Modeling planar 3-valence meshes

In architectural and sculptural practice, the eventual goal is constructing the shapes that have been designed. Due to fabrication considerations, shapes with planar faces are in demand for these practices. In this thesis, a novel computational modeling approach to design constructible shapes is introduced. This method guarantees that the resulting shapes are planar meshes with 3-valence vertices, which can always be physically constructed using planar or developable materials such as glass, sheet metal or plywood. The method introduced is inspired by the traditional sculpture and is based on the idea of carving a mesh by using slicing planes. The process of determining the slicing planes can either be interactive or automated. A framework is developed which allows user to sculpt shapes by using the in- teractive and automated processes. The framework allows user to cut a source mesh based on its edges, faces or vertices. The user can sculpt various kinds of developable surfaces by cutting the parallel edges of the mesh. The user can also introduce in- teresting conical patterns by cutting dierent vertex, edge, face combinations of the mesh

Representing and Modeling Inconsistent, Impossible, and Incoherent Shapes and Scenes with 2D Non-Conservative Vector Fields mapped on 2-Complexes

In this paper, we present a framework to represent mock 3D objects and scenes, which are not 3D but appear 3D. In our framework, each mock-3D object is represented using 2D non-conservative vector fields and thickness information that are mapped on 2-complexes. Mock-3D scenes are simply scenes consisting of more than one mock-3D object. We demonstrated that using this representation, we can dynamically compute a 3D shape using rays emanating from any given point in 3D. These mock-3D objects are view-dependent since their computed shapes depend on the positions of ray centers. Using these dynamically computed shapes, we can compute shadows, reflections, and refractions in real time. This representation is mainly useful for 2D artistic applications to model incoherent, inconsistent, and impossible objects. Using this representation, it is possible to obtain expressive depictions with shadows and global illumination effects. The representation can also be used to convert existing 2D artworks into a Mock-3D form that can be interactively re-rendered.Comment: 21 page

Quad Dominant 2-Manifold Mesh Modeling

In this dissertation, I present a modeling framework that provides modeling of 2D smooth meshes in arbitrary topology without any need for subdivision. In the framework, each edge of a quad face is represented by a smooth spline curve, which can be manipulated using edge vertices and additional tangential points. The overall smoothness is achieved by interpolating all four edges of any given quad across the quad surface. The framework consists of simple quad preserving operations that manipulate the principal curves of the smooth model. These operations are all variants of a generic “Curve Split" and its inverse, “Region Collapse". By only using these sets of simple operations, it is possibly to model any desired shape conveniently. I also provide implementation guidelines for these operations. In the results of this dissertation, I present three main applications for this modeling framework. The major application is modeling Mock3D shapes; shapes with well defined interior normals by interpolating the normals at the boundaries of the shape across its surface which can serve as a mock 3D model to mimic a 3D CGI look. As a second application, the framework can be used in origami modeling by allowing assignment of crease patterns across the surface of 2D shapes modelled. Finally, vectorization of reference photos via modeling figures by following their contours is presented as a third application

Web-Based Dynamic Paintings: Real-Time Interactive Artworks in Web Using a 2.5D Pipeline

In this work, we present a 2.5D pipeline approach to creating dynamic paintings that can be re-rendered interactively in real-time on the Web. Using this 2.5D approach, any existing simple painting such as portraits can be turned into an interactive dynamic web-based artwork. Our interactive system provides most global illumination effects such as reflection, refraction, shadow, and subsurface scattering by processing images. In our system, the scene is defined only by a set of images. These include (1) a shape image, (2) two diffuse images, (3) a background image, (4) one foreground image, and (5) one transparency image. A shape image is either a normal map or a height. Two diffuse images are usually hand-painted. They are interpolated using illumination information. The transparency image is used to define the transparent and reflective regions that can reflect the foreground image and refract the background image, both of which are also hand-drawn. This framework, which mainly uses hand-drawn images, provides qualitatively convincing painterly global illumination effects such as reflection and refraction. We also include parameters to provide additional artistic controls. For instance, using our piecewise linear Fresnel function, it is possible to control the ratio of reflection and refraction. This system is the result of a long line of research contributions. On the other hand, the art-directed Fresnel function that provides physically plausible compositing of reflection and refraction with artistic control is completely new. Art-directed warping equations that provide qualitatively convincing refraction and reflection effects with linearized artistic control are also new. You can try our web-based system for interactive dynamic real-time paintings at http://mock3d.tamu.edu/.Comment: 22 page

Taurine inhibits increased MMP-2 expression in a model of oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion in rabbit heart

WOS: 000317747700015PubMed ID: 23500209Matrix metalloproteinase enzymes (MMPs) activated by oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Glutathione (GSH) plays an important protective role against oxidatively induced damage in mammalian tissues. We investigated the possible role of gelatinases and the effect of the semiessential amino acid 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine) in oxidatively induced damage by GSH depletion in rabbit cardiac tissues. Rabbits were treated with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an effective GSH-depleting compound. BSO treatment significantly reduced GSH and increased MDA (malondialdehyde) levels. BSO treatment caused significant increase in proMMP-2 levels. MMP-9 (pro and active) expressions were not found in either treated- or untreated heart tissues. TIMP-1(endogenous inhibitor of MMP-9) and MT-MMP1 (endogenous activator of MMP-2) were not affected by BSO. Immunoscoring showed that MMP-2 expression significantly increased in hearts from BSO treated group but MMP-9 antibody did not show any significant positive immunostaining from all groups. Type I procollagen and total collagen did not significantly alter in heart tissues from all treatment groups. Taurine restored the increased MDA and the diminished GSH levels by BSO treatment. Pro MMP-2 expression was prevented by taurine. These results suggest that MMP-2 is a major gelanitase in rabbit hearts under oxidative stress and pharmacological inhibition of MMP-2 activation by taurine could represent a useful strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of different cardiovascular disorders. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ege University Scientific Research FundEge University [07ECZ020]We thank Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ali Kupelioglu for help with the morphological examinations. We are thankful to Dr. Gulperi Oktem for kindly providing us type I procollagen antibody. This work was substantially supported by a grant from the Ege University Scientific Research Fund (07ECZ020, ZK)

NKX3.1 contributes to S phase entry and regulates DNA damage response (DDR) in prostate cancer cell lines

WOS: 000296215200023PubMed ID: 21945437NKX3.1 is an androgen-regulated homeobox gene that encodes a tissue-restricted transcription factor, which plays an important role in the differentiation of the prostate epithelium. Thus, the role of NKX3.1 as a functional topoisomerase I activity enhancer in cell cycle regulation and the DNA damage response (DDR) was explored in prostate cancer cell lines. As an early response to DNA damage following CPT-11 treatment, we found that there was an increase in the gamma H2AX((S139)) foci number and that total phosphorylation levels were reduced in PC-3 cells following ectopic NKX3.1 expression as well as in LNCaP cells following androgen administration. Furthermore, upon drug treatment, the increase in ATM((S1981)) phosphorylation was reduced in the presence of NKX3.1 expression, whereas DNA-PKcs expression was increased. Additionally, phosphorylation of CHK2((T68)) and NBS1((S343)) was abrogated by ectopic NKX3.1 expression, compared with the increasing levels in control PC-3 cells in a time-course experiment. Finally, NKX3.1 expression maintained a high cyclin D1 expression level regardless of drug treatment, while total gamma H2AX((S139)) phosphorylation remained depleted in PC-3, as well as in LNCaP, cells. Thus, we suggest that androgen regulated NKX3.1 maintains an active DDR at the intra S progression and contributes to the chemotherapeutic resistance of prostate cancer cells to DNA damaging compounds. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (COST action BM0703 CANGENIN)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TUBITAK-106S200, -110S134, TUBITAK -108S288]; Ege UniversityEge University [06MUH004, 10MUH006]We would like to thank Dr. Timur Kose (Ege University, Department of Biostatistics and Biometry) for his kind assistance with the statistical analysis, Dr. Fahri Saatcioglu (University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway) for providing constructs, deletion mutants and the rabbit polyclonal alpha-NKX3.1 antibody, and Dr. Buket Kosova (Ege University, Izmir, Turkey) for the B-actin antibody. This research was supported with grants (TUBITAK-106S200, -110S134, COST action BM0703 CANGENIN (TUBITAK -108S288)) from the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council and BAP projects (06MUH004 and 10MUH006) by the Ege University to KSK

Scaling Building Energy Audits through Machine Learning Methods on Novel Drone Image Data

Building energy audits are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This paper describes a new method using machine learning (ML) techniques on novel data sources (drone images) to improve the identification of building characteristics and retrofit opportunities, and thereby reduce the effort for audits. The new ML method includes: (1) Building footprint extraction using line extraction, polygonization, and polygon-merging, (2) Building envelope extraction using PIX4d modeling software to reconstruct a building 3D model, (3) Visualization tool for viewing images from the 3D model, (4) Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) using state-of-art deep neural network semantic segmentation, (5) Envelope thermal anomaly detection using an unsupervised machine learning clustering algorithm, and (6) Rooftop energy equipment detection based on an object detection algorithm. The testing of this method involved a comparison of additional ML-generated information overlaid on current ‘state-of-practice’ audit and remote assessment baselines using evaluation metrics: labor time and associated cost, marginal benefits of using ML-generated information in workflows for audits and remote assessments, integration potential with existing processes and tools, and replicability/scalability of the method. In two test buildings in California that had comprehensive drawings and meter data available, the ML method effectively generated a building footprint, envelope, rooftop equipment, WWR, and locations of envelope thermal anomalies. Projected target segments of the ML method are sites with minimal drawings and energy data, and underserved sectors such as multistoried housing, disadvantaged communities, and schools for which the ML method can enable identification of building asset characteristics and prioritization of envelope retrofits and decentralized energy equipment retrofits

Impact of the ST101 clone on fatality among patients with colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection

Objectives: We describe the molecular characteristics of colistin resistance and its impact on patient mortality