bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Multi‐Label Domains from Partial Planar Cross‐Sections
Authors: Barequet Gill , Vaxman Amir
Published: August 2009

We present a novel algorithm for reconstructing a subdivision of the three‐dimensional space (given arbitrarily‐oriented slices of it) into labeled domains. The input to the algorithm is a collection of nonparallel planar cross‐sections of an unknown object, where the sections might cover only portions of the supporting planes. (The information in the rest of these planes is, thus, “unknown.”) Each cross‐section consists of a partition of the plane into closed labeled (“colored”) domains with no restrictions whatsoever on either their geometries or topologies, and without any assumptions about similarities between partitions of different sections. The problem is to reconstruct the original three‐dimensional partition by interpolating simultaneously all the cross‐sections, so that planar domains in the input are connected only to other domains of the same color, no two reconstructed spatial domains intersect, and no unnecessary gaps remain between the reconstructed colored domains.

The problem of reconstructing multiple‐labeled domains arises, for example, in medical imaging, where different types of tissues are scanned and reconstructed at the same time. Partial slices are typical, for example, in ultrasound scanning. In this work we use the three‐dimensional straight‐skeleton of the arrangement of the cross‐sections. Since the sections might be partial, cells of the arrangement might be nonconvex. For this we use the unambiguous definition, as well as the implementation of the computation, of the straight skeleton of a three‐dimensional polyhedron that we presented in a recent work [BEGV08]. First, we define these cells and compute their skeleton. Second, we compute overlays of portions of sampled contours in the cross‐sections, using the cell skeletons to guide the reconstruction of the mesh.
Recovering Structure from r‐Sampled Objects
Authors: Aichholzer O. , Aurenhammer F. , Kornberger B. , Plantinga S. , Rote G. , Sturm A. , Vegter G.
Published: August 2009

For a surface in 3‐space that is represented by a set S of sample points, we construct a coarse approximating polytope P that uses a subset of S as its vertices and preserves the topology of . In contrast to surface reconstruction we do not use all the sample points, but we try to use as few points as possible. Such a polytope P is useful as a ‘seed polytope’ for starting an incremental refinement procedure to generate better and better approximations of based on interpolating subdivision surfaces or e.g. Bézier patches.

Our algorithm starts from an r‐sample S of . Based on S, a set of surface covering balls with maximal radii is calculated such that the topology is retained. From the weighted α‐shape of a proper subset of these highly overlapping surface balls we get the desired polytope. As there is a rather large range for the possible radii for the surface balls, the method can be used to construct triangular surfaces from point clouds in a scalable manner. We also briefly sketch how to combine parts of our algorithm with existing medial axis algorithms for balls, in order to compute stable medial axis approximations with scalable level of detail.
Manifold Homotopy via the Flow Complex
Authors: Sadri Bardia
Published: August 2009

It is known that the critical points of the distance function induced by a dense sample P of a submanifold Σ of ℝnare distributed into two groups, one lying close to Σ itself, called theshallow, and the other close to medial axis of Σ, called deep critical points. We prove that under (uniform) sampling assumption, the union of stable manifolds of the shallow critical points have the same homotopy type as Σ itself and the union of the stable manifolds of the deep critical points have the homotopy type of the complement of Σ. The separation of critical points under uniform sampling entails a separation in terms of distance of critical points to the sample. This means that if a given sample is dense enough with respect to two or more submanifolds of ℝn, the homotopy types of all such submanifolds together with those of their complements are captured as unions of stable manifolds of shallow versus those of deep critical points, in a filtration of the flow complex based on the distance of critical points to the sample. This results in an algorithm for homotopic manifold reconstruction when the target dimension is unknown.
Isotopic Reconstruction of Surfaces with Boundaries
Authors: Dey Tamal K. , Li Kuiyu , Ramos Edgar A. , Wenger Rephael
Published: August 2009

We present an algorithm for the reconstruction of a surface with boundaries (including a non‐orientable one) in three dimensions from a sufficiently dense sample. It is guaranteed that the output is isotopic to the unknown sampled surface. No previously known algorithm guarantees isotopic or homeomorphic reconstruction of surfaces with boundaries. Our algorithm is surprisingly simple. It ‘peels’ slivers greedily from an α‐complex of a sample of the surface. No other post‐processing is necessary. We provide several experimental results from an implementation of our basic algorithm and also a modified version of it.
Gromov‐Hausdorff Stable Signatures for Shapes using Persistence
Authors: Chazal Frédéric , Cohen‐Steiner David , Guibas Leonidas J. , Mémoli Facundo , Oudot Steve Y.
Published: August 2009

We introduce a family of signatures for finite metric spaces, possibly endowed with real valued functions, based on the persistence diagrams of suitable filtrations built on top of these spaces. We prove the stability of our signatures under Gromov‐Hausdorff perturbations of the spaces. We also extend these results to metric spaces equipped with measures. Our signatures are well‐suited for the study of unstructured point cloud data, which we illustrate through an application in shape classification.
Shape Analysis Using the Auto Diffusion Function
Authors: Gȩbal K. , Bærentzen J. A. , Aanæs H. , Larsen R.
Published: August 2009

Scalar functions defined on manifold triangle meshes is a starting point for many geometry processing algorithms such as mesh parametrization, skeletonization, and segmentation. In this paper, we propose the Auto Diffusion Function (ADF) which is a linear combination of the eigenfunctions of the Laplace‐Beltrami operator in a way that has a simple physical interpretation. The ADF of a given 3D object has a number of further desirable properties: Its extrema are generally at the tips of features of a given object, its gradients and level sets follow or encircle features, respectively, it is controlled by a single parameter which can be interpreted as feature scale, and, finally, the ADF is invariant to rigid and isometric deformations.

We describe the ADF and its properties in detail and compare it to other choices of scalar functions on manifolds. As an example of an application, we present a pose invariant, hierarchical skeletonization and segmentation algorithm which makes direct use of the ADF.
Multi‐objective shape segmentation and labeling
Authors: Simari P. , Nowrouzezahrai D. , Kalogerakis E. , Singh K.
Published: August 2009

Shape segmentations designed for different applications show significant variation in the composition of their parts. In this paper, we introduce the segmentation and labeling of shape based on the simultaneous optimization of multiple heterogenous objectives that capture application‐specific segmentation criteria. We present a number of efficient objective functions that capture useful shape adjectives (compact, flat, narrow, perpendicular, etc.) Segmentation descriptions within our framework combine multiple such objective functions with optional labels to define each part. The optimization problem is simplified by proposing weighted Voronoi partitioning as a compact and continuous parametrization of spatially embedded shape segmentations. Separation of spatially close but geodesically distant parts is made possible using multi‐dimensional scaling prior to Voronoi partitioning. Optimization begins with an initial segmentation found using the centroids of a k‐means clustering of surface elements. This partition is automatically labeled to optimize heterogeneous part objectives and the Voronoi centers and their weights optimized using Generalized Pattern Search. We illustrate our framework using several diverse segmentation applications: consistent segmentations with semantic labels, bounding volume hierarchies for path tracing, and automatic rig and clothing transfer between animation characters.
Semi‐regular Quadrilateral‐only Remeshing from Simplified Base Domains
Authors: Daniels Joel , Silva Claudio T. , Cohen Elaine
Published: August 2009

Semi‐regular meshes describe surface models that exhibit a structural regularity that facilitates many geometric processing algorithms. We introduce a technique to construct semi‐regular, quad‐only meshes from input surface meshes of arbitrary polygonal type and genus. The algorithm generates a quad‐only model through subdivision of the input polygons, then simplifies to a base domain that is homeomorphic to the original mesh. During the simplification, a novel hierarchical mapping method,keyframe mapping, stores specific levels‐of‐detail to guide the mapping of the original vertices to the base domain. The algorithm implements a scheme for refinement with adaptive resampling of the base domain and backward projects to the original surface. As a byproduct of the remeshing scheme, a surface parameterization is associated with the remesh vertices to facilitate subsequent geometric processing, i.e. texture mapping, subdivision surfaces and spline‐based modeling.
Isotropic Remeshing with Fast and Exact Computation of Restricted Voronoi Diagram
Authors: Yan Dong‐Ming , Lévy Bruno , Liu Yang , Sun Feng , Wang Wenping
Published: August 2009

We propose a new isotropic remeshing method, based onCentroidal Voronoi Tessellation (CVT). Constructing CVT requires to repeatedly computeRestricted Voronoi Diagram (RVD), defined as the intersection between a 3D Voronoi diagram and an input mesh surface. Existing methods use some approximations of RVD. In this paper, we introduce an efficient algorithm that computes RVD exactly and robustly. As a consequence, we achieve better remeshing quality than approximation‐based approaches, without sacrificing efficiency. Our method for RVD computation uses a simple procedure and akd‐tree to quickly identify and compute the intersection of each triangle face with its incident Voronoi cells. Its time complexity isO(mlogn), wherenis the number of seed points andmis the number of triangles of the input mesh. Fast convergence of CVT is achieved using a quasi‐Newton method, which proved much faster than Lloyd's iteration. Examples are presented to demonstrate the better quality of remeshing results with our method than with the state‐of‐art approaches.
Feature preserving Delaunay mesh generation from 3D multi‐material images
Authors: Boltcheva Dobrina , Yvinec Mariette , Boissonnat Jean‐Daniel
Published: August 2009

Generating realistic geometric models from 3D segmented images is an important task in many biomedical applications. Segmented 3D images impose particular challenges for meshing algorithms because they contain multi‐material junctions forming features such as surface patches, edges and corners. The resulting meshes should preserve these features to ensure the visual quality and the mechanical soundness of the models. We present a feature preserving Delaunay refinement algorithm which can be used to generate high‐quality tetrahedral meshes from segmented images. The idea is to explicitly sample corners and edges from the input image and to constrain the Delaunay refinement algorithm to preserve these features in addition to the surface patches. Our experimental results on segmented medical images have shown that, within a few seconds, the algorithm outputs a tetrahedral mesh in which each material is represented as a consistent submesh without gaps and overlaps. The optimization property of the Delaunay triangulation makes these meshes suitable for the purpose of realistic visualization or finite element simulations.
Filtering Relocations on a Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: Manhães de Castro Pedro Machado , Tournois Jane , Alliez Pierre , Devillers Olivier
Published: August 2009

Updating a Delaunay triangulation when its vertices move is a bottleneck in several domains of application. Rebuilding the whole triangulation from scratch is surprisingly a very viable option compared to relocating the vertices. This can be explained by several recent advances in efficient construction of Delaunay triangulations. However, when all points move with a small magnitude, or when only a fraction of the vertices move, rebuilding is no longer the best option. This paper considers the problem of efficiently updating a Delaunay triangulation when its vertices are moving under small perturbations. The main contribution is a set of filters based upon the concept of vertex tolerances. Experiments show that filtering relocations is faster than rebuilding the whole triangulation from scratch under certain conditions.
Estimating the Laplace‐Beltrami Operator by Restricting 3D Functions
Authors: Chuang Ming , Luo Linjie , Brown Benedict J. , Rusinkiewicz Szymon , Kazhdan Michael
Published: August 2009

We present a novel approach for computing and solving the Poisson equation over the surface of a mesh. As in previous approaches, we define the Laplace‐Beltrami operator by considering the derivatives of functions defined on the mesh. However, in this work, we explore a choice of functions that is decoupled from the tessellation. Specifically, we use basis functions (second‐order tensor‐product B‐splines) defined over 3D space, and then restrict them to the surface. We show that in addition to being invariant to mesh topology, this definition of the Laplace‐Beltrami operator allows a natural multiresolution structure on the function space that is independent of the mesh structure, enabling the use of a simple multigrid implementation for solving the Poisson equation.
Stability of Curvature Measures
Authors: Chazal F. , Cohen‐Steiner D. , Lieutier A. , Thibert B.
Published: August 2009

We address the problem of curvature estimation from sampled compact sets. The main contribution is a stability result: we show that the Gaussian, mean or anisotropic curvature measures of the offset of a compact set K with positive μ‐reach can be estimated by the same curvature measures of the offset of a compact set K' close to K in the Hausdorff sense. We show how these curvature measures can be computed for finite unions of balls. The curvature measures of the offset of a compact set with positive μ‐reach can thus be approximated by the curvature measures of the offset of a point‐cloud sample.
Discrete Critical Values: a General Framework for Silhouettes Computation
Authors: Chazal F. , Lieutier A. , Montana N.
Published: August 2009

Many shapes resulting from important geometric operations in industrial applications such as Minkowski sums or volume swept by a moving object can be seen as the projection of higher dimensional objects. When such a higher dimensional object is a smooth manifold, the boundary of the projected shape can be computed from the critical points of the projection. In this paper, using the notion of polyhedral chains introduced by Whitney, we introduce a new general framework to define an analogous of the set of critical points of piecewise linear maps defined over discrete objects that can be easily computed. We illustrate our results by showing how they can be used to compute Minkowski sums of polyhedra and volumes swept by moving polyhedra.
Separatrix Persistence: Extraction of Salient Edges on Surfaces Using Topological Methods
Authors: Weinkauf T. , Günther D.
Published: August 2009

Salient edges are perceptually prominent features of a surface. Most previous extraction schemes utilize the notion of ridges and valleys for their detection, thereby requiring curvature derivatives which are rather sensitive to noise. We introduce a novel method for salient edge extraction which does not depend on curvature derivatives. It is based on a topological analysis of the principal curvatures and salient edges of the surface are identified as parts of separatrices of the topological skeleton. Previous topological approaches obtain results including non‐salient edges due to inherent properties of the underlying algorithms. We extend the profound theory by introducing the novel concept ofseparatrix persistence, which is a smooth measure along a separatrix and allows to keep its most salient parts only. We compare our results with other methods for salient edge extraction.
The Teddy-Bear Effect
Authors: Livingston Robert W. , Pearce Nicholas A.
Published: August 2009

Prior research suggests that having a baby face is negatively correlated with success among White males in high positions of leadership. However, we explored the positive role of such “babyfaceness” in the success of high-ranking Black executives. Two studies revealed that Black chief executive officers (CEOs) were significantly more baby-faced than White CEOs. Black CEOs were also judged as being warmer than White CEOs, even though ordinary Blacks were rated categorically as being less warm than ordinary Whites. In addition, baby-faced Black CEOs tended to lead more prestigious corporations and earned higher salaries than mature-faced Black CEOs; these patterns did not emerge for White CEOs. Taken together, these findings suggest that babyfaceness is a disarming mechanism that facilitates the success of Black leaders by attenuating stereotypical perceptions that Blacks are threatening. Theoretical and practical implications for research on race, gender, and leadership are discussed.
Emotional Conception
Authors: Halberstadt Jamin , Winkielman Piotr , Niedenthal Paula M. , Dalle Nathalie
Published: August 2009

This study assessed embodied simulation via electromyography (EMG) as participants first encoded emotionally ambiguous faces with emotion concepts (i.e., “angry,” “happy”) and later passively viewed the faces without the concepts. Memory for the faces was also measured. At initial encoding, participants displayed more smiling-related EMG activity in response to faces paired with “happy” than in response to faces paired with “angry.” Later, in the absence of concepts, participants remembered happiness-encoded faces as happier than anger-encoded faces. Further, during passive reexposure to the ambiguous faces, participants' EMG indicated spontaneous emotion-specific mimicry, which in turn predicted memory bias. No specific EMG activity was observed when participants encoded or viewed faces with non-emotion-related valenced concepts, or when participants encoded or viewed Chinese ideographs. From an embodiment perspective, emotion simulation is a measure of what is currently perceived. Thus, these findings provide evidence of genuine concept-driven changes in emotion perception. More generally, the findings highlight embodiment's role in the representation and processing of emotional information.
Dramatic Increase in Heritability of Cognitive Development from Early to Middle Childhood
Authors: Davis Oliver S.P. , Haworth Claire M.A. , Plomin Robert
Published: August 2009

The generalist genes hypothesis implies that general cognitive ability (g) is an essential target for understanding how genetic polymorphisms influence the development of the human brain. Using 8,791 twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study, we examine genetic stability and change in the etiology of g assessed by diverse measures during the critical transition from early to middle childhood. The heritability of a latent g factor in early childhood is 23%, whereas shared environment accounts for 74% of the variance. In contrast, in middle childhood, heritability of a latent g factor is 62%, and shared environment accounts for 33%. Despite increasing importance of genetic influences and declining influence of shared environment, similar genetic and shared environmental factors affect g from early to middle childhood, as indicated by a cross-age genetic correlation of .57 and a shared environmental correlation of .65. These findings set constraints on how genetic and environmental variation affects the developing brain.
Variation in the English definite article: Socio‐historical linguistics in t'speech community1
Authors: Tagliamonte Sali A. , Roeder Rebecca V.
Published: September 2009

This paper provides a sociolinguistic analysis of variation in the English definite article, a.k.a. definite article reduction (DAR), in the city of York, northeast Yorkshire, England. Embedding the analysis in historical, dialectological and contemporary studies of this phenomenon, the findings uncover a rich system of variability between the standard forms as well as reduced and zero variants. These are involved in a system of multicausal constraints, phonological, grammatical, and discourse‐pragmatic that are consistent across the speech community. However, the reduced variants are not derivative of each other, but reflect contrasting functions in the system. Interestingly, the reduced variants are accelerating in use among the young men, suggesting that DAR is being recycled as an identity marker of the local vernacular. This change is put in sociohistorical context by an appeal to the recently developing interest and evolving prestige of Northern Englishes more generally.
Relational Desires and Empirical Evidence against Psychological Egoism
Authors: May Joshua
Published: September 2009

Abstract: Roughly, psychological egoism is the thesis that all of a person's intentional actions are ultimately self‐interested in some sense; psychological altruism is the thesis that some people's intentional actions are ultimately other‐regarding in some sense. C. Daniel Batson and other social psychologists have argued that there are experiments that provide support for a theory called the ‘empathy‐altruism hypothesis’, which entails the falsity of psychological egoism. However, several critics claim that there are egoistic explanations of the data that are still not ruled out. One of the most potent criticisms of Batson comes from Elliott Sober and David Sloan Wilson. I argue for two main theses in this paper: (1) we can improve on Sober and Wilson's conception of psychological egoism and altruism, and (2) this improvement shows that one of the strongest of Sober and Wilson's purportedly egoistic explanations is not tenable. A defense of these two theses goes some way toward defending Batson's claim that the evidence from social psychology provides sufficient reason to reject psychological egoism.
Perspectives on recent advances in the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Schapira A. H. , Agid Y. , Barone P. , Jenner P. , Lemke M. R. , Poewe W. , Rascol O. , Reichmann H. , Tolosa E.
Published: August 2009

There have been numerous important recent advances in our understanding of the causes of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the treatments available and how these are best applied for the long‐term management of patients. Novel genes causing familial PD have been discovered and mechanisms leading to cell dysfunction and death identified. The PD prodrome is now a subject of great interest and clinical markers are being defined that may in future, together with biochemical markers, support an early, pre‐motor diagnosis of PD. This will become important as new therapies are developed to modify disease progression. In the interim, the optimization of existing therapies remains an important priority. The value of existing and novel continuous drug delivery systems in PD is seen as providing simplified regimens, maintenance of motor control, reduction in motor complications and improved patient adherence to drug use.
The Character of Theological Interpretation of Scripture
Authors: BOWALD MARK ALAN
Published: August 2009

Recent proposals for reading Scripture have increasingly focused on the role of divine agency. Greater attentiveness to the complexity and place of divine agency results in an irruption in the relationship between theological hermeneutics and theological interpretation and a challenge to the dominant way of perceiving their relationship since the rise of modernity. Thus it is increasingly recognized that Scripture is not read like other books. The unique character of theological interpretation necessarily originates in the unique character of the God who speaks the Word of the holy canon of Scripture: the Trinity. Our methodological formulations and hermeneutical understandings of theological interpretation must go beyond the formal acknowledgement of divine causality that remains in these recent proposals to thick confessional and dogmatic reflections on the character of the Trinity and the practices of reading which faithfully reflect that character.
Tonabersat, a Gap-Junction Modulator: Efficacy and Safety in Two Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Studies of Acute Migraineceph
Authors: Silberstein SD , Schoenen J , Göbel H , Diener HC , Elkind AH , Klapper JA , Howard RA
Published: September 2009

Tonabersat is a novel benzopyran derivative that blocks the cortical spreading depression proposed to be associated with migraine attacks. The ability of single oral doses of 15, 25, 40 and 80 mg of tonabersat to relieve the symptoms of moderate to severe migraine was evaluated in 859 migraineurs enrolled in two dose-ranging, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials, one international and the other North American. In the international study, significantly more patients given tonabersat than given placebo experienced relief of headache pain at 2 h (15 mg, 36.8%; 40 mg, 40.7%), the principal efficacy variable, and at 4 h (40 mg, 63.0%) and complete abolition of headache at 4 h (40 mg, 34.3%). None of the primary or secondary efficacy variables indicated significant differences between tonabersat and placebo in the North American study. Tonabersat was generally well tolerated, with dizziness and nausea the most common side-effects. Serious adverse events were uncommon, and no patient withdrew from either study because of adverse events. These results suggest a possible interplay between tonabersat pharmacokinetics (the relatively long time required to reach maximum plasma concentrations) and patient characteristics (previous triptan exposure) in the management of acute migraine attacks. Based on the pharmacokinetics and actions on cortical spreading depression, tonabersat may have potential value in migraine prophylaxis.
Efficacy and Safety of Tonabersat, a Gap-Junction Modulator, in the Acute Treatment of Migraine: A Double-Blind, Parallel-group, Randomized Study
Authors: Dahlö CGH , Hauge AW , Olesen J
Published: September 2009

The ability of tonabersat to relieve the symptoms of migraine attacks with or without aura was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study. Patients received 20 or 40 mg of tonabersat, or 50 mg of sumatriptan (positive control), or placebo at the onset of a moderate or severe attack. Headache intensity, relief and recurrence were recorded for 24 h after dosing. On the basis of primary or secondary efficacy measures, tonabersat did not provide a clinically or statistically significant advantage over placebo. Tonabersat generally was well tolerated and had no effect on vital signs, electrocardiogram recordings or laboratory values. The lack of efficacy may be a function of the slow absorption of tonabersat. As a consequence of slow absorption, daily administration of tonabersat as prophylaxis for migraine attacks is under investigation in ongoing studies.
What Difference Does Youth Group Make? A Longitudinal Analysis of Religious Youth Group Participation Outcomes
Authors: Snell Patricia
Published: September 2009

Though many congregations structure youth ministry programs to foster desired religious and social outcomes, questions remain regarding whether participation in religious‐based youth programs is beneficial for the youth involved. Studies show that religion typically results in positive life outcomes for youth, but less is known about the causal mechanisms through which religion makes a difference in their lives. Data analyzed are from two waves of the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR). This article examines the effect of youth participation on adult support, church connections, and moral values. A multivariate analysis with lagged dependent variables indicates some effects of youth group participation as well as self‐selection processes.
Religious Affiliation, Ethnicity, and Child Mortality in Chiapas, México
Authors: Valle Eunice D. Vargas , Fernández Leticia , Potter Joseph E.
Published: September 2009

We investigate whether there is a relationship between religious affiliation and child mortality among indigenous and nonindigenous groups in Chiapas, México. Our analysis relies on Brass‐type estimates of child mortality by ethnicity and religious affiliation and multivariate analyses that adjust for various socioeconomic and demographic factors. The data are from the 2000 Mexican Census 10 percent sample. Among indigenous people, Presbyterians have lower rates of child mortality than Catholics. However, no significant differentials are found in child mortality by religious affiliation among nonindigenous people. The indigenous health ministry of the Presbyterian Church and the social and cultural transformations that tend to accompany religious conversion may have an impact on child survival among disadvantaged populations such as the indigenous people in Chiapas.
The Value Premium and Time‐Varying Volatility
Authors: Li Xiafei , Brooks Chris , Miffre Joëlle
Published: September 2009

Abstract:  Numerous studies have documented the failure of the static and conditional capital asset pricing models to explain the difference in returns between value and growth stocks. This paper examines the post‐1963 value premium by employing a model that captures the time‐varying total risk of the value‐minus‐growth portfolios. Our results show that the time‐series of value premia is strongly and positively correlated with its volatility. This conclusion is robust to the criterion used to sort stocks into value and growth portfolios and to the country under review (the US and the UK). Our paper is consistent with evidence on the possible role of idiosyncratic risk in explaining equity returns, and also with a separate strand of literature concerning the relative lack of reversibility of value firms' investment decisions.
Impacts of health and environmental consciousness on young female consumers' attitude towards and purchase of natural beauty products
Authors: Kim Soyoung , Seock Yoo‐Kyoung
Published: August 2009

This study investigated young female consumers' beauty product shopping behavioural patterns, their perceived importance of product attributes, and their attitude towards and purchase of natural beauty products. This study also examines whether consumers' product attitudes and shopping behaviours are influenced by their health and environmental consciousness. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 210 female college students enrolled at a south‐eastern university in the US. In order to examine the impacts of both health and environmental consciousness on other selected variables, the respondents were divided into four groups based on their scores on the two variables, and a series of analysis of variance were conducted to compare characteristics of the four groups. The results showed that health and environmental consciousness significantly influenced the importance placed on beauty product attributes. Additionally, those with a high level of both health and environmental consciousness were significantly more positive in their evaluations than those with low scores on both variables in their perceptions of natural beauty products. Those with low scores on both variables were significantly less willing than the other groups to pay more for natural beauty products. Analysis of variance results also indicated that the two groups with a high level of environmental consciousness purchased natural beauty products more frequently than those with a low level of health and environmental consciousness, indicating a relatively stronger impact of environmental consciousness than health consciousness on frequency of natural beauty product purchases. Health and environmental consciousness were both significantly related to a respondent's perceived level of knowledge of beauty products and ability to distinguish natural from conventional beauty products.
‘Sustainable transport choices’ in consumer shopping: a review of the UK evidence
Authors: Guy Cliff
Published: August 2009

In the UK, as elsewhere in Europe, government policy aims to reduce the use of private cars for consumer shopping trips. One major instrument of policy aims to ensure that new retail development is located in places accessible by all transport modes. This paper reviews the effectiveness of this and other such policies through analysis of survey evidence relating to routine shopping behaviour in the UK. It appears that these policies are likely to have little impact upon shopping travel, given the advantages to the consumer of private car use. However, demographic trends and increasing use of the Internet for food shopping are likely to stabilize or even reduce the use of private cars in the future.
Construction of consumer choice in the market: challenges for environmental policy
Authors: Moisander Johanna , Markkula Annu , Eräranta Kirsi
Published: August 2009

Drawing from the literature on the analytics of government, the paper discusses marketing as a form of government, elaborating and illustrating the many ways in which consumer choice is shaped, modified and directed in the market through practices and techniques of consumer marketing. The aim is to critically reflect upon and render problematic the individualistic ideas of the green consumer as a powerful market force and to provoke discussion on the conceptualization – and construction – of consumer subjectivity and social problems in marketing. Taking examples particularly from the fashion and clothing industry, the paper discusses the ways in which marketing activities come to shape consumer conduct by operating through the choice of individuals who freely pursue their needs and desires, and by working on the environment within which this freedom of choice is exercised. The paper contributes to the literature on green consumerism by systematically interrogating and elaborating on the modes and practices of marketing thought and expertise through which consumers and consumption are rendered intelligible and actionable in the market.
Coagulation factor Xa activates thrombin in ischemic neural tissue
Authors: Thevenet Jonathan , Angelillo‐Scherrer Anne , Price Melanie , Hirt Lorenz
Published: August 2009

Thrombin is involved in mediating neuronal death in cerebral ischemia. We investigated its so far unknown mode of activation in ischemic neural tissue. We used an in vitro approach to distinguish the role of circulating coagulation factors from endogenous cerebral mechanisms. We modeled ischemic stroke by subjecting rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures to 30‐min oxygen (5%) and glucose (1 mmol/L) deprivation (OGD). Perinuclear activated factor X (FXa) immunoreactivity was observed in CA1 neurons after OGD. Selective FXa inhibition by fondaparinux during and after OGD significantly reduced neuronal death in the CA1 after 48 h. Thrombin enzyme activity was increased in the medium 24 h after OGD and this increase was prevented by fondaparinux suggesting that FXa catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in neural tissue after ischemia in vitro. Treatment with SCH79797, a selective antagonist of the thrombin receptor protease‐activated receptor‐1 (PAR‐1), significantly decreased neuronal cell death indicating that thrombin signals ischemic damage via PAR‐1. The c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway plays an important role in excitotoxicity and cerebral ischemia and we observed activation of the JNK substrate, c‐Jun in our model. Both the FXa inhibitor, fondaparinux and the PAR‐1 antagonist SCH79797, decreased the level of phospho‐c‐Jun Ser73. These results indicate that FXa activates thrombin in cerebral ischemia, which leads via PAR‐1 to the activation of the JNK pathway resulting in neuronal death.
Cerebral microvascular IL15 is a novel mediator of TNF action
Authors: Pan Weihong , Yu Chuanhui , Hsuchou Hung , Khan Reas S. , Kastin Abba J.
Published: August 2009

The blood‐brain barrier is a gatekeeper and modulatory interface for the CNS. Cerebral endothelial cells are the major component of the blood‐brain barrier, and they modify inflammatory signals from the circulation to the CNS by production and secretion of secondary substances. The inflammatory mediators induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) were determined by microarray analysis of RBE4 cerebral endothelial cells, at 0, 6, 12, or 24 h after TNF treatment. Interleukin (IL)‐15 and its receptors were among the most robustly up‐regulated genes. This was confirmed by real‐time RT‐PCR and western blotting. The three subunits of the IL15 receptor complex (IL15Rα, IL2Rβ, and IL2Rγ) showed differential regulation by TNF in their time course and amplitude of increased expression. Consistent with increased expression of the specific high affinity receptor IL15Rα, TNF increased cellular uptake of125I‐IL15 and enhanced the fluorescent intensity of Alexa568‐IL15 in RBE4 cells. TNF treatment in mice also increased the level of expression of IL15 receptors in enriched cerebral microvessels. We conclude that the cerebral microvascular IL15 system is a novel inflammatory mediator that transduces the actions of TNF.
Effect of two oral doses of 17β‐estradiol associated with dydrogesterone on thrombin generation in healthy menopausal women: a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Rousseau Alexandra , Robert Annie , Gerotziafas Grigoris , Torchin Dahlia , Zannad Faiez , Lacut Karine , Libersa Christian , Dasque Eric , Démolis Jean‐Louis , Elalamy Ismail , Simon Tabassome
Published: August 2009

Oral hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. Drug agencies recommend the use of the lowest efficient dose to treat menopausal symptoms for a better risk/ratio profile, although this profile has not been totally investigated yet. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the standard dose of 17β‐estradiol to a lower one on thrombin generation (TG).

In a 2‐month study, healthy menopausal women were randomized to receive daily 1mg or 2 mg of 17β‐estradiol (E1, n = 24 and E2, n = 26; respectively) with 10 mg dydrogesterone or placebo (PL, n = 22). Plasma levels factors VII, X, VIII and II were assessed before and after treatment as well as Tissue factor triggered TG, which allows the investigation of the different phases of coagulation process.

The peak of thrombin was higher in hormone therapy groups (E1: 42.39 ± 50.23 nm, E2: 31.08 ± 85.86 nm vs. 10.52 ± 40.63 nm in PL, P = 0.002 and P = 0.01). Time to reach the peak was also shortened (PL: 0.26 ± 0.69 min vs. E1: –0.26 ± 0.80 min, E2: –0.55 ± 0.79 min, P <10−3 for both comparisons) and mean rate index of the propagation phase of TG was significantly increased. Among the studied clotting factors, only the levels of FVII were significantly increased after treatment administration.

The two doses of 17β‐estradiol induced in a similar degree an acceleration of the initiation and propagation phase of tissue factor triggered thrombin generation and a significant increase of FVII coagulant activity.
Gender differences in the treatment of chronic ischemic heart disease: prognostic implications
Authors: Ciambrone Graciana , Kaski Juan Carlos
Published: August 2009

Despite the relatively high prevalence of coronary artery disease in women, there are little data on the investigation and treatment of ischemic heart disease in this population. In the last couple of decades authors have addressed health problems in minorities, including women. The great majority of these studies included the acute coronary syndrome population but most recent ones have focused on the management of stable angina from a gender perspective. Many of those studies showed that there are inequities between genders regarding the care of patients with ischemic heart disease. Although little is known about the prognostic implications of such differences, studies have shown that suboptimal treatment in women leads to poor clinical outcomes. Gender‐specific and both epidemiological and pathophysiological data are needed.
Deodorant effects of a supercritical hops extract: antibacterial activity against Corynebacterium xerosis and Staphylococcus epidermidis and efficacy testing of a hops/zinc ricinoleate stick in humans through the sensory evaluation of axillary deodorancy
Authors: Dumas Elizabeth R , Michaud Amy E , Bergeron Chantal , Lafrance Jennifer L , Mortillo Susan , Gafner Stefan
Published: September 2009

Background  There is little scientific evidence to support the efficacy of natural deodorants and therefore, such products may be perceived as inefficacious. The evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity of a hop extract and the evaluation of the odor‐reducing capacity of a hops/zinc ricinoleate‐containing product by a sensory evaluation panel is employed to verify deodorant performance.

Aims  The goal of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of a hop extract against Corynebacterium xerosis and Staphylococcus epidermidis and to verify in vivo deodorant performance of a hops/zinc ricinoleate‐containing product.

Methods  The hops extract was evaluated on a culture of an armpit swab from six volunteers. Furthermore, the extract was submitted to a zone of inhibition test and an agar‐dilution assay against two major odor‐causing bacteria. The clinical evaluation of the finished product was carried out according to a standard method for substantiating deodorant efficacy using trained odor judges for the assessment of axillary malodor (ASTM method E 1207‐87 Standard Practice for the Sensory Evaluation of Axillary Deodorancy).

Results  The supercritical hops extract showed good antibacterial activities in all three tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of 6.25 and 25 μg/mL against C. xerosis and S. aureus, respectively, were obtained in the agar‐dilution assay. In the clinical underarm odor‐reduction evaluation, the mean malodor score dropped from 6.28 (±0.70) to 1.80 (±0.71) after 8 h of application. There was still a noticeable effect at both 12 and 24 h after the application, with a score of 1.82 (±0.74) and 2.24 (±0.77), respectively.

Conclusion  The hops extract has good in vitro antibacterial properties and, in combination with zinc ricinoleate in an appropriate base, delivers in vivo odor reduction. The clinical efficacy is likely due to a combination of the base ingredients and the antibacterial actives.
Influence of long‐term oxygen therapy on heart rate and QT time‐series in hypoxic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Lewis Michael J. , Annandale Joe , Lewis Keir E.
Published: August 2009

Background:  There is increasing interest in the cardiovascular pathology independently associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined the influence of long‐term oxygen therapy (LTOT) on heart rate (RR) and QT time‐series in COPD.

Methods:  Ten hypoxic stable COPD patients underwent Holter ECG monitoring for 24 h and physical activity/energy expenditure monitoring for 5 days before and after LTOT. Variability of RR and QT time‐series was quantified using standard statistics and their structural (correlation/scaling) properties were assessed using multifractal analysis. Pre‐ and post‐LTOT cardiac/activity parameters were compared to examine the influence of oxygen therapy and circadian variation.

Results:  PaO2 increased (P = 0·0004) whilst PaCO2 was unchanged (P = 0·56) following LTOT. Activity/energy expenditure estimates were also unchanged following LTOT (P = 0·64–0·99), but RR variability was increased during the morning (P < 0·05) and night (P < 0·1, trend only). Multifractality of RR and QT time‐series was not significantly changed following LTOT, although QT multifractality showed some time‐dependent fluctuations. Trends in RR and QT time‐series over 24‐h were similar pre‐ and post‐LTOT, indicating a generally normal circadian response.

Conclusions:  An increase in HRV following LTOT (but notably in the absence of altered activity levels) provides tentative evidence that LTOT has a direct effect on heart rate control in COPD. This beneficial influence was expressed mainly during the morning, and the relevance of this diurnal variation in response requires further investigation. It was also confirmed that both RR and (to a lesser degree) QT time‐series in COPD have a multifractal structure, and this is not affected appreciably by LTOT.
High‐resolution stratigraphy of the northernmost concentric raised bog in Europe: Sellevollmyra, Andøya, northern Norway
Authors: VORREN KARL‐DAG , BLAAUW MAARTEN , WASTEGÅRD STEFAN , PLICHT JOHANNES VAN DER , JENSEN CHRISTIN
Published: September 2009

From the Sellevollmyra bog at Andøya, northern Norway, a 440‐cm long peat core covering the last c. 7000 calendar years was examined for humification, loss‐on‐ignition, microfossils, macrofossils and tephra. The age model was based on a Bayesian wiggle‐match of 35 14C dates and two historically anchored tephra layers. Based on changes in lithology and biostratigraphical climate proxies, several climatic changes were identified (periods of the most fundamental changes in italics): 6410–6380, 6230–6050, 5730–5640, 5470–5430, 5340–5310, 5270–5100, 4790–4710, 4890–4820, 4380–4320, 4220–4120, 4000–3810, 3610–3580, 3370–3340 (regionally 2850–2750; in Sellevollmyra a hiatus between 2960–2520), 2330–2220, 1950, 1530–1450, 1150–840, 730? and c. 600? cal. yr BP. Most of these climate changes are known from other investigations of different palaeoclimate proxies in northern and middle Europe. Some volcanic eruptions seemingly coincide with vegetation changes recorded in the peat, e.g. about 5760 cal. yr BP; however, the known climatic deterioration at the time of the Hekla‐4 tephra layer started some decades before the eruption event.
Investigating Potential for Depensation in Marine Turtles: How Low Can You Go?
Authors: BELL C. D. , BLUMENTHAL J. M. , BRODERICK A. C. , GODLEY B. J.
Published: August 2009

Abstract:  Where mechanisms inherent within the biology of a species affect individual fitness at low density, demographic‐scale depensation may occur, hastening further decline and leading ultimately to population extirpation and species extinction. Reduction in fertility at low population densities has been identified in marine and terrestrial species. Using data on hatch success and hatchling‐emergence success as proxies for fertilization success, we conducted a global meta‐analysis of data from breeding aggregations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). We found that there has been no reduction in fertility in small nesting aggregations in either of these species worldwide. We considered mechanisms within the mating strategies and reproductive biology of marine turtles that may allow for novel genetic input and facilitate enhanced gene flow among rookeries. Behavioral reproductive mechanisms, such as natal philopatry and polyandry, may mitigate potential impacts of depensation and contribute to the resilience of these species.