bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ProxImaL
Authors: Heide Felix , Diamond Steven , Nießner Matthias , Ragan-Kelley Jonathan , Heidrich Wolfgang , Wetzstein Gordon
Published: July 2016

Computational photography systems are becoming increasingly diverse, while computational resources---for example on mobile platforms---are rapidly increasing. As diverse as these camera systems may be, slightly different variants of the underlying image processing tasks, such as demosaicking, deconvolution, denoising, inpainting, image fusion, and alignment, are shared between all of these systems. Formal optimization methods have recently been demonstrated to achieve state-of-the-art quality for many of these applications. Unfortunately, different combinations of natural image priors and optimization algorithms may be optimal for different problems, and implementing and testing each combination is currently a time-consuming and error-prone process. ProxImaL is a domain-specific language and compiler for image optimization problems that makes it easy to experiment with different problem formulations and algorithm choices. The language uses proximal operators as the fundamental building blocks of a variety of linear and nonlinear image formation models and cost functions, advanced image priors, and noise models. The compiler intelligently chooses the best way to translate a problem formulation and choice of optimization algorithm into an efficient solver implementation. In applications to the image processing pipeline, deconvolution in the presence of Poisson-distributed shot noise, and burst denoising, we show that a few lines of ProxImaL code can generate highly efficient solvers that achieve state-of-the-art results. We also show applications to the nonlinear and nonconvex problem of phase retrieval.
An anatomically-constrained local deformation model for monocular face capture
Authors: Wu Chenglei , Bradley Derek , Gross Markus , Beeler Thabo
Published: July 2016

We present a new anatomically-constrained local face model and fitting approach for tracking 3D faces from 2D motion data in very high quality. In contrast to traditional global face models, often built from a large set of blendshapes, we propose a local deformation model composed of many small subspaces spatially distributed over the face. Our local model offers far more flexibility and expressiveness than global blendshape models, even with a much smaller model size. This flexibility would typically come at the cost of reduced robustness, in particular during the under-constrained task of monocular reconstruction. However, a key contribution of this work is that we consider the face anatomy and introduce subspace skin thickness constraints into our model, which constrain the face to only valid expressions and helps counteract depth ambiguities in monocular tracking. Given our new model, we present a novel fitting optimization that allows 3D facial performance reconstruction from a single view at extremely high quality, far beyond previous fitting approaches. Our model is flexible, and can be applied also when only sparse motion data is available, for example with marker-based motion capture or even face posing from artistic sketches. Furthermore, by incorporating anatomical constraints we can automatically estimate the rigid motion of the skull, obtaining a rigid stabilization of the performance for free. We demonstrate our model and single-view fitting method on a number of examples, including, for the first time, extreme local skin deformation caused by external forces such as wind, captured from a single high-speed camera.
Computational design of reconfigurables
Authors: Garg Akash , Jacobson Alec , Grinspun Eitan
Published: July 2016

A reconfigurable is an object or collection of objects whose transformation between various states defines its functionality or aesthetic appeal. For example, consider a mechanical assembly composed of interlocking pieces, a transforming folding bicycle, or a space-saving arrangement of apartment furniture. Unlike traditional computer-aided design of static objects, specialized tools are required to address problems unique to the computational design and revision of objects undergoing rigid transformations. Collisions and interpenetrations as objects transition from one configuration to another prevent the physical realization of a design. We present a software environment intended to support fluid interactive design of reconfigurables, featuring tools that identify, visualize, monitor and resolve infeasible configurations. We demonstrate the versatility of the environment on a number of examples spanning mechanical systems, urban dwelling, and interlocking puzzles, some of which we then realize via additive manufacturing.

Spatial-temporal information about collisions between objects is presented to the designer according to a cascading order of precedence. A designer may quickly determine when, and then where, and then how objects are colliding. This precedence guides the design and implementation of our four-dimensional spacetime bounding volume hierarchy for interactive-rate collision detection. On screen, the designer experiences a suite of interactive visualization and monitoring tools during editing: timeline notifications of new collisions, picture-in-picture windows for tracking collisions and suggestive hints for contact resolution. Contacts too tedious to remove manually can be eliminated automatically via our proposed constrained numerical optimization and swept-volume carving.
A compiler for 3D machine knitting
Authors: McCann James , Albaugh Lea , Narayanan Vidya , Grow April , Matusik Wojciech , Mankoff Jennifer , Hodgins Jessica
Published: July 2016

Industrial knitting machines can produce finely detailed, seamless, 3D surfaces quickly and without human intervention. However, the tools used to program them require detailed manipulation and understanding of low-level knitting operations. We present a compiler that can automatically turn assemblies of high-level shape primitives (tubes, sheets) into low-level machine instructions. These high-level shape primitives allow knit objects to be scheduled, scaled, and otherwise shaped in ways that require thousands of edits to low-level instructions. At the core of our compiler is a heuristic transfer planning algorithm for knit cycles, which we prove is both sound and complete. This algorithm enables the translation of high-level shaping and scheduling operations into needle-level operations. We show a wide range of examples produced with our compiler and demonstrate a basic visual design interface that uses our compiler as a backend.
Sky is not the limit
Authors: Tsai Yi-Hsuan , Shen Xiaohui , Lin Zhe , Sunkavalli Kalyan , Yang Ming-Hsuan
Published: July 2016

Skies are common backgrounds in photos but are often less interesting due to the time of photographing. Professional photographers correct this by using sophisticated tools with painstaking efforts that are beyond the command of ordinary users. In this work, we propose an automatic background replacement algorithm that can generate realistic, artifact-free images with a diverse styles of skies. The key idea of our algorithm is to utilize visual semantics to guide the entire process including sky segmentation, search and replacement. First we train a deep convolutional neural network for semantic scene parsing, which is used as visual prior to segment sky regions in a coarse-to-fine manner. Second, in order to find proper skies for replacement, we propose a data-driven sky search scheme based on semantic layout of the input image. Finally, to re-compose the stylized sky with the original foreground naturally, an appearance transfer method is developed to match statistics locally and semantically. We show that the proposed algorithm can automatically generate a set of visually pleasing results. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm with extensive user studies.
Efficient and precise interactive hand tracking through joint, continuous optimization of pose and correspondences
Authors: Taylor Jonathan , Bordeaux Lucas , Cashman Thomas , Corish Bob , Keskin Cem , Sharp Toby , Soto Eduardo , Sweeney David , Valentin Julien , Luff Benjamin , Topalian Arran , Wood Erroll , Khamis Sameh , Kohli Pushmeet , Izadi Shahram , Banks Richard , Fitzgibbon Andrew , Shotton Jamie
Published: July 2016

Fully articulated hand tracking promises to enable fundamentally new interactions with virtual and augmented worlds, but the limited accuracy and efficiency of current systems has prevented widespread adoption. Today's dominant paradigm uses machine learning for initialization and recovery followed by iterative model-fitting optimization to achieve a detailed pose fit. We follow this paradigm, but make several changes to the model-fitting, namely using: (1) a more discriminative objective function; (2) a smooth-surface model that provides gradients for non-linear optimization; and (3) joint optimization over both the model pose and the correspondences between observed data points and the model surface. While each of these changes may actually
increase
the cost per fitting iteration, we find a compensating decrease in the number of iterations. Further, the wide basin of convergence means that fewer starting points are needed for successful model fitting. Our system runs in real-time on CPU only, which frees up the commonly over-burdened GPU for experience designers. The hand tracker is efficient enough to run on low-power devices such as tablets. We can track up to several meters from the camera to provide a large working volume for interaction, even using the noisy data from current-generation depth cameras. Quantitative assessments on standard datasets show that the new approach exceeds the state of the art in accuracy. Qualitative results take the form of live recordings of a range of interactive experiences enabled by this new approach.
Evaluation of Relations between Extreme Precipitation and Temperature in Observational Time Series from the Czech Republic
Authors: Martinkova Marta , Hanel Martin
Published: July 2016

The intensity of precipitation extremes is expected to increase as the climate warms and it may cause floods and increase erosion. From the Clausius-Clapeyron relation (CC) it follows that the maximum moisture content of the atmosphere increases by approximately 7% per degree as temperature rises. However, the increases in observed hourly precipitation extremes of approximately two times the CC relation were described recently. This super CC scaling is attributed to the increased prevalence of convective rainfall and decreased prevalence of stratiform rainfall as temperatures increase. We carried out the disaggregation of precipitation into prevailing stratiform and convective component on the observational data from the Czech Republic for 1966–2006. Then, we analyzed trends in characteristics of disaggregated events and assessed correlation of precipitation intensities with daily mean temperature. The results suggest the increasing trend of convective precipitation in summer. The scaling for total rain events is steeper than for the events with prevailing convective component and for the events with prevailing stratiform component. It is a result of mixing of the two storm types. At higher temperature the events with prevailing convective component prevail and vice versa.
Pharmacological Evaluation of Naproxen Metal Complexes on Antinociceptive, Anxiolytic, CNS Depressant, and Hypoglycemic Properties
Authors: Hasan Md. Sharif , Das Narhari , Al Mahmud Zobaer , Abdur Rahman S. M.
Published: July 2016

Purpose. The present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive, anxiolytic, CNS depressant, and hypoglycemic effects of the naproxen metal complexes.Methods. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing method and radiant heat tail-flick method while anxiolytic activity was evaluated by elevated plus maze model. The CNS depressant activity of naproxen metal complexes was assessed using phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time test and the hypoglycemic test was performed using oral glucose tolerance test.Results. Metal complexes significantly (P<0.001) reduced the number of abdominal muscle contractions induced by 0.7% acetic acid solution in a dose dependent manner. At the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight p.o. copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes exhibited higher antinociceptive activity having 59.15%, 60.56%, and 57.75% of writhing inhibition, respectively, than the parent ligand naproxen (54.93%). In tail-flick test, at both doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, the copper, cobalt, silver, and zinc complexes showed higher antinociceptive activity after 90 minutes than the parent drug naproxen. In elevated plus maze (EPM) model the cobalt and zinc complexes of naproxen showed significant anxiolytic effects in dose dependent manner, while the copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes showed significant CNS depressant and hypoglycemic activity.Conclusion. The present study demonstrated that copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes possess higher antinociceptive, anxiolytic, CNS depressant, and hypoglycemic properties than the parent ligand.
Implications of Hydrogen Sulfide in Glucose Regulation: How H2S Can Alter Glucose Homeostasis through Metabolic Hormones
Authors: Pichette Jennifer , Gagnon Jeffrey
Published: July 2016

Diabetes and its comorbidities continue to be a major health problem worldwide. Understanding the precise mechanisms that control glucose homeostasis and their dysregulation during diabetes are a major research focus. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important regulator of glucose homeostasis. This is achieved through its production and action in several metabolic and hormone producing organs including the pancreas, liver, and adipose. Of importance, H2S production and signaling in these tissues are altered during both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This review first examines how H2S is produced both endogenously and by gastrointestinal microbes, with a particular focus on the altered production that occurs during obesity and diabetes. Next, the action of H2S on the metabolic organs with key roles in glucose homeostasis, with a particular focus on insulin, is described. Recent work has also suggested that the effects of H2S on glucose homeostasis goes beyond its role in insulin secretion. Several studies have demonstrated important roles for H2S in hepatic glucose output and adipose glucose uptake. The mechanism of H2S action on these metabolic organs is described. In the final part of this review, future directions examining the roles of H2S in other metabolic and glucoregulatory hormone secreting tissues are proposed.
Alternative Confidence Interval Methods Used in the Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
Authors: Erdoğan Semra , Gülhan Orekıcı Temel
Published: July 2016

Background/Aim. It is necessary to decide whether the newly improved methods are better than the standard or reference test or not. To decide whether the new diagnostics test is better than the gold standard test/imperfect standard test, the differences of estimated sensitivity/specificity are calculated with the help of information obtained from samples. However, to generalize this value to the population, it should be given with the confidence intervals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the confidence interval methods developed for the differences between the two dependent sensitivity/specificity values on a clinical application.Materials and Methods. In this study, confidence interval methods like Asymptotic Intervals, Conditional Intervals, Unconditional Interval, Score Intervals, and Nonparametric Methods Based on Relative Effects Intervals are used. Besides, as clinical application, data used in diagnostics study by Dickel et al. (2010) has been taken as a sample.Results. The results belonging to the alternative confidence interval methods for Nickel Sulfate, Potassium Dichromate, and Lanolin Alcohol are given as a table.Conclusion. While preferring the confidence interval methods, the researchers have to consider whether the case to be compared is single ratio or dependent binary ratio differences, the correlation coefficient between the rates in two dependent ratios and the sample sizes.
Two Case Reports on Thalamic and Basal Ganglia Involvement in Children with Dengue Fever
Authors: Liyanage Guwani , Adhikari Lihini , Wijesekera Saraji , Wijayawardena Maheshaka , Chandrasiri Suchithra
Published: July 2016

There have been increasing numbers of case reports of dengue infection with unusual manifestations. Such unusual manifestations including acute liver failure and encephalopathy could be manifested even in the absence of significant plasma leakage. Further, severe organ involvement including nervous system involvement indicates severe dengue infection. However, neurological manifestations of dengue fever are rare. This is the first case report of dengue infection with thalamic and basal ganglia involvement in Sri Lanka.
Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Aging: A Histopathological, Morphometric and Immunohistochemical Study of Estrogen Receptor β and Androgen Receptor
Authors: Seleit Iman , Bakry Ola Ahmed , El Repey Hala Saed , Ali Raghdaa
Published: July 2016

Skin is a target organ of sex steroids which play important roles in skin health and disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and androgen receptor (AR) in human skin from different age groups for a better understanding of the hormonal regulation of skin aging. Using standard immunohistochemical techniques, biopsies of sun-unprotected and sun-protected skin were taken from 60 normal subjects. Sun-protected skin showed significantly higher immunoreactivity for ERβ and AR compared to sun-unprotected skin of all age groups. Significantly higher ERβ H score and percent of expression were associated with the 20-35 years age group compared to the groups that were 35-50 years and >50 years old (p < 0.02, p = 0.03, respectively) in sun-unprotected and sun-protected skin (p < 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively). AR H score showed a negative correlation with age (p = 0.04) with no significant difference in immunoreactivity in different age groups, either in sun-unprotected or sun-protected skin. There was also a significant correlation between ERβ H score and epidermal thickness in sun-unprotected (p = 0.04) and sun-protected skin (p = 0.04) in studied subjects regardless of age. The same relationships did not reach significance with AR expression. However, a significant positive correlation was detected between H scores and percent of expression of ERβ and AR in sun-unprotected (p = 0.01, p = 0.02, respectively) and sun-protected skin (p = 0.005, p = 0.02, respectively) regardless of age. In conclusion, both ERβ and AR decline gradually with intrinsic and extrinsic aging. This decline is more obvious with extrinsic aging. Further large-scaled studies are recommended to expand, validate and translate current findings to clinically significant, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Molecular studies to investigate the probable ligand-independent action of both receptors are warranted. In addition, their gene expression patterns and associated signaling and metabolic pathways can also be tackled to provide a basis for further interventions in pathological processes that involve their dysregulation.
Apremilast Use for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Saporito Rachael C. , Cohen David J.
Published: July 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic skin disease often complicated by bacterial superinfection affecting 10.7% of American children. The pathogenesis involves a skin barrier breakdown in addition to dysfunctional innate and adaptive immune response, including an unbalanced increase in T-helper 2 cells and hyperimmunoglobulinemia E. The increased numbers of T-helper 2 cells are involved in stimulating the production of immunoglobulin E and eosinophilia by releasing interleukin-4, -5, and -13 as well as in decreasing protection against bacterial superinfection by releasing interleukin-10. The current Food and Drug Administration-approved symptomatic treatment for AD includes topical ointments, topical and systemic corticosteroids, topical immunomodulant therapy, antibiotics, and phototherapy, but there are not approved targeted therapies or cures. By presenting a case of an 8-year-old African-American boy, this case report supports novel therapy of moderate-to-severe AD with apremilast, a phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor. Apremilast has recently completed the phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02087943) for treatment of AD in adults. This case report illustrates the potential for apremilast as a treatment for AD in children, where there is a great need for safe and effective medications.
Mechanisms of the Evolutionary Chromosome Plasticity: Integrating the ‘Centromere-from-Telomere' Hypothesis with Telomere Length Regulation
Authors: Slijepcevic Predrag
Published: July 2016

The ‘centromere-from-telomere' hypothesis proposed by Villasante et al. [2007a] aims to explain the evolutionary origin of the eukaryotic chromosome. The hypothesis is based on the notion that the process of eukaryogenesis was initiated by adaptive responses of the symbiont eubacterium and its archaeal host to their new conditions. The adaptive responses included fragmentation of the circular genome of the host into multiple linear fragments with free DNA ends. The action of mobile genetic elements stabilized the free DNA ends resulting in the formation of proto-telomeres. Sequences next to the proto-telomeres, the subtelomeric sequences, were immediately targeted as the new cargo by the tubulin-based cytoskeleton, thus becoming proto-centromeres. A period of genomic instability followed. Eventually, functioning centromeres and telomeres emerged heralding the arrival of the eukaryotic chromosome in the evolution. This paper expands the ‘centromere-from-telomere' hypothesis by integrating it with 2 sets of data: chromosome-specific telomere length distribution and chromomere size gradient. The integration adds a new dimension to the hypothesis but also provides an insight into the mechanisms of chromosome plasticity underlying karyotype evolution.
Associations of Blood Pressure with Functional and Cognitive Changes in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: de Oliveira Fabricio Ferreira , Chen Elizabeth Suchi , Smith Marilia Cardoso , Bertolucci Paulo Henrique Ferreira
Published: July 2016

Background: Midlife hypertension followed by late life hypotension resulting from neurodegeneration increases amyloidogenesis and tauopathy. Methods: Consecutive outpatients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) at various stages and their respective caregivers were assessed for score variations in 1 year of tests assessing caregiver burden, functionality and cognition according to blood pressure (BP) variations and APOE haplotypes, while also taking into account differential effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, or no antihypertensive medication on score changes. The diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension followed the JNC 7 report. Results: Variations in systolic BP (-11.76 ± 17.1 mm Hg), diastolic BP (-4.92 ± 10.3 mm Hg) and pulse pressure (-6.84 ± 12.6 mm Hg) were significant after 1 year (n = 191; ρ < 0.01). For APOE4+ carriers, rises in systolic or diastolic BP improved Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes scores (ρ < 0.04), with marginally significant improvements in Mini-Mental State Examination scores resulting from risen systolic (ρ = 0.069) or diastolic BP (ρ = 0.079), and in basic independence only regarding risen diastolic BP (ρ = 0.055). APOE4- carriers resisted any functional or cognitive effects of BP variations. No differences were found regarding any antihypertensive class for variations in BP or any test scores, regardless of APOE haplotypes. Conclusions: Targeting mild BP elevations brings better functional and cognitive results for APOE4+ carriers with AD.
Analysis of Lynch Syndrome Mismatch Repair Genes in Women with Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Rubio Izaskun , Ibáñez-Feijoo Eduardo , Andrés Leire , Aguirre Elena , Balmaña Judith , Blay Pilar , Llort Gemma , González-Santiago Santiago , Maortua Hiart , Tejada Maria Isabel , Martinez-Bouzas Cristina
Published: July 2016

Objective: Endometrial cancer is the second most frequent neoplasm in women with Lynch syndrome (LS). We sought to assess whether analyzing women with endometrial cancer would identify families with LS not identified with current clinical criteria. Methods: We included women diagnosed with endometrial cancer younger than 50 years and also older if they had a family cancer history associated with LS. In blood samples obtained, we analyzed mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, as well as protein expression by immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability (MSI) in tumour tissue. Results: A total of 103 patients were enrolled. We detected 14 pathogenic mutations and 4 genetic variants of unknown clinical significance in MMR genes. We found MSI in 41.66% of the women with a pathogenic mutation. In this group, 76.92% showed loss of at least one MMR protein. Women with mutations were younger at diagnosis, but all of them had a family history compatible with LS. Conclusions: Analysis of the MMR genes, in particular MSH6, seems to be appropriate in women with endometrial cancer and a family history of tumours associated with LS.
Against the Führerprinzip: For Collective Leadership
Authors: Brown Archie
Published: July 2016

The Führerprinzip has not been confined to Nazi Germany. The cult of the strong leader thrives in many authoritarian regimes and has its echoes even in contemporary democracies. The belief that the more power a president or prime minister wields the more we should be impressed by that politician is a dangerous fallacy. In authoritarian regimes, a more collective leadership is a lesser evil than personal dictatorship. In countries moving from authoritarian rule to democracy, collegial, inclusive, and collective leadership is more conducive to successful transition than great concentration of power in the hands of one individual at the top of the hierarchy. Democracies also benefit from a government led by a team in which there is no obsequiousness or hesitation in contradicting the top leader. Wise decisions are less likely to be forthcoming when one person can predetermine the outcome of a meeting or foreclose the discussion by pulling rank.
Land flatworms of the genus Pasipha (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) in Argentina, with description of three new species
Authors: NEGRETE LISANDRO , BRUSA FRANCISCO
Published: July 2016

The genus Pasipha Ogren & Kawakatsu, 1990 currently includes 22 species, most of them recorded in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Recently, Pasipha hauseri was documented in north-eastern Argentina, thus extending its distribution range. This paper reports new records of the genus Pasipha in the Interior Atlantic Forest ecoregion in Argentina, with the description of three new species: Pasipha atla sp. nov., Pasipha johnsoni sp. nov., and Pasipha mbya sp. nov. These new species exhibit similarities in internal anatomy, such as pharynx cylindrical, extrabulbar prostatic vesicle with folded walls and proximally forked, male atrium highly folded, being at least two times longer than the female atrium and with small folds in their proximal portion. However, they can be distinguished from each other mainly by the secretion types discharged into the prostatic vesicle as well as into the male and female atria. In addition, they have different colour patterns on the dorsal surface.
A remarkable fossil leptosaldine bug from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodomorpha: Leptopodidae)
Authors: POPOV YURI A. , HEISS ERNST
Published: July 2016

A new genus and species of leptosaldine bugs, Leptosaldinea cobbeni gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodidae) is described and illustrated from Burmese Middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) amber found in Kachin State, northern Myanmar. This is the third record of a leptosaldine bug from Burmese amber. A brief analysis of the characters and systematic relationships of Leptosaldinae is provided.
Climate Change in the Kola Peninsula, Arctic Russia, during the Last 50 Years from Meteorological Observations
Authors: Marshall Gareth J. , Vignols Rebecca M. , Rees W. G.
Published: July 2016

The authors provide a detailed climatology and evaluation of recent climate change in the Kola Peninsula, Arctic Russia, a region influenced by both the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The analysis is based on 50 years of monthly surface air temperature (SAT), precipitation (PPN), and sea level pressure (SLP) data from 10 meteorological stations for 1966–2015. Regional mean annual SAT is ~0°C: the moderating effect of the ocean is such that coastal (inland) stations have a positive (negative) value. Examined mean annual PPN totals rise from ~430 mm in the northeast of the region to ~600 mm in the west. Annual SAT in the Kola Peninsula has increased by 2.3° ± 1.0°C over the past 50 years. Seasonally, statistically significant warming has taken place in spring and fall, although the largest trend has occurred in winter. Although there has been no significant change in annual PPN, spring has become significantly wetter and fall drier. The former is associated with the only significant seasonal SLP trend (decrease). A positive winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is generally associated with a warmer and wetter Kola Peninsula whereas a positive Siberian high (SH) index has the opposite impact. The relationship between both the NAO and SH and the SAT is broadly coherent across the region whereas their relationship with PPN varies markedly, although none of the relationships is temporally invariant. Reduced sea ice in the Barents and White Seas and associated circulation changes are likely to be the principal drivers behind the observed changes.
Regression Mixture Model Clustering of Multimodel Ensemble Forecasts of Hurricane Sandy: Partition Characteristics
Authors: Kowaleski Alex M. , Evans Jenni L.
Published: July 2016

Track and cyclone phase space (CPS) forecasts of Hurricane Sandy from four global ensemble prediction systems are clustered using regression mixture models. Bayesian information criterion, cluster assignment strength, and mean-squared forecast error are used to select optimal model specifications. Fourth-order (third order) polynomials for 168-h forecasts (60-h forecast segments) and 5 (6) clusters for track (CPS) forecasts are selected.

Mean cluster paths from eight initialization times show that track and CPS clustering meaningfully partition potential tracks and structural evolutions, distilling a large number of ensemble members into several representative and distinct solutions. Rand index and adjusted Rand index calculations demonstrate a relationship between track and CPS cluster membership for both 168-h forecasts and 60-h forecast segments, indicating that certain tracks are preferentially associated with certain structural evolutions. These relationships are explained in greater detail using forecasts initialized at 0000 UTC 25 October.

Storm-centered cluster composite maps of 500-hPa geopotential height and 850-hPa equivalent potential temperature for the 120-h forecast valid at 0000 UTC 30 October (initialized at 0000 UTC 25 October) indicate that both track and CPS clustering successfully capture variations in the Sandy–trough interaction and the strength of the lower-troposphere warm core of Sandy at the time of observed landfall. Together, these results illustrate the relationship between the track and structural evolution of Sandy and suggest the potential of multiensemble mixture-model path clustering for tropical cyclone forecasting.
Pressure/flow modeling and induced seismicity resulting from two decades of high-pressure deep-well brine injection, Paradox Valley, Colorado
Authors: King Vanessa M. , Block Lisa V. , Wood Christopher K.
Published: July 2016

The Bureau of Reclamation operates a deep injection well near Paradox Valley, Colorado. Intermittent injection testing began in 1991, followed by near-continuous injection since 1996. Daily average injection flow rates and surface injection pressures have been recorded since 1991, and seismicity has been monitored since 1985. Before the injection flow rate was decreased in 2013 in response to the largest induced earthquake to date, observed wellhead pressures were increasing and approaching the maximum permitted pressure. Potential solutions were needed to provide long-term reductions in wellhead pressures and to minimize the occurrence of future large-magnitude induced earthquakes. A key step in this process is to establish whether the trend of increasing pressures is more likely caused by far-field reservoir pressurization or near-well flow impairment. The spatiotemporal occurrence of induced seismicity is fit relatively well by a 1D diffusive triggering front relationship, suggesting that the reservoir can be modeled as a porous medium. Simple 1D, uncoupled porous models are therefore used to analyze the wellhead pressure response for the period of long-term injection. These simple models are found to provide a reasonable fit to the pressure/flow data. We did not observe the expected changes in the model parameters that would indicate significant near-well flow impairment, and thus we have concluded that the observed pressure increase is more likely related to far-field pressurization. Somewhat surprisingly, given the complex geologic structure and the heterogeneity in the locations of induced seismicity, the analysis demonstrates the ability of a simple radially symmetric porous model to fit the pressure/flow data in the near-well area (within approximately 2 km). Although the induced seismicity data suggest significant heterogeneity, the daily average wellhead pressure/flow data are insensitive to these features. In the absence of additional constraints, use of more complicated models is unlikely to produce substantial additional benefit for modeling in the near-well area.
Wavefield reconstruction by interpolating significantly decimated boundaries
Authors: Yang Pengliang , Brossier Romain , Virieux Jean
Published: July 2016

Many practical seismic applications such as reverse time migration (RTM) and full-waveform inversion (FWI) are usually computation and memory intensive. To perform crosscorrelation in RTM or build the gradient for FWI, it is mandatory to access the forward and adjoint wavefields simultaneously. To do this, there are three methods: One is to read the stored forward wavefield from the disk, the second is using the final snapshot and the stored boundaries via reverse propagation, and the third is remodeling using checkpointing from stored state to another state. Among these techniques, wavefield reconstruction by reverse propagation appears to be a quite straightforward approach; however, it suffers a stringent memory bottleneck for 3D large-scale imaging applications. The Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) condition is a fundamental criterion to determine temporal sampling to achieve stable wavefield extrapolation. The injection of the boundary sequence in time is essentially determined by Nyquist sampling principle, rather than the time interval given by CFL, which is much smaller than the Nyquist requirement. Based on this recognition, we have developed three boundary interpolation techniques, such as the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) interpolation, Kaiser windowed sinc interpolation, and Lagrange polynomial interpolation, for wavefield reconstruction to move from CFL to the Nyquist limit. Wavefield reconstruction via DFT interpolation can be implemented by folding and unfolding steps in the forward simulation and backward reconstruction on the fly. Compared with the DFT interpolation, the wavefield reconstruction methods using Kaiser windowed sinc interpolation and Lagrange polynomial interpolation have better efficiency while remaining a competitive accuracy. These methods allow us to dramatically decimate the boundary without significant loss of information, and they nicely reconstruct the boundary elements in between the samples, making the in-core memory saving of the boundaries feasible in 3D large-scale imaging applications.
Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life of Adults With Down Syndrome
Authors: Graves Rebecca Jermyn , Graff J. Carolyn , Esbensen Anna J. , Hathaway Donna K. , Wan Jim Y. , Wicks Mona Newsome
Published: July 2016

This study examined self- and caregiver-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of 60 adults with Down syndrome (DS) using the QualityMetric Short Form-12 version 2 (SF-12v2). All HRQOL scores exceeded means and fell within one standard deviation of the SF-12v2 normative sample. Similarities between eight self- and caregiver-reported HRQOL scales were found with the exception of role physical scores (impact of health problems on typical accomplishments), which were lower when obtained by caregiver-report. A positive association was found between self- and caregiver-reported physical functioning scores (impact of health problems on physical activity). The SF-12v2 had high construct validity in this study. These findings support the feasibility of measuring HRQOL of adults with DS using self-report rather than reliance on caregiver-report.
Texture Feature Extraction by Using Local Binary Pattern
Authors: Prakasa Esa
Published: July 2016

Local Binary Pattern (LBP) is a method that used to describe texture characteristics of the surfaces. By applying LBP, texture pattern probability can be summarised into a histogram. LBP values need to be determined for all of the image pixels. Texture regularity might be determined based on the distribution shape of the LBP histogram. The implementation results of LBP on two texture types - synthetic and natural textures - shows that extracted texture feature can be used as input for pattern classification. Euclidean distance method is applied to classify the texture pattern obtained from LBPcomputation.
Da didática da História à história da História ensinada
Authors: Munakata Kazumi
Published: July 2016

Nas discussões atuais no campo do ensinode História, o grupo da autodenominadaDidática da História (ou Geschichtsdidaktik)postula que a questão deve ultrapassar os muros da escola para examinar todas as ‘elaborações da Histórias em forma científica’, ou seja, aquelasque não resultam de pesquisas acadêmicas.Essa Didática não pertenceria, portanto,ao âmbito da Educação, mas da própria Ciência da História. Pode-se, no entanto, perguntar se a atividade do professor(escolar) de História é da mesma natureza que a dos jornalistas, cineastas,profissionais de museu, autores de história em quadrinhos, conversas de donasde casa sobre a situação do país etc. O artigo discute essas questões e propõe como alternativa um roteiro para a construçãode uma história da História ensinada,indicando as condições históricasimplicadas na constituição da disciplinaescolar denominada História, tendo comoreferenciais a teoria curricular e ahistória das disciplinas escolares.
Changes in the division of labor within highly educated German couples when the first child is born
Authors: Dechant Anna , Blossfeld Hans-Peter
Published: July 2016

When becoming parents for the first time, German couples often adapt their division of paid and unpaid work, creating a more gender-specific allocation. Using longitudinal data from the qualitative event-centered project “Household division of domestic labor as a process”, we compare theoretically- postulated mechanisms of change in the division of work within couples with explanations given by the couples interviewed themselves. Our qualitative analysis demonstrates that economic and gender norm theories are quite successful at predicting changes towards a more traditional specialization when couples become parents for the first time, while they are less helpful in explaining the persistence of equal arrangements in the domestic division of work, or the change towards more equal arrangements. The interviews also show that the explanations which differentiate – within unpaid work – between childcare and housework are a better predictor of the realities of the arrangements. Furthermore, the causal order of the decisions suggested by the theories differs from the couples’ actual decision making processes: when facing the transition to parenthood, they decide first upon the division of childcare, and then of labor market activity and housework.

Zusammenfassung

Der Übergang zur Erstelternschaft und Veränderungen der innerfamilialen Arbeitsteilung bei hochgebildeten Paaren in Deutschland Wenn Paare in Deutschland Eltern werden, verändern sie häufig ihre Aufteilung von bezahlter und unbezahlter Arbeit in Richtung eines geschlechtsspezifischen Arrangements. Auf Basis von qualitativen, ereigniszentrierten Längsschnittdaten des Projektes “Innerfamiliale Arbeitsteilung als Prozess” vergleicht der vorliegende Artikel theoretische Annahmen zu Veränderungen der Arbeitsteilung in Paarbeziehungen mit den Erklärungen, die hochgebildete Paare selbst geben. Unsere qualitative Analyse zeigt, dass sowohl ökonomische als auch Gender-Theorien relativ erfolgreich erklären, warum Paare sich für eine eher traditionelle Spezialisierung der Arbeiten entscheiden, wenn sie den Übergang zur Erstelternschaft erleben. Diese Theorien sind hingegen weniger erfolgreich darin, zu erklären, warum Paare egalitäre Arrangements beibehalten oder wählen. Anhand der qualitativen Interviews wird ersichtlich, dass Erklärungsmuster, die im Bereich der unbezahlten Arbeit zwischen Kinderbetreuung und Hausarbeit unterscheiden, besser die Realität der Paare erfassen. Darüber hinaus ist die von den Theorien vorgeschlagene kausale Reihenfolge der Entscheidungen eine andere als die der Paare: im Übergang zur Elternschaft entscheiden werdende Eltern zunächst über die Kinderbetreuung und dann über Erwerbstätigkeit und Hausarbeit.
Regulation of Intestinal Epithelial Calcium Transport Proteins by Stanniocalcin-1 in Caco2 Cells
Authors: Xiang Jinmei , Guo Rui , Wan Chunyun , Wu Liming , Yang Shijin , Guo Dingzong
Published: July 2016

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is a calcium and phosphate regulatory hormone. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying how STC1 affects Ca2+ uptake remain unclear. Here, the expression levels of the calcium transport proteins involved in transcellular transport in Caco2 cells were examined following over-expression or inhibition of STC1. These proteins include the transient receptor potential vanilloid members (TRPV) 5 and 6, the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1b (PMCA1b), the sodium/calcium exchanger (NCX1), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Both gene and protein expressions of TRPV5 and TRPV6 were attenuated in response to over-expression of STC1, and the opposite trend was observed in cells treated with siRNASTC1. To further investigate the ability of STC1 to influence TRPV6 expression, cells were treated with 100 ng/mL of recombinant human STC1 (rhSTC1) for 4 h following pre-transfection with siRNASTC1 for 48 h. Intriguingly, the increase in the expression of TRPV6 resulting from siRNASTC1 was reversed by rhSTC1. No significant effect of STC1 on the expression of PMCA1b, NCX1 or VDR was observed in this study. In conclusion, the effect of STC1 on calcium transport in intestinal epithelia is due to, at least in part, its negative regulation of the epithelial channels TRPV5/6 that mediate calcium influx.
Hepatocyte and Sertoli Cell Aquaporins, Recent Advances and Research Trends
Authors: Bernardino Raquel , Marinelli Raul , Maggio Anna , Gena Patrizia , Cataldo Ilaria , Alves Marco , Svelto Maria , Oliveira Pedro , Calamita Giuseppe
Published: July 2016

Aquaporins (AQPs) are proteinaceous channels widespread in nature where they allow facilitated permeation of water and uncharged through cellular membranes. AQPs play a number of important roles in both health and disease. This review focuses on the most recent advances and research trends regarding the expression and modulation, as well as physiological and pathophysiological functions of AQPs in hepatocytes and Sertoli cells (SCs). Besides their involvement in bile formation, hepatocyte AQPs are involved in maintaining energy balance acting in hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism, and in critical processes such as ammonia detoxification and mitochondrial output of hydrogen peroxide. Roles are played in clinical disorders including fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity, cholestasis, hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. In the seminiferous tubules, particularly in SCs, AQPs are also widely expressed and seem to be implicated in the various stages of spermatogenesis. Like in hepatocytes, AQPs may be involved in maintaining energy homeostasis in these cells and have a major role in the metabolic cooperation established in the testicular tissue. Altogether, this information represents the mainstay of current and future investigation in an expanding field.
Strawberry Achenes Are an Important Source of Bioactive Compounds for Human Health
Authors: Ariza María , Reboredo-Rodríguez Patricia , Mazzoni Luca , Forbes-Hernández Tamara , Giampieri Francesca , Afrin Sadia , Gasparrini Massimiliano , Soria Carmen , Martínez-Ferri Elsa , Battino Maurizio , Mezzetti Bruno
Published: July 2016

Strawberries are highly appreciated for their taste, nutritional value and antioxidant compounds, mainly phenolics. Fruit antioxidants derive from achenes and flesh, but achene contribution to the total fruit antioxidant capacity and to the bioaccessibility after intake is still unknown. In this work, the content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP and DPPH) of achenes and flesh were compared in non-digested as well as in gastric and intestinal extracts after in vitro digestion. Results showed that, despite strawberry achenes represent a small fraction of the fruit, their contribution to total fruit antioxidant content was more than 41% and accounted for 81% of antioxidant capacity (TEAC). Achenes have higher quantity and different quality of antioxidants in non-digested and digested extracts. Antioxidant release was higher in the in vitro gastric digested extracts, but digestion conditions did not only affect quantity but quality, resulting in differences in antioxidant capacity and highlighting the importance of simulating physiological-like extraction conditions for assessing fruit antioxidant properties on human health. These results give new insights into the use of strawberry achenes as a source of bioactive compounds to be considered in strawberry breeding programs for improving human health.