bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and acceptability of nurse-led youth clinics in Australian general practice
Authors: Hegarty Kelsey , Parker Rhian , Newton Danielle , Forrest Laura , Seymour Janelle , Sanci Lena
Published: May 2013

Internationally, youth access to primary health care is problematic due to documented barriers such as cost, concerns about confidentiality, and knowledge about when to attend and available services. The treatment of health problems earlier in life together with engagement in prevention and health education can optimise youth health and maximise the potential of future wellbeing. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability and cost of establishing nurse-led youth clinics in Victoria, Australia. Three general practices in rural and regional areas of Victoria implemented the nurse-led youth health clinics. The clinics were poorly attended by young people. Practice nurses identified several barriers to the clinic attendance including the short timeframe of the study, set times of the clinics and a lack of support for the clinics by some GPs and external youth health clinics, resulting in few referrals. The clinics cost from $5912 to $8557 to establish, which included training the practice nurses. Benefits of the clinics included increased staff knowledge about youth health issues and improved relationships within the general practice staff teams. The implementation of youth health clinics is not feasible in a short timeframe and to maximise use of the clinics, all members of the general practice team need to find the clinics acceptable.
The effect of transglutaminase on some physicochemical and sensory properties of the Turkish drinking yoghurt Ayran
Authors: Şanli Tuba , Sezgin Emel , Şenel Ebru , Benli Mehlika
Published: May 2013

This article presents research on the effect of microbial transglutaminase on the properties of Turkish drinking yoghurt Ayran. Transglutaminase (TGase) enzyme was added to Ayran milk at different production steps, after pasteurisation and together with starter culture addition, and two different incubation times (10 min and 1 h) were used. Three TGase‐treated Ayran samples and control sample were analysed on 1st, 10th and 20th days of storage. TGase addition did not cause significant changes on chemical properties of Ayran (P > 0.05). However, physical properties of Ayran were improved by TGase throughout the storage period. Compared to the untreated control sample, pretreatment of milk with enzyme increased the viscosity dramatically (P < 0.05) and prevented serum separation. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed that transglutaminase treatment of milk led to more regular distribution of proteins in Ayran gel and decreased gel permeability. TGase treatment did not show any unfavourable effect on the sensory properties of the final product.
Effect of electron beam irradiation on the shelf life of mozzarella cheese
Authors: Huo Jian‐Xin , Bai Cai‐Yan , Guo Lin‐Hai , Zhao Zheng
Published: May 2013

The effectiveness of electron beam irradiation on the shelf life of mozzarella cheese was evaluated using five different irradiation doses and a control cheese. Shelf life tests were run at 10 °C by determining the cell load of spoilage micro‐organisms monitored on the consecutive days during storage. By fitting the experimental data through a modified version of the Gompertz equation, the shelf life of samples irradiated to the different doses was calculated. Results show significant increases in the shelf life of the investigated cheese. There were slight differences in the functional properties such as stretching, oiling off, melting between irradiated and unirradiated cheeses at 260 °C in oven. Our results indicated that the electron irradiation at the dose of 2.0 kGy may inhibit the growth of spoilage micro‐organisms such as coliforms and Pseudomonas sp. without affecting the sensorial characteristics of the product.
Antifungal Effect of Allium tuberosum, Cinnamomum cassia, and Pogostemon cablin Essential Oils and Their Components Against Population of Aspergillus Species
Authors: Kocevski Dragana , Du Muying , Kan Jianquan , Jing Chengjun , Lačanin Ines , Pavlović Hrvoje
Published: May 2013

Antifungal activity of Allium tuberosum (AT), Cinnamomum cassia (CC), and Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli, P) essential oils against Aspergillus flavus strains 3.2758 and 3.4408 and Aspergillus oryzae was tested at 2 water activity levels (aw: 0.95 and 0.98). Main components of tested essential oils were: allyl trisulfide 40.05% (AT), cinnamaldehyde 87.23% (CC), and patchouli alcohol 44.52% (P). The minimal inhibitory concentration of the plant essential oils against A. flavus strains 3.2758 and 3.4408 and A. oryzae was 250 ppm (A. tuberosum and C. cassia), whereas Patchouli essential oil inhibited fungi at concentration > 1500 ppm. The essential oils exhibited suppression effect on colony growth at all concentrations (100, 175, and 250 ppm for A. tuberosum; 25, 50, and 75 for C. cassia; 100, 250, and 500 for P. cablin essential oil). Results of the study represent a solution for possible application of essential oil of C. cassia in different food systems due to its strong inhibitory effect against tested Aspergillus species. In real food system (table grapes), C. cassia essential oil exhibited stronger antifungal activity compared to cinnamaldehyde.
Layer by Layer Assembly of a Biocatalytic Packaging Film: Lactase covalently Bound to Low‐Density Polyethylene
Authors: Wong Dana E. , Talbert Joey N. , Goddard Julie M.
Published: May 2013

Active packaging is utilized to overcome limitations of traditional processing to enhance the health, safety, economics, and shelf life of foods. Active packaging employs active components to interact with food constituents to give a desired effect. Herein we describe the development of an active package in which lactase is covalently attached to low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) for in‐package production of lactose‐free dairy products. The specific goal of this work is to increase the total protein content loading onto LDPE using layer by layer (LbL) deposition, alternating polyethylenimine, glutaraldehyde (GL), and lactase, to enhance the overall activity of covalently attached lactase. The films were successfully oxidized via ultraviolet light, functionalized with polyethylenimine and glutaraldehyde, and layered with immobilized purified lactase. The total protein content increased with each additional layer of conjugated lactase, the 5‐layer sample reaching up to 1.3 μg/cm2. However, the increase in total protein did not lend to an increase in overall lactase activity. Calculated apparent Km indicated the affinity of immobilized lactase to substrate remains unchanged when compared to free lactase. Calculated apparent turnover numbers (kcat) showed with each layer of attached lactase, a decrease in substrate turnover was experienced when compared to free lactase; with a decrease from 128.43 to 4.76 s−1 for a 5‐layer conjugation. Our results indicate that while LbL attachment of lactase to LDPE successfully increases total protein mass of the bulk material, the adverse impact in enzyme efficiency may limit the application of LbL immobilization chemistry for bioactive packaging use.
Determination of Xylazine and 2,6‐Xylidine in Animal Tissues by Liquid Chromatography—Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zheng Xiaochun , Mi Xiaoxia , Li Sicong , Chen Gang
Published: May 2013

Xylazine is a potent α2‐adrenergic agonist used in veterinary medicine for sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation, and so on. Its residue in animal‐derived food may cause the food safety problem. Moreover, the metabolite 2,6‐xylidine was reported to be a genotoxic and carcinogenic compound. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a high sensitive method for analyzing xylazine and metabolite residue in animal products. Here, we described a LC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of xylazine and 2,6‐xylidine in 4 animal tissues: liver, meat, kidney, and fat. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile, and further clean up by hexane. The analysis was performed on a C18 reversed‐phase column and API 5000 Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization interface operating in the multiple‐reaction monitoring mode. For all of the investigated sample matrix, the limit of detection (limit of quantitation) for xylazine and 2,6‐xylidine were 0.06 (0.2) and 1.5 (5) μg/kg, respectively, the recoveries were between 63.5% and 90.8%. The precision was within the range of required criteria for method development. The presented method is sensitive and reproducible, and thus suitable for accurate quantification of xylazine and metabolite residue in animal‐derived food products.
Developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition: aetiology and clinical management
Authors: Salanitri S , Seow WK
Published: May 2013

Developmental enamel defects, presenting as enamel hypoplasia or opacities are caused by damage or disruption to the developing enamel organ as a result of inherited and acquired systemic conditions. The high prevalence of these defects in the primary dentition demonstrates the vulnerability of the teeth to changes in the pre‐ and postnatal environment. The presence of enamel hypoplasia increases the risk of primary teeth to early childhood caries and tooth wear as the defective enamel is thinner, more plaque retentive and less resistant to dissolution in acid compared to normal enamel. The purpose of this paper was to critically review the aetiology and clinical complications of developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition and propose recommendations for the clinical management of affected teeth.
A case of primary diffuse large B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma misdiagnosed as chronic periapical periodontitis
Authors: Jessri M , Majeed AA Abdul , Matias MA , Farah CS
Published: May 2013

Lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm of component cells of the lymphoid system which is very rare in the jaws. Here we report a case of primary diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma located in the periapical region of a mandibular molar which was misdiagnosed as chronic periapical periodontitis. The present case was diagnosed at an early stage and effectively managed by chemotherapy. Although lymphoma of the mandible is rare, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiolucent lesions in this region. Lack of knowledge of this rare presentation may lead to delays in diagnosis and poor prognosis.
Usefulness of omalizumab in ten patients with severe occupational asthma
Authors: Lavaud F. , Bonniaud P. , Dalphin J. C. , Leroyer C. , Muller D. , Tannous R. , Mangiapan G. , De Blay F.
Published: May 2013

Background

The management of severe occupational asthma (OA) remains problematic and new alternative treatments providing better disease control are required, ideally enabling affected individuals to remain in their job.

Methods

Ten patients with severe uncontrolled OA were treated with the monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody omalizumab. In six cases the causative agent was a high molecular weight (HMW) compound and in four cases it was a low molecular weight (LMW) chemical. All of the patients had well documented OA despite workplace adjustments.

Results

During treatment, nine patients exhibited a lower rate of asthma exacerbations and used less oral or inhaled corticosteroids. Seven patients were able to continue working at the same workplace as before treatment.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that omalizumab is a potential treatment for severe uncontrolled OA and enabled seven of the ten patients in the study to remain in their job.
Early skin testing is effective for diagnosis of hypersensitivity reactions occurring during anesthesia
Authors: Lafuente A. , Javaloyes G. , Berroa F. , Goikoetxea M. J. , Moncada R. , Núñez‐Córdoba J. M. , Cabrera‐Freitag P. , D'Amelio C. , Sanz M. L. , Gastaminza G.
Published: May 2013

Allergic skin tests have to be performed 4–6 weeks after an allergic anesthetic reaction. Patients with allergic reactions during anesthesia were prospectively included (n = 44). Skin tests were performed in two stages: (i) Stage 1 (S1), 0–4 days after the reaction; and (ii) Stage 2 (S2), 4–8 weeks after. Five (11.5%) surgical procedures were suspended due to the reaction. Positive skin tests were obtained in 25/44 patients (57%). Allergic diagnosis was carried out at S1 in 15/25 (60%) and at S2 in 10/25 (40%). Three patients resulted positive only in S1. Overall agreement among S1 and S2 skin tests was 70.45%. The kappa statistic was 0.41 (P‐value = 0.002). Odds ratio of obtaining a false negative in S1 (compared with S2) was 3.33. Early allergological study is useful, could minimize false negatives, but should be considered as a complement to late skin tests.
Evaluation of the Potency of Two Novel Bispyridinium Oximes (K456, K458) in Comparison with Oxime K203 and Trimedoxime to Counteract Tabun‐Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Kassa Jiri , Misik Jan , Karasova Jana Z.
Published: May 2013

The ability of two newly developed bispyridinium oximes (K456, K458) to reduce tabun‐induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms was compared with oxime K203 and trimedoxime using the functional observational battery. The neuroprotective effects of the oximes studied combined with atropine on rats poisoned with tabun at a sublethal dose (200 μg/kg i.m.; 85% of LD50 value) were evaluated. Tabun‐induced neurotoxicity was monitored by the functional observational battery and automatic measurement of motor activity at 2 hr after tabun challenge. The results indicate that all tested oximes combined with atropine enable tabun‐poisoned rats to survive till the end of experiment. Both newly developed oximes (K456, K458) combined with atropine were able to decrease tabun‐induced neurotoxicity in the case of sublethal poisonings although they did not eliminate all tabun‐induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms. Their ability to decrease tabun‐induced acute neurotoxicity was slightly higher than that of trimedoxime and oxime K203, but the difference in neuroprotective efficacy among all oximes studied is not large enough to make a decision about replacement of commonly used oximes (especially trimedoxime and obidoxime) in the treatment of acute tabun poisonings.
Daniel has fallen into a muddy puddle – Schadenfreude or sympathy?
Authors: Schulz Katrin , Rudolph Almut , Tscharaktschiew Nadine , Rudolph Udo
Published: May 2013

The present study investigated the experience of schadenfreude among children. Participants were 4‐ to 8‐year‐old children (n = 100) who were told stories of another child experiencing a misfortune while pursuing a morally positive versus morally negative goal. Schadenfreude, sympathy, and helping behaviour towards the suffering child were assessed. Results showed that beginning at the age of 4, emotional and behavioural reactions towards a misfortune of another child were predicted by the moral valence of the other child's goal. Furthermore, morally negative goals decreased helping behaviour and morally positive goals increased helping behaviour. Multilevel mediation analysis revealed that the relation between goal valence and helping behaviour was mediated by both schadenfreude and sympathy. However, those effects were especially pronounced in older children.
Diversity Selection of Compounds Based on ‘Protein Affinity Fingerprints’ Improves Sampling of Bioactive Chemical Space
Authors: Nguyen Ha P. , Koutsoukas Alexios , Mohd Fauzi Fazlin , Drakakis Georgios , Maciejewski Mateusz , Glen Robert C. , Bender Andreas
Published: May 2013

Diversity selection is a frequently applied strategy for assembling high‐throughput screening libraries, making the assumption that a diverse compound set increases chances of finding bioactive molecules. Based on previous work on experimental ‘affinity fingerprints’, in this study, a novel diversity selection method is benchmarked that utilizes predicted bioactivity profiles as descriptors. Compounds were selected based on their predicted activity against half of the targets (training set), and diversity was assessed based on coverage of the remaining (test set) targets. Simultaneously, fingerprint‐based diversity selection was performed. An original version of the method exhibited on average 5% and an improved version on average 10% increase in target space coverage compared with the fingerprint‐based methods. As a typical case, bioactivity‐based selection of 231 compounds (2%) from a particular data set (‘Cutoff‐40’) resulted in 47.0% and 50.1% coverage, while fingerprint‐based selection only achieved 38.4% target coverage for the same subset size. In conclusion, the novel bioactivity‐based selection method outperformed the fingerprint‐based method in sampling bioactive chemical space on the data sets considered. The structures retrieved were structurally more acceptable to medicinal chemists while at the same time being more lipophilic, hence bioactivity‐based diversity selection of compounds would best be combined with physicochemical property filters in practice.
Computational Identification of a New Binding Site in Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin for Membrane Fusion Inhibitors
Authors: Sun Lidan , Tian Feng , Feng Baosheng , Liu Zhenming , Zhang Liangren , Pei Jianfeng
Published: May 2013

The influenza virus hemagglutinin is a potential drug target for antivirus treatment. A variety of membrane fusion inhibitors targeting hemagglutinin have been discovered, but the binding sites and modes, important for understanding membrane fusion and rational drug design, have not yet been elucidated. In this article, we investigated the possible hemagglutinin binding sites for the current membrane fusion inhibitors. Four possible binding pockets (Pocket A, B, C, and D) at the stalk region of hemagglutinin were detected and defined using the CAVITY program. Most of the current membrane fusion inhibitors were reported to bind to Pocket C by amino acid mutation experiments and molecular modeling simulation. However, our binding site prediction suggested that Pocket A is the best ligand binding site other than Pocket C. Using a specific computational protocol combining molecular docking, three‐dimensional QSAR, and receptor mimicking, we further found that Pocket A is the putative binding site for a series of membrane fusion inhibitors (1‐phenyl‐cycloalkane carbamides). This is further proven by the antiviral spectrum of the inhibitors. This protocol for the identification of ligand binding sites in influenza hemagglutinin is also applicable for the analysis of other protein targets with no explicit binding information.
The role of potential mediators in racial inequalities in tooth loss: the Pró‐Saúde study
Authors: Celeste Roger Keller , Gonçalves Letícia Gomes , Faerstein Eduardo , Bastos João Luiz
Published: May 2013

Objective

To assess the relation between race and tooth loss, as well as the influence of socioeconomic factors, health behaviours, routine dental care and self‐reported discrimination on this association.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study with data collected from the baseline of the Pró‐Saúde Study (Rio de Janeiro/Brazil), among 3253 civil servants in 1999–2001. Race was measured as self‐reported skin colour (Black/Brown/White). The outcome was self‐reported tooth loss, measured in four ordered categories (none/one or few/many/all or almost all). Three mediating pathways were explored between race and tooth loss. The first included self‐reported discrimination assessed with a five‐item scale. The second pathway included behavioural factors: routine dental care, marital status, smoking and alcohol consumption. The third considered socioeconomic factors: income, education, maternal education and early life poverty. Confounding factors were age and sex. Statistical analyses were carried out with ordinal logistic regression.

Results

Absence of all or almost all teeth was reported by 8% of respondents. White individuals comprised 53% of the population, followed by Browns (26%) and Blacks (22%). After adjustment, Blacks had an odds ratio of being in a higher category of missing teeth equal to 1.39 (95% CI 1.12–1.72), and Browns, 1.33 (95% CI 1.10–1.60), when compared to Whites. Age, sex and socioeconomic variables explained most of racial inequalities in tooth loss, while behavioural and discrimination variables contributed very little. Behavioural and socioeconomic variables were associated with tooth loss, while discrimination was not. No statistically significant interactions were found.

Conclusions

There is an association between race and tooth loss that is mainly explained by current and early life socioeconomic variables, but not by behavioural factors and self‐reported discrimination.
Physics Storyboards
Authors: Ha Sehoon , McCann Jim , Liu C. Karen , Popović Jovan
Published: May 2013

Physical simulation and other procedural methods are increasingly popular tools in interactive applications because they generate complex and reactive behaviors given only a few parameter settings. This automation accelerates initial implementation, but also introduces a need to tune the available parameters until the desired behaviors emerge. These adjustments are typically performed iteratively, with the designer repeatedly running—and interacting with—the procedural animation with different parameter settings. Such a process is inaccurate, time consuming, and requires deep understanding and intuition, as parameters often have complex, nonlinear effects.

Instead, we propose that designers construct physics storyboards to accelerate the process of tuning interactive, procedural animations. Physics storyboards are collections of space‐time snapshots that highlight critical events and outcomes. They can be used to summarize the effects of parameter changes (without requiring the designer to perform extensive play‐testing); and—when augmented with designer‐provided evaluation functions—allow automatic parameter selection. We describe our implementation of this method, including how we use sampling to ensure that our automatically‐selected parameters generalize, and how we time‐warp user input to adapt it to changing parameters. We validate our implementation by using it to perform various design tasks in three example games.
Gaze‐driven Object Tracking for Real Time Rendering
Authors: Mantiuk R. , Bazyluk B. , Mantiuk R. K.
Published: May 2013

To efficiently deploy eye‐tracking within 3D graphics applications, we present a new probabilistic method that predicts the patterns of user's eye fixations in animated 3D scenes from noisy eye‐tracker data. The proposed method utilises both the eye‐tracker data and the known information about the 3D scene to improve the accuracy, robustness and stability. Eye‐tracking can thus be used, for example, to induce focal cues via gaze‐contingent depth‐of‐field rendering, add intuitive controls to a video game, and create a highly reliable scene‐aware saliency model. The computed probabilities rely on the consistency of the gaze scan‐paths to the position and velocity of a moving or stationary target. The temporal characteristic of eye fixations is imposed by a Hidden Markov model, which steers the solution towards the most probable fixation patterns. The derivation of the algorithm is driven by the data from two eye‐tracking experiments: the first experiment provides actual eye‐tracker readings and the position of the target to be tracked. The second experiment is used to derive a JND‐scaled (Just Noticeable Difference) quality metric that quantifies the perceived loss of quality due to the errors of the tracking algorithm. Data from both experiments are used to justify design choices, and to calibrate and validate the tracking algorithms. This novel method outperforms commonly used fixation algorithms and is able to track objects smaller then the nominal error of an eye‐tracker.
Smart Variations: Functional Substructures for Part Compatibility
Authors: Zheng Youyi , Cohen‐Or Daniel , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: May 2013

As collections of 3D models continue to grow, reusing model parts allows generation of novel model variations. Naïvely swapping parts across models, however, leads to implausible results, especially when mixing parts across different model families. Hence, the user has to manually ensure that the final model remains functionally valid. We claim that certain symmetric functional arrangements (sFarr‐s), which are special arrangements among symmetrically related substructures, bear close relation to object functions. Hence, we propose a purely geometric approach based on such substructures to match, replace, and position triplets of parts to create non‐trivial, yet functionally plausible, model variations. We demonstrate that starting even from a small set of models such a simple geometric approach can produce a diverse set of non‐trivial and plausible model variations.
Surface Reconstruction through Point Set Structuring
Authors: Lafarge Florent , Alliez Pierre
Published: May 2013

We present a method for reconstructing surfaces from point sets. The main novelty lies in a structure‐preserving approach where the input point set is first consolidated by structuring and resampling the planar components, before reconstructing the surface from both the consolidated components and the unstructured points. The final surface is obtained through solving a graph‐cut problem formulated on the 3D Delaunay triangulation of the structured point set where the tetrahedra are labeled as inside or outside cells. Structuring facilitates the surface reconstruction as the point set is substantially reduced and the points are enriched with structural meaning related to adjacency between primitives. Our approach departs from the common dichotomy between smooth/piecewise‐smooth and primitive‐based representations by gracefully combining canonical parts from detected primitives and free‐form parts of the inferred shape. Our experiments on a variety of inputs illustrate the potential of our approach in terms of robustness, flexibility and efficiency.
ArtiSketch: A System for Articulated Sketch Modeling
Authors: Levi Zohar , Gotsman Craig
Published: May 2013

We present ArtiSketch – a system which allows the conversion of a wealth of existing 2D content into 3D content by users who do not necessarily possess artistic skills. Using ArtiSketch, a novice user may describe a 3D model as a set of articulated 2D sketches of a shape from different viewpoints. ArtiSketch then automatically converts the sketches to an articulated 3D object. Using common interactive tools, the user provides an initial estimate of the 3D skeleton pose for each frame, which ArtiSketch refines to be consistent between frames. This skeleton may then be manipulated independently to generate novel poses of the 3D model.
Capture and Statistical Modeling of Arm‐Muscle Deformations
Authors: Neumann T. , Varanasi K. , Hasler N. , Wacker M. , Magnor M. , Theobalt C.
Published: May 2013

We present a comprehensive data‐driven statistical model for skin and muscle deformation of the human shoulder‐arm complex. Skin deformations arise from complex bio‐physical effects such as non‐linear elasticity of muscles, fat, and connective tissue; and vary with physiological constitution of the subjects and external forces applied during motion. Thus, they are hard to model by direct physical simulation. Our alternative approach is based on learning deformations from multiple subjects performing different exercises under varying external forces. We capture the training data through a novel multi‐camera approach that is able to reconstruct fine‐scale muscle detail in motion. The resulting reconstructions from several people are aligned into one common shape parametrization, and learned using a semi‐parametric non‐linear method. Our learned data‐driven model is fast, compact and controllable with a small set of intuitive parameters – pose, body shape and external forces, through which a novice artist can interactively produce complex muscle deformations. Our method is able to capture and synthesize fine‐scale muscle bulge effects to a greater level of realism than achieved previously. We provide quantitative and qualitative validation of our method.
Fabrication‐aware Design with Intersecting Planar Pieces
Authors: Schwartzburg Yuliy , Pauly Mark
Published: May 2013

We propose a computational design approach to generate 3D models composed of interlocking planar pieces. We show how intricate 3D forms can be created by sliding the pieces into each other along straight slits, leading to a simple construction that does not require glue, screws, or other means of support. To facilitate the design process, we present an abstraction model that formalizes the main geometric constraints imposed by fabrication and assembly, and incorporates conditions on the rigidity of the resulting structure. We show that the tight coupling of constraints makes manual design highly nontrivial and introduce an optimization method to automate constraint satisfaction based on an analysis of the constraint relation graph. This algorithm ensures that the planar parts can be fabricated and assembled. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach by creating 3D toy models, an architectural design study, and several examples of functional furniture.
Interactive Exploration and Flattening of Deformed Historical Documents
Authors: Pal Kazim , Terras Melissa , Weyrich Tim
Published: May 2013

We present an interactive application for browsing severely damaged documents and other cultural artefacts. Such documents often contain strong geometric distortions such as wrinkling, buckling, and shrinking and cannot be flattened physically due to the high risk of causing further damage. Previous methods for virtual restoration involve globally flattening a 3D reconstruction of the document to produce a static image. We show how this global approach can fail in cases of severe geometric distortion, and instead propose an interactive viewer which allows a user to browse a document while dynamically flattening only the local region under inspection. Our application also records the provenance of the reconstruction by displaying the reconstruction side by side with the original image data.
Geometry‐Aware Volume‐of‐Fluid Method
Authors: Cho Junghyun , Ko Hyeong‐Seok
Published: May 2013

We present a new framework to simulate moving interfaces in viscous incompressible two phase flows. The goal is to achieve both conservation of the fluid volume and a detailed reconstruction of the fluid surface. To these ends, we incorporate sub‐grid refinement of the level set with the volume‐of‐fluid method. In the context of this refined level set grid we propose the algorithms needed for the coupling of the level set and the volume‐of‐fluid, which include techniques for computing volume, redistancing the level set, and handling surface tension. We report the experimental results produced with the proposed method via simulations of the two phase fluid phenomena such as air‐cushioning and deforming large bubbles.
Sharpening Out of Focus Images using High‐Frequency Transfer
Authors: Tao Michael W. , Malik Jitendra , Ramamoorthi Ravi
Published: May 2013

Focus misses are common in image capture, such as when the camera or the subject moves rapidly in sports and macro photography. One option to sharpen focus‐missed photographs is through single image deconvolution, but high‐frequency data cannot be fully recovered; therefore, artifacts such as ringing and amplified noise become apparent. We propose a new method that uses assisting, similar but different, sharp image(s) provided by the user (such as multiple images of the same subject in different positions captured using a burst of photographs). Our first contribution is to theoretically analyze the errors in three sources of data—a slightly sharpened original input image that we call the target, single image deconvolution with an aggressive inverse filter, and warped assisting image(s) registered using optical flow. We show that these three sources have different error characteristics, depending on image location and frequency band (for example, aggressive deconvolution is more accurate in high‐frequency regions like edges). Next, we describe a practical method to compute these errors, given we have no ground truth and cannot easily work in the Fourier domain. Finally, we select the best source of data for a given pixel and scale in the Laplacian pyramid. We accurately transfer high‐frequency data to the input, while minimizing artifacts. We demonstrate sharpened results on out‐of‐focus images in macro, sports, portrait and wildlife photography.
Sifted Disks
Authors: Ebeida Mohamed S. , Mahmoud Ahmed H. , Awad Muhammad A. , Mohammed Mohammed A. , Mitchell Scott A. , Rand Alexander , Owens John D.
Published: May 2013

We introduce the Sifted Disk technique for locally resampling a point cloud in order to reduce the number of points. Two neighboring points are removed and we attempt to find a single random point that is sufficient to replace them both. The resampling respects the original sizing function; In that sense it is not a coarsening. The angle and edge length guarantees of a Delaunay triangulation of the points are preserved. The sifted point cloud is still suitable for texture synthesis because the Fourier spectrum is largely unchanged. We provide an efficient algorithm, and demonstrate that sifting uniform Maximal Poisson‐disk Sampling (MPS) and Delaunay Refinement (DR) points reduces the number of points by about 25%, and achieves a density about 1/3 more than the theoretical minimum. We show two‐dimensional stippling and meshing applications to demonstrate the significance of the concept.
Influence of Implant transmucosal design on early peri‐implant tissue responses in beagle dogs
Authors: Huh Jung‐Bo , Rheu Gun‐Bak , Kim Young‐Soo , Jeong Chang‐Mo , Lee Jeong‐Yeol , Shin Sang‐Wan
Published: May 2013

Objectives

This study was undertaken to evaluate the influences of concave, machined and concave‐roughened profiles of transmucosal implant designs on early peri‐implant tissue responses.

Materials and Methods

Implants were used and classified by transmucosal profile and surface type as straight‐machined implants (SM), concave‐machined implants (CM), or concave‐roughened implants (CR). A total of 30 implants (10 per each type) with matching transmucosal profiles were placed directly on alveolar crests in randomized order in the edentulous mandibular ridges of three beagle dogs. Healing abutments were connected 4 weeks after implant placement, and prostheses were connected 8 weeks after implant placement and functionally loaded. All animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks. Peri‐apical radiographs were obtained and measured to evaluate peri‐implant marginal bone levels. Histological specimens were prepared to measure bone resorption, connective tissue contact, epithelial tissue height, biological width, and length of implant‐abutment junction to the apical portion of junctional epithelium.

Results

Radiographic and histometric analysis showed that least bone resorption occurred around CM implants and greatest bone resorption around SM implants (P < 0.05). Histometric analysis showed that highest connective tissue attachment and shortest biological width had formed around CM implants.

Conclusion

Concave‐machined profiled implants with a transmucosal design may induce less bone resorption and better connective tissue attachment around implants than the straight‐machined profiled implants during the early healing phase.
Prospective evaluation of reliability of cone‐beam computed tomography in detecting different position of vibroplasty middle ear implants
Authors: Güldner C. , Heinrichs J. , Weiß R. , Eivazi B. , Bien S. , Teymoortash A. , Werner J.A. , Diogo I.
Published: May 2013

Objectives

This study had the following objectives: (i) to determine the accuracy of determination of Vibrant Soundbridge position in the spectrum of typically implanted sites in the middle ear, (ii) to assess interobserver agreement between three observers with different levels of radiology experience and (iii) to determine the suitability of cone‐beam computed tomography (CT) to be used as the baseline radiological assessment post implantation, confirm ferromagnetic transducer (FMT) position.

Design

Prospective research study. Using four fresh human cadaveric heads, different types of vibroplasty were performed. After each step, cone‐beam CT was performed for each of the four cadaveric heads.

Setting

University hospital (ENT and Neuroradiology).

Participants

Four fresh cadaveric heads of human donors were operated and analysed by radiological imaging.

Main outcome measures

There are different ways of coupling an ferromagnetic transducer to the anatomical structures of the middle and inner ear. Possibilities of differentiation between these coupling variants should be presented.

Results

The individual reconstruction view was significantly different from a standardised view for each observer (observer 1: P = 0.003; observer 2: P = 0.001; observer 3: P = 0.002) for all coupling variants combined as well as for each individual coupling variant (overall correct diagnosis: 100% versus 60%). Regarding the frequency of correct diagnosis, no significant differences were found between the three observers (P > 0.500) for each individual coupling variant as well as for all coupling variants combined. The worst rates of correct diagnosis were found in the standardised view for incus (42%), stapes (0%) and TORP (17%) vibroplasty.

Conclusion

Cone‐beam CT as a radiological control for Vibrant Soundbridge is safe and adequately sensitive and reliable and is therefore suitable for clinical investigation. The position of the ferromagnetic transducer in the middle ear and the presence or absence of an additional coupler could be determined in this study. Therefore, cone‐beam‐CT is useful for the assessment of device failure when there has been gross displacement of the ferromagnetic transducer (or smaller displacements in case of a baseline postoperative cone‐beam CT). Regarding the quality of imaging, cone‐beam CT produced accurate results with different observers with widely varying radiological experience.
A Bayesian model of metapopulation viability, with application to an endangered amphibian
Authors: Heard Geoffrey W. , McCarthy Michael A. , Scroggie Michael P. , Baumgartner John B. , Parris Kirsten M.
Published: May 2013

Aim

Population viability analysis (PVA) is used to quantify the risks faced by species under alternative management regimes. BayesianPVAs allow uncertainty in the parameters of the underlying population model to be easily propagated through to the predictions. We developed a Bayesian stochastic patch occupancy model (SPOM) and used this model to assess the viability of a metapopulation of the growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) under different urbanization scenarios.

Location

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Methods

We fitted a Bayesian model that accounted for imperfect detection to a multiseason occupancy dataset forL. raniformiscollected across northern Melbourne. The probability of extinction was modelled as a function of effective wetland area, aquatic vegetation cover and connectivity, using logistic regression. The probability of colonization was modelled as a function of connectivity alone. We then simulated the dynamics of a metapopulation ofL. raniformissubject to differing levels of urbanization and compensatory wetland creation. Uncertainty was propagated by conducting simulations for 5000 estimates of the parameters of the models for extinction and colonization.

Results

There was considerable uncertainty in both the probability of quasi‐extinction and the minimum number of occupied wetlands under most urbanization scenarios. Uncertainty around the change in quasi‐extinction risk and minimum metapopulation size increased with increasing habitat loss. For our focal metapopulation, the analysis revealed that significant investment in new wetlands may be required to offset the impacts of urbanization.

Main conclusions

Bayesian approaches toPVAallow parametric uncertainty to be propagated and considered in management decisions. They also provide means of identifying parameters that represent critical uncertainties, and, through the use of informative priors, can easily assimilate new data to reduce parametric uncertainty. These advantages, and the ready availability of software to run Bayesian analyses, will ensure that Bayesian approaches are used increasingly forPVAs.
Improving decisions for invasive species management: reformulation and extensions of the Panetta–Lawes eradication graph
Authors: Burgman Mark A. , McCarthy Michael A. , Robinson Andrew , Hester Susan M. , McBride Marissa F. , Elith Jane , Dane Panetta F.
Published: May 2013

Aim

Effective decisions for managing invasive species depend on feedback about the progress of eradication efforts. Panetta & Lawes () developed the eradograph, an intuitive graphical tool that summarizes the temporal trajectories of delimitation and extirpation to support decision‐making. We correct and extend the tool, which was affected by incompatibilities in the units used to measure these features that made the axes impossible to interpret biologically.

Location

Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Methods

Panetta and Lawes’ approach represented delimitation with estimates of the changes in the area known to be infested and extirpation with changes in the mean time since the last detection. We retain the original structure but propose different metrics that improve biological interpretability. We illustrate the methods with a hypothetical example and real examples of invasion and treatment of branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa L.) and the guava rust complex (Puccinia psidii (Winter 1884)) in Australia.

Results

These examples illustrate the potential of the tool to guide decisions about the effectiveness of search and control activities.

Main conclusions

The eradograph is a graphical data summary tool that provides insight into the progress of eradication. Our correction and extension of the tool make it easier to interpret and provide managers with better decision support.
Capturing social impacts for decision‐making: a Multicriteria Decision Analysis perspective
Authors: Estévez Rodrigo A. , Walshe Terry , Burgman Mark A.
Published: May 2013

Aim

We aim to explore the capacity of MCDA methods to successfully capture social impacts and integrate stakeholders’ participation into environmental decision applications. We follow a theoretical framework that deconstructs the concept of social impact into two components: human impacts and social change processes.

Location

Global.

Methods

We systematically reviewed the literature on MCDA in the Web of Science (ISI) database, finding 119 papers that meet our search criteria. For each paper, we identified the social change processes or human impacts objectives, along with the attributes that measured them. We also recorded the degree of stakeholder participation in each phase of the MCDA stages.

Results

We found that MCDA practitioners have increasingly integrated social concerns in the analysis of environmental problems, estimating the potential impacts, and developing participative procedures for stakeholders. We identified 252 objectives that represent human impacts or social change processes. Constructed attributes were the most commonly employed (56%), although natural (20%) and proxy (24%) attributes were also relevant. Estimating human impacts or social change processes can involve public participation, but is not a requirement for MCDA: 42% of papers (n = 50) include stakeholder engagement in one or more stages of the decision‐making process. We found that stakeholders engage differently across case studies, demonstrating that this process is neither simple nor homogenous.

Main conclusions

Our review suggests that MCDA methods are appropriate techniques to integrate a wide range of social objectives and stakeholder engagement, supporting well informed and democratic decisions.
Neonatal neuroimaging predicts recruitment of contralesional corticospinal tracts following perinatal brain injury
Authors: van der Aa Niek E , Verhage Cornelia H , Groenendaal Floris , Vermeulen R Jeroen , de Bode Stella , van Nieuwenhuizen Onno , de Vries Linda S
Published: May 2013

Aim

Unilateral perinatal brain injury may result in recruitment of ipsilateral projections originating in the unaffected hemisphere and development of unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of neonatal neuroimaging following perinatal brain injury for recruitment of ipsilateral corticospinal tracts.

Method

Neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cranial ultrasound scans of 37 children (20 males, 17 females; median [range] gestational age 36 wks+4[26+6–42wks+5] and birthweight 2312 g ([770–5230g]) with unilateral perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke (n=23) or periventricular haemorrhagic infarction (n=14) were reviewed and scored for involvement of the corticospinal trajectory. Hand function was assessed using theAssistingHandAssessment (AHA) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed (age range 7y 4mo–18y and 7mo) to determine the type of cortical motor organization (normal, mixed or ipsilateral). Neuroimaging scores were used to predictTMSpatterns.

Results

Eighteen children developedUSCPwith ipsilateral corticospinal tract projections in 13 children (eight mixed, five ipsilateral).AHAscores decreased with increased ipsilateral projections. Asymmetry of the corticospinal tracts seen on neonatalMRIwas predictive of development ofUSCPand recruitment of ipsilateral tracts (positive and negative predictive value of 73% and 91%).

Interpretation

Neonatal neuroimaging can predict recruitment of ipsilateral corticospinal tracts. Early knowledge of the expected pattern of cortical motor organization will allow early identification of children eligible for early therapy.
On the track of Bursaphelenchus pinophilus Brzeski and Baujard, 1997 (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Portugal
Authors: Vieira P. , Mota M.
Published: May 2013

This is the first report and characterization of Bursaphelenchus pinophilus in Portugal. This species was isolated from a young dying Pinus pinaster tree located in Valverde, in the Alentejo region. Nematodes were identified using several morphological diagnostic characters for this species (male spicule structure, number of lateral incisures, number and distribution of the male papillae, presence of female vulval flap and female tail shape) and confirmed using RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA.