Map Style Formalization: Rendering Techniques Extension for Cartography

International audienceCartographic design requires controllable methods and tools to produce maps that are adapted to users' needs and preferences. The formalized rules and constraints for cartographic representation come mainly from the conceptual framework of graphic semiology. Most current Geographical Information Systems (GIS) rely on the Styled Layer Descriptor and Semiology Encoding (SLD/SE) specifications which provide an XML schema describing the styling rules to be applied on geographic data to draw a map. Although this formalism is relevant for most usages in cartography, it fails to describe complex cartographic and artistic styles. In order to overcome these limitations, we propose an extension of the existing SLD/SE specifications to manage extended map stylizations, by the means of controllable expressive methods. Inspired by artistic and cartographic sources (Cassini maps, mountain maps, artistic movements, etc.), we propose to integrate into our system three main expressive methods: linear stylization, patch-based region filling and vector texture generation. We demonstrate how our pipeline allows to personalize map rendering with expressive methods in several examples

Shader-Based Antialiased Dashed Stroked Polylines

International audienceDashed stroked paths are a widely-used feature found in the vast majority of vector drawing software and libraries. They allow, for example, highlighting a given path such as the cur- rent selection in drawing software or distinguishing curves in the case of a scientific plotting package. This paper introduces a shader-based method for rendering arbitrary dash patterns along any continuous polyline (smooth or broken). The proposed method does not tessellate individual dash patterns and allows for fast and nearly accurate rendering of any user-defined dash pattern and caps. Benchmarks indicates a slowdown ratio between 1.1 and 2.1 with an increased memory consumption between 3 and 6. Furthermore, the method can be used for solid thick polylines with correct caps and joins with only a slowdown of factor 1.1

A Vector-Integration-to-Endpoint Model for Performance of Viapoint Movements

Viapoint (VP) movements are movements to a desired point that are constrained to pass through an intermediate point. Studies have shown that VP movements possess properties, such as smooth curvature around the VP, that are not explicable by treating VP movements as strict concatenations of simpler point-to-point (PTP) movements. Such properties have led some theorists to propose whole-trajectory optimization models, which imply that the entire trajectory is pre-computed before movement initiation. This paper reports new experiments conducted to systematically compare VP with PTP trajectories. Analyses revealed a statistically significant early directional deviation in VP movements but no associated curvature change. An explanation of this effect is offered by extending the Vector-Integration-To-Endpoint (VITE) model (Bullock and Grossberg, 1988), which postulates that voluntary movement trajectories emerge as internal gating signals control the integration of continuously computed vector commands based on the evolving, perceptible difference between desired and actual position variables. The model explains the observed trajectories of VP and PTP movements as emergent properties of a dynamical system that does not precompute entire trajectories before movement initiation. The new model includes a working memory and a stage sensitive to time-to-contact information. These cooperate to control serial performance. The structural and functional relationships proposed in the model are consistent with available data on forebrain physiology and anatomy.Office of Naval Research (N00014-92-J-1309, N00014-93-1-1364, N0014-95-1-0409

Shading Curves: Vector-Based Drawing With Explicit Gradient Control

A challenge in vector graphics is to define primitives that offer flexible manipulation of colour gradients. We propose a new primitive, called a shading curve, that supports explicit and local gradient control. This is achieved by associating shading profiles to each side of the curve. These shading profiles, which can be manually manipulated, represent the colour gradient out from their associated curves. Such explicit and local gradient control is challenging to achieve via the diffusion curve process, introduced in 2008, because it offers only implicit control of the colour gradient. We resolve this problem by using subdivision surfaces that are constructed from shading curves and their shading profiles.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wiley via http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cgf.1253

Surface modelling for 2D imagery

Vector graphics provides powerful tools for drawing scalable 2D imagery. With the rise of mobile computers, of different types of displays and image resolutions, vector graphics is receiving an increasing amount of attention. However, vector graphics is not the leading framework for creating and manipulating 2D imagery. The reason for this reluctance of employing vector graphical frameworks is that it is difficult to handle complex behaviour of colour across the 2D domain. A challenging problem within vector graphics is to define smooth colour functions across the image. In previous work, two approaches exist. The first approach, known as diffusion curves, diffuses colours from a set of input curves and points. The second approach, known as gradient meshes, defines smooth colour functions from control meshes. These two approaches are incompatible: diffusion curves do not support the local behaviour provided by gradient meshes and gradient meshes do not support freeform curves as input. My research aims to narrow the gap between diffusion curves and gradient meshes. With this aim in mind, I propose solutions to create control meshes from freeform curves. I demonstrate that these control meshes can be used to render a vector primitive similar to diffusion curves using subdivision surfaces. With the use of subdivision surfaces, instead of a diffusion process, colour gradients can be locally controlled using colour-gradient curves associated with the input curves. The advantage of local control is further explored in the setting of vector-centric image processing. I demonstrate that a certain contrast enhancement profile, known as the Cornsweet profile, can be modelled via surfaces in images. This approach does not produce saturation artefacts related with previous filter-based methods. Additionally, I demonstrate various approaches to artistic filtering, where the artist locally models given artistic effects. Gradient meshes are restricted to rectangular topology of the control meshes. I argue that this restriction hinders the applicability of the approach and its potential to be used with control meshes extracted from freeform curves. To this end, I propose a mesh-based vector primitive that supports arbitrary manifold topology of the mesh

Proteomic changes in rat hippocampus and adrenals following short-term sleep deprivation

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To identify the biochemical changes induced by sleep deprivation at a proteomic level, we compared the hippocampal proteome of rats either after 4 hours of sleep or sleep deprivation obtained by gentle handling. Because sleep deprivation might induce some stress, we also analyzed proteomic changes in rat adrenals in the same conditions. After sleep deprivation, proteins from both tissues were extracted and subjected to 2D-DIGE analysis followed by protein identification through mass spectrometry and database search. RESULTS: In the hippocampus, 87 spots showed significant variation between sleep and sleep deprivation, with more proteins showing higher abundance in the latter case. Of these, 16 proteins were present in sufficient amount for a sequencing attempt and among the 12 identified proteins, inferred affected cellular functions include cell metabolism, energy pathways, transport and vesicle trafficking, cytoskeleton and protein processing. Although we did not observe classical, macroscopic effect of stress in sleep-deprived rats, 47 protein spots showed significant variation in adrenal tissue between sleep and sleep deprivation, with more proteins showing higher abundance following sleep. Of these, 16 proteins were also present in sufficient amount for a sequencing attempt and among the 13 identified proteins, the most relevant cellular function that was affected was cell metabolism. CONCLUSION: At a proteomic level, short term sleep deprivation is characterized by a higher expression of some proteins in the hippocampus and a lower abundance of other proteins in the adrenals (compared to normal sleep control). Altogether, this could indicate a general activation of a number of cellular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of wakefulness and in increased energy expenditure during sleep deprivation. These findings are relevant to suggested functions of sleep like energy repletion and the restoration of molecular stocks or a more global homeostasis of synaptic processes

AutoGraff: towards a computational understanding of graffiti writing and related art forms.

The aim of this thesis is to develop a system that generates letters and pictures with a style that is immediately recognizable as graffiti art or calligraphy. The proposed system can be used similarly to, and in tight integration with, conventional computer-aided geometric design tools and can be used to generate synthetic graffiti content for urban environments in games and in movies, and to guide robotic or fabrication systems that can materialise the output of the system with physical drawing media. The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part describes a set of stroke primitives, building blocks that can be combined to generate different designs that resemble graffiti or calligraphy. These primitives mimic the process typically used to design graffiti letters and exploit well known principles of motor control to model the way in which an artist moves when incrementally tracing stylised letter forms. The second part demonstrates how these stroke primitives can be automatically recovered from input geometry defined in vector form, such as the digitised traces of writing made by a user, or the glyph outlines in a font. This procedure converts the input geometry into a seed that can be transformed into a variety of calligraphic and graffiti stylisations, which depend on parametric variations of the strokes

Toward Pedagogy of "Play" for the Mande Bala

A theoretical model is proposed that posits "play" as both the long-term goal of bala learning, and as the means through which the short-term steps toward that goal can best be achieved. Play is defined in two different ways. In the first sense it is an orchestrating of means and ends in which means are at the centre of interest. In this sense, play is a goal of bala learning. In the second sense, play is defined (using the framework of Applied Behaviour Analysis) as: activities that (a) are inherently reinforcing (and not inherently punishing), and (b) do not eventuate extinction, escape, or avoidance. In this sense, play is conceived as one possible means through which to achieve pedagogical goals. The case is made that Mande bala music is especially well suited to a pedagogy of "play" owing to its intrinsic (musical) characteristics. The pedagogical framework for the study is James Popham and Eva Baker's "empirical model of instruction," which allows for a systematic evaluation of pedagogical methods. Although the model proposed is supported by empirical evidence and has a strong rational underpinning, the model itself is not tested in the present study, but rather, is herein articulated (via illustrative case studies depicting the learning of various bala patterns through digitally mediated meansbooks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) An argument is built to support the notion that in comparison with traditional, immersion-based pedagogical modalities, the digital mediation of bala teaching eventuates a pedagogical loss, but that this pedagogical loss can be attenuated through a more "playful" pedagogical approach

RIC8A roll hiire närvisüsteemis ja selle arengus

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneKesknärvisüsteemi ja perifeerse närvisüsteemi korrektne toimimine on ülioluline organismi täisväärtusliku elu tagamiseks. Seetõttu on närvisüsteemi arengus rangelt kontrollitud ja reguleeritud nii neuraalsete eellasrakkude ja neuronite teke, kui ka korrektne paigutumine ja võrgustike loomine. Neid protsesse koordineerivad mitmed signaalirajad, millest G-valkude (guaniin-nukleotiidi siduvad valgud) poolt vahendatud signaaliülekanne rakuvälise ja rakusisese keskkonna vahel on üks levinumaid mehhanisme närvisüsteemis. G-valkude aktiveerimisel osalevad nii G-valguga seonduvad retseptorid kui ka mitmed rakusisesed valgud, mis mõjutavad G-valkude aktiivsust retseptorist sõltumatult. Näiteks RIC8A, mis toimib G-valkude nukleotiidivahetusfaktorina ja tšaperonina. Imetajates on RIC8A avaldunud nii arenevas kui täiskasvanud närvisüsteemis osaledes tunnetuslike, õppimis- ning tajufunktsioonide kujunemisel. Käesoleva doktoritöö eesmärgiks oli uurida RIC8A rolli hiire närvisüsteemis ja selle arengus. RIC8A puudumine hiire kesk- ja perifeerse närvisüsteemi rakkudest põhjustab neuro-muskulaarset fenotüüpi, mida iseloomustavad lihaste atrofeerumine, motoorika-, tasakaalu- ja koordinatsiooni häired, tõmblused ning sünnijärgne suremus. Ric8A puudulikel hiirtel esinevad kõrvalekalded suurajukoore arengus (nt rakujagunemiste ja neuraalse migratsiooni häired, ajuvatsakeste laienemine, defektne kortikaalne basaalmembraan) ning südame ja silma arengus. Lisaks katsed RIC8A defitsiitsete rakkudega näitasid, et RIC8A on oluline β1-integriini vahendatud tsütoskeleti organiseerimisel ja rakkude migratsioonil. Kirjeldatud defektid on iseloomulikud kaasasündinud lihasdüstroofiatele (Fukuyama lihasdüstroofia, Walker-Warburgi sündroom ja lihase-silma-aju haigus). Seega, häired RIC8A funktsioonis koostöös G-valkude ja β1-integriinide vahendatud signalisatsiooniga võib olla seotud nende haiguste kujunemiselCorrect functioning of central- and peripheral nervous system is essential for normal functioning of the body. Therefore, it is fundamental to control the spatio-temporal development of neural precursor cell division into neurons and their final positioning where they can form functional network between each other. These processes are coordinated by different signalling pathways, where the G-protein mediated signal transduction is one of the prominent mechanism in cell signalling cascade. The activation of G proteins are accomplished via transmembrane G protein coupled receptors or via accessory proteins that influence G proteins receptor-independently. For example, RIC8A affects G protein activity as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor or as a chaperone. In mammals, RIC8A is expressed in the development of the nervous system and plays a role in the regulation of behavior, memory and learning in adults. Current thesis is focused on the role of RIC8A in the nervous system and its development. Ablation of RIC8A in central- and peripheral nervous system causes defects in neuromuscular signalling which is manifested by muscle atrophy and impairment of movements, occasional tremors and lethality after birth. Ric8A deficient mice also display malformations in the development of the cerebral cortex (e.g defects in cell division and cell migration, which affect cortical size and lamination, enlargement of the ventricles and defects in the integrity of cortical basement membrane) and in heart and eye development. In addition, studies on the RIC8A deficient cells showed that RIC8A is crucial for the β1-integrin mediated organisation of cytoskeleton and cell migration. These defects are characteristic to the congenital muscular dystrophies (Fukuyama congenital muscular dystropy, Walker Warbur g syndrome and Muscle-Eye-Brain disease) and that defects in RIC8A functioning in concert with G-protein and β1-integrin mediated signalling may be the cause of these diseases