bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Instant Volume Visualization using Maximum Intensity Difference Accumulation
Authors: Bruckner Stefan , Gröller M. Eduard 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIt has long been recognized that transfer function setup for Direct Volume Rendering (DVR) is crucial to its usability. However, the task of finding an appropriate transfer function is complex and time‐consuming even for experts. Thus, in many practical applications simpler techniques which do not rely on complex transfer functions are employed. One common example is Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) which depicts the maximum value along each viewing ray. In this paper, we introduce Maximum Intensity Difference Accumulation (MIDA), a new approach which combines the advantages of DVR and MIP. Like MIP, MIDA exploits common data characteristics and hence does not require complex transfer functions to generate good visualization results. It does, however, feature occlusion and shape cues similar to DVR. Furthermore, we show that MIDA – in addition to being a useful technique in its own right – can be used to smoothly transition between DVR and MIP in an intuitive manner. MIDA can be easily implemented using volume raycasting and achieves real‐time performance on current graphics hardware.
iPCA: An Interactive System for PCA‐based Visual Analytics
Authors: Jeong Dong Hyun , Ziemkiewicz Caroline , Fisher Brian , Ribarsky William , Chang Remco 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPrinciple Component Analysis (PCA) is a widely used mathematical technique in many fields for factor and trend analysis, dimension reduction, etc. However, it is often considered to be a “black box” operation whose results are difficult to interpret and sometimes counter‐intuitive to the user. In order to assist the user in better understanding and utilizing PCA, we have developed a system that visualizes the results of principal component analysis using multiple coordinated views and a rich set of user interactions. Our design philosophy is to support analysis of multivariate datasets through extensive interaction with the PCA output. To demonstrate the usefulness of our system, we performed a comparative user study with a known commercial system, SAS/INSIGHT's Interactive Data Exploration. Participants in our study solved a number of high‐level analysis tasks with each interface and rated the systems on ease of learning and usefulness. Based on the participants' accuracy, speed, and qualitative feedback, we observe that our system helps users to better understand relationships between the data and the calculated eigenspace, which allows the participants to more accurately analyze the data. User feedback suggests that the interactivity and transparency of our system are the key strengths of our approach.
Splatting the Lines in Parallel Coordinates
Authors: Zhou Hong , Cui Weiwei , Qu Huamin , Wu Yingcai , Yuan Xiaoru , Zhuo Wei 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a novel splatting framework for clutter reduction and pattern revealing in parallel coordinates. Our framework consists of two major components: a polyline splatter for cluster detection and a segment splatter for clutter reduction. The cluster detection is performed by splatting the lines one by one into the parallel coordinates plots, and for each splatted line we enhance its neighboring lines and suppress irrelevant ones. To reduce visual clutter caused by line crossings and overlappings in the clustered results, we provide a segment splatter which represents each polyline by one segment and splats these segments with different speeds, colors, and lengths from the leftmost axis to the rightmost axis. Users can interactively control both the polyline splatting and the segment splatting processes to emphasize the features they are interested in. The experimental results demonstrate that our framework can effectively reveal some hidden patterns in parallel coordinates.
Illuminated 3D Scatterplots
Authors: Sanftmann Harald , Weiskopf Daniel 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn contrast to 2D scatterplots, the existing 3D variants have the advantage of showing one additional data dimension, but suffer from inadequate spatial and shape perception and therefore are not well suited to display structures of the underlying data. We improve shape perception by applying a new illumination technique to the pointcloud representation of 3D scatterplots. Points are classified as locally linear, planar, and volumetric structures—according to the eigenvalues of the inverse distance‐weighted covariance matrix at each data element. Based on this classification, different lighting models are applied: codimension‐2 illumination, surface illumination, and emissive volumetric illumination. Our technique lends itself to efficient GPU point rendering and can be combined with existing methods like semi‐transparent rendering, halos, and depth or attribute based color coding. The user can interactively navigate in the dataset and manipulate the classification and other visualization parameters. We demonstrate our visualization technique by showing examples of multi‐dimensional data and of generic pointcloud data.
Efficient and Adaptive Rendering of 2‐D Continuous Scatterplots
Authors: Bachthaler Sven , Weiskopf Daniel 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe extend the rendering technique for continuous scatterplots to allow for a broad class of interpolation methods within the spatial grid instead of only linear interpolation. To do this, we propose an approach that projects the image of a cell from the spatial domain to the scatterplot domain. We approximate this image using either the convex hull or an axis‐aligned rectangle that forms a tight fit of the projected points. In both cases, the approach relies on subdivision in the spatial domain to control the approximation error introduced in the scatterplot domain. Acceleration of this algorithm in homogeneous regions of the spatial domain is achieved using an octree hierarchy. The algorithm is scalable and adaptive since it allows us to balance computation time and scatterplot quality. We evaluate and discuss the results with respect to accuracy and computational speed. Our methods are applied to examples of 2‐D transfer function design.
Lifted Domain Coloring
Authors: Poelke Konstantin , Polthier Konrad 
Published: July 2009

AbstractComplex‐valued functions are fundamental objects in complex analysis, algebra, differential geometry and in many other areas such as numerical mathematics and physics. Visualizing complex functions is a non‐trivial task since maps between two‐dimensional spaces are involved whose graph would be an unhandy submanifold in four‐dimensional space. The present paper improves the technique of “domain coloring” in several aspects: First, we lift domain coloring from the complex plane to branched Riemann surfaces, which are essentially the correct domain for most complex functions. Second, we extend domain coloring to the visualization of general 2‐valued maps on surfaces. As an application of such general maps we visualize the Gauss map of surfaces as domain colored plots and establish a link to current surface parametrization techniques and texture maps. Third, we adjust the color pattern in domain and in image space to produce higher quality domain colorings. The new color schemes specifically enhance the display of singularities, symmetries and path integrals, and give better qualitative measures of the complex map.
THE USA AS THE ‘DEMANDER OF LAST RESORT’ AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA'S CURRENT ACCOUNT
Authors: Aizenman Joshua , Jinjarak Yothin 
Published: July 2009

Abstract.  The present paper evaluates the current account patterns of 69 countries during 1981–2006. We identify an asymmetric effect of the USA as the ‘demander of last resort’: a 1% increase in the lagged US imports/GDP is associated with a 0.3% increase in current account surpluses of countries running surpluses, but results in insignificant changes in the current accounts of countries running deficits. The impact of US demand variables is larger on the current accounts of developing countries than that of OECD countries. We also contemplate China's current account over the next 6 years, and project a large drop in its current account/GDP surpluses.
Market Efficiency Reloaded: Why Insider Trades do not Reveal Exploitable Information
Authors: Dickgiesser Sebastian , Kaserer Christoph 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Several studies have emphasized a slow price adjustment to reported insider trades for Germany. The results presented in this paper, though, show that this is mainly caused by a subset of high arbitrage risk stocks. In fact, the abnormal return difference between the quintiles of stocks with highest and lowest idiosyncratic risk is in the range of 2.99-4.90% over a 20-day interval. These results are robust even in the context of a joint generalized least squares approach. By developing a simple zero-investment arbitrage trading strategy mimicking insider trades, it turns out that such a trading strategy, in most cases, generates significant positive returns as long as transaction costs are neglected. However, the out-performance disappears in all risk quintiles, if bid/ask spreads are taken into account.We conclude that the market’s under-reaction to reported insider trades can mainly be explained by the cost of risky arbitrage and is therefore not exploitable.
Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 modulation of in vivo response of brain hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 to hypoxia/reoxygenation is mediated by nitric oxide and factor inhibiting HIF
Authors: Martínez‐Romero Rubén , Cañuelo Ana , Martínez‐Lara Esther , Javier Oliver Francisco , Cárdenas Sara , Siles Eva 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPoly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) is a nuclear protein that once activated by genotoxic agents, modulates its own activity and that of several other nuclear proteins. The absence or pharmacological inhibition of this protein has been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of different diseases involving a hypoxic situation. We previously reported that PARP‐1 modulates the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) response in vitro, but this effect has not yet been demonstrated in vivo. The brain is especially susceptible to hypoxic injury, and the present study demonstrates that PARP‐1 plays a major role in the post‐hypoxic response of HIF‐1α in the cerebral cortex. Immediate post‐hypoxic HIF‐1α accumulation was higher in the presence of PARP‐1, and this differential response was mediated by nitric oxide and to a lesser extent, reactive oxygen species. PARP‐1 was also found to induce a more rapid but less sustained HIF‐1 transcriptional activity by up‐regulating the factor inhibiting HIF. The implication of PARP‐1 in these results was further demonstrated by pharmacologically inhibiting PARP in wild‐type mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that PARP‐1 has an important regulatory role in the in vivo response of brain HIF‐1 to hypoxia/reoxygenation.
Dysregulation of intracellular copper trafficking pathway in a mouse model of mutant copper/zinc superoxide dismutase‐linked familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Tokuda Eiichi , Okawa Eriko , Ono Shin‐ichi 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are responsible for 20% of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through a gain‐of‐toxic function. We have recently shown that ammonium tetrathiomolybdate, an intracellular copper‐chelating reagent, has an excellent therapeutic benefit in a mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This finding suggests that mutant SOD1 might disrupt intracellular copper homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the effects of mutant SOD1 on the components of the copper trafficking pathway, which regulate intracellular copper homeostasis. We found that mutant, but not wild‐type, SOD1 shifts intracellular copper homeostasis toward copper accumulation in the spinal cord during disease progression: copper influx increases, copper chaperones are up‐regulated, and copper efflux decreases. This dysregulation was observed within spinal motor neurons and was proportionally associated with an age‐dependent increase in spinal copper ion levels. We also found that a subset of the copper trafficking pathway constituents co‐aggregated with mutant SOD1. These results indicate that the nature of mutant SOD1 toxicity might involve the dysregulation of the copper trafficking pathway, resulting in the disruption of intracellular copper homeostasis.
Outpatient Satisfaction: The Role of Nominal versus Perceived Communication
Authors: Beckett Megan K. , Elliott Marc N. , Richardson Andrea , Mangione‐Smith Rita 
Published: July 2009

Objective. To examine the simultaneous associations of parent and coder assessments of communication events with parent satisfaction.Study Setting. Five hundred twenty‐two pediatrician–patient encounters.Study Design. Parents reported on post‐visit satisfaction with care and whether four communication events occurred. Raters also coded communication events from videotapes. Multivariate analyses predicted parent satisfaction.Principal Findings. Satisfaction was greater when parents perceived at least three communication events. Parent and coder reports were nearly uncorrelated. Coder‐assessed communication events not perceived by parents were unrelated to parent satisfaction.Conclusions. Parents are more satisfied when most or all of the expected parent–physician communications occur. A successful pediatrician–parent communication event is one that a parent recognizes as having occurred; it is not merely one that a trained observer says occurred.
Hospice Characteristics and the Disenrollment of Patients with Cancer
Authors: Carlson Melissa D. A. , Herrin Jeph , Du Qingling , Epstein Andrew J. , Cherlin Emily , Morrison R. Sean , Bradley Elizabeth H. 
Published: July 2009

Objective. To characterize the types of hospices with higher rates of patient disenrollment from the Medicare Hospice Benefit and the markets in which these hospices operate.Data Source. Secondary analyses of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results‐Medicare data. Analyses included patients who died of cancer from 1998 to 2002 and who used hospice (n=90,826).Study Design. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate the association of patient disenrollment with hospice size, years since Medicare certification, ownership, staff mix, competition, urban/rural status, region, and fiscal intermediary. Other covariates included patient demographic and clinical characteristics.Principal Findings. Patients were more likely to disenroll from hospice if they were served by newer hospices (OR=1.14; 95 percent CI 1.03, 1.26), by smaller hospices (OR=1.11; 95 percent CI 1.02, 1.20), or by hospices in more competitive markets (OR=1.17; 95 percent CI 1.03, 1.35). There was an independent effect of the hospice's fiscal intermediary on disenrollment, particularly disenrollment after 6 months with hospice (Wald χ2=21.2, p=.007).Conclusions. The reasons for higher disenrollment rates for newer hospices, for smaller hospices, and for hospices in highly competitive markets are likely complex; however, results suggest that there are organizational‐level barriers to keeping patients with cancer enrolled with hospice. Variation across fiscal intermediaries may indicate that regulatory oversight, particularly of long‐stay patients, influences hospice disenrollment.
Implications of the Growing Use of Wireless Telephones for Health Care Opinion Polls
Authors: Cantor Joel C. , Brownlee Susan , Zukin Cliff , Boyle John M. 
Published: July 2009

Objective. To assess the effect of wireless telephone substitution in a survey of health care reform opinions.Data Source. Survey of New Jersey adults conducted by landline and wireless telephones from June 1 to July 9, 2007.Study Design. Eighty‐one survey measures are compared by wireless status. Logistic regression is used to confirm landline–wireless gaps in support for coverage reforms, controlling for population differences. Weights adjust for selection probability, complex sample design, and demographic distributions.Principal Findings. Significant differences by wireless status were found in many survey measures. Wireless users were significantly more likely to favor coverage reforms. Higher support for government‐sponsored universal coverage, income‐related state coverage subsidies, and an individual mandate remain after adjustment for demographic variables.Conclusions. Opinion polls excluding wireless users are likely to understate support for coverage reforms.
Measuring Racial/Ethnic Disparities across the Distribution of Health Care Expenditures
Authors: Cook Benjamin Lê , Manning Willard G. 
Published: July 2009

Objective. To assess whether black–white and Hispanic–white disparities increase or abate in the upper quantiles of total health care expenditure, conditional on covariates.Data Source. Nationally representative adult population of non‐Hispanic whites, African Americans, and Hispanics from the 2001–2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys.Study Design. We examine unadjusted racial/ethnic differences across the distribution of expenditures. We apply quantile regression to measure disparities at the median, 75th, 90th, and 95th quantiles, testing for differences over the distribution of health care expenditures and across income and education categories. We test the sensitivity of the results to comparisons based only on health status and estimate a two‐part model to ensure that results are not driven by an extremely skewed distribution of expenditures with a large zero mass.Principal Findings. Black–white and Hispanic–white disparities diminish in the upper quantiles of expenditure, but expenditures for blacks and Hispanics remain significantly lower than for whites throughout the distribution. For most education and income categories, disparities exist at the median and decline, but remain significant even with increased education and income.Conclusions. Blacks and Hispanics receive significantly disparate care at high expenditure levels, suggesting prioritization of improved access to quality care among minorities with critical health issues.
Differential Effect of the State Children's Health Insurance Program Expansions by Children's Age
Authors: Lurie Ithai Zvi 
Published: July 2009

Research Objective. This paper tests for differences in the effect of State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on children's insurance coverage and physician visits across three age groups: pre‐elementary school‐aged children (pre‐ESA), ESA children, and post‐ESA children.Data Source. The study uses two cross sections of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from the 1996 and 2001 panels.Study Design. A difference‐in‐differences approach is used to estimate the effect of SCHIP on coverage and physician visits of newly eligible children of different age groups.Data Collection. Demographic, insurance, and physician visit information for children in families with income below 300 percent of federal poverty line were extracted from the SIPP.Principal Findings. Uninsurance rates for post‐ESA children declined due to SCHIP while public coverage and the likelihood of visiting a physician increased. Estimates of cross‐age differences show that post‐ESA children experienced a larger decline in uninsurance rates compared with pre‐ESA and ESA children and a larger increase in physician visits compared with ESA children.Conclusions. The higher rate of physician visits for post‐ESA children due to SCHIP demonstrates the importance of extending insurance coverage to teens as well as young children.
Using Nonfinancial Measures to Assess Fraud Risk
Authors: BRAZEL JOSEPH F. , JONES KEITH L. , ZIMBELMAN MARK F. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis study examines whether auditors can effectively use nonfinancial measures (NFMs) to assess the reasonableness of financial performance and, thereby, help detect financial statement fraud (hereafter, fraud). If auditors or other interested parties (e.g., directors, lenders, investors, or regulators) can identify NFMs (e.g., facilities growth) that are correlated with financial measures (e.g., revenue growth), inconsistent patterns between the NFMs and financial measures can be used to detect firms with high fraud risk. We find that the difference between financial and nonfinancial performance is significantly greater for firms that committed fraud than for their nonfraud competitors. We also find that this difference is a significant fraud indicator when included in a model containing variables that have previously been linked to the likelihood of fraud. Overall, our results provide empirical evidence suggesting that NFMs can be effectively used to assess fraud risk.
Diaphragmatic hernia in horses: 44 cases (1986–2006)
Authors: Hart Samantha K. , Brown Jennifer A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectives –To present a case series of horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, and to determine the significance of (1) historical information, examination findings, and laboratory data; and (2) exploratory laparotomy or necropsy findings on short‐ and long‐term outcome.Setting –University Referral Hospital.Design –Retrospective study.Animals –Forty‐four horses/foals admitted between 1986 and 2006 with a diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia made either at exploratory laparotomy or necropsy.Interventions –None.Measurements and Main Results –Information from the medical records included history, clinical examination findings at presentation, and findings of exploratory laparotomy or necropsy. Logistic regression or the Fisher exact test was used to determine factors associated with survival. Outcome was defined as survival to discharge (short‐term survival), and long‐term survival was defined as horses alive at least 1‐year post surgery. Of the 44 horses, 18 died or were euthanized before surgery. Twenty‐six were taken to surgery, 17 were euthanized. Nine horses recovered from anesthesia, 7 of which survived to hospital discharge. Of these, 5 were alive at long‐term follow‐up. Survival was significantly associated with the age of the horse (≤2 y old) at presentation, presence of normal peritoneal fluid at presentation, amount of compromised viscera at surgery (<50% small intestine), and the size (<10 cm) and location (ventral) of the diaphragmatic tear.Conclusion –This study confirms that size and location of the lesion do play a significant role in prognosis. And, although the prognosis for horses with diaphragmatic hernia is poor, if horses have operable lesions there is a fair prognosis for long‐term survival.
Creativity: Delusions, Realities, Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Steers John 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis article considers the background and provisions of the New Secondary Curriculum in England. Attention is drawn to the extent of the policy changes by comparing the ten‐year old demands of the Swift & Steers ‘Manifesto for art in schools’ (1999) with the new legislation and guidance. In particular, while there is strong support for overdue recognition of the importance of creativity in the curriculum it is argued that its inclusion remains problematic because the ‘risky thinking’ involved will be difficult in the many schools that have become risk averse in the face of ever increasing accountability. Nevertheless, there are very significant opportunities for art and design provided a number of key challenges are faced and acted upon.