An improved adjacency data structure for fast triangle stripping

To speed up the rendering of polygonal meshes, triangle strips are commonly used to reduce the number of vertices sent to the graphics subsystem by exploiting the fact that adjacent triangles share an edge. In this paper, we present an improved adjacency data structure for fast triangle stripping algorithms. There are three major contributions: first, the data structure can be created quickly and robustly from any indexed face set; second, its cache-friendly layout is specifically designed to efficiently answer common stripping queries, such as neighbor finding and least-degree triangle finding, in constant time; third, the stripping algorithm operates in-place, since strips are created by simply relinking pointers. An implementation of a stripping algorithm shows a significant speed-up compared to other implementations. Our implementation is publicly available as part of OpenSG [9].

Entwicklung eines Radiopharmakons zur Darstellung von Insulinomen im Tiermodell auf Basis des Inkretinhormons GLP-1(7-36)amid und seiner Analoga

Die non-invasive Lokalisationsdiagnostik von Insulinomen ist ein Problem, das bis heute nicht zufriedenstellend gelöst ist. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Radiopharmaka zur szintigraphischen Darstellung von Insulinomen auf der Basis von GLP-1-Analoga entwickelt. Mit Hilfe dieser Radiopharmaka wurden im Tiermodell induzierte Tumoren dargestellt. Dazu wurden folgende Experimente durchgeführt: 1. Markierung von GLP-1 und seines Analogons Exendin3, sowie der Variante [Y39]-Exendin4 mittels Radioiodierung und Aufreinigung der gewonnenen Tracer mittels HPLC und Sephadex-Säule. 2. Etablierung eines validen Insulinom-Modells in Ratten. 3. Untersuchungen zur Verteilung verschiedener Radiopharmaka in gesunden Versuchstieren. Dabei wurde die Bluthalbwertszeit und der Einfluss verschiedener stabilisierender Substanzen, sowie der Einfluss von unmarkiertem Peptid szintigraphisch bestimmt. Eine Kontrollgruppe wurde mit NaI-123 untersucht. 4. Darstellung der im Tumormodell induzierten Tumoren mit den aus 1. und 3. hervorgegangenen Tracern. Die Markierung von GLP-1 führte zu einem Radiopharmakon mit einer hohen spezifischen Aktivität. Exendin3 ließ sich relativ schlecht markieren, da hier die Aminosäure Tyrosin nicht vorhanden ist. Die synthetisierte Exendin4 Variante [Y39]-Exendin4 mit der Aminosäure Tyrosin an Position 39 führte zu einem Tracer mit einer befriedigenden spezifischen Aktivität. Das Insulinom-Modell in Ratten konnte mit Hilfe der Tumorzelltransplantation erfolgreich etabliert werden. Dazu wurden RINm5F-Zellen in Kultur angezüchtet und NEDH-Ratten subkutan injiziert. Eine weitere Übertragung erfolgte durch Transplantation von Tumorstücken. Die Untersuchung der Verteilung der Radiopharmaka in den Versuchstieren zeigte eine schnelle Elimination des Tracers über die Nieren. GLP-1 zeigte eine Akkumulation in den Nieren. Über den Bereichen des Herzens und der Leber konnten typische Aktivitätsverläufe für eine 2-Phasen-Kinetik beobachtet werden. Die daraus errechneten Bluthalbwertszeiten lagen für GLP-1 und [Y39]-Exendin4 innerhalb weniger Minuten, [Y39]-Exendin4 zirkulierte etwas länger im Blut. Aus beiden Peptiden wurde freies Iod in die Blutbahn abgespalten. Dadurch kam es zu einer charakteristischen Aktivitätsanreicherung in Schilddrüse und Magen. Eine Stabilisierung der Peptide mit einem DP IV-Inhibitor führte zu keiner signifikanten Verlängerung der Bluthalbwertszeit. Im Gegensatz zu I-123-GLP-1 und I-123-[Y39]-Exendin4 zeigte I-123-Exendin3 ein sehr stabiles Verhalten, es kam zu keiner Abspaltung von freiem Iod, was durch eine fehlende Darstellung der Schilddrüse dokumentiert werden konnte. Die Insulinomdarstellung war sowohl mit I-123-GLP-1, I-123-[Y39]-Exendin4, als auch mit I-123-Exendin3 möglich. In allen Fällen wurde das Radiopharmakon schnell im Tumor angereichert. Mit Hilfe von Exendin3 konnte die beste tumor-to-background-ratio erreicht werden. In dieser Arbeit konnte eine GLP-1-Rezeptorszintigraphie entwickelt werden. Die GLP-1 Analoga Exendin3 und [Y39]-Exendin4 zeigten sehr gute Darstellungseigenschaften mit einer hohen tumor-to-background ratio. Mit diesen Peptiden könnte eine sensitive und wenig invasive präoperative Diagnostik zur Lokalisation von Insulinomen möglich werden. Mit Einführung einer Radiometallmarkierung und durch Erprobung künstlicher Peptide (GLP-1-Analoga) könnte ein klinisch einsetzbares Radiopharmakon entstehen

Stellar Astrophysics with a Dispersed Fourier Transform Spectrograph. II. Orbits of Double-lined Spectroscopic Binaries

We present orbital parameters for six double-lined spectroscopic binaries (iota Pegasi, omega Draconis, 12 Bootis, V1143 Cygni, beta Aurigae, and Mizar A) and two double-lined triple star systems (kappa Pegasi and eta Virginis). The orbital fits are based upon high-precision radial velocity observations made with a dispersed Fourier Transform Spectrograph, or dFTS, a new instrument which combines interferometric and dispersive elements. For some of the double-lined binaries with known inclination angles, the quality of our RV data permits us to determine the masses M_1 and M_2 of the stellar components with relative errors as small as 0.2%.Comment: 41 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A

Cationic siRNAs Provide Carrier-Free Gene Silencing in Animal Cells

siRNA-mediated gene silencing requires intracellular delivery of the nucleic acid. We have developed a carrierless molecular approach that follows the same cell entry route as cationic supramolecular complexes, yet should avoid the extracellular barriers encountered by nanoparticles. Cationic oligospermine−oligonucleotide conjugates (ZNAs, for Zip Nucleic Acids) were synthesized stepwise on an oligonucleotide synthesizer using a DMT-spermine phosphoramidite derivative. They were shown to enter cells and have access to the cytoplasm, provided their formal charge ratio N/P was >1.5. Cationic siRNAs that fulfilled this condition were shown to achieve selective inhibition of luciferase gene expression in the submicromolar concentration range in constitutively luciferase-expressing cells

Zip Nucleic Acids: new high affinity oligonucleotides as potent primers for PCR and reverse transcription

Most nucleic acid-based technologies rely upon sequence recognition between an oligonucleotide and its nucleic acid target. With the aim of improving hybridization by decreasing electrostatic repulsions between the negatively charged strands, novel modified oligonucleotides named Zip nucleic acids (ZNAs) were recently developed. ZNAs are oligonucleotide–oligocation conjugates whose global charge is modulated by the number of cationic spermine moieties grafted on the oligonucleotide. It was demonstrated that the melting temperature of a hybridized ZNA is easily predictable and increases linearly with the length of the oligocation. Furthermore, ZNAs retain the ability to discriminate between a perfect match and a single base-pair-mismatched complementary sequence. Using quantitative PCR, we show here that ZNAs are specific and efficient primers displaying an outstanding affinity toward their genomic target. ZNAs are particularly efficient at low magnesium concentration, low primer concentrations and high annealing temperatures, allowing to improve the amplification in AT-rich sequences and potentially multiplex PCR applications. In reverse transcription experiments, ZNA gene-specific primers improve the yield of cDNA synthesis, thus increasing the accuracy of detection, especially for genes expressed at low levels. Our data suggest that ZNAs exhibit faster binding kinetics than standard and locked nucleic acid-containing primers, which could explain why their target recognition is better for rare targets

Estimates of n-widths of Sobolev's classes on compact globally symmetric spaces of rank one

AbstractEstimates of Kolmogorov's and linear n-widths of Sobolev's classes on compact globally symmetric spaces of rank 1 (i.e. on Sd, Pd(R), Pd(C), Pd(H), P16(Cay)) are established. It is shown that these estimates have sharp orders in different important cases. New estimates for the (p,q)-norms of multiplier operators Λ={λk}k∈N are given. We apply our results to get sharp orders of best polynomial approximation and n-widths

Population Synthesis of Common Envelope Mergers: I. Giant Stars with Stellar or Substellar Companions

Using a population synthesis technique, we have calculated detailed models of the present-day field population of objects that have resulted from the merger of a giant primary and a main-sequence or brown dwarf secondary during common-envelope evolution. We used a grid of 116 stellar and 32 low-mass/brown dwarf models, a crude model of the merger process, and followed the angular momentum evolution of the binary orbit and the primary's rotation prior to merger, as well as the merged object's rotation after the merger. We find that present-day merged objects that are observable as giant stars or core-helium burning stars in our model population constitute between 0.24% and 0.33% of the initial population of ZAMS binaries, depending upon the input parameters chosen. The median projected rotational velocity of these merged objects is ~16 km/sec, an order of magnitude higher than the median projected rotational velocity in a model population of normal single stars calculated using the same stellar models and initial mass function. The masses of the merged objects are typically less than ~2 solar masses, with a median mass of 1.28 solar masses, which is slightly more than, but not significantly different from, their normal single star counterparts. The luminosities in our merged object population range from ~10-100 solar luminosities, with a strong peak in the luminosity distribution at ~60 solar luminosities, since the majority of the merged objects (57%) lie on the horizontal branch at the present epoch. The results of our population synthesis study are discussed in terms of possible observational counterparts either directly involving the high rotational velocity of the merger product or indirectly, via the effect of rotation on envelope abundances and on the amount and distribution of circumstellar matter.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Bast fibre formation: insights from Next-Generation Sequencing

Bast fibres are extraxylary sclerenchymatous cells characterized by a noteworthy length and by a cell wall composed of crystalline cellulose. Bast fibres support mechanically the phloem and are used for different industrial applications by the textile and biocomposite sectors. Fibre crops like hemp (Cannabis sativa), flax (Linum usitatissimum), ramie (Boehmeria nivea), jute (Corchorus olitorius, C. capsularis), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) are therefore important natural resources which can help develop a sustainable economy. Despite the importance of bast fibres, not all the features related to their initiation and growth are fully explored and understood. In this review we will focus on the current knowledge concerning bast fibre initiation and development by using a transcriptomic angle, in the light of the great advances that Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has fostered in the last years. We discuss the results obtained recently on different fibre crops and we conclude our survey with a perspective on future molecular studies aimed at valorising neglected fibre crops, e.g. nettle (Urtica dioica)

Stellar Astrophysics with a Dispersed Fourier Transform Spectrograph. I. Instrument Description and Orbits of Single-lined Spectroscopic Binaries

We have designed and constructed a second-generation version of the Dispersed Fourier Transform Spectrograph, or dFTS. This instrument combines a spectral interferometer with a dispersive spectrograph to provide high-accuracy, high-resolution optical spectra of stellar targets. The new version, dFTS2, is based upon the design of our prototype, with several modifications to improve the system throughput and performance. We deployed dFTS2 to the Steward Observatory 2.3-meter Bok Telescope from June 2007 to June 2008, and undertook an observing program on spectroscopic binary stars, with the goal of constraining the velocity amplitude K of the binary orbits with 0.1% accuracy, a significant improvement over most of the orbits reported in the literature. We present results for radial velocity reference stars and orbit solutions for single-lined spectroscopic binaries.Comment: accepted by Ap

Magneto-Thermohaline Mixing in Red Giants

We revise a magnetic buoyancy model that has recently been proposed as a mechanism for extra mixing in the radiative zones of low-mass red giants. The most important revision is our accounting of the heat exchange between rising magnetic flux rings and their surrounding medium. This increases the buoyant rising time by five orders of magnitude, therefore the number of magnetic flux rings participating in the mixing has to be increased correspondingly. On the other hand, our revised model takes advantage of the fact that the mean molecular weight of the rings formed in the vicinity of the hydrogen burning shell has been reduced by 3He burning. This increases their thermohaline buoyancy (hence, decreases the total ring number) considerably, making it equivalent to the pure magnetic buoyancy produced by a frozen-in toroidal field with B_phi ~ 10 MG. We emphasize that some toroidal field is still needed for the rings to remain cohesive while rising. Besides, this field prevents the horizontal turbulent diffusion from eroding the mu contrast between the rings and their surrounding medium. We propose that the necessary toroidal magnetic field is generated by differential rotation of the radiative zone, that stretches a pre-existing poloidal field around the rotation axis, and that magnetic flux rings are formed as a result of its buoyancy-related instability.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted by ApJ after minor change