A Data-Driven Approach to Hue-Preserving Color-Blending.

Color mapping and semitransparent layering play an important role in many visualization scenarios, such as information visualization and volume rendering. The combination of color and transparency is still dominated by standard alpha-compositing using the Porter-Duff over operator which can result in false colors with deceiving impact on the visualization. Other more advanced methods have also been proposed, but the problem is still far from being solved. Here we present an alternative to these existing methods specifically devised to avoid false colors and preserve visual depth ordering. Our approach is data driven and follows the recently formulated knowledge-assisted visualization (KAV) paradigm. Preference data, that have been gathered in web-based user surveys, are used to train a support-vector machine model for automatically predicting an optimized hue-preserving blending. We have applied the resulting model to both volume rendering and a specific information visualization technique, illustrative parallel coordinate plots. Comparative renderings show a significant improvement over previous approaches in the sense that false colors are completely removed and important properties such as depth ordering and blending vividness are better preserved. Due to the generality of the defined data-driven blending operator, it can be easily integrated also into other visualization frameworks.

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption in untrained men following exercise of equal energy expenditure: comparisons of upper and lower body exercise.

AIM: This study assessed excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following continuous 200- kcal bouts of upper body exercise (UBE) and lower body exercise (LBE). METHODS: Ten untrained men (age: 25.7 +/- 5.83 years; arm VO(2peak): 2.2 +/- 0.25 l/min; 21.5 +/- 4.35 ml/kg/min; leg VO(2peak): 3.1 +/- 0.38 l/min; 30.7 +/- 7.79 ml/kg/min) exercised at 60% mode-specific VO(2) peak using either an arm crank or a leg cycle protocol (counterbalanced order with 48 h between). Baseline VO(2) was monitored for 30 min. EPOC was measured until baseline was re-established. RESULTS: EPOC magnitude and duration were significantly greater (p < 0.05) following LBE (2.93 +/- 1.4 l/min; 16.5 +/- 7.4 min) compared with UBE (1.89 +/- 0.7 l/min; 11.5 +/- 6.1 min). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that leg exercise elicited a greater EPOC magnitude and duration compared with arm exercise of the same relative intensity and energy expenditure.

Evaluation of a novel line-blot immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens.

We have evaluated the performance of a novel line-blot immunoassay (LIA; Mikrogen) and compared results with those obtained by CIE (in-house), ELISA (Pharmacia Diagnostics), and FEIA (Pharmacia Diagnostics). Sera from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n = 123), systemic sclerosis patients (n = 25), and healthy controls (n = 40) were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to RNP, Sm, SSA, SSB, CENP-B, Scl-70, and Jo-1. Reading of LIA results, as compared with a cutoff control, was performed by automatic analysis of the test strips. Because LIA enables recognition of separate subunits of RNP (68, A, and C), Sm (B and D), and SSA (52 and 60), at least two of the RNP antigens and either one of the Sm or SSA antigens should be detected for considering the test RNP, Sm, or SSA-positive, respectively. LIA had the highest sensitivity in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases: 131 specificities (not PO, PCNA, or histones), as compared with ELISA (121), FEIA (119), and CIE (80). However, LIA revealed three positive reactions in healthy controls; other assays were completely negative. LIA is better than CIE, but similar to ELISA and FEIA, in terms of detecting systemic sclerosis-associated antibodies (CENP-B and Scl-70). Furthermore, LIA had the highest sensitivity (17.9%) for the SLE-specific anti-Sm antibodies, as compared with ELISA (11.4%), CIE (8.1%), and FEIA (5.7%). Finally, anti-SSA antibodies were far more prevalent by LIA in the systemic sclerosis samples because of anti-SSA52 reactivity. The clinical relevance of the latter finding remains to be determined. In conclusion, LIA is suitable for routine evaluation of autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens.

A phonological investigation of four siblings with childhood autism.

Multiple autistic siblings of four or more are extremely rare. This study carried out a phonological investigation of four siblings in a unique family. Phonological investigations were carried out on four siblings with childhood autism (one female and three males). In addition, behavioral characteristics were described and compared among the four children. The two methods used for speech elicitation were object naming and spontaneous speech utterances. Data analyses included phonetic inventory and phonological process analyses. Phonological investigations showed that these autistic children, at least the more severely impaired ones, do not only exhibit delayed phonological behavior, but also show some atypical patterns that rarely occur in normal development. Findings from this study reveal five general patterns of phonological behavior, namely: (a) evidence of several phonological processes that are common in normal development; (b) persistence of several phonological processes, such as labialization, cluster reduction, or final consonant deletion, beyond the expected age; (c) evidence of unusual sound changes, such as extensive segment coalescence, frication of liquids, and velarization; (d) evidence of "chronological mismatch" (Grunwell, 1981), which is the notion of the absence of earlier sounds co-occurring with characteristics of later development; and (e) restricted use of contrasts. These findings support earlier work on a single autistic child using phonological investigations (Wolk & Edwards, 1993), but contrast with all previous research suggesting that autistic children exhibit delayed rather than unusual phonological development. Clinical implications are suggested.

Some empirical evidence for ecological dissonance theory.

Using Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory as a model, the extension to Barker's ecological theory, referred to as ecological dissonance theory, was developed. Designed to examine the motivational dynamics involved when environmental systems are in conflict with each other or with cognitive systems, ecological dissonance theory yielded five propositions which were tested in 10 studies. This summary of the studies suggests operationally defined measures of ecological dissonance may correlate with workers' satisfaction with their jobs, involvement with their jobs, alienation from their work, and to a lesser extent, workers' conflict resolution behavior and communication style.

Correlates of myoelectric asymmetry detected in low back pain patients using hand-held post-style surface electromyography.

OBJECTIVE: Paraspinal surface electromyographic (SEMG) scanning, utilizing post-style hand-held electrodes, was conducted to determine the usefulness of the technique as an assessment for myoelectric indicators of low back pain (LBP). A secondary objective was to correlate myoelectric abnormalities with other known outcome measures of the manipulable lesion. DESIGN: Blinded SEMG assessments with the patients standing upright, fully flexed and extended at the trunk, and measures of pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were made after four tests administered by another examiner. SETTING: The research was conducted on patients in a private chiropractic practice. PATIENTS: A convenience sample of 10 of the practitioner's most acute LBP patients without neurological deficit were asked to participate and none refused. Six patients without recent LBP volunteered as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preset myoelectric indicators included: thoracolumbar asymmetry (T-L/A: first seen in an earlier pilot study), loss of flexion/relaxation (F/R) at L3, contralateral responsivity (increased myoelectric activity opposite the side of leg pain) and right/left asymmetry (R-L/A) at L3. RESULTS: Significant differences between groups were seen in T-L/A (p = .04) and R-L/A [data averaged from three postures (p = .04)], and robust group differences were seen in F/R (p = .011 right; p = .026 left). Contralateral responsivity was not significant. Loss of F/R was the only indicator that correlated with diminished PPT (r = .52 right; r = .46 left) and with Oswestry disability (r = .42), and that negatively correlated, as expected, with straight leg raising (r = -.50 right; r = -.74 left). CONCLUSIONS: Results support use of the technique to detect muscle dysfunction related to LBP. Further research of SEMG correlations with measures of the manipulable lesion is warranted.

An evaluation of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of hyperactivity in children.

The principle aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the treatment of children with hyperactivity. Using blinds between investigators and a single subject research design, the investigators evaluated the effectiveness of the treatment for reducing activity levels of hyperactive children. Data collection included independent evaluations of behavior using a unique wrist-watch type device to mechanically measure activity while the children completed tasks simulating school-work. Further evaluations included electrodermal tests to measure autonomic nervous system activity. Chiropractic clinical evaluations to measure improvement in spinal biomechanics were also completed. Placebo care was given prior to chiropractic intervention. Data were analyzed visually and using nonparametric statistical methods. Five of seven children showed improvement in mean behavioral scores from placebo care to treatment. Four of seven showed improvement in arousal levels, and the improvement in the group as a whole was highly significant (p = 0.009). Agreement between tests was also high in this study. For all seven children, three of the four principal tests used to detect improvement were in agreement either positively or negatively (parent ratings of activity, motion recorder scores, electrodermal measures, and X-rays of spinal distortions). While the behavioral improvement taken alone can only be considered suggestive, the strong interest agreement can be taken as more impressive evidence that the majority of the children in this study did, in fact, improve under specific chiropractic care. The results of this study, then, are not conclusive, however, they do suggest that chiropractic manipulation has the potential to become an important nondrug intervention for children with hyperactivity. Further investigation in this area is certainly warranted.

Myocardial high energy phosphates and function as influenced by di- or trivalent cations and isoproterenol or DBcAMP.

The effects of Mn++, La+++ and Co++ (2 mM) with and without ISO or DBcAMP were investigated in isolated perfused rat hearts concerning mechanical and metabolic parameters. Mn++ and La+++ produce cardiac arrest accompanied by unchanged content of high energy phosphates. ISO or DBcAMP resp. administered together with these cations do not exhibit characteristic effects. Co++ induces cardiac arrest as well, but in addition severe reduction of high energy phosphate stores and O2-consumption. The effects of Co++ can be partly prevented by administration of ISO and elevated extracellular Ca++ concentration concerning mechanical parameters and oxygen consumption, whereas high energy phosphate stores remain low. The results obtained demonstrated that the Ca++ antagonistic ions studied show the expected metabolic consequences of EC-uncoupling only in the case of Mn++ and La+++. Co++ ions induce in additions to cardiac arrest and low O2-consumption severe reduction of high energy phosphate stores indicating disturbance of respiratory control of mitochondria.

Function and energy metabolism of isolated rats hearts as influenced by Sr++.

Effects of Sr++ and isoproterenol were studied in rat hearts perfused with red cell containing media. Sr++ in the presence of Ca++ causes a positive inotropic effect without corresponding metabolic changes. Without Ca++ 0.5 mM Sr++ causes an immediate arrest, 2 mM Sr++ a complete contracture (14 min) and 5 mM a contracture after about 44 min. At a level of 10 mM Sr++ phasic contractions are maintained (60 min). Occurring phasic contractions are prolonged 3 to 6fold. Administration of isoproterenol (ISO) at a level of 0.5 mM Sr++ causes a delayed occurrence of cardiac arrest and incomplete contracture. At a concentration of 2 and 5 mM Sr++ positive inotropic responses proceed to a contracture (7 min, 50 min resp.). VO2 is reduced by 0.5 mM Sr++ initially by 2 mM Sr++ with delay. 5 and 10 mM Sr++ induce an initial increase. Subsequent decrease is smallest at 10 mM Sr++ ISO at all Sr++ concentrations induces an increase in VO2 initially and strong reduction finally. During 10 min administration, high energy phosphate stores (HEP) are reduced at all Sr++ concentrations, but to the smallest extent at 10 mM Sr++, ISO at levels of 0.5 and 2 mM Sr++ induces a partial recovery of HEP, but at 5 and 10 mM a further reduction. Finally, under the influence of ISO the metabolic state is similar to that without ISO. Sr++ at high concentrations in absence of Ca++ seems to be capable of substituting in principle for Ca++ also concerning metabolism. Severe metabolic disturbances at low Sr++ concentrations indicate a failure of regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.

Time dependent partial loss of the effects of isoproterenol on function and energy metabolism of isolated rat hearts.

In isolated perfused rat hearts (medium: Krebs-Ringer solution containing about 15% bovine red cells) the following parameters were estimated: heart rate (F), left intraventricular peak pressure (P), dP/dt, oxygen consumption (VO2); myocardial tissue content of glycogen, ATP, ADP, AMP, cAMP, phosphocreatin (PC) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Isoproterenol (ISO) was administered to the non circulating system in the concentration range of 5 x 10(-10) to 5 x 10(-5) M for 4 min and 1 hour respectively by infusion into the perfusate close to the aortic canula. After administration period of 4 min dependent on the concentration of ISO, P, dP/dt, VO2 and the content of cAMP are increased. The ratios of PC/Pi and ATP/ADP as well as glycogen content are reduced. For an administration period of 1 hour at a level of 5 x 10(-9) M the effects of isoproterenol are maintained. At ISO concentration higher than 5 x 10(-9) M the effects on mechanical parameters and VO2 fall to the level of those values which are produced at 5 x 10(-9) M ISO. In contrast, high energy phosphates and glycogen content remain reduced while that of cAMP is elevated.

States of myocardial metabolism related to ischemia.

Energy metabolism of the heart in ischemia is mainly characterized by oxygen deficiency and lack of lactate removal. However, under certain circumstances substrate deficiency might contribute to disturbances of energy supply as well. Capillary permeability was determined from tracer washout kinetics of isolated hearts. Regulation of mitochondrial respiration was estimated from the relationship of phosphorylation potential vs. oxygen consumption. The results obtained suggest that at least under experimental conditions substrate supply at the level of capillary exchange can be a rate-limiting figure, as well as substrate supply at the mitochondrial level, i.e., NADH supply. The latter was inferred from the effects of cobalt and strontium ions on the regulation of respiration.

Skin conductance and heart-rate responsivity to public speaking imagery among students with high and low self-reported fear: a comparative analysis of "response" definitions.

The experiment evaluated the feasibility of using self-report measures of public speaking anxiety to select autonomically responsive Ss for behavior therapy research and the influence of E's definition of "response" on empirical generalizations derived from the study. Heartrate and skin conductance responses of Ss who scored high and of Ss who scored low on self-report fear measures were monitored during neutral and speech-related imagery. High-scoring Ss were more responsive than were low-scoring Ss, but the surplus responsivity was not cued uniquely by speech-related imagery. Examination of four definitions (transformations) of heart-rate response and five definitions of skin conductance response showed that different conclusions were yielded by differing response definitions. Implications of the findings for further research are presented.