461 research outputs found

    Packing ellipsoids with overlap

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    The problem of packing ellipsoids of different sizes and shapes into an ellipsoidal container so as to minimize a measure of overlap between ellipsoids is considered. A bilevel optimization formulation is given, together with an algorithm for the general case and a simpler algorithm for the special case in which all ellipsoids are in fact spheres. Convergence results are proved and computational experience is described and illustrated. The motivating application - chromosome organization in the human cell nucleus - is discussed briefly, and some illustrative results are presented

    The Ellipsoid Factor for quantification of rods, plates and intermediate forms in 3D geometries

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    The Ellipsoid Factor (EF) is a method for the local determination of the rod- or plate-like nature of porous or spongy continua. EF at a point within a 3D structure is defined as the difference in axis ratios of the greatest ellipsoid which fits inside the structure and which contains the point of interest, and ranges from -1 for strongly oblate (discus-shaped) ellipsoids, to +1 for strongly prolate (javelin-shaped) ellipsoids. For an ellipsoid with axes a ≤ b ≤ c, EF = a/b – b/c. Here, EF is demonstrated in a Java plugin, Ellipsoid Factor for ImageJ, distributed in the BoneJ plugin collection. Ellipsoid Factor utilises an ellipsoid optimisation algorithm which assumes that maximal ellipsoids are centred on the medial axis, then dilates, rotates and translates slightly each ellipsoid until it cannot increase in volume any further. Ellipsoid Factor successfully identifies rods, plates and intermediate structures within trabecular bone, and summarises the distribution of geometries with an overall EF mean and standard deviation, EF histogram and Flinn diagram displaying a/b versus b/c. Ellipsoid Factor is released to the community for testing, use, and improvement
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