bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Library anxiety, library use and academic performance of undergraduate students in Pakistan
Authors: Jan Sajjad Ullah , Anwar Mumtaz Ali , Warraich Nosheen Fatima 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the status of library anxiety, which has received relatively little research attention in Pakistan, and its relationship with library use, academic performance (grade point average), gender and academic discipline among the undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a questionnaire from 725 fourth year undergraduate students of three different disciplines from three universities. The participation was voluntary. The data were processed using SPSS version 20.

Findings
A majority of the respondents (72.1 per cent) experienced a mild library anxiety. The factors: user education and user knowledge were the greatest sources of library anxiety. Findings revealed differences in library anxiety on the basis of gender and academic discipline. Library anxiety and academic performance had a significant negative relationship with each other.

Originality/value
This is the first study in Pakistan that addressed library anxiety and its relationship with library use, academic discipline and academic performance using a large group (N = 725) of undergraduate students.
An Isolated Perfused Rat Kidney Model for the Evaluation of the Effect of Glucose on Renal Tubular Epithelial Morphology
Authors: Zhou Chong , Yool Andrea J. , Byard Roger W. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAn isolated perfused kidney model was used to evaluate the effect of hyperglycemia on renal tubular epithelial cell morphology. Ten Sprague–Dawley rat kidneys were perfused with Krebs–Henseleit buffer containing 70 mmol/L of glucose (five for 1 h and five for 2 h). Two control groups consisted of 10 kidneys perfused with Krebs–Henseleit buffer without hyperglycemia (five for 1 h and five for 2 h), and 10 nonperfused contralateral kidneys placed in the same environment for the same duration. The hyperglycemia group had significantly increased renal tubular vacuolization (p < 0.001) compared to both control groups at 1 and 2 h. The isolated perfused kidney model recapitulates the renal tubular vacuolization phenotype found in hyperglycemia and may be a potential tool for the investigation into causal factors in renal histology. The full pattern of the Armanni–Ebstein phenomenon was not, however, reproduced, suggesting that this change requires more time or involves more complex factors.
Triceps Skinfold Thickness Is Associated With Lumbar Bone Mineral Density in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Lin Yu‐Li , Lai Yu‐Hsien , Wang Chih‐Hsien , Kuo Chiu‐Huang , Liou Hung‐Hsiang , Hsu Bang‐Gee 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAnthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI), body weight and total fat mass are associated with the bone mineral density (BMD) in the general population. Compared to that in the general population, BMD was lower in dialysis patients. However, the association between anthropometric measurements and BMD is not well‐established among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. To study this, we conducted a cross‐sectional study in 48 chronic PD patients. Anthropometric parameters, biochemical data, and BMD measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry in lumbar vertebrae (L2–L4) were collected. Among these PD patients, eight patients (16.7%) had osteoporosis and 22 patients (45.8%) osteopenia, while 18 patients were normal. Older age, decreased height, lower body weight, BMI, triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid‐arm fat area (MAFA), and higher adiponectin levels were observed in our patients with lower lumbar T‐scores. Height, body weight, waist circumference, BMI, body fat mass, TSF, mid‐arm circumference, MAFA, and serum phosphorus levels were positively, while age, adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with lumbar BMD levels. According to our multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis, TSF (R2 change = 0.080, P = 0.017) and body weight (R2 change = 0.333, P = 0.002) were both correlated with low lumbar BMD. In conclusion, either TSF or body weight in our chronic PD patients was proved to be an independent predictor for osteolytic bone lesions.
Is Efficacy of the Anti‐Cd20 Antibody Rituximab Preventing Hemolysis Due to Passenger Lymphocyte Syndrome?
Authors: Tsujimura Kazuma , Ishida Hideki , Tanabe Kazunari 
Published: October 2016

AbstractPassenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) often occurs after ABO‐mismatched solid organ and/or bone marrow transplantation between a donor and recipient. Viable donor B‐lymphocytes transferred during organ transplantation produce antibodies against recipient red cell antigens, leading to hemolysis. The incidence of PLS has been reported to be around 9% after renal transplantation. A previous report showed that rituximab (Rit) was useful for treatment of PLS in allogeneic stem cell transplantation, bowel transplant and severe cases of hemolysis. However, the effectiveness of Rit in preventing PLS after renal transplantation has not yet been evaluated. The participants in this study were 85 patients who had undergone ABO‐mismatched renal transplantation from January 2005 to April 2013. Rit was administered to these patients before transplantation. None of the patients that received Rit treatment developed PLS. Thus administration of Rit before transplantation effectively controlled the production of antibodies by B‐lymphocytes, which probably prevented the development of PLS.
Senescence‐associated DNA methylation is stochastically acquired in subpopulations of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Franzen Julia , Zirkel Anne , Blake Jonathon , Rath Björn , Benes Vladimir , Papantonis Argyris , Wagner Wolfgang 
Published: October 2016

SummaryReplicative senescence has a major impact on function and integrity of cell preparations. This process is reflected by continuous DNA methylation (DNAm) changes at specific CpG dinucleotides in the course of in vitro culture, and such modifications can be used to estimate the state of cellular senescence for quality control of cell preparations. Still, it is unclear how senescence‐associated DNAm changes are regulated and whether they occur simultaneously across a cell population. In this study, we analyzed global DNAm profiles of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to demonstrate that senescence‐associated DNAm changes are overall similar in these different cell types. Subsequently, an Epigenetic‐Senescence‐Signature, based on six CpGs, was either analyzed by pyrosequencing or by bar‐coded bisulfite amplicon sequencing. There was a good correlation between predicted and real passage numbers in bulk populations of MSCs (R2 = 0.67) and HUVECs (R2 = 0.97). However, when we analyzed the Epigenetic‐Senescence‐Signature in subclones of MSCs, the predictions revealed high variation and they were not related to the adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation potential of the subclones. Notably, in clonally derived subpopulations, the DNAm levels of neighboring CpGs differed extensively, indicating that these genomic regions are not synchronously modified during senescence. Taken together, senescence‐associated DNAm changes occur in a highly reproducible manner, but they are not synchronously co‐regulated. They rather appear to be acquired stochastically—potentially evoked by other epigenetic modifications.
Reducing inflow occlusion, occlusion duration and blood loss during hepatic resections
Authors: Huo Ya Ruth , Shiraev Tim , Alzahrani Nayef , Chu Francis 
Published: October 2016

BackgroundTo assess the changes in blood loss during hepatic resection with improved haemostatic devices such as a bipolar sealing device and a topical haemostatic agent.MethodsThis retrospective clinical study of prospectively collected data will assess hepatic resections performed by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2013, with the introduction of the two haemostatic techniques in 2009.ResultsA total of 371 hepatic resections (214 from 2005 to 2008 and 157 from 2009 to 2013) were included in this study. Compared with the conventional hepatic resection (2005–2008), the use of haemostatic techniques (2009–2013) significantly reduced the need for inflow occlusion (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.24–0.57, P < 0.001), overall occlusion time (20.8 min versus 25.9 min, P = 0.04) and transfusion requirement (4.6% versus 12%, OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14–0.90, P = 0.02). Mean overall blood loss was reduced post‐2009; however, the decrease was not statistically different (401.3 mL versus 470.8 mL, P = 0.27). Subgroup analysis revealed that blood loss was more than halved post‐2009 compared with pre‐2009 for patients who received pre‐operative chemotherapy (324.6 mL versus 738.5 mL, P = 0.005).ConclusionThe use of a bipolar sealing device and a topical haemostatic agent reduces the need for inflow occlusion, overall occlusion time and transfusions in all patients compared with conventional hepatic resections.
Characterization of epididymal sperm from Spix's yellow‐toothed cavies (Galea spixii Wagler, 1831) recovered by different methods
Authors: da Silva Andréia Maria , Bezerra José Artur Brilhante , Campos Lívia Batista , Praxedes Érica Camila Gurgel , Lima Gabriela Liberalino , Silva Alexandre Rodrigues 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to characterize the epididymal sperm of Spix's yellow‐toothed cavy (Galea spixii) through two different recovery methods. Nine sexually mature males were euthanized and the complexes, testes–epididymis, were dissected. For each animal, one epididymis was processed by flotation method and the other was processed by retrograde flushing method, both using a TES‐based buffered media. After recovery, we evaluated the sperm for motility, vigour, viability, functional membrane integrity and morphology. Morphometric data from the different sperm regions were evaluated by using an appropriate software. After recovery, both methods provide similar values for all the sperm parameters, aiming the recovery of more than 300 × 106 sperm, presenting >50% motile sperm, with normal morphology and functional membrane. The total sperm length in this sperm was 48.87 ± 0.1, and the sperm head presented 9.4%, on average. A notable characteristic was the prominent acrosome found in the G. spixii sperm. In conclusion, we demonstrate that either flotation or retrograde flushing methods are suitable for the recovery of sperm from cauda epididymis of Spix's yellow‐toothed cavies.
The coexistence of natural and supernatural explanations within and across domains and development
Authors: Busch Justin T. A. , Watson‐Jones Rachel E. , Legare Cristine H. 
Published: October 2016

People across highly diverse cultural contexts use both natural and supernatural explanations to explain questions of fundamental concern such as death, illness, and human origins. The present study examines the development of explanatory coexistence within and across domains of existential concern in individuals in Tanna, Vanuatu. We examined three age groups: 7‐ to 12‐year‐old children, 13‐ to 18‐year‐old adolescents, and 19‐ to 70‐year‐old adults (N = 72). Within the domain of death, biological and spontaneous explanations were most common across all ages. For illness, children showed the highest rates of explanatory coexistence, while adolescents and adults favoured biological explanations. Within the human origins domain, theistic explanations were most common across the age groups. Overall, these data show that coexistence reasoning in these domains is pervasive across cultures, yet at the same time it is deeply contextually specific, reflecting the nuanced differences in local ecologies and cultural beliefs.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Individuals across highly diverse cultural contexts use both natural and supernatural explanations to understand the events that occur in their lives.

Context and cultural input play a large role in determining when and how individuals incorporate natural and supernatural explanations.

The development of explanatory coexistence has primarily studied explanations for isolated domains.

What does this study add?

We examined explanatory coexistence in a culture with recent conversion to Christianity and formal education.

The current research examines how individuals reason within and across the domains of human origins, illness, and death.

Developmental differences associated with explanatory coexistence are examined.
What Stroop tasks can tell us about selective attention from childhood to adulthood
Authors: Wright Barlow C. 
Published: October 2016

A rich body of research concerns causes of Stroop effects plus applications of Stroop. However, several questions remain. We included assessment of errors with children and adults (N = 316), who sat either a task wherein each block employed only trials of one type (unmixed task) or where every block comprised of a mix of the congruent, neutral, and incongruent trials. Children responded slower than adults and made more errors on each task. Contrary to some previous studies, interference (the difference between neutral and incongruent condition) showed no reaction time (RT) differences by group or task, although there were differences in errors. By contrast, facilitation (the difference between neutral and congruent condition) was greater in children than adults, and greater on the unmixed task than the mixed task. After considering a number of theoretical accounts, we settle on the inadvertent word‐reading hypothesis, whereby facilitation stems from children and the unmixed task promoting inadvertent reading particularly in the congruent condition. Stability of interference RT is explained by fixed semantic differences between neutral and incongruent conditions, for children versus adults and for unmixed versus mixed task. We conclude that utilizing two tasks together may reveal more about how attention is affected in other groups.
Programmable Animation Texturing using Motion Stamps
Authors: Milliez A. , Guay M. , Cani M.-P. , Gross M. , Sumner R. W. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractOur work on programmable animation texturing enhances the concept of texture mapping by letting artists stylize arbitrary animations using elementary animations, instantiated at the scale of their choice. The core of our workflow resides in two components: we first impose structure and temporal coherence over the animation data using a novel radius‐based animation‐aware clustering. The computed clusters conform to the user‐specified scale, and follow the underlying animation regardless of its topology. Extreme mesh deformations, complex particle simulations, or simulated mesh animations with ever‐changing topology can therefore be handled in a temporally coherent way. Then, in analogy to fragment shaders that specify an output color based on a texture and a collection of properties defined per vertex (position, texture coordinate, etc.), we provide a programmable interface to the user, letting him or her specify an output animation based on the collection of properties we extract per cluster (position, velocity, etc.). We equip elementary animations with a collection of parameters that are exposed in our programmable system and enables users to script the animated textures depending on properties of the input cluster. We demonstrate the power of our system with complex animated textures created with minimal user input.
Scale‐aware Structure‐Preserving Texture Filtering
Authors: Jeon Junho , Lee Hyunjoon , Kang Henry , Lee Seungyong 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis paper presents a novel method to enhance the performance of structure‐preserving image and texture filtering. With conventional edge‐aware filters, it is often challenging to handle images of high complexity where features of multiple scales coexist. In particular, it is not always easy to find the right balance between removing unimportant details and protecting important features when they come in multiple sizes, shapes, and contrasts. Unlike previous approaches, we address this issue from the perspective of adaptive kernel scales. Relying on patch‐based statistics, our method identifies texture from structure and also finds an optimal per‐pixel smoothing scale. We show that the proposed mechanism helps achieve enhanced image/texture filtering performance in terms of protecting the prominent geometric structures in the image, such as edges and corners, and keeping them sharp even after significant smoothing of the original signal.
Efficient Volumetric PolyCube‐Map Construction
Authors: Fu Xiao‐Ming , Bai Chong‐Yang , Liu Yang 
Published: October 2016

AbstractPolyCubes provide compact representations for closed complex shapes and are essential to many computer graphics applications. Existing automatic PolyCube construction methods usually suffer from poor quality or time‐consuming computation. In this paper, we provide a highly efficient method to compute volumetric PolyCube‐maps. Given an input tetrahedral mesh, we utilize two novel normal‐driven volumetric deformation schemes and a polycube‐allowable mesh segmentation to drive the input to a volumetric PolyCube structure. Our method can robustly generate foldover‐free and low‐distortion PolyCube‐maps in practice, and provide a flexible control on the number of corners of Polycubes. Compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods, our method is at least one order of magnitude faster and has better mapping qualities. We demonstrate the efficiency and efficacy of our method in PolyCube construction and all‐hexahedral meshing on various complex models.
Trip Synopsis: 60km in 60sec
Authors: Huang H. , Lischinski D. , Hao Z. , Gong M. , Christie M. , Cohen‐Or D. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractComputerized route planning tools are widely used today by travelers all around the globe, while 3D terrain and urban models are becoming increasingly elaborate and abundant. This makes it feasible to generate a virtual 3D flyby along a planned route. Such a flyby may be useful, either as a preview of the trip, or as an after‐the‐fact visual summary. However, a naively generated preview is likely to contain many boring portions, while skipping too quickly over areas worthy of attention.In this paper, we introduce 3D trip synopsis: a continuous visual summary of a trip that attempts to maximize the total amount of visual interest seen by the camera. The main challenge is to generate a synopsis of a prescribed short duration, while ensuring a visually smooth camera motion. Using an application‐specific visual interest metric, we measure the visual interest at a set of viewpoints along an initial camera path, and maximize the amount of visual interest seen in the synopsis by varying the speed along the route. A new camera path is then computed using optimization to simultaneously satisfy requirements, such as smoothness, focus and distance to the route. The process is repeated until convergence.The main technical contribution of this work is a new camera control method, which iteratively adjusts the camera trajectory and determines all of the camera trajectory parameters, including the camera position, altitude, heading, and tilt. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of our trip synopses, compared to a number of alternatives.
A Study On Designing Effective Introductory Materials for Information Visualization
Authors: Tanahashi Yuzuru , Leaf Nick , Ma Kwan‐Liu 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDesigning introductory materials is extremely important when developing new information visualization techniques. All users, regardless of their domain knowledge, first must learn how to interpret the visually encoded information in order to infer knowledge from visualizations. Yet, despite its significance, there has been little research on how to design effective introductory materials for information visualization. This paper presents a study on the design of online guides that educate new users on how to utilize information visualizations, particularly focusing on the employment of exercise questions in the guides. We use two concepts from educational psychology, learning type (or learning style) and teaching method, to design four unique types of online guides. The effects of the guides are measured by comprehension tests of a large group of crowdsourced participants. The tests covered four visualization types (graph, scatter plot, storyline, and tree map) and a complete range of visual analytics tasks. Our statistical analyses indicate that online guides which employ active learning and the top‐down teaching method are the most effective. Our study provides quantitative insight into the use of exercise questions in online guides for information visualizations and will inspire further research on design considerations for other elements in introductory materials.
Incremental Deformation Subspace Reconstruction
Authors: Mukherjee R. , Wu X. , Wang H. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractRecalculating the subspace basis of a deformable body is a mandatory procedure for subspace simulation, after the body gets modified by interactive applications. However, using linear modal analysis to calculate the basis from scratch is known to be computationally expensive. In the paper, we show that the subspace of a modified body can be efficiently obtained from the subspace of its original version, if mesh changes are small. Our basic idea is to approximate the stiffness matrix by its low‐frequency component, so we can calculate new linear deformation modes by solving an incremental eigenvalue decomposition problem. To further handle nonlinear deformations in the subspace, we present a hybrid approach to calculate modal derivatives from both new and original linear modes. Finally, we demonstrate that the cubature samples trained for the original mesh can be reused in fast reduced force and stiffness matrix evaluation, and we explore the use of our techniques in various simulation problems. Our experiment shows that the updated subspace basis still allows a simulator to generate visual plausible deformation effects. The whole system is efficient and it is compatible with other subspace construction approaches.
Non‐Local Sparse and Low‐Rank Regularization for Structure‐Preserving Image Smoothing
Authors: Zhu Lei , Fu Chi‐Wing , Jin Yueming , Wei Mingqiang , Qin Jing , Heng Pheng‐Ann 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis paper presents a new image smoothing method that better preserves prominent structures. Our method is inspired by the recent non‐local image processing techniques on the patch grouping and filtering. Overall, it has three major contributions over previous works. First, we employ the diffusion map as the guidance image to improve the accuracy of patch similarity estimation using the region covariance descriptor. Second, we model structure‐preserving image smoothing as a low‐rank matrix recovery problem, aiming at effectively filtering the texture information in similar patches. Lastly, we devise an objective function, namely the weighted robust principle component analysis (WRPCA), by regularizing the low rank with the weighted nuclear norm and sparsity pursuit with L1 norm, and solve this non‐convex WRPCA optimization problem by adopting the alternative direction method of multipliers (ADMM) technique. We experiment our method with a wide variety of images and compare it against several state‐of‐the‐art methods. The results show that our method achieves better structure preservation and texture suppression as compared to other methods. We also show the applicability of our method on several image processing tasks such as edge detection, texture enhancement and seam carving.