bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coded exposure HDR light‐field video recording
Authors: Schedl D. C. , Birklbauer C. , Bimber O.
Published: June 2014

Capturing exposure sequences to compute high dynamic range (HDR) images causes motion blur in cases of camera movement. This also applies to light‐field cameras: frames rendered from multiple blurred HDR light‐field perspectives are also blurred. While the recording times of exposure sequences cannot be reduced for a single‐sensor camera, we demonstrate how this can be achieved for a camera array. Thus, we decrease capturing time and reduce motion blur for HDR light‐field video recording. Applying a spatio‐temporal exposure pattern while capturing frames with a camera array reduces the overall recording time and enables the estimation of camera movement within one light‐field video frame. By estimating depth maps and local point spread functions (PSFs) from multiple perspectives with the same exposure, regional motion deblurring can be supported. Missing exposures at various perspectives are then interpolated.
Light montage for perceptual image enhancement
Authors: Hosu Vlad , Lan Ha Mai , Sim Terence
Published: June 2014

Recent photography techniques such as sculpting with light show great potential in compositing beautiful images from fixed‐viewpoint photos under multiple illuminations. The process relies heavily on the artists’ experience and skills using the available tools. An apparent trend in recent works is to facilitate the interaction making it less time‐consuming and addressable not only to experts, but also novices. We propose a method that automatically creates enhanced light montages that are comparable to those produced by artists. It detects and emphasizes cues that are important for perception by introducing a technique to extract depth and shape edges from an unconstrained light stack. Studies show that these cues are associated with silhouettes and suggestive contours which artists use to sketch and construct the layout of paintings. Textures, due to perspective distortion, offer essential cues that depict shape and surface slant. We balance the emphasis between depth edges and reflectance textures to enhance the sense of both shape and reflectance properties. Our light montage technique works perfectly with a few to hundreds of illuminations for each scene. Experiments show great results for static scenes making it practical for small objects, interiors and small‐scale outdoor scenes. Dynamic scenes may be captured using spatially distributed light setups such as light domes. The approach could also be applied to time‐lapse photos, with the sun as the main light source.
4D video textures for interactive character appearance
Authors: Casas Dan , Volino Marco , Collomosse John , Hilton Adrian
Published: June 2014

4D Video Textures (4DVT) introduce a novel representation for rendering video‐realistic interactive character animation from a database of 4D actor performance captured in a multiple camera studio. 4D performance capture reconstructs dynamic shape and appearance over time but is limited to free‐viewpoint video replay of the same motion. Interactive animation from 4D performance capture has so far been limited to surface shape only. 4DVT is the final piece in the puzzle enabling video‐realistic interactive animation through two contributions: a layered view‐dependent texture map representation which supports efficient storage, transmission and rendering from multiple view video capture; and a rendering approach that combines multiple 4DVT sequences in a parametric motion space, maintaining video quality rendering of dynamic surface appearance whilst allowing high‐level interactive control of character motion and viewpoint. 4DVT is demonstrated for multiple characters and evaluated both quantitatively and through a user‐study which confirms that the visual quality of captured video is maintained. The 4DVT representation achieves >90% reduction in size and halves the rendering cost.
Crack‐free rendering of dynamically tesselated B‐rep models
Authors: Claux Frédéric , Barthe Loïc , Vanderhaeghe David , Jessel Jean‐Pierre , Paulin Mathias
Published: June 2014

We propose a versatile pipeline to render B‐Rep models interactively, precisely and without rendering‐related artifacts such as cracks. Our rendering method is based on dynamic surface evaluation using both tesselation and ray‐casting, and direct GPU surface trimming. An initial rendering of the scene is performed using dynamic tesselation. The algorithm we propose reliably detects then fills up cracks in the rendered image. Crack detection works in image space, using depth information, while crack‐filling is either achieved in image space using a simple classification process, or performed in object space through selective ray‐casting. The crack filling method can be dynamically changed at runtime. Our image space crack filling approach has a limited runtime cost and enables high quality, real‐time navigation. Our higher quality, object space approach results in a rendering of similar quality than full‐scene ray‐casting, but is 2 to 6 times faster, can be used during navigation and provides accurate, reliable rendering. Integration of our work with existing tesselation‐based rendering engines is straightforward.
Game level layout from design specification
Authors: Ma Chongyang , Vining Nicholas , Lefebvre Sylvain , Sheffer Alla
Published: June 2014

The design of video game environments, or levels, aims to control gameplay by steering the player through a sequence of designer‐controlled steps, while simultaneously providing a visually engaging experience. Traditionally these levels are painstakingly designed by hand, often from pre‐existing building blocks, or space templates. In this paper, we propose an algorithmic approach for automatically laying out game levels from user‐specified blocks. Our method allows designers to retain control of the gameplay flow via user‐specified level connectivity graphs, while relieving them from the tedious task of manually assembling the building blocks into a valid, plausible layout. Our method produces sequences of diverse layouts for the same input connectivity, allowing for repeated replay of a given level within a visually different, new environment. We support complex graph connectivities and various building block shapes, and are able to compute complex layouts in seconds. The two key components of our algorithm are the use of configuration spaces defining feasible relative positions of building blocks within a layout and a graph‐decomposition based layout strategy that leverages graph connectivity to speed up convergence and avoid local minima. Together these two tools quickly steer the solution toward feasible layouts. We demonstrate our method on a variety of real‐life inputs, and generate appealing layouts conforming to user specifications.
Interactive motion mapping for real‐time character control
Authors: Rhodin Helge , Tompkin James , In Kim Kwang , Varanasi Kiran , Seidel Hans‐Peter , Theobalt Christian
Published: June 2014

It is now possible to capture the 3D motion of the human body on consumer hardware and to puppet in real time skeleton‐based virtual characters. However, many characters do not have humanoid skeletons. Characters such as spiders and caterpillars do not have boned skeletons at all, and these characters have very different shapes and motions. In general, character control under arbitrary shape and motion transformations is unsolved ‐ how might these motions be mapped? We control characters with a method which avoids the rigging‐skinning pipeline — source and target characters do not have skeletons or rigs. We use interactively‐defined sparse pose correspondences to learn a mapping between arbitrary 3D point source sequences and mesh target sequences. Then, we puppet the target character in real time. We demonstrate the versatility of our method through results on diverse virtual characters with different input motion controllers. Our method provides a fast, flexible, and intuitive interface for arbitrary motion mapping which provides new ways to control characters for real‐time animation.
Designing large‐scale interactive traffic animations for urban modeling
Authors: Garcia‐Dorado I. , G. Aliaga D. , V. Ukkusuri S.
Published: June 2014

Designing and optimizing traffic behavior and animation is a challenging problem of interest to virtual environment content generation and to urban planning and design. While some traffic simulation methods have appeared in computer graphics, most related systems focus on the design of buildings, roads, or cities but without explicitly considering urban traffic. To our knowledge, our work provides the first interactive approach which enables a designer to specify a desired vehicular traffic behavior (e.g., road occupancy, travel time, emissions, etc.) and the system will automatically compute what realistic 3D urban model (e.g., an interconnected network of roads, parcels, and buildings) yields the specified behavior. Our system both altered and improved traffic behavior in novel procedurally‐generated cities and in road networks of existing cities. Our urban models contain up to 360 km of roads, 300,000 vehicles, and typically cover four hours of simulated peak traffic time. The typical editing session time to “paint” a new traffic pattern and to compute the new/changed urban model is two to five minutes.
Automatic generation of tourist brochures
Authors: Birsak Michael , Musialski Przemyslaw , Wonka Peter , Wimmer Michael
Published: June 2014

We present a novel framework for the automatic generation of tourist brochures that include routing instructions and additional information presented in the form of so‐called detail lenses. The first contribution of this paper is the automatic creation of layouts for the brochures. Our approach is based on the minimization of an energy function that combines multiple goals: positioning of the lenses as close as possible to the corresponding region shown in an overview map, keeping the number of lenses low, and an efficient numbering of the lenses. The second contribution is a route‐aware simplification of the graph of streets used for traveling between the points of interest (POIs). This is done by reducing the graph consisting of all shortest paths through the minimization of an energy function. The output is a subset of street segments that enable traveling between all the POIs without considerable detours, while at the same time guaranteeing a clutter‐free visualization.
Landscape structure and genetic architecture jointly impact rates of niche evolution
Authors: Schiffers Katja , Schurr Frank M. , Travis Justin M. J. , Duputié Anne , Eckhart Vincent M. , Lavergne Sébastien , McInerny Greg , Moore Kara A. , Pearman Peter B. , Thuiller Wilfried , Wüest Rafael O. , Holt Robert D.
Published: June 2014

Evolutionary adaptation is a key driver of species' range dynamics. Understanding the factors that affect rates of adaptation at range margins is thus crucial for interpreting and predicting changes in species' ranges. The spatial structure of environmental conditions is one of the determinants of whether and how quickly adaptations occur. However, while landscape structures at range edges are typically complex, most theoretical work has so far focused on relatively simple environmental geometries.

Using an individual‐based allelic model, we explore the effects of different landscape structures on the rate of adaptation to novel environments and investigate how these structures interact with the genetic architecture of the trait governing adaptation and the dispersal capacity of the considered species. Generally, we find that rapid adaptation is favored by a good match between the coarseness of the trait's genetic architecture (many loci of small effects versus few loci of large effects) and the coarseness of the landscape (abruptness of transitions in environmental conditions). For example, in rugged landscapes, adaptation is quicker for genetic architectures with few loci of large effects, while for shallow gradients the opposite is true. Moreover, dispersal capacities affect the rate of adaptation by modulating the ‘apparent coarseness’ of the landscape: a gradient perceived as smooth by species with limited dispersal capacities appears rather steep for highly dispersive ones. We also find that the distribution of evolving phenotypes strongly depends on the interplay of landscape structure and dispersal capacities, ranging from two distinct phenotypes for most rugged landscapes, over the co‐occurrence of an additional third phenotype for highly dispersive species, to the whole range of phenotypes on smooth gradients.

By identifying basic factors that drive the fixation probability of newly arising beneficial mutations, we hope to further broaden the understanding of evolutionary adaptation at range margins and, hence, species' range dynamics.
Coordinated plasticity in brainstem and auditory cortex contributes to enhanced categorical speech perception in musicians
Authors: Bidelman Gavin M. , Weiss Michael W. , Moreno Sylvain , Alain Claude
Published: June 2014

Musicianship is associated with neuroplastic changes in brainstem and cortical structures, as well as improved acuity for behaviorally relevant sounds including speech. However, further advance in the field depends on characterizing how neuroplastic changes in brainstem and cortical speech processing relate to one another and to speech‐listening behaviors. Here, we show that subcortical and cortical neural plasticity interact to yield the linguistic advantages observed with musicianship. We compared brainstem and cortical neuroelectric responses elicited by a series of vowels that differed along a categorical speech continuum in amateur musicians and non‐musicians. Musicians obtained steeper identification functions and classified speech sounds more rapidly than non‐musicians. Behavioral advantages coincided with more robust and temporally coherent brainstem phase‐locking to salient speech cues (voice pitch and formant information) coupled with increased amplitude in cortical‐evoked responses, implying an overall enhancement in the nervous system's responsiveness to speech. Musicians' subcortical and cortical neural enhancements (but not behavioral measures) were correlated with their years of formal music training. Associations between multi‐level neural responses were also stronger in musically trained listeners, and were better predictors of speech perception than in non‐musicians. Results suggest that musicianship modulates speech representations at multiple tiers of the auditory pathway, and strengthens the correspondence of processing between subcortical and cortical areas to allow neural activity to carry more behaviorally relevant information. We infer that musicians have a refined hierarchy of internalized representations for auditory objects at both pre‐attentive and attentive levels that supplies more faithful phonemic templates to decision mechanisms governing linguistic operations.
Differential contributions of intra‐cellular and inter‐cellular mechanisms to the spatial and temporal architecture of the suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian circuitry in wild‐type, cryptochrome‐null and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2‐null mutant mice
Authors: Pauls S. , Foley N. C. , Foley D. K. , LeSauter J. , Hastings M. H. , Maywood E. S. , Silver R.
Published: June 2014

To serve as a robust internal circadian clock, the cell‐autonomous molecular and electrophysiological activities of the individual neurons of the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are coordinated in time and neuroanatomical space. Although the contributions of the chemical and electrical interconnections between neurons are essential to this circuit‐level orchestration, the features upon which they operate to confer robustness to the ensemble signal are not known. To address this, we applied several methods to deconstruct the interactions between the spatial and temporal organisation of circadian oscillations in organotypic slices from mice with circadian abnormalities. We studied the SCN of mice lacking Cryptochrome genes (Cry1 and Cry2), which are essential for cell‐autonomous oscillation, and the SCN of mice lacking the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VPAC2‐null), which is necessary for circuit‐level integration, in order to map biological mechanisms to the revealed oscillatory features. The SCN of wild‐type mice showed a strong link between the temporal rhythm of the bioluminescence profiles of PER2::LUC and regularly repeated spatially organised oscillation. The Cry‐null SCN had stable spatial organisation but lacked temporal organisation, whereas in VPAC2‐null SCN some specimens exhibited temporal organisation in the absence of spatial organisation. The results indicated that spatial and temporal organisation were separable, that they may have different mechanistic origins (cell‐autonomous vs. interneuronal signaling) and that both were necessary to maintain robust and organised circadian rhythms throughout the SCN. This study therefore provided evidence that the coherent emergent properties of the neuronal circuitry, revealed in the spatially organised clusters, were essential to the pacemaking function of the SCN.
Interrater agreement for Critical Care EEG Terminology
Authors: Gaspard Nicolas , Hirsch Lawrence J. , LaRoche Suzette M. , Hahn Cecil D. , Westover M. Brandon ,   the Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium
Published: June 2014

Objective

The interpretation of critical care electroencephalography (EEG) studies is challenging because of the presence of many periodic and rhythmic patterns of uncertain clinical significance. Defining the clinical significance of these patterns requires standardized terminology with high interrater agreement (IRA). We sought to evaluate IRA for the final, published American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS)–approved version of the critical care EEG terminology (2012 version). Our evaluation included terms not assessed previously and incorporated raters with a broad range of EEG reading experience.

Methods

After reviewing a set of training slides, 49 readers independently completed a Web‐based test consisting of 11 identical questions for each of 37 EEG samples (407 questions). Questions assessed whether a pattern was an electrographic seizure; pattern location (main term 1), pattern type (main term 2); and presence and classification of eight other key features (“plus” modifiers, sharpness, absolute and relative amplitude, frequency, number of phases, fluctuation/evolution, and the presence of “triphasic” morphology).

Results

IRA statistics (κ values) were almost perfect (90–100%) for seizures, main terms 1 and 2, the +S modifier (superimposed spikes/sharp waves or sharply contoured rhythmic delta activity), sharpness, absolute amplitude, frequency, and number of phases. Agreement was substantial for the +F (superimposed fast activity) and +R (superimposed rhythmic delta activity) modifiers (66% and 67%, respectively), moderate for triphasic morphology (58%), and fair for evolution (21%).

Significance

IRA for most terms in the ACNS critical care EEG terminology is high. These terms are suitable for multicenter research on the clinical significance of critical care EEG patterns.

A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/epi.12653/supinfo.
The Personality Behind Cheating: Behavioural Types and the Feeding Ecology of Cleaner Fish
Authors: Wilson Alexander D. M. , Krause Jens , Herbert‐Read James E. , Ward Ashley J. W.
Published: June 2014

The complex mutualistic relationship between the cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus) and their ‘clients’ in many reef systems throughout the world has been the subject of debate and research interest for decades. Game‐theory models have long struggled with explaining how the mixed strategies of cheating and honesty might have evolved in such a system and while significant efforts have been made theoretically, demonstrating the nature of this relationship empirically remains an important research challenge. Using the experimental framework of behavioural syndromes, we sought to quantitatively assess the relationship between personality and the feeding ecology of cleaner fish to provide novel insights into the underlying mechanistic basis of cheating in cleaner‐client interactions. First, we observed and filmed cleaner fish interactions with heterospecifics, movement patterns and general feeding ecology in the wild. We then captured and measured all focal individuals and tested them for individual consistency in measures of activity, exploration and risk taking (boldness) in the laboratory. Our results suggest a syndrome incorporating aspects of personality and foraging effort are central components of the behavioural ecology of L. dimidiatus on the Great Barrier Reef. We found that individuals that exhibited greater feeding effort tended to cheat proportionately less and move over smaller distances relative to bolder more active, exploratory individuals. Our study demonstrates for the first time that individual differences in personality might be mechanistically involved in explaining how the mixed strategies of cheating and honesty persist in cleaner fish mutualisms.
The Role of the Colloquial Varieties in the Acquisition of the Standard Variety: The Case of Arabic Heritage Speakers
Authors: Albirini Abdulkafi
Published: June 2014

The study investigated the acquisition of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) by second language (L2) learners and by heritage speakers of the colloquial varieties of Arabic. The study focused on three questions: (1) whether heritage speakers who enroll in college‐level elementary MSA classes have an advantage over their L2 counterparts, (2) whether any potential advantage that heritage speakers may bring into the classroom carries on to a later stage of their MSA learning, and (3) the role of positive or negative transfer from the colloquial variety in the acquisition of MSA in a formal setting. Thirty‐five heritage speakers (19 elementary and 16 advanced), 28 advanced L2 learners, and 16 native‐speaker controls completed five negation tasks. The results indicated that, whereas elementary heritage speakers entered the MSA classroom with an advantage over their L2 counterparts in the area under study, the advanced heritage speakers exhibited patterns that were comparable to those of the L2 learners. Unlike their L2 counterparts, however, the advanced heritage speakers displayed positive and negative transfer effects from colloquial Arabic. The findings are discussed in the framework of three models/hypotheses of first language transfer to a third language, and their pedagogical implications for Arabic language teaching and learning are explicated.
Vegetation productivity patterns at high northern latitudes: a multi‐sensor satellite data assessment
Authors: Guay Kevin C. , Beck Pieter S. A. , Berner Logan T. , Goetz Scott J. , Baccini Alessandro , Buermann Wolfgang
Published: June 2014

Satellite‐derived indices of photosynthetic activity are the primary data source used to study changes in global vegetation productivity over recent decades. Creating coherent, long‐term records of vegetation activity from legacy satellite data sets requires addressing many factors that introduce uncertainties into vegetation index time series. We compared long‐term changes in vegetation productivity at high northern latitudes (>50°N), estimated as trends in growing season NDVI derived from the most widely used global NDVI data sets. The comparison included the AVHRR‐based GIMMS‐NDVI version G (GIMMSg) series, and its recent successor version 3g (GIMMS3g), as well as the shorter NDVI records generated from the more modern sensors, SeaWiFS, SPOT‐VGT, and MODIS. The data sets from the latter two sensors were provided in a form that reduces the effects of surface reflectance associated with solar and view angles. Our analysis revealed large geographic areas, totaling 40% of the study area, where all data sets indicated similar changes in vegetation productivity over their common temporal record, as well as areas where data sets showed conflicting patterns. The newer, GIMMS3g data set showed statistically significant (α = 0.05) increases in vegetation productivity (greening) in over 15% of the study area, not seen in its predecessor (GIMMSg), whereas the reverse was rare (<3%). The latter has implications for earlier reports on changes in vegetation activity based on GIMMSg, particularly in Eurasia where greening is especially pronounced in the GIMMS3g data. Our findings highlight both critical uncertainties and areas of confidence in the assessment of ecosystem‐response to climate change using satellite‐derived indices of photosynthetic activity. Broader efforts are required to evaluate NDVI time series against field measurements of vegetation growth, primary productivity, recruitment, mortality, and other biological processes in order to better understand ecosystem responses to environmental change over large areas.
Abatement cost of wood‐based energy products at the production level on afforested and reforested lands
Authors: Dwivedi Puneet , Khanna Madhu
Published: June 2014

We combined economic and life‐cycle analyses in an integrated framework to ascertain greenhouse gas (GHG) intensities, production costs, and abatement costs of GHG emissions for ethanol and electricity derived from three woody feedstocks (logging residues only, pulpwood only, and pulpwood and logging residues combined) across two forest management choices (intensive and nonintensive) and 31 harvest ages (year 10–year 40 in steps of 1 year) on reforested and afforested lands at the production level for slash pine (Pinus elliottii) in the Southern United States. We assumed that wood chips and wood pellets will be used to produce ethanol and generate electricity, respectively. Production costs andGHGintensities of ethanol and electricity were lowest for logging residues at the optimal rotation age for both forest management choices. Opportunity cost related with the change in rotation age was a significant determinant of the variability in the overall production cost.GHGintensity of feedstocks obtained from afforested land was lower than reforested land. Relative savings inGHGemissions were higher for ethanol than electricity. Abatement cost of GHG emissions for ethanol was lower than electricity, especially when feedstocks were obtained from a plantation whose rotation age was close to the optimal rotation age. A carbon tax of at least $25 and $38 Mg−1CO2e will be needed to promote production of ethanol from wood chips and electricity from wood pellets in the US, respectively.
Estimates of the leaf area of forage peanut for use in morphogenetic assessment
Authors: Lopes de Sá O. A. A. , Lara M. A. S. , Evangelista A. R. , Bernardes T. F. , Casagrande D. R.
Published: June 2014

Understanding the morpho‐physiological responses of forage plants is critical for successfully managing pastures; however, there is no specific method for morphogenetically assessing Arachis pintoi. The present study aimed to develop and validate mathematical models to estimate leaf area in A. pintoi to enable assessments of leaf elongation and senescence. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment used 500 A. pintoi leaves to model leaf area. Three models were used: correlation, mechanistic and empirical. A total of 336 leaflets were collected to validate the models. For the second experiment, 786 leaflet pairs were collected to test the leaf symmetry. Leaf length (L), width (W) and area (A) were measured for each leaflet in both of the experiments. The model identity test was used. The leaflet area can be estimated using the following formula: Â = W ×L × 0·25 × π. Experiment 2 showed that the initial leaflet pairs were equal, as were the terminal leaflet pairs. In conclusion, the mechanistic model should be used to estimate the leaf area for A. pintoi, and only half of each leaf can be measured.
JNK1/2‐dependent phosphorylation of angulin‐1/LSR is required for the exclusive localization of angulin‐1/LSR and tricellulin at tricellular contacts in EpH4 epithelial sheet
Authors: Nakatsu Daiki , Kano Fumi , Taguchi Yuki , Sugawara Taichi , Nishizono Takashi , Nishikawa Kiyotaka , Oda Yukako , Furuse Mikio , Murata Masayuki
Published: June 2014

Tricellular tight junctions (tTJs) are specialized structural variants of tight junctions within tricellular contacts of an epithelial sheet and comprise several transmembrane proteins including lipolysis‐stimulated lipoprotein receptor (angulin‐1/LSR) and tricellulin. To elucidate the mechanism of its formation, we carried out stepwise screening of kinase inhibitors followed by RNAi screening to identify kinases that regulate intracellular localization of angulin‐1/LSR to the tTJs using a fluorescence image‐based screen. We found that the activity of JNK1 and JNK2, but not JNK3, was required for the exclusive localization of angulin‐1/LSR at the tTJs. Based on a bioinformatics approach, we estimated the potential phosphorylation site of angulin‐1/LSR by JNK1 to be serine 288 and experimentally confirmed that JNK1 directly phosphorylates angulin‐1/LSR at this site. We found that JNK2 was also involved in the phosphorylation of angulin‐1/LSR. Furthermore, GFP‐tagged angulin‐1/LSR(S288A), in which serine 288 was substituted by alanine, was observed to be dispersed to bicellular junctions, indicating that phosphorylation of Ser288 is crucial for the exclusive localization of angulin‐1/LSR and tricellulin at tTJs. Our fluorescence image‐based screening for kinases inhibitor or siRNAs combined with the phosphorylation site prediction could become a versatile and useful tool to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of tTJs regulated by kinase networks.
Skin reactions amongst Greek endodontists: a national questionnaire survey
Authors: Zarra T. , Lambrianidis T.
Published: June 2014

Aim

To investigate amongst Greek endodontists in the past 5 years the prevalence, aetiologic factors, severity and treatment for skin reactions.

Methodology

One hundred and 47 endodontists met the inclusion criteria and were invited to participate in the survey. Participants were asked for personal/professional data, prevalence, aetiologic factors, symptoms, severity and treatment for skin reactions in the past 5 years. The type of gloves used and frequency of hand washing as well as information on history of atopy and eczema were also recorded. Data were analysed using chi‐square test and independent samples t‐test. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05.

Results

The response rate was 84%. Skin reactions were reported by 32.5% of participants. Hands were the body part most frequently affected (66% of cases); glove powder accounted for 73% of skin reactions. Medical care was sought by 28.2% of the affected participants. Endodontists with a history of atopy (P < 0.001) and dermal eczema (P < 0.001) as well as females (P = 0.023) were more likely to report skin reactions. Replacement of powdered latex gloves with powder‐free or vinyl/nitrile gloves, avoidance of potential allergens and use of pharmaceutical ointments were adopted by 48.7%, 23.1% and 2.6% of the affected endodontists, respectively, to manage skin reactions.

Conclusions

Approximately one‐third of participants reported skin reactions. History of atopy and dermal eczema as well as gender was significantly associated with such reactions. The use of powder‐free latex gloves instead of powdered ones was the measure most frequently adopted to manage reactions.
Physicochemical stability of egg protein‐stabilised oil‐in‐water emulsions supplemented with vegetable powders
Authors: Raikos Vassilios , Neacsu Madalina , Morrice Philip , Duthie Garry
Published: June 2014

The effect of vegetable powders on the physicochemical stability of egg protein‐stabilised oil‐in‐water emulsions was studied. Vegetable powders (beetroot, broccoli, carrot, celery, green pea, red pepper, spinach, swede, tomato and yellow pea) were added at 2.5% (w/v) to emulsions prepared with rapeseed oil. The physical stability of the emulsions was characterised using the emulsifying activity (EAI) and the emulsifying stability indices (ESI) in addition to bright field microscopy. The oxidative stability of the emulsions was monitored by means of an accelerated oxidation test (Rancimat method). The addition of most vegetable powders did not markedly affect the physical stability of the emulsions although an adverse effect of tomato was observed. The oxidative stability of the emulsions was significantly improved in most cases as indicated by the Rancimat method with broccoli exhibiting the highest increase in induction time (98.2%) compared with the control. Both polar and nonpolar antioxidants are likely to contribute to the overall chemical stability of this complex food system in a concentration‐dependent manner.
Comparative studies on lipid oxidation of organic model sausage without nitrite produced with the addition of native or autoclaved mustard seed and acid whey
Authors: Karwowska Małgorzata , Wójciak Karolina M. , Dolatowski Zbigniew J.
Published: June 2014

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the addition of native and autoclaved mustard seed (AMS) with combination of acid whey (AW) on the stability of organic model sausages during 30 days of vacuum storage by measuring primary and secondary products of lipid oxidation, the changes in the fatty acid composition, oxidation–reduction potential and antioxidant capacity. Briefly, the addition of AW (5%) with combination of AMS (1%) significantly increased the capacity of sausages to capture the radical cations 2,2‐azinobis(3‐ethyl‐benzothiazoline)‐6‐sulphonate at 1 day of storage which suggests that autoclaved mustard possessed significantly higher amount of phenolic acids compared with native mustard. The salted samples with mustard seed addition characterised by lower oxidation–reduction potential values (264.5–302.1 mV) during the whole storage period compared with control‐cured sample (307.3–330.5 mV). Results of conjugated dienes (CD) measurements indicated that salted meat product samples with mustard seed addition were characterised by significantly lower CD concentration (1.12–1.90 μmol mg−1 meat product) compared with control‐cured sample (1.86–2.55 μmol mg−1 meat product). The AW and mustard seed added to uncured sausage were able to protect polyunsaturated fatty acids against the oxidation comparable to nitrite.
HOW SHARING SENT RECORD SALES SOARING
Authors: Vermeulen Freek
Published: June 2014

Freek Vermeulen finds out why removing copy protection actually increased music sales
THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA: IOANNIS IOANNOU
Authors: Peters Georgina
Published: June 2014

How should academics keep up‐to‐date with issues such as corporate social responsibility? Among those advocating a more interventionist approach is Ioannis Ioannou of London Business School. He spoke to Georgina Peters
THE FATAL BIAS
Authors: Goddard Jules
Published: June 2014

The prevailing managerial bias towards cost efficiency is seriously harmful to corporate performance. Jules Goddard reveals management's fatal bias
WORTH THE JOURNEY
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2014

Funryde is a peer‐to‐peer ride‐sharing platform created by entrepreneur Ammar Halabi
THE WRIST FACTOR
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2014

The brainchild of Henry de Bennetot and Alexis Garavel, SunEos wristbands are a safer way to carry cash at events
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2014

Corrado Accardi used crowdfunding to back his business plan for a quality pizza takeaway chain
YOUR GOOD HEALTH
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2014

Our Mobile Health sorts the expert from the amateur in the growing number of mHealth apps
MENU IDEAS
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2014

Cooked up to help restaurateurs maintain their online presence, Nook is a one‐stop system that simplifies updates
Structure and Properties of Enzyme Graft Copolymers: Effects of Using Dissolved Agarose on Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilization
Authors: D'Angiuro L. , Galliani S. , Cremonesi P.
Published: June 2014

The immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) onto dissolved agarose by a photochemically initiated graft copolymerization reaction, carried out at room temperature, was studied. Enzyme immobilization parameters such as the catalyst (FeCl3) and the enzyme concentration were considered. Using hexhydro‐1,3,5‐triacryloyl‐s‐triazine (HTsT) as vinyl monomer, the agarose/HTsT ratio was the main reaction parameter controlling the copolymer characteristics. By increasing the polymer content of the sample better stability properties were obtained. For the samples with agarose/HTsT ratios of 20/40 and 40/20 (S 20–40, S 40‐20) the residual activities after 240 min at 60 degrees C were respectively 47 and 18%. The residual activity in continuous working was 33% for S 40‐20 (after 20 h) and 64% for S 20–40 (after 70 h). For both the synthesized copolymers no limitation to substrate diffusion was found but the flexibility of immobilized enzyme decreased with the increase of polymer content as indicated by the Km values that were 0.90 × 10(‐4) mol/liter for the sample S 40‐20, and 1.50 × 10(‐4) mol/liter for the sample S 20–40. Other enzymes (glucose oxidase, alpha‐chymotrypsin, and lipoxidase), besides HRP, were immobilized with good yields, showing the wide applicability of the proposed methodology for the preparation of a solid biocatalyst which can be conveniently stored in water suspension or as lyophilized material.
Development of Immunoassay Methods by Use of Liposomes
Authors: Yu BS , Choi YK , Chung HH
Published: June 2014

In order to develop liposomes for use in an immunoassay system, the preparation of immune liposomes and their characterization have been investigated. Liposomes have potential use in extremely sensitive analytical immunoassays, in addition to serving as an attractive drug delivery system. This liposome immunoassay system is based on membrane immunochemistry and an enzymatic reaction. An intense yellow color, easily detectable with the naked eye, was produced quite rapidly by the lysis of bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐labeled, alkaline phosphatase‐entrapped liposomes in the presence of anti‐BSA rabbit serum and active complement under alkaline conditions. Sensitive detection is possible because of the antigen‐antibody complex reaction, which leads to liposome lysis and an enzymatic reaction. The liposome immunoassay method offers a rapid, simple, and sensitive testing procedure which can quantitatively and qualitatively determine the presence or absence of antigenic materials and antibodies.
Studies on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Amino Acid Carbamates
Authors: Sambale C. , Kula MR
Published: June 2014

Several commercially available enzymes were tested for their ability to hydrolyze amino acid carbamates. No activity was found with pig liver esterase, the hydantoinase from Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 84, or the urease from jack beans. A stereoselective cleavage of the carbamyl group yielding L‐amino acids was observed by acylase and acetylcholinesterases from bovine and human erythrocytes. Racemic mixtures of N‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐DL‐alanine, N‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐DL‐alanine, and the corresponding valine carbamates are hydrolyzed to L‐alanine and L‐valine, respectively, by acylases leaving the D‐amino acid carbamates unchanged. The lysine carbamates were not hydrolyzed by acylases. In contrast only the methoxycarbonyl amino acids were split by acetylcholinesterases, which, however, also cleave alpha, epsilon‐(N‐methoxycarbonyl)‐DL‐lysine stereoselectively at the alpha position, yielding epsilon‐N‐methoxycarbonyl‐L‐lysine. The optimum pH for enzymatic activity of hog kidney acylase was 7.5 and a Km value of 8.2 mM for N‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐DL‐alanine was determined. For the acetylcholinesterases the reaction rate reaches an optimum between pH 7.5 and 8. The Km value was 68 mM for N‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐DL‐alanine.
Preparation and characterization of biotinylated red blood cells
Authors: Magnani M. , Chiarantini L. , Mancini U.
Published: June 2014

Biotinylation of intact mammalian red blood cells (RBC) was performed either by attachment to the amino groups by means of biotin N‐hydrosuccinimide ester (NHS‐biotin) or by oxidation of the induced aldehyde groups of the RBC membrane by biotin hydrazide. Comparison of these different procedures showed that biotinylation by NHS‐biotin provided the highest cell recovery (> 90%), the binding of approximately 1000 biotin molecules/cell (on mouse RBC) and the 24 h survival in circulation was unaffected. In contrast, biotin hydrazide produced cell recovery in the 5‐30% range (depending on the extent of oxidation), an undetectable number of molecules of biotin/cell and negligible 24 h survival. Among the NHS derivatives of biotin, further studies were performed on those containing a spacer arm of 2.2 nm (22 A) [sulphosuccinimidyl‐6‐(biotinamido)‐hexanoate]. In vitro this derivative was similar to, or better than, the NHS‐biotin in terms of cell recovery and the number of molecules/cell. In vivo this derivative showed a 24 h circulation survival similar to that of NHS‐biotin. Unfortunately, biotin bound with such a spacer arm is lost after a few days of RBC circulation, probably due to plasma biotinidase. Possible applications of biotinylated RBCs include the in vivo measurement of RBC volume, the RBC survival and the delivery of enzyme and antigens.
Temperature profiles of gellan gum synthesis and activities of biosynthetic enzymes1
Authors: Martins Lígia O. , Sá‐Correia Isabel
Published: June 2014

Gellan‐gum biosynthesis is temperature‐dependent with a maximal production yield at 20‐25 °C, which is well below the optimal range for growth (30‐35 °C) of the producing strain Pseudomonas elodea (now considered Sphingomonas pauclmobills) AT.C.C. 31461. As judged by viscometric measurements the highest‐molecular‐mass biopolymer is produced at 20 °C. The specific activity of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the activated sugar precursors for gellan polymerization can be considered as partially responsible for the yield of this exopolysacchadde at temperatures within the range 20‐35 °C. The dlDP‐lrhamnose biosynthetic enzyme system (TRS) exhibits the lowest specific activity and, in concert with UDP‐o‐glucose dehydrogenase (UGD), appears to limit gellan synthesis, particularly at temperatures above 30 °C. Phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphoglucomutase present the highest specific activities, significantly above the levels of UDP‐o‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) and dTDP‐D‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (TGP), which are otherwise much higher than those of UGD and TRS. In addition, UGD, and particularly TRS, are the most thermosensitive of the gellan‐biosynthetic enzymes studied.
Stabilizing effect of water/alcohol solvents towards autoxidation of glutaraldehyde‐modified haemoglobin
Authors: Nedjar‐Arroume N. , Castellano A. , Guillochon D.
Published: June 2014

Glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked haemoglobin is potentially very attractive as a useful oxygen carrier for biomedical and technological purposes. However, its oxygen‐binding ability is restricted by the autoxidation of the iron which is faster than for native haemoglobin. We have studied the stabilization effect of ethanol, butan‐1‐ol, ethylene glycol and glycerol on the autoxidation of glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked oxyhaemoglobin. We have shown that, in the presence of water/alcohol mixtures, cross‐linked haemoglobin became more stable towards autoxidation than native oxyhaemoglobin in an aqueous environment. From a structural point of view, an e.p.r. study showed that alcohols and cross‐linking had opposite effects on the haem environment. In contrast with the cross‐linking, alcohols stabilize oxyhaemoglobin by decreasing the charge transfer from the iron to the oxygen, decreasing the O‐O length and increasing the total distance (F8 His)‐N‐F‐O2.
Characterization, subsite mapping and partial amino acid sequence of glucoamylase from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei
Authors: Fagerstrom R. , Kalkkinen N.
Published: June 2014

The pH optimum, temperature‐dependence, thermal stability, substrate specificity and subsite affinities of the 66 kDa, pI 4.0 glucoamylase of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei were determined. It had a pH optimum of 5.5 and a temperature optimum (5 min reaction time) of 70 degrees C with soluble starch as substrate. Thermal‐inactivation studies revealed that the glucoamylase is relatively thermostable up to 60 degrees C. Metal ions and EDTA tested at 5 mM concentrations had no significant effect, and beta‐cyclodextrin only slightly inhibitory effects, on the digestion of soluble starch. Estimated Km and kcat. values for soluble starch where 0.11 mg.ml‐1 and 28.5 s‐1 respectively. Hydrolysis of pullulan (Km 14 mg.ml‐1 and kcat. = 6.6 s‐1) indicated substantial activity towards 1,6‐O‐glucosidic bonds. From ratios of kinetic parameters of malto‐ and isomalto‐oligosaccharides, it was apparent that the glucoamylase showed approx. 3‐fold higher selectivity towards isomalto‐oligosaccharides than most other reported fungal glucoamylases. Substrate binding affinities were calculated from kinetic data for the linear series of malto‐ and isomalto‐oligosaccharides. The results were in good agreement with other reported glucoamylases. The main difference was that subsite 1 showed a slightly negative free energy of binding with malto‐oligosaccharides, whereas most other glucoamylases show a positive free energy at this subsite. A set of peptides obtained from purified glucoamylase by tryptic digestion where sequenced. They covered approx. 17% of the total amino acid sequence as estimated from molecular mass on SDS/PAGE. Some of the sequences were tentatively aligned to known glucoamylase sequences. They showed about 60% identity with the extensively studied Aspergillus glucoamylase.
Panel Data Evidence on the Effects of Fiscal Policy Shocks in the EU New Member States
Authors: Borys Paweł , Ciżkowicz Piotr , Rzońca Andrzej
Published: June 2014

We identify fiscal policy shocks in the EU new member states using four different methods. We use panel data techniques to estimate the output response to these shocks. We find that investment and export growth increase after fiscal consolidation and decelerate after fiscal stimulus when the shocks are expenditure‐based. In contrast, private consumption does not respond to fiscal policy shocks. Expenditure‐based fiscal consolidations reduce wages, supporting the view that fiscal consolidation of such composition enhances the competitiveness and profitability of domestic enterprises. In contrast, we do not find evidence of fiscal shocks affecting households' confidence.
GST Compliance in the New Zealand Property Sector
Authors: Claus Iris
Published: June 2014

Different schemes used in property transactions raised concern in New Zealand that insufficient goods and services tax (GST) was being paid on the sale of property. To improve tax compliance in the property sector, various measures have been undertaken. Tax auditing of property transactions has been strengthened since 2007 and in 2009 the government issued a discussion document that proposed a legislative solution to some specific GST problems. Moreover, several court cases have ruled against abusive GST schemes. This paper estimates the impact on GST collection and compliance in the property sector following these actions. The findings suggest that GST compliance in the property sector has increased.