bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin attenuates isoflurane‐induced neurodegeneration and learning deficits in the developing mouse brain
Authors: Tsuchimoto Teppei , Ueki Masaaki , Miki Takanori , Morishita Jun , Maekawa Nobuhiro 
Published: July 2011

SummaryObjectives:  To examine whether recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) attenuates neurodegeneration and the learning disability induced by isoflurane with the postnatal day 7 (P7) mice.Background:  Some of general anesthetic agents induce neurodegeneration in developing brain. Several drugs, but not rEPO, were reported as candidates for the prevention of or treatment for neurodegeneration.Method and materials:  We divided P7 mice into three groups at random. One group (IE group) was exposed to 6‐h isoflurane (1.0%) after 50 000 IU·kg−1 rEPO administered subcutaneously. The second group (I) was exposed to isoflurane in the same manner as IE group except saline instead of rEPO. The third group (E) was exposed to air after rEPO administered. The mice were assigned to the radial arm maze on four consecutive days from P56 (day 1) to P59 (day 4). We divided the number of errors each day by that of day 1 to establish each‐day performance ratio. After the test, neurodegenerative change in the hilus of dentate gyrus was assessed using Nissl staining.Results:  In radial maze test, the performance ratios of day 3 (mean ± sd) were 0.3 ± 0.2 (P < 0.05, vs I group), 0.8 ± 0.5, and 0.6 ± 0.2 in IE, I, and E groups, respectively, while those of day 4 were 0.3 ± 0.1 (P < 0.05), 0.8 ± 0.5, and 0.3 ± 0.2 (P < 0.05), respectively. The histopathological study revealed that in IE group the degenerative neuronal change was attenuated compared with I group.Conclusions:  These results suggested that rEPO attenuated isoflurane‐induced neurodegeneration.
Environmental harshness and global richness patterns in glacier‐fed streams
Authors: Jacobsen Dean , Dangles Olivier 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTAim To test for a possible effect of environmental harshness on large‐scale latitudinal and elevational patterns in taxon richness of macrofauna in arctic and alpine glacier‐fed streams.Location Svalbard (79° N), Iceland (65° N), Norway (62° N), Switzerland and Italy (46° N), France (43° N), New Zealand (43° S) and Ecuador (0°), covering an elevational gradient from sea level to 4800 m a.s.l.Methods We gathered data from 63 sites along 13 streams and created an index of glacial influence (the glacial index, GI) as an integrative proxy for environmental harshness. The explicative power of the GI, environmental variables, latitude and elevation on taxon richness was tested in generalized linear models. Taxon richness along geographical gradients was analysed at standardized levels of GI in contour plots. Beta diversity and assemblage similarity was calculated at different GI intervals and compared with a null‐model.Results Overall, taxon richness decreased exponentially with increased GI (r2= 0.64), and of all included factors, GI had the highest explicative power. At low values of GI we found that local taxon richness varied along the coupled gradients of latitude and elevation in a hump‐shaped manner. However, this pattern disappeared at high values of GI, i.e. when environmental harshness increased. Beta diversity increased, while similarity among assemblages decreased towards high GI values.Main conclusions In our study system, the number of taxa able to cope with the harshest conditions was largely independent of the regional taxon pool, and environmental harshness constituted a ‘fixed’ constraint for local richness, irrespective of latitude and elevation. Contrary to expectations, we found that beta diversity was highest and similarity lowest among the harshest sites, suggesting that taxon richness was not solely driven by niche selection based on environmental tolerances, but also stochastic ecological drift, leading to dispersal‐limited communities.
Empowerment and regulation – dilemmas in participatory fisheries science
Authors: Jacobsen Rikke B , Wilson Douglas C K , Ramirez‐Monsalve Paulina 
Published: July 2011

AbstractUsing a perspective from the sociology of knowledge, this study identifies some ‘dilemmas of participatory research’. We look at how social relationships between fishers and scientists develop around the exchange of fishers’ knowledge in particular institutional contexts. We survey the general types and global examples of fisher–scientist relationships in terms of how they approach the integration of fishers’ and scientists’ knowledge. Based on an empirical study of three European cases of participatory research, we then discuss five dilemmas that tend to characterize fisher–scientist relationships. These dilemmas centre on the relationship between fisheries research, fishery regulations and fishers as subjects of both regulation and participatory research endeavours. We argue that these dilemmas – experienced by both scientists and fishers – express an underlying tension between ‘empowering’ fishers to support the effective management of the fishing commons and the bureaucratic need to regulate the fishery as an industry.
Optimizing Environment Maps for Material Depiction
Authors: Bousseau Adrien , Chapoulie Emmanuelle , Ramamoorthi Ravi , Agrawala Maneesh 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe present an automated system for optimizing and synthesizing environment maps that enhance the appearance of materials in a scene. We first identify a set of lighting design principles for material depiction. Each principle specifies the distinctive visual features of a material and describes how environment maps can emphasize those features. We express these principles as linear or quadratic image quality metrics, and present a general optimization framework to solve for the environment map that maximizes these metrics. We accelerate metric evaluation using an approach dual to precomputed radiance transfer (PRT). In contrast to standard PRT that integrates light transport over the lighting domain to generate an image, we pre‐integrate light transport over the image domain to optimize for lighting. Finally we present two techniques for transforming existing photographic environment maps to better emphasize materials. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by generating environment maps that enhance the depiction of a variety of materials including glass, metal, plastic, marble and velvet.
Stone Weathering in a Photograph
Authors: Xue Su , Dorsey Julie , Rushmeier Holly 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe appearance of weathering effects on stone is important for creating outdoor scenes in computer graphics. To achieve them, previous research has built upon physical simulation, which, while yielding a degree of realism, is computationally expensive and inapplicable to the situation when the object geometry is unknown. Also, physical simulation requires specific knowledge of the stone properties and environmental processes. In this paper, we present a simple visual simulation pipeline for creating weathering effects on stone within a single image. Two primary effects of stone weathering, i.e., smoothing and roughening, are considered. In addition, erosion on the object silhouette is treated. These challenging effects involve significant geometry changes, which are intractable for previous image‐based editing techniques. The effectiveness of our technique is illustrated on a variety of scenes and types of stone. While it can be fully automatic, it also allows easy user interaction.
Improved Stochastic Progressive Photon Mapping with Metropolis Sampling
Authors: Chen Jiating , Wang Bin , Yong Jun‐Hai 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis paper presents an improvement to the stochastic progressive photon mapping (SPPM), a method for robustly simulating complex global illumination with distributed ray tracing effects. Normally, similar to photon mapping and other particle tracing algorithms, SPPM would become inefficient when the photons are poorly distributed. An inordinate amount of photons are required to reduce the error caused by noise and bias to acceptable levels. In order to optimize the distribution of photons, we propose an extension of SPPM with a Metropolis‐Hastings algorithm, effectively exploiting local coherence among the light paths that contribute to the rendered image. A well‐designed scalar contribution function is introduced as our Metropolis sampling strategy, targeting at specific parts of image areas with large error to improve the efficiency of the radiance estimator. Experimental results demonstrate that the new Metropolis sampling based approach maintains the robustness of the standard SPPM method, while significantly improving the rendering efficiency for a wide range of scenes with complex lighting.
Perception of Visual Artifacts in Image‐Based Rendering of Façades
Authors: Vangorp P. , Chaurasia G. , Laffont P.‐Y. , Fleming R. W. , Drettakis G. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractImage‐based rendering (IBR) techniques allow users to create interactive 3D visualizations of scenes by taking a few snapshots. However, despite substantial progress in the field, the main barrier to better quality and more efficient IBR visualizations are several types of common, visually objectionable artifacts. These occur when scene geometry is approximate or viewpoints differ from the original shots, leading to parallax distortions, blurring, ghosting and popping errors that detract from the appearance of the scene. We argue that a better understanding of the causes and perceptual impact of these artifacts is the key to improving IBR methods. In this study we present a series of psychophysical experiments in which we systematically map out the perception of artifacts in IBR visualizations of façades as a function of the most common causes. We separate artifacts into different classes and measure how they impact visual appearance as a function of the number of images available, the geometry of the scene and the viewpoint. The results reveal a number of counter‐intuitive effects in the perception of artifacts. We summarize our results in terms of practical guidelines for improving existing and future IBR techniques.
Perceptual Global Illumination Cancellation in Complex Projection Environments
Authors: Sheng Yu , Cutler Barbara , Chen Chao , Nasman Joshua 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe unintentional scattering of light between neighboring surfaces in complex projection environments increases the brightness and decreases the contrast, disrupting the appearance of the desired imagery. To achieve satisfactory projection results, the inverse problem of global illumination must be solved to cancel this secondary scattering. In this paper, we propose a global illumination cancellation method that minimizes the perceptual difference between the desired imagery and the actual total illumination in the resulting physical environment. Using Gauss‐Newton and active set methods, we design a fast solver for the bound constrained nonlinear least squares problem raised by the perceptual error metrics. Our solver is further accelerated with a CUDA implementation and multi‐resolution method to achieve 1–2 fps for problems with approximately 3000 variables. We demonstrate the global illumination cancellation algorithm with our multi‐projector system. Results show that our method preserves the color fidelity of the desired imagery significantly better than previous methods.
A Volumetric Approach to Predictive Rendering of Fabrics
Authors: Schroder K. , Klein R. , Zinke A. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractEfficient physically accurate modeling and rendering of woven cloth at a yarn level is an inherently complicated task due to the underlying geometrical and optical complexity. In this paper, a novel and general approach to physically accurate cloth rendering is presented. By using a statistical volumetric model approximating the distribution of yarn fibers, a prohibitively costly explicit geometrical representation is avoided. As a result, accurate rendering of even large pieces of fabrics containing orders of magnitudes more fibers becomes practical without sacrifying much generality compared to fiber‐based techniques. By employing the concept of local visibility and introducing the effective fiber density, limitations of existing volumetric approaches regarding self‐shadowing and fiber density estimation are greatly reduced.
Importance Point Projection for GPU‐based Final Gathering
Authors: Maletz David , Wang Rui 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe present a practical importance‐driven method for GPU‐based final gathering. We take as input a point cloud representing directly illuminated scene geometry; we then project and splat the points to microbuffers, which store each shading pixel's occluded radiance field. We select points for projection based on importance, defined as each point's estimated contribution to a shading pixel. For each selected point, we calculate its splat size adaptively based on its importance value. The main advantage of our method is that it's simple and fast, and provides the capability to incorporate additional importance factors such as glossy reflection paths. We also introduce an image‐space adaptive sampling method, which combines adaptive image subdivision with joint bilateral upsampling to robustly preserve fine details. We have implemented our algorithm on the GPU, providing high‐quality rendering for dynamic scenes at near interactive rates.
White blood cell SPECT during active period of cluster headache and in remission
Authors: Steinberg A. , Axelsson R. , Ideström L. , Müller S. , Nilsson Remahl A. I. M. 
Published: July 2011

Background and purpose:  Cluster headache (CH) is an episodic headache disorder characterized by recurrent, unilateral attacks of excruciating pain in the temporal/orbital region. The pathophysiology of CH is largely unknown although involvement of immunological mechanisms has been suggested. The aim of our study was to investigate whether patients with CH show signs of intracranial inflammation, when using white blood cell single‐photon emission computer tomography (WBC‐SPECT).Methods:  We have examined 14 patients with CH, both in active period and in remission, and five control subjects at one occasion, with WBC‐SPECT. To be able to precisely define regions of interest (ROI:s) in the brain, all patients with CH and control subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.Results:  We found no significant difference in 99mTc‐labeled WBC uptake between patients with CH in active period and controls. Furthermore, patients with CH in active period were not significantly different in uptake compared with patients with CH in remission.Conclusions:  These results did not provide conclusive support for a hypothesis of a pathophysiological role of inflammation intracranially. Our conclusions are restricted to the advantages and limitations of the chosen method.
Anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibodies in the context of assorted immune‐mediated diseases
Authors: Dellavance A. , Alvarenga R. R. , Rodrigues S. H. , Kok F. , de Souza A. W. S. , Andrade L. E. C. 
Published: July 2011

Background and purposes:  Anti‐aquaporin 4 antibodies are specific markers for Devic‘s disease. This study aimed to test if this high specificity holds in the context of a large spectrum of systemic autoimmune and non‐autoimmune diseases.Methods:  Anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibodies (NMO‐IgG) were determined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on mouse cerebellum in 673 samples, as follows: group I (clinically defined Devic’s disease, n = 47); group II [inflammatory/demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) diseases, n = 41]; group III (systemic and organ‐specific autoimmune diseases, n = 250); group IV (chronic or acute viral diseases, n = 35); and group V (randomly selected samples from a general clinical laboratory, n = 300).Results:  MNO‐IgG was present in 40/47 patients with classic Devic’s disease (85.1% sensitivity) and in 13/22 (59.1%) patients with disorders related to Devic’s disease. The latter 13 positive samples had diagnosis of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (n = 10) and isolated idiopathic optic neuritis (n = 3). One patient with multiple sclerosis and none of the remaining 602 samples with autoimmune and miscellaneous diseases presented NMO‐IgG (99.8% specificity). The autoimmune disease subset included five systemic lupus erythematosus individuals with isolated or combined optic neuritis and myelitis and four primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients with cranial/peripheral neuropathy.Conclusions:  The available data clearly point to the high specificity of anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibodies for Devic’s disease and related syndromes also in the context of miscellaneous non‐neurologic autoimmune and non‐autoimmune disorders.
One‐stop‐shop treatment for basal cell carcinoma, part of a new disease management strategy
Authors: van der Geer S. , Frunt M. , Romero H.L. , Dellaert N.P. , Jansen‐Vullers M.H. , Demeyere T.B.J. , Neumann H.A.M. , Krekels G.A.M. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground The number of skin cancer patients, especially patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), is rapidly increasing. Resources available at dermato‐oncology units have not increased proportionally, which affects the throughput time of patients.Objective To assess the feasibility and safety of implementation of the one‐stop‐shop concept for the treatment of patients with BCC at a dermato‐oncology unit.Methods A pilot study on a one‐stop‐shop concept for BCC was performed to investigate procedure safety and patient satisfaction. Fresh frozen sections were used to diagnose the tumours, and subsequently treatment with photodynamic therapy or excision was performed on the same day. Time spent in the hospital was measured and questionnaires were used to evaluate patient satisfaction.Results Sixteen patients, who together had 19 tumours, were included. Diagnoses were made within a mean time of 100 min (range 27–160 min). The mean throughput time was 4 hours and 7 min (range 60–420 min). No complications were observed, and patient satisfaction was high.Conclusion The one‐stop‐shop concept for the treatment of skin cancer patients is feasible and efficient for both patients and dermato‐oncology units. Further research is necessary to investigate cost‐effectiveness when larger patient groups are involved.
A critical framework for the assessment of biological palaeoproxies: predicting past climate and levels of atmospheric CO2 from fossil leaves
Authors: Jordan Gregory J. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryThis review uses proxies of past temperature and atmospheric CO2 composition based on fossil leaves to illustrate the uncertainties in biologically based proxies of past environments. Most leaf‐based proxies are geographically local or genetically restricted and therefore can be confounded by evolution, extinction, changes in local environment or immigration of species. Stomatal frequency proxies illustrate how genetically restricted proxies can be particularly vulnerable to evolutionary change. High predictive power in the modern world resulting from the use of a very narrow calibration cannot be confidently extrapolated into the past (the Ginkgo paradox). Many foliar physiognomic proxies of climate are geographically local and use traits that are more or less fixed for individual species. Such proxies can therefore be confounded by floristic turnover and biome shifts in the region of calibration. Uncertainty in proxies tends to be greater for more ancient fossils. I present a set of questions that should be considered before using a proxy. Good proxies should be relatively protected from environmental and genetic change, particularly through having high information content and being founded on biomechanical or biochemical principles. Some current and potential developments are discussed, including those that involve more mechanistically sound proxies and better use of multivariate approaches.

Contents

Summary
29

I.
Introduction
30

II.
Key concepts in the uncertainty of proxy evidence
30

III.
Uncertainties in major foliar physiognomic proxies of MAT
31

IV.
Stomatal density and stomatal index
34

V.
Steps forward
38

VI.
Synthesis
40

Acknowledgements
40

References
40
Surfing the attentional waves during visual curve tracing: Evidence from the sustained posterior contralateral negativity
Authors: Lefebvre Christine , Dell'acqua Roberto , Roelfsema Pieter R. , Jolicœur Pierre 
Published: July 2011

AbstractMental curve tracing is the process by which a contour is covertly followed between two landmarks. Completion time of this task increases as the distance between the landmarks does, even though the Euclidian distance is constant. This has been taken as evidence that attention does not cover a contour instantly, but rather moves from one point to another until the whole contour has been covered. This article provides an electrophysiological measurement of the time course of this spread of attention in humans using a sustained contralateral posterior negative (SPCN) event‐related potential component. This component being elicited only when stimuli are presented laterally, the position of lateralization was varied to modulate the onset of this SPCN. Curves that became lateralized further from the central starting point yielded a later SPCN onset than curves that lateralized nearer. This provides converging evidence that attention moves along the curve.
Biochemical and pathological evidences on the benefit of a new biodegradable nanoparticles of probiotic extract in murine colitis
Authors: Saadatzadeh Afrooz , Atyabi Fatemeh , Fazeli Mohammad Reza , Dinarvand Rassoul , Jamalifar Hossein , Abdolghaffari Amir Hossein , Mahdaviani Parvin , Mahbod Mirgholamreza , Baeeri Maryam , Baghaei Amir , Mohammadirad Azadeh , Abdollahi Mohammad 
Published: July 2011

AbstractEfficacy of probiotics in the management of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been approved in the recent years. In the present work, the efficacy of a new biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) of encapsulated and lyophilized probiotic extract (LPE) was examined in murine colitis. Colitis was induced by rectal instillation of trinitrobenzen sulfonic acid to male Wistar rats. The safety and effective dose of LPE was determined in a pilot study. To ease delivery into colon, LPE was encapsulated in chitosan‐coated‐poly (lactide co glycolide acid) NPs. After induction of colitis, animals in different groups received test compound in three doses by gavage for 10 days. Groups of sham, control (saline), and standard (dexamethasone) were also assigned. Colonic pathological examination, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interlukin (IL)‐1β, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were performed. LPE at all doses (273, 545, and 1100 mg/kg) had positive effects in reduction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, LPO, and MPO in a dose‐dependent manner. The formulated compound containing medium dose of LPE was more efficient in mitigating the experimental colitis in comparison with that of high‐dose LPE. It is concluded that LPE and its nanoparticle‐encapsulated form are very much effective in control of colitis. Regarding safety of this compound, further studies can be conducted in patients with IBD.