bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of ultrasound in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
Authors: Yang Peng‐fei , Li Dong , Zhang Shi‐mo , Wu Qing , Tang Jin , Huang Liang‐ku , Liu Wei , Xu Xi‐dong , Chen Shi‐rong
Published: July 2011

Objective:  To investigate the effect of ultrasound in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Methods:  Eighty‐seven out‐ and in‐patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (15 men and 72 women) underwent ultrasonic therapy from February to October 2010. The patients were randomly assigned to an ultrasound group (Group A) and a placebo group (Group B). Group A was offered ultrasonic therapy while Group B underwent mock treatment. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lequesne scores of the two groups before and after treatment were compared. The data were analyzed by normal distribution, Student's t‐test and the rank sum test. The means during and after treatment of the VAS and Lequesne efficacy index of the treatment group were calculated and plotted on a bar graph.

Results:  Single sample analysis of Groups A and B showed VAS efficacy index: mean = 0.3640, P= 0.000; Lequesne efficacy index, median = 0.3080, P= 0.000, and mean = 0.1000, P= 0.000; Lequesne efficacy index, mean = 0.0364, P= 0.024, respectively. Independent samples t test and rank sum test showed significant differences between the two groups, namely P= 0.000 for both the VAS and Lequesne curative effect indexes. The means of the VAS efficacy index of the treatment group increased during and after treatment. The means of the Lequesne efficacy index of the treatment group showed no apparent decrease by 28 days after treatment.

Conclusion:  Ultrasound treatment significantly alleviates joint symptoms, relieving joint swelling, increasing joint mobility and reducing inflammation, in osteoarthritis patients.
A new technique for anterior cervical pedicle screw implantation
Authors: Zhao Liu‐jun , Xu Rong‐ming , Jiang Wei‐yu , Ma Wei‐hu , Xu Nan‐jian , Hu Yong
Published: July 2011

Objective:  To introduce and evaluate a new technique, anterior pedicle screw implantation, for anterior cervical reconstruction.

Methods:  Seven patients (five men and two women) with an average age of 65 years were included in this group. After carefully preparation, anterior pedicle screws were implanted under fluoroscopy in all patients. The position of the anterior pedicle screws was evaluated three days postoperatively by X‐ray and CT imaging. The mean recovery rate as assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was recorded at final follow‐up.

Results:  A total of fourteen anterior pedicle screws were implanted in our group. The average follow up period was 8 months. The mean JOA score was 12.5 preoperatively and 14.8 postoperatively. The mean improvement in the JOA score was 50.5% at final follow‐up. The average local alignment improved from 4.0 of kyphosis preoperatively to 6.5 of lordosis at final follow‐up. Early bony union was observed in four cases that were followed up for more than 3 months. There were no serious complications. No “pedicle perforation” was observed in any of the fourteen anterior pedicle screws, whereas one screw exposure occurred.

Conclusion:  Anterior cervical pedicle screw implantation is a feasible method for selected cases. It provides another choice for strong anterior cervical reconstruction.
Seroprevalence of Tularemia in Wild Bears and Hares in Japan
Authors: Hotta A. , Tanabayashi K. , Yamamoto Y. , Fujita O. , Uda A. , Mizoguchi T. , Yamada A.
Published: July 2011

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused byFrancisella tularensis. The distribution of the pathogen in Japan has not been studied well. In this study, seroprevalence of tularemia among wild black bears and hares in Japan was determined. Blood samples collected from 431 Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) and 293 Japanese hares (Lepus brachurus) between 1998 and 2009 were examined for antibodies againstF. tularensisby micro‐agglutination test (MA) or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. By subsequent confirmatory tests using western blot (WB) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), eight sera from Japanese black bears were definitely shown to be seropositive. All of these eight bears were residents of the northeastern part of main‐island of Japan, where human tularemia had been reported. On the other hand, no seropositive Japanese hares were found. These results suggest that Japanese black bears can serve as sentinel for tularemia surveillance and may help understand the distribution ofF. tularensisthroughout the country. This is the first report on detection of antibody toF. tularensisin black bears of Japan.
Plasma biochemical reference values in clinically healthy captive bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and the effects of sex and season
Authors: Tamukai Kenichi , Takami Yoshinori , Akabane Yoshihito , Kanazawa Yuko , Une Yumi
Published: July 2011

Background:Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet lizard species, and biochemical reference values are useful for health management of these reptiles.

Objectives:The objectives of this study were to measure plasma biochemical values in healthy captive bearded dragons, determine reference values, and evaluate the effects of sex and season on the results.

Methods:Blood samples were collected from 100 captive healthy bearded dragons in Tokyo during the summer and winter. Plasma biochemical measurements were performed using a dry‐slide automated biochemical analyzer. The data were then compared based on sex and season using 2‐way ANOVA.

Results:Globulin, cholesterol, and calcium concentrations of females were higher in both summer and winter compared with the values obtained for males. Both males and females had higher uric acid concentrations in winter than in summer. When compared with males, females had a higher chloride concentration in summer and a higher total protein concentration and aspartate aminotransferase activity in winter. Potassium concentration in males was lower in winter than in summer, whereas in females cholesterol concentration was lower in winter than in summer.

Conclusions:Biochemical values that differed based on sex and season in bearded dragons were similar to those in other lizards. These differences reflect physiologic differences in reproductive status in females and seasonal changes in temperature and hydration status. Plasma biochemical values established for bearded dragons in this study will be useful in the diagnostic assessment of captive animals.
In vitro electrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure
Authors: FINTL C. , PEARSON G. T. , MAYHEW I. G. , HUDSON N. P. H.
Published: July 2011

Reasons for performing study: The generation and maintenance of intestinal motility patterns involve the complex interactions of several components including the gastrointestinal pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal, ICC). Central to ICC function is the generation of rhythmic pacemaker currents, namely slow waves, which represent the rate limiting step for intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Currently, intracellular slow wave activity has not been demonstrated in the equine colon.

Objectives: To characterise the in vitro myoelectrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure using intracellular recording techniques.

Methods: Intestinal samples were collected immediately following euthanasia from 14 normal horses. One millimetre thick tissue sections were pinned and superfused with warmed, oxygenated Krebs solution. Intracellular recordings were made from smooth muscle cells close to the submucosal border of the circular muscle layer. The L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine was added to the superfusion fluid in 9 experiments while the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin was added to the superfusion fluid in 4 experiments. The data were recorded and stored using an acquisition system and a software package used to analyse the recordings.

Results: In 10 of the 14 horses, electrical events consistent with slow wave patterns were recorded from individual smooth muscle cells. Surprisingly, adding nifedipine to the superfusion fluid abolished all electrical activity. In contrast, tetrodotoxin had no apparent effect on the electrical activity.

Conclusions: Assuming that the electrical events were slow waves, the blockade by nifedipine suggests significant and potentially important differences in the ionic mechanisms responsible for slow waves in the different regions of the equine intestinal tract, which deserve further evaluation.
Adipose tissue‐derived adiponectin expression is significantly associated with increased post operative mortality in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery
Authors: PACKER M. J. , GERMAN A. J. , HUNTER L. , TRAYHURN P. , PROUDMAN C. J.
Published: July 2011

Reasons for performing study: Adipose tissue is an important source of inflammatory cytokines (adipokines) and adiposity has been identified as having a significant effect on human morbidity and mortality. Obesity is also an emerging welfare problem in the UK horse population, but the role that it plays in secondary diseases is unclear.

Objectives: To examine the expression of inflammation‐related adipokine genes in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery and to explore associations with adiposity and post operative survival.

Methods: Retroperitoneal adipose tissue samples were obtained from 76 horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Real‐time PCR was used to measure gene expression for leptin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, macrophage chemoattractant protein‐1, macrophage inhibitory factor, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin and interleukin‐1. Multivariate patterns of adipokine expression were explored with principal component analysis (PCA), whilst univariable associations with post operative survival were tested in a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: Leptin gene expression was higher in overweight and obese horses than in lean animals. Expression of mRNA encoding adiponectin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue was positively associated with increased post operative mortality (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.05–1.65). However, PCA did not demonstrate multivariable patterns of adipokine gene expression from visceral adipose tissue associated with body mass index or with survival.

Conclusions: In horses presented with acute intestinal disease, increased adiponectin gene expression from retroperitoneal adipose tissue is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Obesity assessed by BMI had no association with increased post operative mortality in horses with primary gastrointestinal disease.

Potential relevance: Further study is warranted on the expression and effects of adipokines, particularly adiponectin, and correlation with postoperative outcome.
Factors associated with survival of epiploic foramen entrapment colic: A multicentre, international study
Authors: ARCHER D. C. , PINCHBECK G. L. , PROUDMAN C. J.
Published: July 2011

Reasons for performing study:Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) has been associated with reduced post operative survival compared to other types of colic but specific factors associated with reduced long‐term survival of these cases have not been evaluated in a large number of horses using survival analysis.

Objective:To describe post operative survival of EFE cases and to identify factors associated with long‐term survival.

Methods:A prospective, multicentre, international study was conducted using clinical data and long‐term follow‐up information for 126 horses diagnosed with EFE during exploratory laparotomy at 15 clinics in the UK, Ireland and USA. Descriptive data were generated and survival analysis performed to identify factors associated with reduced post operative survival.

Results:For the EFE cohort that recovered following anaesthesia, survival to hospital discharge was 78.5%. Survival to 1 and 2 years post operatively was 50.6 and 34.3%, respectively. The median survival time of EFE cases undergoing surgery was 397 days. Increased packed cell volume (PCV) and increased length of small intestine (SI) resected were significantly associated with increased likelihood of mortality when multivariable analysis of pre‐ and intraoperative variables were analysed. When all pre‐, intra‐ and post operative variables were analysed separately, only horses that developed post operative ileus (POI) were shown to be at increased likelihood of mortality.

Conclusions:Increased PCV, increased length of SI resected and POI are all associated with increased likelihood of mortality of EFE cases. This emphasises the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and the need for improved strategies in the management of POI in order to reduce post operative mortality in these cases.

Potential relevance:The present study provides evidence‐based information to clinicians and owners of horses undergoing surgery for EFE about long‐term survival. These results are applicable to university and large private clinics over a wide geographical area.
The neural processing of familiar and unfamiliar faces: A review and synopsis
Authors: Natu Vaidehi , O’Toole Alice J.
Published: July 2011

Familiar faces are represented with rich visual, semantic, and emotional codes that support nearly effortless perception and recognition of these faces. Unfamiliar faces pose a greater challenge to human perception and memory systems. The established behavioural disparities for familiar and unfamiliar faces undoubtedly stem from differences in the quality and nature of their underlying neural representations. In this review, our goal is to characterize what is known about the neural pathways that respond to familiar and unfamiliar faces using data from functional neuroimaging studies. We divide our presentation by type of familiarity (famous, personal, and visual familiarity) to consider the distinct neural underpinnings of each. We conclude with a description of a recent model of person information proposed by Gobbini and Haxby (2007) and a list of open questions and promising directions for future research.
Relationships and the social brain: Integrating psychological and evolutionary perspectives
Authors: Sutcliffe Alistair , Dunbar Robin , Binder Jens , Arrow Holly
Published: July 2011

Psychological studies of relationships tend to focus on specific types of close personal relationships (romantic, parent–offspring, friendship) and examine characteristics of both the individuals and the dyad. This paper looks more broadly at the wider range of relationships that constitute an individual's personal social world. Recent work on the composition of personal social networks suggests that they consist of a series of layers that differ in the quality and quantity of relationships involved. Each layer increases relationship numbers by an approximate multiple of 3 (5–15‐50–150) but decreasing levels of intimacy (strong, medium, and weak ties) and frequency of interaction. To account for these regularities, we draw on both social and evolutionary psychology to argue that relationships at different layers serve different functions and have different cost‐benefit profiles. At each layer, the benefits are asymptotic but the costs of maintaining a relationship at that level (most obviously, the time that has to be invested in servicing it) are roughly linear with the number of relationships. The trade‐off between costs and benefits at a given level, and across the different types of demands and resources typical of different levels, gives rise to a distribution of social effort that generates and maintains a hierarchy of layered sets of relationships within social networks. We suggest that, psychologically, these trade‐offs are related to the level of trust in a relationship, and that this is itself a function of the time invested in the relationship.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Damage Assessment of a Cantilever Beam With Breathing Edge Crack
Authors: Chatterjee Animesh
Published: July 2011

Failures in structures and machine elements can be prevented through early detection of fatigue cracks using various nondestructive testing methods. Vibration testing forms one of the most effective and recent one among these methods. There are mainly two approaches to crack detection through vibration testing: open crack model and breathing crack model. The present study is based on breathing crack model, in which the nonlinear vibration response under harmonic excitation is formulated through Volterra series and higher order frequency response functions. Bilinear stiffness characteristic of a cracked cantilever beam is approximated by a truncated polynomial series and response amplitudes of various harmonics are investigated for both qualitative and quantitative characterization. A new procedure is suggested whereby the presence of a breathing crack in a structure can be first identified and then the severity of the damage can be estimated through harmonic probing.
Dose monitoring and output correction for the effects of scanning field changes with uniform scanning proton beam
Authors: Zhao Qingya , Wu Huanmei , Cheng Chee‐Wai , Das Indra J.
Published: July 2011

Purpose: The output of a proton beam is affected by proton energy, Spread‐Out Bragg Peak (SOBP) width, aperture size, dose rate, and the point of measurement. In a uniform scanning proton beam (USPB), the scanning field size is adjusted (including the vertical length and the horizontal width) according to the treatment field size with appropriate margins to reduce secondary neutron production. Different scanning field settings result in beam output variations that are investigated in this study.Methods: The measurements are performed with a parallel plate Markus chamber at the center of SOBP under the reference condition with 16 cm range, 10 cm SOBP, and 5 cm air gap. The effect of dose rate on field output is studied by varying proton beam current from 0.5 to 7 nA. The effects of scanning field settings are studied by varying independently the field width and length from 12 × 12 to 30 × 30 cm2.Results: The results demonstrate that scanning field variations can produce output variation up to 3.80%. In addition, larger output variation is observed with scanning field changes along the stem direction of the patient dose monitor (PDM). By investigating the underlying physics of incomplete charge collection and the stem effects of the PDM, an analytical model is proposed to calculate USPB output with consideration of the scanning field area and the PDM stem length that is irradiated. The average absolute difference between the measured output and calculated output using our new correction model are within 0.13 and 0.08% for the 20 and 30 cm snouts, respectively.Conclusions: This study proposes a correction model for accurate USPB output calculation, which takes account of scanning field settings and the PDM stem effects. This model may be used to extend the existing output calculation model from one snout size to other snout sizes with customized scanning field settings. The study is especially useful for calculating field output for treatment without individualized patient specific measurements.
Introduction of heat map to fidelity assessment of compressed CT images
Authors: Lee Hyunna , Kim Bohyoung , Kim Kil Joong , Seo Jinwook , Park Seongjin , Shin Yeong‐Gil , Lee Kyoung Ho
Published: July 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to introduce heat map, a graphical data presentation method widely used in gene expression experiments, to the presentation and interpretation of image fidelity assessment data of compressed computed tomography (CT) images.Methods: The authors used actual assessment data that consisted of five radiologists' responses to 720 computed tomography images compressed using both Joint Photographic Experts Group 2000 (JPEG2000) 2D and JPEG2000 3D compressions. They additionally created data of two artificial radiologists, which were generated by partly modifying the data from two human radiologists.Results: For each compression, the entire data set, including the variations among radiologists and among images, could be compacted into a small color‐coded grid matrix of the heat map. A difference heat map depicted the advantage of 3D compression over 2D compression. Dendrograms showing hierarchical agglomerative clustering results were added to the heat maps to illustrate the similarities in the data patterns among radiologists and among images. The dendrograms were used to identify two artificial radiologists as outliers, whose data were created by partly modifying the responses of two human radiologists.Conclusions: The heat map can illustrate a quick visual extract of the overall data as well as the entirety of large complex data in a compact space while visualizing the variations among observers and among images. The heat map with the dendrograms can be used to identify outliers or to classify observers and images based on the degree of similarity in the response patterns.
In VitroSelection of Variants Resistant to β-Lactams plus β-Lactamase Inhibitors in CTX-M β-Lactamases: Predicting theIn VivoScenario?
Authors: Ripoll Aida , Baquero Fernando , Novais Ângela , Rodríguez-Domínguez Mario J. , Turrientes Maria-Carmen , Cantón Rafael , Galán Juan-Carlos
Published: July 2011

CTX-M β-lactamases are the most prevalent group of enzymes within the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). The therapeutic options for CTX-M-carrying isolates are scarce, forcing the reexamination of the therapeutic possibilities of β-lactams plus β-lactamase inhibitors (BBLIs). Inhibitor-resistant CTX-M β-lactamases (IR-CTX-M) have not hitherto been described in natural isolates. In this study, 168 cultures of the hypermutagenicEscherichia coliGB20 strain carrying plasmid pBGS18 with differentblaCTX-Mgenes were submitted to parallel experimental evolution assays in the presence of increasing concentrations of a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate. Fourteen CTX-M β-lactamases belonging to the three most representative clusters (CTX-M-1, -2, and -9) and the two main phenotypes (cefotaxime resistance and cefotaxime-ceftazidime resistance) were studied. Three types of IR-CTX-M mutants were detected, having mutations S130G, K234R, and S237G, which are associated with different resistance patterns. The most frequently recovered mutation was S130G, which conferred the highest resistance levels to BBLIs (reaching 12 μg/ml for amoxicillin-clavulanate and 96 μg/ml for piperacillin-tazobactam when acquired by CTX-M-1 cluster enzymes). The S130G change also provided a clear antagonistic pleiotropy effect, strongly decreasing the enzyme's activity against all cephalosporins tested. A double mutation, S130G L169S, partially restored the resistance against cephalosporins. A complex pattern observed in CTX-M-58, carrying P167S and S130G or K234R changes, conferred ESBL and IR phenotypes simultaneously. The K234R and S237G changes had a smaller effect in providing inhibitor resistance. In summary, IR-CTX-M enzymes might evolve under exposure to BBLIs, and the probability is higher for enzymes belonging to the CTX-M-1 cluster. However, this process could be delayed by antagonistic pleiotropy.
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Studies of the Utility of Dimethyl and Diethyl Carbaporphyrin Ketals in Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: Taylor Viviana M. , Cedeño David L. , Muñoz Diana L. , Jones Marjorie A. , Lash Timothy D. , Young Alexandra M. , Constantino Manuel H. , Esposito Nicholas , Vélez Iván D. , Robledo Sara M.
Published: July 2011

Carbaporphyrin ketals are porphyrinoid compounds in which a pyrrole ring of a typical porphyrin macrocycle has been replaced by a ketal-substituted indene ring. It was recently demonstrated that these compounds are effective
in vitro
against
Leishmania tarentolae
. Their
in vitro
effectiveness is increased when they are exposed to visible light; they act as photosensitizers capable of mediating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Following on this evidence, the effectiveness and cytotoxicity of the dimethyl and diethyl carbaporphyrin ketals (CKOMe and CKOEt, respectively) were determined
in vitro
using pathogenic
Leishmania
species with and without exposure to visible light (2 and 4 h). The effectiveness against various pathogenic
Leishmania
species was determined to be in a micromolar range. Additionally, the effect of encapsulating the carbaporphyrin ketals in liposome formulations was tested. Liposomal delivery diminished their toxicity, while the effectiveness was enhanced upon exposure to visible light (photodynamic effect). The cytotoxicity levels for human U937 cells and hamster peritoneal macrophages were in the ranges of 0.3 to 9 μM and 7 to 330 μM, respectively. When tested
in vivo
, using a hamster (
Mesocricetus auratus
) model of cutaneous leishmaniasis, CKOMe was active even in the dark, suggesting that the compound, once metabolized in the animal tissue, produces an active ingredient that does not seem to be photosensitive. Reduction in lesion size, histopathologic analyses, and smears confirmed the
in viv
o effectiveness of the compound, since the parasitic load was diminished without noticeable toxic effects.
Genomic Analysis of the Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Strain MDR-ZJ06 Widely Spread in China
Authors: Zhou Hua , Zhang Tongwu , Yu Dongliang , Pi Borui , Yang Qing , Zhou Jianying , Hu Songnian , Yu Yunsong
Published: July 2011

We previously reported that the multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Acinetobacter baumannii
strain MDR-ZJ06, belonging to European clone II, was widely spread in China. In this study, we report the whole-genome sequence of this clinically important strain. A 38.6-kb AbaR-type genomic resistance island (AbaR22) was identified in MDR-ZJ06. AbaR22 has a structure similar to those of the resistance islands found in
A. baumannii
strains AYE and AB0057, but it contained only a few antibiotic resistance genes. The region of resistant gene accumulation as previously described was not found in AbaR22. In the chromosome of the strain MDR-ZJ06, we identified the gene
bla
oxa-23
in a composite transposon (Tn
2009
). Tn
2009
shared the backbone with other
A. baumannii
transponsons that harbor
bla
oxa-23
, but it was bracketed by two IS
Aba1
elements which were transcribed in the same orientation. MDR-ZJ06 also expressed the
armA
gene on its plasmid pZJ06, and this gene has the same genetic environment as the
armA
gene of the
Enterobacteriaceae
. These results suggest variability of resistance acquisition even in closely related
A. baumannii
strains.
Differential Expression and Characterization of a Member of the Mucin-Associated Surface Protein Family Secreted by Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: De Pablos Luis Miguel , González Gloria González , Solano Parada Jennifer , Seco Hidalgo Víctor , Díaz Lozano Isabel María , Gómez Samblás María Mercedes , Cruz Bustos Teresa , Osuna Antonio
Published: July 2011

We describe the characterization, purification, expression, and location of a 52-kDa protein secreted during interaction between the metacyclic form of
Trypanosoma cruzi
and its target host cell. The protein, which we have named MASP52, belongs to the family of mucin-associated surface proteins (MASPs). The highest levels of expression of both the protein and mRNA occur during the metacyclic and bloodstream trypomastigote stages, the forms that infect the vertebrate host cells. The protein is located in the plasma membrane and in the flagellar pockets of the epimastigote, metacyclic, and trypomastigote forms and is secreted into the medium at the point of contact between the parasite and the cell membrane, as well as into the host-cell cytosol during the amastigote stage. IgG antibodies specific against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the catalytic zone of MASP52 significantly reduce the parasite's capacity to infect the host cells. Furthermore, when the protein is adsorbed onto inert particles of bentonite and incubated with a nonphagocytic cell culture, the particles are able to induce endocytosis in the cells, which seems to demonstrate that MASP52 plays a role in a process whereby the trypomastigote forms of the parasite invade the host cell.
Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase Stk Is Required for Virulence, Stress Response, and Penicillin Tolerance in Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Bugrysheva Julia , Froehlich Barbara J. , Freiberg Jeffrey A. , Scott June R.
Published: July 2011

Genes encoding one or more Ser/Thr protein kinases have been identified recently in many bacteria, including one (stk) in the human pathogenStreptococcus pyogenes(group A streptococcus [GAS]). We report that in GAS,stkis required to produce disease in a murine myositis model of infection. Using microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) studies, we found that Stk activates genes for virulence factors, osmoregulation, metabolism of α-glucans, and fatty acid biosynthesis, as well as genes affecting cell wall synthesis. Confirming these transcription studies, we determined that thestkdeletion mutant is more sensitive to osmotic stress and to penicillin than the wild type. We discuss several possible Stk phosphorylation targets that might explain Stk regulation of expression of specific operons and the possible role of Stk in resuscitation from quiescence.
Measuring the load–deformation response of rockfill columns by a full-scale field test on a natural riverbank
Authors: Thiessen Kendall J. , Alfaro Marolo C. , Blatz James A.
Published: July 2011

A full-scale field test loading of a riverbank stabilized with rockfill columns was used to measure the load–deformation characteristics of the reinforced slope. The test site is located on the natural banks of the Red River in the city of Winnipeg. Rockfill column technology has evolved from granular shear key methods for stabilizing slopes. The relatively weak lacustrine clays are stabilized with compacted columns of limestone rockfill. The columns typically extend through the clay stratum and are anchored in the underlying till. The project involved an extensive site investigation, and soils characterization program in preparation for the field test. Eleven 2.1 m diameter columns were tested by loading the bank with 1920 t of fill. The deformations were measured with standard and in-place inclinometers. The pore-water pressure response of the in situ soils was continuously monitored with vibrating wire piezometers. The results have shown that shear stresses are mobilized along the entire length of the column when subjected to loading, and that complete densification is important in minimizing deformations. This paper discusses the design and construction of the field test and presents the results of the monitoring programs.
Regional variation in wood modulus of elasticity (stiffness) and modulus of rupture (strength) of planted loblolly pine in the United States
Authors: Antony Finto , Jordan Lewis , Schimleck Laurence R. , Clark Alexander , Souter Ray A. , Daniels Richard F.
Published: July 2011

Modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and specific gravity (SG) are important properties for determining the end-use and value of a piece of lumber. This study addressed the variation in MOE, MOR, and SG with physiographic region, tree height, and wood type. Properties were measured from two static bending samples (dimensions 25.4 mm × 25.4 mm × 406.4 mm) representing each wood type (corewood and outerwood) at heights 2.4, 7.3, and 12.2 m from three trees sampled from 135 loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) stands distributed across the natural range of the species. An analysis of variance was conducted to detect the effect of physiographpic region, height, and wood type on each property. Significant regional variation was observed for MOE, MOR, and SG for both wood types with high values in the Gulf and South Atlantic Coastal Plains compared with other regions. A significant height-related trend in MOE, MOR, and SG within a tree was identified; MOE and MOR increased in corewood and decreased in outerwood with height. Maps showing regional variation in MOE and MOR at different heights by wood type were produced and showed significant variation for both properties.
Using the dummy variable model approach to construct compatible single-tree biomass equations at different scales — a case study for Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in southern China
Authors: Zeng Wei Sheng , Zhang Hui Ru , Tang Shou Zheng
Published: July 2011

It is fundamental for monitoring and assessment of national forest biomass to develop generalized single-tree biomass models suitable for large-scale forest biomass estimation. However, the compatibility of forest biomass estimates among different scales is a real problem. Based on the aboveground biomass data of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) in southern China, generalized single-tree biomass equations applying to national and regional forest biomass estimation were constructed using the dummy variable model method, which provided an effective approach to solving the compatibility of forest biomass estimates among different scales. The results show that aboveground biomass estimates of individual trees with the same diameter are different to some extent among the forest origins and geographic regions and that a dummy model with specific (local) parameters is better than a population-average model. The dummy variable model can be applied to develop other generalized compatible models such as tree volume equations.
ShadowDraw
Authors: Lee Yong Jae , Zitnick C. Lawrence , Cohen Michael F.
Published: July 2011

We present ShadowDraw, a system for guiding the freeform drawing of objects. As the user draws, ShadowDraw dynamically updates a
shadow image
underlying the user's strokes. The shadows are suggestive of object contours that guide the user as they continue drawing. This paradigm is similar to tracing, with two major differences. First, we do not provide a single image from which the user can trace; rather ShadowDraw automatically blends relevant images from a large database to construct the shadows. Second, the system dynamically adapts to the user's drawings in real-time and produces suggestions accordingly. ShadowDraw works by efficiently matching local edge patches between the query, constructed from the current drawing, and a database of images. A hashing technique enforces both local and global similarity and provides sufficient speed for interactive feedback. Shadows are created by aggregating the edge maps from the best database matches, spatially weighted by their match scores. We test our approach with human subjects and show comparisons between the drawings that were produced with and without the system. The results show that our system produces more realistically proportioned line drawings.
OverCoat
Authors: Schmid Johannes , Senn Martin Sebastian , Gross Markus , Sumner Robert W.
Published: July 2011

We present a technique to generalize the 2D painting metaphor to 3D that allows the artist to treat the full 3D space as a canvas. Strokes painted in the 2D viewport window must be embedded in 3D space in a way that gives creative freedom to the artist while maintaining an acceptable level of controllability. We address this challenge by proposing a canvas concept defined implicitly by a 3D scalar field. The artist shapes the implicit canvas by creating approximate 3D proxy geometry. An optimization procedure is then used to embed painted strokes in space by satisfying different objective criteria defined on the scalar field. This functionality allows us to implement tools for painting along level set surfaces or across different level sets. Our method gives the power of fine-tuning the implicit canvas to the artist using a unified painting/sculpting metaphor. A sculpting tool can be used to paint into the implicit canvas. Rather than adding color, this tool creates a local change in the scalar field that results in outward or inward protrusions along the field's gradient direction. We address a visibility ambiguity inherent in 3D stroke rendering with a depth offsetting method that is well suited for hardware acceleration. We demonstrate results with a number of 3D paintings that exhibit effects difficult to realize with existing systems.
Motion capture from body-mounted cameras
Authors: Shiratori Takaaki , Park Hyun Soo , Sigal Leonid , Sheikh Yaser , Hodgins Jessica K.
Published: July 2011

Motion capture technology generally requires that recordings be performed in a laboratory or closed stage setting with controlled lighting. This restriction precludes the capture of motions that require an outdoor setting or the traversal of large areas. In this paper, we present the theory and practice of using body-mounted cameras to reconstruct the motion of a subject. Outward-looking cameras are attached to the limbs of the subject, and the joint angles and root pose are estimated through non-linear optimization. The optimization objective function incorporates terms for image matching error and temporal continuity of motion. Structure-from-motion is used to estimate the skeleton structure and to provide initialization for the non-linear optimization procedure. Global motion is estimated and drift is controlled by matching the captured set of videos to reference imagery. We show results in settings where capture would be difficult or impossible with traditional motion capture systems, including walking outside and swinging on monkey bars. The quality of the motion reconstruction is evaluated by comparing our results against motion capture data produced by a commercially available optical system.
Characterizing structural relationships in scenes using graph kernels
Authors: Fisher Matthew , Savva Manolis , Hanrahan Pat
Published: July 2011

Modeling virtual environments is a time consuming and expensive task that is becoming increasingly popular for both professional and casual artists. The model density and complexity of the scenes representing these virtual environments is rising rapidly. This trend suggests that data-mining a 3D scene corpus could be a very powerful tool enabling more efficient scene design. In this paper, we show how to represent scenes as graphs that encode models and their semantic relationships. We then define a kernel between these relationship graphs that compares common virtual substructures in two graphs and captures the similarity between their corresponding scenes. We apply this framework to several scene modeling problems, such as finding similar scenes, relevance feedback, and context-based model search. We show that incorporating structural relationships allows our method to provide a more relevant set of results when compared against previous approaches to model context search.
Large-scale dynamic simulation of highly constrained strands
Authors: Sueda Shinjiro , Jones Garrett L. , Levin David I. W. , Pai Dinesh K.
Published: July 2011

A significant challenge in applications of computer animation is the simulation of ropes, cables, and other highly constrained strandlike physical curves. Such scenarios occur frequently, for instance, when a strand wraps around rigid bodies or passes through narrow sheaths. Purely Lagrangian methods designed for less constrained applications such as hair simulation suffer from difficulties in these important cases. To overcome this, we introduce a new framework that combines Lagrangian and Eulerian approaches. The two key contributions are the
reduced node
, whose degrees of freedom precisely match the constraint, and the
Eulerian node
, which allows constraint handling that is independent of the initial discretization of the strand. The resulting system generates robust, efficient, and accurate simulations of massively constrained systems of rigid bodies and strands.
Pocket reflectometry
Authors: Ren Peiran , Wang Jiaping , Snyder John , Tong Xin , Guo Baining
Published: July 2011

We present a simple, fast solution for reflectance acquisition using tools that fit into a pocket. Our method captures video of a flat target surface from a fixed video camera lit by a hand-held, moving, linear light source. After processing, we obtain an SVBRDF.

We introduce a
BRDF chart
, analogous to a color "checker" chart, which arranges a set of known-BRDF reference tiles over a small card. A sequence of light responses from the chart tiles as well as from points on the target is captured and matched to reconstruct the target's appearance.

We develop a new algorithm for BRDF reconstruction which works directly on these LDR responses, without knowing the light or camera position, or acquiring HDR lighting. It compensates for spatial variation caused by the local (finite distance) camera and light position by warping responses over time to align them to a specular reference. After alignment, we find an optimal linear combination of the Lambertian and purely specular reference responses to match each target point's response. The same weights are then applied to the corresponding (known) reference BRDFs to reconstruct the target point's BRDF. We extend the basic algorithm to also recover varying surface normals by adding two spherical caps for diffuse and specular references to the BRDF chart.

We demonstrate convincing results obtained after less than 30 seconds of data capture, using commercial mobile phone cameras in a casual environment.
Blue-noise point sampling using kernel density model
Authors: Fattal Raanan
Published: July 2011

Stochastic point distributions with blue-noise spectrum are used extensively in computer graphics for various applications such as avoiding aliasing artifacts in ray tracing, halftoning, stippling, etc. In this paper we present a new approach for generating point sets with high-quality blue noise properties that formulates the problem using a statistical mechanics interacting particle model. Points distributions are generated by sampling this model. This new formulation of the problem unifies randomness with the requirement for equidistant point spacing, responsible for the enhanced blue noise spectral properties. We derive a highly efficient multi-scale sampling scheme for drawing random point distributions from this model. The new scheme avoids the
critical slowing down
phenomena that plagues this type of models. This derivation is accompanied by a model-specific analysis.

Altogether, our approach generates high-quality point distributions, supports spatially-varying spatial point density, and runs in time that is linear in the number of points generated.
Texture-lobes for tree modelling
Authors: Livny Yotam , Pirk Soeren , Cheng Zhanglin , Yan Feilong , Deussen Oliver , Cohen-Or Daniel , Chen Baoquan
Published: July 2011

We present a lobe-based tree representation for modeling trees. The new representation is based on the observation that the tree's foliage details can be abstracted into canonical geometry structures, termed lobe-textures. We introduce techniques to (i) approximate the geometry of given tree data and encode it into a lobe-based representation, (ii) decode the representation and synthesize a fully detailed tree model that visually resembles the input. The encoded tree serves as a light intermediate representation, which facilitates efficient storage and transmission of massive amounts of trees, e.g., from a server to clients for interactive applications in urban environments. The method is evaluated by both reconstructing laser scanned trees (given as point sets) as well as re-representing existing tree models (given as polygons).
Locomotion skills for simulated quadrupeds
Authors: Coros Stelian , Karpathy Andrej , Jones Ben , Reveret Lionel , van de Panne Michiel
Published: July 2011

We develop an integrated set of gaits and skills for a physics-based simulation of a quadruped. The motion repertoire for our simulated dog includes walk, trot, pace, canter, transverse gallop, rotary gallop, leaps capable of jumping on-and-off platforms and over obstacles, sitting, lying down, standing up, and getting up from a fall. The controllers use a representation based on gait graphs, a dual leg frame model, a flexible spine model, and the extensive use of internal virtual forces applied via the Jacobian transpose. Optimizations are applied to these control abstractions in order to achieve robust gaits and leaps with desired motion styles. The resulting gaits are evaluated for robustness with respect to push disturbances and the traversal of variable terrain. The simulated motions are also compared to motion data captured from a filmed dog.
Switchable primaries using shiftable layers of color filter arrays
Authors: Sajadi Behzad , Majumder Aditi , Hiwada Kazuhiro , Maki Atsuto , Raskar Ramesh
Published: July 2011

We present a camera with switchable primaries using shiftable layers of color filter arrays (CFAs). By layering a pair of CMY CFAs in this novel manner we can switch between multiple sets of color primaries (namely RGB, CMY and RGBCY) in the same camera. In contrast to fixed color primaries (e.g. RGB or CMY), which cannot provide optimal image quality for all scene conditions, our camera with switchable primaries provides optimal
color fidelity
and
signal to noise ratio
for multiple scene conditions.

Next, we show that the same concept can be used to layer two RGB CFAs to design a camera with switchable low dynamic range (LDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) modes. Further, we show that such layering can be generalized as a constrained satisfaction problem (CSP) allowing to constrain a large number of parameters (e.g. different operational modes, amount and direction of the shifts, placement of the primaries in the CFA) to provide an optimal solution.

We investigate practical design options for shiftable layering of the CFAs. We demonstrate these by building prototype cameras for both switchable primaries and switchable LDR/HDR modes.

To the best of our knowledge, we present, for the first time, the concept of shiftable layers of CFAs that provides a new degree of freedom in photography where multiple operational modes are available to the user in a single camera for optimizing the picture quality based on the nature of the scene geometry, color and illumination.
Non-rigid dense correspondence with applications for image enhancement
Authors: HaCohen Yoav , Shechtman Eli , Goldman Dan B. , Lischinski Dani
Published: July 2011

This paper presents a new efficient method for recovering reliable local sets of dense correspondences between two images with some shared content. Our method is designed for pairs of images depicting similar regions acquired by different cameras and lenses, under non-rigid transformations, under different lighting, and over different backgrounds. We utilize a new coarse-to-fine scheme in which nearest-neighbor field computations using Generalized PatchMatch [Barnes et al. 2010] are interleaved with fitting a global non-linear parametric color model and aggregating consistent matching regions using locally adaptive constraints. Compared to previous correspondence approaches, our method combines the best of two worlds: It is dense, like optical flow and stereo reconstruction methods, and it is also robust to geometric and photometric variations, like sparse feature matching. We demonstrate the usefulness of our method using three applications for automatic example-based photograph enhancement: adjusting the tonal characteristics of a source image to match a reference, transferring a known mask to a new image, and kernel estimation for image deblurring.