bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensible Video Thumbnails
Authors: Kim Jongdae , Gray Charles , Asente Paul , Collomosse John
Published: June 2015

We present the Comprehensible Video Thumbnail; an automatically generated visual précis that summarizes salient objects and their dynamics within a video clip. Salient moving objects are detected within clips using a novel stochastic sampling technique that identifies, clusters and then tracks regions exhibiting affine motion coherence within the clip. Tracks are analyzed to determine salient instants at which motion and/or appearance changes significantly, and the resulting objects arranged in a stylized composition optimized to reduce visual clutter and enhance understanding of scene content through classification and depiction of motion type and trajectory. The result is an object‐level visual gist of the clip, obtained with full automation and depicting content and motion with greater descriptive power that prior approaches. We demonstrate these benefits through a user study in which the comprehension of our video thumbnails is compared to the state of the art over a wide variety of sports footage.
Layer‐Based Procedural Design of Façades
Authors: Ilčík Martin , Musialski Przemyslaw , Auzinger Thomas , Wimmer Michael
Published: June 2015

We present a novel procedural framework for interactively modeling building façades. Common procedural approaches, such as shape grammars, assume that building façades are organized in a tree structure, while in practice this is often not the case. Consequently, the complexity of their layout description becomes unmanageable for interactive editing. In contrast, we obtain a façade by composing multiple overlapping layers, where each layer contains a single rectilinear grid of façade elements described by two simple generator patterns. This way, the design process becomes more intuitive and the editing effort for complex layouts is significantly reduced. To achieve this, we present a method for the automated merging of different layers in the form of a mixed discrete and continuous optimization problem. Finally, we provide several modeling examples and a comparison to shape grammars in order to highlight the advantages of our method when designing realistic building façades.
Template Assembly for Detailed Urban Reconstruction
Authors: Nan Liangliang , Jiang Caigui , Ghanem Bernard , Wonka Peter
Published: June 2015

We propose a new framework to reconstruct building details by automatically assembling 3D templates on coarse textured building models. In a preprocessing step, we generate an initial coarse model to approximate a point cloud computed using Structure from Motion and Multi View Stereo, and we model a set of 3D templates of facade details. Next, we optimize the initial coarse model to enforce consistency between geometry and appearance (texture images). Then, building details are reconstructed by assembling templates on the textured faces of the coarse model. The 3D templates are automatically chosen and located by our optimization‐based template assembly algorithm that balances image matching and structural regularity. In the results, we demonstrate how our framework can enrich the details of coarse models using various data sets.
Approximating Free‐form Geometry with Height Fields for Manufacturing
Authors: Herholz Philipp , Matusik Wojciech , Alexa Marc
Published: June 2015

We consider the problem of manufacturing free‐form geometry with classical manufacturing techniques, such as mold casting or 3‐axis milling. We determine a set of constraints that are necessary for manufacturability and then decompose and, if necessary, deform the shape to satisfy the constraints per segment. We show that many objects can be generated from a small number of (mold‐)pieces if slight deformations are acceptable. We provide examples of actual molds and the resulting manufactured objects.
Skeleton‐Intrinsic Symmetrization of Shapes
Authors: Zheng Qian , Hao Zhuming , Huang Hui , Xu Kai , Zhang Hao , Cohen‐Or Daniel , Chen Baoquan
Published: June 2015

Enhancing the self‐symmetry of a shape is of fundamental aesthetic virtue. In this paper, we are interested in recovering the aesthetics of intrinsic reflection symmetries, where an asymmetric shape is symmetrized while keeping its general pose and perceived dynamics. The key challenge to intrinsic symmetrization is that the input shape has only approximate reflection symmetries, possibly far from perfect. The main premise of our work is that curve skeletons provide a concise and effective shape abstraction for analyzing approximate intrinsic symmetries as well as symmetrization. By measuring intrinsic distances over a curve skeleton for symmetry analysis, symmetrizing the skeleton, and then propagating the symmetrization from skeleton to shape, our approach to shape symmetrization is skeleton‐intrinsic. Specifically, given an input shape and an extracted curve skeleton, we introduce the notion of a backbone as the path in the skeleton graph about which a self‐matching of the input shape is optimal. We define an objective function for the reflective self‐matching and develop an algorithm based on genetic programming to solve the global search problem for the backbone. The extracted backbone then guides the symmetrization of the skeleton, which in turn, guides the symmetrization of the whole shape. We show numerous intrinsic symmetrization results of hand drawn sketches and artist‐modeled or reconstructed 3D shapes, as well as several applications of skeleton‐intrinsic symmetrization of shapes.
Interactive Disassembly Planning for Complex Objects
Authors: Kerbl Bernhard , Kalkofen Denis , Steinberger Markus , Schmalstieg Dieter
Published: June 2015

We present an approach for the automatic generation, interactive exploration and real‐time modification of disassembly procedures for complex, multipartite CAD data sets. In order to lift the performance barriers prohibiting interactive disassembly planning, we run a detailed analysis on the input model to identify recurring part constellations and efficiently determine blocked part motions in parallel on the GPU. Building on the extracted information, we present an interface for computing and editing extensive disassembly sequences in real‐time while considering user‐defined constraints and avoiding unstable configurations. To evaluate the performance of our C++/CUDA implementation, we use a variety of openly available CAD data sets, ranging from simple to highly complex. In contrast to previous approaches, our work enables interactive disassembly planning for objects which consist of several thousand parts and require cascaded translations during part removal.
Content‐Independent Multi‐Spectral Display Using Superimposed Projections
Authors: Li Yuqi , Majumder Aditi , Lu Dongming , Gopi M.
Published: June 2015

Many works focus on multi‐spectral capture and analysis, but multi‐spectral display still remains a challenge. Most prior works on multi‐primary displays use ad‐hoc narrow band primaries that assure a larger color gamut, but cannot assure a good spectral reproduction. Content‐dependent spectral analysis is the only way to produce good spectral reproduction, but cannot be applied to general data sets. Wide primaries are better suited for assuring good spectral reproduction due to greater coverage of the spectral range, but have not been explored much. In this paper we explore the use of wide band primaries for accurate spectral reproduction for the first time and present the first content‐independent multi‐spectral display achieved using superimposed projections with modified wide band primaries. We present a content‐independent primary selection method that selects a small set of n primaries from a large set of m candidate primaries where m > n. Our primary selection method chooses primaries with complete coverage of the range of visible wavelength (for good spectral reproduction accuracy), low interdependency (to limit the primaries to a small number) and higher light throughput (for higher light efficiency). Once the primaries are selected, the input values of the different primary channels to generate a desired spectrum are computed using an optimization method that minimizes spectral mismatch while maximizing visual quality. We implement a real prototype of multi‐spectral display consisting of 9‐primaries using three modified conventional 3‐primary projectors, and compare it with a conventional display to demonstrate its superior performance. Experiments show our display is capable of providing large gamut assuring a good visual appearance while displaying any multi‐spectral images at a high spectral accuracy.
Improving Sampling‐based Motion Control
Authors: Liu Libin , Yin KangKang , Guo Baining
Published: June 2015

We address several limitations of the sampling‐based motion control method of Liu et at. [LYvdP* 10]. The key insight is to learn from the past control reconstruction trials through sample distribution adaptation. Coupled with a sliding window scheme for better performance and an averaging method for noise reduction, the improved algorithm can efficiently construct open‐loop controls for long and challenging reference motions in good quality. Our ideas are intuitive and the implementations are simple. We compare the improved algorithm with the original algorithm both qualitatively and quantitatively, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the improved algorithm with a variety of motions ranging from stylized walking and dancing to gymnastic and Martial Arts routines.
SmartAnnotator An Interactive Tool for Annotating Indoor RGBD Images
Authors: Wong Yu‐Shiang , Chu Hung‐Kuo , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: June 2015

RGBD images with high quality annotations, both in the form of geometric (i.e., segmentation) and structural (i.e., how do the segments mutually relate in 3D) information, provide valuable priors for a diverse range of applications in scene understanding and image manipulation. While it is now simple to acquire RGBD images, annotating them, automatically or manually, remains challenging. We present SmartAnnotator, an interactive system to facilitate annotating raw RGBD images. The system performs the tedious tasks of grouping pixels, creating potential abstracted cuboids, inferring object interactions in 3D, and generates an ordered list of hypotheses. The user simply has to flip through the suggestions for segment labels, finalize a selection, and the system updates the remaining hypotheses. As annotations are finalized, the process becomes simpler with fewer ambiguities to resolve. Moreover, as more scenes are annotated, the system makes better suggestions based on the structural and geometric priors learned from previous annotation sessions. We test the system on a large number of indoor scenes across different users and experimental settings, validate the results on existing benchmark datasets, and report significant improvements over low‐level annotation alternatives. (Code and benchmark datasets are publicly available on the project page.)
A Dimension‐reduced Pressure Solver for Liquid Simulations
Authors: Ando Ryoichi , Thürey Nils , Wojtan Chris
Published: June 2015

This work presents a method for efficiently simplifying the pressure projection step in a liquid simulation. We first devise a straightforward dimension reduction technique that dramatically reduces the cost of solving the pressure projection. Next, we introduce a novel change of basis that satisfies free‐surface boundary conditions exactly, regardless of the accuracy of the pressure solve. When combined, these ideas greatly reduce the computational complexity of the pressure solve without compromising free surface boundary conditions at the highest level of detail. Our techniques are easy to parallelize, and they effectively eliminate the computational bottleneck for large liquid simulations.
Implicit Formulation for SPH‐based Viscous Fluids
Authors: Takahashi Tetsuya , Dobashi Yoshinori , Fujishiro Issei , Nishita Tomoyuki , Lin Ming C.
Published: June 2015

We propose a stable and efficient particle‐based method for simulating highly viscous fluids that can generate coiling and buckling phenomena and handle variable viscosity. In contrast to previous methods that use explicit integration, our method uses an implicit formulation to improve the robustness of viscosity integration, therefore enabling use of larger time steps and higher viscosities. We use Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics to solve the full form of viscosity, constructing a sparse linear system with a symmetric positive definite matrix, while exploiting the variational principle that automatically enforces the boundary condition on free surfaces. We also propose a new method for extracting coefficients of the matrix contributed by second‐ring neighbor particles to efficiently solve the linear system using a conjugate gradient solver. Several examples demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our implicit formulation over previous methods and illustrate the versatility of our method.
Replaceable Substructures for Efficient Part‐Based Modeling
Authors: Liu Han , Vimont Ulysse , Wand Michael , Cani Marie‐Paule , Hahmann Stefanie , Rohmer Damien , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: June 2015

A popular mode of shape synthesis involves mixing and matching parts from different objects to form a coherent whole. The key challenge is to efficiently synthesize shape variations that are plausible, both locally and globally. A major obstacle is to assemble the objects with local consistency, i.e., all the connections between parts are valid with no dangling open connections. The combinatorial complexity of this problem limits existing methods in geometric and/or topological variations of the synthesized models. In this work, we introduce replaceable substructures as arrangements of parts that can be interchanged while ensuring boundary consistency. The consistency information is extracted from part labels and connections in the original source models. We present a polynomial time algorithm that discovers such substructures by working on a dual of the original shape graph that encodes inter‐part connectivity. We demonstrate the algorithm on a range of test examples producing plausible shape variations, both from a geometric and from a topological viewpoint.
Photorealistic rendering of mixed reality scenes
Authors: Kronander Joel , Banterle Francesco , Gardner Andrew , Miandji Ehsan , Unger Jonas
Published: June 2015

Photo‐realistic rendering of virtual objects into real scenes is one of the most important research problems in computer graphics. Methods for capture and rendering of mixed reality scenes are driven by a large number of applications, ranging from augmented reality to visual effects and product visualization. Recent developments in computer graphics, computer vision, and imaging technology have enabled a wide range of new mixed reality techniques including methods for advanced image based lighting, capturing spatially varying lighting conditions, and algorithms for seamlessly rendering virtual objects directly into photographs without explicit measurements of the scene lighting. This report gives an overview of the state‐of‐the‐art in this field, and presents a categorization and comparison of current methods. Our in‐depth survey provides a tool for understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and gives an overview of which technique is best suited to a specific problem.
Recent Advances in Facial Appearance Capture
Authors: Klehm Oliver , Rousselle Fabrice , Papas Marios , Bradley Derek , Hery Christophe , Bickel Bernd , Jarosz Wojciech , Beeler Thabo
Published: June 2015

Facial appearance capture is now firmly established within academic research and used extensively across various application domains, perhaps most prominently in the entertainment industry through the design of virtual characters in video games and films. While significant progress has occurred over the last two decades, no single survey currently exists that discusses the similarities, differences, and practical considerations of the available appearance capture techniques as applied to human faces. A central difficulty of facial appearance capture is the way light interacts with skin—which has a complex multi‐layered structure—and the interactions that occur below the skin surface can, by definition, only be observed indirectly. In this report, we distinguish between two broad strategies for dealing with this complexity. “Image‐based methods” try to exhaustively capture the exact face appearance under different lighting and viewing conditions, and then render the face through weighted image combinations. “Parametric methods” instead fit the captured reflectance data to some parametric appearance model used during rendering, allowing for a more lightweight and flexible representation but at the cost of potentially increased rendering complexity or inexact reproduction. The goal of this report is to provide an overview that can guide practitioners and researchers in assessing the tradeoffs between current approaches and identifying directions for future advances in facial appearance capture.
CPH: A Compact Representation for Hierarchical Meshes Generated by Primal Refinement
Authors: Untereiner L. , Kraemer P. , Cazier D. , Bechmann D.
Published: June 2015

We present CPH (Compact Primal Hierarchy): a compact representation of the hierarchical connectivity of surface and volume manifold meshes generated through primal subdivision refinements. CPH is consistently defined in several dimensions and supports multiple kinds of tessellations and refinements, whether regular or adaptive. The basic idea is to store only the finest mesh, encoded in a classical monoresolution structure that is enriched with a minimal set of labels. These labels allow traversal of any intermediate level of the mesh concurrently without having to extract it in an additional structure. Our structure allows attributes to be stored on the cells not only on the finest level, but also on any intermediate level. We study the trade‐off between the memory cost of this compact representation and the time complexity of mesh traversals at any resolution level.
Shelving Justice: The Discovery of Thousands of Untested Rape Kits in Detroit
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Shaw Jessica , Fehler–Cabral Giannina
Published: June 2015

In August 2009, approximately 11,000 sexual assault kits (SAKs; “rape kits”) were found in a Detroit police department storage facility, the vast majority of which had never been tested for DNA evidence. To address this problem, a multidisciplinary action research project was formed to bring together researchers and practitioners from law enforcement, prosecution, forensic sciences, medicine/nursing, and victim advocacy to develop evidence–based response strategies. In this paper, we will draw upon qualitative interviews with Detroit stakeholders, archival records, and ethnographic observations to examine the events surrounding the discovery of the rape kits and why police personnel did not view the accumulation of so many untested SAKs as a problem. Over the course of this three–year action research project, Detroit stakeholders worked together to enact local– and state–level reforms to test these kits and to prevent this problem from happening again.
Neighborhood Stereotypes and Interpersonal Trust in Social Exchange: An Experimental Study
Authors: Gorbunova Lidia A. , Ambrasat Jens , von Scheve Christian
Published: June 2015

Recent research indicates that segregation is, in addition to many other undesirable consequences, negatively associated with social capital, in particular, generalized trust within a community. This study investigates whether an individual's residential neighborhood and the stereotypes associated with this neighborhood affect others’ trusting behavior as a specific form of social exchange. Using an anonymous trust game experiment in the context of five districts of the German capital, Berlin, we show that trusting is contingent on others’ residential neighborhood rather than on deliberate assessments of trustworthiness. Participants show significantly greater trust toward individuals from positively stereotyped neighborhoods with favorable sociodemographic characteristics than to persons from negatively stereotyped neighborhoods with unfavorable sociodemographics. Importantly, when stereotypes and sociodemographic factors point in opposite directions, participants’ trust decisions reflect stereotype content.
Biological follow‐up in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: decrease in creatinine levels and increase in ferritin levels predict poor prognosis
Authors: Patin F. , Corcia P. , Madji Hounoum B. , Veyrat‐Durebex C. , Respaud E. , Piver E. , Benz‐de Bretagne I. , Vourc'h P. , Andres C. R. , Blasco H.
Published: June 2015

Background and purpose

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disorder of the motor neuron system, with a median survival of 2 to 4 years and a wide variety of prognosis. Thus, there is a critical need for diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers to improve the care of patients in routine practice. In this study, we aimed to determine prognostic value of routine biochemical markers in sporadic ALS (SALS).

Methods

We retrospectively collected clinical and biological data obtained during the systematic routine monitoring of 216 sporadic ALS patients. The main outcomes were disease duration and annual decline of Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS‐R). Changes to these biological variables over time were assessed, in link with disease progression.

Results

We found that concentrations of creatinine (P=0.0166) and ferritin (P=0.0306) changed significantly during the progression of ALS. A reduction of creatinine levels and an increase of ferritin levels were associated with disease progression. Multivariate analysis showed that early variation of ferritin was an independent predictive factor of patient survival (P=0.0048).

Conclusion

Changes to ferritin and creatinine levels with time are associated with ALS progression. This is the first study describing the changes to these biological variables during ALS progression.
Effects of rotigotine transdermal patch in patients with Parkinson's disease presenting with non‐motor symptoms – results of a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Antonini A. , Bauer L. , Dohin E. , Oertel W. H. , Rascol O. , Reichmann H. , Schmid M. , Singh P. , Tolosa E. , Chaudhuri K. Ray
Published: June 2015

Background and purpose

Non‐motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson's disease (PD) have a major impact on health‐related quality of life. This is the first randomized controlled trial to use the NMS Scale (NMSS) as a primary outcome to assess treatment effects on NMS in PD.

Methods

In this double‐blind trial (NCT01300819), patients with PD and a total NMSS score ≥40 were randomized (2:1) to rotigotine or placebo, titrated over 1–7 weeks to optimal dose (≤8 mg/24 h for patients not receiving levodopa, ≤16 mg/24 h for patients receiving levodopa), maintained for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in NMSS total score from baseline to end of maintenance. Secondary outcomes were the nine NMSS domains, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III (motor) and the 39‐item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ‐39).

Results

In total, 283/349 (81.1%) randomized patients completed the trial; 211 rotigotine and 122 placebo were included in the full analysis set. The NMSS total score decreased by 23 (rotigotine) and 19 (placebo) points; the treatment difference was not statistically significant (−3.58; 95% confidence interval −8.43, 1.26; P = 0.147). Numerically greater than placebo improvements were detected in the ‘mood/apathy’ and ‘miscellaneous’ NMSS domains (P < 0.05). Treatment differences in UPDRS III (−2.60; −4.27, −0.92; P = 0.002) and PDQ‐39 (−2.79; −5.21, −0.37; P = 0.024) favoured rotigotine. Adverse events reported more frequently with rotigotine were nausea, application site reactions, somnolence and headache.

Conclusions

Rotigotine improvement in the multi‐domain NMSS total score was not superior to placebo. A different sensitivity of individual NMSS domains to dopaminergic therapy and a large placebo effect may have contributed to these findings.
Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis affecting all cheek teeth in two horses: Clinical and histopathological findings
Authors: Moore N. T. , Schroeder W. , Staszyk C.
Published: June 2015

This report describes the clinical presentation and histopathological findings of two horses with equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) affecting all cheek teeth. Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis is a well documented condition known to affect the incisors, canines and occasionally the premolars in horses. At this time there have been no documented cases of EORTH affecting all cheek teeth described in the peer reviewed literature. This paper documents the first reported cases of EOTRH affecting the cheek teeth in one horse in the United States and one from Germany.
Cataracts: Clinical presentations, diagnosis and management
Authors: Townsend W. M.
Published: June 2015

Cataracts can be developmental or acquired lesions and cause minimal or significant visual impairment. The ability to identify cataracts and determine the likely effect on the visual potential of the horse is an important part of an equine ocular examination. Cataract surgery is the only treatment for those cataracts that cause significant visual impairment. Understanding appropriate patient selection and potential post operative complications is important so that owners can be appropriately advised of their options.
Revisiting the phylogeography ofAsellus aquaticusin Europe: insights into cryptic diversity and spatiotemporal diversification
Authors: Sworobowicz Lidia , Grabowski Michał , Mamos Tomasz , Burzyński Artur , Kilikowska Adrianna , Sell Jerzy , Wysocka Anna
Published: June 2015

Pleistocene glaciations affected the present‐day distribution and genetic diversity of animal species in Europe. Deep genetic subdivisions observed in European populations of the widespread freshwater isopod morphospecies,Asellus aquaticus, suggest the presence of putative cryptic species.

We used theDNAbarcodes of the cytochromecoxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene combined with distance‐ and tree‐based methods of species delimitation as a rapid tool for assessing the number of distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs) representing potential cryptic species. The spatial and demographic aspect ofA. aquaticusdistribution was also analysed. We generated a tentative temporal framework for diversification within the morphospecies provided by the molecular clock approach. Altogether, our study included 603COIsequences from 147 populations from all over Europe and Asia Minor, including the already published data deposited in GenBank.

The mtDNA‐based phylogenetic andOTUdelimitation pattern was assessed with results of the nuclear data set analysis including the sequence data derived from this study and those previously submitted in GenBank. In total, 16 haplotypes of28SrDNAwere used representing allCOI‐basedOTUs and 53 localities. Our results show thatA. aquaticusis a conglomerate of genetically distinctCOIOTUs. One of theOTUs seems to correspond to the nominative subspecies ofA. aquaticus aquaticus, recently redescribed from Sweden, and another with the recently describedA. kosswigi. Most of theOTUs are probably of pre‐Pleistocene origin and have narrow ranges in southern Europe.

A recent expansion, in both demographic and spatial terms, was revealed in oneOTU, which is widely distributed in Europe and representsA. aquaticus aquaticus. This may be explained by the post‐glacial recolonisation processes. According to our data, thisOTUprobably emerged and initially diversified in the west Balkans in the Middle/Late Pliocene with several lineages surviving and diversifying through the Pleistocene glaciations and expanding during the interglacials.

In some cases, our28Sdata support theCOI‐basedOTUs and provide ample evidence for the existence of distinctOTUs, especially in mountainous and karst areas. However, otherCOIOTUs are not reciprocally monophyletic with respect to nuclear marker. This phylogenetic pattern can be interpreted predominantly as a result of incomplete sorting of nuclear lineages, potentially indicating an ongoing speciation process, but also as an effect of introgression resulting from secondary contact of formerly peripatric or allopatric mitochondrial lineages.
Deriving nutrient targets to prevent excessive cyanobacterial densities in U.S. lakes and reservoirs
Authors: Yuan Lester L. , Pollard Amina I.
Published: June 2015

High densities of cyanobacteria can interfere with the use of lakes and reservoirs for recreation and as sources for drinking water, and one approach for reducing the amount of cyanobacteria is to reduce nutrient concentrations in the waterbody.

An approach is described for deriving numeric targets for concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) that are associated with a pre‐specified probability of cyanobacterial biovolume that exceeds the recommended World Health Organization thresholds for recreation in the water. The analysis consisted of two phases. First, a divisive tree algorithm was used to identify groups of lakes in which the relationship between nutrients and cyanobacterial biovolume was similar. Second, hierarchical Bayesian models were used to estimate relationships between cyanobacterial biovolume,TPandTN, while partitioning the observed variance in biovolume into components associated with sampling variability, temporal variability, and among‐lake differences.

The final model accounted for 91% of the variance in cyanobacterial biovolume among different lakes and was used to identify nutrient concentrations that maintain a low probability of excessively high cyanobacterial biovolumes.

When no classes of lakes were specified and the relationship between cyanobacterial biovolume and nutrient concentrations was modelled using a national data set, mean targets of 87 and 1100 μg L−1were derived forTPandTN, respectively, to maintain cyanobacterial biovolume below moderate risk levels as defined by the World Health Organization. After classification, mean nutrient targets in lakes that were found to be most susceptible to high biovolumes of cyanobacteria (i.e. deep lakes) were 61 and 800 μg L−1forTPandTN, while higher nutrient thresholds were observed for other classes of lakes.
Replication study implicates COMT val158met polymorphism as a modulator of probabilistic reward learning
Authors: Lancaster T. M. , Heerey E. A. , Mantripragada K. , Linden D. E. J.
Published: June 2015

Previous studies suggest that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene (val158met) may modulate reward‐guided decision making in healthy individuals. The polymorphism affects dopamine catabolism and thus modulates prefrontal dopamine levels, which may lead to variation in individual responses to risk and reward. We previously showed, using tasks that index reward responsiveness (measured by responses bias towards reinforced stimuli) and risk taking (measured by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task), that COMT met homozygotes had increased reward responsiveness and, thus, an increased propensity to seek reward. In this study, we sought to replicate these effects in a larger, independent cohort of Caucasian UK university students and staff with similar demographic characteristics (n = 101; 54 females, mean age: 22.2 years). Similarly to our previous study, we observed a significant trial × COMT genotype interaction (P = 0.047; η2 = 0.052), which was driven by a significant effect of COMT on the incremental acquisition of response bias [response bias at block 3 − block 1 (met/met > val/val: P = 0.028) and block 3 − block 2 (met/met > val/val: P = 0.007)], suggesting that COMT met homozygotes demonstrated higher levels of reward responsiveness by the end of the task. However, we failed to see main effects of COMT genotype on overall response bias or risk‐seeking behaviour. These results provide additional evidence that prefrontal dopaminergic variation may have a role in reward responsiveness, but not risk‐seeking behaviour. Our findings may have implications for neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by clinical deficits in reward processing such as anhedonia.
Grain trapping by filamentous cyanobacterial and algal mats: implications for stromatolite microfabrics through time
Authors: Frantz C. M. , Petryshyn V. A. , Corsetti F. A.
Published: June 2015

Archean and Proterozoic stromatolites are sparry or fine‐grained and finely laminated; coarse‐grained stromatolites, such as many found in modern marine systems, do not appear until quite late in the fossil record. The cause of this textural change and its relevance to understanding the evolutionary history of stromatolites is unclear. Cyanobacteria are typically considered the dominant stromatolite builders through time, but studies demonstrating the trapping and binding abilities of cyanobacterial mats are limited. With this in mind, we conducted experiments to test the grain trapping and binding capabilities of filamentous cyanobacterial mats and trapping in larger filamentous algal mats in order to better understand grain size trends in stromatolites. Mats were cut into squares, inclined in saltwater tanks at angles from 0 to 75° (approximating the angle of lamina in typical stromatolites), and grains of various sizes (fine sand, coarse sand, and fine pebbles) were delivered to their surface. Trapping of grains by the cyanobacterial mats depended strongly on (i) how far filaments protruded from the sediment surface, (ii) grain size, and (iii) the mat's incline angle. The cyanobacterial mats were much more effective at trapping fine grains beyond the abiotic slide angle than larger grains. In addition, the cyanobacterial mats actively bound grains of all sizes over time. In contrast, the much larger algal mats trapped medium and coarse grains at all angles. Our experiments suggest that (i) the presence of detrital grains beyond the abiotic slide angle can be considered a biosignature in ancient stromatolites where biogenicity is in question, and, (ii) where coarse grains are present within stromatolite laminae at angles beyond the abiotic angle of slide (e.g., most modern marine stromatolites), typical cyanobacterial‐type mats are probably not solely responsible for the construction, giving insight into the evolution of stromatolite microfabrics through time.
MYC overexpression correlates with MYC amplification or translocation, and is associated with poor prognosis in mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Choe Ji‐Young , Yun Ji Yun , Na Hee Young , Huh Jooryung , Shin Su‐Jin , Kim Hyun‐Jung , Paik Jin Ho , Kim Young A , Nam Soo Jeong , Jeon Yoon Kyung , Park Gyeongsin , Kim Ji Eun
Published: June 2015

Aims

We aimed to investigate MYC expression and chromosomal aberration in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and the clinical significance of these factors.

Methods and results

Sixty‐five patients with MCL, including 54 classic, nine blastoid and two pleomorphic variants, were enrolled. Expression of MYC, Ki67 and p53 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. MYC amplification or translocation was examined by fluorescence in‐situ hybridization. MYC expression was higher in blastoid/pleomorphic MCL variants (mean, 19.0%) than in classic MCL (mean, 1.9%; P < 0.001). Expression of p53 and Ki67 was also significantly higher in these variants. MYC amplification was found in two of 53 cases tested, both of which were blastoid variants with high MYC expression (29.7% and 20.4%). MYC translocation was found in two of 52 cases tested, both of which were pleomorphic variants with remarkably high MYC expression (68.5% and 71.0%). High MYC or p53 expression was significantly associated with shortened overall survival and progression‐free survival in univariable and multivariable analyses (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

MYC overexpression is a negative predictor of MCL patient outcomes. MYC gene amplification or translocation might be related to the pathogenesis of MCL, particularly in blastoid/pleomorphic variants.
A clinical study to measure anti‐erosion properties of a stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice relative to a sodium fluoride/triclosan dentifrice
Authors: West NX , Seong J , Hellin N , Eynon H , Barker ML , He T
Published: June 2015

Objective

To compare the enamel protection efficacy of a stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF2) dentifrice to a sodium fluoride (NaF)/triclosan dentifrice following acidic erosive challenge.

Methods

In thisin situ, randomized, controlled, double‐blind, two‐treatment, four‐period crossover clinical trial, subjects wore an appliance fitted with human enamel samples 6 h day−1during each 15‐day treatment period. Twice each treatment day they swished with their assigned dentifrice slurry: 0.454% SnF2/0.077% NaF or 0.32% NaF/0.3% triclosan. After each treatment and two other times daily, subjects swished with 250 ml of orange juice over a 10‐min period (acidic erosive challenge). Enamel samples were measured for tooth surface loss using contact profilometry at baseline and days 10 and 15.

Results

Thirty‐six subjects (mean age 44.8 years, range 23–65 years) were randomized to treatment; 33 subjects completed the final study visit. There were no statistically significant baseline differences (P > 0.44) in the specimen surfaces of the two dentifrice treatment groups via profilometry. At day 10, the SnF2dentifrice provided a statistically significant (P < 0.0001) reduction in enamel loss by 67% versus the NaF/triclosan dentifrice with estimated medians of 1.22 and 3.68 μm, respectively. At day 15, the SnF2dentifrice again provided a significantly greater benefit (P < 0.0001) against tooth surface loss versus the NaF/triclosan dentifrice, with 68% less erosion, and estimated medians of 1.60 and 5.03 μm, respectively. Both dentifrices were well tolerated.

Conclusion

A stabilized SnF2dentifrice provided superior protection against the initiation and progression of tooth enamel surface lossin situafter erosive challenge compared to a NaF/triclosan dentifrice.
Cheese fortification using saturated monoglyceride self‐assembly structures as carrier of omega‐3 fatty acids
Authors: Calligaris Sonia , Ignat Alexandra , Biasutti Marialuisa , Innocente Nadia , Nicoli Maria Cristina
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this research was to study the capacity of emulsions containing saturated monoglyceride self‐assembly structures to deliver omega‐3 fatty acids in fresh soft cheese. To this aim, fortified emulsions containing different ratios of milk, saturated monoglycerides (MGs) and cod liver oil were added to milk before cheese‐making. These emulsions were characterised by distinct microstructural features observed by polarised light microscopy and apparent viscosity values. The omega‐3 delivery performance of MG emulsions highlighted that this strategy allowed a good retention of the omega‐3‐rich oil in the curd (up to 75%). The fortified cheeses showed yield value and fat content higher than those of control samples. The enriched cheese showed hardness and cohesiveness obtained by texture profile analysis similar to those of the unfortified product. Only a slight decrease in gumminess was detected in fortified cheese.
Student selection and assignment methodology based on fuzzy MULTIMOORA and multichoice goal programming
Authors: Deliktas Derya , Ustun Ozden
Published: June 2015

Student selection is a multicriteria decision‐making problem that includes both tangible and intangible factors. In these problems if educational institutions have budget or other different constraints, two problems will exist: which students are the best and how students are assigned to the predefined programs? In this study, an integrated approach of fuzzy MULTIMOORA and multichoice conic goal programming is proposed to consider criteria in choosing the best students and define the optimum assignments among the predefined programs to maximize both the total preference value and total ranking value. The rankings of the students are determined by using fuzzy MULTIMOORA. The rankings of candidates are set as the parameters of the first objective function. The placement preferences of the students according to the predefined programs are considered in the second objective function. The candidates are assigned to their placement preferences both by using multichoice conic goal programming among partner universities according to the objectives and by considering the budget and quota.
Eurasian origin, boreotropical migration and transoceanic dispersal in the pantropical fern genusDiplazium(Athyriaceae)
Authors: Wei Ran , Xiang Qiaoping , Schneider Harald , Sundue Michael A. , Kessler Michael , Kamau Peris W. , Hidayat Arief , Zhang Xianchun
Published: June 2015

Aim

Gondwanan vicariance, boreotropical migration and long‐distance dispersal have been posited as alternative hypotheses explaining the tropical distribution patterns and diversifications in many fern groups. Here, the historical biogeography ofDiplaziumis reconstructed to evaluate the impact of these biogeographical processes in shaping the modern tropical disjunctions.

Location

World‐wide with a focus on tropical forest habitats.

Methods

Divergence times were estimated by analysing nucleotide sequences of seven plastidDNAregions (atpA,atpB,matK,rbcL,rps4,rps4–trnS andtrnL–F) from 123 species ofDiplaziumand its allied genera, using a Bayesian relaxed clock method and three fossil calibrations. The ancestral areas were reconstructed using the likelihood dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis (DEC) approach.

Results

The crown group ofDiplaziumwas estimated to have originated in Eurasia and undergone an initial diversification in the Northern Hemisphere around 41.7 Ma [95% highest posterior density (HPD): 34–49 Ma] during the Eocene. Two disjunct events between the Old and New World were identified: one in subgenusDiplaziumaround the Eocene–Oligocene boundary (31.2 Ma, 95%HPD: 25–38 Ma), and the other in subgenusCallipterisduring the middle Miocene (12.6 Ma, 95%HPD: 15–23 Ma). Furthermore, Palaeotropical disjunctions in subgenusCallipterisare indicative of multiple dispersal events during the Miocene.

Main conclusions

The evolutionary history ofDiplaziuminvolves a variety of biogeographical scenarios. Early diversification ofDiplaziumin the Northern Hemisphere during the Eocene corresponds with the migration from Eurasia to North America over land bridges as a member of the boreotropical flora. The current tropical amphi‐Pacific disjunctions in subgenusDiplaziumcan be better explained by the disruption of boreotropical belt, however, long‐distance dispersal between Eurasia and tropical America cannot be ruled out. Island‐hopping and trans‐Pacific dispersals followed by speciation characterize the disjunctions and diversifications of subgenusCallipterisduring the Neogene. Gondwanan vicariance is not supported by any of our results.
Pridopidine, a dopamine stabilizer, improves motor performance and shows neuroprotective effects in Huntington disease R6/2 mouse model
Authors: Squitieri Ferdinando , Di Pardo Alba , Favellato Mariagrazia , Amico Enrico , Maglione Vittorio , Frati Luigi
Published: June 2015

Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which new treatments are urgently needed. Pridopidine is a new dopaminergic stabilizer, recently developed for the treatment of motor symptoms associated with HD. The therapeutic effect of pridopidine in patients with HD has been determined in two double‐blind randomized clinical trials, however, whether pridopidine exerts neuroprotection remains to be addressed. The main goal of this study was to define the potential neuroprotective effect of pridopidine, in HD in vivo and in vitro models, thus providing evidence that might support a potential disease‐modifying action of the drug and possibly clarifying other aspects of pridopidine mode‐of‐action. Our data corroborated the hypothesis of neuroprotective action of pridopidine in HD experimental models. Administration of pridopidine protected cells from apoptosis, and resulted in highly improved motor performance in R6/2 mice. The anti‐apoptotic effect observed in the in vitro system highlighted neuroprotective properties of the drug, and advanced the idea of sigma‐1‐receptor as an additional molecular target implicated in the mechanism of action of pridopidine. Coherent with protective effects, pridopidine‐mediated beneficial effects in R6/2 mice were associated with an increased expression of pro‐survival and neurostimulatory molecules, such as brain derived neurotrophic factor and DARPP32, and with a reduction in the size of mHtt aggregates in striatal tissues. Taken together, these findings support the theory of pridopidine as molecule with disease‐modifying properties in HD and advance the idea of a valuable therapeutic strategy for effectively treating the disease.
Health professionals’ perceptions regarding family witnessed resuscitation in adult critical care settings
Authors: Bashayreh Ibrahim , Saifan Ahmad , Batiha Abdul‐Monim , Timmons Stephen , Nairn Stuart
Published: June 2015

Aims and objectives

To deepen our understanding of the perceptions of health professionals regarding family witnessed resuscitation in Jordanian adult critical care settings.

Background

The issue of family witnessed resuscitation has developed dramatically in the last three decades. The traditional practice of excluding family members during cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been questioned. Family witnessed resuscitation has been described as good practice by many researchers and health organisations. However, family witnessed resuscitation has been perceived by some practitioners to be unhealthy and harmful to the life‐saving process. The literature showed that there are no policies or guidelines to allow or to prevent family witnessed resuscitation in Jordan.

Design

An exploratory qualitative design was adopted.

Methods

A purposive sample of 31 health professionals from several disciplines was recruited over a period of six months. Individual semi‐structured interviews were used. These interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

It was found that most healthcare professionals were against family witnessed resuscitation. They raised several concerns related to being verbally and physically attacked if they allowed family witnessed resuscitation. Almost all of the respondents expressed their fears of patients’ family members’ interfering in their work. Most of the participants in this study stated that family witnessed resuscitation is traumatic for family members. This was viewed as a barrier to allowing family witnessed resuscitation in Jordanian critical care settings.

Conclusion

The study provides a unique understanding of Jordanian health professionals’ perceptions regarding family witnessed resuscitation. They raised some views that contest some arguments in the broader literature. Further research with patients, family members, health professionals and policy makers is still required.

Relevance to clinical practice

This is the first study about family witnessed resuscitation in Jordan. Considering multi‐disciplinary healthcare professionals’ views would be helpful when starting to implement this practice in Jordanian hospitals.