Information hiding through variance of the parametric orientation underlying a B-rep face

Watermarking technologies have been proposed for many different,types of digital media. However, to this date, no viable watermarking techniques have yet emerged for the high value B-rep (i.e. Boundary Representation) models used in 3D mechanical CAD systems. In this paper, the authors propose a new approach (PO-Watermarking) that subtly changes a model's geometric representation to incorporate a 'transparent' signature. This scheme enables software applications to create fragile, or robust watermarks without changing the size of the file, or shape of the CAD model. Also discussed is the amount of information the proposed method could transparently embed into a B-rep model. The results presented demonstrate the embedding and retrieval of text strings and investigate the robustness of the approach after a variety of transformation and modifications have been carried out on the data

Comparaison entre la végétation du Mackenzie et du Nord québécois à l’Holocène

Le Québec-Labrador et la région de la vallée inférieure du Mackenzie ont en commun quelques traits phytogéographiques, mais leur histoire végétale postglaciaire est largement différente. Les caractéristiques structurales et floristiques de la toundra arbustive, de la toundra forestière et de la taïga se ressemblent fortement. On trouve aussi des clones disjoints et isolés de Populus balsamifera dans les deux régions. Les bioclimats sont différents sous quelques rapports, notamment les précipitations annuelles, les caractéristiques de la couverture de neige, le régime annuel des températures et la saison de croissance. Toutefois, le déroulement et la chronologie de la déglaciation ont été les facteurs qui ont déterminé les différences les plus importantes entre les deux régions en ce qui a trait à l'histoire de la végétation. La région occidentale, libérée des glaces vers 15 000 BP, a été dominé par une toundra herbeuse pendant les deux millénaires qui ont suivi. Vers 13 000-12 000 BP, les toundras arbustives (Betula glandulosa, Ericales, Salix) se sont étendues, puis les forêts de Populus, d'abord, et de Picea, ensuite, se sont succédé de 10 000 à 9000 BP. Au début de l'Holocène, la moyenne de rayonnement solaire estival a atteint son maximum et la limite septentrionale de la zone forestière s'est déplacée au nord. Par la suite, vers 6000-4000 BP, l'aulne (Alnus) s'est établi et la pessière a laissé place à une toundra arbustive, et ce, jusqu'à nos jours. Par contre, la partie centrale du Nouveau-Québec est demeurée englacée jusque vers 6500 BP et la colonisation initiale a été remplacée par les arbres (Picea, Larix) et les arbustes (Alnus). Les différences entre les deux régions s'expliquent par l'âge de la déglaciation, l'influence de la calotte résiduelle sur le climat, la proximité du stock floristique disponible et les voies de migration des plantes.Northern Québec-Labrador and the Lower Mackenzie region have several phytogeographic characteristics in common, but their postglacial vegetation histories are distinctly different. The structural and floristic features of the shrub tundra, forest-tundra, and northern boreal forest are basically similar in the two regions. Isolated stands of Populus balsamifera beyond the northern forest limit are found in both areas. The bioclimates differ in several respects: annual precipitation, snow cover, continentality and length of the growing season. However, the sequence and chronology of déglaciation was the most important factor that determined the differences between the two regions in vegetation history. The landscapes of the western region were free of glacial ice by 15,000 yr. BP when a herb tundra prevailed for almost two millennia. Shrub tundra (Betula glandulosa, Ericales, Salix) expanded about 13,000 to 12,000 yr. BP, and then forests of first Populus and later Picea succeeded at 10,000 to 9000. At that time, the beginning of the Holocene, solar radiation in summer was at maximum values for the Holocene, and the northern limit of the forest zone was farther north. Later, alder (Alnus) expanded about 6000 to 4000 yr. BP, and the spruce forest was replaced in the north by forest-tundra. By contrast, the central part of Nouveau-Québec remained ice-covered until about 6500 yr. BP, and the initial colonisation was effected by trees (Picea, Larix) and later (Alnus). The regional differences can be explained by the differences in the timing of déglaciation, the influence of the residual ice sheet on the general climate, and the proximity of floristic source populations and their migration routes.Québec-Labrador und die Gegend des unteren Mackenzie-Tals haben einige phytogeographische Merkmale gemeinsam, aber ihre postglaziale Vegetationsgeschichte ist sehr verschieden. Die struktur- und pflanzlichbedingten Charakteristika der Busch-Tundra, der WaId-Tundra und der Taiga âhneln einander stark. Man findet auch gelockerte und insolierte klone von Populus balsamifera in beiden Gebieten. Die Bioklimas sind in mancher Hinsicht verschieden, vor allem die jâhrlichen Niederschlàge, die Charakteristika der Schneedecke, die jâhrlichen Temperaturverhàltnisse und die Wachstumsperiode. Indessen waren der Ablauf und die Chronologie der Eisabschmelzung die bestimmenden Faktoren fur die wichtigsten Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Gebieten, was die Geschichte der Vegetation betrifft. Das westliche Gebiet, das urn 15 000 BP vom Eis befreit wurde, war wâhrend der zwei folgenden tausend Jahre durch eine Gras-Tundra beherrscht. Gegen 13 000-12 000 BP haben sich die Busch-Tundras (Betula glandulosa, Ericales, Salix) ausgebreitet, dann sind zuerst die Populus-und danach die Picea-Wàlder von 10 000 bis 9000 v.u.Z. aufeinander gefolgt. Am Beginn des Holozàn hat die durchschnittliche Sommer-Sonnen-Bestrahlung ihren Hohepunkt erreicht und die nôrdliche Grenze der Baumzone hat sich nach Norden verschoben. Anschliepend, gegen 6000-4000 BP, hat sich die Erie (Alnus) ausgebreitet und die Rottanne ist der Busch-Tundra gewichen und das bis heute. Hingegen blieb das Zentrum von Nouveau-Québec vereist bis gegen 6500 BP und die ursprijngliche Vegetation wurde durch Baume (Picea, Larix) und Busche (Alnus) ersetzt. Die Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Gebieten lassen sich durch das Alter der Eisabschmelzung, den Einflufi der Restkalotte auf das Klima, die Nàhe des zur Verfùgung stehenden pflanzlichen Bestands und die Migrationswege der Pflanzen erklàren

Virtual assembly rapid prototyping of near net shapes

Virtual reality (VR) provides another dimension to many engineering applications. Its immersive and interactive nature allows an intuitive approach to study both cognitive activities and performance evaluation. Market competitiveness means having products meet form, fit and function quickly. Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technologies are increasingly being applied to produce functional prototypes and the direct manufacturing of small components. Despite its flexibility, these systems have common drawbacks such as slow build rates, a limited number of build axes (typically one) and the need for post processing. This paper presents a Virtual Assembly Rapid Prototyping (VARP) project which involves evaluating cognitive activities in assembly tasks based on the adoption of immersive virtual reality along with a novel non-layered rapid prototyping for near net shape (NNS) manufacturing of components. It is envisaged that this integrated project will facilitate a better understanding of design for manufacture and assembly by utilising equivalent scale digital and physical prototyping in one rapid prototyping system. The state of the art of the VARP project is also presented in this paper

Exploring attitudes towards a randomised controlled trial of venous access devices – a nested pre-trial qualitative study

Purpose: This pre-trial qualitative research study was carried out to explore patient and clinical staff attitudes to central venous access devices (CVADs). In addition, views about participation in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) were explored with the aim of maximising recruitment to an imminent RCT of three CVADs. Methods: Three patient focus groups (each comprising three patients) and 23 interviews with clinical staff were conducted. Interviews and focus group discussions were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, uploaded to the QSR NVivo10 qualitative software programme and thematically analysed. Results: Analysis of focus group interviews revealed the added challenges that a CVAD poses to patients with cancer. Four key themes emerged: continuity of daily life, pain and discomfort, stigma (a mark of disgrace associated with certain conditions) and self-preservation. The findings show the impact of a CVAD on patients’ ability to manage their condition. Clinical staff interviews highlighted several potential barriers to recruitment; a lack of equipoise (genuine clinical uncertainty as to which intervention is the most beneficial), concerns about the logistics of device insertion and a perceived requirement for education and training. Conclusions: This qualitative study raises awareness of key areas of concern to patients who need a CVAD for chemotherapy delivery. It was identified that there is a need for clearer patient information around CVADs. Additionally it allows investigators to identify barriers to recruitment in a timely manner in order to minimise the potential for conflict between the roles of carer and researcher and consequently, maximise recruitment to the RCT

BANKS AND BANKING - DUTY OF DEPOSITOR TO DETERMINE STATUS OF HIS ACCOUNT

Plaintiff\u27s bookkeeper, who, as defendant bank admittedly knew, had authority only to indorse and deposit commission checks to plaintiff\u27s account, embezzled considerable money between 1926 and 1931 by taking some of the proceeds in cash or drafts. In the passbook and in defendant\u27s own records only the net transactions, not the total amount of the checks, were recorded. Plaintiff discovered the fraud in 1936 and now sues the receiver five years after the bank closed. Held, that plaintiff, charged with constuctive knowledge of the fraud, which reasonable examination would have revealed, is guilty of negligence and therefore barred from now asserting his claim, which would injure defendant bank by reducing dividends to depositors. Mattison-Greenlee Service Corporation v. Culhane, (C. C. A. 7th, 1939) 103 F. (2d) 608

CORPORATIONS - TRANSFER OF STOCK - LIABILITY TO REMAINDERMAN FOR ABSOLUTE TRANSFER AT INSTANCE OF LIFE TENANT

X, life tenant of certain stock of defendant company under a will, endorsed the certificates as life tenant; Y Company guaranteed his signature and itself endorsed in blank. Defendant, with knowledge of X\u27s limited interest, transferred the stock on the books and issued new certificates to Y Company absolutely. Learning of their interests after X\u27s death, plaintiff-remaindermen demanded certificates for the stock from defendant, which refused. In their action for conversion, held, that defendant breached its fiduciary duty to plaintiffs in making an absolute transfer with knowledge that the transferee had only a life interest and no power to sell or consume. Biddle, J., dissenting, interpreted the will as making the life tenant a quasi-trustee with power to sell and buy securities, so that defendant could properly transfer the stock at his direction. Seymour v. National Biscuit Company, (C. C. A. 3d, 1939) 107 F. (2d) 58

Alien Registration- Ritchie, James H. (Presque Isle, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/33506/thumbnail.jp

CORPORATIONS - LIABILITY OF OFFICER FOR PROFITS MADE OUT OF HIS OFFICE

X, in order to obtain funds with which to bid at a government sale of steel in 1919, offered defendant, president of the Y Bank, a one-half interest in the venture. Subsequently, defendant caused the bank to make large loans to the corporation organized to handle the steel transaction. The loans were approved by the bank\u27s loan committee on defendant\u27s recommendation and were repaid in due time. Within the next three years defendant received from the steel enterprise $75,000 in salary,$73,125 in dividends, and, finally, $200,000 for the sale of his stock. Upon the directors\u27 refusal to sue, plaintiff-stockholders in the bank brought suit on behalf of their corporation to recover the sums so received by defendant. Held, that defendant breached his duty to the bank, the directors\u27 refusal to sue was wrongful, and therefore plaintiffs were entitled to recover for the bank the profits taken in by defendant. Fleishhaker v. Blum, (C. C. A. 9th, 1940) 109 F. (2d) 543, certiorari denied (U.S. 1940) 61 S. Ct. 23, rehearing denied 9 U.S. L. WEEK 3124

LIBEL AND SLANDER - PRIVILEGED REPORTS OF PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS - CONFESSION TO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IMPLICATING PLAINTIFF

Defendant published in its newspaper the contents of confessions made to a prosecuting attorney by third parties, implicating plaintiff in crimes for which he had been indicted but the commission of which he denied. In an action for damages for libel, held, that the taking of the confession was neither a judicial proceeding nor an official proceeding authorized by law, and therefore its publication was not privileged. Caller Times Publishing Co. v. Chandler, (Tex. 1939) 130 S. W. (2d) 853