By-example Synthesis of Compactly Stored Textures

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel by-example texture synthesis algorithm. Unlike most present algorithms whose synthesized textures of different sizes must be stored in memory until rendering, our results are compactly stored as paths of the generative graphs. This is achieved by adapting the graph-based synthesis framework to be suitable for arbitrary types of textures. Two synthesis processes are carried out successively to grow the texture strip by strip to the desired horizontal and vertical dimensions, each of which is cast as a constrained shortest path problem that can be solved efficiently by our proposed algorithm. The strips are formed by consecutive cuts which are precomputed in the preprocessing step, and are selected with a redesigned mechanism accounting for both global and local matching errors. The variances make the graph-based synthesis framework also applicable to a wide variety of textures besides architectural textures, and the synthesis quality for them is greatly improved

Video Game–Based Exercise, Latino Children's Physical Health, and Academic Achievement

BackgroundThere is a paucity of research investigating the effects of innovative physical activity programs on physical health and academic performance in the Latino population.PurposeTo examine the impact of Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]–based exercise on Latino children's physical fitness and academic achievement.DesignA repeated-measures crossover design was used. In Year 1, Grade-4 students were assigned to the intervention group and offered 30 minutes of exercise (DDR, aerobic dance) three times per week. Grade-3 and Grade-5 students made up the comparison group and were offered no structured exercise at school. In Year 2, the Grade-4 students were again assigned to the intervention, whereas Grade-5 and Grade-6 students were in the comparison group.Setting/participantsAssessments were conducted with 208 Latino school children.Main outcome measuresThe baseline measures included time to complete a 1-mile run, BMI, and reading and math scores. Data were collected again 9 months later. Overall, data were collected in 2009–2011 and analyzed in 2012.ResultsData yielded significant differences between the intervention and comparison groups in differences in 1-mile run and math scores in Year 1 and Year 2. The results also revealed net differences in the intervention versus comparison group scores on the 1-mile run for Grade 3 (p<0.01). Additionally, children's yearly pre-test and post-test BMI group changes differed (χ2(2)=6.6, p<0.05) only for the first year of intervention.ConclusionsThe DDR-based exercise intervention improved children's cardiorespiratory endurance and math scores over time. Professionals should consider integrating exergaming at schools to achieve the goals of promoting a physically active lifestyle and enhancing academic success among Latino children

A new Neocalamites (Sphenophyta) with prickles and attached cones from the Upper Triassic of China

Remains of the extinct sphenophyte (horsetail) . Neocalamites are most widespread in the Middle-Upper Triassic and are typically represented by stem and leaf fragments. Here we report on spectacular new finds of . Neocalamites from the Late Triassic Yangcaogou Formation in Liaoning Province, China that include bedding surfaces dominated by nearly complete aerial stems with attached leaf whorls and rare bractless cones. They reveal a monopodial growth habit for the stems, which are covered with downward projecting prickles that probably provided protection against herbivores. These features provide the basis for a new proposed species, . Neocalamites horridus. The nodes bear whorls of very long leaves mainly free to their bases, and one specimen bears an attached cone on a long peduncle. Identical dispersed cones have also been recovered. The leaves of adjacent monopodial stems most likely interlocked to support growth in large stands akin to the role now played by branches in large modern . Equisetum species. The new Chinese . Neocalamites is among the most confidently reconstructed species, and indicates a greater diversity of sphenophyte morphology during the Mesozoic than previously realized.Fil: Zan, Shuqin. Geological Museum Of China; ChinaFil: Axsmith, Brian J.. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados UnidosFil: Escapa, Ignacio Hernán. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fraser, Nicholas. National Museum Of Scotland; Reino UnidoFil: Liu, Feng Xiang. Geological Museum Of China; ChinaFil: Xing, De-He. Shenyang Institute Of Geology And Mineral Resources; Chin

Current situation and future prospects for beef production in China — A review

The beef industry is an important part of livestock and meat production in China. China ranks third in the world for beef production. With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, beef consumption has grown rapidly, and beef consumption has been increasing with rising per capita gross domestic production. However, the domestic beef industry in China has not been able to keep pace with growth in consumption, making China a net importer of beef from other countries. Moreover, the volume of production has increased little despite rising demand. The slowing of growth in beef production in recent years has led to a sharp rise in beef prices. Domestic beef production and consumption is restricted by a shortage of beef cattle inventory. The Chinese beef industry is facing many technical problems including transformation of traditional practices, feeding and management systems, and genetic improvement of cattle breeds. The long-term, sustainable development of the Chinese beef industry is an important issue for China

Microstructure and performance of rare earth element-strengthened plasma-facing tungsten material

Pure W and W-(2%, 5%, 10%) Lu alloys were manufactured via mechanical alloying for 20 h and a spark plasma sintering process at 1, 873 K for 2 min. The effects of Lu doping on the microstructure and performance of W were investigated using various techniques. For irradiation performance analysis, thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) measurements were performed from room temperature to 1, 000 K via infrared irradiation with a heating rate of 1 K/s after implantations of He+ and D+ ions. TDS measurements were conducted to investigate D retention behavior. Microhardness was dramatically enhanced, and the density initially increased and then decreased with Lu content. The D retention performance followed the same trend as the density. Second-phase particles identified as Lu2O3 particles were completely distributed over the W grain boundaries and generated an effective grain refinement. Transgranular and intergranular fracture modes were observed on the fracture surface of the sintered W-Lu samples, indicating some improvement of strength and toughness. The amount and distribution of Lu substantially affected the properties of W. Among the investigated alloy compositions, W-5%Lu exhibited the best overall performance

Rapid EST isolation from chromosome 1R of rye

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To obtain important expressed sequence tags (ESTs) located on specific chromosomes is currently difficult. Construction of single-chromosome EST library could be an efficient strategy to isolate important ESTs located on specific chromosomes. In this research we developed a method to rapidly isolate ESTs from chromosome 1R of rye by combining the techniques of chromosome microdissection with hybrid specific amplification (HSA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chromosome 1R was isolated by a glass needle and digested with proteinase K (PK). The DNA of chromosome 1R was amplified by two rounds of PCR using a degenerated oligonucleotide 6-MW sequence with a <it>Sau</it>3AI digestion site as the primer. The PCR product was digested with <it>Sau</it>3AI and linked with adaptor HSA1, then hybridized with the <it>Sau</it>3AI digested cDNA with adaptor HSA2 of rye leaves with and without salicylic acid (SA) treatment, respectively. The hybridized DNA fragments were recovered by the HSA method and cloned into pMD18-T vector. The cloned inserts were released by PCR using the partial sequences in HSA1 and HSA2 as the primers and then sequenced. Of the 94 ESTs obtained and analyzed, 6 were known sequences located on rye chromosome 1R or on homologous group 1 chromosomes of wheat; all of them were highly homologous with ESTs of wheat, barley and/or other plants in <it>Gramineae</it>, some of which were induced by abiotic or biotic stresses. Isolated in this research were 22 ESTs with unknown functions, probably representing some new genes on rye chromosome 1R.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We developed a new method to rapidly clone chromosome-specific ESTs from chromosome 1R of rye. The information reported here should be useful for cloning and investigating the new genes found on chromosome 1R.</p