesis, i.e. that directors begin to flee firms in a downward spiral prior to bankruptcy.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Results support an eclectic model of board incentives and board capital, which integrates elements of agency and resource dependence theories, and the group decision‐making literature to explain governance antecedents of firms that went bankrupt. It builds on a model proposed by Hillman and Dalziel, while identifying important differences, including lack of support for predicted moderating effects between board incentives and board capital. Findings also support applicability of the threat‐rigidity logic and reputation hypothesis in this context, and the importance of anchoring corporate governance research more precisely on prediction of certain levels of performance.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Findings support governance recommendations to separate Board Chair and CEO leadership and limit a director's number of outside directorships. Negative effects of director tenure on bankruptcy contradict the notion of “term limits,” suggesting that benefits of firm‐specific knowledge and experience may outweigh risks of entrenchment.
A Place for Kids? The Public Image of Natural History Museums
Authors: Strager Hanne , Astrup Jens
Published: July 2014

Scholars, commentaries, guide books, and people “on the street” seem to agree and take for granted that natural history museums are mainly aimed at children. Nevertheless, no studies have specifically investigated the public image of natural history museums. In this study, we provide quantitative evidence that natural history museums are indeed seen by the public as being primarily aimed at children and families with children, and we discuss the consequences that this fact has for the potential role that natural history museums could have in promoting science literacy and for the perception of science in general.
Single‐cause attribution in a multifactorial world: cerebral palsy attributed to or associated with congenital cytomegalovirus?
Authors: Korzeniewski Steven J
Published: July 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Smithers‐Sheedy et al. on pages 846–852 of this issue.
Effects of climate change on the distribution of ecologically interacting species: butterflies and their main food plants in Spain
Authors: Romo H. , García‐Barros E. , Márquez A. L. , Moreno J. C. , Real R.
Published: July 2014

Global climatic change exerts a generalised impact on species ranges, which could be problematic if ecologically‐related species differ in their geographical response to climate change. Therefore, a combination of distribution modelling protocols is required to predict the future impacts of global warming on sets of different ecologically‐dependent species. We test the extent to which the predicted future distributions of Spanish monophagous butterfly species, as estimated on the basis of climatic and physiographic variables, would differ depending on whether the geographic distribution of their larval food plants was taken into account or not. Using the favourability function as the modelling tool and fuzzy logic to combine butterfly and plant models, we extrapolated climatic favourability models for the butterfly, the plant and the butterfly–plant combination to the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070, 2071–2100. All the models obtained were significant and the predicted butterfly–plant interactions indicated that larval food plants will represent in the future a greater constraint on butterfly species distributions. Climatic favourability for butterflies was expected to increase in the future more than the climatic favourability for the food plants. The plant data had relevant effects on the predicted future ranges of butterflies, which were generally expected to contract due to the effect of climate change on the plant. This highlights the view that opposite to recent results stating that climate is the primary driving force of butterfly distributions in Europe, variables other than those directly related to climate may exert a leading role in the near future. These include direct biotic interactions such as dependence on host plants, at least for highly specialised (monophagous) species of phytophagous insects.